“What about what we need?”
“What’s the big deal? We’ll get the other half next week when the Glanzers’ order comes in.”
“The deal is, you’re more worried about your little side cattle deal with Trevor, Chassie and Ed than you are with what’s goin’ on with our herd right before calving.”
Colt stepped forward, his eyes blazing fire. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Do I? All’s I know is you made a big hairy damn deal about havin’ this cake order handled early and now you’re tellin’ me it don’t matter? You’re tryin’ to cover your ass. Probably so you can pass off the really shitty stuff that needs done to me, Ben, Brandt, Tell and Dalton when the time comes.”
“Don’t you f**kin’ lecture me about what needs done before them calves start droppin’. We own—”
“Don’t you even think about sayin’ that you guys own more than we do,” Kane warned, “or I will punch you right in your smart mouth.”
“The facts are the facts, Kane. Between me and my brothers, we own four times as much as of the McKay Ranch as the rest of you combined.”
Kane reacted instinctively. He cocked his right arm and his fist connected with Colt’s jaw with a loud crack.
Caught off guard, Colt staggered back. Before he recovered from the first punch, Kane drew his fist back again and nailed Colt in the eye.
“What the f**k?”
“I warned you. And this has been a long time comin’.”
“Bring it, f**ker.” Colt jumped him. A blow landed on Kane’s chin, then on the side of his head by his temple. He jabbed and connected with Colt’s gut, and then quickly followed with a shot to Colt’s ribs.
When Colt doubled over, Kane used an uppercut on Colt’s jaw and knocked him to the floor. Then he pounced on his cousin, fists flying.
Colt dodged the blows and bucked, throwing Kane sideways. But Kane recovered quickly only to feel a fist plow into his mouth. The taste of blood seeped through his teeth and ran down the back of his throat and down his chin.
He popped back up on his feet, only to see Colt do the same. They bobbed and weaved like prizefighters. Colt feinted left, catching Kane’s eyebrow with his wedding ring.
The instant Kane felt the slicing sting, he roared and intended to leap at his dumbass cousin, but found himself immobilized.
“Jesus Christ. That’s enough. Both of you.”
When the hell had Kade shown up? He blinked trying to clear the blood dripping into his eye, and saw Brandt had a similar hold on Colt.
“Let me f**kin’ go,” Kane said.
“Yeah. Let him go,” Colt taunted, “I ain’t done kickin’ his sorry ass.”
“Too bad your lips ain’t swollen shut like your eye is,” Kane shot back. “But I can change that in about one second when I punch you in the f**kin’ mouth.”
“Shut up, both of you. Nobody’s hittin’ nobody. What the f**k happened?” Kade demanded.
Kane breathed hard and glared at Colt. Colt was having his own difficulty breathing. And yeah, maybe it was petty to see that Colt only had one eye to shoot daggers at him, but it made Kane happy he wasn’t the only one sporting blood and bruises.
“They got into a fight about cake,” India said.
Kane’s head swung her direction. She stood behind the counter, white-faced, holding Hudson as he tried to scramble onto the counter.
Fucking awesome, Kane. Getting into a fistfight with your cousin in front of his kid. Way to be mature.
Talk about a stellar f**king start to his day.
He turned his head and spoke to his brother. “Let me go. I ain’t gonna go after him again.”
Almost reluctantly, Kade released him.
Kane picked up his hat. Adjusted his clothes. He looked Colt in the eye. “You think on what I said.
Bottom line is I don’t give a shit if their cattle starve. But I care if ours do.”
He walked out of the store and hit the halfway point to his truck before he muttered, “Fuck it.” He headed the opposite direction, to the one place Colt wouldn’t track him down: the Golden Boot.
Looked like he’d be having lunch in town after all. A liquid lunch.
An hour later Ginger found Kane hunched over the bar in the far corner of the Golden Boot. Two empty shot glasses in front of him next to a bottle of Bud light.
So far he hadn’t noticed her. He was engrossed in breaking the pretzels in the bowl in front of him into tiny brown pieces.
Her heart stumbled upon seeing his animated face so miserable. She wanted to put her arms around him and hold him tight. Comfort him and take care of him like he’d done with her.
So why don’t you?
Before she even took off her coat, Ginger came up behind Kane. She rested her chin on his shoulder, close to his neck, and slipped her hands underneath his arms. “Hey.”
Kane remained frozen for a second, then he turned his head and buried his nose in her hair. “Hey.”
She squeezed him a little tighter.
“What’re you doin’ here, Red? Lookin’ for a nip to get you through the afternoon?”
“No. Looking for you.”
He grunted.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Please.” He spun on his barstool to help her take off her coat. Even when he was distracted and miserable he showed her gentlemanly courtesies, not because he was trying to impress her, but because that was his way. Kane’s gaze landed on her feet. “I’m surprised you didn’t bust your ass wearin’ them heels.”
She placed her burgundy pump on the metal part of his stool, using it as support as she sat next to him. “Don’t you like these shoes?”
“I didn’t say that.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What are you drinkin’?”
“Is it horribly lame if I say…ginger ale?”
“Nah. It’s kinda cute.” Kane waggled his empty bottle at Lettie and said, “And bring her a ginger ale.”
Ginger looked around the bar. Completely empty. Which was unusual. She said, “Slow day, huh?”
when Lettie brought her drink.
“We hit a few of those this time of year. We’re actually closed for inventory today. But I made an exception for one of the wonder twins.” She didn’t stick around to chat with them—also unusual.
Or maybe it was the “don’t f**k with me” vibe Kane was throwing off that sent Lettie scurrying away.