20. Crew

20

Crew

B ode and Ford don't even flinch when the bunkhouse door flies open.

"I need your help."

Ford barely acknowledges me as he flips through another channel on the old TV with that damn cat curled up in his lap. Bode however glances back, his brows instantly furrowing when he sees me.

"What's wrong?" He asks getting up off the couch. Cammy walks in behind me glaring between the three of us.

"Tommy took Ash," I say and bile fills my throat.

Tommy is a wild card. Cammy has said so himself for years but the overwhelming ache in my chest tells me that this is my fault. Logan may lose her son if I don't pull my shit together and figure this out because the last thing I'm doing is letting that girl pacing the gravel lot down.

Bode stares at me for a moment and I can see behind those steel eyes the rage that brews beneath them. "That son of a bitch."

I look to Ford who has been quiet, his eyes still glued to that damn tv.

"Ford," I bark.

"What did I tell you, Cassidy?" He says standing up earning a yowl from Bandit and turns to me. "That girl is a damn wrecking ball and now she's dragging her bullshit through to my ranch."

I lunge over the couch, snatching Ford by his collar. He isn't as tall as me or big but I know he can throw a punch and judging by the look in his dark eyes he's not far from it.

"I've never asked you for a goddamn thing." The words rumble from me, low and serious. "I'm asking now."

We stare at each other. A silent understanding passes between us in broken lines and harsh thoughts but I don't give a shit if he likes the idea or not.

"Get your hands off me, Cassidy, before I remove them for you." His threat, although hoarse, is empty. I release him anyway.

"He's been stalking her and the kid." I glance back at Cam who looks surprised. "Bet he didn't tell you that tidbit when you saw him the other day."

I watch a flicker of shame pass in his eyes. Yeah. I'm not the only one who let her down.

" Hey!" Bode snaps between us all. "We can play the blame game later. We need a plan. Tommy ain't just gonna up and leave town with him, he's gonna try some shit first. Anything to get at Logan even more."

Cam straightens up and nods. "We pinged his cell phone. He's hiding out in Dixon's old cabin out by highway forty four. It's secluded; not much traffic goes by there anymore since they put in the interstate."

I glance back between Ford and Bode. "This is a big ask, I know. And if we do this there ain't no coming back from it."

"It's not like we're gonna kill him." Bode says and I shoot him a look. "Right?"

"I'll be outside," Cammy interrupts. He at least has the forethought not to tarnish his Sheriff's badge.

"Goddamnit, Cassidy, are you going to kill him?" Bode barks again.

"If that's what it takes to protect Ash and Logan." I let the words die on my lips. " I promised to protect them. I was the one who said I'd take care of them and I'll do whatever it damn well takes to make sure they're safe."

He stares at me for a long moment and starts pacing the cabin.

"You love her," Ford rumbles next to me. His brows pulled down and hands fisted at his side.

"I love both of them."

It's an odd thing to admit when I'm pretty sure those words would scare Logan halfway to Georgia.

"What do you need from us?" Ford asks.

"Support." In more ways than one because I don't know if Logan will ever forgive me.

I realize that Bode has stopped pacing and is still staring a hole through my head. "What, Walker?"

"Just tell me one thing and then I'll agree."

Jesus.

"What?"

"Have you told her why you started the program?"

Now I'm confused.

"Yeah, a while ago."

"Fuck, you are in love." He blows out a breath and shakes his head. "For the record, I was gonna do it no matter what. Logan's like a sister to me whether she wants to admit it or not, and that kid deserves a hell of a lot better than that piece of shit he calls Dad. I just wanted to make sure."

There were only four people in this world that knew why I started the program. Why I tried to hide my anger and mask it behind training foals and ranching. Bode, Ford and Cam all knew. Now Logan was apart of this fucked up boys club, and I willingly dragged her there.

"If you two are done having a moment, we have a kid to find," Ford grumbles as he shoves past me and pulls out the trunk from under his bed. The one we all swore to leave locked.

I can still feel Bode's eyes on me. I know he's trying to work through what the hell is going on in my mind but right now the only thing I care about is getting Ash back for Logan. Ford starts tossing kevlar vests at us.

"You really think he's going to go that far?" Bode asks, glancing between me and Ford. "I mean, I grew up with Tommy. He's an asshole but he isn't this dangerous."

"I'm not taking any chances," I bark at him, sick of hearing the second guesses. "If he's willing to kidnap his own kid, who knows what the hell he's capable of at this point."

The vest feels heavier than I remember as I pick it up and start to put it over my head. Though this time it's not the ranch we're protecting. In all of the years I've been here, this trunk has only been opened three times. All ending with the three of us still in control of our home and our enemies laying face down off a cliff outside state-lines. They were simple targets. All major threats to our home, our safety and our livelihood. The trunk only opens for serious reasons and it's a scary feeling to watch Ford pop the lock but it's also an admission. Despite all his huffing and complaining, Ford's willing to fight for Logan and Ash because they're Whiskey River family now.

Tommy Henry is a snake hiding in the grass waiting for the right time to strike. Sneaky, with beady eyes that think they see everything.

The door to the bunkhouse swings open as Bode and Ford get their own gear on and Cammy walks in with a grim look on his face. His eyes are tired and I can tell by the furrow in his brow that he's just as worried about this whole thing as I am.

"How is she?" I ask, unable to help myself.

"She's still trying to get Julie calmed down," he mutters, jutting his chin out to pull me to the side. I follow him and as soon as he turns to me I can see the look in his eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I growl.

"Because this isn't just about the ranch this time, Crew!" Cammy says through his teeth. "I can't help you keep this secret when there's two women out there who don't understand what the hell you three are capable of."

"Logan knows what I'm capable of, Cammy."

"Does she?" He raises a brow.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"It means she's had to be honest with you every step to this point. Whether she wanted to or not. How honest have you been with her?"

The rage in my chest flares up again. Thick flames that flicker against the darkest corners within me. "I don't like what you're implying. I've been honest with Logan. When this is done if she wants the details. That'll be between me and her."

He stares at me like I've grown a second head. "You do trust her then."

"With everything."

Cammy's head drops with a sigh resting his hands on his utility belt. "I'm coming with you."

"No you aren't." I argue. He looks back up at me with a scowl and anger flashing behind his eyes. "You can't, Cammy. If something happens you have to be the impartial one here." You have to be the one to take care of them if something happens. "I need you to stay with Logan, make sure she doesn't come after us."

"She's not going to like that," He counters.

He's not telling me anything new.

"I know."