Page 29 of Protecting What Is Mine

13

Hank

“Gabe, Jesus, I’ve been helping you and Chet with this shit since I was a kid, I think by this point I know what I’m doing.” I exhale a heavy breath through my nose. “Just because he’s not around, doesn’t mean you have to act like him,” I say as I stomp out of the barn.

“Hank, wait,” Gabe calls after me.

Frustrated, I turn back. “Yeah?”

“You forgot your binky. Ya goddamn baby.” He laughs, and I’m tempted to punch him in his stupid face for it.

I offer a sarcastic smile. “No problem. You hang on to it. When Meredith realizes what a prick you are and sends you packing, you’ll be glad to have it.” I turn and continue toward my truck.

“Wait. Hank? You’re not seriously leaving, are you?” I hear Gabe kicking the gravel at his feet. “Come on, man. I was joking. I didn’t mean to offend you. This is our way. It’s what we do!”

I stop but don’t turn back. “So, you admit that you actually need my help?”

Gabe remains silent.

I continue toward the truck.

When I reach for the door, he breaks his silence. “Yes. God. Fine. I need your help. Please. Don’t leave.”

I release the door handle and step back, turning to face my brother. “Now let me hear you say that I’m a better rancher than you.”

“What?” Gabe’s posture stiffens. “Fuck you.”

“Close enough,” I say with a laugh.

Gabe and I get back to work packing supplies on his horse and my ATV for an afternoon of riding the fences and checking on cattle. The next several hours pass in a flash. When I realize the time, it’s almost three p.m. and I haven’t heard from Mollie all day. I stop to dig out my phone and send a quick thinking of you message.

I’ve been worried since she told me that cousin of hers, Clint, showed up at her house, uninvited. But now, after being with her, I can’t get him out of my head. She is kindness and warmth and everything that’s good in the world, and he’s dangerous. I don’t like the thought of him being anywhere near her, especially when I’m not by her side.

Gabe pulls on Jigsaw’s reins, slowing his horse to give me time to catch up. I slide my phone back into my pocket and hit the throttle. “Everything okay?” Gabe calls out as I approach.

I bring the ATV back to a stop when I reach him. “Probably. Mollie’s been dealing with some family drama and I haven’t heard from her today. I’m getting a little worried.”

Gabe stares at me in surprise. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you take so much interest in a girl. But, I wouldn’t worry too much, we probably know more than most about family trouble. And if her family’s anything like ours, I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

“Nah. Not like this. She’s got this cousin. The short of it is that he’s bad news. Like, fresh out of prison bad news. And he’s been causing her grief.”

“Shit man. That sucks.”

“Yeah, but the thing is—and I’m going to ask that you not be a prick in advance—I can’t let go of the coincidence of it all.”

“What do you mean?” Gabe rubs Jigsaw’s neck to keep him steady.

“Well, we had a run-in with him at The Saddle one night. Fine. That’s a random coincidence. Shit happens. But then he shows up at her house, completely unannounced.”

“So. They’re family though, right? I mean, maybe they are all sorts of dysfunctional, but still.”

“Yeah, but from what she’s said about their history, it doesn’t sound like he should’ve even known where she lives. Plus, his reason for being there…I don’t know man, it all seems fishy to me.”

Gabe nods along as I explain.

“And then, when you factor in what Leo said—”

“Wait,” Gabe interrupts. “What who said? When the hell did you talk to Leo?”

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