Daisy glimpsed Max and Katherine across the room. She and Sam took two steps in their direction, ignoring the jeers of Warren and his buddies.
"Or maybe ya'll want to sit a spell with Justin,” Warren goaded. “He's been looking for you. He ain't gonna be too pleased if he finds out you've been acting like a cock-tease with some pretty-boy, rich Yankee."
Sam halted, making Daisy bump into him. He steadied her, and Daisy gasped at the outright rage in his eyes. She'd seen him annoyed before, but what she saw now was totally different. This was murder, and Warren and his friends saw it too.
"Leave them be. That's what they want,” she said, gripping his arm and pushing him toward Max and Katherine. Everyone in the bar watched as Warren and his friends pounded to their feet. “They love to fight. Don't bother with them."
"They're not going to insult you and get away with it."
"No skin off my back. I've been called worse, and lived through it. Don't try and play the hero, Sam. We'll get kicked out."
But Sam ignored her. Putting himself between Warren and Daisy, he stood readying himself for a fight.
"Well, lookee here,” Warren laughed. “The pretty little rich boy wants to fight me."
Daisy peered over Sam's shoulder.
Warren's chest puffed out as he flexed his bulging muscles. “You ready to lose a few teeth there, partner?"
The music came to a stop in the middle of a song. As though anticipating the upcoming brawl, the place quieted as everyone moved to the perimeter of the room, giving them their space. Daisy groaned as her brother crossed to Sam's side.
Turning back to her, Sam said, “Go outside. I'll be out in a minute."
"Sam! Don't do this—” Daisy dug her fingers into the back of his shirt, but Sam shrugged her off.
"Go!"
"Better do as he says,” Max advised. “By the look of things, this isn't going to be pretty."
Like hell she was going to run and hide like some frightened thing, and leave it for the menfolk to deal with. She was going for help. There was usually an off-duty deputy or two playing pool in the back room.
She ran across the dance floor, then pushed her way into the hallway that led to the poolroom and the bathrooms. From the room behind her, she heard furniture being moved and bets being placed. Despite her misgivings about the fight that was about to happen, part of Daisy took pride in hearing people bet on “her man” giving Warren and his pals a thorough ass-kicking.
A man sauntered from the men's room, intercepting her path.
"Excuse me.” Annoyed, Daisy moved to step around him. “I need to find a cop."
"Do you really, darlin'? I was hoping you and me could finish that business we started a while back."
All the sounds of the fight in the other room faded as Daisy looked up into the flat, cold, furious gray gaze of Justin as he stared down at her, a deadly killing glint in his eyes.
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Chapter Thirteen
He laughed at her shocked expression. “Surprise, sugar. What, you ain't glad to see me? ‘Cause I'm sure glad to see you."
"What the hell are you doing back in Wayback? That warrant's still out for your arrest.” Daisy was surprised that her voice didn't quiver, since a person could have danced a jig to the beating of her heart, and frozen a hot pot with the temperature of her hands.
As she regarded the man who had nearly killed her, and who had stolen so much of her self-esteem and confidence, Daisy wondered what it was she'd seen in him in the first place.
Justin was attractive, yes, but as she stared into the unflinching gray gaze that had at one time left her speechless, all she felt was a cool, calm fury overlaid with fear, and nothing remotely akin to infatuation or affection.
"I've been hiding out with some friends of mine. They wouldn't rat me out. Besides, I don't plan on staying long. I came just for you. Aren't you glad to hear that?"
"Nope, can't say I am. I'm not going anywhere with you, Justin."
Daisy planted her feet firmly on the floor as her heart rate leveled out. Justin scoffed. Daisy's skin crawled as he trailed a finger down her neck.
"Now I know that look,” he began, pulling her closer to his side. “Your flushed skin, bruised lips.” He thrust a finger between her lips. Daisy prepared to bite him, but Justin removed his finger. “The softness in your eyes. I bet your titties are still sensitive.” He reached for her breasts.
Daisy slapped his hand away.
Justin laughed again. “You've just been laid. But not by me.” His voice lowered a degree as he growled in her ear. “I bet you're still dripping, all wet and juicy, just waiting to be filled. I know you, darlin'. You're hot and ready for it.” He dragged her toward a side exit. “That's something I plan on fixing for you."
Daisy screamed, thrashing out as Justin's hold on her tightened.
He threw her up against a wall, knocking the breath from her. “Now I wouldn't do that if I were you.” He leaned in closer, his beer-laced breath fanning her ear as something pricked her ribs. “This is a knife, a lot smaller than the one I used to carve you up with the last time, but no less sharp, no less deadly, no less mean.” To show her he meant business, Justin pushed the blade through her light top to her side. Daisy shivered as it stuck bare skin. “We're gonna walk out that door, and go for a little ride, you and I."
Daisy's mind whirled as Justin forced her toward the exit.
* * * *
Sam didn't turn to make sure Daisy left. He'd heard Max's low warning and been satisfied that she'd actually listen for once.
The blood pounded in his head and through his veins. It had been a long while since he'd felt the adrenaline rush before a fight. Feeling it now calmed him as he stared at the men across from him.
"You messed up big time insulting my sister, Warren,” Max was saying as another man joined them at Sam's other side. “Didn't I tell ya'll before how angry I get when my sister is involved?"
"You stay out of this, Porter. This is between me and pretty boy here. Ain't got nothing to do with you and Serrano, so leave off.” He turned to look at the man beside Max. “What are you doing back here, Jake? Word is that you took Daisy's hot model sister home with you. If I were you, I'd go home and fuck her some more. Of course ... maybe you're not man enough to handle a Victoria's Secret girl. Maybe I should go to your place and—"
Warren didn't get to finish his lewd comment as the tall cowboy lunged for his throat, his expression promising murder. Sam couldn't blame him, but the jerk was his.
"That one's mine.” The other man, Jake, paused.
"I'll work on him for what he said about Sherrie,” Sam promised.
"I'd appreciate that,” Jake said, nodding to Sam.
Warren charged. Sam easily deflected his blow with one of his own that sent the other man sprawling. Onlookers cheered as his cohorts went after Jake and Max. The two men blocked their blows with just as much ease as Sam had Warren's.
Sam stood coolly after sending Warren to the floor with another well-placed punch. Warren resembled a mad bull as he hurtled to his feet swinging furiously at Sam's face. He was bigger than Sam, with extra weight that was all muscle, but Sam was much calmer and quicker on his feet. When he was younger, fighting had been a necessity. He adroitly dodged hit after hit, only suffering a few bruises, while executing fast, hard jabs of his own to Warren's face and chest.
When Sam kicked Warren to the floor for the third time, he anchored him in place with a foot on the man's chest. Warren's blood stained the floor.
Others joined the fight, including members of the band, bartenders, and even a few waitresses went to bat with Warren and the boys. All hell broke loose in the spacious room, with most of the brawlers siding with Sam, Max, and Jake, who easily subdued those who'd gone on the offensive. Sam heard occasional shouts from Barney, but he wasn't finished.
Sam's blank gaze met Warren's. The other man stared up with one darting eye, the other closed shut, blackened by a w
ell-aimed blow. “If you ever...” Sam's foot struck out. Warren groaned. “Ever...” Kick. “Insult Daisy again...” another kick. “I'll break every bone in your face."
Warren whined like a baby as he lay on the floor of the saloon.
"Let that be a warning to all of you,” Sam said to the room at large. A few who'd taken his side whooped and shouted their own insults.
As Sam lifted his foot from Warren's chest, the other man sprang to his feet and struck at Sam.
"Alright, now, everybody, break it up, God damn it.” A man of about fifty barreled through the throng in the hallway followed by a younger man in a sheriff deputy's uniform.
Warren paused to wipe the blood and sweat from his eyes.
"Warren, why ya'll got to be starting shit? It's my pool night,” the older man complained, his belly hanging well over his belt. A badge on his tan jacket proclaimed him as law enforcement of some variety.
The pair of officers reached them and restrained Warren's friends. “Deputy Frank Jackson,” Max whispered in Sam's ear. “And his sidekick Carson."
"Who the hell are you?” the big man demanded of Sam. “I'm about this close to be throwing ya'll in jail.” He glanced about the room to the overturned tables and mess on the floor. “And pressing charges on your asses. I wanna know who started this, because somebody's gonna be paying for it. So somebody better start talking."
Sam extended his hand that was cut and bleeding. “I'm Sam Howard. I'll pay for the mess in here."
"Did you start it?” Jackson asked, not shaking his hand. “I know who you are. I remember meeting you the other day. What happened here, Howard?"
"Warren thought he could insult the Porter sisters in my presence."
Carson's was helping Warren up from the floor. “That so?” Jackson's eyes gleamed. “About time someone kicked Warren's ass. He's always had a mouth on him. Tell you what, since I tend to like them myself, I'll let this incident slide. I'll take that as a no that you didn't cause this mess."
He turned to Warren and his two followers. “As for ya'll, I'm going to make sure you pay for all damages, and press charges of disrupting the peace."
"But, Deputy, that ain't fair,” Warren yelled.
"Fine, can you prove you didn't start this?” As silence was his only response, he continued, “I thought so."
Turning to Barney and Tyler, he said, “I'll ask you then. Did Mr. Howard throw the first punch?"
"Nope, it was all Warren.” Barney said. “I'll send you the bill to pass along."
"That's fine. Let's go, boys. You got a date with the slammer.” The deputies hustled Warren and his pals out of the room while Barney and Tyler herded everyone else outside.
"You okay?” Max asked Sam.
"Yup, just fine. How about you two?"
"Great,” Jake said. “I haven't’ done that in a while. It was fun. Sherrie's going to give me hell, but I don't much care. Her sister might not be too pleased with the bruises you're sporting either."
Sam didn't think Daisy would be too ecstatic, either. Hell, he didn't want to look in the mirror over the bar himself. He'd felt a few blows, but things had happened so fast, Sam wouldn't be surprised if Warren had gotten in a few more hits.
"Speaking of Daisy, where is she?” Max asked. “I know she left, but where'd she go?"
"She's outside.” Soledad, the young girl from the high school, hurried to their side.
Jake frowned. “Thought I told you to go home,” he roared, pulling her close to his side. There was a distinct family resemblance between the two.
"You did,” she said, unconcerned. “But I had to stay and see who'd win.” Sending a dazzling smile toward Sam, she said, “I knew all ya'll could take them."
"Thanks, Soledad.” Sam's stared at the door leading to the hall, all his thoughts centered on Daisy. “But can you help us find her?"
"I can sure try."
The three men and girl pushed their way through the thinning crowd. When they finally made it outside, they all stopped dead at seeing Daisy standing over a man, her foot raised to slam down on his crotch. Sam flinched as she kicked out. The man howled and writhed on the ground. Sam saw the switchblade lying a few feet away.
"Jesus, Daisy? What the hell?” Sam grabbed for her. Daisy kicked her fallen opponent again. “Baby, come on, stop it. He won't have any working parts left if you kick him like that again."
"Let her at him,” Max protested. “That's her ex, Justin."
"Well, in that case,” Sam said. He looped his arm about Daisy's waist and sent his own foot slamming into Justin's gut, “Let me have a piece of him too."
Daisy finally glanced over at him, her foot poised to strike. “Oh my God! Sam, what did Warren do to you?"
Sam signaled to Jake and Max. “Hold him down."
Jake turned to Soledad as he grabbed for Justin. “Go wait with Barney. Now."
"But I—"
"Go!"
Soledad turned and hurried away into the crowd.
Sam sent a series of kicks into Justin who grunted and struggled against Max and Jake who held him none too gently.
The tic at the side of Sam's left eye jerked and he sucked air into his left nostril. Justin, the little pissant, couldn't even meet his gaze as Sam dropped to his knees and glowered into his face.
"I should just take that knife over there and stick it in your gut, and let you die a slow agonizing death, you bastard!” Sam put his bloody hands around Justin's neck. His breath came in hard and fast as the other man's pulse pounded under his fingertips. He squeezed. Sam's vision blurred as he felt the blood rush to his hands. It would be so easy to take the life of the one who had caused the woman he loved such pain. “Did it make you feel good to hurt her? How does it feel now, that I'm hurting you? Are you afraid I'll kill you? Do you want to die?"
The pathetic being under his hands let out a weak, strangled cry. This time it was Daisy pulling at his shoulders. “Sam! Sam! Stop it! Please!"
But he couldn't stop. A part of him knew he should, but he simply could not do it. Then others were forcing his hands, pulling them away. Daisy's tear-stained face came into focus.
"Hey there, love. It's alright. He won't ever hurt me again.” She took him into her arms. “Sam, I'm here. My avenger, I'm safe."
She rained kisses over his face. Sam smelled her and felt her softness all around him. Did I really hear her say she loved me?
"See,” she said, taking his face in her hands. “Not a scratch. He didn't hurt me at all this time. I didn't let him. He wanted to, but I didn't let him,” Daisy repeated, taking his hands and examining them. “He dragged me out here at knife-point and I kicked it from him and dropped him. I told you I was a big girl-that I could take care of myself. Oh, honey, your hands."
Jake and Max pulled Justin to his feet, while someone else summoned the deputies. But all Sam saw was Daisy as his mind cleared.
"I love you, Daisy,” Sam said abruptly. He didn't care whether he'd imagined her words or if he sounded like a fool. “You don't have to love me, yet. But you will. I'll wait forever if I have to. You're just what I need in my life."
"I know you do.” She kissed him hard. “I've decided I don't need an avenger in my life, but I can live with one. I don't need a man in my life, but I want one. I want you. I love you, Sam. It'll take time for me to get used to us being, well ... us.” They got to their feet. “But we've got all the time in the world."
"I think I can make room in my busy schedule.” Sam wrapped his arms around her.
"Great!” Daisy laughed. “How about we go back to my place and play doctor? Or do you want to find some glue so we can get stuck together again?"
"Why don't we do both?"
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Delighting Miss Daisy [Wayback Texas Series] Page 9
