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pinned but his feet were free. With a kick to the face, Skum met the sole of Hart’s biker boot and stumbled backward, falling over a table, blood running down his face. From there, it was a straight out brawl—Hart against the rest of them, and he relished it. He fought like a man possessed and gave as good as he got.
    When the fighting slowed down, and most men were either on the floor or too tired to continue, he knew that he had at least one cracked rib or maybe a few bruised. He looked at some of the guys lying on the ground and grinned. At least a few of them would be pissing blood for a week. The cops were rushing in just as he was sliding down the wall closest to the bar.
    “Dollface, bring me a bottle!” he called out.
    “You may want to rethink that since you’re getting locked up,” Sheriff Layton snapped.
    “For what? They started it. Ask dollface or anyone who wasn’t fighting.” He grabbed the bottle that she had brought over and took a swig. “But if you’re taking me I’ll be using my one call to speak to my commander and have the military police come down here to get me. I’m sure you’d like to explain all this shit to them.”
    “He looks like he needs a hospital,” the deputy standing next to the sheriff said.
    “Is that because he’s friends with Crystal? Jim, you better pick a side, son,” Sheriff Layton pointed out.
    “I already have,” Jim said calmly. “Now if you tell me to lock him up and it’s without proper medical care and he dies, it will all be in my report and if his family sues an the military police will have an inquiry…well, then…”
    Hart grinned. “I like you.”
    The waitress spoke up. “Sheriff, he was drinking at the bar and they started it. I saw it all.”
    “Take him to the hospital and dump him somewhere,” Sheriff Layton grumbled.
    “Yes, sir.” Jim hauled him up.
    Hart felt the sharp pain in his ribs bloom. “Well, shit, that hurts.”
    “That’s to be expected when someone uses you as a human xylophone,” Jim snapped. He helped Hart out of the bar and into passenger seat of the squad car.
    He stuck out his hand as soon as Jim got in on the driver’s side. “I’m Hart. Thanks for the assist.”
    “You’re lucky I don’t punch you in the head. You’re also lucky I was working and heard the call and knew about you from Crystal and Lyn,” Jim said angrily. “I’m going to tell you this…”
    “Yeah, what?” Hart answered.
    “Either you’re an asshole with some kind of idiot death wish or maybe you’re too stupid to understand the meaning of giving a damn.” Jim put the car in gear angrily. “But if you want to be badass and ride off into the sunset, go ahead. But if you leave Crystal and Kaydee in the ashes of your big exit, I’ll shoot you myself. Maybe you should start thinking about someone outside of your own stupid self-destructive behavior. Or, if you want to be the lone cowboy, stop talking and get out of town. We can handle our issues.”
    “Is that an order, Deputy?” Hart’s voice was snide.
    “No, it’s advice,” Jim answered.
    He was silent the rest of the ride and much to Hart’s surprise he stayed at the hospital with him while he was treated. Instead of dropping him off at the motel afterward, he took him to his house where Crystal and Kaydee were staying and set him up in a small mother-in-law suite over the garage. Jim threw him his bag with the pain meds in it and turned to leave the room.
    “Can I get a ride to the motel tomorrow? I need to check on my bike,” Hart said.
    “I’m picking it up as well as your stuff and bringing it here after my shift. I’ve got another guy watching the motel,” Jim answered.
    “Um, okay, I guess. I don’t want to put you out. I really don’t mind staying there,” Hart said.
    “You’re not putting us out. This is where I hide my mother-in-law when she’s in town so she doesn’t drive me insane,” Jim said. “Just remember what I said. Life and the people