Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(93)

Carter didn’t bother calling Macie’s cell phone; he knew she wouldn’t answer. He’d called the Bar 9, in the guise of asking Gemma about Macie, but Gemma was curt with him. And vague.


Why?


Because Macie was gone?


No. She wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye.


Would she?


Sure she would. Cash and Gemma were getting married soon. Summer was ending.


Macie couldn’t live in the camper forever, and he knew she valued her independence too much to move into the main house. She probably felt like a third wheel. And with the diner closed, maybe she’d figured it was time to hit the road.


Or maybe someone encouraged her to hit the road.


Red rage built inside him. He wanted to hit something, but it sure as hell wasn’t the road.


Carter burned rubber getting to the Bar 9.


Cash Big Crow was leaning on the fence when Carter’s truck screeched to a stop.


He jumped from the cab. Four angry steps later he loomed over Macie’s father.


“Where is she?”


“Haven’t we been through this once before, McKay?”


“Where is she?”


“If she wanted you to know, you would.”


“You sent her away, didn’t you?”


Cash faced him. “Don’t you come here, accusin’ me of something, when you are the one who chased her away.”


Carter took a threatening step closer. “I did not.”


“What did you do to her?”


“Nothin’! It was a stupid misunderstandin’.”


“Explain it to me then.”


“It ain’t my fault she freaked out about—”


“About what?”


He paused and said nastily, “If she wanted you to know, you would.”


“Don’t you pull that smartass shit on me, son. I ain’t in the mood. You came to me so you’d better start talkin’.”


“Fine. Macie saw a couple of the pictures I painted of her. She didn’t like them, and then she forbid me from displaying them at the showing. I told her tough, they were goingup. It pissed her off and she stormed out. I ain’t seen her since and I need to talk to her.”


Cash glared at him. “It more than pissed her off. Accordin’ to Gemma, Macie left here in tears.”


Left? “Where’d she go?”


“Tell me ’bout these pictures that upset her so badly.” Comprehension dawned on Cash’s face. His eyes filled with rage. “Only one kind of pictures that’d make her cry.”


Carter didn’t look away.


“You painted nudie shots of her?”


“Nudie? The correct term is nude.”


“Did she consent to that?”


“She posed for me voluntarily.”


“But she didn’t volunteer to pose for you naked, did she? That’s why she’s so goddamn upset.”


“I don’t see the big deal—”


Carter didn’t see the punch Cash aimed at his jaw until it landed. He staggered back.


Rather than taking a swing, Carter rushed Cash and they hit the dirt in a tangle of flying fists.


Cash kneed him in the stomach. Carter rolled and his elbow connected with the side of Cash’s head. Cash flipped over and ground Carter’s face into the gravel. Carter reared up and head butted Cash in the jaw. That knocked Cash back and Carter followed up with a hard right jab to Cash’s ribs. Cash kicked Carter’s knee, knocking him flat before Cash pulled back and punched Carter square in the eye.


Grunts, sweat, dirt, blood fueled their rage. Neither one backed down. Seemed like the fight lasted an hour, but it’d probably only been a minute when Gemma’s voice boomed, “Break it up! Both of you!”


Cash took advantage of Carter’s distraction and threw a right cross that clacked Carter’s teeth together. Blood burst from his lip. Enraged, Carter swung high, his fist grazing Cash’s eyebrow.


Then they were both sputtering and soaking wet.


Gemma aimed the hose at them until they moved apart. Still coughing, spitting, bleeding, trying to find a way to get another lick in.


“I said knock it off! Jesus. What is wrong with you two?”


Cash glared through the blood dripping in his eye. Carter dabbed at his bloody mouth and swollen lip.


“Carter, why are you here?”


He didn’t answer.


“Let me guess, Macie.”


He grunted.


“Haven’t you done enough damage to her without pounding on her father too?”


“He took the first swing.”


“And I’ll take the last one, you—”


“Cash. Enough.”


Silence.


Gemma sighed. “Carter. I think it’s time you pack up your stuff and get back home.”


Even through the throbbing in his ear, Carter knew she didn’t mean home to the trailer. Why did the thought of leaving the Bar 9 make his head hurt worse and make it harder to breathe? “You ain’t gonna let me explain, are you?”