I think that turned his mood sour.”
Ugh, I hated lying to Kaylee of all people. My stomach rolled as I fought the urge to be sick.
Kaylee gave me a quick look. “What? Chance doesn’t want to rope anymore?”
“Maybe not, I don’t think he’s sure. Tanner seems to be a bit unsure of his future as well. His mood…it, um…it changed suddenly.”
“Oh man, no wonder they came home early. I wonder if he’s talked to his brothers about it yet.”
“Let Tanner bring it up if he hasn’t already.”
“Of course, yeah, I won’t say anything.”
“Good, then can we move on from this nonsense of Tanner liking me? I’m simply a distraction that he needs right now.”
Kaylee huffed, but it was so low I barely heard it. I knew I was being a bitch, and I knew I needed to talk to Tanner about last night. It was wrong what I did to him. The things I said to him. The hurt that crossed his face gutted me. Especially after the moment we shared together.
I turned and looked out at the countryside and decided I’d deal with it all later. There wasn’t anything I could do about it now, so I focused on the snow-covered pastures and mountains that instantly made me smile. “It’s so beautiful here.”
“Just you wait, I’ve got something that’s going to blow your mind.”
I figured she was taking me somewhere special, in hopes I would fall in love and decide to make Hamilton my home. It wasn’t hard to fall in love with the area. The open land, the beautiful, sweeping blue skies that seemed to go on forever. All of it screamed this was the place I needed to be.
“We’re going toward the mountains,” I said.
“Yep, and this is the road I needed.”
She turned off a side road that had been cleared by a plow, so it must be a heavily used road.
“It’s four miles down this side road.”
“Can you finally tell me what exactly is down the road?”
She giggled. “You’ll see! And the best part is that it isn’t very far from the Shaw Ranch.”
I couldn’t help but giggle as well, a sudden sense of excitement building up inside of me and threatening to burst free. I had no idea what or why I was excited, but something told me everything in my life was about to change.
Chapter Thirteen
TANNER
“Tanner, you might want to slow down there before you wear yourself out.”
I dug the hooks into the bale of hay and tossed it onto the back of the trailer as I ignored Brock.
“Or don’t,” he mumbled.
“I’m fine,” I snapped.
Brock walked over and stood between me and the trailer. “I didn’t ask if you were fine. You’re acting like those bales of hay are someone you want to throttle.”
I sighed, wiped the sweat from my brow, and then shot my brother a dirty look.
“You want to talk about it?” he asked as he took a seat on the back of the trailer.
“No,” I bit back.
With a raised brow, he pulled his work gloves off and set them down. “The cattle can wait a few extra minutes for lunch. Talk to me, Tanner. Something has been on your mind since you got home from the road, and earlier you looked like you wanted to knock Dirk into the next county when he was talking to Timberlynn.”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t really know what’s going on…with anything.”
“Okay, let’s start small. Why did you and Chance really come home early after y’all nearly broke the world record in Colorado? I know you guys, and you both would have run off to the next rodeo itching to try for that record again. Instead, you’re here.”
I dropped the hay hooks and sat on a bale. “I’m pretty sure Chance wants to give up roping.”
He nodded and gave me a thoughtful look. “Okay, well, I’m sure that sucks since you’ve been together for so long, but you can pick up a new partner…you’ve done it before.”
My eyes met his, and I didn’t say anything.
“Oh, I see. You’re not sure you want to go back on the road yourself.”
I pointed to him. “Bingo. I love ropin’, I do, but something seems missing from my life, Brock. I feel… empty.” I shook my head and laughed. “I fucking blame you and Ty for this bullshit. Getting married, popping out kids.”
“You’re still young, Tanner. You’ve got plenty of time to settle down and have kids.”
“I know that. And if you had asked me a year