Page 99 of Wrangled Up

“You should. Especially when thatwaitress,” she growled, stepping right intoLeon’s space, “is a good listener. People like to talk to her. And she hears things.”

Tucker’s heart thudded hard. What did she know?

She plowed on. “Thiswaitressheard that a certain set of survey maps was altered.”

Leon’s face paled.

“And the land Bradley Coal is mining actually is zoned by the state—preserved in wait for a special dig.” She arched a perfect dark brow.

At that moment, Tucker could grab her, bend her over his arm and kiss the pink out of her cheeks.

“You’re talking crazy. Just like all those people in town always said you and Letty here are,” Leon said.

At that, Letty tapped him in the temple with her rifle butt. Hard.

Leon roared in pain.

Christian, his face wreathed with mirth, disarmed Letty before she could get herself in trouble.

Claire went on. “So if you don’t back off with your request for Tucker to grant you that access by signing an illegal contract, I’m surethe state would like to know about your activities. It’s only a matter of time, anyway, before they discover that the ground they’ve ordered a no-mining zone has been dug up.” She dropped her gaze and stared at her fingernail as if disinterested. “Wonder what was in that ground? Ancient Indian cemetery? Dinosaur remains?”

Leon took a step back, slow and uneasy. “You don’t know anything.”

“Doesn’t she? By the look on your face, I’d say she’s spot on.”

“I talked to an executive at Bradley Coal who knows what’s going on.” She glanced back up at Leon. “So you ready to burn those contracts?”

“This isn’t over. Whoever shot my son can expect my attorney to be in touch.”

At that, Letty stepped forward. “Tell him to put away his daddy’s guns and keep his skinny ass off our property or he can expect a hole in his other leg.”

Tucker’s heart warmed as he realized what she’d said.Our property. That’s exactly what he wanted—for her and Claire and Christian to feel at home here with him.

He wrapped an arm around Claire’s waist and tugged her against his side. She stood tall, but he felt the underlying tension in her form. Christian flanked her other side, and they watched as Leon tucked his forked tail and headed back to his offspring, who was being loaded into the back of the ambulance.

It wasn’t until the four of them were alone that Tucker released the whoop of joy and exhilaration he’d been stifling.

Christian planted a kiss on the top of Letty’s head then delivered a bruising kiss to Tucker’s lips. They both turned to Claire. Her pretty face was alive with happiness.

“I aim to put that look on your face every day of my life, baby,” he rumbled before claiming her lips.

Epilogue

With hands clapped over Christian’s eyes, Claire guided him forward into the kitchen. The smells of Letty’s special birthday dinner for him tickled her senses. It probably wouldn’t be a mystery to him what she’d spent hours preparing for him, seeing how he was such a connoisseur.

He allowed Claire to guide him to a chair, where Tucker pressed him down.

“Okay, open your eyes.” She removed her hands and slipped around the table to catch his expression.

Before him, Letty had placed a platter of the best hot dogs, toasted buns and a big bowl of homemade chili. Small bowls of cheese, condiments and onions dotted the rest of the surface.

“Surprise,” Letty exclaimed, grinning.

Christian let out a whoop. “No squirrel ankle stew or waffles with chicken gravy?”

“Nope,” Letty said, popping her P.

Christian stood and reached across the table to envelop the tiny woman in his embrace. Claire’s heart filled with affection for him and for Tucker, who hugged her after Christian released her.

---