Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Cole sighed heavily and turned a little in his seat so that he was partially facing JB. “Are you taking this seriously?”
“Of course I’m taking this seriously!”
“No, I’m talking about the threat on your life, not the threat to the ranch.” JB grinned at him and Cole pointed a finger right at his cheek. “Don’t. Don’t give me that look.”
JB’s smile grew even wider. “What look?”
“That ‘oh, he’s so cute when he’s overreacting’ patronizing look.”
JB’s expression sobered. “I’m not patronizing you. I’m sorry if it feels that way. But I do feel like you are overreacting. The incident with Gladys Roberts was an accident. Yes, it was scary as fuck, but I honestly don’t think she’s trying to kill me.”
“And Logan?”
“Logan hasn’t shot at me yet.” JB held up a hand, halting Cole’s argument in his throat. “Yes, Logan can’t stand me. I think we’ve hated each other since high school, but I don’t see him taking a shot at me. Right now, I think the clear threat we’re dealing with is to the ranch.”
“Maybe, but I’m pretty sure Lettie Jenkins wants to take a few shots at you now.”
JB sighed and slumped in his seat. “Probably.”
Cole instantly regretted his statement. He hadn’t wanted to make JB feel bad, only get him to realize that his life was genuinely in danger. Despite all his hard talk, it wasn’t hard to see that JB was hurt by the idea that he was keeping his neighbors from having what they wanted in life.
“Sorry,” Cole murmured. “I want to make sure you’re watching your fucking back. I don’t doubt that someone thinks a good way to get Alexander Ranch sold is to get rid of you.”
“Yeah, okay. I see your point. Too much crazy shit has been happening, and I don’t consider myself a target.” JB smirked over at Cole. “I appreciate your concern.”
Cole huffed a laugh. “I don’t think Noah would forgive me if something happened to you while I was staying here, Josiah Bennett.”
JB actually winced at that guess. “So wrong.”
“Not close?”
“Not in the least. And as to getting shot, I don’t think Rowe would complain too much.”
Cole started to argue that Rowe didn’t have any problem with the guy, particularly since a good thousand miles separated Noah and JB, but the words were stopped by a loud metallic plink, sort of like a large piece of gravel hitting the side of the truck. Cole started to twist toward his window to look out when the glass in the rear window exploded and a tire blew.
JB snarled savagely as the truck fishtailed, threatening to tip over as he worked to get it to the side of the road. Cole’s heart slammed into overdrive as he gripped the door handle with one hand and tried to brace his other hand against the dashboard. He was vaguely aware of glass biting into the back of his neck and the smell of burning rubber.
Reaching across the cab, JB grabbed Cole’s shoulder with one hand and tried to shove his head toward his knees. “Get down! Someone’s shooting!”
“What!” Cole shouted, but he doubted that JB heard him. All his attention was on trying to get the truck safely stopped. Of course someone was shooting at them. They had just discussed how unlikely it was that someone was trying to kill JB.
“I don’t even want to hear an ‘I told you so,’ ” JB growled as he pulled the truck off to the left side of the road. As far as Cole could guess, their shooter was somewhere to his right. JB had pulled the truck off enough that their would-be killer wouldn’t be able to see them over the truck bed.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Cole bit out.
JB turned off the engine and unlocked their doors. He was bent as low as he could get with the steering wheel directly in front of him. “You know, this could be the asshole who threatened you, trying to kill you.”
“Are you fucking shitting me?” Cole shoved up the center console and slowly worked his way across the seats to exit the truck through the driver’s side door. JB helped him find his feet as they moved along the side of the vehicle. The truck ticked as it attempted to cool in the hot midmorning sun while the last of the air continued to rush out of the damaged tire. “I’m sure he has no freaking clue that I’m in Texas.”
In truth, Cole had forgotten completely about Derrick Briggs and the entire mess that sent him to Texas in the first place. Just realizing that he’d forgotten it made him stop and blink in wonder. How could he have forgotten?
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” JB muttered, drawing Cole’s mind to the problem at hand. He shoved the driver’s seat forward and reached into the rear of the truck. When he pulled out of the cab, he was holding a rifle, winding the strap around his wrist as he moved. “The property across the road, it belongs to Logan’s family.”