Page 22 of Where She Belongs

“No, it’s more than that.” This was Jason. The quiet, annoyingly observant twin who knew Tate better than Tate did. But that came with the territory. They were twins, after all.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to get at. But I’m fine.” He lifted his hammer, prepared to take another swing when Jason’s words had him nearly hitting himself. Again.

“I think Rylee is making you distracted.”

Tate threw back his head with a groan. “Rylee has nothing to do with anything. We’re dealing with a lot right now. If that developer⁠—”

Jason shook his head again. “Ever since you saw her at that meeting you’ve been different.”

“Will you just drop it?” Tate tossed the hammer aside. He didn’t need his brother pointing out that he’d been off. And it started a lot earlier than Rylee’s arrival. He’d been off his game since he’d tried to have a serious relationship. That hadn’t worked out. But that was par for the course. Rylee would be no different. She wasn’t here permanently. And they couldn’t even be considered friends. Whatever Jason was trying to do wasn’t going to work. “You fix that, will you? I’m heading to Sagebrush.”

Jason turned as he passed. “Why?”

“Because I want updates on the zoning situation,” Tate hollered back. But mostly, he didn’t want his brother poking at the weak shield he’d erected around himself when it came to wanting something he couldn’t have.

When Tate arrived at the Sagebrush property, he was pleasantly surprised to find a few of the people he wanted to speak to lounging around. It was getting close to supper time so perhaps he’d timed it just right. He wandered over toward Brent and Tripp’s home—or rather the home where their parents lived. Both Brent and Tripp now had places of their own. The Reese family land was large enough that they’d given each of their extended family a parcel to build on.

Tate would have been jealous if he didn’t already have to look after his parents’ property. It was still in their name. He was just the one responsible for keeping everyone together. Brent and Tripp sat with their wives and parents on the porch. Their cousin, Hallie, had lived next door before she got married this spring. Right now, she and her husband were out of town for a rodeo event down in Texas. The other cousins were around here somewhere, but Tripp would have information for him. His wife worked in town and was privy to more gossip than most.

Tate smiled as he approached. He nodded to Brent. “You coming out to work tomorrow? We missed you today.”

Brent nodded. “I was hoping to bring my cousin’s kid along. Bo’s son wants to learn a thing or two.”

“That’s not necessary. If your family wants lessons, I’m sure Jason and I could set aside some time to come here and give a few lessons,” Tate offered.

Faith gave him a knowing smile. Family first. And since she’d married into this family, Tate couldn’t help but feel a connection to them as if they were his own.

“That’d be great, thanks. I’ll let him know.”

Then Tate turned to Tripp and his wife. “You guys hear anything about that developer? Any news on the zoning being approved?”

Tripp shook his head, but Wendy nodded. “The gals down at Salon 406 said they heard the purchase agreement is already in the works. The mayor’s son is trying to push it through without a vote to the public. Something about this being an issue that the city council needs to handle—not civilians.” The look of disgust on her face said it all.

“Does he have that much pull?” Tate asked, and didn’t like waiting for the answer.

“He’s on the council so he might have more sway than we realize.”

Tripp grumbled something. His parents didn’t look all that pleased either.

His mother was the next to speak up. “I went to that meeting. That woman who spoke did ruffle some feathers. Did anyone catch her name? I heard she’s a city girl.”

“She’s not a city girl,” Tate spoke before anyone had a chance to share gossip about Rylee. “I grew up with her. She moved away when she was a kid.”

Tripp chuckled. “Wouldn’t that make her a city girl then? She hasn’t exactly been raised around here.”

Tate’s jaw flexed. Rylee might have been raised in the city for her teenage years, but the way she held that rifle at him said she was still country through and through. “Her father owned the farm next to mine. She values this place just as much or more than you. Let’s not forget you didn’t grow up here either. Summers at Sagebrush is hardly being born and bred in the country.”

Tripp’s amusement faltered. Tate had hit the nail on the head. If only he’d done so literally earlier today.

“What’s she doing here?” Tripp’s mother asked, ignoring the tension that had built between them.

“Don’t know,” Tate murmured. That wasn’t exactly true. She was here for the summer which meant she might not be here long enough to fight this battle. “All I do know is that she loved this place as a kid and she doesn’t want to see it go to some man or company who would turn it into something unrecognizable. She’s not the enemy.”

His sister and Wendy exchanged glances at his last comment, but he didn’t dare ask what they were thinking. He knew better than to allow himself to be drawn into whatever mess they wanted to take part in.

After getting a few updates about Jacob and Hallie and making some plans to teach the kids at Sagebrush how to handle a horse in competition, Tate took his leave. It had been a nice reprieve from the constant thoughts of the girl next door.

CHAPTER NINE