Page 64 of Always a Bridesmaid
Ford sighed. “I never said that.”
Gunner spit tobacco, the brown goop landing inches from Ford’s shoe. “You don’t have to. It’s written across your face.”
It wasn’t that Ford thought he was better. He’dworkedto become better. His parents and brothers had been completely unreliable, so he’d decided to do whatever it took to be dependable.
Once Ford was old enough to drive, his friends had become his support system. His refuge. His family.
His dad and brothers jabbed at him about turning all “responsible citizen,” but usually their insults slid off his back. With Violet as a witness, Gunner’s words picked at an unhealed scar. One that reminded him where he’d come from and that several people in town still considered him lowbrow.
Easton approached, his posture stiff. “Gunner.”
“Deputy Reeves,” Gunner sneered. At first the other McGuires had been excited, thinking they’d have a cop on their side. But Easton was more concerned about the welfare of Uncertainty’s residents than letting the McGuires drunkenly brawl in the streets. “I ain’t done nothing wrong. A guy’s allowed to come to his stepson’s baseball game.”
“Not when your ex-wife has a restraining order against you.”
Right as Ford was about to tell Violet he would meet her later—or whatever he could do to get her out of there before Gunner turned unruly—she took his hand.
His eyes met hers, and she laced her fingers through his. Standing her ground. Letting him know she was here.
“She changed her mind about that,” Gunner said.
Easton planted his hands on his hips. “Until she tells me that herself, you’re required to give her five hundred yards. The station’s that far if you’d rather go there.”
A storm rolled across Gunner’s features, and Ford stepped in front of Violet, just in case things turned ugly.
Easton also closed in, letting Ford know he had his back, too.
Somehow his brothers and father kept finding women willing to marry or shack up with them.
For a while.
Inevitably they couldn’t hold back their vile sides, whether thanks to alcohol or lack of self-control. Deacon had a better temperament than Gunner, who was the oldest and meanest, but even he’d had his ups and downs with women and the law. Almost as if eventually the McGuire blood took over no matter what.
Not me, though. I won’t let it.If he ever allowed a therapist to psychoanalyze him, they would likely say that was the reason he felt the need to always be busy and ready for an emergency. So he could head toward trouble to help instead of causing it.
Finally, Gunner held up his hands and backed away, spewing profanity as he did so. Heaven forbid he let the town forget that he occasionally came to events just to put a dent in everyone’s fun.
Easton clapped Ford on the back. “I’ll keep an eye on him. You and Violet get out of here.”
“You don’t have to do that. It’s my respons—”
“This is why we always tell you that you don’t have to play hero all the time. Technically, it’smyjob. If there’s a fire, I’ve got your number.”
Ford glanced from Easton to Violet and decided to give in. Mostly because he wanted to take the woman holding his hand away from here. Bonus points if he could distract her enough to forget the scene she’d just witnessed. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.” Easton stalked off in the direction Gunner had gone, and Ford guided Violet toward his truck.
His disparaging thoughts ran on a continuous loop: why did his family only ever show up to ruin things? Or when they wanted something? Why couldn’t he rid himself of feeling responsible for them?
And then circling back towhy did Violet have to be around for that?
Ford opened the passenger door and helped Violet inside. A dark cloud hung over him as he rounded the hood and climbed behind the wheel.
“Ford?” Violet said, and he lowered the keys from the ignition and gazed at the woman on the other side of the cab. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just sorry you had to see that. My family doesn’t come into town much, except to replenish their liquor supply and make everyone uncomfortable.”
Violet scooted across the bench seat until her thigh rested against his. “I understand complicated family dynamics.” She placed her hand on his knee, and every drop of blood in his body rushed to that spot. “If you wanna talk…”
