Page 83 of Sudden Summer

“Is that?”

“No. I don’t think that’s a ranch truck.”

My heart started beating erratically again. “Oh my God. What do we do?”

He squinted, his eyes relaxing as the car came to a stop.

“Are you guys okay?” Beau’s hand squeezed around my arm as Denver’s voice filtered over to us.

“Yeah. Kill the headlights, would ya?” Beau yelled over. “How’d you know something was going on?”

“Emmett just got back from his days off. Came walking into the bunk house asking if you guys ever did any sort of shooting out this way. I asked him what the fuck he was talking about and he said he heard gunshots. I knew you guys were…uh…” Oh God, my cheeks were probably bright red right now… “having a picnic over this way. Wanted to make sure you were all okay.”

Another set of lights came into view. Wait. Not just one set. No. Three trucks were barreling out into the field. Colt’s truck pulled up in front of us, blocking where the original shots came from.

“Fuck, you two alright?” he asked as he jumped down from the cab.

“We’re fine. Pretty sure the fucker was shooting from that direction.” Beau pointed out over the field. “Stopped as soon as we called you, though.”

“What the fuck?” Danny growled as he walked over to us. “Denver, go get the boys up outta the bunk house. We’ll see if we can’t track down who the hell is on our property fucking shooting like we’re a hunting lodge. And for fuck’s sake, Beau, put on some goddamn clothes and get Birdie out of here.”

Colt and Hayes both made some awful choking noise trying to hide their laughter as Beau hooked his arm around my waist and walked me towards Colt’s truck…his smile bright as he didn’t turn around to grab a single piece of clothing.

Birdie

“Ijust don’t understand what in the world is going on.” Dolly’s voice carried from the kitchen in Lachlan’s house where she was working with Jessie and Hawk on supper for everyone. It had only been a few days since we were all together celebrating Juniper, but God, how different everything felt now.

“Hey, you okay?” Lach’s hand rested on my arm. “It looked like you zoned out there for a minute.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”

“Wanna cut the bullshit strong-person act and tell me how you really are? If you hurry, you can probably get it out before Beau comes back in with Juniper. I figure if Dad’s got him cornered at the grill, we have a solid five to forty minutes before he can sneak back in.”

“I’m not lying—” Lach shifted his stance, putting more pressure on his cane as he stared at me. I threw my arms up. “Fine. I’m not okay.”

The words hissed out of my chest like they were the last squeaky thoughts of a dying balloon.

“Why not?”

“Because whatever this is, it has to do with me. Beau won’t let me leave, and I’m putting everyone I love at risk.”

His eyebrows pulled down towards his nose. “What would make you think that?”

“Someone breaks into my house and tells me they aren’t done with me yet? And I see them outside Beau’s kitchen window that night? Then a few days later, we’re being shot at?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, “guess it is all your fault.”

My head snapped back. “Ouch.”

Lachlan nodded. “You heard how wild that sounded when the words came out of my mouth, right? So trust me when I say, they sound just as wild coming out of yours. This isn’t your fault. Some dick thinks he’s gonna best our family? He thinks we’re gonna just let him hurt you? No. Fuck no. He doesn’t know what’s coming for him.” He held up his cane and sighed. “I mean, it’s not me. Unless you’re here and he decides to pull some shit. I can still get to my lock box quickly, even with my snazzy cane and dazzling agoraphobia.”

I pushed myself up out of the chair and rushed over to Lachlan, my arms wrapping awkwardly around his body. He was trying to hide his pain by making jokes, but I saw it all the same.

“There, there,” he mockingly tsked as he patted my back.

“Thank you,” I laughed. “I feel better now.”

“Why are you hugging my girl?” Beau’s gravel-filled voice called out across the house.