Page 58 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“Now hit the ball and get Sawyer home,” the man then whispered.

Two balls and another strike were called.

JD pushed everything else aside and focused on the pitcher. He wound up and let one fly. He saw it. His bat connected, and it sailed into the outfield.

“Run!” he heard Zoe shriek, but he was already moving.

Beau Keller was smirking, gloved hand outstretched, foot on the base, ready to catch the ball that was coming in. JD launched himself a few feet away and hit the man hard in the legs, sending him onto his back. The crowd roared; the Leaders clapped and cheered. JD got to his feet and looked down at the wheezing man.

“You touch her again, and I’ll break your face.” He then ran to the next base, and Sawyer slid home.

“It wasn’t intentional!” Beau Keller wheezed when he was upright. “What’s your fucking problem, city boy?”

He ignored Keller and looked at Zoe. She was glaring at him. The “I’m going to have something to say to you, and you are definitely not going to like it” kind of look.

He smiled at her. His eyes then went to Sawyer, who was looking pretty happy.

The crowd was on their feet. The Rattlers were crying foul, and the Leaders were chanting their name. JD had to say that in that moment, he was happy to be an honorary Lyntack. June Matilda and some of her buddies were dressed in their Lavender Leaders shirts and held pom-poms, which they waved at him.

A man seated beside Lil in the bleachers caught his eye. Squinting for a better look, as the sun was now out, he wondered who it was but couldn’t make out his features. Who would wear a suit to a ball game? But as his attention was called back to the game, he ignored him. When he looked back, the man had gone.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Zoe hissed when he joined his teammates for congratulatory hand slaps.

“If your brothers had done it, they wouldn’t have stopped. So maybe think about that.”

She frowned, and he walked away, feeling pretty good with life right then.

Chapter17

The Circle Left was where all the postgame celebrations for home matches were hosted, and with two teams in Lyntacky, that was most weeks during the season. It was a place where you could get a room, a drink and a good meal. Plus, there was always someone there willing to chat.

“Okay, so I won the game for you, and now you need to tell me about what is between you and Keller, Sawyer,” JD said from his place seated at the bar. He was drinking a beer, but apparently they were having shots to celebrate soon. Yet another tradition.

“It started in their school days,” Dan said. “They got at it about pretty much everything, and we all just joined in. I’m not sure what started it all.”

“You know, this is not the Wild West, and people sort out their problems rationally these days using their words,” JD said.

“Says the man who hit Beau hard and relocated his ribs to his ass,” Sheriff Dans said. “Nice work, boy, but you didn’t hear that from me.”

He got a slap on the shoulder, and then the sheriff wandered away.

“Thanks for that, by the way,” Dan added, looking over his shoulder.

“I did it so one of you Dukes wouldn’t kill him,” JD said, proud of himself for coming up with a really good excuse. “What are you looking for?”

“Zoe. She’d be pissed if she heard me thanking you.”

“Your sister is a firecracker,” JD said.

“More by necessity than nature.”

“Which means what?” This time it was JD who looked over the heads of the patrons for Zoe.

“She was raised by us, bud. What do you think I mean? We were always fighting, and she either stood and watched or joined in.”

“I’m sure there is more to it than that. Like you Dukes threatening any boy who looked at her wrong.”

“Yeah, that too.” Dan smiled at the memory.

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