Page 59 of Outlawed

“Okay, so maybe we should just lock you in the barn with us. We could keep you distracted.”

“Behave.” I laugh as Shepard dashes past me. I turn and see the lead marshal heading back. “Fuck. Do not let Shepard hit him, Austin. I mean it.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got him.”

I look up to the sky, wondering if Dawn could smite the motherfucker. I tune out everyone around me and rest my head against Willow, who pretends she’s a docile mare and not a raging bitch most of the time.

Eventually, when I don’t feel like screaming my lungs out, I turn to the marshal, plaster on a fake-as-fuck smile, and ask him what the issue is now.

“We need to do some digging.”

“I’m sorry, but why?”

“We have reason to believe there may be bodies buried here.”

I blink at him, wondering if he’ll disappear. But no, that motherfucker is still standing. “Whose bodies exactly?”

“Of the missing people,” he huffs like I’m dumb.

Shepard starts arguing with him again, but I hold up my hand. “Do what you need to do. I just hope you have a lawyer who is half as good as mine.” I walk away, taking Willow with me. We wander around the property, staying in sight of the agent behind me. I ignore him, but I can feel his eyes burning a hole in my back. I hear machines and feel the land react to being pawed at. I send soothing waves into it, promising I’ll fix things afterward and to remain calm. The last thing I need is vines popping up and attacking people, that’s how on edge the place is.

What feels like hours later, it eventually calms down, and I can sense that people are leaving. I head closer, pausing when I’m between my two favorite pastures. I swallow a wave of rage at the desecration, though I can have everything fixed and better than new in no time at all.

“He fucking said that she was responsible,” I hear the asshole marshal snarl at someone.

“I don’t know what to tell you, sir. We’ve searched every nook and cranny of this place and come up empty. Sure, there are a few more pastures we could dig up, but that land is undisturbed, unlike here. We’d be hard pressed to convince anyone that anything was buried there.”

“Fuck. Fuck!”

I clear my throat, making them both turn around. I’m surprised they didn’t see me and my massive fucking horse approaching. Some marshals these guys are. “I hope you know I’ll be seeking damages.”

“You’re growing poisonous plants.”

“Which isn’t illegal. Know what it is? Digging up endangered ones.” I nod to where he’s standing in a pile of broken and discarded plants. Neither of them knows what to say about that, but I’m so fucking done. “As you didn’t find anything, I suggest you pack up and get the fuck off my property.”

I spot something gold on the ground. I pick it up and slip it into my pocket before I climb onto Willow. I take off before anyone can stop me and head back to the house. If I stay, I’ll knock someone’s block off.

I take Willow back to the stables. I clean out her stall, brush her down, and give her an apple before I head up to the house, which is now, thankfully, agent-free.

Shepard stands when he sees me and walks over, pulling me into his arms. “You okay?”

“I’m pissed, but I’ll get over it. They’re gone?”

“Yeah, and heads up, Jen is on a warpath. She’s already called in a bunch of favors. I would not want to be a US marshal right now.”

“Good.”

I turn toward the door before it opens. Riggs is standing there with Hannah fast asleep on his shoulder. I walk over to him as he drinks me in. “Hey, Opie.”

“Hey,” I whisper back.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t trust myself. There was no way I could watch them tear through our home and not kill someone.”

I smile as I stroke my hand down Hannah’s hair. “I get it, trust me.”

“I’ve gotta say, it was interesting listening to the agents left in town trying to dig up information about you.” I tense, wondering what was said. “I know this place has fucked you over in the past, but damn, I was proud to be a resident today. They really circled the wagons. Not a single person had anything negative to say about you. Even those who usually have plenty of negative shit to say. Hell, even Judy sang your praises. Everyone was protective, and damned if it didn’t warm this cold, dead heart of mine.”

He leans over and kisses me. “I doubt they’ll be back.”