He’d make it up to her. She would understand. But how did one floppy-tongued beast become a pawn?
“How about this?” Dale withdrew a packet of papers from his coat. So like his father in mannerisms, the sight made Tucker’s stomach lurch. Until now, he’d never considered Dale to be much of a threat, but now he was seeing him for what he was—manipulative and crazy enough to be dangerous.
“I’ll leave these papers for you.” He unfolded the trifold sheaf and with a violentwhack, he impaled the sheets on the nail where the bridle had hung. Like a wanted poster on a tree, the papers stared Tucker down.
“You sign and we’ll talk about letting your little gal keep her pet. Don’t want to upset someone with a hot little ass like that—”
The heels of Tucker’s hands hit his cousin’s chest before he knew what he was doing. Dale stumbled back a few steps but didn’t fall. In fact, he didn’t even get mad, as Tucker hoped. He just started laughing.
“Found a weak spot in Tucker Langley’s armor, did I?” He guffawed. The hackles on Tucker’s neck rose. Dale continued, “Funny. Never thought I’d see that again after Heather.”
He dragged her name out until Tucker’s mind was ready to snap. Fury was a hotcharcoal in his chest. Glowing bright with pain and rage.
“Get the hell off my property, Dale, and don’t come back.”
“I’ll do that.” Dale gave a nod and started to back toward the barn door as if afraid Tucker would tackle him from behind.Good. I fucking might yet.
At the opening, he paused. “Oh, yeah, and I saw one of your horses up in the top field limping. Someone as conscientious of his stock as you will surely be concerned.”
With that, he disappeared.
“What. The. Fuck?” Tucker said to the silent barn.
“What was Dale doing here?” Claire’s voice vibrated the air like a gong in his soul. She stepped through the back door and closed it behind her.
Tucker ground his molars. The last thing he wanted to tell her was that they were squabbling over Boom Boom.
Her gaze took in his expression, which must have been thunderous. Then she tripped across the space and into his arms. He caught her against him, enfolding her tightly. Neverwanting to let go. Dale had brought Heather into his mind again, but he had Claire to chase away her ghost.
He trailed his lips over the top of her head. “My cousin is sticking his nose into business that isn’t his.”
“He’s fueled by money. Did you see his boots and coat? He must require a lot of money to keep up his appearance alone.”
As always, she was a keen observer. Not only of people’s physical appearances, but she probably knew Dale’s depths and capabilities better than anyone.
Tucker locked her curves to him and replayed his conversation with Letty in his mind. He couldn’t hurt Claire—would do anything but keep her around for his own ends.
That meant that Claire deserved to be brought into the circle of trust. Tucker had never discussed his worth before, but if anyone deserved to know, it was her. They’d fill Christian in later.
He eased his hold on her, allowing her a bit of room. Catching her gaze, he gave her a small smile that felt tighter than he wanted. He dragged a deep breath into his lungs.
Before he could speak, she ran her fingertip over the silver ball stud below his lip. “You never told us why you decided to get this. It’s not exactly commonplace for cowboys around here to have piercings.”
He glanced down then returned his gaze to hers. “It means something to me.”
“Things like that usually do. What does it mean?” She held her breath as if awaiting the worst.
Sliding his fingers over the crest of her cheek, he then skated them down to her full lips. The pink curves taunted him. Too easily he could recall every nuance of her kisses. And her mouth on him.
He snapped his attention back to her before he got a hard-on and ended up pounding her against the barn wall and forgetting to tell her about his real situation with his family.
“The piercing symbolizes a new beginning for me. When I…ran…I left behind people who are important to me to chase a ghost.” His voice broke, his throat tight on the word that meant his lost love.
Claire’s eyes darkened with sympathy, but a spark of something else lived there. Sadness?Did she think he’d never love her as much as he’d loved Heather?
“Go on…” she said quietly.
“Well…” he looked at his boots, then back up, “…some people believe that hanging silver in a stable will keep ghosts away.”
