Page 14 of Buck Me

But when I turn, it isn’t my brothers.

He stands just past the last row of raised beds, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Becca with razor-sharp scrutiny.

“Shit.” Becca freezes beside me, color draining from her face.

Randolph barrels towards us like he owns the place. His face is turned down into a scowl, and I can all but feel the heat coming off of him.

I step forward to intercept him. “Randolph.”

He moves around me and rips the folder from Becca’s hands. “What’s this?” The voice hits like a cold gust.

“We are—” she starts, but her voice falters. She swallows hard.

Randolph steps toward her, jaw tight. Becca looks away, and I don’t like that look on her face. I don’t like what it says about how many times she’s had to back down just to keep the peace.

My heart rate ticks up, and I see red. Without thinking, I move between them. My hand goes flat against his chest. “Let’s calm down.” It takes everything in me to keep my tone level even as tension vibrates in my bones. “I don’t remember inviting you to come here.”

“Danner,” Becca turns to me and shakes her head. Her voice is tight with panic. She flashes me a desperate look that punches straight through my ribs.

“No, he’s not going to talk to you like that. Not here.” My heart thuds in my chest. Anger seethes through me. I consider what it would take to lay him flat on his back.Not much, maybe I’m a Kingridge after all.

“Danner, stop.” This time her words are strong and sharp.

But why are they directed at me?

“Dad,” she says, stepping forward. “I want to be a part of this. Iama part of this. I think if you got out of your own way, even just a little, you’d see that they aren’t the problem here.”

Randolph doesn’t answer.

Instead, he yanks the folder from her arms and flips it open. His eyes scan the pages like they’ve betrayed him.

“You're helping them,” he sneers. “You’re helping them with your…drawings?” He lets out a bitter, mocking laugh that makes my fists clench. “Well, art saves the day after all."

“It has, Randolph,” I blurt. “Her drawing has?—”

“Danner!” Becca snaps at me.

Randolph raises his voice. “Rebecca, I don’t know what you’re doing with this grown man, but you look liketrash. Unpolished. Unkempt. Gallivanting with one ofthem. Is thisreally the person you want to be? Is this a good look? I’ll let you decide.”

His voice drips with venom. Like she’s an embarrassment. Like she’s disposable. Becca exhales, long and slow. Her chin lifts, but I can see the glassiness in her eyes.

“Enough,” I roar. “Enough. I’m not going to stand by and watch this. You’re done here, Randolph.”

Randolph's voice drops to that tone that makes my skin crawl. It’s quiet, controlled, and lethal. "You think you’re clever with this little grant stunt, but you’re playing a game you aren’t going to win. Rebecca, you’re going to come home with me right now, or I'm calling the county inspector about those water permits. I noticed they weren’t pulled before the application process got underway. One phone call, and this whole project gets shut down pending a six-month environmental review." His smile is razor-sharp. "Their grant, their garden, their precious little family legacy… gone. But if you come home now, we’ll walk away. We’ll make our peace with this little farm and forget it ever happened. Your choice, sweetheart."

“There’s no way, Randolph. You’re full of shit and we know it. The grant is done.”

But Becca steps away from me. She puts a hand around her throat like a noose. “This isn’t about me anymore. It’s so much bigger and we’re so close. It isn’t worth it. I have to go.”

“Are you joking?” I ask the words out before I can stop them. My eyes widen. “What? Becca, no, we’ll be okay. I’ve got you.”

She pulls her shoulders back, and the real her fades into a polished veneer that looks anything but authentic. “That’s fine, I’ll go home. We’ll move forward.”

“Becca…”

But she doesn’t answer.

Instead, she turns and walks away. Aftereverythingwe’ve done. After last night. Afterus.

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