Page 3 of The Wounded Warrior

“I missed a few payments back when Dad went in the hospital.” Matt’s shoulders drew up around his ears. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

The big pickup pulled out in a rush of gravel and exhaust, McConnell not smiling now.

“Matty! I got cash. I wouldn’t fucking leave you hurting.”

“I know that, Lu. I do.” Matt relaxed enough to give him a wry smile. “You also have a long recovery ahead of you, and the VA sucks.”

“Yeah, yeah. How much? And don’t lie.”

Matt swallowed hard, his throat working visibly. “I’m catching up. I am. I was three months in the hole, and I still owed half the taxes. I only owe about three thousand.”

“I’ll give it to you. I can write you a check right now.”

Matt’s mouth took on a stubborn, flat line. “I can do it. I’ve got a sale coming up, and I think that one yearling I have will pay off the whole back debt.”

“Fine, but let me cover it until youdo. Hell, I’m staying here, eating your food, everything. Let me have some fucking worth, would you?”

Matt blinked for a moment, then nodded, coming to put a hand on his shoulder. “Okay, Lu. I get it. I do. We’ll draw up a quick loan, though. So, you’re actually the owner if I default somehow.”

“What? We’re going to be partners now?” He smiled, though, because the thought didn’t suck.

A slow smile spread over Matt’s face. “Would that work for you? I like the idea.”

“Don’t you grin at me, Matty.” Still, they just smiled at each other like monkeys.

“Yeah. Well. Let me finish with the yearlings, and we’ll clean up and go into town. We’ll need a notary.”

“Does that mean you’ll feed me Mexican?”

“Hell, yeah. I’ll even spring for El Chico.” Matt gripped his shoulder a moment longer, the gratitude clear in his expression. “Did you finish up with the babies?”

“I got one to dose, that’s it. I was wondering what the fuck was up with McConnell there.”

Matt snorted. “He’s in some development war with that asshole Doug Harris down at the bank.”

“Development war? Here? Are you shitting me?”

“Nope.” Matt sighed. “Harris bought up about three hundred acres before anyone knew what he was doing. This place is like the iceberg blocking his cruise ship or something. McConnell owns about fifty acres behind us, but there’s no road access. It was a stupid buy. I reckon he’s going to try and buy me—us—out and then sell to Harris and make a fortune.”

“Well, he can’t have it. Either one of them.” Luke put on his determined face, knowing it would make Matt laugh.

“No. No, this is ours.” Matt grinned when he said ‘ours’. Hugely. “Okay, get the dosing done. El Chico awaits.”

“Dude, tableside guacamole and apple pie.”

“You pig.”

“Oink oink.” Luke winked before turning his chair and rolling back to the barn. He felt better than he had in weeks, as if he finally had a purpose.

He wasn’t sure what the fucking purpose was, but at least he had one. For right now, he’d take it.

Chapter Two

“Rory. I just saw Matthew LeBlanc at the bank.” His assistant, Lori, bustled into his office and dropped a Subway bag on his desk.

“No shit?” His cotton-candy-haired, gum-popping girl missed nothing that happened in Mt. Pleasant.

“No shit. He’s got his brother with him. The dude-I-got-wounded-at-war one. He’s a hottie.”

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