Hope on the Range (Turn Around Ranch #2) - Cindi Madsen Page 0,3

“True. All the same, I’m getting ready to pass the torch. The Silver Springs Rodeo is gonna be Aiden’s first official competition, and he’s been borrowing my horse while his gains the necessary experience. Before you know it, I’ll be left with slow-and-steady Bud for good.”

“Excuses, excuses,” Tanya said, shaking her head and clicking her tongue. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re already waving the white flag on this year’s side competition.”

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately for you, the reason I called you here is to inform you that I’m planning on takin’ things to the next level.” Brady eyed the pond, thinking a dip might be nice about now. “Wanna go for a swim while we discuss it?”

Tanya’s eyes went wide, and while he didn’t completely understand why, he got the message loud and clear that she’d rather not jump in the cool water. Come to think of it, in addition to the makeup on her lips and eyelids, her hair was all done up, sleek curls in place of her usual messy ponytail. “You got somewhere else to be this evening? I guess I should’ve asked how long you’ve got.”

“No. I mean yes.” She blew out a breath. “Time’s not real pressin’, but that CEO who’s gonna shadow me all month is set to arrive in about an hour, and I figured I’d try to make a good impression. You never can resist dunking me, and ‘drowned rat’ isn’t an easy look to pull off.”

For reasons he couldn’t exactly put his finger on, her answer grated on his nerves. Why would she put on airs for some city slicker? Not that Brady paid much attention, but she’d never dressed up for one of her guests before.

Had she?

And since when did she care if her hair got messed up? Half the time, she initiated the water fights that led to him dunking her. She’d come up for air, slapping water at him and cursing him out for being bigger and stronger—not that she’d ever say it that way. She’d make an excuse about not being ready or that she’d slipped on a mossy rock.

Maybe that was it. She must want a more level playing field as they tossed their dare-filled gauntlet.

“How about we shoot instead?” Tanya opened the bag of tricks at the base of the cottonwood tree that was technically more of a crudely built box and lifted out their bows and quivers of arrows.

Since they often came on horseback, they’d stashed the essentials. In addition to the archery equipment, there were fishing poles, a tackle box, and snacks that were likely past their prime. Not that he was one to talk, since he’d recently begun to feel he was past his, too.

Lately he’d turned into one of those old men who ranted about too many changes and the state of the world. He also fretted over his parents, his five brothers, and the entire staff at the ranch—not to mention each and every teenager in the program, past, present, and future—more than he ever had before. He continually felt like something was…off. Or maybe just missing. Whatever it was, he couldn’t seem to put his finger on it. Sure, his goals had changed quite a bit through the years, but he’d been the one steering, and he was happy with his choices.

With any luck, preparing for their annual small-town rodeo and the new twist he wanted to throw into the mix would help. See. I can embrace change.

As long as I’m the one in charge of it.

“Are we shooting or snoozing?” Tanya asked, waving his bow in front of his face and returning him to the here and now.

“Is snoozing an option? Because if it is, I choose that.”

Tanya shot him a pursed-lip look that reprimanded him for being boring without saying a word, and he smirked and relieved her of his bow and quiver. As they walked toward the tiny meadow where they’d set up multiple targets, he noted the way her purple V-neck top complemented her red curls and pale skin.

Back when they first began playing together, she’d been a slip of a girl with thick Pippi Longstocking braids and a smattering of freckles. Sometimes he still pictured her like that—the girl who’d gone exploring with him, everything from rickety shacks to rusted-out vehicles that’d hosted nests of mice and other vermin.

While he still saw hints of that girl, fiery waves had replaced the frizzy braids, and her pale, delicate features—so