Read Earth and Sky for Free Online

fist whiz past him and land squarely against Grant’s jaw.

    The big guy wavered a bit but recovered, a stunned expression on his face.

    “Delco!” Izzie shouted.

    Delco hesitated, unsure why Grant didn’t retaliate, but then he turned to Izzie. “You whore. You couldn’t wait to get rid of me so you could get into his pants! Well, I ain’t leavin’.” He was pointing at Grant, who was rubbing his jaw but otherwise seemed the epitome of calm.

    Hunter knew he needed to intervene. “If you think she’s such a whore, maybe you should just leave her alone?”

    “Nobody calls Izzie a whore,” Hugh said from behind Delco, grabbing him by the shoulder and twisting him around before slugging him with his fist. Hugh, being almost a head taller than Delco, packed a mean left hook, and Delco fell back against Izzie and Grant, who immediately pushed him up again, so Hugh grabbed Delco by his shirt and hauled him outside.

    Not everyone in the bar followed the altercation, but those who did saw Hugh walk outside, closely followed by most of the wranglers from the Blue River Ranch. Once outside, it took three men to drag Hugh away from Delco, but not until Delco’s nose was bleeding and his lip was split.

    One of the men following them to the parking lot was the county sheriff. “Break it up, guys. Enough is enough.”

    “Arrest him, Sheriff,” Delco cried out. “He’s a bully. Look at what he did to me!”

    “He started it,” Grant interjected calmly, pointing at Delco. “He slugged me first.”

    The sheriff, assessing the situation and likely understanding there was a mob here that was ready to defend Izzie’s honor, defused the situation. “Let’s go back to the station and sort this out. Hunter, I trust you’ll bring the men who were a part of this with you? I’m taking this one with me now.”

    Hunter nodded.

    About an hour later at the sheriff’s station, Delco was in one room, Izzie and Hugh in another, and Hunter and Grant were sitting in the waiting room up front.

    “You’re good at staying calm,” Hunter sighed.

    Grant shrugged. “He’s a shrimp. Ten years ago I would have reacted, but now I’ve learned my lesson. Ten years ago I almost killed a guy. I’m not letting that happen again.”

    “You almost killed a guy?” Hunter parroted.

    Grant nodded. “Long story.”

    Hunter smiled. It wasn’t any of his business. He felt good about Grant’s self-restraint, though. If he’d reacted like Hugh had, they’d all be in trouble.

    Grant leaned forward and looked at the opposite wall. “Izzie told me this wasn’t the first time Hugh’s defended her against Delco?”

    “Delco never treated her right,” Hunter answered. “He always acted like she was his possession and nobody could look at, let alone touch her. Hugh’s a gentleman all the way. He thinks a woman is something to treasure.”

    “He’s got the right idea,” Grant agreed. “Especially Izzie. She’s everything a man could want in a woman. Knows how to saddle a horse, muck out a stable, and still look good on a night out on the town.”

    Hunter chuckled and shook his head. He felt relaxed around Grant now, which surprised him. “So do you have your eye on Izzie?”

    Grant shook his head. “Naah, she’s a great girl and a good friend, but you know me. She needs a guy who loves her for her. I can’t give her that.”

    Hunter looked at Grant but averted his eyes as soon as Grant met his gaze. Grant’s statement suddenly awoke the tension between them again.

    Then the sheriff came into the waiting room with Hugh. “Grant, can I talk to you now?”

    Hugh took Grant’s place.

    “You okay?” Hunter asked.

    Hugh rested his elbows on his knees and sighed. “I can’t do this anymore, Hunter.”

    “Can’t do what?” Hunter felt uneasy all of a sudden. He had no idea what to expect, and he didn’t like that feeling.

    “Lisa and I are getting a divorce.”

    “You’re what ?”

    Hugh looked at