Page 39 of Roping My Rival

“Should we get the horses settled, then?”

“Yeah, come on. Dad will be out soon. They’re just making dinner.”

I fall into step next to Warren. In silence, we get our horses, and I follow him up to the barn. He props the extra-wide door open, and Petey walks in on his own, clearly happy to be home and knowing where to go.

Warren chuckles. “He’s mostly on autopilot, and I can’t say I’m not happy about it. Sure makes life easier when he just does whatever is needed.”

Trigger moves more cautiously into the barn, and Warren walks ahead. Petey stands outside his stall and, after letting him in, he opens another stall across the aisle. “Trigger can use this one for as long as you need. I’ll grab some bedding.”

At the end of the barn aisle is an open area with stacked straw bales. Warren effortlessly lifts one and returns with barely a sweat. He drops it in the stall and pulls a pocketknife from his pants, slicing the twine before grabbing a pitchfork and spreading the bedding. Once done, he nods towards the stall. “Get her settled, and I’ll show you where the water buckets are and help you grab some hay.”

I’m still stuck on watching Warren move around so confidently here. I always thought he carried himself well in the ring, but here in the barn is different. Like he’s happy with no outside pressure, and I understand his earlier comments a little more.

He leads me to a room off the entrance where literally everything a horse would ever want or need can be found.

“We store tack in here too. You can keep yours with mine. I have lots of room.”

Along one wall, there are cubbies with names on them. Hunter, Gabe, Warren, Jesse, and Clarence. Warren’s is mostly empty since it’s all in the truck still, but he’s right. There’s room for my stuff easily since Gabe’s stall has far more saddles than anyone, and they fit just fine in his.

“Is Gabe your other dad’s name?”

Warren hands me a bucket of water. “Yep. He’s addicted to saddles. We call him Pops. If you don’t want to see two men make moon eyes at each other, don’t ask about how Pops got into horses and riding.”

Warren’s smile is so fond, it makes me wish I had his life. This family. Maybe a different outcome altogether. Although I’d never give up my sister. I just wish we had a better lot in life.

A bag of carrots sits on a shelf, and he tucks a few into his pockets before handing me another bucket of water. He tosses a bale of hay into a wheelbarrow, and I follow him back to the stalls. Wordlessly, I hand him a bucket, and we take care of our horses. Trigger seems to like her new digs just fine and wastes no time launching into her food.

“Do you give her treats?” Warren passes me a carrot. “I spoil Petey. He eats more carrots than my rabbits, I think.”

I glance around the barn. “Do you keep them out here?”

“Oh, ah, they’re pets. I keep them in the house.”

The thing about life is you never know what it will throw at you and when. You try to stay focused and upright and take things on the chin instead of being knocked on your ass. Even keeping my chin up, nothing could have prepared me for Warren keeping pet rabbits in the house and the almost shy way he admits it.

Jesus Christ, how do I keep the man at arm’s length now when all I can visualize is him snuggling fucking bunnies in his pajamas? I’m gonna die.

“Of course you do.”

For a moment we stare at each other, and I know I’m not imagining this pull to him. I’m about to cave and tell him I’m sorry for being an ass and every single thing I’ve done to irritate him when his dad bursts into the barn, saving me from a confession I probably shouldn’t make.

“Hey, son! Dane. You got your horse a spot, I see. Did Warren tell you that you can board here for the season? I figure if you’re representing the school, the least I can do is make it easier on you with your horse. You still have that feed sponsor, right?” His dad just keeps going, and I’m not sure what to say. He’s like those swirls of wind that kick up dust in the parking lot. You can’t avoid them, and they’re kind of cool to watch.

“I do. They keep my boarding costs covered.”

He slaps a hand on my shoulder. “Consider it a job perk then. Keep your horse here and pocket that money. When I was your age and touring the circuit, money was tight. Sponsors would also change their minds daily, it seemed. I know how expensive things can be. Just show up and muck stalls when you can.”

“Uh, I can’t—”

Hunter Burke levels a gaze on me that makes me snap my mouth shut. “Spare me the obligatory speech about how you can’t and shouldn’t and whatever bullshit you have lined up on your tongue. You’re a lot like me when I was your age, so don’t be a hero and take the breaks when they’re handed to you.” He clears his throat and smiles. “Now… tell me how the rodeo went.”

Warren starts and relays the day’s events with far more detail than I remember. He even talks about riders by name, and I’m sort of impressed with how many people he actually knows.

A beep sounds from Hunter’s pocket, and he removes his phone.

“You’ll join us for dinner, Dane?”

“Oh…I, uh…”