Page 75 of Westin

“Mollohan was a kid at the time. He had no idea how badly his father had run the business until twenty or so years later. And when he found out that part of the land his father had ended up handing over to Asa had a small oil well on it—the rights to which his father had also handed over to Asa—and that the oil had financed most of the fortune Asa built in the years after winning the land, he was furious. He believed the transaction was illegal and that all of Asa’s fortune, as well as the empire he’d built from it, belonged to Rocking D. He wanted it back.”

“But Asa refused.”

“Asa refused. They fought it out in court until about five years before Asa died. Every time Asa would win a complaint in the courts, Mollohan would think of something else to sue him for, until he just finally ran out of lawyers willing to work with him. It was a futile struggle. Asa was always going to win because he had a legal contract from Mollohan’s father. He made sure of that.” Westin shrugged. “No matter what Asa might have been, he was a damn good businessman, and he made sure that every angle was covered.”

“He must have been some guy, Asa, starting his fortune with a card game.”

“It’s almost like something straight out of a Sidney Sheldon book.”

The reference made Lee laughed. It was a horrible time to be laughing, but she couldn’t help herself. Westin glanced at her, that startled look still in his eyes. He must have thought she’d gone over the edge, that she was in shock or something.

They slid to a stop at the bunkhouse a minute later. Westin picked his gun up out of the console as he stepped down from the truck, coming around to help her out despite the fact that she had two guns shoved in her pants. One for each hand. But it still might not be enough.

They burst through the door of the bunkhouse, neither really sure what they’d find. Bowie was in the kitchen, moving his big body to music blaring through a smart speaker. Landry was coming out of the bathroom, nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. And Remington was in his bunk, a book in his hands.

“What the hell?” Bowie cried when Westin walked over and switched off the speaker.

“Where’s Clint?”

“He went to town to talk to Sheriff Reeves,” Landry offered up, not in a hurry to cover up. Lee looked him over, already aware of just how pretty he thought he was. Now, she had to admit, there was some weight to his opinion.

“He’s still in town?”

Bowie rolled his shoulders. “They’re friends. With Melanie playing around…”

Westin cursed under his breath, flashing a look at Lee. That was the moment the others seemed to finally notice her, to see the blood splattered across the front of her shirt, the gun in her hand.

“What’s going on?” Remington asked slowly as he unfolded his body from his bunk and stood. “What’s with the guns?”

“We were attacked up at the cabin.”

“By whom?” Bowie wanted to know.

“It’s complicated,” Lee said, checking to make sure the door was closed and locked before going to the window to peek outside. There was still that guy in the ATV. He had to have seen them. He had to know they’d moved on from the cabin. It wouldn’t be long before Will’s friends would come looking for them. “You guys should be prepared, though.”

“For what?” Landry asked. “A battle?”

“Yeah.”

He thought she was joking, but when she flashed him a look, he suddenly seemed to understand that she wasn’t. Westin came over and drew Lee away from the window, his hands gentle but insistent. She took a seat on an armchair, sitting on the very edge, ready to spring up at the least notice. Bowie came over and handed her a moist cloth to wipe her hands on. She nodded to him, grateful.

“Is it that guy? Your ex?” Remington asked, looking as though he was ready to take him on again.

Lee shook her head. “He’s dead.”

“Dead?” Landry asked, suddenly anxious to put on some clothes. “Did you say someone’s dead?”

“It’s complicated,” Westin repeated for her. “All you need to know is that there might be more people on the ranch, and they’re looking for her. We’ve got to keep her safe.”

“That’s not a problem,” Remington said. “That’s why we brought her here—right?”

Landry and Bowie didn’t seem to agree. They didn’t appear to be against the idea; they just didn’t seem anxious to jump into the middle of a gun battle.

Westin knelt in front of her. “You’re sure they’ll come? Are you sure it won’t end when they find Will?”

“I’m sure. This Razor has a lot to lose if I can identify him. He’s not going to take any chances.”

Westin nodded. “And you’re pretty sure you know who it is?”

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