Wade Dwyer's life is turned upside down when his father dies and he learns he must marry or he and his siblings will lose the ranch. One last jab of the knife from his father. On top of that, his father's only friend knows about the stipulation and is determined to own the property by any means necessary.<br><br>He's facing the very real possibility of being the reason his family loses their home when his brother's best friend, Lance Matthews, offers to walk down the aisle with him. A faux marriage to the man he's loved for years is a torture he isn't sure he can endure.<br><br>Can he keep the ranch ... and the man of his dreams, too?

The Twisted Oak

Within minutes, Casey slowed. “Over here. Landon, stay here and watch the horses.”


This time their little brother didn’t argue.


Everyone dismounted and Dr. Hunter climbed out of the truck, leaving the lights on so everyone could see the cattle huddled together on the ground.


“I’ve called my dad,” Justin advised.


As Wade walked closer, the scent of blood hung heavy in the air and he fought the urge to gag. These cattle weren’t just hurt, they’d been tortured. Mutilated. Who the hell would do something like this?


He met Casey’s gaze, their jaws clenched tight. Someone had snuck onto their land while they’d slept. While they’d felt safe. Only a monster could do something like this.


Justin assessed the cattle as quickly as he could. “Three are already dead. The other two aren’t going to make it. Best I can tell at the moment, they’ve all been stabbed repeatedly.”


Chapter 38