Shoulda Been a Cowboy (Rough Riders #7)(7)

Keely returned with a pack of unfriendly women on her bootheels. She slid the tray on the table and faced the gatecrashers.


Ramona hopped up in a show of support. “What the f*ck are they doing here?”


“Grazing,” Keely said.


“So this is where the skank meeting is,” a chubby blonde sneered.


“We saved a seat for you, Amanda, but damn, I don’t think your fat ass will fit in the chair,” Keely shot back.


India coughed to cover a laugh.


“You could always get on your knees,” Ramona suggested, “since we all know that’s a natural position for you.”


“Fuck you, Ramona. Your mouth has always been bigger than your brain,” another woman snapped.


“You think I’m all talk, Margo? Try me.”


Holy cow. Domini had never seen a real live bar fight, let alone seen women in a bar fight.


The sneering blonde—Amanda—crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d still break you like a twig. I’ll spare you the pain and humiliation in front of your friends.”


“Generous of you. But you’re a f*cking idiot if you think I’m scared of you now. I no longer play nice because God and Mommy say I have to.”


Domini swallowed a laugh. Man. She’d lived that statement.


Amanda shuffled closer. “Bring it. I owe you serious payback anyway.”


“Payback for what?” Ramona asked innocently.


“Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten, after you rubbed it in my face for months afterward.”


Ramona shrugged. “It’s pretty sad that you haven’t gotten over it by now. Old news, Amanda.”


“Gotten over what?” Ginger asked.


“Me and Ramona banged their boyfriends a couple years back,” Keely said. “Some people hold a grudge.”


“Ryan and me were practically engaged!” Margo shrieked.


“Not according to him. Besides, it’s not my problem your lover boy couldn’t keep his little winky in his pants,” Ramona cooed.


Amanda’s upper lip curled with disgust. “Sluts.”


Keely and Ramona exchanged a look and laughed. “Was that supposed to be an insult?”


“Only a McKay would take that as a compliment,” Margo said. “Everyone in the entire state knows a McKay or West will f*ck anything that walks.”


“Except for you, apparently,” Keely retorted. “How many of my brothers and cousins have you propositioned? And how many turned you down flat? All of them.”


“Not all.” Margo smiled nastily. “Apparently you haven’t been talking to Luke lately. Where is sweet little Jessie? Did she run on home? Does she even know where her husband is?”


The group of women behind the two in the front guffawed.


Keely’s stance changed, as did her demeanor—to absolute fury. “Get the f*ck out of my sight, Margo, or I will beat you bloody.”


“Oh, I don’t know. The odds look pretty good.” Margo’s gaze swept the women seated around the table. “None of your other ‘friends’ have jumped in to save your smart mouth from getting your dumb butt kicked.”


“That’s because Keely knows we have her back,” AJ said, and stood up on the other side of Keely.


Amanda’s eyes widened with recognition. “Amy Jo Foster. Still a McKay hanger-on I see. How pathetic.”


Chassie pushed to her feet. “No one here gives a shit about your opinions, so crawl back to the swamp you slithered out of.”


“So the little squaw is allowed to speak?” Margo tsk-tsked. “But I see they’re still makin’ you sit at the back of the table.”


Domini caught Chassie as she lunged at Margo.


More laughter.


“Why don’t you load up your freakshow friends—” Margo jerked her head toward India, “—and get the hell out of here.”


Keely didn’t budge. “Make me.”


“Remember you said that when you’re cryin’ for your mama, McKay.”


No one moved.


This was going to get ugly.


“Afraid to take the first swing?” Margo taunted.


Casually, Ginger said, “Keely? Can I offer a suggestion?”


“Sure.”


“Kick her ass. I’ll bail you out.”


All hell broke loose.


Keely lunged for Margo; Ramona charged Amanda. Chairs were kicked aside. Tables fell over. Drink glasses and beer bottles crashed to the floor. Shrieks, grunts, sounds of flesh hitting flesh, cries and curses bounced off the concrete walls.


AJ, Chassie, and India yelled encouragement to Keely, while Domini, Channing, and Macie closed off the circle, keeping Margo’s friends from joining the fray.


Someone pushed Domini from behind. She turned and got a fist to the jaw. Rather than turning the other cheek, she slammed her hands on the woman’s shoulders and sent her flying with a terse, “Don’t touch me.”