Free Cowboy Rush (Dalton Boys Book 5) by Em Petrova Page A

barefoot, hair dripping down her neck, feeling more out of place than ever on this ranch. During a family crisis, she was only in the way. The other brothers would go home to their families for comfort, but Kade was turning to moonshine.
    The kitchen light shone through the amber liquid in the bottle. He went into the kitchen, sat down and uncapped the brew. Should she stay or go? The idea of leaving him here to drink off his worry didn’t sit well.
    She took a seat adjacent to him. “You made that?”
    “Yeah. I’d share but I don’t know if you can handle it. You’re mighty small.”
    She bristled but ignored him. Now wasn’t the time to defend her strength. He was hurting. Studying the brackets around his mouth, she shook her head. “I’ll pass, not that you’re offering.”
    With a throaty noise he brought the bottle to his lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed but he didn’t even wince. Either the moonshine wasn’t powerful or he was tougher than most. Probably the latter.
    Silence descended. He drank and she shredded a paper napkin left on the table. The old kitchen clock ticked the minutes, and finally Kade broke the quiet. “She was doing too much work.”
    “I’m sure she was taking it easier than you think. Your sisters-in-law are here all the time to help.”
    “I caught her in the garden earlier.”
    “Pulling the tops off the chives before they seed, yes. I saw her too.”
    “All that bending.” He didn’t look a bit affected by the alcohol, though about an inch had gone from the bottle.
    “If you have heart troubles, you need to keep doing light exercise. It’s better to keep the muscle worked.”
    “Too much, maybe too fast,” he said thickly. Okay, maybe the strength of the brew was hitting him.
    Ten minutes later he was slurring his words and pouring out his heart to Ryan. About how important his family was to him. They were all he had and probably ever would. He wasn’t getting the land. She had no idea why not. If the other brothers had received deeds, he would too. As far as she could tell, he wasn’t a love child but a full brother. And he was in good graces with his family.
    A cat jumped into his lap and he tried to pet it, but his hand kept missing the mark. Finally, it gave a loud meow of irritation and jumped down. It slinked out of the room and Ryan watched it go. When she turned her attention back to Kade, she found him on his feet, swaying.
    “Are you going up to bed?” she asked. It was the best place for him. He’d probably have a pounding head tomorrow.
    “Nope. Gotta piss.” He staggered outside and practically fell down the steps. Ryan followed, compelled to see him safe. Grief and worry manifested themselves differently in people, and she had no question that Kade had never dealt with anything major like an illness in a family member. It was something she knew too much about, and he needed a shoulder.
    As he unzipped, she turned her back. Once he was finished, she chanced a glance. He’d managed to right his clothing and was lurching across the yard.
    She jumped the porch steps and ran after him. “Where are you going?” Still barefoot, she hoped he didn’t plan to go into the pasture or barn.
    “Gonna ride, sweetheart. Get some air.”
    Sweetheart…
    “No, you can’t ride, Kade. Come back inside with me. We’ll turn on the TV.”
    “Haven’t watched TV in years. Got better things to do.” His words were coming slower, and she feared he might collapse out here. Then what? She couldn’t heft his weight and dragging his body back to the house wasn’t an option. She’d have no choice but to go for Manny or one of the other Daltons.
    She caught up to Kade and gripped his arm. He looked down at her as if seeing her for the first time. “You’re shorter than I thought.”
    “I don’t have boots on. C’mon.” The bunkhouse was closer, and since he was going in that direction, it would be easier to steer him there.
    “Where are we going?” Surprise