AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Jim Jackson,” he chokes. “He sent the Blackbeards?”
Interesting that my father is on a first name basis with Sagebrush’s captain. “Yes. Trigger arrived and intervened, thank goodness. Otherwise, I don’t know what they would’ve done to me. I certainly wasn’t going to let them have my horse, not willingly.” I’m a little dismayed that the lies are falling so easily off my tongue. I’m going to have to revisit my sense of self.
His panic betrays him. “I thought… I asked Jackson….”
“You knew about Lullaby?” I say, still being coy.
He sighs. “Yes, baby. I keep an eye on you. I’m aware of everything you do. I asked Captain Jackson to cite you for the horse. I didn’t mean for it to come to this.”
I raise my eyes to the ceiling. “Why, daddy? You know me better than to think a citation would run me out of Sagebrush.”
“I do know you, Evanee. Animals are your weakness. I figured if you were hassled enough, you’d come home.” The arrogance is back in his voice. “You don’t belong in Sagebrush, and you certainly don’t belong with a bastard who brings trouble to your doorstep.”
“Really, daddy. Aren’t you being just a tad hypocritical?”
“No!” he snaps. “I’m afraid for you! Why doesn’t that matter to you?”
“It matters, but I’m not your little girl anymore. I make my own choices and you have to stop interfering!”
“That’s bullshit! I will never stop looking out for your welfare.”
I’m tired of the conversation. “We need to sort this out, but it’ll have to keep. I have a horse to move.” I hang up on him mid-sentence.
I return downstairs to find Rider on the couch talking to the boys and Jess sitting on a bar stool, Rocky standing between her thighs, kissing her passionately.
Trigger enters the room, and heads straight to me, wrapping me in his arms. “Fuck, baby. I’m gonna burn every motherfucker who messed with you today.”
“I know you are, lover,” I reply, then slide my hands up his back. “Thank you.”
He glances around. “Wendy here?”
“Yes.” I haven’t seen her since she went out for a smoke. “She’s outside bonding with Verity.”
Jess rolls her eyes as she comes up for air. “I bet they’re brawling.”
Trigger holds my waist lightly as pulls me to a quiet corner. “We gotta sort this thing out with Wendy and the DEA agents,” he says softly, kissing my temple. “Hangman don’t know whether to be pissed or excited. The assholes waltzed into town wearing suits and flashing badges. They should’ve stood out like sort thumbs, yet no one said anything.”
I run a hand across his chest, taking a trip over the peaks and valleys of his muscles. “I’m worried for Wendy, but I don’t think I can talk her out of playing double-agent. She’s very excited.”
Trigger clasps the hand that’s now tracing his perfect abs. “Hangman doesn’t want to talk about it here, said he’ll let us know.” He glances over at Rider. “We got other things to do.”
I smile at him with love in my heart.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Evanee
I’m in Lullaby’s back yard reassuring her that the move is for her own good and that she’s going to love her new home.
She seems to be on board, but I’m concerned about how she’s going to react when Trigger and Rider arrive. She’s not good with strangers, especially men.
“You’re late,” I say softly to Trigger when they appear. “I was getting worried about you.”
“Sorry, babe,” Trigger replies as Rider prowls around the small paddock. “Had to borrow a saddle from an unsuspecting farmer. Hope we can get it back to him by morning.”
That’s what I love about Trigger. He’s not the kind of guy who takes advantage of others. If they deserve it, he kicks ass. Otherwise, he’s as friendly as a Canadian beaver.
“This is a nice setup,” Rider says, his voice hushed as he skirts Lullaby. He stands in front of her with relaxed body language, holding her gaze, but he hasn’t touched her yet. My confidence in him grows. I don’t think he’ll make a move towards her until he sees her eyes soften.
