Forever Thrown: Forever Bluegrass #16

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Oh, he’ll see God alright,” Tilly challenged back as she crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Um, Tilly,” Porter said again. Only this time he didn’t let her stop him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him and then dropped his voice. “Ben is our town’s Catholic priest.”

  Porter felt bad as her face went from white with shock to red with embarrassment. Her eyes began to fill with tears as she struggled to control her emotions. “A real one? Like a real, married only to God, not having sex, priest?”

  Porter nodded and Tilly sighed. “What a waste. A man like him should be able to date.”

  “You could always petition the pope,” Porter whispered to her before raising his voice. “That’s so kind of you, Tilly. I’m sure Willa needs to have a glass of special tea at the café after the shock of everything.”

  “What?” Tilly asked.

  “I’m helping you leave without my brother seeing your red eyes.”

  A little smile came across her face. “You’re a good man, Porter.” Tilly then raised her voice. “But I think I want in on the castration.”

  Greer snorted behind her. “Come on. Let’s get the fake blood and torture this asshole.”

  Porter blinked as he quickly lost control of the scene. Wang Lei was whisked off to the basement of the security building at Desert Sun Farm where the questioning would technically be on Rahmi soil. Willa was already getting in the car with Abby and Dylan as they talked about how to best feed Wang goat balls.

  “You can drive me,” Parker said as he shook his head.

  “Sure, and you can tell me what’s going on with Tilly.”

  “Nothing is going, or can ever, go on with Matilda Bradford,” Parker said with steel to his voice.

  Porter didn’t believe his brother for one second.

  20

  Willa didn’t know how a matter of days could seem like a lifetime—in the best possible way. She had spent so much time with Porter and had so many long talks, deep kisses, and tantalizing moments that she couldn’t imagine him not being in her life. Love wasn’t a word she thought she’d use during a life and death situation, but she was definitely falling in love with Porter. While she wasn’t sure, she would bet he was falling for her, too. The real her.

  It had been two days since Willa watched Abby force-feed goat testicles to an assassin until he cried and handed everything over to Kale. Kale had infiltrated the invitation-only portion of The Panther’s network but was still trying to get through multiple firewalls to access The Panther’s entire network from auction items to financials. Her father and Kale were rarely seen, but Abby promised they were being fed regularly.

  For two days, Willa had lived in the alternate world of Keeneston and actually felt bummed out when she had to return to the real world. Especially when dealing with Callum and his minions, like she was now.

  Porter had just finished his last reining event and took second place. He was talking to the media while Willa and Greer were brushing Apollo after feeding him for the night. Willa’s guards were at each exit while Reggie was getting the car ready to leave for the night.

  Callum and Cyril had approached and were currently leaning against the stall door, giving her a hard time. Only something different was happening. Willa wasn’t cowering. She was mad, but she wasn’t running away. Instead, she looked at Greer and rolled her eyes, not letting their taunts get to her.

  “With the help again. I swear, sometimes I think you’d be better off being a maid. That’s why you need a strong man who will tell you what to do and the proper way to act,” Callum said, stepping into the stall.

  Willa saw Cyril slithering toward Greer but knew Greer could handle herself.

  Instead of trying to duck out, she turned and faced Callum head-on. “Did it ever occur to you that it’s not me, but you? That you’re the reason I don’t want to be with you? That you’re the reason you can’t keep any grooms around? That you’re the reason your employees all leave within six months? So, instead of telling me what I need to be doing, why don’t you take a hard look at the common factor that sends people running—you.”

  Greer smirked, but her smirk fell as Cyril pulled his patented isolation move. He slid in between her and Apollo and began to walk Greer slowly toward the back corner of the stall. Willa was about to intercede when Callum grabbed her arm.

  “No one talks to me like that. You’re lucky I’m letting you crawl back into my life and bed.”

  “Was I not clear?” Willa asked, feeling her anger boiling up. “I am sick and tired of you, Callum. You’re a spoiled bully and I will never, ever be in your life again. I’d rather sit on a porcupine than sleep with you again. There is no, and will never be an, us again. Understand?”

  Willa saw what was going to happen a split second before Callum’s hand flew at her face. But Porter and his father had been working with Willa for the past two days. She lifted her arm and blocked the slap that was coming. Then she tightened her hand into a fist and delivered a neck-snapping right cross.

  Callum spun to face the stall door where Tilly stood, her face red with anger. “I am so sick of men!” Tilly shouted before she kicked Callum in the balls.

  Willa didn’t see what happened with Greer, but a second later Cyril flew through the air and landed in a heap on top of Callum. All the fuss had Apollo uneasy, blowing and sidestepping around in the stall.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Parker demanded as he stormed toward the stall door with Miss Trix’s reins in his hand. He stood just behind Tilly as he looked into the stall. Apollo started to settle down as soon as he saw Miss Trix.

  “Men are assholes and we took care of it. Right, ladies?” Tilly said with her hands on her hips as she glared over her shoulder at Parker.

  Willa saw Parker’s jaw tighten as he looked from Tilly to Willa to Greer and then to the heap of groaning men. Cyril pushed up to his knees, wavered, and reached out to pull himself up. Although he didn’t grab the stall door. He grabbed Tilly’s waistband. He pulled, her pants came down, and Parker got a view of Tilly’s bottom in a thong. Cyril pitched forward when he tried to stand. His face landed in Tilly’s crotch. Tilly gasped, Parker growled, and punched Cyril unconscious.

  “Parker!” Greer called out as she pulled her cousin off Cyril. Willa sprang forward and grabbed Miss Trix as Tilly yanked up her pants while looking completely mortified.

  Greer had Parker in a headlock and dragged him off Cyril as Tilly burst into tears a second before she turned and made a run for the exit.

  “Matilda!” Parker called out, but Tilly didn’t slow down.

  “What is wrong with you?” Greer asked as Parker’s chest heaved.

  “He shouldn’t treat a woman like that. He needed to be taught a lesson.” Parker shoved up to his feet, took Miss Trix’s reins, and left.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Willa muttered.

  Greer nodded and looked after her cousin. “So interesting it may be worth a bet. Right after I place one on your surviving family dinner tonight.”

  Porter looked nervous and that did not help Willa’s nerves as they approached the large farmhouse belonging to Jake and Marcy Davies.

  “Why is everyone here already? Aren’t we ten minutes early?” Willa asked as she saw the field full of cars.

  “It’s an ambush,” Porter muttered to himself. “I should turn around. We need to find higher ground.”

  Willa gave a little laugh. “It’s dinner, Porter. It’s not an attack.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. The aunts have been on this full equal treatment kick. I’m afraid you’re the first one to really be subjected to it.”

  “I got an A in negotiations in business school. I’m sure I can handle some questions from your aunts. Besides, your mom is super sweet.”

  “Don’t fall for it. It’s all an act,” Porter warned. “Be suspicious of everyone and everything.”

  Porter pulled to a stop and Willa was determined to be gracious and ki
nd, just like her mother had taught her. Kindness was the strongest weapon of all. The door to the farmhouse opened and a sweet older couple came out.

  “Hello, Mrs. Davies. It’s lovely to see you again. I brought some homemade bread for dinner,” Willa said as she walked up the stairs. Porter hissed at her to be careful, but Willa ignored him. He was really making too big a deal of this family dinner.

  “Thank you, dear. This is my husband, Jake. Jake, this is Porter’s little friend, Willa Aldridge.”

  “Good luck. Stay low to the ground, and remember to zigzag,” Jake Davies told her.

  Willa laughed but then the rest of the porch filled with the men of the family.

  “What’s going on?” Porter asked as he put a protective arm around Willa’s waist.

  “We’re just going to give the women a chance to get to know each other,” Cy said frowning.

  “They told us we weren’t allowed to play,” Uncle Cade said as he, too, frowned.

  “How are we supposed to get to know the in-laws if we can’t see how they handle a life-or-death situation?” Miles asked.

  “I have our night vision binoculars so we can watch. Hi, I’m Marshall Davies. We haven’t met yet.”

  Willa shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. So, where are the ladies? I’d love to have a cozy little chat with them.”

  “Oh no. It’s like a lamb to slaughter. I can’t watch,” Uncle Pierce said as he went back inside.

  There was a whizzing sound and then an arrow landed on the ground right next to Willa’s foot. She jumped and looked down at the arrow. There was a note attached.

  There are five stations you must complete. You have one hour. Run.

  There was a rudimentary map on the small note.

  “That’s the property. The first station is about four hundred yards back that way. Good luck. Remember, zigzag,” Jake told her before giving her a wink a second before another arrow almost struck her foot.

  “You weren’t kidding about dinner,” Willa said accusatorily to Porter.

  “I’ve been telling you!”

  “Good thing I’m always prepared.” Willa shoved the bread into Marcy’s hands and pulled off the cotton summer dress she was wearing. Underneath she was dressed in black running pants and a black long-sleeved athletic shirt.

  “Your cooking better be worth it,” Willa called out to Marcy.

  “You survive and I’ll give you the first slice of apple pie,” Grandma Marcy called out encouragingly and Willa took off running.

  Arrows flew as she zigged and zagged across the field behind the house toward the first station. As Willa approached, she saw women step from the shadows.

  “So, you want to date my nephew?” a tall blonde who looked very much like Sydney asked.

  “Willa, this is my mother, Katelyn, and my aunt Tammy,” Sydney explained. “The rules are simple. You compete in each station while answering a question from each participant. Then you run to the next station.”

  “Okay, shoot.”

  “That’s the next station. This one we throw,” the little sprite of a woman said as she handed Willa a large ax.

  Willa watched as the little woman threw the ax at a wood bullseye. “Why are you here doing this?” Tammy asked.

  Willa mimicked Tammy’s throw and threw the ax. It spun and landed in the dirt halfway to the target.

  “First, I like Porter and I’m hoping this is worth it. Also, for as crazy as this is, I’m envious of your family’s closeness. I’m close with my father, but without my mother I didn’t have the traditional family feel. There are no large family cookouts. No cousins dropping by. No sweet but deadly uncles and aunts. You all have that in spades, and I like being a part of it. Even if this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

  Tammy handed her another ax as Katelyn stepped up and threw. Her ax landed dead center. “Are you with Porter only to have the sense of family?”

  “No. I liked him before I met you all,” Willa said, shaking her head as she lined up her next shot. She’d watched Katelyn closely and threw. The ax hit the side of the board and fell to the ground. Willa smiled excitedly. “I hit the board!”

  Sydney was up next and hit another bullseye. “Porter would never be happy in the kind of circles you run in. Circles someone like Callum Harding runs in. The seen to be seen thing isn’t Porter and he’d be miserable. How would you work as a couple when his ranch life and your glamorous life don’t mix?”

  “I despise the person Callum is. I hate that part of my life—the part that is just for show. I do charity events for good causes, not for the glitz and glamour. I’d be much happier riding horses, writing checks for charity, and doing my work. And being with friends. True friends, like Tilly. Not the fake kind who want something from you.” Willa lined up her last throw. She let it go and it thunked into the bottom corner of the wood. She didn’t hit a target, but she’s at least hit the board.

  “Now what?” Willa asked. An arrow landed by her foot and she knew the answer. Run.

  The next station was manned with only two people—Greer and an older woman. “What do I do here?” Willa asked as she tried to catch her breath from dodging arrows.

  “Shooting,” Greer said as she waved to three different guns: a rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. “This is my mother, Paige Parker. Now, we have some questions for you.”

  Greer handed her the pistol and then took her own shot.

  “What would you do if my cousin said he was going back into the rodeo?” Greer asked, after emptying her clip dead center of the target.

  Willa lined up the pistol and pulled the trigger. Nothing. Greer reached over and flipped the safety off. “I will most likely move from showing professionally to part-time. I know how hard it is to love something so much but not be able to do it. I would understand his desire and agree to whatever the doctor recommends. However, I’d also help him find a new passion if he couldn’t ride anymore. I want to be there and support Porter in anyway I can.”

  Willa fired off the clip. This was going much better than the axes, at least she hit the target.

  Greer picked up the rifle and aimed at a target so far away Willa could barely see it. Greer fired off a series of shots as her mother watched with binoculars. “Great shot, sweetie!”

  “Do you love Porter?” Greer asked.

  “I believe I do. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here competing in some weird version of Girlfriends’ Hunger Games.”

  Willa lined up her shot and fired. She hit the closer target but missed the distant one.

  Paige picked up the shotgun and nodded to Greer who pulled out a clay target. Paige blasted two in a row before handing it off to Willa. Finally, an activity where she had some level of competence. Willa loaded the shells and took aim.

  “What would you do if Porter got you a vacuum cleaner for a Christmas gift?”

  “Like the robot kind?” Willa asked as Greer released the trap and Willa hit the clay pigeon.

  “No, like the kind you push. Although it did do well at picking up pet hair,” Paige answered as Greer pulled the trap again.

  Willa shot and shattered the second clay pigeon. “I’d probably vacuum very early in the morning to wake him up and then maybe buy him a mop for his birthday.”

  Paige smiled. “You are devious. I would have never imagined it. Now, run.”

  The arrow flew and landed right behind her. “Who’s shooting?”

  “You’ll find out!” Greer called out as Willa took off running.

  21

  “What do you think they’re doing to Willa?” Porter asked from where the Davies men waited around the massive dining room table.

  Cy shrugged. “Not much. I think your mother wants more grandchildren so I’m sure it’ll be something super easy.”

  “It better not be,” Deacon said as Walker nodded.

  “It’s probably all sweet as pie,” Pierce said, making Matt and all the in-laws frown. They’d had to fight every step of the way. “Tammy’s bee
n talking about a spa day with the ladies. I imagine they’re all sitting there getting manicures and talking.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Cole said even as Porter began to doubt the mani-pedi theory. “Paige is uber competitive and she did leave with her guns.”

  “Annie was sharpening her knives, so I too doubt it’s all sunshine and rainbows,” Cade told them.

  Porter let out a deep breath and looked out into the darkness. Somewhere out there was the woman he was falling in love with in the company of his aunts and cousins, armed with weapons. What could possibly go wrong?

  “Well, whatever they do it won’t be as much fun as we have,” Miles said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “It is fun after you’ve been initiated into the family,” Deacon admitted.

  “I kinda miss it,” Walker said. “We haven’t had a new boyfriend to torment in a while.”

  “Who do you think will be next?” Cade asked. “It has to be Greer, right? I mean, Cassidy is still too young.”

  “There’s no way my daughter is next,” Pierce said of Cassidy. “She’s too busy babysitting for y’all to have a social life, thank goodness.”

  “That leaves Greer,” Miles taunted Cole who leaned across the table and punched him in the shoulder.

  “Greer has too much on her plate right now. She’s going to head the FBI. Plus, no man is good enough for my little girl.”

  “Little?” Porter asked. “You do know she’s closing in on thirty, right?”

  “Like I said, little. Talk to me when she’s forty-five and then maybe I might allow a man in her life.”

  “Yeah, I don’t like the idea of Greer with a man,” Jackson said, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning. Jackson and Greer’s oldest brother, Ryan, nodded as he frowned.

  “Aw, little Greer having a boyfriend for us to beat up would be fun,” Lucas said with a floppy grin.