Beau balls up his napkin. “You missed all the fun last night and this morning, little brother.” He fills him in as we gear up to confront our asshole neighbors.
Twenty minutes later, I’m banging on the McAllisters’ front door. Beau and Jace stand behind me with their shotguns. Can’t be too careful in these parts. Wild Heart, Texas, has its roots in the lawlessness of the Wild West, and I’d be a fool to ignore that.
Cash’s younger brother Trig opens the door with a yawn as he scratches his bare belly. He’s clearly not expecting us because his eyes widen. “The fuck do y’all want?”
“Morning, Trig.” I cross my arms. “Is Cash home? I need a word.”
He slams the door in our face and yells for his brother, who’s a few years younger than me. Cash and Trig also have a younger sister, Honey.
Our families have been feuding since Wild Heart came into existence. I’d been hoping we could forget that foolishness, but then Cash had to fall dick first on Amber.
The asshole finally emerges. “Don’t recall inviting y’all over.”
“Don’t remember asking you to fuck my wife, but that didn’t stop you.”
Cash huffs out a breath. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass when I say she told me you were splitting up.”
I take a sick pleasure in that notch on his nose where I broke it. “Have you been messing with our fences? Someone cut them last night.”
He smirks. “Can’t say that was my work, but kudos to whoever did the honors.”
Motherfucker. I lean closer to make sure he hears me. “I’m only gonna say this one time, McAllister. If I ever catch you messing with what’s mine, I will end you. You hear me?” I don’t really plan to shoot him dead, but you gotta act like you will around here or the vultures will descend. People have been trying to get their hands on my family’s property for decades. “Stay the fuck away from my ranch, Cash.”
“No one wants your shithole, Rhett.” He holds open his arms. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m doing mighty fine here.”
It pains me to admit his place is a helluva lot nicer than mine, but there’s one thing I learned long ago—you can never trust a snake in the grass.
With a grunt,I tug at my collar that’s cutting off the circulation to my brain. Been replaying that conversation with Cash all morning. If the McAllisters didn’t cut my fences, and that’s a big if, then who did?
Beau scratches his neck and then leans over to whisper, “Did we really need to wear suits?”
“Yes.” We sit on the bench in front of Harlan’s office at the Cornerstone Bank & Trust. I watch the president of the company, my father’s old friend, through the giant glass windows of his office. He’s on the phone, laughing, as he stretches out behind the executive desk. Harlan has to be in his sixties, but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down and still commutes between here and the corporate office in Dallas. He and his brother Prescott have built a small banking empire in Texas.
We’re in one of the alcoves that surrounds a large seating area in the middle. Across the reception area, I spot that little fuck Kacey Miller, who’s chatting up his secretary. He’s some low-level executive. He’s reason enough not to come here, but I don’t have family friends at any other banks.
Amber finally admitted she’d messed around with Kacey before we got married. Unfortunately, I never had the honor of breaking his nose, and now that I need this loan from his boss, I probably shouldn’t be plotting to kick Kacey’s ass.
I tap the manila folder against my leg and pray I can figure this out. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself if I let down my boys and my brothers.
Beau nudges me. “I have a good feeling about this.”
I don’t respond because, frankly, I think we’re a bad bet.
Finally, Harlan’s assistant waves us forward. “Mr. Calhoun can see you now.”
I push through the giant glass door, and Harlan grins at us. “Good to see you, boys.”
I’m thirty-two, but I guess I’ll always be a boy in Harlan’s mind. “Thank you, sir. Good to see you too. How’s Mary Sue?”
“Great. She dropped off some homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch.”
“She’s always been a mighty fine cook.” Must be nice. Amber hated doing anything domestic. Not sure why she thought marrying a rancher was a good idea. “Tell her hi for us.”
My mood turns darker with thoughts of my ex. The best thing she ever did was sign our divorce papers three years ago. My boys are my pride and joy, but their mother is the worst thing to ever happen to me. After that experience, you’d have to hold me at gunpoint to even consider getting married. No, thank you. I’m done with marriage.
Harlan nods. “How have y’all been? Things must be rough after your daddy passed, rest his soul. Gus was a good man. He’ll be missed.”
I’m not sure Augustus Walker was a good man or that he’ll be missed, but I hold my tongue. The town already knows he was a drunk. “Thank you. We’re holding down the fort. Beau, Jace, and I have things covered.” By covered, I mean we’re barely making ends meet and working ourselves to death.
