Free Runaway Cowboy by T. J. Kline

reason than to remind him of what he’d lost, and he wondered why she was still alone. He knew Jen always planned on having a family of her own, outside of raising her brothers. Now that they were grown men, or well on their way, why was she still devoting all of her time to her brothers and the company? A twinge of hope rose. Could it be that she still had feelings for him?
    The soft clomp of shod hooves on the dirt caught his attention, and he hurried to the front door in time to see her head out across the pasture toward the lake. She pulled her hat low on her brow, but he didn’t need to see her face to know she was upset. He could speculate why. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out his presence back at the ranch had her pissed off and ready to do battle.
    He left the house, crossed the yard, and ran into the barn, where he retrieved a bridle from the tack room, slipping it over the halter on a sorrel mare. Jumping on her bareback, he followed Jen, hanging back far enough that she wouldn’t notice him. He watched her ride, letting the horse open up to a full gallop. The lake had always been her refuge when she felt circumstances closing in on her. Clay hated himself for causing the turmoil within her. He shouldn’t have gone to the rodeo, he shouldn’t have let Mike talk him into coming back here, and he never should have kissed Jen.
    Clay debated turning back to the barn, waiting for Derek to show up with his trailer so he could head out instead of staying. He should get his ass back to Oregon and let Jen move on with the life she’d made without him. Wasn’t that what he was planning on doing next week anyway?
    â€œNot now.” The words came out on a breath without him realizing he was even speaking them. But once they were out, Clay knew it was the absolute truth. He didn’t want to go back to Oregon.
    The truth was that his past had caught up to him almost five years ago when his brother had overdosed. Then his mother died two years later. Now, it was only his sister, Candie, who needed his help. Trouble seemed to follow her like a stray dog after scraps. And, if he was honest with himself, he was tired of being the one-man cleanup crew for his family. If he wanted to stay—and God help him, he did—he simply needed to tell Jen the truth about his past and let her make the decision.
    â€œBut you won’t, because there’s always that chance something might come up,” he muttered to himself. He would never allow anything to hurt Jen.
    If that were true, then why was he still here?
    J ENNIFER COULD TIE the gelding near the trees and let him graze without worrying about him spooking, but she knew how much Gunner liked to play in the water. She held the lead rope loosely in her fingers, allowing the colt to wade into the edge of the lake, almost to his knees. She smiled as he pawed at the water, splashing it over his belly and chest, flipping his nose up and down. Droplets hit her where she sat on a log near the shore. She laughed at the gelding’s antics but stopped suddenly when chills ran down her spine.
    She looked over her shoulder, scanning the horizon, unsure of what she was even searching for. Gunner wandered closer to her, rubbing his rough upper lip at her thigh, and she turned her attention back to him, reaching up to pat his shoulder. He was a good horse, and she was looking forward to using him at the next few rodeos. His head shot up, and he looked behind them, snorting loudly with alarm.
    â€œWhat is it, buddy?” She stood up, turning to see what had riled him. She could barely make out a horse and rider cresting the hill, but she’d recognize Clay’s massive physique anywhere. “I should’ve known.”
    She watched as he rode toward her and wondered if it would be easier to mount up and head back to the barn or let him come and simply ignore his presence. What difference would it really make? He obviously had