Page 11 of Finding Limits

“Relax, it’s okay. I got it,” Mitch tries to assure me as he makes his way to the door and opens it.

“Finn, I thought I told ya not to?—”

“Garrett’s called a meetin’, we tried to call but your phone’s off.” Whoever is on the other side of the door interrupts him with an urgent voice.

“I… ummm… I…” Mitch looks between me and the door with that unsure expression on his face again.

“Can someone get hold of Josie?” he asks.

“I’ll be fine,” I cut in, smiling at him bravely. “I have to start getting used to being on my own.” I shrug, trusting in the words that he promised me. I’m safe here.

“Ya sure?” Mitch opens the door a little wider and when I see the young man on the other side of it, he lifts his hat to me politely and smiles.

“You must be Everleigh. Name’s Finn.” He introduces himself and holds out his hand, quickly retracting it after Mitch subtly shakes his head.

“Pleased to meet you.” I manage a smile for him. Trusting that he’s not a threat. Mitch wouldn’t allow him to be here if he was.

“You never told us she was so pretty.” He looks back to Mitch, who grabs his hat and quickly shoos him out the door.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turns back to face me, moving closer to assure me. “You can bolt the door after I’ve left.”

“Okay, stay safe.” I smile, and when he looks down between us and sees that I’ve gripped hold of his hand, he smiles too. I don’t know much about what happens on the other side of the cabin door but I get the sense Mitch lives among danger. I’d hate for anything to happen to him.

“See ya soon.” He backs away and leaves.

I move toward the window, watching him get into the guy’s truck before they speed away.

“What the fuck is that?” I stare at the severed head that's resting on the porch at the long camp.

“That’s a?—”

“I know what it fuckin’ is! I mean what’s it doin’ here?” I interrupt Noah. Fuckin’ River Boys always got something smart to say.

“This was sent by courier to the Carson Ranch and addressed to ‘The Mayor’.” Tate scratches the back of his neck as we all stare at the decomposing face that’s looking up at us

“Well, do any of ya know whose body it belongs to?” I look around at all the dumbstruck faces, wondering where the hell Garrett and his brothers are.

“I’m tellin’ ya, that’s Bucky Hall.” Sawyer lights himself a smoke as he takes a seat on a log beside the fire.

“Bucky Hall, didn’t he die years ago?” I swear I ain’t seen that old man in over a decade.

“Nah, he’s just been a recluse. My gran would have me go check in on him from time to time, but I stopped last year after he pulled a rifle on me,” Sawyer explains.

“He pulled a rifle on ya?” Zayne laughs.

“Guess the old boy didn’t wanna be bothered.” Sawyer shrugs, and when I get a sniff at what he’s smokin’ and realize it ain’t just tobacco, I snatch it from his hand.

“You don’t need that shit, not now.” I stub it out on the rafter. I respect the River Boys. On a good day, I even like the fuckers, but they still have a lot to learn.

For decades, the Carsons have branded the men who are loyal to them, men who will do whatever it takes to ensure our town is protected. Noah, Sawyer, and Zane may not be cowboys like the men who were branded before them, but they’ve all earned the mark they’ve got on their chests.

I’m without doubt that they have an agenda of their own, Noah Wylde has connections that go far beyond our quaint little town, but they’re a handy trio to have onboard and they’ve proved their loyalty time and time again.

We all look out toward the track when we hear the truck speeding toward us. Garrett skids to a stop before he gets out, slams his door, and marches toward us with a murderous look on his face.

“We all know who fuckin’ did this.” He kicks the head across the porch like it’s a soccer ball, outta frustration.

“Garrett, you can’t lose your head,” Wade tells him once he’s gotten out the passenger seat.

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