Page 19 of Deacon

“What can you tell me about the Hatfields?” I say.

Jensen straightens, flicking the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. “They’ve got two sons, but the patriarch, Aiden, said there were three. They’re all from one of the south-east counties in Kentucky.”

“He’s got a daughter, right?”

The words fall from my mouth before I can bite them back. Jensen’s brow rises, and he leans back, crossing his arms.

“Looking for a girlfriend?” he drawls.

“I need to know about the Hatfields,” I say. “Jack said so.”

Jensen doesn’t stop smiling. “Sure it don’t have anything to do with that pretty little brunette who lives right next door to you now?”

“I’ll beat your ass,” I threaten. “Have you met her?”

“No, but I know she exists. I helped build their house,” he says, shrugging.

I sigh, crossing my arms too. “Jack’s being all fucking mysterious about them. I need to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing,” Jensen says. “But I’d be careful trying to fuck around with Freya. She’s got an insulated wall of asshole men around her, and I’d put my money on Aiden trying to hook her up with one of the McClaines.”

The McClaine farm sits above mine. They’re part of the reason I’ve had too much trouble keeping the roads and developments off Ryder Ranch. Elijah McClaine wants to put a development on his land. It would make him a multimillionaire, but to do that, he’d have to… No, this is what I was hoping wouldn’t happen.

My mind goes back to the conversation I had with Andy about the Hatfields. Aiden would have to own or have legal access to the Hatfield land, which he could get through the McClaines.

I take my hat off. “Is Aiden Hatfield friendly with the McClaines?”

“Very,” says Jensen.

“Fuck,” I say.

Jensen’s jaw works, and he runs his hand over it. “You think they’re planning on going in on a development?” he says. “But you would still have Deacon’s Hill as a buffer between whatever road Hatfield tries to run across his land up to the McClaine property.”

He’s right—there’s still a solid strip of land separating the Hatfield’s and McClaine’s land. It belongs to me, and there’s no way in hell I’ll sell it. But this may mean I get to spend this coming summer worrying about that on top of the city council member and real estate developer pushing at my property from the other end.

Somebody is about to get a bullet to the temple.

I’m tired of courtrooms.

I stare, thinking hard, and Jensen goes back to measuring the spots for the kitchen appliances. We fall into a hollow silence until he’s done. Then, he straightens, dusts off his hands, and puts his hat back on.

“Want to get some food? I need to head into Knifely, so I can meet you there,” he says.

“Does your business have something to do with the naked women Jack said you had in your house?” I say, following him back outside.

“Aw, shut up. You’re jealous,” he says, locking up and shoving the keys in his pocket.

We pause beside the trucks. “Not jealous,” I say. “I think those days might be over for me.”

Jensen’s brows rise. “Why’s that?”

I clear my throat, unsure how to answer. “I just…think I’m ready to settle down.”

His eyes narrow in thought as he pulls open the truck door. “You’ve been ready for a while now,” he says, getting in.

It gives me a lot to think about as we both head to Knifely. Not just that I’m ready to settle down and I have an idea the girl I want is one I’ve never even spoken to, but her family buying that farm might have opened up hell on Earth for my ranch.

I have to be careful. I can’t go in there like a bull busting through the gate for many reasons.

---