Chapter 4
Colton Kane, rightful alpha of the Little River Farm, stood on the back porch of the cabin he and his remaining stallion herd had taken over when they’d been ousted from the farm months earlier.
He hated everything about where they were right now.
The cabin was rotting around them, from the sagging roof to the broken windows, but it was far enough away from the farm that the stallions hadn’t been able to find them, so it had to do. But every time he looked in the direction of the farm, rage boiled inside him.
The farm should have been his.
He’d shown up with his stallion herd and been ousted by alpha Crew and his people, and then he’d had the audacity to claim the only female in Colton’s herd—Zara—as his mate. Crew was strutting around the farm like a king while Colton scraped by with the only two males left in his herd.
And to top off all the insults from Crew and his merry band of assholes, Colton’s only brother, Weston, was dead at their hands.
Colton didn’t really care about the other members of the herd who had lost their lives in the fight to take over the farm, but losing Weston was a wound that cut deep.
He wanted vengeance like he needed air to breathe.
If it was the last thing he ever did, he was going to take out the Little River Herd, starting with Crew and Zara. Every damn last one of them would fall, just like Weston.
Then Colton would be at peace, as the rightful leader of the farm.
A board creaked behind Colton, and Levi stepped onto the porch. Colton glanced at him. “We’re running low on supplies. Winter’s coming, you know.”
He’d never expected when they came to New Jersey from Virginia after losing their home to humans who got too close, that his herd would be scrounging like rats months later. It was damn unacceptable.
Asher walked up to the porch. “You were right, they’re regularly ordering supplies from the grocery store in the next town as well as hardware and farm supply stores in town.”
Colton had sent Asher to spy on the farm the last few days, and finally he had some intel to share. After learning the deliveries were scheduled for the following morning, he said, “We’ll place ourselves on the farm road and intercept the delivery vehicles.”
It might only work once, but at least they’d have food.
He turned and headed into the cabin to make a plan. They’d use both vehicles, apprehend the grocery delivery, and then they’d hustle back to the cabin.
He booted up the laptop that was running on an old generator that had been left in the abandoned cabin. “We’ve played games with the Little River Herd long enough. Fires, paintballs, bombs—they’ve managed to defeat us at every turn.”
“So what’s the play?” Levi asked.
“We go after them hard. They think they’re safe, that their females are safe. We’ll prove they’re not. The only way we leave their herd alone is when they’re all in body bags.”
Colton’s stallion surged inside him, hungry for vengeance.
He would take out everyone in the herd the way they’d taken Weston from him.
Crew and Zara would fall first, and he’d deliver the killing blows.
That would be his sweet justice.
Weston’s blood cried out from the earth, demanding justice.
And Colton would deliver.
Fate had spared the Little River Herd up to this point, but Colton would be victorious. There was no other way.
* * *
Darcy held a small plate in one hand and a cup of peach lemonade in the other, and watched the party from the sidelines. She was too keyed up to sit down, but that might have more to do with meeting Ford than putting on her party-hostess hat.
She couldn’t stop thinking about him, though.
He was so sexy and strong, and such a sweet guy.
“Darcy!”
Rhomi waved her hand in front of Darcy’s face and she nearly dropped her plate.
“You’re a hundred miles away, girl, are you okay?” Rhomi asked, her hand resting on her swollen belly.
The party was in full swing, Rhomi’s and Mercer’s friends and family seated at the tables and enjoying the food.
“Sorry, what’s up?”
“I came over to ask if you wanted to start the games now that everyone has had a chance to eat?”
“You’re not supposed to be worrying about the schedule,” Darcy pointed out. “You should be relaxing and enjoying things.”
“I am relaxing and I’m definitely enjoying the party, but I totally want to play the games too. My mom loves the decorations, by the way.”
“I’m so glad she was able to come.”
Rhomi gave her a curious look. “Are you okay?”
“More than okay, actually. I met a guy.”
“You did?” Rhomi practically screeched in glee. “Tell me everything.”
Darcy chuckled, her cheeks heating. “His name is Ford. He helped me carry in the decorations earlier. He’s so strong and so freaking sweet. I can’t stop thinking about him.”
Rhomi grinned, practically bouncing on her feet. “Darcy! That’s so awesome. You deserve to find the best guy in the world. I can tell you’re already a smitten kitten! So why was he in the park? Is he a patron?”
“He lives on a farm nearby,” she said. “He came with some friends to meet some other friends who live here. Um, Sunny? I forget what the guy’s name is.”
Mercer joined them, handing a cupcake to Rhomi, who made an appreciative sound in her throat. “Seneca,” he said. “Sunny and Seneca are dating, and Sunny’s adopted sister, Fallon, is dating Avi, who works on the farm with Ford.”
“Timing is everything with romance, right?” Rhomi said after taking a bite of the cupcake. “If you hadn’t been carrying in decorations when he was here, you might never have met. It’s kismet! Oh! That’s an awesome name for our baby if it’s a girl.”
“I love that,” Mercer said, his eyes shimmering with affection.
“Let’s get to the party games,” Darcy said. “Where’s Reagan? She’s supposed to do the baby bingo.”
Rhomi looked around, frowning. “I don’t see her.”
“I saw her leave a little while ago,” Mercer said.
“That’s weird,” Darcy said. “I’ll do the bingo, I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
Darcy finished her sandwich and peach lemonade and made her way to the games table.
She passed out bingo cards and markers to everyone with the help of Jenni, one of Rhomi’s co-workers, and then the games got underway.
After the games were finished, Rhomi opened her gifts and Darcy wrote everything down, oohing and aahing with the guests over the adorable baby items.
She had to focus quite a bit because she kept thinking about Ford.
Every time he crossed her mind, she got a flutter in her chest.
Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
When the party was over and the guests were gone, Mercer packed up the gifts into a big wagon and Rhomi stood at the candy buffet and filled a bowl with candy to take home.
“There you are,” Darcy said when she spied Reagan, looking slightly out of breath and flushed.
“Sorry, I just had to…deal with something. I’m sorry I missed the party.”
She hugged Rhomi, who said, “No worries. I’m glad you’re here now.”
Without explaining further, Reagan joined Darcy, helping to fold up the tablecloths and stack chairs, along with Mercer’s friends’ help.
She couldn’t help herself. “Reagan, where were you? You missed the games.”
Reagan’s cheeks darkened. “Nowhere.” She was avoiding looking at Darcy, which just made her more curious. But she’d leave it alone for now. Reagan would tell her when she was ready.
While they worked together, Darcy filled Reagan in on the party and the cute gifts that Rhomi had gotten.
“I love the crib you two got us,” Rhomi said before popping a sugar-covered gummy bear into her mouth.
“We’re glad,” Darcy said. “Can’t wait to see the nursery all set up.”
“I’m working as fast as I can,” Mercer said with a smile.
By the time the last chair was stacked and the gifts were in the wagon, the food wrapped up and taken into the employee cafeteria for later, and the candy all bagged up and handed out, Darcy was exhausted. But happy.
She’d not only hosted a kickass baby shower for her bestie, but she’d met a guy! She couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow, to hear his voice again.
Rhomi and Mercer walked her and Reagan out to their cars in the employee lot. She hugged Rhomi.
“Thank you for making today so special. I love you both so much,” Rhomi said.
Mercer nodded. “Thanks to both of you. It was great.”
“I’m so glad you had a good time,” Darcy said.
After they said goodbye to the couple, Darcy waved at Reagan and sat behind the wheel of her car and turned on the engine.
She couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Once she was home, she kicked off her shoes and walked into the kitchen to see what she had on hand to cook for dinner Sunday night. She hadn’t cooked for a guy in her apartment in forever, and she wanted it to be perfect.
A warm, hopeful feeling settled in her chest.
For the first time in a very long time, Darcy felt certain that something good was on the horizon.