Page 61 of The Way to a Cowboy's Heart

Liam stepped between them, wanting nothing more than to take her bastard brother to the friggin’ ground for what he’d said, and he met her hopeless pleading gaze darkly. Almost instantly, he knew he’d made a mistake. Because she took his look as confirmation that he believed her brother somehow. Or at least doubted her.

She turned and ran blindly in the rain toward the cabin where they’d shared the past few nights making love.

“Emily!” Liam called after her, but she didn’t turn. “Emily, wait!”

She didn’t stop.

He stalked back to the uninvited pair who’d just upended everything and took Malcolm by the shirtfront, shoving him backwards along the muddy ground. Malcolm’s eyes widened and he scrambled to keep his balance—not such an ass with someone his own size—then Liam shoved Malcolm backward, away from him. He stumbled to catch himself from falling in the rain.

“You come here, to my ranch and talk to her that way? What kind of family are you anyway? Who the hell does that to someone they supposedly love?”

“Mr. Hardesty, I—” Lord Quinn began.

Liam cut him off and, between clenched teeth told him, “Not interested in an answer.”

“You can’t possibly know her well enough to—” Lord Quinn began.

“Oh, I think I do. I think I already know her a hell of a lot better than either of you two, because it would appear that neither of you has ever bothered to even ask her whatshewants. What she aspires to. How she wants to live her life.”

“Not with a cowhand, clearly,” Malcolm muttered to his father.

“Yeah, about that. This ranch and everything as far as your eye can see belongs to me and my family. And it’s been ours for generations. Built on the backs and the sweat equity of every Hardesty for a hundred and fifty years; from the ones lying in that small cemetery up the hill to the family that still lives here and works it. And, so you know, it’s no shoestring operation. And now that we have that settled, I suggest you two get the hell out of here. Now. Because if you don’t, I’ll be forced to physically remove you from my property. And you won’t like that. Because it happens, Iama cowboy and I can wrestle eight-hundred-pound yearling steers to the ground just for the hell of it.”

“B-but—” Malcolm sputtered.

“Nope. You had your say. So, both of you, get in that fancy car of yours and get the hell out of here. Now. Oh, and one more thing? I do plan on marrying her. But don’t expect an invitation to the wedding. She’s gonna have all the family she needs right here in Montana. Right here on thisAmericanranch that happens to hold more possibility, more love, more family than you two will ever know in your sad, lonely lifetimes.”

Sarah appeared then from the house holding an umbrella, walking toward them with a worried expression. Will was right behind her.

“What’s happening here? Is everything all right, darling?”

“Nothing to worry about, Mom,” Liam told her. “They were just leaving.”

Lord Quinn frowned at Malcolm, contemplating his very limited choices.

“Who are they?” Will asked.

“I’m Emily’s father,” Quinn said. “And this ass is her brother.”

“Father!” Malcolm complained, looking wounded.

Damn, the man was like a freaking eight-year-old. What a frightening prospect it was to see him running for office anywhere.

Quinn said, “That’s accurate, I’m afraid. And I’m apparently guilty, too. Your son has… invited us to leave.”

“Ordered,” Liam corrected.

“Oh, dear,” Sarah muttered under her breath, but she was not about to argue with Liam.

Will walked to his brother’s side in solidarity, looking equally imposing. “You heard him.”

Quinn grabbed his son’s arm and shoved him in the direction of the town car. “It’s quite possible I underestimated the situation here. Underestimated you, sir. And for that, I apologize. For both of us. Please tell Emily that we’ll be at the local airfield until eight tonight with the private jet if she changes her mind.”

Liam said nothing in reply, only watched them walk through the muddy track to their car and then watched the car pull away.

“Good God, what the hell was that all about?” Will asked.

A muscle in Liam’s jaw worked. “Thatwas Emily’s past.” He cursed low under his breath. “I need to go talk to her. There’s a newborn calf in the barn that needs warming and that cow that’s bawling over there is her mama and needs in as soon as you’ve got her settled.”

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