Page 22 of Badges
I knew it, he’s hiding himself.
“Maybe you can spank me before you turn the key.” I can’t hide the merciless grin as I watch the flush work up his neck.
“Or maybe I’ll make you stay with her, instead?” His teeth grit.
But not in anger.
Restraint?
“That’s fair. I’ll play nice. I do want to find my sister.” I hold up my arms in surrender.
Staying with that cunt-face will be miserable.
Besides, Wade is much more fun to play with.
And if I’m lucky, I can wiggle enough freedom out of him that I can escape.
Conflictions
Wade
She shouldn’t make mefeelthisway.
Even though I know she’s just saying those things to try and get a rise out of me over Paige, it’s hard not to let my mind wander.
But it ain’t right.
I loved hermother.
And having all this time to kill before the DA gets here for her deposition makes me antsy.
Before I know it, I’m pulling in front of the main house at Black Gulch.
“Afternoon, Sheriff.” Sawyer pops his head out of the closest barn.
“Heya, kiddo. Is your dad around?” I kinda feel guilty calling him that.
Hell, I bet he’s old enough to drink by now.
He nods, pushing his grimy baseball cap up with a pair of hoof clippers. “Yep, inside with Lori and the babies.” He flashes his teeth in a grin. “It’s nap time, so we all skedaddle outside.”
Pounding hooves has me glancing to the paddock where Sophia is running her mare through the barrel patterns.
“Makes sense. No one wants to be around a squalling newborn.” I squint against the sun to try and get a better view of what he’s working on.
I need any kind of distraction from that damn woman in the cell.
The shadows of the barn fade as I get closer to see a palomino tied in the aisle between the stalls.
“Aww, Ben isn’t that bad. Jack had a screaming phase for a while, but I can barely hear them in my room.” Sawyer pulls the horse’s front hoof up and starts cleaning the pad, the nippers stuffed into his back pocket while he works.
“But you’d rather be shoeing nags,” I chuckle. “That says a lot.”
I’ve never been around tiny babies much outside of Mason’s brood.
He pops his blue eyes over his shoulder to glance at me as he laughs. “Nah, this is Lori’s mare. Soph and I are gonna babysit later so Lori and Dad can go for their evening ride. I told him I’d get her ready.”
“You’re a good son, Sawyer. Should I come back another time?” I really don’t want to wake Mason, but I just feel like I need to work through this bullshit rattling in my noggin before I go and do something drastic.
