Page 161 of Backlash

“I know why Denver claims he fired him, but Ryan swears he was innocent. No charges were ever filed, you know.”

“Then why did Ryan leave town?”

“He says he quit, that he just needed some time away. Can’t say as I blame him. Workin’ for the McLeans must be hell.”

“Oh, Dad, that’s crazy. John McLean stood by Curtis Kramer when everyone else in town blamed him for the fire on the McLean Ranch. And some of those hands at the McLean place have been there for years. They love it.”

Ivan clenched his teeth. “Don’t mention John McLean to me!” he ordered, starting for the back porch at a furious pace.

“But he did.”

“So now he’s a saint, right? And I give another wrongly accused man a job and I’m not right in the head,” he called over his shoulder.

“I didn’t say—”

Her father reached the porch and whirled, his eyes bright. “John McLean is the single reason Vanessa left me and you grew up without a mother!” he reminded her, his words slicing open an old, painful wound. The back of Ivan’s neck was flushed scarlet. “You know how I feel about the McLeans, so let’s drop it!”

Cassie heard the rumble of an engine and glanced toward the drive. “I, uh, don’t think that’s possible.”

“And just why the hell not?”

Cassie’s heart felt like it had dropped to the ground. “Because it looks like Colton is on his way.”

“What?” Ivan turned his gaze to the front drive. “Blast that man! What’s he doin’ here?”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out,” she said, but she wished Colton’s timing were better. Right now her father would like to tear anyone with the name of McLean limb from limb.

“He’s not welcome here!” Ivan snapped.

“He knows that. So why don’t you listen to what he has to say? It must be important,” she said, trying to calm him down before another confrontation between her father and Colton exploded.

Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve heard enough McLean lies to last me a lifetime, and I would have thought the same goes for you!”

“Colton never lied to me,” she said, her back stiffening.

“No,” Ivan allowed, “but what he did was worse! He accused you of lying, using him, trying to trick him into a marriage he didn’t want.” The flush on his neck spread upward, and his eyes flared. “Don’t ever forget, Cassie, Colton McLean tried to destroy you!”

“I can handle myself!”

“Can you?” her father tossed back, the lines of strain near his eyes becoming less harsh. “I hope so.” With that, he stormed into the house, Erasmus on his heels.

The screen door banged shut, and Cassie flinched. Her father was right, of course. Colton had wounded her so deeply, she thought she’d never be the same. And she wasn’t. Colton had single-handedly devastated the young naive girl she’d once been. It wouldn’t happen again. Now she was older and, she hoped, much wiser. That young girl could never be hurt again, and she would try her best to make sure the woman she’d become wouldn’t suffer at any man’s hands, including those of Colton McLean.

Watching as Colton parked his Jeep near her truck, she waited by the steps. As he got out of the truck, his gaze met hers, and one side of his mouth lifted in that same irreverent smile she’d always found so fascinating.

“I just couldn’t stay away,” he said, as if answering the questions in her eyes.

“Seems you didn’t have much trouble for eight years,” she pointed out.

“Ouch.” He shoved his hat back on his head and studied her thoughtfully. “Am I back on the bad list?”

“You were never off,” she said, trying to remain firm, but she couldn’t keep the twinkle out of her eyes. “Face it, McLean, you’re bad news.”

“You’ve been talking to your father again.”

“Maybe he’s just been setting me straight.”

Colton chuckled. “You know, Cass, you can be positively mean when you want to be.”

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