Chapter 5
“ W hat the fuck is that?” I stare at the severed head that's resting on the porch at the long camp.
“That’s a?—”
“I know what it fuckin’ is! I mean what’s it doin’ here?” I interrupt Noah. Fuckin’ River Boys always got something smart to say.
“ This was sent by courier to the Carson Ranch and addressed to ‘The Mayor’.” Tate scratches the back of his neck as we all stare at the decomposing face that’s looking up at us
“Well, do any of ya know whose body it belongs to?” I look around at all the dumbstruck faces, wondering where the hell Garrett and his brothers are.
“I’m tellin’ ya, that’s Bucky Hall.” Sawyer lights himself a smoke as he takes a seat on a log beside the fire.
“Bucky Hall, didn’t he die years ago?” I swear I ain’t seen that old man in over a decade.
“Nah, he’s just been a recluse. My gran would have me go check in on him from time to time, but I stopped last year after he pulled a rifle on me,” Sawyer explains.
“He pulled a rifle on ya?” Zayne laughs.
“Guess the old boy didn’t wanna be bothered.” Sawyer shrugs, and when I get a sniff at what he’s smokin’ and realize it ain’t just tobacco, I snatch it from his hand.
“You don’t need that shit, not now.” I stub it out on the rafter. I respect the River Boys. On a good day, I even like the fuckers, but they still have a lot to learn.
For decades, the Carsons have branded the men who are loyal to them, men who will do whatever it takes to ensure our town is protected. Noah, Sawyer, and Zane may not be cowboys like the men who were branded before them, but they’ve all earned the mark they’ve got on their chests.
I’m without doubt that they have an agenda of their own, Noah Wylde has connections that go far beyond our quaint little town, but they’re a handy trio to have onboard and they’ve proved their loyalty time and time again.
We all look out toward the track when we hear the truck speeding toward us. Garrett skids to a stop before he gets out, slams his door, and marches toward us with a murderous look on his face.
“We all know who fuckin’ did this.” He kicks the head across the porch like it’s a soccer ball, outta frustration.
“Garrett, you can’t lose your head,” Wade tells him once he’s gotten out the passenger seat.
“Don’t you think that's in poor taste?” Noah sniggers, his eyes flicking down to the head, and we all look shocked when Garrett grabs him by the shirt and pins him to the cabin wall.
“You think this is funny? My wife opened that fuckin’ package.” I can see the rage in his eyes, how his hands tremble, and I know from past experience that there ain’t no limits to his anger.
“Garrett.” I step in before things get outta hand, I also keep my eyes on Cole as he paces the steps in front of him. Hell knows what's going through his mind.
“Who do ya think it is?” I slowly ease Garrett down and give Noah a warning look over my shoulder. He straightens himself out and smirks as he backs down.
“Ain’t it obvious? Things have been quiet around here, now Mason’s sister has moved her family into that ranch, we get this. I swear she knows what we did to her brother and nephews.”
“She can only speculate, there ain’t no evidence.” Wade shakes his head.
“Well, speculation is clearly enough for her. Bucky Hall was refusin’ to move from his homestead, his land is smack bang in the middle of the plans for that new freeway the council is trying to get passed. If they get permission that land value is gonna skyrocket. Stubborn old bastard wasn’t ever gonna let a road be built through his home and I can assure you all, he would never sell to a Mason. He told me that himself.” Garrett stares at what's left of him with a hint of sadness in his eyes. “She did this, she killed him so she could purchase his land, and she sent that as a warnin’ to us.” He points to the head.
“Well, if that’s the case, she’s an idiot. You’re the fuckin’ mayor now,” Noah reminds him, and I can see by the look on Garrett’s face that he didn’t want a reminder of that fact.
Garrett Carson ain’t the kind of man who likes attention, he’s a simple man, a hard worker who ain’t afraid to do what's necessary. Harvey Marston turned all that around when he showed up in town a few months ago and started making his demands. His organization needed someone like Garrett to be in control and although my boss ain’t one who usually takes orders, he will do anything for the town he raises his family in. If Garrett hadn't taken the seat, Harvey would have found someone who would, and it’s better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
“That ain’t gonna make a difference. That woman has vengeance in mind. I saw that in the sadistic smile she gave me in chapel last week.”
“Come on, Garrett, she was just introducin’ herself.” Wade tries to play it down.
“She knows we killed her brother and nephews and she’s out for blood.” Garrett grips the porch rail with both hands and lowers his head between them.
“So what do we do about it?” I ask, trying to keep him focused.
“We do nothin’, not until I’ve sussed her out. She’s only been in town a few weeks, she’s already kicked her own nephew outta his home. So we know she’s ruthless and ruthless people usually end up makin’ mistakes.” He turns his head back to look at me, and I can tell by the look on his face that he’s back in control. “Tate and Finn, I need you to go speak to Joe Mason, find out everythin’ you can about his aunt, anythin’ he can tell us could be useful.” He sends them off.
“Wait, didn’t Joe inherit the ranch?” Sawyer looks surprised.
“Nope, his daddy cut him outta the will because he’s a homophobic cunt.” Garrett lights himself a smoke and takes a long, deep breath. “Not that Joe cares, he didn’t want the place anyway. Him and Dexter got themselves a homestead on the border of town which suits him nicely. I’ll bet he’s about as happy to see his aunt show up as we are.”
“Noah, I need you and your boys to get rid of that.” Garrett points his cigarette toward the head, before taking a seat on the porch step and massaging his temple.
“You wanna tell me what's up?” I take a seat next to him, sensing that something's off, other than the severed head. Garrett’s had far more than this to contend with in the past and he’s not let it get to him.
“She shouldn’t have had to see that.” He shakes his head.
“No, she shouldn’a but she did, and you’ll be there for her. That girl of yours is made of strong stuff.”
“I just feel like I’m on a treadmill, one problem gets fixed then another one shows up.”
“Ain’t that the Carson way?” I smack him on the back, and just as I’m about to rise to my feet, I hear a horse come up behind me and I quickly spin around.
“Hunter, what ya doin’ out here?” I ask, suddenly very aware of the fact Noah has Bucky Hall’s head on full display
“You told me to practice, me and Blaze must have done eight miles and som—” The kid's face turns gray when he sees the head swingin’ by its hair in Noah’s fist, and then he starts to gag.
“What’s up? Ain't ya ever seen a rottin’ head before?” Noah tosses it at him and when his hands automatically reach out to catch it, he throws it in the air in disgust and falls off his saddle. Zayne and Sawyer chuckle and although Cole and Garrett remain serious, I notice Wade trying hard not to laugh with ‘em.
“This ain’t a fuckin’ joke.” Cole turns around and narrows his eyes. “Bucky Hall was a good man, you show him some respect.” His head turns to Hunter who’s now on his feet, hunched over and gagging by his horse's back legs.
“You’re new round here, ain’t ya?” Garrett steps closer to him and as Hunter stands up straight and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, I see the fear in his eyes.
“You wanna take a ride again and head in the other direction, what goes on at this line camp is the business of branded men. And what ya saw here today…” Garrett crouches down and picks Bucky’s head up from the floor, dusting off the top of his gray hair. “You forget about.” He passes it back to Noah. “Ya understand me, boy?”
“Yes, sir.” Hunter nods and when he attempts to get back on his saddle, his foot slips from the stirrup. The color quickly returns to his cheeks, flaming red as he makes his second attempt, this time managing to lift himself up, Then Cole slaps Blaze on his ass to send him on his way.
“You think he needs a firmer warnin’?” Cole cracks his knuckles as he watches him ride off.
“Nah, you saw how scared he was, ain’t no way he’s talkin’.” Wade shakes his head.
“I gotta get back to Maisie, she was pretty shook up.” Garrett nods for his brothers to follow him back to his truck. “Come on, we’ll give ya a lift back to your cabin on the way.” He smiles at me sadly.
I smile as we pull up to the cabin, and I see the oil lamp on the porch has been lit. Everleigh started doing that about two months ago, and I never would have thought such a simple gesture could bring with it so much appreciation.
“How is the girl?” Garrett asks, gripping the wheel and still looking tense.
“She’s okay, still don’t say much, and refuses to leave the cabin. I don’t think the shrink she’s talkin’ to is doin’ much good.”
“You know, if it’s a burden I can make other arrangements just because Jimmer’s d?—”
“She ain’t a burden, and she’s fine where she is,” I snap at him as he pulls to a stop outside the cabin. The thought of her being anywhere but here doesn’t just make me mad, it makes me fuckin’ hurt.
“I think you're goin’ soft, old man.” Cole leans forward and kneads both my shoulders.
“And you're a fine one to talk,” I remind him. There was a time when I thought Cole was lost to the darkness, but that sassy girl from L.A. dragged him right back out of it.
“You like her, don’t ya?” Of course, Wade has to stick his two cents worth in too.
“I like her just fine. Same way I like all you assholes. Everleigh is a nice girl and she didn’t deserve what happened to her, but she’s half my age.” My own words wound me as I get outta the truck and slam the door.
Stepping up onto the porch, I turn off the lantern and knock on the door.
“Everleigh, it's me.”
I hear the bolts on the other side of the door move and when she opens it I like how she looks pleased to see me.
“You okay?” I check.
“I am now.” She smiles as she steps away from the door and gets back to the couch, picking up the book she must have read four times over, and she begins to read.