Page 48 of Disarming The Rancher

“You aren’t my biological son,” she said on a hiccup. “Which doesn’t mean that I love you any less than the others.”

Brax watched as her mouth moved but it was as though she’d yanked the earth out from underneath him. The world started spinning and he had to walk over to a tree to anchor himself before he face-planted in the dirt.

15

Raleigh couldn’t let Brax deal with the news he was about to receive alone, and he would want to isolate himself. Besides, she couldn’t concentrate on the financials no matter how hard she tried. Her chest hollowed out after looking into his eyes and she had to find a way to make him understand there was no way she could deliver the kind of news that could rip his heritage from him.

She listened for his voice as she made her way toward the back of the house. Tim and Randy were still in the kitchen as she walked inside.

“Have you seen Brax or his mother?” she asked.

They pointed toward the back door in unison.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Word of warning,” Randy started, “Mrs. Firebrand looked to be in an emotional state.”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Raleigh stated. She didn’t have time to explain.

The minute she stepped outside, she saw Brax walking away from his mother. Mom Firebrand scurried off in the opposite direction and for a split second, Raleigh was torn. She wanted to make sure the woman who’d been so kind to her and Nana was okay. But she needed to know that Brax would be.

Raleigh cut left, following him toward the barn. He disappeared from view and she wondered if he would hop on Bullet’s back and race out of there and onto the property. Her only hope was that he would want to stick close to the house considering the ATV driver had been so close to Firebrand property.

When she reached the door and there was still no sign of him, she exhaled. Inside, she scanned the open layout. He was nowhere to be found. Until she looked up and saw a piece of hay floating down from the loft.

She raced to the metal staircase and took steps two at a time.

“It’s me,” she said, figuring he deserved a warning as she climbed.

“Go away,” came the response, his voice a low growl.

“No can do,” she countered, slowing her pace. She could try to justify not telling him the news, but she hoped he understood why it wasn’t her place to tell him now that he knew what it was. He had to know. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be up here.

She stopped as soon as he could see her. A muscle in his neck pulsed. Gaze narrowed, lips thinned, the man looked like he could rip someone apart with his bare hands. The moment they made eye contact her heart lurched. The intensity of his gaze warned her not to take another step.

“Okay, if I keep coming?” she asked.

“No,” he bit out.

Raleigh froze, unsure of what to do next. A growing part of her needed him to know how sorry she was and how awful she felt for this entire situation.

“There’s nothing you can do or say. It’s family business and that means none of yours,” Brax said through clenched teeth. His jab had the impact of a stomach punch.

Normally, she would be ready to fight back if someone came at her with anger. But this was Brax. He just found out everything he believed about himself and his family was a lie. It was impossible not to feel like she’d betrayed him in some small way but not telling him the minute she knew. The no-win situation weighed heavy on her mind and in her heart.

But what could she say?

“I’m sorry about—”

“You’re sorry? Why on earth would you need to apologize?” Brax seemed to barely have a grip on his frustration. Like bottled up steam ready to explode.

“Forget it,” she said, refusing to stand there any longer, unable to look at him while he was in so much pain and not be able to do anything to make it better. “I’m going to go since my presence seems to be making this already awful situation even worse and that’s not my intent.”

Raleigh looked up and caught Brax’s gaze. He stood there, staring her down, not saying a word.

She tucked her chin to her chest to hide the tears welling in her eyes. And then headed down the winding staircase. The minute her boots hit the floor, she took off running and didn’t stop until she was far away from the barn, any Firebrands, and especially Brax.

“You up there?” Adam’s voice drifted up the stairs.