Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(120)

Sure enough. The distinctive sound of hoof beats echoed in the canyon walls. Before he could yell out, Laramie shivered. He turned his head and flared his nostrils.


Only one horse caused that reaction in Laramie: Sheridan, Carson McKay’s mare. The equine pair had successfully bred several times, until Carson took Sheridan out of the breeding program. A fact Laramie hadn’t forgiven Carson, as he tried to bite him or kick him at every opportunity.


“Is that horse of yours gonna charge me, son? Or is he tied?”


“I’ll tie him.” Colt tied Laramie to a good-sized pine and ignored the stallion’s angry snorts. “I’m hopin’ you didn’t come lookin’ for me because there’s some kind of emergency at home?”


“Nah. Everything is fine.”


“How did you find me? I didn’t tell anyone where I was goin’.


Didn’t think anyone knew about this place.”


“You’ve always come here when you need some thinkin’ time.” His dad didn’t look at him as he tied Sheridan to a tree, away from Laramie. “I’m probably the only one who knows this is where you spent that week after Dag died.”


Guilty. He’d never told anyone where he’d gone. It surprised him his dad had known.


“So am I in trouble?” Jesus. Sounded stupid to say. He was a grown man, not a disobedient boy.


“Guess that depends on your idea of trouble.” His dad squinted at him. “Your India came to the house today.”


“Yeah? What for?”


“She was lookin’ for you, but I suspect she came to give your ma what-for.” Carson gestured to the log and they both sat facing the water. “Did you know your mother stopped in and had a chat with India at her tattoo shop this week?”


Colt managed a terse, “No,” through clenched teeth.


“I didn’t either. I doubt I coulda stopped her if I woulda known. That woman gets her mind set on something…” He huffed.


“Evidently they had harsh words. India said she didn’t need our approval to date you. She didn’t see where Caro got off tryin’ to tell her what kind of man you are, when she doesn’t really know you.”



“Indy said that? To Ma?”


“Yep. Caro was a little stunned. She was even more stunned when India said she agreed with Cam, that we’re all a bunch of idiots and hypocrites. Demanding you change and when you do, not believing that you have.” His dad picked up a rock and threw it in the pond. “I’ll admit that accusation threw me for a loop.”


“Why?”


“’Cause it’s true. ’Cause we’ve all been pretty selfish for years.


And yeah, I’m includin’ myself in that group. It pisses me off I was so busy judgin’ you, that I didn’t see what was happenin’ right in my own damn family. Saw your brothers had followed my lead and were wrongly judgin’ you too. It took Cam to bring it to a head.” He scowled. “Although, now that I think back, Keely mentioned something along those same lines, what’s the point in changin’ if no one believes you can.” He shot Colt a sidelong glance. “I’ll admit she was right. To you. Be no livin’ with that girl if I admit it to her.”


Colt smiled.


“Son, I’m just gonna say this flat out. You know I ain’t a spillin’ my guts kinda man. I’m better at showin’ my feelings than my dad was, but I ain’t nearly the father I oughta be. I know that, especially when I see how good Cord and Colby and Carter are with their boys. I’m damn proud of them. They’re good fathers and good men. I struggle with wantin’ to be more like that even now that you kids are all grown.”