Roping the Rancher (Harlequin American Romance) by Benson Julie

Author:Benson, Julie [Benson, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Colt wanted to jump across the table and punch his brother. Didn’t Reed realize how uncomfortable this conversation would make Stacy feel?

Since they arrived, Stacy had changed. Instead of the fearless, say-what’s-on-her-mind woman he knew, she’d become quiet. Almost as if she wanted to blend in with the furniture.

Now his jackass brother brought up the night at Halligan’s. Beside him he almost felt Stacy pulling away even further. He didn’t know where she’d gone, but she wasn’t here with them. At least not the feisty woman he knew.

“Thanks for bringing that up, Reed, because I haven’t been embarrassed enough by everyone in town asking me about the fight.”

His brother flashed him a stupid grin. “Glad to help out. What happened? Getting into a bar fight isn’t your style.”

Before he could answer, Jess spoke, her young face scrunched up with revulsion. “You should’ve seen it. Mr. Carpenter’s hands were all over Stacy.”

“We don’t need to rehash all the gory details,” Colt said, hoping everyone would take the hint and move on to another topic.

“So you played the knight in shining armor coming to a lady’s rescue. Now that seems like you,” Reed said.

Yeah, he was a regular white knight. One who charged in before he thought about the consequences or the fact that his daughter was watching.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Stacy, her posture all rigid, her back looking as if it had been glued to the chair. “Anyone see the Rockies game yesterday? Looks like they might have a good season this year.”

“What Carpenter was doing must have been bad because Colt’s the kind of guy who follows the rules no matter what. Nothing riles him. He’s got more patience than anyone I know,” Avery said, ignoring his obvious attempt to change the subject. Getting this group to move on to a different subject would be as easy as a getting a bull out of a pasture full of cows.

“How awful for you, Stacy.”

Stacy’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe someone was talking to her. “The man had more arms than an octopus. It might not have been so bad if he hadn’t been drunk.”

“It’s about time someone knocked some sense into that man,” Nannette added. “Travis always has been too big for his britches. That’s his father’s fault. Travis is the youngest. He’s got four older sisters. His father was so glad to finally have a boy he treated his son like his diapers didn’t stink.”

Reed laughed. “He’d sure be different if he’d had a mother like you.”

“You’re right about that. Mom never tolerated any of us putting on airs,” Avery said. “I’d heard when Travis drinks his manners evaporate.”

“That’s a nice way to put it,” Stacy said, her body relaxing some as the topic moved away from their actions at the bar, focusing on Carpenter instead. “Travis wouldn’t let me leave the dance floor.”

Nannette gaze filled with compassion and concern when she turned to Stacy. “How frightening. Thank goodness Colt was there to step in.

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