Ride the Sky (Runaway Ranch, #4)

by Ava Hunter

“I don’t sleep,” I admit hoarsely, and her gaze goes to me. “Not since you left. Maybe four hours a night, if I’m lucky.” She smiles wanly. “What about here?” Her eyes move across the room. “That chair can’t be comfortable.” “Ain’t so bad.” Dakota and I have been switching off staying with Fallon. And even that’s been a feat when my brothers tried to make me go back to the motel. Leaving her side is damn near torture. Gritting her teeth, she leans back and scoots to one side of the bed. I see the question in her eyes, unasked. My gaze goes to her leg. “I don’t want to hurt you.” “Just get in here, idiot.”

Aww!!

“Bed hog,” she grumbles. “Pretend we’re in a motel.” I brush my fingers against her cheek. “You can deal with it.”

We lie there, saying nothing, staring at each other. Goddamn, she’s gorgeous. Those fathomless hazel eyes that burn like stars. I can’t help it. The need to touch her chases away common sense. I lean in, pressing a kiss to her warm brow. “That’s a kiss,” she says softly. “It’s on your forehead,” I grunt, irritated at her rules even when she’s in the hospital. “It doesn’t count.” “Pretend we’re in a motel,” she parrots. “You can deal with it.”

As I lie with her, the only sound our breathing between us, I realize what I came down to Arizona for. To tell her I love her. But now, with everything that’s happened, how do I tell her that?

My priority is Fallon. Her health. Her sanity. Not my fucking feelings. Because I know she’s holding on by one thin thread. Her leg and her rodeo career are fucked. That’s a lot for any cowboy to take. No matter how good Fallon masks it, she’s scared. And I’ll be there. Every step of the way. No way in hell she’s going through this alone like after what happened with Aiden.

“I have one life left.” Fallon’s grim voice breaks the silence.

“Don’t say that.” I frown, pulling her closer. “Who am I gonna yell at, something happens to you?” “You’d find someone,” Fallon says sleepily. She nuzzles closer. Her wild heartbeat shudders through her chest to mine. No, I wouldn’t. I sweep my lips over her brow. “There’s no one like you, Trouble.” She hums and closes her eyes, knotting her slender fingers in my T-shirt. She holds on to me, and I do the same to her.

When I’m sure she’s asleep, I reach out, resting a hand against that wild, hammering heartbeat. I almost lost her once; I won’t lose her again.

“C’mon, baby.” She whimpers as I lift her in my arms. I hold her tighter to me and run. Her head lolls against my chest. “Ow, asshole.” “That’s it. Keep calling me an asshole.” My boots crunch leaves, dirt, rock. “It’s just pain. Push through it. All it is is pain.” “Easy for you to say,” she growls. “I’d take it if I could.” “B-Bullshit.” Her wheezing breaths don’t make me feel any better. I move faster. “You’re gonna be okay, Fallon.” Her head falls back in my arms as she cranes to look at me. “Liar,”

2 years ago

If she dies… My heart screams, she won’t. She can’t. My voice is hard, my eyes flashing to the rearview mirror. “I go first. I go fucking first, Trouble, and don’t you forget it.” Die for her. Always. “F-Fuck you,” she rasps. “I go first, and you know it.” Her lips tip up in that wicked smile. “Nine lives, after all.” I laugh, even though it’s the last thing I feel like doing.

“Fuck,” she swears, stopping to gasp. “Fuck.” I take a step toward her. “Wyatt,” Fallon says icily. “I will kill you if you come any closer.” I ignore her, moving a chair out of her path. I don’t give a shit if she bites my head off. I’m fucking worried about her. “I’m fine,” she gasps, inching forward with her walker. “This is all fucking fine.”

Dakota rubs Fallon’s arm with exaggerated enthusiasm. “You did so good.” “Is Pappy still here?” Fallon asks. “No, honey, he’s not,” Davis says. “He and Tripp both went back to Resurrection.” I scowl. “What do you want with him?” “None of your business.”

“How can I do this?” Anger creeps into her voice. She eyes her walker with disdain. “I can’t do a goddamn thing.” Davis’s eyes move to Dakota’s. “Which is what we need to talk about.” “You don’t have to do it alone,” Dakota says. “You’ll come home with us. Stay at the ranch.” I suck in a breath, pissed I’ve been left out of a conversation that damn sure should have included me. Fallon balks. “No. I don’t want to go there.” Her panicked eyes flash to mine. “I don’t want to go back to Resurrection. I don’t want to go home.” Dakota flinches, and Davis rests a hand on her shoulder. In a low voice, he says to Fallon, “You can’t stay here by yourself, honey.”

Dakota drops her head and sighs. “You can’t be alone, Fallon. What if you fall? Or something happens?” A tear slips down Fallon’s cheek. A fucking tear. Goddamn, she’s crying. “She’ll come home with me,” I blurt, desperate to do anything to make her happy. “I’ll take care of Fallon.” Davis sighs, staring between me and Fallon in skepticism. “That’s not a good idea.” Concern tightening Dakota’s pretty features, she says, “You live in an Airstream, Wyatt, how can you possibly take care of her?” Not backing down, I say, “Her cottage, then. I’ll stay with her there.” Fallon swipes at her tears, trying to rally a frown. “Don’t I get a say?” “No,” we all snap in unison.

Dakota crosses her arms. “She’s my sister.” I stand tall. Ready myself for my brother’s fist to be in my face. “And she’s my wife.” Pure instinct to say it. Pure truth.

Oop he went there!

Over and over again, I’ve failed Fallon. I won’t fail her now. I square up with him. “Listen, D. You have your babies, the ranch. You got a fucking ulcer, man. You don’t need the stress. I can handle this.” Doubt furrows Davis’s brow. “Someone needs to be with Fallon 24/7. What about your job?” Fuck my job, fuck Younger, I think, but don’t say it. Fallon is my priority. I’ll take care of her, I’ll keep her safe, even if she does want to rip my fucking head off. “My hours are flexible. I train two hours a day. You and Dakota are gone, what, eight hours a day? We’ll make it work. Ruby and Reese can hang out with her while I coach.” A muscle jerks in Davis’s jaw. “If you lose funding—” “I won’t.” I run a hand through my hair, wishing my older brother would trust me for once in his life. “I swear to you, I got her.”

“Okay.” Dakota exhales. “Let’s try it.” A soft choked sound comes from the bed. We all turn to Fallon. The glare she gives us could burn down the world. “Go.” Her mouth begins to tremble. “Just leave me alone. All of you. Leave me alone.” The neon in her eyes goes dark. No fight there, no life. Only a blank, faraway expression. My chest constricts. Scared. I’m fucking scared. I reach for her. “Fallon—” “Go.”

My brothers watch their wives walk away. Ford turns to Davis. “Y’all nail down a plan?” “I’m staying with Fallon.” I scowl at my gawking brothers. “She’s my wife. Why wouldn’t I take care of her?” Ford arches a brow. “Tossing that word around a lot for someone who says it’s just business.” “Been married longer than you,” I say coolly. Ford’s jaw drops. At first, I think he’s going to hit me. Then he laughs. “Got me good, you little shit.”

Oop!!

“D?” Ford inclines his head. We all swing our heads to look at Davis, who’s been silent for the last few minutes. “I told Dakota Fallon would be okay,” Davis says, emotion catching in his throat. He turns to the wall, hiding his grief behind a big hand. “And she isn’t.”

I turn to Davis, my heart clenching, and look him dead in the eyes. “Listen, D, I know you’re worried about her. But I’ll make sure she’s okay. I swear it.” His mouth curves up at the corner. “I know you will.” Davis claps my shoulder, and the guilt from the last few days leaves me. “Although, I can’t say I’m thrilled about y’all goin’ off on some sort of choose-your-own-adventure game.” “They’ll be okay,” Charlie says. “They’re in town. If they need anything, they’ll call.” He looks at me. “We’re all here.” I shoot him a grateful look. Me and Fallon. Playing house. Just what we fucking need.

While everyone else packed up my shit, including my horses, and headed back to Resurrection, Davis, Dakota, and Wyatt stayed with me through my time in the hospital. Wyatt slept in a chair beside my bed, refusing to leave my hospital room except for all the times Davis threatened bodily harm until he showered and changed.

I glance behind me through the rear window. Davis and Wyatt hot on our wheels. There was no way I was driving back with Wyatt. Just us. I confessed too much in the hospital as it is.

“I did it,” Dakota says as if reading my thoughts. “Broken bones. Going back home. You can, too.” I look down at my hands. When I think of all the shit I gave her after she came back home. I was an asshole. I look up to say something, to apologize. Instead my words fall short.

Dakota blows out a breath, gaze on a bright-yellow jalopy. “Dad’s here.” I swallow. “Fuck.” Facing my father is not something I’m ready to do. Dakota pulls into the driveway. Wrapping her arm around the seatback, she twists to look at me. “You ready?” “No.” I make a face. “Don’t make me live with a boy, Dakota.” She laughs. “You and Wyatt will be okay. And if you’re not, you call me. You’re priority.” No way in hell. They have a newborn and a bakery. It’s bad enough Wyatt’s been saddled with babysitting me. I left Resurrection so he didn’t have to worry about me. Now? Fat chance of that.

“Put me down,” I snap, shoving at his shoulder. “I can walk.” “Thought I’d carry you over the threshold,” he drawls. I glare at him, and the sonofabitch has the gall to grin. “Don’t you dare.”

The grin on his face fades as he scans the cottage. “I don’t want you on stairs,” he says. “I’ll build you a ramp.” I bristle. “I don’t want a ramp.” A big sigh from Davis behind us. “Tough shit,” Wyatt growls as Davis sets down my walker. A piece of me for the next three months. Discombobulated, I get my bearings by gripping the rubber handles of my walker.

When I’ve made it to the porch, Dakota opens the screen door. My breath lodges in my chest as a surge of memories hit me. I hate this house and what it means. It means Aiden/Danny. Aiden/Danny with his hands all over me, my body warming in response. Letting him kiss me. Letting him into my bed. Letting my guard down only to have regretted it ever since. Your pussy is nice, but hers is nicer. Aiden’s voice echoes in my ears.

Five steps later, what feels like forever, I finally make it inside. My eyes widen in wonder. “It’s…” “Clean,” Dakota says. My brows draw together. “Different.” “Wyatt did it,” Davis offers, setting my bag on the floor. “All last summer after you left.” Every trace of Aiden, of that painful night is gone. The bloodstained carpet torn up and replaced by hardwood floors. A fresh coat of paint on the walls. Heavy furniture instead of the cheap IKEA pieces I purchased when I first moved in. The old rock wall fireplace is stained sage green. My tattered fabric couch swapped for a plush wine-colored velvet sofa.

That’s so sweet!!

Surprised, I glance over my shoulder to find Wyatt’s eyes locked on me. The faint blush on his chiseled jaw is so disarming I feel my own face flush. “Why did you do this?” I ask. He lifts a broad shoulder. “Had to tear some shit up after you left, so I figured why not start here.” His throat works. “Look okay?” Yes. It’s perfect. I love it. Fuck you for doing this, but also, thank you. So damn much.

Aww!! 💛

“Hi, Daddy,” I say. “Kiddo.” Craggy features creased with concern, he shuffles forward and pulls me into a hug. But there’s a tenseness in his body that shouldn’t be there. “You made it,” he says when he pulls back. I lift a brow. “You’re disappointed.” I can read it all over his face. “We’ll let you talk,” Dakota says, and everyone follows her down the hall into the kitchen. Except Wyatt. He stands behind me, bracing me. Something kindles in my chest at the act. He’s here. Ready to take the fallout with me. “Accidents happen, Fallon. I’d never be disappointed in you taking a bad fall.” He gives me a sad, earnest smile. I snort. A bad fall is the understatement of the century. “Not that.” I twist toward Wyatt. “In us.”

My father runs a finger over his silver horseshoe mustache. “Well.” He chews the words around then says, “I won’t lie about that. I am.” He sighs as he turns to Wyatt. “Son.” Wyatt straightens. “Sir.” “You and I need to talk. But now’s not the time.” I watch my father’s fingers flex. “As a cowboy, I expected better of you.” My father’s jab cuts. Wyatt flinches. So do I. I’ve waited years for Wyatt to drop out of my father’s good graces. So I don’t know why I feel bad. Why I hate the crestfallen look on Wyatt’s face, the way his broad shoulders bow.

He’ll forgive him!

I don’t know why I do it. Brush my fingers against Wyatt’s. Maybe to show him I’m sorry. To show him my father doesn’t have any right to be upset with him. Without looking my way, Wyatt loops his pinkie around mine. The contact, the curl of his fingers makes my cheeks rosy. Regret swallows me up. “Dad, I’m sorry.” My father shakes his head. “I expected better of you, too, Fallon.” Wyatt hisses a breath. Fuck. It feels like he’s slapped me. “Well,” my father says, avoiding my eyes. “You’re home, so let’s get you settled.”

Because you love them both!

“That fucking sucked.” I sag back, pretending not to notice how I’m braced by Wyatt’s hard chest. His voice is rough in my ear. “It’s not your fault.” I incline my head to look up at him and give him a soft smile. “It’s not yours either.” Those bright-blue eyes land on my face. “At least we’re in it together.” “Yeah. Right.” In it together. His words do something nauseating to my heart.

Yea!!

Rules. We need rules. “You look warm.” A big hand palms my face, jolting me out of my reverie. Wyatt stands over me, long fingers tangling in my hair. “Are you feelin’ okay?” Rule number one. “Don’t touch me,” I snap, batting his hands away. Wyatt’s expression hardens. “You need food.” “I don’t want food.” He sighs. “You know I’m not going to accept that.” “For fuck’s sake,” I mutter. Rule number two. Escape. “I’m going to the bathroom,” I say, trying to maintain my attitude even as pain ricochets through my body. My hip screams its protest as I roll my walker in the direction of the hallway. “Is that allowed?” He scowls.

“Fallon?” I call. No answer. I lean back against the wall, cross my arms. Damn if it’s not a strange new world I’ve been dropped into. Thirty minutes from my brothers, the ranch. Just me and Fallon. Before she left, Dakota issued me stern orders. My sister’s been through a lot. Do not let her get hurt. The death threat rang clear in every word. Everyone’s counting on me to do this. Control Fallon. I can’t believe I thought this would be easy. A man trying to wrangle Fallon McGraw is like trying to cage a grizzly bear. You’re dead in under ten minutes. Still, I’ll fucking fix this. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her. That she stays safe. That I’m by her side. I won’t let her—or our family—down. Not again.

Fed up watching her struggle, I stomp forward and yank her pants down. She gasps. I smirk. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.” She bares her teeth, venom in her eyes. She’s as ill-tempered as a yearling. “Asshole,” she hisses. I straighten and grip her arm. “Damn it, Fallon. Stop fighting me and let me take care of you.” She lifts her chin. “And if I don’t?” My jaw tightens. “Fallon Calamity McGraw—” “You promised you’d never use that against me,” she hisses. The memory of her confessing her middle name has me grinning. “I ain’t using it against you, I’m telling you how it is. I’ll drag you out of here if I have to and haul your ass to Davis and Dakota’s.” Fear flares in her icy hazel eyes. “You wouldn’t.” “I would, Fallon.” I lean in, not phased by Fallon’s stabby, murderous ways. “Fucking try me.”