Country Storm

by Cheyenne McCray

  “I will destroy the witness on cross-examination, Rae.” Luther’s voice came out matter of fact. “We’ll be prepared.”

  When Rae left her attorney’s office, she felt even worse than when she’d arrived. How could anyone say she’d invited the bastard to go with her? She would never have done that in a million years. Larry was nothing but a sleazy S.O.B., who had tried to rape her and threatened to kill her when he followed her. She’d shot him because she’d been terrified for her life.

  Had she done the right thing?

  Hot tears flowed down her cheeks. She had thought she could injure him to stop him, but he’d tackled her to take away the gun. Her finger had been on the trigger when he’d knocked her on her back, and the gun had gone off in his gut.

  Rae had called 911, but the man had bled out before the paramedics had arrived.

  She had never set foot on the houseboat again.

  Life had become nightmarish once the story broke. The media had gone all out, portraying her in an unkind light. Social media had blown up, saying to the world that she had asked for it. Larry Johnston’s friends and family posted everywhere that she’d dressed like a tramp, she had been all over him, and on and on. If she had been a man, she would have been praised for protecting her home and for saving her own life. Instead, she was shamed and bullied and threatened. Signs with things like, “Murdering bitch lives here” had been driven into her front yard on several occasions.

  Unlike her, Larry had grown up in Lake Havasu City, so he had a lot of friends and family there. The hatred toward her had been unbelievable.

  When she’d been arrested and charged, things got even worse. She’d felt humiliated and had nearly lost all hope. She’d been fortunate she’d been able to make bail, but that was small consolation.

  Most of her clients had cancelled their contracts with her or asked to work with different agents. Few had wanted to continue working with a woman who had murdered a man in her home.

  When it seemed like her life had fallen completely apart, she’d fled to King Creek at her cousin’s urging and her sister’s support.

  And here she was, heading back to the small town to hide out a little bit longer, until the trial was over.

  Rae prayed she wouldn’t be behind bars when that happened.

  * * *

  Friday afternoon, Bear washed his hands after a difficult surgery as he mulled over spending Saturday with Rae and the fact she hadn’t returned his call. He’d left a message Sunday when his call went straight to voicemail. He’d tried again Tuesday, but once again had to leave a message.

  She’d probably been busy, but he didn’t want to press her if she wasn’t interested. Had he been reading her right Saturday? They’d had a great coffee date, and she’d agreed to come out to the ranch to meet his animals. He’d thought the day had only gotten better, and she appeared to be of the same mind.

  Women. He never could figure them out.

  Bear dried his hands and prepared to head home. His cell phone rang, and he fished it out of his lab coat. He glanced at his screen to see Colt calling.

  He brought the phone to his ear. “Don’t tell me you’re calling to drag me to Mickey’s.” Truth was, if Bear had his way, he’d be hauling Colt there himself.

  “Meet me there at eight. I’m hungry for one of Mickey’s cheeseburgers.”

  Bear figured he’d turn the tables on Colt. “Don’t be late.”

  Colt laughed. “Anxious to see that cute little redhead?”

  Bear smiled. “Maybe.”

  If Rae didn’t want to date him, he’d find out tonight. He might not have a way with women like Colt did, but he preferred to know where he stood with a woman. It just wasn’t who he was, sitting around wondering. If she didn’t want anything to do with him, better to know now.

  “I’ll see you there,” Colt said. “You can tell me how Saturday went.”

  “Will do.” Bear signed off and shrugged out of his lab coat. Colt was right—he was looking forward to seeing Rea, and he hoped she’d be glad to see him.

  * * *

  Bear walked through the entrance to Mickey’s and he spotted Rae behind the bar at once. She served shots to a pair of regulars Bear knew well, but he only had eyes for Rae. She smiled at something one of the men said, gave a nod and turned away.

  She glanced in his direction and she came to an abrupt stop in her turn. Her face seemed to light up when she saw him, giving him a warm feeling in his gut.

  In the next moment, her expression shifted to one of concern and she turned away, like she was afraid of something.

  Bear tried not to frown. What was that all about?

  He recognized his brother’s build and took the barstool next to him.

  Colt turned his head. “Hey, bro. ’Bout time you showed up.”

  Bear didn’t have to look at the neon Budweiser clock over the bar to know he wasn’t late. “Save some onion rings for me?”

  Colt pushed the half-eaten basket in front of Bear. “Got here early, so I figured I’d get started on something while I waited for your sorry ass.”

  Bear picked up an onion ring and dipped it in the ramekin of ranch dressing that Colt gave him. “Anything catch your attention while you’ve been waiting?”

  Colt nodded in the direction of the pool table. “Cute little blonde over there been looking my way. Might go introduce myself.” He glanced at Bear. “After I get started on that burger I’ve been waiting to order til you got here.”

  “Then let’s get it ordered.” Bear looked up and saw Rae nearing them. Warmth traveled straight to his belly again when she smiled.

  “Hi, Bear.” She turned her attention to Colt. “I see you’ve worked your way through most of those onion rings. Ready to order your burger?”

  Colt gave a nod. “Make it a ranch burger, rare and loaded.”

  “You’ve got it.” Rae turned her attention back to Bear and she smiled. “Hungry?”

  His mind went places it had no business going when she asked him that. It wasn’t food he was hungry for when he looked at her.

  He cleared his throat. “I’ll have the same thing as Colt.”

  “Beer?” she asked. “Same as last time? Domestic dark on tap?”

  He raised his brows. “You remember?”

  A smile touched her lips. “Of course.”

  “Make it two,” Colt said, and Bear nodded.

  “She definitely likes you.” Colt looked at Bear after Rae had left to take care of their food and drink orders. “I take it you had a good coffee date.”

  Bear moved his gaze from Colt to Rae’s cute backside. “Good enough that she came out to the ranch to visit the animals and have dinner.”

  Colt slugged his shoulder. “Way to go, little brother.”

  Bear rubbed his arm as he glanced at Colt. “I called her Sunday and Monday and left messages, but she never called back.”

  Colt shrugged. “A guy never really knows what’s going on in a woman’s head. She might be playing hard to get or she might be just plain busy. Who the hell knows?”

  Bear smiled at the easy way his brother spoke about it. “Maybe one of these days I’ll get it right.”

  “Nope.” Colt shook his head. “Just when you think you have figured out a woman, you learn you were all wrong. Just take it a day at a time—best you can do.”

  Bear glanced in Rae’s direction again. “I think I have it bad for this one, Colt.”

  “You know you have it bad for her,” Colt said as Bear continued to watch Rae. “No two ways about it.”

  Bear smiled at Rae as she carried two glasses of foam-topped beers and set the glasses down in front of them. Bear picked his up. “Thanks, Rae.”

  “You’re welcome.” She braced her palms on the bar top. “Ranch burgers will be up in about thirty. Busy night.”

  “I can see that.” Bear glanced around before meeting Rae’s gaze again. “It’s only gonna get busier.”

  “Yeah, I have that feeling.” Rae hesit
ated. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to call you back. It’s been a kind of crazy week.”

  “No problem.” Bear smiled. “Had a great day when you were out at the ranch. I think Mervin misses you. Keeps saying ‘Where’s pretty lady?’ every time I walk into the kitchen.”

  Rae laughed. “I never expected you to be full of it.”

  “It’s the gospel truth.” Bear flashed her a grin. “You don’t know Mervin very well, not yet.”

  Something flickered in her eyes, but her smile didn’t fade.

  “He’s a sweet bird,” she said.

  “He sure thinks so,” Bear said.

  “I’d better get back to work.” She nodded in the direction of the opposite end of the bar. “Hear my name being called.”

  Bear nodded and she turned away. He couldn’t take his eyes off her backside. He liked the way she walked. Truth was, he liked everything about her—everything he knew about her, anyway. He had a feeling he’d like everything about her once he got to know her better.

  Colt waved his hand in front of Bear’s face. “Earth to Bear, come in Bear.”

  “You’ve got my attention.” Bear picked up his draft. “Sorry. Can’t keep my eyes off her.”

  “Can’t say I blame you.” Colt picked up his own beer. “Sounds like you had a nice time together Saturday.”

  “Yep.”

  “Is that crazy bird of yours really asking about ‘pretty lady?’” Colt asked with amusement on his features.”

  Bear grinned but nodded. “Honest truth. Mervin really does like Rae.”

  He looked back at Rae and his grin melted to a frown. Cheeks flushed, lips tight, Rae stood in front of Bill and looked like she had a tough time not throwing his beer into his face. Bear didn’t know what Bill was saying, but he sure didn’t like how he was clearly making Rae feel.

  Well, he was going to do something about it.

  Bear climbed off his stool. “Be right back.”

  Colt nodded, his beer in his hand. “Go take care of her,” he said, clearly understanding what Bear was doing.

  He reached Bill who was saying to Rea, “You know you want to. I’ll be happy to pick up your cute little ass when you get off work.”

  Rae looked like she was about to explode and having a hard time holding it back.

  Bear settled his hand on Bill’s shoulder, trying not to give into his urge to clench down hard. “Bill, you need to treat this lady with respect.”

  Bill gut his gaze to Bear. “Mind your own business, McLeod.” He pushed at Bear’s hand, but he only increased his grip.

  “Treat her like the lady she is,” Bear said calmly.

  Rae said nothing, just seemed to be frozen.

  Bill climbed off his stool and glared at Bear. They stood toe-to-toe, both men topping six-two. Bill had twenty pounds on Bear, but Bear was a good ten years younger. He wasn’t a fighting man, but he had a protective streak a mile wide.

  “I’m gonna knock your fucking head off, McLeod. Get out of my way.”

  “Let’s go outside and discuss this,” Bear said. “Let the lady get back to work.”

  “It’s okay, Bear.” Rae sounded nervous. “I can deal with him.”

  Bear didn’t look away from Bill. “Come on out. We’ll have ourselves a little talk.”

  Bill looked like he was going to shove Bear, but Bear turned his back and walked to the bar’s entrance. He knew Bill was an ass, but he also knew the man wouldn’t hit him from behind.

  “Bear, stop.” Rae’s anxiety grew in her tone.

  He walked out the front door, off the porch, and out into the parking lot. He kept his arms loose at his sides.

  Bill glowered in front of him. “I’m going to knock your goddamned head off. I don’t care if you are a McLeod or the damned vet.”

  Bear eyed Bill steadily. “I didn’t ask you out here to fight. I’m asking you nicely to leave Rae alone. She deserves to be treated like a lady, and from what I’ve seen today and last Friday, that’s not what you’re doing.”

  “You don’t tell me how to treat no one.” Bill clenched his fists and moved closer to Bear so that their chests almost touched. “I’ve had it up to here with your high and mighty ass acting like you’re better than everyone else.”

  Behind Bill, Rae came out of the bar. “Stop. Bear.”

  “One more chance,” Bear said quietly. “Leave her alone.”

  Bill swung his big fist.

  Bear stepped aside in a quick and easy motion. Bill stumbled forward and landed face down in the gravel. He gave a roar of rage and scrambled to his feet.

  “Stop, please,” Rae shouted.

  Bill charged Bear, who sidestepped him at the last moment. The man almost fell again. He spun around, his face purple with anger.

  Colt stepped between the two. “Bill, give it up while you still can. No harm, no foul.”

  Bill’s face twisted. “I’m gonna kick his ass. I don’t care if he’s your brother.”

  Colt held up his arm. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Bear hasn’t even touched you. He’s a martial artist and he can dance around you all day long.”

  With a surprised expression, Bill looked from Bear to Colt. “This goody-two-shoes doctor knows judo or some shit like that?”

  Colt smiled. “Let me tell you, Bear is full of surprises.”

  Bill wiped his hands on the front of his jeans. “Well, hell.” He looked like he had a whole new respect for Bear. “Know you’re a good man, McLeod. Didn’t know you could be a dangerous one.”

  Bear grinned. He knew Bill wasn’t really worried about him and his martial art expertise. He was using it as an excuse to stop a fight he shouldn’t have started.

  He held his hand out to Bill, who took it. “Come on in. I’ll buy you a beer.”

  Bill put his arm around Bear’s shoulders. “You really know judo?”

  Rae just stared at Bear as they neared her, eyes wide and her lips parted.

  “Sorry, ma’am.” Bill stopped in front of Rea, looking completely repentant. “I shouldn’t let my mouth run off like it does sometimes.”

  Rae tore her gaze from Bear and looked at Bill. “Just don’t do it again.”

  He bowed his head. “I won’t. Promise.”

  “Sorry.” Bear gave her an apologetic look. “Hope I didn’t upset you. Just had to get him to cool off.”

  “Well, okay.” She looked like she was totally flummoxed. “I need to get back to work.” She turned and headed back inside.

  Bear and Bill entered the bar followed by Colt and a couple of cowboys Bear knew who’d been watching in the parking lot. Bear sat and Bill took the stool next to him, while Colt returned to the other.

  Rae brought over a beer and set it in front of Bill. “It’s going on your tab,” she said to Bear before turning away.

  “Thanks, Doc,” Bill said.

  Bear glanced at Colt who was silently laughing. “You’ve got a way with women.” Colt jerked his thumb in Bill’s direction. “And asses.”

  “I heard that.” Bill raised his beer. “To pretty ladies and vets who know judo shit.”

  “Taekwondo.” Bear raised his own glass.

  “Whatever.” Bill took a big pull on his beer. “How’d you learn it? No judo place ’round here, unless you went up Phoenix way.”

  Bear didn’t correct him again. “Learned it at a place in Tucson while I put myself through school at the U of A vet med college. I go to a Dojang in Chandler now.”

  Bill studied Bear. “You a Wildcat?”

  “Yep.” Bear took a swallow of his draft.

  “Knew I liked you,” Bill said. “Ain’t no Sun Devil.”

  Rae brought their burgers and more beers.

  Bear said, “When do you go on break, Rae?”

  She looked at the clock over the bar. “Ten minutes.”

  “Mind if I join you?”

  “Sure.” She looked like she’d relaxed some since they’d come back inside. “Meet me out back in ten.�
�

  “I’ll be there,” Bear said.

  Rae smiled before turning away.

  Chapter 8

  The clock above the bar seemed to drag. Rae wanted time to pass faster while at the same time she didn’t.

  At ten after, Rae told Patty she was on break.

  The woman had a sour expression, like she was sucking on a lemon. “Don’t be late getting back.”

  Rae held back a frown of her own. “No problem, Patty.”

  Bear wasn’t sitting next to Colt, so he was probably outside. Despite all her reservations, she found herself smiling as she headed through the kitchen and out through the back door.

  Bear stood beneath the light post’s yellow glow. His western hat cast a shadow across his strong features, giving him a kind of tougher demeanor than the cowboy she’d been getting to know.

  He pushed up the brim of his hat with one finger and moved toward her. The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. “Thanks for meeting me on your break.”

  “Thank you for not fighting with Bill and getting him to stop bothering me.” She pushed strands of hair out of her face that had been bothering her all night. “I know now he’s harmless, but I’ve had some…bad experiences and he really got to me.”

  That she had “bad experiences” was truly an understatement.

  Bear shrugged. “If I’d thought it would turn into a brawl, I wouldn’t have taken it outside. But I know Bill, and sometimes he needs a little shove in the right direction to break his pattern.”

  “You’re good with people,” she said. “At dealing with and analyzing them.”

  “You haven’t been around me enough to know that,” he said with a smile. He moved closer to her, where she stood in the shadows.

  “I’m a good judge of character.” It was her turn to shrug. “Usually I have no problem dealing with different personalities, but guys who treat me like Bill did, not so much.”

  One had ended up dead. She really needed to get off this topic.

  “Saturday was fun.” She pulled her ponytail holder off so she could capture the loose strands and gather all her hair back. “Thank you again for inviting me.”