Redd glares deep daggers of hatred at Bull.
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing smells worse than bullshit,” I state again, and Redd snaps at me.
“You’re the one who reported the story.”
“And you’re the one who just admitted it. On camera.” I point in the direction of Glenn and Robert, our old camera crew. “Smile for the camera, Redd.”
His head turns from the men at the corner table to me. “That’s not legal. I didn’t give my consent to be filmed.”
“Didn’t give that opportunity to the Eatons, either, did you, Redd?”
“You son of a bitch.” Blade Eaton has been standing off to the side, behind Redd, listening in, but he steps forward until his eldest brother catches him. “I’ll shear you myself, you fucking red ass.”
Redd squints at Blade. “I’m so scared.”
“You should be. When KTEL’s Insider airs that video with you admitting your fault in framing an innocent family all for a piece of land, I don’t think anyone’s going to be interested in business practices with a cheat.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Redd snaps.
“Try me. Think that story hurt the Eatons? I’ll bury your farm.” The old Scarlett reigns as I seethe at Redd.
Blade still struggles under Bull’s hands, and Canyon joins us on the patio.
“What’s going on out here?” he questions, eyeing his eldest brother holding back his youngest and me facing off with their neighbor.
“Just setting the record straight,” I tell him. “Meet the culprit who set up your family for ruin.”
Without a second of thought, Canyon pops Redd in the nose, and a bone cracks. Blood seeps from his nose.
“You-un-ow-itch.” His hand covers his face. Bull reaches for a napkin from a table, unrolling the silverware inside.
“Here.” He tosses the napkin at Redd in a final act of decency from this family before Redd helps himself off the patio.
Canyon shakes out his hand.
“Shit. I didn’t know you had that in you,” Blade teases of the middle Eaton.
“Can you still play? Do you need ice?” I step forward as Canyon glances after Redd.
“It was worth it.” Gazing down at his hand, he squeezes it into a fist and back to sprawled fingers. “I’ll be okay.”
“Aren’t you Canyon Blaze?” We all look up at Glenn, the cameraman. “I’m a huge fan.”
“Thanks,” Canyon says as the two start a conversation about Canyon’s former career.
Finally, I risk a look up at Bull.
“What did you do?” he asks as if his emotions are hardly contained. Uncertain if he’s upset or just stunned, I rush to answer.
“I started investigating Redd after a few of the things you said about his family, their property, and his desire for that land. Lex finally got back to me the other night. That’s the text message you saw.”
Bull’s eyes widen. “Scarlett—”
Placing my hand on his chest, I stop him. “I just wanted to know the truth for you. Lex owed me this, and he sent Glenn and Robert to film everything.”
Bull looks over at the two men, but only Robert waves as Glenn is still starstruck by Canyon.
“What were you planning to do with what you recorded?” Bull’s cautious asking still hints at a vibration of doubt.
“That’s up to you. Insider is happy to air a retraction, explaining the facts behind the fiction created. I’m willing to report it myself.”
“But—”
“Or,” I cut him off. “We can keep the truth to ourselves, but just knowing the truth should feel better, right? I did this in hopes you’d have answers.”
I hold my breath as Bull could easily say I did this for myself. He didn’t ask for a retraction. He didn’t ask for the truth, but I wanted him to know that it was someone in his own backyard who tried to damage his family and their reputation. If he wants recourse, he has the means. If he wants a retraction, we have the confession.
“He isn’t worth it,” Blade speaks up beside his brother. “I think he’s had fair warning. One more slipup and he’s over.”
Bull nods, still looking at me. “You did this for me, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“And you weren’t planning to take a new job?”
“No, Bull. I’m right where I belong.”
Bull scrubs a hand down his face, relief washing over him, but then something else fills his expression.
“Jesus, Scarlett. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
“I wanted to catch Redd and the truth. I’m a reporter. That’s what I strived to go after.”
“You’re a gossipmonger,” Blade interjects. “But damn, I’m glad you had the skills this time.”
I softly chuckle.
“Thanks, Scarlett.” Blade’s gratitude surprises me, and he steps forward to give me a hug. Canyon turns to me next.
“I need to get back in there, but I always knew I liked you, Scarlett.” He winks at me before turning back for the entrance, Glenn on his heels.
“We’ll send you all the footage,” Robert says next, stepping up to me.
“It’s your choice, Bull.” This time it’s up to him if we report on his family, making it right, or if what’s been done is good enough.
“I think you’ve done enough,” Bull says, his voice still edgy, and Robert steps away next.
“I’m sorry, Bull. I thought I was—” My words are cut off as I’m tugged to him and kissed hard and fast. His tongue comes forward, claiming my mouth, and I’m too stunned to respond at first.
“Kiss me, sweetheart,” he mutters against my lips, and I give in to his request. I’ll give in to anything he asks of me.
Pulling away rather quickly, Bull rests his forehead against mine. “What am I going to do with you, sweetheart?”
I can think of several things, starting with asking me to marry him, but I bite my tongue on that one.
“How about taking me to bed, partner?”
Bull chuckles before leaning back and gazing into my eyes. “I thought you’d never ask.”
26
Surprise, Baby
Bull
It’s two weeks before Scarlett is due. Snow is falling, and a storm is on its way. The clouds are heavy, and I feel like I’m standing on a precipice with Scarlett. I need to tell her how I feel despite the risk. Despite the fact I know admitting I love her might jinx everything, I need her to know I want her forever.
After the incident with Redd back before Halloween, Scarlett told me more details, including how she threatened Lex for help but assured me she was never going back to work in the industry again.
“That was my last official report, even if it never makes the news.”
On that night in October, I’d felt a mix of emotions. I was so angry, thinking she was considering a job with that gossip rag and so upset she hadn’t talked to me about it. I shut her out for two days, wallowing in my fears that she was leaving me for bigger and better. It was easiest to jump to conclusions instead of accepting Scarlett wouldn’t do that to me, and we talked about it later that night.