66. Dusty

Tonight.

I’ll tell Marnie tonight. I’ve got a job lined up, and she doesn’t have to stay out of obligation.

But hopefully she stays because she wants to. I’m going to give her a reason to stay. I’m going to make it worth her while. Or, if her life is back in Lincoln, I’ll follow her there. If she’ll have me. Either way, we don’t have to be tied to the land. I’ve freed us both of the obligation.

There’s a few more hours of mindless work before I can call it a night, but that’ll give me plenty of time to think of the right words. I had an engine completely pulled apart that needs some attention, but when I spot the rust bucket parked next to Marnie’s car, I slam on the brakes. I barely get the truck in park before I’m climbing out of the truck, stomping towards the back door.

My blood boils and it’s like my hearing recedes, replaced by a high-pitched whining.

Fucking Skunk is holding the door open, keeping Marnie from closing it.

The distress on her pretty face is enough to make me see red.

He’s dead.

She glances over his shoulder, catching sight of me. Relief washes over her face, and Skunk turns to look at me. “Dusty. What’s up, man?”

I stop just within arm’s reach. “You have five seconds to explain what you’re doing here.”

He holds up his hands. “I’m just talking.”

Sienna pokes her head up, peering over Marnie’s shoulder. “He won’t leave.”

Skunk’s lips pull back. “Nobody was talking to you, Peanut.”

“I don’t want you talking to anybody, asshole.”

My finger pokes at his bony chest. “I already told you to leave my girls alone.”

Sienna’s head pops up again. “I called the sheriff, but he wouldn’t listen.”

Skunk knocks my hand aside. “There ain’t no law against talking.”

I grab his upper arm, ushering him away. “Well, there’s a law against trespassing and we say you aren’t welcome. So, fuck off.”

He shrugs violently out of my grip. “Get off me.”

“Get off my fucking land before I put a boot up your ass.”

He turns, narrowing his eyes. “It ain’t your land. It’s sugar tits over there. And she’s…”

Whatever trash was about to come out of his mouth is interrupted by my fist as it connects with his teeth. I reel back, shaking out my hand. That’s going to leave a mark. On both of us. Skunk’s head was knocked back by my cross hook, but he’s like a cockroach. Hard to get rid of.

He tears forward, wrapping those surprisingly strong little hands around my neck. Twisting, he hooks his foot around my ankle and jerks my legs out from under me.

We both go down in a tumble. This dumb shit. He’s half my size, and he thinks he has a chance.

I tried being nice.

Well, maybe not nice. But civil. I gave him a warning.

I told him not to even look at my girls and his answer to that was to come over when I’m not home.

Fuck.

This.

Asshole.

I flip him onto his back and straddle him. My fist connects with his jaw. But even that doesn’t manage to wipe the smile off his face. So, I hit him again. And again.

I’m vaguely aware that there’s a world beyond my fist and this asshole’s face, but everything else is a blur. Sound is muted, like I’m underwater. All I can think about it destroying that smile. Making it crystal fucking clear he’s dead if he comes back.

Hell, I’m pretty sure that’s what I’m telling him. But it’s all a jumble.

And then my fist is arrested. For a split second, I’m confused. But then, I realize I’m being restrained—hauled backwards. My first thought is that Skunk has reinforcements, but my back gets hooked by something sharp.

A pointy metal star.

The sheriff.

And while Skunk is the one they should be stuffing into the back of the car, it’s my wrists they’re handcuffing.

I don’t need to turn around to know which Sheriff is restraining me. He and I go way back.

Shit, he and my dad went way back.

And it’s maybe that legacy, courtesy of Runner, that automatically puts me on the suspects list.

Sienna’s trying to get to me, but Sheriff O’Neil brought along the deputy. Marnie’s talking a mile a minute, growing more distressed by the second.

It’s no wonder, can’t be a fun sight to see your farm manager get stuffed into the back of a squad car.

And, insult upon insults, they shove Skunk in right alongside me.