Page 59 of A Montana Rodeo Star

“What do you mean, what am I doing? We’re dating.”

Her eyes rounded. “And her brothers are okay with that?” The shock in her voice was almost comedic. She searched the ground as if it would give her the answers to her questions. “I didn’t think they’d ever allow someone in their field date their sisters. They refuse to travel. They’re all about staying close to home.”

Brent folded his arms and stared at her with his smuggest expression. “Guess I’m special.”

Her eyes narrowed again. “Anything but.”

“Hey,” he snapped. “That wasn’t nice.”

“Neither is what you’re doing to Faith.”

“I’m not doing anything to her.”

“Wrong.” Hallie shook her head. “She’s not cut out to be with someone who’s always gone.”

“You seem to handle it just fine.”

That had her snapping her mouth shut, though her eyes seemed large again as she seemed to contemplate his words.

Brent arched an eyebrow. “You think you’re so smart, noticing the way I am with Faith. But that’s just it. I’m out in the open with her because we want to be together. I don’t want to hide how I feel about her⁠—”

“How you feel? Seriously, Brent. You’re blind if you think what you’re doing is okay. We all know what your end game is, and I bet you haven’t discussed it with her.”

“She knows what I want.”

“Was that before or after you two… got close?”

This time he couldn’t fight the anxiety that started to flow through him. They hadn’t discussed his plans for the future after he’d asked her to start dating him openly. They were getting closer. He was loving every second he got to spend with her. But with her starting school at the community college and him planning on getting a sponsorship, that would put their plans on two separate trajectories.

He cleared his throat and looked away.

She held up four fingers, encompassing the four people she’d listed. “Faith. You’re going to hurt her.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Secrets have a way of hurting people even when we don’t want them to. She might support this dream of yours, but that doesn’t mean the people in your life will support her once they find out she’s been aiding you in your secrets. Do you think for one second your mother is going to accept her once she finds out that Faith was a part of it?”

Brent hadn’t thought about that particular scenario. Hallie made a good point. Even if this rodeo thing didn’t work out, eventually, the secrets were going to be spilled. And when that happened, Faith might not be looked at the same way. Would his parents welcome her with open arms knowing that she was his partner in crime?

He couldn’t be certain.

Hallie’s low voice broke through his thoughts. “Maybe you should consider what you’re asking of her. And maybe you should have a sit down with your family⁠—”

“Not going to happen, Hallie. So unless you’re here to threaten to tell them all my secrets, I think this conversation is over. Faith is her own person. She’s going to do what she wants. And if that means supporting me, then all the better.” With that, he stormed away, not caring to turn back when Hallie’s irritated tone called out to him again and again. His cousin didn’t know what she was talking about.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Faith cut a look to Hallie who was fidgeting on the large blanket they’d set out on the yard. Several feet away, the guys were wrangling the fireworks. The girl at her side was definitely distracted by something and just before it got dark, Faith had seen her appear from the side of the barn following Brent from the same location.

It looked as though they’d gotten into a fight if their terse expressions were any indication.

It was probably about the rodeo. That was usually the sore subject with Brent and his family, though it was hard to believe that Hallie was upset when she loved that part of country living. Why was she so angry?

Hallie caught her staring and flashed her a smile that in no way made her look at ease. If anything, it was strained. Faith tried to smile back, but she probably looked like one of those monkeys who smiled as an act of submissiveness.

It would be so much easier if she could just ask Hallie what was going on. She definitely couldn’t talk to Brent. Even though things were going well, she couldn’t escape the feeling that he was skittish about certain things. Maybe if Faith knew what was bothering Hallie, she could be a sounding board for both of them.

Probably a death sentence, but Faith hated it when the people she cared about couldn’t get along. She hated it even more when someone she cared for wasn’t dealing with an issue and wasn’t willing to ask for help.