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“That was the plan.” Colton swallows. “Get it for cheap. Get all the land in Resurrection for cheap.”
Davis scoffs in disgust. “And let me guess. Strip our land. Call it progress.”
Colton hangs his head. “Something like that.”
Hearing it all over again has me clenching my fists, just like Charlie. My heart hammers in solidarity with this family.
“It wasn’t personal,” Colton whispers, eliciting a growl of warning from Davis. “I wanted to get out of this town. If I did what my dad wanted, spent one summer here, he’d pay for my college. I could go anywhere. I could getout.” A helpless expression crosses his face as he looks pleadingly at Charlie. “I had to do it, man. I had to.”
“You attacked Ruby. My brother. How do you justify that?” Charlie spits.
“I didn’t attack Wyatt. Those were people my dad hired. As for Ruby ...she’s turning the ranch around. You don’t need to sell now.” Colton’s gaze drops to the hay-covered floor. “My father wanted me to scare her away. I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
His statement has Charlie’s fist flying out to grab a hunk of Colton’s T-shirt. He yanks him off the bucket. “You did hurt her,” he snarls, steel in his voice.
“I know.” Colton hangs in Charlie’s tight grip. “I’m sorry.”
“Damn.” Wyatt swears, looking like a leaner, boyish version of Charlie. “I liked you too, kid.”
Ford shakes his head. “We trusted you, you little shit.”
A tear tracks its way down Colton’s cheek. “I know.”
Davis, fists clenched, says, “I think you know what this means.”
“I’m fired.” Colton looks miserable.
Still fisting the front of Colton’s T-shirt, Charlie leans in, his blue eyes searing and murderous. “You should be dead right now, but you’re not because of her. So get your shit and get the fuck off my ranch. If I see you again—if you breathe in Ruby’s direction—I’ll hang you in the town square.” Charlie releases him, shoving him in the direction of the door.
Colton turns toward me, and Ford puts a hand on his chest. “Don’t even think about it.”
Charlie levels a big finger at Colton. “Tell your father if he’s got a problem, he can come back and talk to me.”
We watch as Colton slinks off and then four sets of eyes land on me.
“Ruby, how in the hell you figure this out?” Davis sounds impressed.
“The belt buckles,” I tell them, flushing. “Colton’s matched the woman’s Instagram avatar.”
Ford’s brow bunches. “What the hell’s an avatar?”
I stifle a smile. “Her profile picture,” I explain. “They had the same motto on the belt buckle. Like some weird dysfunctional family crest.”
Wyatt cackles. “Check it out. Fairy Tale hunting down bad guys.”
I blush, chance a glance at Charlie.
He doesn’t look as amused as his brothers. Jaw tight, fingers flexed at his side, face stormy. He looks downright terrifying.
“What do we do about the developers?” Wyatt asks.
“I’ll talk to Sheriff Richter and the surrounding ranchers,” Davis says. “Get everyone on the same page and let them know what’s happening.” Grooves deepen around his mouth. “I’ll help anyone who needs it with security. If we can get some proof they’re trespassing, we might have some recourse.”
Charlie nods, his expression hard now. “Good idea.”
Ford sighs, glancing out the barn doors. “Better make sure the kid gets off okay. Don’t want him sticking around here longer than necessary.”
“Y’all go on up to the house,” Charlie grits out. “I wanna talk to Ruby. Alone.”
