Page 5

F ive days prior to extraction…

Maddox

“Come on, Marty. What the fuck do you mean the shipment has been delayed? I ordered the lumber almost a week ago.” I threw down my credit card for the supply of feed, glaring at him with more fury than normal furrowing into my system.

“Supply chain issue,” Marty said, shrugging. He eyed me cautiously. My reputation for being a hothead was well known even though I’d only lived in the Shenandoah Valley for a few months. He took my card, immediately processing it.

“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Sure, I could travel an hour and a half to pick up what I needed, but between the round trip and time spent in a big box store, I’d miss an entire day of work. Not something I could afford.

I snatched my card, barely scribbling my name on the receipt.

“Early next week,” he said. “Latest.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I huffed, shoved my card back into my wallet, and left the supply store.

I jumped inside my pickup truck, still angry when I turned over the engine.

While it was still early October, winters under the shadow of the mountains could be brutal.

There were close to fifty projects that needed to be completed around the ranch before the first snowfall.

At this rate, the tasks wouldn’t be accomplished by this time next year.

After I backed up to the loading area and jumped out, my phone rang. No one called me. Even the men working at my ranch didn’t have my private number. I’d earned my privacy. So I ignored the call, heading toward the feed bags instead.

The second I finished filling the truck bed, my phone rang again. According to everyone I knew, I was a stubborn asshole. That’s why I refused to answer the second time.

But once I returned to the truck, curiosity settled in and I snatched the phone from the seat.

Unknown. Snorting, I pitched it aside and headed out.

As soon as I made the turn onto the main road, I glanced out the windshield toward the waning sun.

Various vibrant colors crisscrossed the sky in a dazzling display.

A snicker moved past my lips from the thought. In my world, the main colors were black, white, and red, the color of blood. There was no such thing as seeing the world through rose-colored lenses.

The Navy had taught me that.

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel just as I passed the bar I’d frequented more often than I’d done with any in my life. My entire life had been about discipline. Maybe retirement wasn’t in my best interest, but what the hell? I could use a cold beer.

As soon as I headed inside, the bartender nodded, immediately reaching for a Budweiser.

Jeff was a good guy, learning early on when not to ask questions.

He placed it on the bar’s surface before pulling a glass off the shelf behind him.

Never saying a word, he grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniel’s, pouring a hefty shot.

Easing onto the stool, I glanced around the nearly empty space and smirked. “I see business is booming today.” I looked over my shoulder, noticing three men I’d had run-ins with since the day I’d moved into the area. They sported Marine tattoos as if being a Navy SEAL was less than exemplary.

Jeff huffed and leaned against the edge of the bar, staring up at the television hanging over the bar.

“It’s Wednesday. We don’t get the wild crowd in until after six.

Except for those three.” He tossed his head in the direction of the jerks who enjoyed bullying as if they were still in high school.

“One of them lost their job yesterday. Might want to stay away from them. Not that you couldn’t handle what they dish out.

” He laughed and patted the top of the bar.

The town was hurting, jobs lost based on a couple of businesses pulling out over the last few years. Not my concern.

Unless they made it impossible to enjoy my drinks.

I shot half the Jack and shook my head. Maybe the bar was the only one I bothered frequenting because Jeff’s sense of humor was dry as fuck. About the only humor I could take.

The beer was cold, exactly what I needed after the long, hard day that had started at five in the morning. I’d never thought running a small cattle ranch could be so damn time consuming.

He remained quiet. So did I. The words spoken would be the only ones of the day, yet he kept me company, something I found oddly comforting.

Ten minutes into the rare moment of peace, noise drew my attention and I immediately bristled.

“Don’t look now,” Jeff muttered under his breath.

I didn’t need to look to know the three Marines were looking for a fight and today, I was their designated choice for a punching bag.

“Hey, fucker. Didn’t you get the message we don’t want you in these parts?” The gruff voice was one I recognized, the leader of the illustrious trio of idiots.

Ignoring the asshole, I glanced at the television, willing the bastards away. They’d set fire to my barn on day three after I’d moved in. Could I prove it? Hell, no, and in truth, I’d thought of retaliation, but I was a changed man.

At least according to my shrink.

“Hey, bubba. We’re talking to you.” The second guy was weak, merely a shadow of the leader. I threw back the rest of my Jack, sliding the shot glass toward Jeff who gave me a hard glare.

When the third in the rowdy group dared to shove his palm against my shoulder, I took a deep breath.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you a pussy?” He laughed and so did the other two.

Two of them were already slurring their words. I didn’t have time for this shit nor was I inclined to allow bullying. “I suggest you three gentlemen return to your caves and enjoy your afternoon.”

“Yeah? Or what? Does the big, bad SEAL think he’s going to do something about it?” The first guy leaned over the bar, staring at me intently.

“Hey,” Jeff snarled. “Why don’t the three of you pick another place to destroy your livers?”

“Who the fuck are you?” guy number two asked.

Sighing, I took a long pull of my beer and shoved the bottle aside before standing. As I slowly turned, the three crowded in. This shit had gotten old. I glanced from one to the other, locking eyes with the leader who appeared rode hard and put away wet after having been dredged through the sewer.

“It’s in your best interest to do as Jeff told you to do.

Leave.” My words held no emotion. Why would I waste it on the likes of three idiots?

I’d learned their names more out of curiosity than anything.

Troublemakers existed everywhere. The leader, Tommy, was a big brute of a man, using his brawn to intimidate others in the small town.

“Yeah?” Tommy threw out. “What are you going to do about it?”

I glanced at the other four customers, who were staring at the interaction intently.

“Leave. Now,” I stated.

I stood a couple of inches taller than Tommy and as I stared into his eyes, I knew instantly he needed a boost in his hunt for male dominance. Well, if the fucker was stupid enough to think he was getting it from me, God help him.

Tommy sniffed, grinning as if I was no threat and made another more serious mistake.

He decided to throw a punch.

I caught his fist in my palm, squeezing until he cried out in pain.

“Last warning,” I told all three.

“Well, shit,” Jeff mumbled from behind me.

There was that expression of all hell breaking loose. That’s what the three boys thought they were starting by attacking me.

The first brutal punch I issued landed under Tommy’s jaw, sending him pivoting to the side and down for the count.

When Jake decided he could take me on himself, I didn’t hold back, fisting my hand and ensuring both his gut and his jaw felt the appropriate anguish. He was pummeled backward, slamming into a chair and crashing to the floor.

While Wayne was shocked, his eyes highlighting a hint of fear, the fucker was dumb enough to take on the cause.

His punch landed in my gut and I slowly lifted my head, narrowing my eyes. “Now, you’ve pissed me off.” I yanked him by the back of his tee shirt, tossing him into the center of the bar.

And away from Jeff’s tables. I certainly didn’t want the man to fund a midday brawl on my behalf.

I’d learned to fight when I was a teenager, picked on initially until I’d grown several inches and had bench pressed my way into gaining seventy pounds. I wasn’t angry with the three idiots. They were simply blowing off steam.

Sadly, they’d picked the wrong person to take out their aggressions on.

I threw one punch after another, tossing them to the bar’s scuffed floor like matchsticks.

Fueled by anger and alcohol, they kept coming, believing they could best me.

What morons.

When all three were down, I took a deep breath and returned to my drink, grateful to see Jeff had refilled my bourbon.

He was grinning then simply nodded as he’d done before, allowing me to know the fight wasn’t finished.

I threw out my arm, catching Tommy by the throat. By the time I turned around, I’d lifted him off the floor by several inches. With my fingers digging into his skin, he was already sputtering.

Another deep breath was meant to clear my mind, only I realized I was angry with them.

Why the fuck were they so stupid? “I said. You need to leave. If you don’t, I’ll break your wrist first then your neck.

Or you can walk out of here and forget this ever happened.

Up to you boys.” I took my time staring one then the other in the eye as I took Tommy’s hand into mine.

I knew all the techniques, easily able to break a wrist or neck with a simple twist. I caused the fucker enough pain he howled.

“What’s it going to be?” I challenged.

“Let’s get out of here,” Wayne huffed, his tone full of fear.

“You should listen to your boy,” I told Tommy, grinning from ear to ear.

Tommy wanted to take another swing. I felt it, but at least the drunken haze didn’t make him stupid enough to try. He managed to nod.

When I let him down, I cocked my head, giving him the go-ahead-and-fuck-with-me look. Fortunately for him and his buddies, he simply gave me the middle finger and led the other two from the bar.

Jeff laughed. “You are one tough asshole.”

“I’ll pay for any damages.”

“Who are you kidding? That’s the most entertainment I’ve had in weeks. Drinks are on the house.”

I chuckled and sat down on the barstool.

At least shit had gone quiet. Maybe now I could enjoy my fucking afternoon.