by Jen Talty
“You can.” He climbed up on the golf cart and slid behind the steering wheel, heading for the main entrance of Whiskey Ranch. It was an odd place to meet, and that concerned Sawyer and Crew. But Crew had assured Sawyer that there was no way anyone had penetrated the ranch that wasn’t supposed to be on the premises. Everyone had been accounted for, right down to Josie who had signed in a guest.
Some new boyfriend and all his credentials checked out, but still, Sawyer didn’t like that they were on the ranch, somewhere, lurking in the distance. It didn’t matter that Crew and his buddies were on top of it. The ranch was vast and Josie might not be a hardened criminal.
She worked for his grandmother.
Enough said.
“You’re wise beyond your years.”
“I also happen to know that Fierce happens to be gay.”
“The hot waiter at Boone’s?” Kevin asked. “You don’t say. And here I thought my gaydar was rock solid.” Kevin held on to the side of the cart as they approached the hill heading toward the front gate. “I had no intention of staying in Buhl.”
“And if Hayden does?”
“I do love that kid. I know I haven’t shown it very well over the years and I can’t tell if she wants—”
“She does. But she also wants you to be happy. Can you be that here?”
“This town does rub off on you.”
Sawyer glanced around. Something seemed off. While his grandmother had always been weird, this seemed over the top. Not so much wanting to meet in the wide-open space of where Kevin worked, but that she wanted to meet at all.
It smelled like a setup and they all knew it.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Sawyer jumped, slamming on the brakes. “What the fuck was that?”
“Gunshots,” Kevin said as he leaped from the golf cart.
“That was a rhetorical question.” Sawyer wasn’t a fan of weapons, but he pulled his out and held it to his side as he stepped from the cart. “I feel like a sitting duck.” The sounds of a horse racing toward them echoed in his ears. He turned to see Heather—alone—galloping in his direction.
“Where’s Hayden?” Kevin asked.
“Fuck if I know.” Sawyer pulled out his cell and pulled up Crew’s contact information, but he didn’t have to hit send as Crew raced across the open field on his Jeep.
Dirt kicked up behind the monster tires.
“This isn’t good.” Sawyer jogged to the top of the hill and stared down at the empty entrance.
His grandmother was nowhere to be found.
“What the hell is going on?” Kevin asked.
Heather leaped from her horse and raced toward her fiancé. She gasped for air, pointing behind her.
Crew swung open his SUV door before he slammed the vehicle into park. “What happened?”
“It’s Josie and some man I don’t know. They took Hayden. I was able to get away and we scared off the other horses, so they are on foot, but they had guns and handcuffs and I’m not sure I did the right thing by leaving her.”
“No. You did the right thing.” Crew tapped his cell and pressed it to his ear. “We’ve got two perps on foot with one hostage. I don’t know what happened to MacKenzie, but she’s a no-show. There are only so many places anyone could hide transportation on the outskirts of the ranch. Find it. Now.”
“Josie is staying at the east quarters. With the advanced riders on break right now, she’s alone in that wing,” Heather said.
“Let’s go.” Kevin jumped into the Jeep.
“What makes you think you’re going?” Crew asked.
“She’s my niece. If you think I’m sitting on the side—”
“He gets to come,” Sawyer said. “I might need his help with my grandmother. I bet she’s there waiting.” He slipped behind the steering wheel.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Crew asked.
Sawyer tapped his chest. “You can listen to everything with my wire. That hasn’t changed. Feel free to break down the doors before she kills me.”
Sawyer swallowed the lump in his throat. “Hello, Grandmother.” He leaned against the front of the Jeep and folded his arms.
“You’ve filled out since the last time I saw you,” MacKenzie said. “You look like a man.”
“That’s because I am,” he said with a little too much sarcasm. “Of course, you told me killing my father made me one, so there’s that too.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “I still can’t believe he taunted you and you shot him a fourth time. What a fool my son was not to know you had it in you.”
“If you’re going to say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, you’re very wrong. I’m nothing like you, or my father.”
MacKenzie shrugged. “You’re wrong about that, but I’ll let it go for now.” She turned her attention to Kevin. “You, however, are a surprise. So is your niece.”
“Let her go. She has nothing to do with this,” Kevin said.
“Oh, but she does.” MacKenzie smacked her lips. “I finally found my grandson’s Achilles’ heel.”
“I don’t think so,” Sawyer said. “I’m only here to tell you I won’t come work for you. I still want nothing to do with you.”
MacKenzie whistled. “Bring her out.”
A man emerged from the building. He shoved Hayden out in front, pushing her to the ground.
“You fucking bitch.” Kevin lunged forward.
Sawyer grabbed him with both hands around the waist, barely able to hold the man back. “Don’t,” he said sternly.
Kevin shrugged himself free. “What the fuck do you have to gain from hurting Hayden? Your issue is with me. I’m the one who owes you money.”
“But you’re useless. There is nothing you can do for me.” MacKenzie took a few steps back, bent over, and helped Hayden to her feet.
Sawyer made sure he stayed in front of Kevin. He couldn’t afford for the man to go off half-cocked. He made eye contact with Hayden, who didn’t look as if she were too badly shaken up.
“This one can make me money at the rodeo.”
“Not if she’s injured, she can’t,” Sawyer said. “Besides, you saw the other day. She doesn’t have what it takes anymore. She’s washed up.”
“Perhaps. But she got your attention.” MacKenzie shook her head. “Men. You’re so weak. You always need a warm body.”
Sawyer laughed. “As opposed to a hard, plastic toy?”
“Something like that,” MacKenzie said. “Is she a good fuck?”
“Not the worst.” Sawyer swallowed the bile that smacked his throat.
Kevin shot him a nasty glare. “You’re no better than your grandmother,” he said behind a tight jaw.
Sawyer didn’t have time to deal with Kevin’s wounded ego on behalf of his niece. He needed to get this over with and fast. “But like you said. A warm body.” He held his gun, pointing it at his grandmother’s chest. “She’s means nothing to me, and you can’t use her to get to me. But I am tired of this dance.”
“You’re not going to kill me.”
“You know. That’s what my father said to me and we both know how that worked out for him.” Sawyer gripped the gun with all his might, thankful his hand didn’t shake, because his insides were like a fucking earthquake. When he went to confront his father, he had every intention of killing him, only he couldn’t do it. Not until his father threatened his life.
Sawyer knew without a doubt that his father would have killed him.
The difference in this situation was that Sawyer had no idea what his grandmother would do, but murdering Sawyer probably wasn’t on the agenda. She might kill Kevin. Maybe even Hayden, but she wouldn’t do it right this second.
She understood what self-defense really was and how it played out in the courts and right now, he’d lose that fight. MacKenzie was provoking him. Pushing his buttons. But his life wasn’t in imminent danger.
“All right, little boy.” MacKenzie held her hands to the sides.
“Come on. Pull that trigger. Go ahead. I dare you.”
“Nope. Not this way.” He released his hand on the trigger, lifting the gun to the sky. He let out a slow breath.
“You’re not a cold-blooded killer. And that’s a good thing. I couldn’t shoot you unless I was forced to. You’re my flesh and blood and I want you by my side.”
“It’s never going to happen. Now let her go. We brought the money Kevin owes you. In full. Walk away. Go fuck with someone else and leave them alone.”
“And what about you? What are you going to do?”
“What I always do. Try to forget I’m related to you, sing my songs, and move on to the next town.” Right now, this was all a waiting game. They had his grandmother on kidnapping. Crew and his team needed to swoop in and do their thing before either Kevin lost his shit.
Or MacKenzie went off the rails.
Both were equally bad.
“Well, that’s not going to happen.” MacKenzie’s smile disappeared. “And you’re right. These two have nothing I want or need.” She waved her hand over her head. “I’ve never done my own dirty work. I’ve always hired someone to do it and I’m never there when it happens. So, young man. It’s time for you and me to hit the road.”
“Excuse me?” Sawyer swallowed.
“You heard me.” She jerked her head. “My boy over there is going to take care of your friends. Since you don’t care, it will be no sweat off your back.”
“You think you can just kill two people and no one is going to ask questions?” Sawyer glanced between Kevin and Hayden.
“Oh no. That’s not what’s going to happen. Kevin is going to go back to his old ways and he’s going to hurt his niece.” MacKenzie tapped her nose. “Abusers always do. Sawyer, you of all people should know about things like that.”
“You’re a real bitch,” Sawyer said under his breath. He lowered his weapon. “I might not be a cold—”
“Get your goddamned hands off her.” Kevin took off running toward his niece, who had been lifted off the ground by MacKenzie’s goon.
Bang!
The man shot Kevin.
He grabbed his gut and doubled over.
“No!” Hayden cried out.
“Big mistake, Grandma. Huge.” Sawyer lowered his gun and squeezed, aiming for her thigh.
Bang!
“You little bastard. You shot me.” She dropped to her knees, holding her leg.
He turned, focusing on the man who was using his girlfriend as a human shield. “Put her down.”
“I don’t think so,” the man said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Sawyer could see Crew slinking around the back of the building.
“In about three seconds, you’re going to wish you’d done as I told you to,” Sawyer said.
“Put a bullet in the bitch and get your ass over here and help me.”
Bang!
The man holding Hayden arched before falling forward.
Sawyer raced to Kevin. “Crew, untie Hayden and get a fucking ambulance out here.”
“Already on the way,” Crew shouted.
Sawyer dropped to Kevin’s side, rolling him to his back.
Kevin blinked, holding his gut, gurgling blood.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Sawyer ripped off his shirt, putting pressure on the wound. “Stay with me, Kevin. Come on, man. It’s not your time yet.”
Kevin curled his fingers around Sawyer’s waist. “Promise me you’ll take care of her.”
“Don’t make me do that. You’re going to be fine.”
Kevin shook his head. “I need you to promise me.”
Sawyer nodded. “I promise.”
“Thank you.”
Epilogue
Six weeks later…
Sawyer pulled into the driveway and stared at the porch. Life had taken some drastic turns the last few weeks, but this had to be the biggest one.
The front door swung open and Hayden appeared.
As did her uncle.
Kevin still needed the aid of a cane to get around, but he’d been making strides since he’d been released from the hospital ten days ago. He had been lucky he survived his injury. The bullet missed a couple of major organs, but still did a fair amount of damage and he’d lost a lot of blood.
And thanks to Crew and his buddies at the FBI, Sawyer’s grandmother was facing a shit ton of charges and would be spending the rest of her life behind bars. Sawyer was free from his past and he’d become a different man.
A more confident one and for the first time in his life, he understood what love was all about and he wanted to take the bull by horns and run with it.
“I’m so glad you’re back.” Hayden ran down the porch steps and flung herself at him as he stepped from the driver’s seat.
“Well, hello there.” He embraced her, holding her close to his chest, wishing he could feel her heart beat. “Did you two survive without me?”
Kevin leaned against the door. “Doctor said I can go back to work next week if the ranch has work where I don’t have to lift anything.”
“I’ve already cleared that with Heather. She’s got lots of paperwork for you.”
“Oh, that sounds exciting,” Sawyer said.
“I can’t wait.” Kevin laughed.
Sawyer tilted his head. “Do you mind? Or do you want to watch me kiss my girlfriend passionately?”
Kevin held up his hands. “I’ll go get a couple of drinks.”
The door clicked closed and Sawyer landed his lips over Hayden’s in a long, wet kiss that probably should have been done in the privacy of his bedroom.
“I know I was only gone for a few days, but I missed you,” he said.
“I missed you more, but I think my uncle would say he missed you the most. Swear to God, all I heard, was things like Sawyer does it this way, or if Sawyer was here, he’d be doing this. Drove me up a freaking wall.”
“He’s my bromance.”
“It’s weird,” Hayden said. “But I am glad you get along so well, and guess what.” She took him by the hand and made her way to the swing on the porch. “He’s got a date with Fierce.”
“That’s awesome. I like Fierce. He’s nice guy.” Sawyer kissed the back of her hand. “So, I’ve got some interesting news.”
“Yeah. What’s that?”
“While I was in Nashville, I got an opportunity to sing some of my songs at this bar where some representative for some big country star was and they want to buy some of my songs.” That was a slight understatement, but he wanted to gauge her reaction and wait for Kevin to drop the big bomb.
Hayden squeezed his biceps. “Are you kidding me? That’s awesome. What did they offer? You know. You should probably get a lawyer or something. I mean, you’re so talented. You could really make this a big-time career.”
Sawyer’s heart hammered in his chest. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the check. His fingers burned. He set it aside. He’d show that to her in a bit. “You’re always such a big cheerleader. You make me feel so good about myself.”
“You shouldn’t need me for that.”
“Perhaps, but I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” He palmed her cheek. “You mean everything to me.”
“Aww. You’re so sweet.”
“No. I’m not. I mean I am, but this isn’t me being that.”
She tilted her head. “What is it then?”
“These last few days apart, I realized that I’m in love with you. I love you.”
Her eyes grew wide and her smile wider. She gasped, covering her mouth. “You what?”
“I love you,” he repeated the words.
“Wow.” She dropped her hands to her lap. “I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me.”
“I can’t say I’ve ever said it before.”
“I haven’t either.” She cleared her throat. Tears formed in her eyes. “I love you, too.”
“Oh, good grief,” her uncle mumbled as he pushed open the screen door with his hip.
He held a bottle of wine and three glasses. “I guess we’re celebrating lovey-dovey shit?”
Sawyer laughed. “Or we could party because I sold an entire album worth of songs.”
“What? You said some songs? And this is a done deal?” She stood, helping her uncle with the wine and glasses.
Sawyer picked up the check. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew what would happen and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that the Whiskey brothers had found me an agent who could help me navigate all this, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
“Get our hopes up?” Kevin handed him a glass. “I think you were more concerned you weren’t good enough, which is crazy. You have more talent in that little pinky of yours than most people.”
“I agree with my uncle.”
He leaned in and kissed her rosy lips. “You have to say that because you love me.”
“I’m not going to listen to this love shit for the rest of my life.”
“Yeah, you are,” Sawyer said with a laugh. “So, while it’s awesome that I just earned rent for the next year.” He slammed the check on her thigh. “For both of us.”
“Holy shit.” She held up the check to the sunlight and examined it as if it were a precious rock.
“Jesus. That’s a fat check.” Kevin leaned over her shoulder.
“There is a negative,” Sawyer said.
“What’s that?” Kevin asked.
“I have to go to Nashville a couple of times a year. Actually, more like every other month.”
“I like Nashville,” Kevin said. “Do you like Nashville, Hayden?”
Hayden nodded.
“I don’t see what the problem is. So, we take a few trips to Nashville. Maybe my new boyfriend will like it,” Kevin said with a raised glass. “Our first date is tomorrow. I think my future nephew-in-law needs to take me shopping for a new tie.”
Sawyer slapped his forehead. “I’ll drive you, but you can afford your own tie.”
“That is true.” Kevin squeezed his shoulder. “I’m real proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Sawyer glanced up. “I’m proud of you too.”
“My boyfriend is in love with my gay uncle.” Hayden laughed.