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“Yeah, I know what it feels like. I’ve had broken ribs often enough to be a goddamned expert. It fuckin hurts with every breath you take.” I took a sip of my hot coffee, and it helped a little. “As soon as I calm down a bit, we’ll go to Shelby and talk to Boyd about his wife.”

“Should we leave that until tomorrow?” asked Harlan.

“Yeah, maybe I should let cooler heads prevail, Harlan.” I chuckled. “You’re probably making the correct call. Let’s go see Ted instead.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

Ted’s eyes were closed when Harlan and I got there. His father was asleep in the guest chair near the bed. The older Wallace woke up and nodded his head at us.

“He’s doing okay.”

Hearing his father speak, Ted opened his eyes and tried to focus on me.

“Who was it?”

“Guys I’d seen in the garage with Clay. Drug guys.”

“I figured Peterson sent them. Rest and get better. Give Harlan your cell and he’ll handle your tow calls. I don’t want you going broke while you’re dogging it in here.”

Ted turned his head towards the nightstand and Harlan picked up the cell phone.

“We’ve got your back, Ted.”

Harlan nodded. “Yeah, we’ve got this.”

Dry Run Roadhouse. Coyote Creek.

Still worked up about Ted and it being totally on me because of the fucking tag, I told Harlan I needed a pitcher of Miller to calm my nerves.

Harlan laughed. “Your nerves? I was there in Clay Peterson’s office, and I can’t forget about that any time soon.”

“We’re just getting to know each other, Harlan. It’s good for you to know the lengths I’d go to for my family. Never doubt me.”

“I won’t.”

Jack brought me a pitcher when Harlan and I sat down at the bar. I filled my first glass and chugged it down. Filled the glass again.

Harlan glanced around like he didn’t want anyone coming near me and I smiled.

“All good, Harlan. Just keep the women away from me.”

He laughed. “Yeah, you’ve definitely got that problem.”

We stayed too long at the bar, and I drank one pitcher too many. When it was time to go, I couldn’t drive home. But I had to because Harlan had to drive my truck back to the ranch and I was left with the squad.

Harlan shoved me out the door to the parking lot. “We’ll leave the truck here in the parking lot and I’ll drive the squad home. We still have the horses to feed.”

“Yeah, sure. The dogs aren’t fed either.”

Chapter Four

Thursday, May 24th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

While he worked in the barn doing chores that had become familiar to him, Harlan had a lot to think about. Scooping oats out of the bin and inhaling the smell of them, he took a minute to appreciate his new life and everything Travis had given him.