Page 24 of Her Cowboy Baby Daddy
Andie lifted her chin and said in a loud voice, “If you fire someone, then try to convince the employment people that they quit, then people should know.”
“You did quit.”
“You fired me for telling you that you didn’t know what you were doing.” She turned to the people nearby, some of whom were openly gawking and others who were listening, but pretending not to. “This man was using a spade bit on a young horse who should have still been in a snaffle. Then he blamed the horse when it freaked out.”
Carter Hunt was turning a nice shade of purple when a tall, neatly dressed cowboy, probably his manager, stepped in, but before he could commence managing, Carter turned on Hayley. “I don’t know what your game is, but if you want to draw a line in the sand, remember that I am not someone you want to mess with.”
Hayley’s face went red with shock at the unprovoked attack. “Tell me about this line, because I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She took a step forward. “Do. Not. Threaten. Me.”
She enunciated each word, grinding them out from between her teeth. Spence stepped in behind her and Hunt’s gaze rose to meet his over Hayley’s head. Spence set his hands on her shoulders in a show of support. Her taut muscles became even tighter at the contact, then gave a little when he squeezed reassuringly.
“Mr. Hunt, they need you in the sales office,” Carter’s cowboy said. Hunt continued to stare down Hayley, who, despite her red cheeks, appeared patently unimpressed—“appeared” being the key word. He could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through her body.
She squared her shoulders, drilling Hunt with a look. “I leased water to the Keller Ranch, just as my dad did in the past, and I hired the person you fired. None of this had anything to do with you, because, despite what you believe, the world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Let’s go,” Spence said, the words barely audible. But Hayley heard them. She glanced up at him, then back at Hunt.
Meanwhile, Andie looked like she was about to let fly, and as entertaining as that might be, Carter Hunt was a litigious man, and Spence deemed it best to get everyone out of there before something was said that qualified for a lawsuit.
“Come on,” Hayley said to Andie. “My booth is unmanned.”
Andie turned then, her eyes widening as she saw the guy standing behind her, as if at the ready. Then she nodded at Hayley and started toward the booth.
Hayley reached up to touch one of Spence’s hands. “I’ll talk to you later.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders as she started toward her booth, leaving him standing beside the silent kid who’d come to back Andie, now facing off with Carter Hunt and his nervous-looking henchman.
“Leave her alone,” he said to the man.
“Or?”
Spence smiled. “This is where I say something that you later have witnesses attest to, right?”
Hunt pulled in a long breath, fired a couple of death rays from his dark eyes, then shouldered his way past his manager and headed to the sales office. The manager glared at Spence, who gave an uncaring shrug, even though he was in the mood to throttle someone. He turned his attention to the kid who’d come to Andie’s aid.
“Do I know you?” he asked curiously.
“Brandon Grady. I work for the Marvell Ranch.”
“Ah.” The Marvell Ranch was probably thirty miles away on the opposite side of the valley, but still part of the Marietta community.
“Andie and I had a college class together last year, but I don’t think she recognized me.”
Spence thought she did, but hadn’t known how to handle the situation.
Brandon, who looked like he was twenty-four or -five, watched Hayley and Andie disappear into the crowd on their way back to the Farmer’s Market, then turned back to Spence.
“I hate bullies.”
“Then stay away from that guy,” Spence said. “Buy you a beer?” He indicated the concession wagon with a lift of his chin, but the kid shook his head. “Thanks, but I have a horse to sell.”
With that, he touched the brim of his black felt hat, and headed toward the temporary pens where the horses awaited their turn in the arena.
*
Hayley pulled ina calming breath, then exhaled, causing Andie to give her a curious look.
“I don’t like confrontation,” she said. “It makes me feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin after it’s over and I have time to think.”
“Then keep deep breathing, but don’t pass out on me,” Andie said. She shot a quick look over her shoulder toward the spot they’d just left. Hayley did the same, glad to see that Carter Hunt had gone on his important way.
