Page 48 of My Cowboy Temptation

I have no fear of the man for what he can do to me. My only fear is what damage he can cause to those I love.

“Wondered how long it would be before you made it here,” Zeke says, taking a puff on the pipe.

“I’m here. You have my attention. Mine and Lucas’s.”

“I’m sure I do,” he says just as his girlfriend, Margene, comes out and offers us some iced tea, which I politely decline. Palmer nods to her as she leaves before he turns back to me. “You know, I think we’ve all gotten along pretty well over the years. We’ve all minded our own business and haven’t tried to stir up any trouble for the other. At least until recently.”

“Not sure what you’re implying,” I say.

“You know plenty well what I’m implying. You thought Cody was involved in something he wasn’t and took matters into your own hands rather than come to me to see if we can settle things more…amicably. Had you done so, we could have cleared things up straight away without involving the law. And now you come here three months later to try and warn me off.” He puffs out some smoke and turns those dark eyes to me. “I don’t like to be threatened, son.”

“No one’s threatening anyone.” Not yet anyway. “Just here to remind you that as long as you stay in your lane, we’ll stay in ours.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to offer me after the harm you caused my enterprise?”

“Harm? I’m guessing that Cody was something of a burr under your saddle for some time. Lazy, stupid, and quick to anger. Bet having him away has only helped things run smoother.”

“Be that as it may, it doesn’t change that you interfered in my business, and for that there has to be consequences.”

Time to cut to the chase. “What do you want?”

He chuckles. “You’ll see in time.”

Fuck. I don’t have time or patience for this bullshit. I lean forward and meet him dead in the eyes. “Just know that whatever you’re thinking of doing will be treated as an act of war, and we’ll respond accordingly. And we have a lot more resources than you.”

“Is that right?” he says and starts to laugh, a phlegmy laugh that turns into a cough as his body shakes with mirth. “We’ll see about that.”

With that, I get up and head to the truck. He’s still puffing away when I pull out, a sly grin on his weathered old face.

Gauntlets thrown.

* * *

Lucas doesn’t sayanything as I finish relaying the conversation that Zeke and I shared, instead finishing his cup of coffee as he keeps his gaze out the window. I fidget as I wait, my mind turning over all the scenarios that might play out that could result in Callie coming to harm.

It kills me that she’s in Kalispell completely unprotected.

But it’s not like I can volunteer for the job. I need to be on the ranch, and something tells me that nothing I say would compel Callie to return to the ranch, even for her own protection. She balked at the restrictions before, and she’ll riot if we try again.

Finally, Lucas clears his throat. “Something tells me that Zeke isn’t going to back down until he’s drawn blood. If he does, he won’t get a chance to regret shit. We need to keep a tight eye on Callie, that’s obvious.” He sips his coffee. “I’m glad you’re watching out for her. Especially now. Did she say anything more to you about this guy she hooked up with? The baby’s father?”

What Callie told me was in confidence and friendship or not, I’m not going to betray that. She can share that tidbit of the one-night stand with her dad when she’s ready. I shake my head. “Just that he’s out of the picture.”

There are footsteps coming down the stairs, and a moment later Everly comes in. She stops suddenly when she sees me. “Is everything all right?” she asks, her gaze going back between Lucas and me.

I’ll take that as my cue to leave. “Best I leave you two for the night.”

“Keep me posted,” Lucas says.

I nod and head out, hearing Everly pepper Lucas with questions.

---