Page 60 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

The first guy stepped closer, invading my personal bubble and really putting his nose out there for me to thump. He lifted his hand and moved like he was going to touch my throat so I slapped his hand away and held my arms up like I was fully prepared to chop him again if I needed to. He let out an exasperated sigh, like I was inconveniencing him.

“You’re already bruising from your seatbelt. Go home and put some ice on it and think about taking a driver’s ed course. I don’t have time to tell you all the ways you’re a danger on the road.” He looked at his truck and pulled out a card from his wallet. “I don’t have any damage and I don’t have time to sit around and argue with a kid. Here’s my card. If you need anything for your insurance, just call me.”

I snatched the card from him and scowled. “I’m not a kid, asshole.”

“Sure.” He shook his head and backed away. “Learn to drive, kid. Before you kill someone or yourself.”

I watched with fury burning me up as they all climbed back into the truck and drove away. It only got worse when my bumper fell off a few seconds later. I kicked it and growled. “Freaking jerk. I should’ve hit him harder.”

My phone rang from inside the car and I glanced around just to see multiple busy-bodies staring at me. Without a doubt, my brothers would have a full report of what had happened in less than half an hour. Swearing and hoping like hell I could beat the rumor mill in getting back to the ranch, I grabbed my bumper, threw it in the backseat, and sped away from the scene of the crime.

The Hellstone family ranch was fifteen miles outside of town, down a weather worn road which threatened to take out the underside of my car on a good day, when I was being careful. I didn’t have time to be careful, though. I flew all over my seat as I hit potholes going way too fast. I was airborne for a few seconds and the tickle in my stomach made me laugh until I landed and bit my lip.

I couldn’t handle my brothers bitching at me for one more thing. Since I’d come home from visiting my other brothers in Harmony Valley, they were worse than ever. It was driving me crazy. I could hardly breathe without them overseeing it.

I flew under the Hellstone Ranch sign and down the dirt road which led to the main house. Slowing down just before being in sight from the house, I tried to come up with a story they’d believe. I didn’t have much time and I wasn’t working with much so I figured I’d tell them the jerks from out of town had stopped suddenly in front of me and I hadn’t had a chance to stop before hitting them. They were outsiders, strangers, so I thought I had a chance.

For the second time that morning, though, I felt a great sense of doom settle over me like a heavy fog. Parked next to my brothers’ trucks was the same truck I’d hit. Standing just off the wide front porch with my brothers were the three men I’d never wanted to see again.

I’d barely gotten my car into park before I heard Anderson shouting my name. “Great. Just great.”

“Vera Hellstone!” Anderson stood in front of the out of towner’s with his hands on his hips. He waited until I was out of my car and slowly slinking towards him to really let me have it. “Of all the stupid things you could’ve done today, you decided texting while driving was the one you were going to choose? You’re going to kill yourself one of these days and we’re going to have to clean up the mess you leave behind. Do you at least have insurance on your car?”

I started to say I did but then I had a very clear memory of thinking I’d fix my insurance issue once I got back from Harmony Valley. The insurance issue being that I’d forgotten to pay it and it’d lapsed. I had not fixed the issue after getting back home.

Anderson read my panicked expression correctly and swore. “Goddammit, Vera. Money doesn’t just grow on trees. You can’t just keep wasting money and expecting us to pay for all your screw-ups.”

Anderson’s twin, Levi, looked at the three strangers and shook his head. “You guys have a baby sister?”

“Why are they even here?” I decided going on the attack was my best bet. “Did you seriously come all the way out here to rat me out?”

Anderson rubbed his face and stared up at the sky. “I don’t have the patience to deal with this right now. We’re hiring them on, Vera. They’re going to be living and working the ranch with us.”

I swallowed and took a step backward. A smart woman knew when to retreat. “Well, I’ll let you get to it. If you need me, I’ll be booking a flight back to Harmony Valley.”

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