Love All Out - Part 3 (A Stepbrother Romance) Read Online Free

sweetheart. It’s just a bruise. It could be a lot worse.”
    “It really barely hurts, Mom,” James assured her again. “You don’t have to worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” He emptied the dustpan into the trash and sat down next to me again.
    Renee snorted. “Maybe instead of praying you don’t get hurt, I should start praying that you get hurt just enough to quit.”
    “Look on the bright side,” James told her. “I’m too busy to go to most of the rodeos. You don’t have to worry about me again for months.” He split three biscuits in half, topped each half with a piece of sausage, and covered the entire plate with gravy. I did the same, but with only one biscuit.
    If Renee keeps cooking like this, I’m going to need bigger clothes.
    “James is right,” Daddy said after a large bite of sausage. “We have more important things to worry about than rodeos right now. What time is the security company supposed to be here?” he asked, looking down at his watch.
    “Nine o’clock,” Renee replied. “They want to tour the pastures, see where the fences were let down. They also need to see all the barns and houses, everywhere we might want to stick a security camera. I thought after we show them around, we can all come back here for lunch. We’ve got plenty of sandwich stuff.”
    “Sounds good to me,” Daddy agreed. “I almost hope that the bastard that let down the fences comes back. I’d love to catch him in the act.”
    I looked down at my plate and shoveled food into my mouth. I had a good idea of who was behind the vandalism, but I knew no one wanted to hear it. I had to keep my mouth shut until I had proof that Bradley was behind the sabotage.
    Renee nodded. “The security company assured me that regardless of the package we choose, they can have everything up and running by the end of the week. I’d hate to have the stock get loose again, but it would be nice to catch the culprit and press charges.”
    James ate silently next to me and I wondered if he suspected Bradley as well. We’d only exchanged a few polite words in front of our parents since the afternoon Bradley found us on Eagle Point, and I wasn’t looking forward to changing that anytime soon. But I knew we’d have to talk eventually. We had to come up with a plan to beat Bradley at his own game.
    James cleared his throat. “I have a suggestion that I hope no one will find offensive,” he began.
    Daddy looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Okay, let’s hear it.”
    “I think it would be best if none of us mention that we’re having the system installed. I know there’s a good chance that some random stranger let the fences down as some sort of prank. But on the off chance that it was someone we know, I don’t think we should broadcast that we’re tightening security. The culprit will be less likely to come back if he or she knows we’re looking for him.”
    Daddy frowned. “I hate to think that someone we know was behind it. But you’re probably right. We shouldn’t let it get around that we’re installing the system. I won’t say anything.”
    Renee and I quickly agreed to go along with the plan and Daddy turned the conversation to racing.
    “Are you getting excited about Preakness, pumpkin?” he asked. “I know I am.”
    My stomach fluttered with excitement as I thought about the second of the Triple Crown races. “I can’t wait,” I confessed. “And Matt and I should have all the new guys trained before we leave on Thursday. I hate leaving them alone so soon, but I think they can handle it.”
    “Actually,” Renee said, grinning. “I’ve decided to stay home this weekend. I knew you’d be nervous about leaving the new guys alone with the stock. I don’t want you to be distracted with worry when you should be enjoying yourself. I’ll oversee things here, and you and Matt can have a good time.”
    I was shocked, but also moved by her offer. “Are you sure? It could be a big day for the family.