Rules of the Ride: A Silver Star Ranch Novel

R
ules
of the Ride

Copyright © 2015 by HJ Bellus.

Edited by: Kathy Krick

Formatting: JRA Stevens

Cover Designer: Sara Eirew Photography

Photographer: Golden Czermak @FuriousFotog

Cover Model: Justin Keeton

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of HJ Bellus.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

T
o all the
dreamers and believers who never give up even when everyone else around them does. Dream big, dream often, but never give up. Put a little gravel in your travel, some giddy-up in your go, and get shit done.

S
plitting
pains shoot around in my head. My mouth is dry, and a nauseous feeling already swirls around in my gut. Yep, drank way too much last night. Rolling over in bed, my arm lands across the warm skin of another body. Peeling my eyes open, I see Ella in all her naked glory, with her messy blonde hair sprawled across the pillow and my sheets.

“Fuck,” I grumble, trying to sit up in my bed, throwing my feet to the floor. Jake looks up at me with that face saying,
“You’re screwed, man.”

Looking down, I’m naked as the day I was born, and as the events of the night before play out in my head, I realize I am fucked beyond belief. I’ve fully given into Ella, and now it looks like I am in for another ten years of heartache once she climbs in her fancy little sports car and drives away.

“Mav.” I turn to see her rustling around in the sheets, and then her baby blues look up at me. “Come back to bed.”

Her tattoo dances up the side of her ribs, and I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of staring at it. I had no idea she got it the day she left town. My name in western font goes from right underneath her armpit down to the top of her hip. Then my mind goes back to that vicious cycle and anger begins to boil up in me. She left me. Actually, she chose to leave years ago, and I’ve welcomed her right back into my life knowing my odds weren’t good.

Hell, not only life, but my heart, bed, and soul.

Her palm brushes down my back and it’s something about her touch that I’ll never be able to let go of. The day I ran into her weeks ago in town, I should’ve turned and walked away, but like a fool I stared at her.

I feel the bed dip, and then her arms drape around my neck with her breasts pressed up against my back. Her lips play with the lobe of my ear. My hand automatically goes to the back of her head, wrapping my fingers into her blonde locks.

“What’s bothering you, Mav?”

I shake my head side to side. “Nothing.”

“Then how about you lay back down with me?”

“I need to get an early start with Merek and Challis’s reception today.”

Yes, Granddad finally convinced the two assholes to have a wedding reception on the ranch. It’s something he wanted. He even sat Marvel and myself down and told us he’d whip our asses if we eloped. He explained he only let Merek do it because he knew Merek would do whatever in the hell he wanted.

Cold air sweeps across my back as Ella falls back onto the bed. I twist to see her covering her front with the sheet, and a sad look covers her face.

“I get it.”

“Ella,” I yell, standing and dragging my hands through my hair. “What in the hell are we doing here?”

She shrugs, with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I love you, Maverik.”

“You don’t love me. You love being with me and what we used to be, but you’ll have no problem hopping in that fancy sports car of yours in one week and bolting from me once again.” My fist goes straight through the drywall.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her jump back further on the bed and feel like an even bigger asshole, if that’s possible. Staring down at her bright blue eyes, I realize I’m already gone and have no chance of survival with Ella back in town.

I drop to my knees on the side of the bed, grip her thighs, and tug her toward me until she’s straddling my torso. Tears stream down her face and she does her best to hide them from me with her long hair.

“I’m sorry.” I tilt her chin up. “Ella, let’s just focus on the reception today.”

She takes a moment to gain her composure before she speaks. “Who says I’m leaving this time?”

“Nothing keeping you here.”

Her hand touches my bare chest and then drifts over to my beating heart. “I want this, Maverik.”

My phone goes off. I twist toward the nightstand and take the call.

“It’s Challis,” I whisper.

“Maverik.” I immediately hear the panic in Challis’s voice.

“Yeah?”

“I’m freaking out. The DJ isn’t here and the dance floor is all wrong. Someone left the irrigation on out by the pond and everything is swamped.”

I interrupt her, “Slow down, Sis. Where’s Merek?”

“He’s picking friends up at the airport. I have a hundred things to do.”

She continues to frantically ramble on in panic mode and I wonder if she’ll ever realize that we’ll always have her back. Although, calling me is one huge step for the feisty little shit. She generally bottles everything up until she explodes in a fit of anger.

“It’s not funny,” she yells as I laugh on my end of the phone.

I stand and look for my clothes. “I’ll be right over. I need breakfast and a pile of ibuprofen.”

“Okay.” I hear a loud clatter in the background. “Granddad is here trying to help. He cooked up breakfast.”

“Be there in a minute, Sis.”

Ending the call, I toss my phone down on the bed next to Ella.

“So, that’s it, Maverik?”

“What do you want, Ella?” I ask as I pull on my pants, trying to keep my balance.

“I want you.” She stands, still covering her naked body.

Before I pull up the zipper on my jeans, I go to her, spinning her around and pinning her against the wall. I plant both of my palms on the wall, framing her face.

We’re so close I can feel her breath on my skin and damn near taste her sweet lips.

“I’ve wanted you for forever and that never stopped you from walking away from us. You’ve been gone for nearly a decade.”

“How many times can I say sorry, Maverik, before you’ll forgive me?”

“I have my family and this ranch. They come first in my life. They’ve never walked out on me for bigger and better opportunities like you did.” I step back before I find my lips on hers. “I’ll see you at the reception tonight if you’d still like to be my date.”

The rage rips through my body; I still love the woman and would do anything to make her stay here with me or just lose myself in her until she leaves once again, but I listen to my brain for once and fight for me. I don’t just want Ella James for a couple of weeks. I want her for a goddamn lifetime and am ready to force her hand.

“I’ll be there, Maverik.”

They’re words I’d like to believe but know damn better.

T
wo Weeks
Earlier

“
E
lla’s mom finally passed
.”

I look up to Granddad who’s sipping on his morning coffee after delivering the bad news. I quickly focus back down on my plate of fried potatoes.

He taps his daily newspaper. “Says she finally lost her five-year battle to cancer. It’s a shame.”

“Who is this?” Challis plops down in Merek’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.

The table falls silent as my two brothers look to me and wait for me to explain, but nothing comes out. I still can’t talk about her or anything to do with Ella James, and this conversation just turned to torture.

Granddad continues talking. “Ella was like a daughter to me and dated Maverik all through high school.”

He pauses, and the pain that rips through his voice hurts me like nothing else has. It’s a fact Ella, my only love and first love, was like a Slatter. She grew up on this ranch and loved Granddad. Even though she was raised in town, we had her countrified in no time. She loved riding and even entered a high school rodeo her junior year of high school.

“Stop.” I slam my hand down on the table. “Ella was my first and only girlfriend. She chose to walk out of my life nearly ten years ago and has never been back. Not even to hold her momma’s hand as she passed. Enough fucking talk of this.”

My greasy potatoes hold no appeal to me now, and, if possible, I feel like an even bigger asshole for blowing up at the family. She’s always been the one person to set me off, either for the positive or the bad. And now the thought of her coming back to town is even more upsetting.

Nothing can crush a soul like thinking you know a person until they walk out on you and your family and never look back.

“Ella? Is that the girl who was with you at the rodeo that one night?” Challis asks.

“Yeah, I ran into her at the street dance, but it was like, for ten awkward seconds.”

“What was she doing in Texas, and this close to home?” Merek perks up, and now the whole family is intrigued.

“Said she was trying to find her way home and then left me again.” I hang my head and stare down at the old oak table, not wanting to face my family or the reality of Ella James.

“Well, we will all pay respects to her momma. She was an integral part of our hometown, volunteering her time at the soup kitchen and several other charities. It’s a shame she lost her husband at such a young age and then her daughter.” Granddad slowly rises from his seat with his bones creaking. “It’s not our place to judge or hold bitterness in our hearts. We will do the right thing.”

“Do you think she’ll come back to bury her momma?” Challis’s green eyes are enlarged with concern covering her face.

I only shrug, not knowing the answer. I would’ve bet Silver Star that she’d never have left my side and that we’d be married by now with four little ornery kids running around.

“I can’t believe you didn’t talk to her more at the rodeo, or at least question her.”

“It’s not worth reliving the pain of some wounds all over again.”

“So, if she comes to town you won’t talk to her?” Challis rests her elbows on the tabletop.

I lean back in the chair, tossing my fork to the table. “What do you say to someone who left in the middle of the night and never returned?”

Challis shrugs, leaning back onto Merek’s chest. “I mean, you both seemed very cozy at the street dance.”

“She was hiding from someone and only spoke three words to me and then was off again.”

“Hiding?” Marvel asks.

“I guess some ex or some shit. I was stunned and trying not to listen to her.”

“You still love her?” Challis asks.

“Challis.” Merek stands her up and swats her ass. “Mind your own damn business, Verde.”

Marvel’s the next to stand. “We need to bring in the fall set of calves today, sort them off, and load the truck.”

“I can do that,” I volunteer.

“Challis and I are going to bring in the next set of colts to break and continue working the few that will bring big money.” Merek slaps Challis on the ass.

It’s been quite entertaining watching the two of them work side by side without the distraction of rodeo or saving her daddy’s ranch. They’re definitely fire and gasoline together. One moment they’re ripping each other a new asshole and the next they’re getting caught in the stable naked and entwined. Marvel and I are smart men and let the two pair together, and after all, they’re the best two riders on the ranch and should be breaking the colts.

Next set of fucking colts to break. The words make my blood boil as we are still held prisoner by Saint and his fucking crew and the sins of my father. We’ve learned Father owes thousands upon thousands of dollars to Saint, who claims there’s a bigger dog in the picture. We’ve calculated that it should only take about five more months to be out of this fucking mess and clear the Slatter name.

Since Teebaby was drugged, we’ve amped up security around the ranch. Merek swears up and down it was Saint’s crew who sabotaged Challis and her run. Surveillance cameras are stashed away everywhere, along with a security code on the new gate out front. And since it would be easy for anyone to get to the main stables and homes from the pasture, us brothers have someone watching over Granddad at all times of the day, unbeknownst to him.

It seems these ruthless assholes are not only after their money but also our heartstrings, and that was evident with the attack on Challis. In natural order, it only seems Granddad would be the next target. If one hair on his head is touched, you can bet your sweet ass there’ll be dead bodies.

“I’ll go to the bank and make another payment,” Marvel adds.

We’ve set up an account that goes directly to Saint to make payments, but more importantly, so there’s a paper trail of evidence. However, it seems the fat fuck has everyone on his payroll as the bank manager was more than happy to help us set it all up, even knowing it was to pay off a debt laced with illegal activity.

On one of Merek’s trips to Saints’, he discovered not only was our father spending way too much time and money at the tracks but he was also indulging in some other extracurricular activities. We’ve kept the illegal prostitutes and drugs out of the picture, seeing that it would only break Granddad’s heart a little bit more.

I silently watch as my brothers and Challis walk out onto Granddad’s porch. Challis races back and lands a quick peck on his cheek, and my granddad glows with pride like he does each time that woman is in his presence. It’s never been said out loud, but Challis has brought a special touch back into our hearts and house. It’s something that’s been missing for quite some time.

As soon as the screen door shuts and I hear footsteps going down the porch, I feel Granddad’s hand on my forearm. “Sit, son.”

I know what’s coming and want to run, but it’s one thing I’ve never done; disrespect him. I follow his instructions and look up into his wise eyes framed by his weathered skin.

“She’ll come back to town, and I suggest you take time to talk to her.”

“I saw her a few months back, she was only still running and had no interest in me.”

“Maverik, I suggest you give your heart a chance to love again.”

“It’s not worth it.”

“Everyone has their own reasons for running and living the way they do. Maybe you should find out what Ella’s was.”

“Dammit, I know what it was. She wanted the city life and the bright lights. That girl hated everything about Texas.”

“She didn’t hate you.”

“Well, she didn’t love me enough either. Did she?”

“All I’m saying is give your heart a chance, kid.”

I nod, knowing this conversation is just destined to spin circles.

“And I’d like a ride to her momma’s funeral, and you’ll be going with me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I nod to him and see the little smirk on his face. He knows he’s won and that I could never say no to him. I snag my black Stetson from the coat rack by the door and settle it on the top of my head.

“Let’s go, Jake.”

My cow dog groans a bit as he gets up from under Granddad’s table. Challis has fattened the shit out of my dog and I can’t help but chuckle as he wobbles down the steps. The sun is high with bright blue clouds dancing all over in the sky. The clean air is refreshing on my lungs, and it wipes my head clear of any murky waters and worries.

Dust flies up into the air as I strut over to the stables. I can hear Merek and Challis already bickering over which set of colts to work first and then the eventual sounds of gates slamming and strings of curse words as I saddle up my old mare, Bonnie. She’s always been my go-to work horse on the ranch and the same one Ella used to ride. I run my fingers through her black mane and am taken straight back to the days where Ella would spend hours braiding and unbraiding her hair and then riding alongside me while I worked.

It’s shit like this that always takes me straight back to her, even after years of her being gone. Memories and my nightmares escalated rapidly after seeing her, and it wasn’t for the good but for the hellish worse. I’ve been bedded deep inside dozens of women since her, but it’s Ella that has the ability to ruin and wreck me with a simple memory.

I finish cinching up the saddle and climb onto Bonnie as I set out for the pasture and fight to make the memories of Ella fade, but the harder I battle them the clearer they settle in.

She was my first crush in first grade, first girlfriend in high school, and my only true love. And also the one person who has entirely wrecked and devastated me. But the truth I hold deep down in my soul is that I still love her. I love her more than this ranch. It’s a love that hurts to think about and makes my bones ache. I love Ella James but will never let anyone know that. It’s a vow I made the day she left and never returned. She broke a piece of me that day, and the world will never understand. The part of me that willingly and openly loved is now gone forever, courtesy of her.