Chapter 6 #2
"Partly," I said. "But also because it's ours. We built this ranch. Claimed this land, made it work. And every year when we take the herd up to the high pastures, it feels like proof. Proof that we belong here. That we're not going back."
She was looking at me now. I could feel her gaze, warm and steady.
"You're not going back," she said softly. "None of you are."
"No. We're not."
We drove in comfortable silence for a while. The road climbed higher, the air growing thinner and cooler. Leadville appeared in the distance, a cluster of buildings nestled in the valley, mountains rising on all sides.
"I should probably go into the pharmacy alone," Tammy said as we approached the town limits. "Craig doesn't exactly like you."
"Craig doesn't like any Orc."
"True. But he especially doesn't like you." She gave me a wry smile. "I think something about you makes him nervous."
"Good."
"Ripplan."
"What? He should be nervous. He's a bigot and a coward."
"He's also the only pharmacist in town. So maybe we don't antagonize him right before I need to stock up on supplies."
She had a point. I didn't like it, but she had a point.
"Fine," I said. "I'll wait by the truck."
"Thank you."
I parked on Main Street, across from the pharmacy. Tammy grabbed her list, then paused with her hand on the door handle.
"I'll be quick," she said.
"Take your time."
She smiled and climbed out. I watched her walk into the pharmacy, then settled back in my seat to wait.
The street was quiet. A few people walking, a couple of cars passing. Normal small-town activity. I pulled out my phone and checked messages from Brylan. Updates on equipment deliveries, questions about the drive schedule. I was halfway through a reply when movement caught my eye.
Tammy was coming out of the pharmacy, a bag in her arms. And a man was approaching her.
I sat up straighter.
He was human. Tall, well-dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt, not the usual cowboy attire you saw in Leadville. Dark hair, clean-shaven, the kind of handsome that came from good genetics and expensive grooming. He smiled as he approached Tammy, and she stopped, clearly surprised.
They were too far away for me to hear what they were saying. But I could see his body language. The way he leaned in slightly, the easy confidence in his posture. The way he gestured as he talked, clearly trying to charm her.
And I could see Tammy's response. Polite. Friendly. But not encouraging.
Still, he kept talking. Kept smiling. Kept standing too close.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Then he reached out and touched her arm.
I was out of the truck before I'd consciously decided to move.
"—founded this town over two hundred years ago," the man was saying as I approached. "The Broussards have been here since the beginning."
"That's nice," Tammy said. She'd taken a small step back, putting distance between them. "But I really need to—"
"Walker Broussard." He held out his hand, still smiling. "And you are?"
"Leaving." She didn't take his hand.
"Come on, don't be like that. I'm just being friendly. It's not often we get someone as beautiful as you in Leadville."
"I'm not interested in—"
"Is there a problem?" I asked.
They both turned. Walker's smile faltered when he saw me, his eyes widening slightly. Then his expression hardened into something cold and hostile.
"No problem," he said. "Just introducing myself to the lady."
"She's not interested."
"I think she can speak for herself." He looked at Tammy. "Can't you?"
Tammy's jaw tightened. "Actually, I was just saying that I need to go."
"Because of him?" Walker's lip curled. "You're really going to choose an Orc over—"
"Over what?" Tammy's voice was sharp now. "Over you? I don't even know you."
"You know what I am. I told you about my family. We built this town. We made it what it is." He gestured at me dismissively. "They're just passing through. Squatters on land they have no right to."
"They bought that land," Tammy shot back. "Legally."
"With what? Stolen gold?" Walker laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Everyone knows Orcs are thieves. Probably killed someone for that money."
Heat flooded through me. My hands curled into fists.
"Watch your mouth," I said, my voice low and dangerous.
"Or what? You'll kill me too? Like you killed Seth?"
Tammy went very still. "What did you say?"
"Seth. The ranch hand who died. Sepsis from a gore wound, right?" Walker's smile was ugly now. "Funny how that happened."
"That's not—" Tammy started.
"My family has connections. Lawyers. Judges. If I have anything to do with it, we'll make sure StoneSteel loses its license to operate that ranch. Drive them back underground where they belong."
"You son of a—" I took a step forward.
Tammy moved between us. "Stop."
She wasn't looking at me. She was looking at Walker, and her expression was furious.
"You don't know anything," she said, her voice shaking with anger. "You don't know them. You don't know what happened to Seth. And you sure as hell don't know me."
"I know you're brave," Walker said. "Living out there among the beasts. Must be terrifying."
"The only beast I see right now is you."
Walker's face flushed. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." Tammy took a step toward him, and he actually backed up. "You stand here spouting your bigoted bullshit, threatening people you've never met, acting like your family name gives you the right to be an asshole. Well, guess what? It doesn't."
"I was just—"
"You were just leaving." Her voice was ice. "And if you ever approach me again, I'll make sure everyone in this town knows exactly what kind of man you are. The kind who harasses women on the street and hides behind his family name because he's too much of a coward to stand on his own."
Walker stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. Then his face hardened.
"You'll regret this," he said. "Both of you."
"I doubt it." Tammy turned her back on him. "Come on, Ripplan. Let's go."
I followed her to the truck, keeping myself between her and Walker until we were both inside. She set her bag on the floor, her hands shaking slightly.
I started the engine and pulled away from the curb. In the rearview mirror, I saw Walker still standing on the sidewalk, watching us leave.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine." She took a breath, then another. "I'm fine. He's just... God, what an asshole."
"Yeah."
"Did you hear what he said? About Seth? About you killing him?" She turned to look at me. "That's insane. Seth died because of an infection. Because the antibiotics didn't work. That's not your fault."
"I know."
"Do you? Because you look like you're about to turn around and go back there."
I was gripping the steering wheel hard enough to make the leather creak. "He threatened you."
"He threatened both of us. And I handled it."
"You did." I glanced at her. "You handled it well."
"Thanks." She smiled slightly. "I've had practice dealing with entitled assholes."
We drove in silence for a few minutes. I kept replaying the scene in my head. The way she'd stepped between us, the fury in her voice when she'd defended me. Defended all of us.
I'd misjudged her.
That first day in the pharmacy, when I'd heard her dismiss Orcs to Craig, I'd assumed she was like every other human who smiled to our faces and talked shit behind our backs. I'd thought she was here for the money and nothing else.
But she'd just stood up to Walker Broussard, a man whose family had power and influence in this town, and called him out for his bigotry. She'd defended us without hesitation. Without fear.
She'd meant what she said to Brylan that first day. About thinking Orcs were great. About her friends who'd mated with Orcs.
She'd meant all of it.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"For what?"
"For what you said back there. To Walker."
She looked at me, surprised. "You don't have to thank me for that. He was being a dick."
"Still. You didn't have to defend us."
"Yes, I did." Her voice was firm. "Because what he said was wrong.
And because..." She paused, then continued softly, "Because you're not beasts.
You're not thieves or killers or any of the other things people like him say.
You're just people. Trying to build a life.
And you deserve better than his bullshit. "
Something in my chest cracked open.
I'd misjudged her. Completely.
And I was starting to realize that might be the biggest mistake I'd ever made.