Page 31 of Rocky Mountain Home

“What the hell is going on?”

Someone ripped them apart, and Jesse braced himself in case it ended up two against one.

Only the dark-haired newcomer shoved them back hard enough Dustin stumbled and fell. Jesse kept his feet with a great deal of difficulty.

“Dusty? You were warned about fighting with the hired hands.”

“He’s not—”

“Shut up.” The man turned his attention to Jesse. “I don’t remember you from the orientation. What’s your name?”

“Jesse Coleman, and I don’t work here.” Yet, and it seemed his chances were going down instead of up.

“He’s the bastard who knocked up Dare.” Dustin used the stable wall to help get to his feet, disgust in his tone.

Maybe the attitude was all about Jesse’s actions, but it sounded a lot like a diss on Dare, and fuck that. Anger rolled through Jesse at high speed.

He rushed forward, slamming Dustin into the wall and shoving an arm across his chest. Pinning the youth in place, Jesse moved in until their noses were almost touching. “Darilyn is not knocked up. She’s expecting a child, hers and mine, and if you talk about her in that tone of voice again, I will make you sing soprano.”

A heavy shoulder hit the wall next to Dustin as the newcomer leaned on it, glancing between the two of them. Amused judgment on his face as he checked out Jesse.

Jesse ignored him. The baby with the attitude had all his attention.

Dustin slammed his mouth shut, but kept jerking unsuccessfully to try and break Jesse’s hold.

Damn if the stranger didn’t chuckle before straightening up and offering some advice. “You might want to ask him to ease back a bit, Dusty. It’s hard to rope with broken ribs, and I don’t think this one—Jesse, was it?”

“Yeah.”

“—I don’t think he’s in the mood for you.”

“Fuck you, Luke. He hurt Dare.”

“Dare is a big girl, and unless you want her even more pissed at you than usual for getting up in her business, back off. You deserved the slam into the boards for that knocked-up crack.”

Dustin stopped writhing. Jesse stepped back so suddenly the kid lost his footing again. He slammed himself upright and gave Jesse one final dirty look before storming off, wiping blood from his mouth.

Derogatory comments about Jesse’s ancestry and his personal habits slowly faded into the distance.

Jesse took in his new companion more closely. “One of the Stone boys, I take it?”

He nodded. “Luke Stone. I’m the sound, rational one in the family.”

“I thought Caleb was pretty sane.”

Luke grinned. “Yeah, but I’m level-headed without acting like I have a stick up my ass.” He looked Jesse up and down once quickly then sighed heavily. “You’re trouble. I can see why Dare would like you.”

“Thanks?”

The other man chuckled then tilted his head toward the open yard. “I’m headed to a meeting. Walk with me.”

Jesse pulled on his shirt then ran a hand through his hair to straighten himself up as much as possible before joining Luke. “Appreciate you not killing me, and all.”

“No problem. It’s not off the books yet, by the way. Killing you. But Dare told us what happened—her version, no details. I’m actually shocked to see you show up. How’d you find her?”

“Her blog.”

“Huh.” Luke pulled a face. “You didn’t know she was pregnant.”