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“And don’t come back,” said the man who’d spoken to Ivan and Rory before the fight broke out.
“Rory, do you want to press charges?” Cash asked.
The guy was already long gone, and they wouldn’t have any luck getting his name out of the leader. “Nah, I’m not hurt.”
“Let Rueben check you out. He has EMT training.”
“Really?” Rory asked.
“From a previous life,” Rue said with a sheepish grin.
Maybe that’s how the guys thought of things—life before and after the ranch. Or maybe it was before and after jail. “You’re all so interesting.”
“Rory!” Harry came rushing over. “I returned the little dog to her owner. They’re so grateful you intervened, but they feel awful you got hurt.”
“It’s no one’s fault but the jerk who kicked me.”
“Hold still,” Rueben said and began his examination. “This reminds me of the time Finley nearly knocked himself out the day he met Kieran.”
“Jesus, not this story again,” Finley said from somewhere on Rory’s right. He tried to look at him, but Rueben cradled his head in place.
“Struck by my beauty,” Kieran said. “Then he got struck by a muck rake when he stepped on its tines. BAM! A direct hit to the forehead.”
“Ouch,” Rory said. “I don’t feel so bad. Mine was a glancing blow at least.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Snyder,” said an unfamiliar female voice. Rory bit back a groan. He may not know who the woman was, but he knew what she wanted from him. His hat had gotten knocked off when the kick landed. Not that it was much of a disguise. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he turned and faced a pretty brunette with a microphone in her hand. “I’m Kristin Rogers from Fox Fifteen. I’d like to ask you a few questions if you have a minute.”
Fuck my life.“No comment.”
Ivan laced his fingers through Rory’s and tugged him away from the encroaching reporters. Rory’s method of soothing his rage had prevented Ivan from noticing the reporters moving on them like vultures on roadkill.There’s my guy.That’s what Rory had said. Had he meant it?
“Rory!” A different woman cried out. “I’m Anita from CBS Ten. I just have a few questions.” Did she expect Rory to change his mind about an interview because she reported for a different affiliate?
“And I have no comment for you either,” Rory called over his shoulder.
Ivan and Rory lengthened their strides, hoping to put more distance between themselves and the reporters. “Do you think you can jog? I’m parked behind the feed mill.”
“That just makes us look guilty, and don’t think for a minute because the reporters are wearing heels that they won’t keep up with us. That business is brutal, and they’ve battled numerous competitors to land their positions. They’ll stop at nothing to get their interviews.”
Sure enough, the reporters kept pace with them and badgered Rory with questions, each one more intrusive than the last. They asked about his relationship with his father and even inquired about his boyfriend’s identity. The reporters wanted to know if he was dating one of the farm felons. Farm felons? Did they think Cash was growing them on the ranch instead of providing the men a safe place to live and employment opportunities?
“They’re just trying to provoke us,” Rory said so quietly that Ivan barely heard him. “Don’t give them anything.”
Ivan reached into his pocket with his free hand to unlock the truck with the fob. The headlights flashed, and the horn let out two quick beeps. Ivan squeezed Rory’s fingers and silently encouraged him to move even faster. “They won’t block the truck, will they?”
“Probably.”
Something landed with a resoundingsplatnear them, and a startled gasp and “Oh shit” quickly followed. A second object exploded close enough to splatter moisture on the back of Ivan’s shirt. He was momentarily confused until he caught the reflection of a light blue water balloon sailing through the air in the truck’s passenger window. It hit the cameraman following Kristin, and he went down hard.
“Someone’s throwing water balloons at us,” Anita cried out.
Rory turned mischievous eyes on him just as Ivan wrenched his door open. They both knew who the culprit was. Ivan wasn’t sure who’d suggested the water balloon toss for the kids, but he wanted to hug them.
“Get in. Save yourself,” Ivan said dramatically before shutting Rory inside. Ivan whirled in time to see a green water balloon arcing toward the reporters, who kept running into one another in their frenzy to get away.
Ivan darted around the truck and climbed into the cab, so he didn’t see which of them got pelted. He fired up the engine and pulled away without bothering to put his seat belt on. He maneuvered around the confused journalists and drove toward safety. As they neared the feed store, Ivan rolled down his window and pointed to Hope. She held the tennis ball launcher they used for doggie demonstrations in one hand and a hot pink water balloon with the other. She raised them over her head in victory when she saw the guys drive away from the chaos. Ivan beeped the horn twice to thank her and pulled on his seat belt.
Neither of them said a word until they were well outside Last Chance Creek.
