Page 89 of A Fallow Heart (Tommy Creek 2)

Travis spit out a surprised laugh. “You mean someone actually married that rude, mouthy dike twin of yours?”

Branson’s face molted to an immediate and intense, angry scarlet. “What did you call my wife?”

Before Bran could inflict any permanent damage and Travis sued him—which was exactly what he’d do—Jo Ellen tightened her grip and tugged her brother-in-law backward. “Branson. No. He’s not worth it.”

He let her pull him away, but continued to glare at Travis, challenging him with his narrowed eyes to make one wrong move.

“That’s right,” Travis taunted, leering. “Let the little woman lead you around by a leash.”

Branson’s nostrils flared but he kept his cool and refrained from lashing back, even verbally. Jo Ellen relaxed a fraction of an inch until Emma Leigh showed up with a sleeping infant passed out against her.

“Bran, what’s taking so—” She paused when she saw Jo Ellen pressed up against his chest. “What—” She finally turned to spot Travis deeper in the shadows, panting shallowly as he curled his injured body against the wall, and Jo Ellen’s lost sandal as she slipped it back on.

Taking in the scene, she lugged her baby higher on her shoulder and demanded, “Okay, what’d I miss?”

Still not knowing when to shut up, Travis ogled her, focusing his attention on her milk-filled breasts. “Damn, Emma Leigh. Guess I deflowered the wrong sister.”

Branson tensed under Jo Ellen’s restraining hand a split second before he let out a roar. She dodged into his path just as he charged, successfully tripping him up.

As they sprawled against each other, she lifted her voice and called, “Enough!” Latching her arm around Branson’s and keeping him tethered to her, she glared at the other man. “Travis, go back to your family. Now.”

But his family had already found him. “Trav?” The feminine voice from behind the four of them, made everyone turn to not only find his wife and children standing there watching, but half of their high school class gathered around to enjoy the show.

After wiping at his red face, he pointed accusingly at Jo Ellen. “She attacked me. She—”

His wife sighed and rolled her eyes, breaking into his accusation. “Travis, don’t even start with me again.” Grabbing the hands of her two children, she reeled them away and stalked off through a gap where the crowd immediately parted to let her pass.

“Look what you did?” Travis accused, whirling toward Jo Ellen.

She shook her head sadly. “Please tell me you’re not that pathetic.”

“Well, what did you think to accomplish, luring a married man out into a dark, quiet hall?”

She rolled her eyes, “I meant to talk, Travis. Only talk.”

He blinked blankly. “Talk? Talk about what?”

“I just wanted to thank you,” she said with a saccharine smile. “Thank you for showing me what a complete and utter asshole you were ten years ago so I didn’t make the biggest mistake of my life and actually marry you.”

He sputtered, offended, but she lifted a hand. “Why don’t you race after your wife now and try to beg your way back into her forgiveness?”

He glanced at everyone watching him and pushed from the wall, limping as he hastened away.

“Oh, and Travis,” Jo Ellen called after him. When he paused and glanced back warily, she smiled sweetly. “Before you go, I just want to confess…I made out with someone else when you and I were dating, and what’s worse, he was a hundred times better kisser than you were.” When his mouth fell open, she added, “He’s a hundred times the man you are. But that shouldn’t be too hard for you to believe since you were always just so jealous of him.”

Travis’s face filled with awareness as he—and no one else—realized exactly whom she referred to. She smiled with relish when his jaw clamped and eyes narrowed.

Around them, the hall full of old classmates broke out into cheering and clapping. Clearly defeated, Travis ducked his red face and rushed off.

“That was freaking…awesome!” Bran exploded, grabbing her close for a quick supportive hug. His face glowed with pride as he pulled away. “Christ, Jo Ellen. I had no idea you had that kind of spunk in you. You were…you were just like Emma Leigh.”

Jo Ellen laughed and wrapped her arm around her twin as Em squeezed in between them. Tipping her cheek against Em’s, she smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

When she pulled back to look expectantly at her sister, she was relieved to find Em’s eyes glittering with pride. “Wow, Joey. That was….” She shook her head.

“I know. I’m feeling a little wowed myself. I didn’t come here planning to chew him out, but now that I have, I feel…” She shrugged. “Free.”

“Loose ends tied and tucked away,” her twin said.

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