The Cowboy's Forever Family by Deb Kastner

measure, and then shrugged out of his arms. He wished she’d say something, even if it was to yell at him for his stupidity in bringing her out here, but she didn’t say a word. The air thickened between them, ripe with tension.
    She was clearly waiting for something.
    Like what? For him to beg her forgiveness? Maybe grovel a little bit?
    He knew he was at fault, but begging wasn’t going to happen. He was too proud to grovel. Still, he supposed an apology of some sort was in order. She deserved that much, at least. Slade knew what Brody would have done at this moment. He would have shoved Slade forward and reminded him what a lug he could be. And he would have made him apologize.
    Slade swept his hat off his head and cleared his throat.
    â€œUm—sorry.” He didn’t even sound like himself. His voice had come out high and squeaky, and he cringed.
    Words. Not his forte.
    Her gaze widened. “Sorry? That’s it? That’s all I’m going to get? You scare ten years off my life and that’s all you’re going to give me? Sorry?”
    â€œWhat else do you want from me?” The muscles in his shoulders tightened and he fought the temptation to turn and walk away.
    Laney had the unique ability to set him on edge. She had when he’d first known her—when she’d first started taking up all of Brody’s time and attention—and she did now. The woman couldn’t even accept an apology when it was earnestly offered.
    â€œFor starters, why don’t you try and explain to me what you were doing up on that bull in the first place.”
    He jammed his hat back on his head and pulled it low over his furrowed brow to shade his eyes both from the glare of the sun and from the glare of the woman beside him.
    â€œI’m a bull rider.” He would have thought that part would have been obvious. What did she expect of him?
    She frowned. “All guts and glory and absolutely no sense whatsoever. Tell me something I don’t know.”
    Well, at least she thought he had guts.
    â€œSerendipity’s annual town rodeo is coming up in a month and a half. I have every intention of winning the purse.” He paused. “For you and for Brody’s kid.”
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous. I don’t need your money, and I certainly don’t want to be responsible, even indirectly, for you putting yourself at the risk of breaking something just for a few dollars.”
    â€œI’m not going to break anything,” he assured her, but then he took a mental step backward. His confidence had been shaken after Brody’s death. Slade and Brody had both attacked bull riding with the typical arrogance and self-assurance of young men years before. No one could touch them and nothing could hurt them.
    But something had. A bull called Night Terror. Brody had been at least as skilled in the arena as Slade was, and it hadn’t helped him.
    Accidents happened. People died. Good people. The best.
    Slade couldn’t assure Laney of anything. Not really.
    But neither could he
not
follow through with his plan, though he wasn’t sure he’d be able to explain his reasoning to Laney. In fact, he was pretty certain he couldn’t. It was more a gut feeling of somehow setting things to right rather than anything he could express in words. Only that it was something he needed to do.
    â€œIt’s to honor Brody’s memory.”
    â€œI think he’d rather you honor him by staying al—uh—in one piece.”
    Slade withheld a grimace. He knew he was dredging up all kinds of horrible memories. This might not be the best time to mention that not only was he going to ride in the rodeo, but he hoped beyond hope he would pull Night Terror. He had something to prove.
    She cocked a brow and stared at him until he was certain she was reading every thought in his head. He broke his gaze away from her. There was nothing more unnerving than the thought