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successful veterinarian, it was obvious their relationship had to be strained. Now she was back, and he had to wonder what role did or would Bianca play in all of this?
    “Women or money?”
    Startled, Kahron looked up to find the oldest of his four brothers, Kade, striding into his study. His square and handsome face filled with surprise and a toothygrin. “Women or money what?” he asked, sitting up in his leather chair.
    Kade raked his long fingers through his hair as he folded his tall frame—nearly six foot five—into one of the leather club chairs in front of Kahron’s desk. Like all of the Strong men Kade’s hair had prematurely grayed in his mid-twenties. He wore his in short, thick curls—a testament to their mother’s Native American heritage—that framed his square face. Women liked to say he looked like Rick Fox, N. B. A. player and soon-to-be ex-husband of Vanessa Williams.
    “Women or money trouble,” Kade answered, leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees in the navy blue Dickies uniform he wore—Kade’s preferred gear for working on the family ranch in Walterboro.
    Kahron, like Kade and the rest of the Strong boys, considered himself a businessman who owned a ranch, but definitely not a typical cowboy; so, there wasn’t a Stetson, tight-fitting Wrangler’s jeans, or typical cowboy boots to be found in his wardrobe. They listened to hip-hop, wore Sean John suits for business and Roca-Wear or the like for pleasure. When it came to the necessities of boots for work they all preferred Timberlands or boots of the like.
    The Strong men stood out like sore thumbs at the local rodeos and cattle auctions—and that’s just the way they liked it.
    “Neither,” Kahron finally answered, even though an image of Bianca smiling up at him drifted to mind.
    “That’s what your mouth says,” Kade said—an indication that he thought his brother was lying.
    “Where’s Kadina?” Kahron asked, changing the subject.
    “At the ranch. Probably driving Ma crazy as always.”
    Kahron smiled as he thought of his beautiful six year-old niece. “First grand and she runs the whole family with a smile.”
    “Bad ass,” Kade said with a huge loving grin. “She told me to be home in an hour. Can you believe that?”
    “With Kadina? Yes.”
    “What you getting into tonight?”
    Kahron shrugged, thinking he would love to get into Bianca King. “Let’s call up the Deal twins and ride to Savannah,” he offered.
    Kade’s handsome face immediately closed up. “Naw, I’ll pass,” he said, throwing his car keys up into the air to catch with ease.
    Kahron chose his next words carefully. “It’s been a year, Kade,” he said almost cautiously, knowing the death of his brother’s wife, Reema, was a volatile subject for him.
    In just an instant warm hazel eyes froze over. “A year ain’t shit, Kahron,” Kade answered, his tone cold, yet filled with pain.
    “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
    Kade looked up and met his brother’s stare with the year’s worth of pain he suffered through. “I know you mean well. I even know Daddy throwing every pretty thing between here and Georgia at me is his way of helping, but I’m just not ready.”
    Kahron felt sadness for his brother weigh his broad shoulders down. If he could swallow down his brother’s pain for him, he gladly would. That’s how the Strong men were. One for all and all for one.
    Last year after his break-up with Shauna, his girlfriend of the last three years, Kahron had to deal with that loss. He took it at his own speed and his family respected that. A break-up was nothing at all like losing someone you love to death. So, if Kade wanted to set hisown time to heal, then Kahron respected that.
    How could he not? Losing Shauna over foolishness had really gotten to him. He thought he had found “the one,” but soon she let small town gossip and lies turn a good relationship into constant battles, lies, and accusations. Never once had Kahron