by Dahlia West
Palmer merely shrugged. “He bought her a ring, asked our daddy for permission. It was all sewn up. Just like we planned.”
Sawyer was about to tell Palmer that his lying ass could go straight to hell, but something in Cassidy’s eyes made him stop. He turned to her fully. “You said it wasn’t serious with him.”
Her lower lip quivered as she replied, “I…I…he asked, but—”
Palmer scoffed. “But she ruined it all. Months of planning, and she had to get her panties in a twist right at the last minute.”
Sawyer’s brow furrowed, and Walker let go, only resting one large hand on Sawyer’s shoulder. “Planning,” he repeated numbly. “What were you planning?”
Palmer spoke up first. “She was—”
“Shut up,” Sawyer snapped and felt Walker’s hand tighten on him. “I’m not talking to you.” He wasn’t certain how much of Palmer’s bullshit he could believe, and he was tired of listening to the little weasel speak anyway. He turned his full gaze to the woman standing just a few feet away, the woman he…well…there wasn’t time to think about that now. “What were you planning?” he demanded.
Cassidy cleared her throat but didn’t answer.
“Cassidy—” Sawyer growled, voice full of warning.
“Wayne’s…” She took a deep breath, and he could see her trembling. Whether it was fear of Palmer, or of Sawyer, or of the truth, he couldn’t guess. “Wayne’s daddy is sick,” she said quietly.
Sawyer half-turned to Walker, who shrugged. “I…we’ve never heard that.”
“It’s a secret,” Cassidy told him. “Mr. Horvath doesn’t want anyone to know. It’s Parkinson’s. In another year or two, he won’t be able to run his farm. He’ll…” Her breath caught in her throat, and Sawyer watched her chest hitch as she licked her lips. “He…he’ll turn the place over to Wayne soon. And…and…”
“And what?” Walker asked from behind Sawyer, because like Cassidy, Sawyer was beginning to lose his ability to speak.
He watched Cassidy shiver at the deep rumble of Walker’s order to respond. Tears welled in her eyes. “And Wayne’ll need someone to help him make decisions, help him run the place. He’ll…be looking for a new father.”
“Father-in-Law,” Palmer grunted.
Sawyer tore his gaze away from Cassidy to stare at the pinch-faced weasel who was actually grinning. Grinning! “We sent her out a bunch of times,” he crowed. “Greg Lyle, Carson Drews, Aaron Wright. They all have big…spreads,” he said with a smirk. “Don’t they, Cassidy.
She ducked her head, tears falling freely now.
“Yeah, they do,” said Palmer, answering his own question. “But we settled on Wayne when he told her that his daddy was so sick and wouldn’t last much longer. Broke down in tears, didn’t he, sis, when he told you? What am I gon’ do without my daddy?!” he mocked. “Well, we got a daddy. And he knows just what to do with Horvath Farms.”
He threw a sharp gaze at his sister. “Had it all worked out, running smooth as a cattle train…till she got cold feet and dumped him. Dad was pissed, at first, but then your Dad died,” he told them.
Fury rose up in Sawyer’s chest again, and he fought the urge to punch Palmer just for mentioning their father. “What do you mean?” he seethed through his clenched teeth. “What does it matter that our dad died?” That made no sense. Lyle, Drews, and Wright were all around their age, except Drews who was a few years older. All of them were firstborn sons or only children. All of them stood to inherit their parents’ spread, but Sawyer didn’t.
Even if God fucking forbid something happened to Walker, Austin was next in line for control of Snake River. Then Seth. Sawyer was pretty goddamn far down on the list, not that he was even interested.
Palmer shrugged. “Well, now Walker’s the most eligible bachelor in Lincoln County.” He beamed. “Besides me, of course.” Then he sighed dramatically. “But she fucked that up, too.”
Sawyer narrowed his eyes at the bastard. “She’s not interested in Walker.” He said it firmly, like it was common knowledge, set in stone, a law—like gravity. The Earth was round, the Tetons were to the north, and Cassidy Conroy…loved him.
Palmer grinned, though, and something about that sickly smile made Sawyer’s gut twist. “She can fake it,” Palmer replied confidently. “She always does. We sent her into The Spur, but she came out with the wrong brother. Fucking female. She says she tried, but apparently, she couldn’t close the deal with him.” He raised his arm, pointing not at Sawyer but at Walker behind him.
Sawyer’s gaze turned to his oldest brother. “Is that true?” he demanded. “Did Cassidy hit on you?”
Walker frowned. “She…”
“Don’t fuck with me, Walker!” Sawyer spat. “Did Cassidy hit on you first that night?”
Walker looked beyond him to the Conroys then back to Sawyer. His jaw set, in that way it did when he was about to deliver bad news. The worst news. Mom’s gone. Dad’s gone. You and Cassidy aren’t real.
Behind Sawyer, Cassidy sobbed. Just once, but that was all the answer he needed. He wanted more, though, wanted to know it all, no matter that it felt like a hot knife being rammed into his chest over and over. “What did she do?” he asked quietly. “Tell me the truth. Don’t sugarcoat it.”
Walker had a way of trying to smooth out rough edges, trying to protect his younger brothers any time he could. But this time, he sighed heavily. “She offered to take me into the bathroom at The Spur and give me a blowjob.”
“What?!” Sawyer growled. He thought he was prepared for his brother’s answer, but he so, so wasn’t. “And you didn’t say anything to me?”
Walker grimaced. “I said no. Then she got hurt. She ran to you for help. I just never saw a need to bring it up. She never offered again. I figured she was just drunk that night. I thought we could just pretend it never happened.”
“Cassidy doesn’t drink,” Sawyer replied before turning to her. “You tried to blow my brother?!”
She didn’t answer.
Palmer snorted. “Well, leave it to my dumbass sister to get that wrong, too.”
“What the fuck do you mean?” Sawyer spat.
“Shut up, Palmer!” Cassidy cried.
Palmer ignored Sawyer, though, and instead glared at Cassidy. “Did Dad forget to give you the talk about where babies come from?” he sneered. “Here’s a hint, sis. Swallowing cum doesn’t get you pregnant even though it does end up in your belly.”
“What the fuck?” Sawyer growled. He darted forward and snatched at the front of Palmer’s shirt.
Walker stepped between them and held Sawyer off.
Undaunted, Palmer laughed. “Dad said he was tired of her pussyfootin’ around,” he said with a wink. “He didn’t want any chance that she’d back out again like she did with Horvath. She was supposed to get knocked up,” he announced loudly while looking at Walker. “By you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
‡
CASSIDY COULDN’T LOOK anywhere but at the floor with its array of damaged goods, which seemed so fitting at this point. That was exactly how she felt about herself, especially with Sawyer staring at her—glaring at her—like she was dirt on his boot. “I didn’t agree to let Palmer hit me. I swear to you. I didn’t come to Snake River to try and trick you or manipulate you,” she declared.
It was all she could think of to say, the only accusation she could defend herself against.
“So you shopped around and for some reason settled on me. If you even really did, cause I can’t think why. Lyle, Drews, Wright, Horvath, they’re all richer than I ever will be.”
Hearing him list off the names, Cassidy had never felt more like a whore. “I didn’t sleep with all—”
“Does it matter?” Sawyer snapped. “You didn’t even want them. I can’t believe you did.” The way he looked at her gave her chills. “You lined them up like targets. Worse, like bulls at the state fair. Why weren’t any of them good enough for you? I know their spreads ar
en’t as big as the Snake, but you’ll never get your hands on my family’s land. Not with me.”
“No!” Cassidy cried. “I love you! I—”
“You love me? You love me? Is that what you told Wayne Horvath?”
“No, I didn’t. I never—”
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed into slits, and Cassidy felt all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at once. “So you never told Wayne Horvath that you loved him?”
Cassidy opened her mouth, ready to deny it, but shut it again quickly when he said, “It’s a small town, Cassidy. It’s easy enough for me to just ask him.”
She stood completely frozen, unable to reply. What could she say? That she’d only been trying it out? That she’d tested the words on her tongue, to see if she could live her life married to Wayne, but they had tasted like ashes in her mouth? That she’d all but resolved to go ahead with the marriage anyway until Sawyer Barlow had walked into The Spur one night all those months ago?
He’d still been wearing the suit he’d worn to his own father’s funeral. And Cassidy had been there as he’d walked into the place. She’d seen the look on his face as he nursed a beer with the rest of his brothers, off in a booth by themselves, none of them speaking to each other.
Cassidy had seen that expression so many times when she looked in the mirror that she’d decided then she wanted to put her arms around him. She knew she couldn’t hold him long. He was Sawyer Barlow, and she was Cassidy Conroy. But she had hardly cared.
Standing here now, looking at Sawyer and Walker’s accusing glares, Palmer’s triumphant grin as he sneered at her, and the concerned, curious looks of the other shoppers, she couldn’t bring herself to tell him.
Sawyer shook his head slowly. “You preyed on that family,” he accused. “A family with a sick old man, a man you were just waiting would shrivel up and blow away so you could take everything he has.”
“That’s not true!” Cassidy sobbed. “It’s not.” Indeed, she’d fought bitterly with her father about it, told him how awful it was to think about Mr. Horvath that way. Palmer could attest to her objections, of course, but he’d never so much as lift a finger to help Cassidy clear her name. Not that it would help. In the end, she’d obeyed Dad. She was just as guilty, she supposed. Wayne might be a jerk, but that didn’t excuse what she’d done.
“Then Walker,” he said quietly, and the look in his eyes made her shiver.
“Sawyer,” she whispered.
“You weren’t even drunk. You were trying to reel him in.”
“Sawyer—”
“You were trying to make a baby with him.”
Cassidy reached out to him, but he drew his arm away and shook his head. “Don’t touch me right now,” he warned. “I don’t know what the hell your angle is with me, but—”
“There is no angle! I love you. I—”
“You lied to me. And my family. And, apparently, everyone you ever meet.” He looked at her as though he was seeing her for the first time. Cassidy saw bewilderment. And disdain. “Every word that comes out of your mouth is a lie.”
“I didn’t let Palmer hit me!” she nearly shouted.
Sawyer looked unsure but took a step toward Palmer anyway. Walker, though, held him back.
“Harlan’s going to call the sheriff,” Walker growled. “If he hasn’t already. We tore up his store, and people are gawking.”
The line of Sawyer’s jaw set firmly. “He should pay anyway,” he snapped. “For hitting her. Even if she asked for it.”
Palmer turned and quickly left the aisle, glancing back over his shoulder only for a moment before turning the corner and disappearing. No one moved to stop him, not Sawyer or Walker. Too many people had gathered around them now. No one wanted to be a spectacle. Not even Cassidy, who’d spent her whole life being just that. With so many pairs of eyes on her now, she wished she could disappear into the air like a puff of smoke, invisible, forgotten in a moment.
“Not today,” Walker replied calmly as he jerked his chin toward the small crowd. “They’re not going to let you. And neither am I. Come on.”
Cassidy watched as Walker pulled Sawyer away. It tugged at her heart that it wasn’t even difficult for the older man. All the light in Sawyer’s eyes whenever he looked at her dissipated in the space of one second. He looked away. Then walked away. Cassidy couldn’t stop her tears from falling as she watched him leave.
She would’ve chased him, gotten down on her knees and begged him to stay, but there were so many people, and she didn’t know what she could say to make it better anyway. Mr. Reese came down the aisle, a deep-set frown marred his already-wrinkled features. “Oh my,” he breathed. “This is a mess.”
“Mr. Reese,” she said, wiping her cheeks and casting her eyes about, seeing what he saw—the aftermath of an implosion. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. There was an accident.”
Cassidy sank to her knees and started gathering the items on the floor. “I…I can pay,” she told him as she put the tins and bottles back on the shelves quickly. “If anything’s broken, I can pay.”
“Oh, I’m sure nothing’s broken, Cassidy,” he assured her. He frowned, though, and looked toward the automatic doors. “Never known the Barlows to make trouble. Or Palmer.”
Cassidy bit her lip so she wouldn’t laugh bitterly. No one knew Palmer was trouble. That was the trouble. Of course, no one knew she was, either. No one in the store had been close enough to hear their argument, thankfully. “I really can pay, Mr. Reese,” she insisted.
She had money. From her one and only paying job at Snake River, which she assumed she no longer had. A fierce pride bubbled inside her, though, that she’d earned that money, with her own two hands.
“It’s all right, Cassidy,” the elderly man told her while patting her hand. “I’m sure everything’s all right.” He looked a little worried, as though she might cry again. In truth, Cassidy was a little worried she might, too. People had dispersed, but they hadn’t gone far. She saw them sneaking glances at her as they pretended to shop for winter coats they couldn’t possibly need.
“Don’t worry about this,” said Mr. Reese. “I’ll have someone take care of it.”
Cassidy hesitated but nodded and stood up. “I’m sorry,” she repeated and fled for the doors.
In the parking lot, she stood on blacktop, baking in the sun as she gazed around herself. Sawyer and Walker were gone. So was Palmer. For the first time in her life, Cassidy Conroy was well and truly alone.
She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and tried not to panic.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‡
SAWYER STRODE PAST the customers who’d gathered nearby, allowing himself to be herded out the front doors of the Feed and Seed by Walker. Palmer was nowhere to be seen in the parking lot—otherwise Sawyer would’ve chased him down and pummeled him. Oh, well. Star Valley was a small town. They’d see each other again. He climbed into Walker’s truck, which already felt too big, too empty without Cassidy by his side.
His gut twisted at the thought of leaving her behind, but he was furious with her. Her betrayal felt like a stone in his belly, made all the worse because he’d been played for a fool, that they all had. He’d brought a snake into Snake River, and he had no illusions that it might end up costing them dearly, somehow.
And to think he’d come close to not using a condom with her earlier today. She’d cried when he’d brought it out. At the time he’d thought she was just overwhelmed by all the things she’d told him, but now darker thoughts crept in. Like maybe she was upset that she didn’t have Walker’s baby in her belly right now. Or maybe she’d wanted to trap Sawyer into getting her pregnant.
He didn’t like being anyone’s second choice. Sawyer may not be in line to inherit Snake River, but he was no one’s consolation prize. As he’d said to her, though, he couldn’t see her angle in choosing him. But that didn’t mean she didn’t have one, that they didn’t have one, the fucking Conroys. Jesus Christ! Glen Horvath had
Parkinson’s, and they’d circled him like goddamn vultures. It was disgusting, and it made him sick to his stomach to think that Cassidy had anything to do with it, anything at all.
No matter if she’d been telling the truth and she’d lost her nerve for it later. Was she telling the truth, though? How could he possibly know? What he’d learned already was distasteful enough, putting men on a spreadsheet to see if she’d spread for them, manipulating the Horvaths, offering to take Walker to the bathroom at The Spur. It was all too much.
He couldn’t imagine Cassidy agreeing to be punched in the face for some kind of payday, but then again, he couldn’t imagine her doing any of that. Had she been playing him this whole time? After all, he hadn’t charmed his way into her pants. She was the one who’d asked him to dance. And she’d missed that last shot at the pool table on purpose.
Maybe it was all lies, all calculated and spun out just so, to make him feel sorry for her and take her in. “She could’ve been spying on us,” he mused out loud.
Walker looked at him sidelong across the cab. “We told her about the Folly. Did you say anything about how badly we need it to work?”
It was common knowledge they’d bought the place, and anyone could easily guess what they were doing up there. But no one outside of the family and Rowan’s father knew that the Barlows were running on fumes financially. One misstep could bankrupt them. And the last thing they needed was Christopher Conroy knowing that.
Sawyer shook his head vehemently. “No. I never told her about that.”
“There’s one thing in our favor, at least.”
Sawyer looked at his brother more sharply this time, holding Walker’s gaze until he finally turned back to the road.
“I thought she was drunk!” Walker insisted. “That’s why I didn’t tell you. I thought she made a stupid mistake, and I wasn’t going to hold it over her head if the two of you were going to be a thing. She’s a kid, for God’s sake! I wouldn’t have touched her.”
“She’s Dakota’s age!” Sawyer snapped back.
Walker threw Sawyer a look so dark that for a moment Sawyer thought his older brother would stop the truck right there on the highway and tell him to get out. “I’ve never touched Dakota, either.”