Page 25 of The Wounded Warrior

Now, he just had to survive long enough for chili.

Chapter Twelve

Luke had to admit, Rory McConnell was a brave guy. He’d been dragged, shot at, drugged, and yelled at by his assistant, and now he was sitting by the fire in Matt’s front room, eating chili and cornbread.

This was utterly fucking surreal. All the shit he’d done in the service—all the missions, the bombs and explosions and pain—and this was weirder. Scarier.

This was an attack on his brother, on his brother’s land. Deliberate. Now, it was Rory who’d been hurt, but that fact didn’t lessen the impact at all.

He had to say, the son of a bitch had cowboy’d up. Matt said the whole time Rory had been focused on the horses. Luke watched Rory sip a cup of coffee, then have a bite of chili. Gingerly.

The next bite was a little more eager, and Rory smiled in obvious approval.

“This is good shit.” Rory said. “Cornbread, too? Man, you guys are awesome.”

“Thanks, man. I… I really appreciate your help with the horses today. That was neighborly.” That had to sting Matt’s pride to say it.

Rory snorted. “I was on the way to apologize to your brother. I figure I went above and beyond, so now Luke can buy me lunch.”

Luke blinked over at Rory. Seriously? Did the man never let up?

Rory winked at him. Lori, the assistant, snored a little where she’d sacked out on the couch. What a weird day. He didn’t know exactly how the hell he’d gotten to this point, but he was sitting in his brother’s house, in a wheelchair, with a girl, a man who may or may not be Matt’s mortal enemy, and a bowl of chili.

Luke began to laugh, making Matt stare at him.

Rory, though, nodded and chuckled, then began to really hoot.

They were grinning at each other like idiots, cackling madly.

“You’ve lost your minds.” Matt shook his head, rolling his eyes.

“That surprises no one, yes?” Rory didn’t seem the least bit sorry.

“No, sir. I knew you were insane a long time ago.”

Luke wailed with laughter. “What’s my excuse?”

“Shell shock?”

He flipped Rory right off.

“Name the time and place, man. I am totally in.” Rory’s eyes crossed as if he was trying to look at his own mouth. Like he couldn’t believe that had popped out.

Luke snorted, but this time it didn’t hurt so bad. In fact, he sort of thought McConnell meant it, and that felt good. Why else would the man keep after it, even when he was clearly in no condition to go for it?

“Don’t push it, or you’ll owe him another apology,” Matt muttered.

“Yes, sir, Mister Older Brother, sir. Although y’all have one ahead and one behind, don’t you?”

“Yep.” Luke chuckled. “Mom worked hard to get that last gospel.”

“What would she have done if Johnny’d been a girl?”

Matt snorted like a rampaging bull moose. “Called her Joanna.”

“Johnette.”

Rory cackled like a big bird, and Lori shifted on the couch. “Juanita. Oh, I’m gonna have to call Johnny that when I see him next.” Rory was altogether too tickled.

---