Finding Jack was easy. He was sitting on a gate—at the center of a group of similarly dressed guys and two girls, all chatting away about horses and training, and Jack's expression was animated. Riley could watch the man all day but really, he should make himself known.

"Hey, cowboy," Riley said.

"Riley!" Jack's eyes lit up. "Guys, this is Riley." Jack slid off of the gate and pulled Riley to him in an embrace. Riley leaned into the hug and grinned at his husband. There were more catcalls and a couple of suggestive remarks before Riley moved to one side. Standing here together, with his fingers threaded possessively through Jack's belt loops, Riley had never felt happier. Austin walked past and glanced briefly at Jack. There was a frown between Jack's eyes but it cleared when someone spoke to him.

Something about Austin Hemmings made Riley's gut turn.

* * * *

"You want to get out of here?" Jack had finished his part of today's festivities and the rodeo was quieting down for today.

"You sure? You all done?" Riley didn't want Jack to have to leave early on his account. He was enjoying seeing his husband being the center of attention and dealing with it so well. He couldn't have been prouder of the man he married.

"I need a beer, a shower, and you. In that order." Riley smiled. He could get with that. "Rusty Nail?" "Rusty Nail."

Despite the brawl they'd taken part in a few years

before, the Rusty Nail welcomed Riley and Jack on a frequent basis. The bar in the middle of nowhere was a rundown place that only remained standing, in Riley's opinion, due to dirt and willpower. The beer was cold and the food was hot, it was close to the Rodeo and that was exactly what he needed.

The bar itself was halfway between the showground and the Double D, and they made it there in good time. Jack was quiet and had slid down in his seat a little on the journey over but he was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as soon as they arrived.

Steaks ordered and beer in hand, the two men ensconced themselves in a corner and people-watched. A lot of the rodeo participants had made their way here. The bar was a good place to shoot the breeze and not feel like you had to be something different than you were. The air was ripe with laughter and cursing and congratulations to winners. Riley relaxed inch by inch, and to his credit only tensed a little when Austin and skinny guy walked in with two or three other cowboys.

Riley debated telling Jack what Austin had said about the list. But knowing Jack's temper it would probably not go down so well. Instead, he pointedly ignored even thinking about the guy and turned his attention to Jack, who was talking to him.

"…noticed he was a little spaced out."

"Sorry?" Riley had clearly missed something. "Sean." Jack tilted his beer and swallowed a good

amount in one go. "Said I thought when I saw him yesterday he looked kinda spaced out."

"I noticed that." Riley bristled at the memory. The guy was all over Eden like a rash, and yeah, Riley liked the guy, but something was going on with him. If Jack had noticed too then maybe he should get a PI to tail Sean and see what was going on. He'd better not be cheating on Eden or—

"Riley!" Jack was snapping fingers in front of his face and Riley startled. "Wherever you freaky brain is taking this you need to take a step back. He clearly adores Eden, I just think maybe, on his last trip overseas with the Marines, he could have experienced some things that make a man stop and think."

"So why go back?" Riley leaned back in his chair and huffed his disapproval. "He doesn't need to do that. He's not a forces guy, he's a goddamned civilian."

"Would you respect him if he stayed here and didn't finish out his contract? Do you want that kind of guy for your sister?"

Damn Jack and his ability to cut through the bullshit.

"She's my sister," Riley said helplessly.

"Let him know how you feel. At least then you can stop worrying that he doesn't know how it affects you. Talk to him, het-boy. "

Riley smiled at the familiar nickname, and their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food and another beer for Jack. Riley was driving and one beer was enough now that he was a responsible daddy and husband.

They ate companionably for a while. The noise of the growing crowd made intimate conversation difficult anyway and when they had finished, they both stood to leave by silent agreement.

"Going so soon, Jackson? Husband got you whipped?"

Austin's voice was loud, raucously so, and right in Riley's ear, causing him to jerk away in surprise.

"Little jumpy, aren't we?" Austin added with a laugh.

Riley looked to Jack but his husband was pointedly ignoring Austin and shrugging on his jacket, ready to leave. Riley took a step farther away from Austin.

"Fuck off, Austin," he snapped.

Jack nodded and together they made their way through the crowd toward the door. Jack was swallowed by the crowd and Riley got snagged up by two cowgirls who evidently thought he was a stripper's pole. Laughing, he encouraged them to one side and then continued to catch up his husband.

Someone grabbed at Riley's jacket and caught him off balance—able to haul him close. Austin. The guy's breath smelled of hard liquor and beer and Riley grimaced.

"Bet he spends more time fucking with his horses than he does fucking you," Austin said. "You like cowboys? You get tossed by him like I was and you're horny, come find me."

"I said, fuck off." Riley pulled his sleeve free but it appeared Austin wasn't finished.

"He was a shit fuck anyway—"

Riley lost it between one heartbeat and the next. Worry about Sean and Eden had started the irritation inside him and the crowd pressing in around him and now Austin giving attitude and shit just made it worse. Anger rolled through him in a wave and he spun on his heel and hit fist to flesh in a second. The sheer number of people stopped Austin falling to the floor but quite a few drinks spilled, and the mood of the crowd went from mellow to what-thefuck in seconds. Austin was pushed back, and with the weight of his body behind him, he aimed straight at Riley's face. Riley managed to dodge the blow enough so that the hit connected with his neck but regretted the move as soon as dizziness forced him to grab hold of the nearest body to stay upright. That same body pushed him away and this time Austin's fist connected with Riley's chin.

Riley saw red. He blocked the next hit and then, using his superior height, he followed through with several punches. Skinny guy was there at his left and Riley tensed as he now had two assailants in this crowd. A hand yanked at his arm and dragged him backward.

"We're moving this outside." Jack's voice.