Page 92 of Wrangled Up

“This is between me and Darcy,” Claire spoke up. The rain was soaking her hair to black. Water ran down her cheek.

“Get under this pavilion,” he growled, towing her across the parking area to a small stand under roof. Typically the entire event was held under the great big Wyoming sky, but today someone had actually believed the weatherman when rain was forecasted.Whether or not the weatherman had been threatened with a shotgun was questionable. But in the end, some smart person had erected tents sporadically about the grounds.

Everyone followed, including Boom Boom, led by Darcy, damn her.

He looked down at Claire expectantly. Tears stood in the corners of her almond eyes. Fuck, he hadn’t meant to ever see those again after he’d committed himself to her and Christian.

“I’ve entered Darcy in the event. She’s showing Boom Boom.”

“Why?”

Claire flinched, and his heart tugged.

“Because you promised to raise this alpaca for me, and Claire is upholding your end of the bargain.”

“No.” His tone was hard. He swung his gaze between Leon and Darcy. “I don’t know what you did to change events, but it’s stopping with me. Claire is showing this animal.”

Leon stared at Tucker until he got his meaning. In that direct gaze he saw that negotiations had taken place that would keepLeon off his back in exchange for a blue ribbon for his cousin.

He shook his head hard and opened his mouth to speak.

Claire wrapped her fingers around his forearm. Her hand was chilled. She slipped the other around his neck and tugged his head down until her mouth was at his ear. “Let me do this, Tucker. It’s just a fair.”

Her whispered words created a knot of emotion in his throat. She’d done this for him. How and when weren’t important. A tight feeling stole over his body, and pain ricocheted around the walls of his heart. Fuck it all, he’d dragged the people he loved into this mess, and Claire had done something selfless to get him out of it.

Except he knew by Leon’s backstabbing past that the deal only held true until the blue ribbon passed into Darcy’s hand.

He sent Christian a pointed look and released Claire. Christian took over her protection by wrapping an arm around her narrow waist.

Tucker jerked his head at his uncle to indicate they were talking. Leon stalked before him, his lanky legs eating up the muddyground. When they stood about twenty yards away, Tucker unloaded, and not more livestock.

Fury lay on his tongue. “What the fuck are you trying to pull?”

Leon shook his head, feigning innocence. “Your little gal attacked Darcy in the drugstore—”

“What?” He tried to picture Claire—his Claire—sucker-punching Darcy. She was the sweetest woman on earth. How…?

Images of his pocked truck flitted through his head.Yeah, she’s capable.

But why? She wouldn’t have attacked Darcy without provocation. While he’d never personally had a problem with Darcy, it was possible that Leon’s and Dale’s ways had worn off on her. A shame, really.

Tucker jabbed a finger at his uncle’s chest. “Call it off.”

Surprise flitted across his face. On the heels of that was a cunning glint in his eyes. “If an alpaca and a woman are more important, then I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.”

From his inner pocket of his coat, Leon withdrew the papers.

“Give ‘em to me.” Tucker snatched them from Leon’s hand, turned and flattened them against the wooden side of a concession stand. “Pen?”

Leon dangled one in front of Tucker’s face.

“No!” The harsh cry made him start. He looked up just in time to see Claire sprinting toward him. Mud splashed around her and her expression was fierce—with love.

She ripped the papers from his hands and tore the thick wad in two. Then she proceeded to mutilate the contract until it was confetti lying in the muddy water at their feet.

He gaped at her, aware that Christian was at his side and doing the same.

A fevered light burned in her dark eyes. “You aren’t signing that.”

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