Page 96 of Relentless

Hearing the commotion in the hallway, Bethany unwittingly popped her head outside her bedroom door. Her eyes bounced between the two women, sensing the thick tension in the air.

“Oh, so this is what Audrey was talking about,” she observed before closing her door and returning to the safety of her bedroom.

Maeve maintained her poise, but felt her long fuse burning quickly. Knowing the argument would inevitably escalate, she had to get Harper out of the hallway. She was thankful that Dallas was a sound sleeper, and was convinced a freight train barreling through the house couldn’t wake the man.

However, the last thing she wanted was to rouse Sawyer. His fierce protectiveness would undoubtedly drive the wounded cowboy to intervene. This was a confrontation brewing for decades, and Maeve knew she had to handle it alone.

Taking the stairs, she felt Harper clipping her heels behind her. It was a miracle her reeling gait hadn’t sent her tumbling.

“You think you’re going to get away that easy?” Harper scoffed.

Maeve rounded the stairs into the living room right as Crew stepped through the front door, coming in from his chores at just the wrong time.

“That Peaches is some heifer, Maeve,” he drawled. “She’s going to give us a cowboy killer, maybe even larger than Big Slim.”

His lips parted, finally noticing the situation unfolding in the living room.

“Everything okay?” he timidly inquired.

“Crew,” Maeve said quickly, pulling her fingers across her brow. “Why don’t you —”

It was too late.

“Oh, look who it is, Oakleigh’scute cowboy,“ Harper announced, her tone loaded with antagonism. “Letting them live under the same roof — really, Maeve?” she smirked. “Are you gunning for a repeat?”

“Harper, stop it,” Maeve demanded, but not before Oakleigh stepped out of the kitchen. It was too late to shield her from Harper’s harsh barbs.

“You know, Oakleigh has quite the reputation back home,” Harper scathed. “No wonder you two get along so well.”

“Mom!” Oakleigh gasped, her eyes brimming with betrayal.

Crew went to Oakleigh’s side, raising his arms in a deluded attempt to referee the chaos. “Now, wait just a minute.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” Harper practically purred. “Tripping over yourself forused goods.”

Oakleigh swept Crew’s hand aside, boldly stepping into the fray. “As if you should talk!” she shouted.

Maeve intervened between them in fragile hopes of regaining control. “This isn’t about her, Harper — and you know it.”

“It is about her,” Harper erupted, her face going red with anger. “She did this.”

She pushed past Maeve, and pointed a finger at Oakleigh.

“Youdid this.”

There was hatred in her eyes as she spoke the words meant to wound. “We were perfectly happy, and you ruined it — you ruined everything!”

Her tone turned icy.

“We all agreed we were better off without you,” she snarled. “You’re good fornothing.”

Oakleigh’s eyes glossed with tears as she quietly looked away.

Maeve felt her temper rise. She grabbed Harper’s wrist in a firm grip, forcibly removing her finger from Oakleigh’s face.

“That’senough.”

“Or else what?” Harper goaded, daring to shove Maeve back a step. The force it took backfired, causing Harper to grab the back of the sofa to regain her footing. “Just what are you going to do about it, Maeve?”

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