Chapter 7 Reed
reed
Irode in from moving the herd to the southern pasture.
Lina was back, by the look of it, blocking my truck in the yard per usual.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t help the twitch of my lips.
My heartbeat picked up the closer I got to the stables at the mere thought of seeing her.
I could hear Chuck and Lina talking. A third voice jumped in, sounding low and irritated. Jude.
Something was going on because as soon as I dismounted and led Warrior in, they stopped speaking, and all three of them looked up from their huddle.
Lina shifted on her feet, avoiding eye contact.
The vice wrapped around my heart nearly broke it in two.
Chuck rubbed his mustache like he was thinking, and Jude flipped his hat restlessly.
My brows lifted.
“Maybe we should talk to Reed about what’s going on?” Chuck suggested, gesturing to me.
“Dad! What the actual fuck?” Lina threw out her arms in exasperation, shooting Chuck a look that would shrivel any man’s dick, except her father’s. And mine.
It was fucking hot.
Maybe that said something about me. I loved a strong, ferocious woman who didn’t take shit. I loved it even more if I could get that fiercely independent woman to submit to me.
I crossed my arms and braced my feet while I held on to Warrior’s reins, amused by whatever argument this was.
“I’m going to go with you,” Jude demanded, his brow pinched.
“No, you’re not.” Lina spun her icy glare on her cousin. “You have a new baby and a wedding to plan.”
My heart rate kicked up a notch, but for different reasons. Something was wrong. Lina was purposely avoiding my eyes, and I swear from here, her face looked darker.
“I’d go with you myself if it weren’t for the vandalism and the missing cattle,” Chuck explained.
“I thought you got the game cams up this week,” she protested.
“We did.” He heaved a big sigh. “But someone’s tampering with them. We also have ranch hands running night shifts, and it’s still happening. We lost a few head of cattle this week. I can’t risk leaving right now with—”
“Put Reed in charge,” she interrupted, gesturing to me, but she still hadn’t acknowledged my presence.
He shook his head. “He’s been running shifts with the others, but as I was saying, I also need to be here to go to Grandpa’s appointments with him. His dementia is getting worse.”
“What’s this about?” I spoke up, tired of being ignored like I wasn’t standing right in front of them.
Everyone’s heads spun to me, but my eyes only went to Lina’s as they finally met mine. I thought I saw a flicker of anxiety before her lashes fluttered, and her gaze shifted to her feet.
Chuck’s voice was firm and commanding. “Lina’s had some trouble on the circuit. Some creep’s been following her and harassing her.”
“Dad,” Lina warned through her teeth.
“We need to ask for help when we need it, darlin’. You know I’d go with you if I could. Maybe it’s for the best that I don’t. Otherwise, there might be a dead man who turns up on the circuit.”
There may still end up being a dead man.
I could feel my blood boiling. Warrior was shaking his head beside me, trying to jerk the reins from my fists, mirroring my agitation.
But this was more than agitation. I was fucking on fire.
I never felt this type of protective rage before, and I didn’t even know the whole story yet.
Lina raised her head to look at her dad before risking a glance at me.
My vision narrowed and my teeth clenched.
I was going to fucking kill this guy. She glared at me as if warning me to chill the fuck out, but that was like asking an addict to flush their pills down the toilet.
I wasn’t going to fucking chill. Not when a man harasses a woman, and definitely not if that woman is Lina Larsen.
The badass barrel racer who didn’t take shit from nobody, who knew who she was even at the age of twenty-seven, who was unapologetically her, who told you like it was and you either accepted her for her or fucked off.
“We have a few more weeks to get the double-wide ready for you,” Jude said. “You could go with Lina while we’re finishing that up, and when you return, you and your daughter could move in.”
“What needs to happen?” If my hands needed to get dirty, they’d get fucking dirty.
“I’ll send you both with the fifth wheel,” Chuck instructed. “No more sleeping in your truck.”
“Dad.” Lina shook her head.
“Lina, darlin’, you are as stubborn as the days are long. This does not take away your independence. This will protect you so you can focus on your races.”
She scoffed. “Like sending Reed is going to help me focus on my races.”
I wasn’t going to read too much into that, but my heart kicked up a notch thinking I rattled her as much as she did me.
“I could call Mom—” she started.
Chuck leveled her with a look that said, Come on, let’s get real. “You think Vickie Morgan is going to leave the city to camp out for six weeks or longer? Do you think your mother could protect you if it came down to it?”
“Ugh!” Lina threw up her hands. “No. I know she wouldn’t. I just don’t want this asshat babysitting me, either. Besides, I can protect myself.” She shot me a glare for good measure, and I couldn’t stop my dick from twitching.
“Darlin’, we all know you can protect yourself, but look at your face.” He gestured to her cheek, and I noticed then the yellowing of an old bruise. “You still won’t tell me how you got that. Consider this a little added protection. It’s a good thing.”
“So a bodyguard then?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“We haven’t even asked him if this will work for him yet.” Jude crossed his arms. “Reed, we know you’re dealing with the shit with your ex and trying to get full custody. This probably isn’t the best time.”
Lina’s head whipped to me, her big, brown eyes curious and concerned for a split second before shifting away.
Yeah, this was shit timing. At least Elise agreed to give me every other week once I had us set up in the double-wide.
But knowing her, she could go back on her word on a moment’s notice.
I spent my last paycheck on an hour with a family lawyer.
I was basically told that unless she is determined negligent by Child Protective Services, mothers are a lmost always awarded primary custody in the state of Oregon.
It would be a battle and a shitload of money I didn’t have if I was going to drag her through mediation.
This would give me some time to figure it out, another way to earn a few bucks for a lawyer while also keeping an eye on Lina. I would do anything to protect my girls.
Maybe I paused too long because Lina said, “See, he can’t do it.”
The fuck I can’t! I was more than capable of protecting her from some prick. “When do we leave?”
“In a couple days,” Chuck replied.
“Fucking shit!” Lina shook her head. “So I get to hear his grumpy ass for weeks on end?”
“Or until this gets resolved,” Chuck stated, throwing me a look that said, You better resolve it if it comes down to it.
Oh, I’d definitely make sure it gets handled. I nodded in understanding.
“Fine!” Lina turned on her heels, her ass looking amazing in her jeans as she walked away. The shadows of the stables played on her curves as she headed out the back door toward the big house. “But I call the shots! You work for me, Reed!” she blurted over her shoulder.
Chuck grimaced and turned to me. “Sorry, man. I think you’re in for it. I’ll be sure to pay you double.”
My eyes widened. “Double? Boss, you don’t need to do that. I won’t even be on the ranch.”
“Believe me, it’s going to be tougher than wrangling cattle. And the safety of my daughter is worth it.”
I knew exactly what he meant. I’d do anything to keep Penn safe. I could use the money. Double pay would definitely go a long way with the lawyer.
“I understand. I’ll make sure this guy doesn’t even look her way.” I meant that with every fiber of my being. No one was even going to glance her way with the intent to harm unless they wanted my fucking thumbs buried in their eye sockets.
Jude gripped my shoulder. “We’ll have your place set up by the time you get back. Let me know if you need me to do anything while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, boss. I won’t let you down.”
“You’re a good man, Reed,” Chuck said. “I know you won’t let me down.”
I’d sure as hell let a lot of people down, my ex-wife and daughter included. But that was all about to change.
I wanted to see Penn before I left. I knew before I even put my truck in park that it was a bad idea to pull up to Elise’s unannounced tonight.
There was another truck here I didn’t recognize, and I had a sinking feeling it was his.
I instinctively reached beneath the driver’s seat, my fingertips brushing the cold metal.
Of course Elise lied to me. She may have chosen this man to share her bed, but there was no way in hell I was letting him play house and parent my daughter. Fuck that! I couldn’t leave town knowing Penn was around him. Lord only knows what she was being exposed to in that house.
Gripping the handle of my 9mm, I lifted the hem of my shirt, clipping it inside the front of my jeans.
Sliding out of the truck, I closed the door with a soft click.
If no one heard me pull up, I didn’t want to alert anyone and have him run out the back.
I adjusted the front of my shirt, making sure it concealed the fact that I was armed.