Greyson (Cloves County Cowboys Book 1) Read online

  “I’m fine. How much longer you think?” she whispered, wiping her forehead.

  He gestured up the steep hill. “Just the Point and then we’ll head back.”

  Britt nodded.

  The steep hill leveled off as everyone’s horses came to a halt.

  From behind, like nails on a chalkboard. “And this is the last of the tour. Gracie Point.” Her tone was almost bored.

  Britt rolled her eyes. She needed a break. She turned to Lucas.

  “Can you help me down?” she asked.

  Before he could answer, Grey was standing next to her. “Put your hands on my shoulders.”

  She was stunned. He had kept his distance during the whole tour. Until now. She placed her hands on his strong shoulders, and his hands gripped her waist. He lifted her up and set her softly onto the ground, inches from his body. Britt immediately stepped back. Glancing up at him, she saw the same heated expression from last night. Her own mind was brought back to their kiss and her invitation to come inside. Britt, feeling the heat on her face, turned away from Grey. She took a few steps back and headed to the mountain’s edge.

  She knew she must be walking funny from over two hours on the horse. She would be hurting later. She stretched her legs and raised her arms above her head, forcing her shoulders to crack. How did people do this, every day? Two hours on Minnie and she was ready to rest and soak in a bath. The sun was beating down and she was sweating. She was a few steps from the edge when she stopped, taking in the view.

  “Amazing,” she muttered.

  She could see Cal’s house and the barn, the rolling pastures—she could see everything. The view went on with the sky as a backdrop of the most beautiful picture. It was endless. She looked around and saw the beauty Cal had seen. Her eyes welled up and for the first time in a long while, a tear fell down her face. She took a deep breath and her body relaxed, and she stood there, staring out into Cal’s dream. It didn’t happen often, but sometimes you got to be a part of someone else’s dream, and right then, right there, she saw Cal’s dream. She was a part of it. His beautiful, short-lived dream. She turned her head to the right and stopped.

  “It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. A sky so brilliant blue and clouds threaded through, swirled together to make the most breathtaking blanket that covers those rolling green pastures and white peaked mountains. You’ll feel as though you’re staring at an endless world, atop that hill. And the air? Crisp and clean, you’ll swear you’ve never taken a “real” breath in your life until that moment. It’s serene, contentment didn’t exist until that very moment. The peace that washes over you on that Point is indescribable, really. You’ll see it, you’ll feel it, you’ll know it.”

  Home.

  Britt was home.

  »»•««

  Grey watched Britt standing at the peak of Gracie Point. She stood in silence, and her hair flipped from the breeze blowing. The day was hot, but the air at least moved this high up on the point. She seemed to be taking it all in, embracing the view of the land. Most girls who hadn’t grown up on the land couldn’t see the beauty, but staring at Britt, he got the feeling she saw its beauty. Really saw it.

  What was she thinking? He found himself looking beyond her pretty face and body. He wondered what was going on in her mind. She was paying special attention to Gracie Point. She seemed relaxed there, almost comforted on the ridge. It was the best spot on the ranch. Still, he couldn’t help but wish he knew what she was thinking.

  “Dear God, these bugs are wretched today.” Joanne, who had her horse next to his, was swatting at the horse flies. She whined. “It’s too damn hot out here for this, what’s she doing anyway?”

  The mere sound of Joanne’s voice was irritating the hell out of him. She had spent the last two hours trying her best to flirt with him. He was ready to shoot her ass if she made one more sexual reference. He knew for sure Britt had heard a few. While he couldn’t explain why, it bothered him.

  Grey ignored Joanne, trailing over to his father and Jasper, who were standing under the shade of an oak. Both men were watching Britt as she stood on the edge of the point, never once turning around.

  His father faced Grey when he came up to stand next to the older man.

  “Should we be concerned?” His head jerked toward Britt.

  Grey sighed, his eyes pinned on her. “Don’t know.”

  He watched Britt, his eyes tracing over her body. Her tight ass cupped by her jeans. She had to be one of the sexiest women he’d ever seen. His mind was suddenly back on her porch from last night, her hand on his chest. The feeling of her body against his had him shifting, unable to control the effect this girl had on his ever-growing erection.

  She spent a while at the point before heading back to the group. They all seemed eager to be done, everyone except Lucas.

  She gazed down at the ground as she approached their small group gathered underneath the shade of the large oak. Grey watched her, thinking something was off, he just didn’t know what. Her eyes met his and he felt the uneasiness in her stare. Something had changed. Grey had the feeling he was not going to like what she was about to say.

  Chapter Six

  Britt felt everyone’s eyes on her as she walked back to where they had all been standing. Joanne, Grey, Jasper, Tripp, and Mr. Fords were all under a large oak. Lucas was standing about twenty-five feet away, separate from the group. The sun blazed down on him and she could see the sweat lining his face. Even with his hat, the sun was penetrating, but he refused to stand with the Fords. She gave him a tight smile, which he returned with a nod.

  It was a gut decision. One which could be the biggest mistake of her life. Selling to the Fords would guarantee her money issues would be a thing of the past. She could do so much. She wouldn’t have to work while she finished school. She could travel anywhere. The money would make any dream possible.

  Therein lies the problem. What dream? She didn’t have any, not really. Britt lived in the day, not the future. She had always been that way, even as a child. The only thing she ever really wanted in her future was a home. A place to call hers.

  Standing on the Point, looking out at the ranch and seeing Cal’s dream, it was like it all made sense…clarity. She may not have her own dream, but here was Cal’s handed to her. It was crazy and unrealistic. She knew nothing about Montana or ranching. She disliked animals and had no concept of how the farm worked and how to grow things. She couldn’t even keep a small cactus alive. Failure was almost imminent.

  Owning this ranch was Cal’s dream, not hers. But she was going to live it.

  Britt was aware of Lucas’ eyes staring at her, and she jerked her head toward the Fords. Lucas followed. She stopped in front of them. Her heart was pounding, and she had a feeling she was about to blindside the Fords with her news. She caught Grey’s eyes, his very dark, glaring, suspicious eyes. She had the distinct feeling their date plans were about to change.

  “Well, you have fulfilled your obligation of viewing the property so we can all head back and sign the papers,” Joanne said, her face plastered with a fake smile. Bitch.

  “So…I’ve changed my mind.” She released the breath she had been holding and watched their faces, red from the sun, pale. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans and waited.

  There was silence. An awkward, uncomfortable, tensioned quiet. Britt shifted her stance and crossed her arms. She anticipated a vocal response and not a pleasant one. Though the first one who spoke surprised her.

  “What?” Joanne shrieked. She flinched from her tone.

  Britt gulped. “Well, after seeing the land, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not selling.” Everyone remained silent and shocked as she continued. “I’m sorry, I know you were looking forward to the deal going through. I’m sorry for wasting your time, I really am.”

  “You can’t do this. You have to sell the land,” Joanne shouted.

  Britt was taken aback, not only by Joanne’s outburst but by her ridiculous statement. She loo
ked over at her and cocked her eyebrows. “No, I don’t.”

  “You said you were going to sell. This tour was a technicality. You made a verbal agreement. You can’t do this.” She was infuriated. Britt’s eyes traveled among the Fords men, and she saw the anger in their faces. Grey’s face had hardened and an angry mask covered his handsome face. He was beyond mad. She turned back to Joanne.

  She knew the magnitude of her decision and realized how it would affect all of them. The Fords wouldn’t get the land, which meant no commission for Joanne. While she understood, it didn’t change her decision. Britt tried to stay cordial and explain. “I had every intention of selling, however, I changed my mind, which is well within my right.” Taking the opportunity to put her in her place, Britt finished. “And let me correct you, Joanne, I can change my mind and I just did. I’m not selling.”

  Mr. Fords walked to his horse and got on. “Then I guess we are done here. Best of luck with your land, Miss Montgomery.” He tipped his hat, turned his horse, and rode down the hill, followed by Jasper, who had not said one word, but the deep scowl on his face let her know, he, too, was not happy.

  She met Grey’s angry eyes. He said nothing and mounted his horse. His body language made it clear. Her date with Grey was officially cancelled. He looked away and waited on his youngest brother. Tripp, on the other hand, stalked toward her.

  “You’re never going to be able to run this land. You’re a fucking joke.”

  Whoa! Who the hell was he to tell her she couldn’t run this land? True, she knew nothing about farms or ranches or animals, but who did he think he was? He didn’t know her.

  “Tripp,” Grey warned.

  “No, Grey, this land is ours and she has no right to keep it. This is family land,” he shouted. His anger radiated off him. She stepped back to meet Lucas at her side. She was pretty sure Lucas would step in if Tripp completely lost it, which might just happen.

  “Tripp! Let’s go,” Grey ordered, never looking her in the eye.

  She watched his rigid body. His hands gripped the reins so hard his knuckles were turning white. The vision of Grey on his horse left no doubt in her mind. What happened last night had officially ended. It was disappointing but not devastating. This was her chance at a change, and she wouldn’t sacrifice it for a man. Even if the man was gorgeously sexy and made her panties wet at the mere sight of him.

  “Fuck that. This is our land, Grey. Ours.” He was furious and a bit whiny.

  He reminded her of a child. A child who threw tantrums when he didn’t get his way. She remained quiet as he was at a standstill with his oldest brother. This was ridiculous. Someone needed to put this man-child in his place.

  She cleared her throat and got everyone’s attention.

  “This isn’t your land, it was Cal’s, and now it’s mine. I have every right to keep this land and I’m doing just that. We’re done,” Britt calmly replied. Someone had to be the adult.

  “Oh, shut up, you stupid bitch. How’d you get the land, huh? On your knees or your back?”

  She clamped her jaw tight and felt the tension of her ears pulling back. Oh, he did not just call me a stupid bitch. Anger wafted through Britt. No one talked to her like that and got away with it. This little dickhead was getting bitch slapped. Her body heated in rage and her fist balled at her sides. Forget the slap, she was ready to coldcock him.

  “You motherfucker,” she spewed as she darted forward.

  “Tripp!” Grey yelled.

  Lucas grabbed her waist and held her back while she struggled against his hold. Her anger had her wanting to rip this asshole’s head off, and if Lucas let go, she might just do it.

  Tripp looked back at Grey and had the decency to look a little embarrassed by his outburst. His voice was slightly calmer but still angered as he said, “What the hell is she even going to do with a ranch? She’s doesn’t know anything about the land.”

  Britt jerked out of Lucas’ hold and marched right up to Tripp, Lucas on her heels. Her eyes blazed and her body burned in fury. “I’ll do whatever the hell I please with my ranch. And I’ll tell you what I do know, I know this is my land and you’re on my property, you little fucking prick. I know if you don’t get the hell off my ranch, I’m going to have Lucas shoot your ass. That’s what I know.”

  His eyes fumed, as did Grey’s. “Tripp, let’s go. Now.”

  Tripp gave her a disgusted look and mounted his horse. All the while Grey stared venom at her, which she returned. Joanne had also mounted her horse and started down the trail followed by Tripp, who muttered something about regretting this, and finally Grey moved. He gave her a nasty, repulsed expression before he turned and was gone.

  She sensed she had just started a war. She was ready for it.

  Lucas and Britt stared in silence at the empty trail.

  “Too harsh?” she asked.

  “Fucking brilliant.” He laughed.

  The sound of his chuckle eased some of the tension. She laughed, too. “Looks like you still have a job and I now have a ranch.”

  Lucas smiled over at her. “Sounds good to me, boss.”

  »»•««

  “I can’t wait till she runs the whole place into the fucking ground, then we’ll get our revenge,” Tripp snarled from the couch in Grey’s living room.

  He had just spent the last two hours drinking whiskey like a man and watching Tripp getting wasted like a boy. He shook his head in irritation at the shit show in front of him. He would really love for his brother to shut the fuck up or better yet, go the fuck home.

  The day had been a disaster. Not only did they lose the land deal, but the way in which it went down had been horrific. He could sympathize with Tripp’s anger. Grey was riddled with a fiery burn of contention for Britt, too. However, this was not the way to handle it. The way he spoke to her had him set to jump off his horse and beat his little brother. He didn’t, though, and he was feeling the regret. The land was rightfully hers to do with what she saw fit.

  He was waiting for his hatred of Britt to set in. It hadn’t. He needed to stop thinking about this woman.

  “You’re assuming she does, little brother. Never know, she might surprise us all. Lucas knows ranching. If he teaches her and she takes it seriously? Well, you never know.” Jasper swirled his whiskey over ice and threw back the glass. Of all the brothers, Jasper was the least affected. He’d always been the most level-headed of the bunch.

  Slamming his feet on the ground, Tripp shot up from the couch. “Whose side are you on?”

  “Tripp, I’m warning you, if you spill beer on my floor, I’m gonna make your ass lick it up,” Grey growled.

  Tripp spread his arms wide. “What’s wrong with you guys? City bitch stole our land and neither one of you even seems to care.”

  Jasper choked back the last of his glass. “Tripp, when was the last time you showed up for work? On time.”

  “What does that matter?”

  Grey and Jasper both shook their heads and laughed. Tripp didn’t really care about the land, he just didn’t want Britt to have it. It was a pride thing for Tripp and his dad. But for Grey and Jasper, it was their future, their livelihood.

  He drank the last of his whiskey, feeling the burn in his throat and the warming of his blood.

  Grey rested back in his chair, hooking his ankle on his knee, enjoying the effects of the bourbon. He needed his mind to settle after the day he had. He gave up trying to figure Britt’s motive behind keeping the ranch. There was something about how she stared off onto the land at Gracie Point. It was as though she found clarity. At his family’s expense, of course. He doubted she’d be able to run the ranch to its full potential. But as Jasper said, if Lucas showed her the ropes, she might just pull it off.

  One thing was for sure, the girl had fire. The way she stood up to Tripp, it was impressive. He liked a woman who stood her ground. Unfortunately, anything he and Britt might have shared in the last day was now long gone. She may have been within her right, but she s
tood between him and Fords property. Grey had never let anything come between him and the ranch. It wouldn’t change.

  “It’s her land, Tripp. If she wants to keep it, nothing we can do about it,” Grey said.

  Tripp’s glaring eyes changed to a mischievous squint. Grey knew the look of a scheme on his little brother’s face. He had been a scammer since they were kids.

  “Maybe there is something we can do about it.” His words were slurred. “She may not want to sell it but there are other ways we can get to it.”

  “I’m afraid to ask,” Jasper muttered, rolling his eyes.

  “One of us could marry her.”

  Jasper and Grey shared a look.

  His middle brother snorted. “What?”

  “Hear me out. If one of us married her, the land becomes half ours. We’ll get the land back and we won’t have to pay one red cent for it either. It’s brilliant.”

  Grey scowled. “Have you lost your damn mind?”

  “It could work.”

  Jasper leaned over his lap. Grey realized he was laughing, which had Grey laughing, too. Tripp narrowed his eyes at his brothers. Grey ran his hand over his face and smiled at his little brother. Grey decided to have a little fun with him.

  “All right, who’s going to marry her?”

  Grey tightened his lips, holding back his amusement while watching Tripp put deep thought into it. His brother, God love him, was a shit for brains. If he spent more time working than scheming, he might be a great rancher.

  “You, definitely you, Grey. She’d probably fall for you with all the opening the door bullshit you do. Besides, don’t tell me you didn’t notice the rack she’s got on her?” Tripp cupped his hands together, nodding his head. “Yeah, you can court her, make her fall for you, marry her, then we get her ranch.”

  “Hey, genius, then what?” Jasper asked, raising his eyebrows as he finished off the last of his whiskey.

  Tripp stared back, confused. Grey smirked, watching Tripp scratch his head.

  “Grey marries her, gets the land, then what?” Jasper asked, winking at Grey. He was also enjoying egging Tripp on.