Aidan: Loyal Cowboy. Cathy Mcdavid

      Another glaring difference between him and his brother. Ace put the ranch and family first. Colt, himself. He got away with doing less because, in Ace’s opinion, their mother let him.

      In truth, so did Ace. Love and loyalty were nothing if not complicated.

      What infuriated him the most was Ace knew Colt to be capable of so much more. His brother had true skill with horses and cattle, too. The kind of skill Ace envied. If Colt would just take life and himself a little more seriously, he’d astound everyone with his accomplishments.

      And, possibly, Ace could relinquish some of his responsibilities around the ranch. Particularly in light of the fact he was going to be a father.

      “Thought I should let you know I’m leaving Thursday for the Crazy Eights Rodeo.”

      “Any chance you skip this one? We’re examining the mares on Thursday. Prepping them for breeding season next month.”

      “Sorry, bro. I’m behind in steer wrestling and bull riding. I can’t afford to miss one weekend if I expect to qualify for Nationals.”

      “December’s a long way away.”

      “Every rodeo counts.”

      Ace was wasting his time, but he couldn’t stop himself. “I need your help. Darrell’s girls are on school break. He’s taking the week off.”

      “I can do it Monday.”

      “That’s my surgery day.”

      “Then Tuesday.”

      “Forget it.” Ace didn’t bother reciting his list for Tuesday. Nothing short of a catastrophe would stop Colt from going to the rodeo in Bozeman. “I’ll just work Sunday.”

      Another day of rest spent toiling. Ace should be used to it by now. Instead, he was tired and cranky.

      “I’ll help you with the stock for the Western Frontier Pro Rodeo,” Colt offered.

      He’d help because he was competing in that one, too.

      “I realize you’ve got a lot on your plate right now,” Colt continued, “what with the new breeding business and all.”

      “Do you?”

      “Sure.”

      Ace sensed his brother’s guard rise like an invisible shield in front of him.

      “Then why can’t you stay home this one weekend?”

      “I told you. I’m behind in two events.”

      “Is making all-around cowboy more important to you than this ranch?”

      “Hey, I respect you and what you do. You could return the favor.”

      “What I do is work. Damn hard. I don’t gallivant around the countryside, chasing dreams.”

      “You chase dreams.” Colt’s gaze traveled to Midnight. “They’re just here.”

      “This family needs you, Colt.”

      “This family has you.”

      “And if they didn’t?”

      Colt grinned. “Not going to happen.”

      “It might. Things change.”

      “Yeah, like what? We strike oil?”

      “I have my own family.”

      Colt laughed. “You need a woman for that, or hasn’t anyone told you?”

      “Flynn’s pregnant. I’m the father.”

      “I…” Colt took a step back, caught his breath. “I had no idea you and she were dating.”

      “We’re not.”

      “Then how—”

      “Long story.”

      “You’re smiling.”

      Ace had been doing that a lot since yesterday. “I’m excited about the baby.”

      “You are?”

      “Hell, yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”

      “I don’t know. Are you ready to be a dad?”

      “I’ll be ready by the time the baby’s born. I like kids. I’ve always wanted to have my own.”

      It was another area he and Colt seemed to differ. Ace’s brother had never expressed any interest in settling down, much less starting a family.

      “Then I’m glad for you.” Colt’s flat voice sounded anything but glad.

      “What’s wrong?”

      “How did Mom take the news?”

      “I haven’t told her yet. I will at dinner.”

      “Good luck with that.”

      “You think she won’t be happy?”

      “She and Dad always wanted us to be married before we had kids.”

      “Yeah, well, I’m not.” He would be, if Flynn weren’t so stubborn.

      “I need to hit the road.”

      “Colt. Hey, come on, man. Stay. I’m going to be spending a lot of time with Flynn while we figure things out. I could really use you.”

      “Maybe if I win this weekend, some of the pressure will be off.”

      The pressure his brother was under didn’t compare to Ace’s. He could feel it building inside him, a band stretched tight on the verge of snapping. But he maintained his cool, willed himself to calm down. Colt wouldn’t change, and Ace refused to be like their late father, whose favorite method of motivating his children had been to verbally berate them.

      Or had Ace, as the oldest, been pushed harder than his siblings?

      “Fine,” he said tightly. “Remember to call Mom, let her know you arrived. She worries.”

      “Yeah. And congratulations again. Flynn’s a terrific gal.”

      Colt left, his gait just shy of a dead run.

      Ace remained at the fence, watching him. His brother was always in a hurry to leave the ranch behind, but this exit was particularly hasty.

      Strange.

      Hopefully when Ace told the rest of his family about Flynn and the baby, they’d react better.

      Ace resumed his chore of cleaning the saddle, his concentration a shambles. He’d pretty much decided to quit for the day and tackle Midnight’s behavior problems tomorrow, when he felt something behind him. Startled, he patted his back pockets.

      Son of a gun!

      He spun slowly around.

      Midnight stood a few feet away, smugly crunching a carrot.

      Ace grabbed another one and held it out to the horse.

      He snorted and retreated a step, still chewing.

      “That’s okay,” Ace said, his anger at his brother dissipating. “It’s a start.”

      A very good start.

      * * *

      THE STOCK PENS AT THE Western Frontier Pro Rodeo were already half-full when Ace and Colt arrived and parked their truck and trailer. Behind them were two more Thunder Ranch rigs, one carrying bucking horses and the other a pair of their most promising bulls.

      Beau and Duke, Ace’s twin cousins, had come along to help with the livestock and compete with Colt and Ace. It had been over a year since all four of them went up against each other at the same rodeo. Ace was looking forward to it.

      His decision to enter bareback bronc riding was likely