Roping the Cowboy Billionaire - Emmy Eugene Page 0,64

Trey might have the opportunity to see Beth from time to time.

“Yep,” TJ said. “Fill ‘em up and put ‘em back out. You don’t got dogs at your ranch?”

“Sure,” he said. “We’ve got dogs. But we’re not a cattle ranch, buddy. We raise horses, and they don’t need to be herded by dogs.”

“You have those sheep,” TJ said. “Dogs like to herd sheep.”

Trey chuckled. “That they do.” He finished washing and rinsing the bowls and started to fill them. “It would be easier to take these back outside and then fill them.”

He handed one bowl to TJ. “Take this one, bud.”

TJ did as instructed, and Trey brought out the rest of the bowls. “Be right back. Don’t wander off now.”

“Yes, sir,” TJ said, gazing at something in the distance. Trey went back inside and found a large bowl in the drying rack. He filled it with water and made the trip outside. It filled two of the bowls, and Trey returned to refill the bowl.

Tam and her father certainly looked like he’d interrupted them, and Trey wanted to whip out his pocketknife and literally cut the tension and apprehension right out of the air.

“You must be Clyde,” Trey said, smiling at the older gentleman. “I’m Trey Chappell.” He glanced at Beth, who should’ve made this introduction. She seemed so out of it tonight. He shook her father’s hand, and hoped he passed the test when Clyde looked him up and down.

“Chappell? Is that right?”

“Yes, sir,” Trey said. “We’re right next door.”

“I’m Clyde Turner. You have a beautiful ranch.”

“Thank you,” Trey said. “I’ll tell Spur you said so.” He turned to Beth, who just stood there staring at him. “I think I’m going to go,” Trey said. “I’m not feeling well tonight.”

“It’s been hot lately,” Beth’s father said.

“You don’t have to go,” Beth said.

“But I’m going to.” Trey tried to smile at her, but he couldn’t quite pull it off. He put his hand on top of his hat and nodded. “Goodnight, Beth.” He faced her father again. “Sorry to make you drive all the way out here.”

“It’s okay,” Clyde said, his keen eyes missing nothing.

Trey nodded and headed for the front door. Clyde said something behind him, but it wasn’t to him, and Trey didn’t have the mental energy to find out if Beth would put any action behind what she’d said.

She didn’t, and a sting punctured his heart. As he drove back to Bluegrass, he realized she actually had put an action behind what she’d said.

She wasn’t ready to date, despite the almost three years since Danny’s death. So she hadn’t come after him. She hadn’t texted him, and she wouldn’t either. If Trey wanted to go out with her, he’d have to ask again.

“Maybe just let it lie,” he told himself as he trundled down the dirt road toward the homestead. “Your life will be so much easier.”

He parked, still undecided as to what to do about Beth, and went to see what his brothers were doing. Spur and Olli had hosted a couple of movie nights, but tonight, the homestead was full of soda, candy, and laughter as everyone except Spur and Olli had gathered in the living room for a night of video games.

“Trey’s back,” Conrad yelled, and an uproar filled the house. Trey just wanted to go to his room and figure out what to do about Beth, but he found himself swept into the group of brothers, each of them vying for him to be on their team for the next race.

19

“You just text her,” Blaine said to Trey. “Ask her how she is, and if you can come over.”

“I don’t want to intrude,” Trey said. “I feel like I’m pushing myself on her.” He turned his back on Blaine to hang up a length of rope he’d just coiled. “No one wants to feel like he’s the only one interested in the relationship.”

“You don’t know she’s not.”

Trey turned back to Blaine, and he looked so frustrated. Blaine knew the feeling keenly. He and frustration were good friends, especially since last weekend when he’d made a mess of things with Tam.

They’d texted and talked a little bit since, but things weren’t the same, and Blaine knew it. Tam had to know it too. Sometimes, in the past, they just ignored the awkward things between them, and they eventually went away.

Blaine didn’t think that was going to happen here. Not only that, but he didn’t want to act like a seventeen-year-old. He wanted to have