Page 58 of Between a Rock and a Hard Cowboy

“Hey,” he said, standing actually in Emmett’s line of sight before the man noticed him.

“Oh. Hey. You back?”

“Uh, yeah.”Obviously, dickhead.“I’m gonna eat and rest for a bit, then head back out for the afternoon chores… if you’d like to come and help out.”

Emmett had theaw, shucks, wish I couldexpression down pat. He probably used it enough to get out of work.

He managed to look disappointed as he said, “I think I tweaked my back. Must have been sleeping on that bus getting here. I’m gonna rest it. Wouldn’t want to do any more damage.”

“Wouldn’t want that,” Linc agreed.Piece of shit. “Speaking of your trip here—what inspired this surprise? Anything special?”

Tearing his gaze from the movie, Emmett shook his head. “Nope. Just figured it was time for a visit.”

Linc dipped his head. “Yeah. We haven’t seen you since you and Maggie both left town. How is she doing, anyway?”

“How is who?” Emmett asked, eyes back on the screen.

“Maggie. Darcy’s old nanny.”The girl you got pregnant.“You two seemed pretty close there at the end.”

That got Emmett’s attention. “She still working for Wyatt?” he asked.

“No. She left town right about the time you did. I thought you two might be together.”

Emmett looked relieved at the news she was gone. Happy even as he shook his head. “Nope.”

“So you haven’t heard from her?”

“Not a peep.”

No doubt that was by design. Emmett’s cell number stopped working right after he left. He must have either canceled the account or changed the number.

Linc had tried calling to see where the hell his cousin had gone and if he was coming back since it was calving season and they’d needed the extra set of hands. But Emmett had made sure he wouldn’t hear from his family or the poor girl he’d left to deal with her pregnancy alone.

This conversation was going nowhere. All it had done was make Linc more angry. It definitely hadn’t moved him any closer to knowing why Emmett was back or how they could best get rid of him.

With a sigh, Linc turned toward the kitchen. “I’m gonna grab some lunch.”

“I’ll take some of whatever you’re making. Thanks,” Emmett called after him.

He let out another sigh. “Sure.”

Things didn’t get much better. Although Linc did sneak up to his bedroom, log into his account on his laptop and put a passcode on any future movie purchases. Thank God for child protections. They worked for unwanted houseguests too. That made him feel moderately better as he reached for his jacket by the door.

Emmett had moved on to playing video games now, on Linc’s console, of course.

“I’m heading out,” Linc said, raising his voice to be heard above the Call of Duty soundtrack.

“Okay. Oh. Wait.” Emmett actually paused the game. Linc figured what he had to say must be important. “We’re out of beer. In case you wanted to pick up more.”

Jaw clenched, Linc nodded and grunted a noncommittal, “Mm-hm.”Over his dead body.“You gonna be here when I get back?” he asked, hoping the answer would be no.

“Should be. I think I’m gonna take a nap after this. I’m feeling pretty tired.”

Laying around drinking other people’s beer while watching their TV and playing their games must be exhausting.

Linc drew in a breath. “All right.”

He’d channel his emotions. Use them as inspiration to create a plan of action.

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