Page 137 of Wild As Her
It’s a video on social media that Poppy posted, caught from the trail cam Cami had set up. Cami storming out of her trailerlike a queen with a canister raised and ready. Granger looks like he’s screaming at her and waving a bat like a lunatic. And then a direct hit from the bear spray. The sound’s cut, but Taylor Swift’sKarmaplays over it like a battle anthem.
I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh, but Cami’s already groaning. “Oh mygod, Poppy. When did she post this?”
Matthews nods. “The video went viral. Someone even added sparkles and a slow-mo shot.”
“Karma is the guy on the screen,” I quote softly, unable to help myself.
Cami shoots me a glare. “Don’t you start.”
Matthews flips the phone back. “The video’s… everywhere. Maggie called a town safety board meeting.”
Cami blinks. “A what?”
“It’s basically a get-him-out-of-town intervention. She’s catering in pie.”
I laugh. “Of course she did.”
Matthews scratches the back of his neck. “Look, legally speaking, it’s a gray area. He was trespassing. You defended your place of business. It’s just… the optics.”
Cami throws her hands up. “The optics areincredible. Honestly, I should be in a commercial. Bear spray sales are going to skyrocket.”
“Like a feral Disney princess,” I mutter.
“Exactly!”
Matthews shakes his head. “Anyway, he’s being fined. Harassment, property damage. The video helped more than hurt, honestly. But I had to follow up.”
Cami smirks. “So he gets hit with fines, a viral humiliation, and Maggie’s public disapproval?”
“His ranch is going up for sale,” Matthews adds. “Word is, it’s been struggling. This just pushed it over the edge.”
I glance at Cami, expecting triumph.
But instead, her smile falters for just a second. Just long enough for me to catch it.
“He deserves it,” she says, quieter now. “But it still sucks. That land was good once.”
Matthews nods like he understands and turns to leave. “Just try not to spray anyone else this week, alright?”
“No promises,” Cami calls, grinning again.
He waves without turning around.
When the sheriff’s cruiser disappears down the road, Cami lets out a breath like she’s been holding it for days. She turns to me, eyes wide but dry, tough as ever even when the wind’s knocked out of her.
“Okay,” she mutters. “That was not what I expected.”
I raise a brow. “You think?”
She shakes her head, half-frustrated, half-exhausted. “He came at me with a knife that time, Jack.”
The way she saysthat timelike it’s just time out of many that she was messed with. And I hate that I wasn’t there to protect her. The memory hits me hard and hot. The rage I felt then comes back in a snap, curling tight in my chest. I can still see her standing there—fists clenched, chin high, not backing down. But she shouldn’t have had to be brave that day or any other day. She shouldn’t have had to face any of that.
“I should’ve done more,” I say quietly. “I should’ve kept him away from you the second he tried to step foot on your land.”
Cami looks at me, eyes softening. “This isn’t on you.”
“It is,” I say, voice low. “He doesn’t get to keep showing up in your life like this. Doesn’t get to mess with your peace. Not anymore.”
