Cowboys Mine by Stacey Espino

Author:Stacey Espino [Espino, Stacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

That evening, they sat outside of their trailer to enjoy their last night away from home. Colton had a good bonfire blazing, the sparks dancing up into the sky. Eva sat on a bench with a quilt wrapped around her shoulders.

“So, how’s it feel to be the owner of a prized cow?” he asked, sitting next to her.

Eva smiled. “She came in third.”

“Hey, you have a blue ribbon. That’s all that matters.” He tucked some stray blonde hairs behind her ear. Colton had promised himself to keep his distance, but she needed him as much as he needed her. His sweet girl had been through the wringer because of that jerk. He needed to hear her laugh, to see the innocence in her eyes again.

North sat down on the other side of Eva. “You’ve been quiet tonight. You okay?”

She shrugged. “Still a bit shaken, I guess.”

“Nobody will ever hurt you again,” said North. “You’re ours and we protect what’s ours.”

His brother made a weighty statement, one that he didn’t disapprove. Colton wanted to own Eva, to know she’d always be his. He decided to put her before his fears, before the baggage from his past. Holding back wasn’t saving Eva, only supplying him with an excuse to follow in his father’s footsteps. But they were two different men, and the only role model he’d ever needed was Mr. Ford.

“I want to be yours,” she said. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Colton put his arm around her shoulders, holding her to his side. “That’s good, because you should know by now how hard it is to get rid of us.”

He watched the flames dance, the wood crackling as it slowly turned to ash. The stars were out and the moon was full. These were the kind of nights he loved.

“It’s back to the real world tomorrow,” said North. “I don’t even want to think about all the fields I need to plow.”

“We’ll get caught up,” said Colton.

He wanted to bring up the topic of their ménage relationship because he was worried about the future, but Eva had enough on her plate. It was best not to stress her out any more.

“The moon’s big tonight,” said Eva. “Remember the harvest moon last Halloween? I wonder if we’ll get one again this year.”

They’d stayed out in the corn fields all night. It had been an Indian summer, and the moon was huge and a brilliant orange. It appeared so close he swore he’d be able to touch it if he reached far enough. He remembered every detail of that night from the corn stalks poking him in the ribs to the sound of Eva’s giggling. It seemed all his positive memories featured Eva Ford. Before her, before their dad walked out, his life was a haze of beatings, sadness, and chaos. Eva equaled happiness, safety, and laughter.

“I remember,” said Colton simply.

North set his hand on her thigh. It meant nothing until Eva pushed his hand higher. She turned to look at his brother.

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