Chapter 4 #2
“I ain’t drunk,” the man whined. “Besides, these ladies are into me. If you step back and stop crowding in on my turf, I’ll show you how a real cowboy handles women.” The man jerked his thumb at Fiera and Sage as he spoke. “‘Sides, I… I ain’t ‘fraid of you.”
Fiera rolled her eyes and stuck her finger at her open mouth in the mime of throwing up. Sage was too busy figuring out how to explain to the Haven Agency that she had to bail her employer out of jail. She’d never seen Grady like this. It was hot, to be honest.
Grady leaned down to stare the man straight in the eye. “Listen, jackass. That just proves you’re not only drunk, but stupid. If you weren’t, you’d know the only thing you need to be afraid of right now, is me.”
The man glared, although his eyes crossed a time or two. Sage thought his attempt at indignation was herculean, considering the state he was in. The man pointed his finger up in Grady’s face. “I’ll show you who’s stupid.”
Sage had no doubt the drunk would try. What she didn’t expect was for him to wheel around and grab Fiera and her by their wrists. That was Texas-sized stupidity.
“Come on, g-girls, les’ g’t oudda h-here,” he said, slurring his words and spraying them both with spittle.
Then the man was no longer holding their wrists. Nope.
In the blink of an eye, Grady had reached over and grabbed both of the man’s own wrists, crushing them so hard the drunk immediately let go of the girls and was wincing in pain, leaning back on his heels.
Grady looked over at Sage. “Look after Rose for a minute, will you?” He didn’t even seem to be straining.
“Of course,” she said, scooping Rose into her lap. She held Rose’s head close to her chest to keep her from seeing any possible violence.
Grady must have been thinking the same thing because he wasted no time in frog-marching the man toward the door and out of their field of vision.
Everyone else in the restaurant, however, seemed to be enjoying the show.
Fiera’s eyes were wide. She leaned over and whispered, “Did you see how he almost picked that man up? He didn’t even break a sweat.”
Sage shook her head and covered Rose’s ears in rebuke, before winking at her friend in agreement.
“What the hell, man? Get your hands off me. You’re gonna break my arms!” Ditching the cowboy facade, the man practically cried as Grady dragged him across the saloon.
“Too late for that, cowboy. Let me show you how we deal with asshole drunks in Wyoming.”
He’d just gotten to the door when it swung open.
“Hello, Boone, Tildi.” Grady backed up to let his friends enter. “How are things out on the Wild River Ranch?”
“Pretty good,” Boone said. “Tourist?”
Grady nodded.
Sage waved at her friend and motioned her over to join them at the table.
Tildi waved back before turning to Boone. “I see Fiera and Sage. I’ll just join them if you don’t mind, Daddy,” Tildi said, heading to the table before Boone could answer.
Boone shook his head as he watched her prance across the saloon. “Go ahead,” he called out after her. “I’ll help Grady here take out the trash. But don’t think we won’t be talking about you walking away from me just now when we get home.”
Sage knew what that meant, but grinned. She was pretty sure that’s what Tildi was hoping for in the first place.
Sage watched as Grady hoisted the drunk tourist around toward the exit. “If you’ll just hold the door for a minute, I’d appreciate it,” Grady said.
Boone reached over and held it open. Looking over at the drunk, he grinned. “After you.”
Sage wanted to cheer when Grady shoved the man out and kicked him in the ass for good measure. The man went sprawling out onto the sidewalk.
Grady and Boone turned back toward Sage’s table, just as the entire place broke into applause. Several men yelled their approval. Neither Grady nor Boone paid any attention to the commotion.
Sage let out a shaky breath, her cheeks burning. Her bottom was doing that tingly thing again, and she was not going to think about why.
When he reached the table, Grady looked down at her, eyes dark and intense. “You okay, Sage?”
She nodded quickly, suddenly feeling very small. “Yes, Sir.” Once again, Sage felt her cheeks flame.
Grady stroked Rose’s hair. “You okay, sweetie?”
Rose smiled and nodded, still clinging to Sage.
Grady turned to Fiera. “How ‘bout you?”
Sage struggled against the jealousy that reared up inside her. It was ridiculous. Grady was just concerned. But something inside her didn’t want him to be concerned about another woman, even if she was one of her best friends.
Fiera grinned. “I’m fine, Grady. Just glad you showed up when you did.”
Grady tipped his hat. “Any time, Fiera.”
Tildi was now sitting with Fiera and Sage, lightly bouncing a large red kickball on top of the table.
Boone reached over and picked up the ball off the table. “We don’t play with balls inside, now do we, babygirl?”
“No, Daddy,” Tildi responded.
Hank walked up, having just tossed the man’s hat out after him. “Really sorry about that. He’d evidently been drinking before he got here, and I didn’t realize it.”
“Stupid fucking tourist,” Grady bit out. “Still, you should make sure he doesn’t drive in that condition.”
“Don’t think that’ll be an issue, Grady,” Hank said, glancing out the window at the man struggling to rise from the sidewalk. “Sheriff Nelson is headed this way now. I bet he has a room where this guy can sleep it off.”
Grady nodded. “Sam always has a nose for trouble.”
“Boone, I would ask you and Tildi to join us, but we’re just about to head out.”
“No problem, Grady, Tildi and I were just stopping in for a quick bite before taking this ball to the ranch.”
“I have to ask, Boone, what do you need a ball for out at Wild River Ranch?” Grady inquired.
“It’s for Bullwinkle,” said Tildi.
“You mean as in Bullwinkle the Moose?” Fiera asked.
Grady gave Boone the “this should be a good story” look.
Boone sighed. “Bullwinkle was formerly Ironside, our breeding bull for the Bison herd. Tildi here renamed him and the name stuck.”
“And the ball?” Grady asked, grinning from ear to ear. Sage could tell he was really enjoying teasing his old friend.
“Turns out Bullwinkle loves to kick the ball with me,” Tildi said.
Boone shrugged. “It’s true, what can I say?”
Sage had rarely seen Grady relaxed like this, just enjoying the company of friends.
He held out his hand to Sage. Her heart did that strange melty thing all over again. Only this time, she melted all the way to her core.
“Come on, little one. Time to get my girls home.” A car door slammed outside the window. Grady glanced and nodded. “Looks like the Texan found a ride with the sheriff.”
Sage slipped her hand into his much larger one, trying and failing not to notice how safe and warm it felt.
She waved goodbye to Fiera and Tildi. They were both staring at her with knowing smiles.