Roped In

3. Blake

3

BLAKE

“I’m taking Nightshade out for a last minute ride. Is there anything else you need me to do before I go?” Tyla asked. She guided the black stallion out of the stall and hopped into the saddle.

Lifting my hat, I wiped the sweat off my brow. “Nah, you’re good. I have a new mare coming tomorrow. I’d like you to work with her as much as you can. The Wright’s couldn’t handle her, so they’re sending her to us.”

She snorted. “Us?”

“To you then, smart ass.” I chuckled. “Although, I have to say, I’m just about as good as you now.”

Grinning from ear to ear, she pulled her curly, blonde hair into a ponytail. “So you think. Everyone knows I’m the best.”

And she was. Tyla Rand was one of the most talented and hardest working women I’d ever met. She was around my age and wise beyond her years. I’d never seen anyone so experienced with horses. For the past year, she’d been coaching me on how to break them, just like my grandfather had done for a living. I wanted to live up to his legacy.

I scratched behind Nightshade’s ear and glanced up at her. “Go, before it gets too late. I’ll meet you and the guys at the bar.”

She winked. “Got it, boss. You might want to steer clear of Singleton though. I think he knows about you and Rayna. He was looking for you the other night.”

I scoffed. “He knows where to find me. Besides, I’m not scared of that t**t. Rayna came onto me . . . I simply showed her what it was like to ride a real man.” Trent Singleton was an arrogant douche and rodeo cowboy, always causing trouble. I’d been waiting for the day I could kick his a*s.

“Okay,” she laughed, “but if you fight him, make sure to do it outside the bar. Remember, I’m friends with the owners.”

I winked up at her. “You have nothing to worry about.”

She shook her head – clearly not believing me – and took off for the fields. “See ya tonight!” she shouted.

Inside the barn, my phone rang. I rushed in, recognizing the number on the screen. “I’ll be damned, if it isn’t Robert Wilson,” I answered.

Robert chuckled. “What’s up, Evans? You enjoying the cowboy life out there?”

I looked at my horses and the snow-capped mountains. Was I enjoying it? Hell yeah, I was. It was hard work, but I couldn’t imagine going back to my old life. “You have no idea. I never thought I’d enjoy riding horses and shoveling shit.”

“And that is something I never thought I’d hear you say. Have you taken on any missions since you’ve been out there?”

“A couple small tasks. Why, what’s up?”

He cleared his throat. “Just asking.”

“And why do I not believe that?”

The line went quiet for a second. “Because it’s a lie. I need a damn favor.”

“Thought so. I knew you wouldn’t call just to shoot the s**t. What do you need?”

I sat down on a hay bale and kicked up my feet. The sun had started to go down behind the mountains, bringing in the cool, evening breeze. It was early May and the weather was perfect, not like back home where it was smoldering and humid.

He blew out a heavy sigh. “We had a suspect escape after a break in. He killed one and the other is in critical condition.”

I sat up and held the phone closer. “Any leads on where the suspect went?”

“Not yet. We’re working on it.”

“Do you need me to find him?”

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. “If only that were it. I have someone else on it already. What I need from you is something much different.”

When he explained the situation, there was only one thing I could say. “f**k no.”