11. Conflictions
Conflictions
Wade
She shouldn’t make me feel this way.
Even though I know she’s just saying those things to try and get a rise out of me over Paige, it’s hard not to let my mind wander.
But it ain’t right.
I loved her mother .
And having all this time to kill before the DA gets here for her deposition makes me antsy.
Before I know it, I’m pulling in front of the main house at Black Gulch.
“Afternoon, Sheriff.” Sawyer pops his head out of the closest barn.
“Heya, kiddo. Is your dad around?” I kinda feel guilty calling him that.
Hell, I bet he’s old enough to drink by now.
He nods, pushing his grimy baseball cap up with a pair of hoof clippers. “Yep, inside with Lori and the babies.” He flashes his teeth in a grin. “It’s nap time, so we all skedaddle outside.”
Pounding hooves has me glancing to the paddock where Sophia is running her mare through the barrel patterns.
“Makes sense. No one wants to be around a squalling newborn.” I squint against the sun to try and get a better view of what he’s working on.
I need any kind of distraction from that damn woman in the cell.
The shadows of the barn fade as I get closer to see a palomino tied in the aisle between the stalls.
“Aww, Ben isn’t that bad. Jack had a screaming phase for a while, but I can barely hear them in my room.” Sawyer pulls the horse’s front hoof up and starts cleaning the pad, the nippers stuffed into his back pocket while he works.
“But you’d rather be shoeing nags,” I chuckle. “That says a lot.”
I’ve never been around tiny babies much outside of Mason’s brood.
He pops his blue eyes over his shoulder to glance at me as he laughs. “Nah, this is Lori’s mare. Soph and I are gonna babysit later so Lori and Dad can go for their evening ride. I told him I’d get her ready.”
“You’re a good son, Sawyer. Should I come back another time?” I really don’t want to wake Mason, but I just feel like I need to work through this bullshit rattling in my noggin before I go and do something drastic.
Like inviting that damn girl into my house.
For fuck’s sake. Me and my damn soft spot for Maria had me opening my mouth before I even thought through the repercussions.
But the way Elena kept calling me ‘daddy’ had me all kinds of—
“Nah, Dad’s probably up. He ain’t that old yet.” Sawyer bends back over the hoof, tossing me an errant wave with his tool without looking.
Mason has this life stuff figured out. Enough kids to run the ranch while he gets to hang out in the house all day with his pretty young wife?
I can’t even picture myself with children.
Hell, it takes two for that dance.
My knuckles rap against the heavy oak door. Within seconds I heard Mason’s deep voice calling out for me to come in.
“Wade? I didn’t expect you.” Mason’s stocking feet and messy hair makes it seem like he really did just wake up from a nap.
Or…
“Didn’t mean to interrupt.” I toss him a sly grin.
His eyes widen, then he grins. “Too soon,” he chuckles. “Coffee?” He steps sideways into the kitchen and pulls two cups from the cupboard before I can answer.
“Much obliged,” I grunt as I fold myself into one of the chairs by the table. “So, you know that girl we caught at Libby’s—”
“Wish there was the death penalty for what she did.” His jaw clenches, sliding a mug to me.
Ouch.
“Boy, you’re gonna hate this next part.” I make him wait while I take a sip.
His dark brows knot when he sits opposite of me. “What does that mean?”
“Welp. Seems she has some knowledge on who’s connected to all the hoopla here. So we’re working a plea deal for her to spill her beans.” I wave my hand in an idle circle.
“Jesus, Wade. She killed cows and blew their place up.” His voice raises. “Blue and Lib deserve justice for what she did.”
“I know, I know. But you and I both know there’s something bigger going on. She was sent to target your brand and anyone affiliated with you. Don’t you want to find out who’s behind it?”
I stare him down for a moment, then shift my focus back to my coffee. I’ve known Mason practically my entire life.
He just needs to think. One of my favorite things about him is that he can be logical…most of the time.
After letting out a long exhale, he nods. “Yea, I do want to find the asshole who’s behind kidnapping my wife and daughter.”
There’s been a heap of trouble in these parts the last couple of years.
“So, one tidbit that came up. The one forcing her to do these sabotage, he called himself ‘Mad Man’. But I can’t find that pseudonym affiliated with any records. One thing she did mention, the perp knew her father, Quincy Evans.” A lump in my throat forms making it hard to swallow.
Ford and Blue know what happened to Quincy.
Mason doesn’t. And the fact that I buried him here on his ranch…I hope he doesn’t ever learn that fact.
“Oh, shit,” he exclaims, leaning back swiftly as his fingers thread into his hair. “I remember that name. There was a whole ratpack of ‘em fifteen years ago or so. Buncha damn troublemakers.”
“Do you recall any of the others?” With a practiced flick of my wrist, I pop out the small notepad I keep in my breast pocket.
The heels of his palms dig into his eyesockets. “Well, crap. I dunno. I had my own sandbox to play in. Chris, Russ, I think even Matt Simmons was in that group.”
Tossing my pencil down doesn’t vent the sudden surge of frustration that runs through me. “They’re all dead, Mason. Of all the days to leave my ouija board at home,” I groan, tilting my hat back.
“Well, ask Dixon if he knows. Hell, Ford was friends with Chris, he might have some insight too once he gets home from his honeymoon.” His shoulders rise and fall in a shrug.
A tiny cry carries from the master suite making Mason glance towards it.
“I gotta go check on Lori. She needs the sleep almost more than the boys do.” He drops a lopsided grin.
“Sawyer said you’re in here napping.” I tilt my cup up, emptying the last swallow, then push away from the table.
“He doesn’t know how tiring it is having little ones.
He might one day. I’m old now,” he chuckles, grabbing my mug and setting it in the sink.
“When you can find a woman who snuggles up to you, with your baby in her arms…it’s worth it to take the time to help when she needs it.
” With a wink, he disappears down the hall.
Rub it in.
I suppose it’s about time to head to the office. I want to hear the rest of the details Elena has to share now that she’s agreed.
And then, she’ll come home with me until I can find the one behind these attacks.
I just need my cock to behave.