Cowboys Mine by Stacey Espino Page A

tomorrow or the
consequences. He was too high on love, too overjoyed since Eva revealed her feelings.
The sobering reality of a ménage a trios relationship was one he’d
consider—later.
    “I’m done talking. I need Eva.” Just like back home,
she was always the answer.
    The holding paddock for the cattle was crowded with
spectators. How were they supposed to find Eva in that mess?
    “I hope they haven’t started the judging,” said Colt.
    “No, they’re just getting ready.” He walked up to
judging table where several employees he recognized were chatting.
“Afternooon.” North tilted his Stetson in greeting. “Have ya’ll seen Eva around? Looks like Bessie and Ruby are still in the holding pen.”
    “I’m not sure, sugar,” said Patsy, one of the event
planners. “I was wondering where she was myself .
There’s not much time left to prepare.”
    He looked at his brother. Neither of them said a word.
    A hired hand raking hay a few feet away spoke up. “She was here a while ago.
Went down to the storage units with that Granger fellow.”
    “What Granger fellow?” asked North. His hackles were up, but he kept his cool.
    “Wade Granger. I’ve seen him with Eva nearly every day
this week. I’m sure they just wanted to be alone.” Patsy winked. “But you might
want to remind her that she needs to get back in a hurry.”
    “Where’d you see them heading?” asked Colton.
    The hired hand pointed to the forest behind the main
barn. North nudged Colt’s shoulder and then took off jogging. They pushed their
way unceremoniously through the crowds. Red lights flashed in his head. He had
a bad feeling about this. After last night, he was certain Eva wouldn’t want any
type of intimacy with Wade. And after finding out the cowboy was a two-timer
only looking for a quick fuck, he was terrified knowing Eva was alone with him.
    “There’s no way she’d miss preparing for the judging,”
said Colt as they ran down a grassy slope. It was slick from last night’s rain,
forcing them to slow down. There were numerous abandoned sheds in the near
distance, most dilapidated and weather-beaten. He couldn’t think of any good reason
for Wade to bring Eva here.
    “No shit.”
    North heard Eva’s muffled scream when they neared the
small wooden structures. They silently motioned to each other to split up and
flank the bastard.
    “Make your choice or I’ll make it for you,” said Wade.
    When North peeked around the corner, the sight stole
his humanity. His precious little Eva was pinned against the shed wall with
Wade holding her against her will. He held her hands as she struggled to fend
him off.
    His fears dissipated. Although he hadn’t stepped in
yet, he wasn’t worried about losing this fight. Eva’s honor and safety were at
stake. And Wade just made the worst decision of his life.
    “Get your mother fucking hands off her,” said Colt.
His brother moved in from the other side of the shed. His features were set
hard as stone, the promise of pain written in his eyes.
    Wade took a step back and Eva immediately ran to
North, wrapping her arms around his waist. He held her head to his chest, keeping
her close. He never wanted to let her go.
    “It’s not what it looks like.”
    “It’s exactly what it looks like,” said Colton. He
shoved Wade, nearly making him stumble. “You put your hands on my Eva.”
    “Men like you should be corralled and gelded,” said
North. “In the very least, you need to learn a lesson from someone your own
size.”
    He hadn’t been in as many fights as Colton over the
years, but he could hold his own. North earned every one of his muscles through
back-breaking hard work on the ranch. He was thankful for this strength on days
like today.
    “She can’t just get away with leading a man on,” said
Wade. “I thought we understood each other last night.”
    “Eva can do whatever the fuck she wants,” said North.
Eva was an innocent country girl and Wade knew that. He had