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Sovereign’s jaw twitches, and I know he’s not hearing a word I’m saying. Luckily for me, Jensen didn’t overhear. Sovereign has had it bad for Clint Garrison’s widow, Keira, ever since he met her a few months back. He’s waiting for her legal problems with her late husband’s ranch to get sorted out. At least, that’s what he says.
The truth is, when Sovereign met Keira, he fell hard. He has a habit of doing that in his relationships—falling hard and loving blindly. The next day, we invited Clint up to the ranch and ran him over with a herd of cattle. In my opinion, it would have been easier to fuck her and take her away, but Sovereign has a deep disgust for infidelity. He’d rather kill a Garrison and risk the legal consequences than commit adultery.
So, we killed Clint and spun it as an accident.
With Sovereign and I being responsible for Clint’s death, he’s not in an ideal situation to pursue his widow. Everyone in South Platte is still stirred up; I don’t envy him having to clean up that mess to get the woman he wants.
At least my situation is a little more cut and dry.
Sovereign shrugs. “I’ve got no stones to throw. You fuck whoever you want.”
“I’m not fucking her,” I say quickly.
Jensen pulls up right beside us. “I heard her brother’s got plans to hitch her up to a Garrison.”
Sovereign gives him a sharp look, shifting his weight to swing Shadow around. I can tell the conversation is over, and thank fuck for that.
My blood bubbles at the idea of Thomas Garrison putting his hands on Diane. There’s no way I’ll let her marry him.
Over my dead body.
My mind wanders as we ride out and start moving the cattle. It’s a small portion of the herd, maybe a hundred and fifty head. They’re tired from the heat, and they move easily. The dust is a bitch, though. I have to stop and pull my bandana over my face to keep from gagging on it.
We get the last one secure, and Sovereign heads back to the barn—he has business in town with the bank. Jensen rides with me as I check the eastern fence. We’re both quiet until we get back to the barn and wash up in the gatehouse.
“Where you headed?” I ask.
“Carter’s Farm,” he says. “Care to join?”
I shake my head. “I’ve got no business there today.”
Jensen leans on the kitchen counter, drying his hands on a towel as he studies me.
“You like that girl,” he says.
I shrug. “So what if I do?”
I’m avoiding his eyes, but he’s shrewd. He always has been. Somehow, Jensen Childress knows everything about everyone’s business. The corner of his mouth jerks up, and he shakes his head, grabbing his hat.
“You already fucked her,” he says. “Goddamn.”
I keep my head down. “You judging me for that?”
He shrugs. “She’s a pretty little thing and I meant what I said before. But if her brother wants her with Thomas Garrison…well, you’ll get her into trouble.”
“She’s not in trouble.”
“Not yet, she’s not.”
Guilt creeps in, along with protectiveness. Jensen sees my scowl and relents.
“Listen, I’m going down to West Lancaster with David. You head down and see your girl, and I’ll text you when we’re leaving to come back.”
“Really?”
“Go on,” he says. “Let me get down there first.”
Jensen might push a few buttons now and then, but he’s a solid friend. I clap him on the shoulder before he leaves, his truck disappearing down the drive. It feels like it takes forever to get that all clear text from him. The cell service is poor at Sovereign Mountain, so I wait in my truck at the end of the driveway, in a clean shirt and everything.
