Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(152)

It’d taken every ounce of strength not to march into her office, throw her over his

shoulder and drag her to his place, where he could tie her to the bed, and make her

listen to him. Make her understand that he f*cking loved her. And this waiting to tell

her what she meant to him was killing him.


His phone rang. He’d barely said hello, when Kane barked, “Ben? Hope you ain’t busy,

but we’re in need of your peacekeeping abilities.”


“What’s goin’ on?”


“Tell and Colt got into it, and now Brandt and Dalton jumped in. I can’t hold ’em

all back from beatin’ the shit outta Colt.”


“Where are you?”


“Uncle Casper’s place.”


Ben hit the brakes and spun a U-turn in the middle of the road. “On my way.”


Seven minutes later he reached the turnoff to Casper’s place.


Tell stood nose to nose with Colt. Brandt and Dalton flanked Tell on either side. Kane

had positioned himself to Colt’s right. Their focus shifted when Ben skidded into the

driveway. He jumped out of his truck, noticing Colt had seized the opportunity to step

back a couple of feet.


“Hey, guys. What’s goin’ on?”


“It’s none of your f*ckin’ business what’s goin’ on, Ben, so back the f*ck off and

go home,” Tell snarled.


That threw him off. Tell was the most even-keeled one in the family. “Fine. Me’n Colt

and Kane will go.”


“Colt ain’t goin’ nowhere until he gives us some f*ckin’ answers.”


Tell started to push into Colt’s face again, but Ben stepped between them. “Back off,

Tell.”


“No. Move outta the way.”


“I said. Back. Off.”


That tone caught Tell’s attention. Some of the rage in his eyes momentarily cleared.


Ben pointed to Colt and Tell. “Now someone start talking.”


“Yeah, Colt, you heard what Ben said. Start talking,” Dalton sneered.


Colt’s arms were folded across his chest. “This would be easier for all of us if you

’d just move aside and let me get what I came for.”


“Where is he?”


“Where is who?” Ben asked with total confusion.


“Our dad,” Brandt said. “He’s been gone five days.”


“Five days? Why’s this the first I’ve heard of it?” He looked at Kane.


“Hey, it was the first I’ve heard of it too. How come no one told us he was gone?”


“Don’t pretend you give a shit about Casper. None of you even bothered to come by and

see him after Mom left,” Tell said.


Ben disputed that statement. “Quinn came by about six months ago and Casper threatened

to shoot him. So I’ll hazard a guess you don’t know everyone that stopped by to check

on him.”


But Brandt, Dalton and Tell were focused on Colt. Fists clenched. Eyes hard.


“Go ahead and take a swing at me,” Colt said. “Won’t change nothin’.”


“Nobody is takin’ a swing at no one,” Kane said. “And quit f*ckin’ taunting them,