Page 93 of A Rancher's Love
“No guarantees,” Tucker murmured.
The door to Jim’s quarters stood open. Mason and Cooper stood outside with their arms over their chests and frowns fully in place.
They both snapped upright when Tucker and Luke appeared.
“We got this,” Luke said quietly, gesturing toward the mess hall. “Grab a coffee if you need one, then get back to work.”
The men eyed Tucker before offering a nod of approval, taking off quickly as ordered.
Jim must’ve heard something, because he marched through the door, sneering in their direction as he tossed bags in the back of his truck. “Come to gloat?”
Luke stepped back.
Tucker gestured toward the room. “You empty it out?”
The other man folded his arms over his chest. “What do you want?”
Tucker spread his hands in acome and get meattitude. “Since you’re no longer an employee, I’m no longer your boss. Which means if you want to take a shot at me, I’ll give you the chance.”
An evil sneer scurried across Jim’s face. “Fucking right, I want to take a shot.”
Jim moved like the snap of a slingshot, fist flying to make contact with Tucker’s jaw. Tucker turned at the last moment and let most of the impact slide off.
Then he raised his fists and stepped forward. “My turn.”
Jim threw another punch, but Tucker pushed it aside easily before slamming his fist into Jim’s face. The other man toppled to the ground, arms flung back, legs askew. He lay there motionless for a moment, shocked, before scurrying away crab-like.
He was too slow. Tucker caught him by the front of the shirt, lifting him skyward to deliver another punishing blow.
And another.
The temptation was strong to keep letting the man have it, because while Jim had only been moderately rude to Ginny in person, his threat to stalk and hurt her was fucked up. This was the kind of man who would escalate. Somewhere, sometime, things would go too far.
What if Tucker wasn't around to protect Ginny? What if some other person ended up on the receiving end of Jim’s bullshit attitude?
“Tucker, that’s enough.” Luke spoke softly. The voice of reason, cutting through the haze of Tucker’s anger.
His friend was right, dammit anyway.
Tucker hauled Jim to his feet one final time and shoved him toward his truck. The man grabbed the door and clung to it for support.
“That was for threatening my woman,” Tucker said quietly. “Here’s your final warning. I have enough contacts, so trust me when I say you will be watched. If youeverintimidate or scare or lay a hand on anyone in the future—woman, man, I don’t care—I will hear about it. You will not like what happens when I hunt you down.”
Tucker turned on his heel and left without a backward glance.
Blood pounded in his ears so hard he didn’t realize Luke marched beside him, his usually happy face turned thoughtful.
They were nearly at the arena when Luke laid a hand on Tucker’s shoulder and squeezed. “I told Kelli I’d meet her in a few. She has some crazy idea I’ll let her up on the back of that new bronco we brought in.”
“Jeez. The woman is fearless,” Tucker said.
“Scares the hell out of me sometimes,” Luke agreed. He pulled Tucker to the side of the barn where there was a sink and handed over a handkerchief. “Wipe off the blood before you scare someone.”
“A little fear might be a good thing,” Tucker growled.
Luke waited until Tucker had removed the surface evidence of the fight, then cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
Tucker glanced at his friend. “For what?”
