Chapter 39 Beau
BEAU
Giant teeth pull on my t-shirt, and I shrug off Apollo. “Come on. You’re not making this easy for me.” Rhett’s horse snorts and nibbles my neck. “Cut it out.”
Jace hangs his arms over the stall. “Bet you wish that was Honey instead.”
“I wish someone else would learn how to do this.” I give him a pointed look.
“Can’t be me. I’m on the road too much. I thought we had the farrier scheduled to come out this week.”
“We did, but he cancelled.” While I can re-shoe horses in a pinch, we have a farrier we’ve worked with for years. Until he suddenly bailed. Vernon McAllister strikes again.
When I’m done, I walk the horse out to Rhett, who’s reading something on his phone and cursing up a storm. “What’s wrong?”
“I was afraid you were gonna ask.” He tilts the screen to me. “Hope y’all aren’t trying to keep this a secret any longer.”
It’s the gossip column of the local newspaper, the Wild Heart Gazette. The headline reads, “Is the McAllister-Walker Feud Over?”
A reliable source reported that she saw Beau Walker and Honey McAllister canoodling at the high school this week after someone lit a stink bomb.
Does this mean Wild Heart’s hottest firefighter is off the market?
Hopefully, no one will get shot like the last time a Walker and McAllister got together.
“Are you serious? How do people have time to care about this crap?” I rub the back of my neck. “It has to be that woman Trish. She was eyeballing us yesterday in Honey’s office.” I motion behind me. “Is it okay if I go call Honey? I want to make sure she’s okay with this.”
“Sure thing. We can do the last horse tomorrow if you have the time.”
“I’ll make time. I need to head two towns over to grab some supplies, but that shouldn’t take that long.”
He shakes his head. “’Cause Vernon cancelled our order. Have you ever met a pettier man?”
I grab my jacket off a peg. “Hopefully, this is as bad as it gets.” I say goodbye to my brothers and call Honey as I walk to my cabin. It’s after five, so she’s probably home.
She answers on the second ring. “Was just thinking about you.”
“I like hearing that. How was your day?”
“Everyone is sick. I’ve been popping zinc and drinking echinacea tea all day to stave off the cooties.”
“Are you still at school?”
“I just got home. Would you like to come over? I could make us some dinner.”
I’d rather she take it easy and get some rest. “Why don’t you relax. I’ll pick us up a pizza. Or would you prefer some soup? I can get whatever you want.” Because I’d like to see her in person to show her the article in case she gets upset.
“Soup sounds great. Thank you.”
“I’m on my way.” I’ll have a quick dinner with Honey before I go grab those supplies.
I’m headed into town when a brand-new Ford F-450 Platinum truck cuts me off and slams on the brakes. “What the fuck, asshole?” I barely miss rear-ending him.
When the dickhead gets out, it makes sense.
Vernon McAllister looks like he wants to tear the limbs off my body. Everything in me screams to get out and meet him man to man, but that won’t end well.
I lower my window, and as the fucker gets close, I put my hands on the steering wheel and stare straight ahead so I’m not tempted to do something stupid.
“Just wanted to get a close-up look at the man who stole my daughter.”
What is this, the eighteen hundreds? “Hi, Vernon. It’s nice to see you too. Did you bring your shotgun as well?”
“No, but I should’ve. Seeing you here was just a stroke of luck.” He chews on a toothpick and glares at me. “I hear y’all are having a bad week.”
I grit my teeth, not wanting to take his bait.
“Know where I’m headed?” he asks, leaning on my window. “The private airport. Wanna know why?”
“To go on a trip?”
“You’re not as dumb as you look.” Turning, he spits out the toothpick, and I finally glance at him. He’s lost weight since I saw him last. “I’m flying on my private jet, which is a luxury my daughter also has when she’s not slumming it with you.”
“I’m not sure why you’re punishing Honey for this. She loves you. Why would you want to hurt her? I’m never gonna try to take her money. I’m not a gold-digger.”
Chuckling, he crosses his arms. “You say that now, but what if you have kids? They’ll be Walkers, and they’ll stand to inherit what rightfully belongs to the McAllister bloodline.” He smirks. “If you think you can put an advertisement in the newspaper to solidify your relationship, think again.”
“I had nothing to do with the gossip column.”
“Spare me.” He rubs his palm over his white mustache.
“Just think on this. Next time you’re at Honey’s house, look at her jewelry.
Look at all the gold necklaces and bracelets I’ve bought her over the years.
Take a long look at my house. At my property.
Can you provide for her like I can? Like Ian Fairchild can?
Because he’ll keep her outfitted like I did.
With horses and properties and overflowing investments.
What can you give her? Some ramshackle cabin?
Some rusted equipment and a fireman’s pension? ”
The last time I felt this small, my father was drunk and tried to kick my ass because I forgot to lock a gate. I grip the steering wheel so tightly, my knuckles turn white. “It’s ironic you were never friends with Gus. You two have a lot in common.” They’re both fucking bullies.
Disgust contorts his expression. “I have nothing in common with that piece of trash.”
You sure about that, Vernon? “What about what Honey wants? Doesn’t that matter to you at all?”
“She’s too young to know what’s good for her.” His stare hardens. “And what’s not.”
Someone honks behind me. ’Cause we’re parked in the middle of the street. He spits as he turns on his heel back to his truck.
What the fuck just happened?