Page 30 of Forbidden Cowboy
The Fox women ruffle in the cell beside me. I don’t blame them.
“You two are the root of our problem.” Hope’s bravery stirs a feeling inside me. “You’ve been fighting for so long, you don’t even know why anymore. Ask yourselves whether a fight between our ancestors is worth tearing families and a town apart. Over a disagreement that never belonged to either of you.”
She’s standing up for me.
For us.
“Hope’s right.” I push off the bars. “This feud has gone on long enough, and I will no longer be a part of it. I refuse to drag my children into this fight. They won’t be raised to hate a Fox.”
“Get my boys the hell out of their cell. These tarts are brainwashing them. And we all know what happens once a Wilde falls for a Fox.”
Mr. Fox takes the first swing. His fist connects with my pa’s chin. He deserves it. Had I been on the other side of the bars, I would’ve swung too.
Sheriff Nash steps between them. My pa’s swing knocks the sheriff in the eye.
“Council is ready to see them.” Molly maneuvers around the brawl in a carefree way, as if outbreaks of violence at the stationare a daily occurrence. I know for a fact they aren’t. The biggest crime in town is wherever drunken Earl lands.
A ring of keys jangles in Molly’s hand. She singles out one key and opens each cell.
“I smell alcohol on your breath.” The sheriff has my pa pinned against the wall.
“Of course you do. I get a call when I’ve sat down to enjoy a beer with my supper. I suggest you take these off.”
Outside the cell, I want to pull Hope in my arms. Her reluctance and fear keep me at my brother’s side.
Mr. Fox marches to meet his daughters.
Nash releases my father. “All of you, get the hell out of my building before you end up back in cells. Now!” The sheriff points out the door.
I grab Hope’s hand to hold her back. “You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Mr. Fox storms back in and shoves my chest. I stumble a couple of steps back. The man has strength. “You stay the hell away from my daughter, or so help me, Lord you will regret it. You hear me?”
Chapter Eleven
HOPE
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TWO WEEKS LATER, nothing has changed—at least nothing between our families.
I look at Levi from across the front lawn of the town hall. He’s kneeling in the flowerbed, digging out soil to plant ornamental grass. He’s always got his eyes on me, like now. Those brown eyes melt my heart through and through.
Jade drops a bag of mulch in front of me. “Your eye fucking is what got us into trouble in the first place.”
I raise my hand to block the sun as I peer up at my sister. “Oh, Jade, we’ve been knocking boots every single night. And there’s not a darn tootin’ thing you can do about it. So I suggest you get on board.”
“No one’s on board. That’s why you’re sneaking out at night and sneaking in early morning. Walk of shame has never looked more pathetic.”
She purposely stomps over the new sod we laid down this week, ignoring the multiple signs Thomas installed that readstay off.
Thomas has a new list every evening, including building another kissing booth. I wondered if the lists would ever end.
Tonight it ends.
And we’re no closer to bringing our families together. On the turn side, I’ve also appreciated the space it granted Levi and metime to get to know each other again. There’s no denying things are different between us. We’ve each grown up and changed. Levi now wears briefs instead of boxers—a couple of prior skinny-dipping adventures in the creek exposed his underwear choices. But a lot hasn’t changed. He would rather spend time outside than inside. And the ranch and his family are his heart and soul. The latter scares me. But truthfully, my family is my heart and soul, too. It’s not looking like either is coming together anytime soon—or at all.