“You called the cops?”
“Dude, clean out your ears. Who did you think Connor meant by company?”
Ian tried to run for his truck, but Connor stepped right in his way, stopping him short. “Nope.”
The wire cutters flashed as Ian raised them, and Early stepped in, stopping the arc of the weapon on the way down, and then Early coldcocked him, flattening him out with a single blow. “I don’t think so, asshole.”
Connor’s cock had a strong opinion about that move, but the cops were pulling up, so he did his best to ignore it. He stared at Ian lying there for a second, then burst into wild laughter. “Oh my fucking god. I was worried about that guy?”
“Goddamn, Early!” The deputy, who was a young man with huge brown eyes. “This is that guy you were telling me about?”
“It is. I want to press charges. He cut my fence, he threatened my husband, and he cut me.”
Early raised his arm, and sure enough, there was a long scratch that wasjustdeep enough to bleed.
“And he’s trespassing, so we want to file for a restraining order too.”
The deputy knelt next to Ian and checked his pulse, then patted Ian’s face a couple of times, and when Ian groaned, the deputy rolled him over. “He’s okay. Let me get him in the car before causes any more trouble.” Then Early got a wicked grin. “You need the hospital, bud?”
“Kiss my skinny butt, Delroy.”
Delroy rolled his eyes. “Nah, that’s Mr. Pretty’s job.”
He rolled his eyes, but he had to laugh. Early knew literally everyone. “Yeah, I’ll take good care of him.”
Delroy hauled Ian to his feet. “Is that his truck? I’ll send a rig.”
“Don’t touch my truck.”
“You’re under arrest, buddy.”
“What? I live here…” Delroy shook his head and dragged Ian off to the squad car with the flashing lights. “He hit me!”
“We saw the fight, man. You started it. He’s pressing charges.”
Early snorted, then went to the horse that was just eating grass. “Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”
The beast lifted his head, lipped Early’s shoulder, then nudged him hard.
“I know. You ran fast, didn’t you?”
Connor sauntered over and out an arm around Early’s waist, then leaned up and whispered. “You’re a fucking stud, husband, and when this nonsense is over and the cops are gone, I want you to take me to bed.” The kids wouldn’t be home for hours.
“Oh, naughty, naughty. You liked that, did you?” Early’s cheeks heated, and he leaned into Connor.
He chuckled. “I’ve seen you ride,” he said, his words intentional. “But never like that.”
“Mmm… I like this. I’ll have to take her over to Reese. Let someone brush her out.”
He nodded. “I can finish up here. I’ll wait for you on the porch. Don’t dawdle, this is a bit…urgent.” He’d handle the deputy. The restraining order he’d have to go to the station for tomorrow anyway.
“I’ll be up in the bedroom and naked before you notice I’m gone.”
Connor laughed loud enough he got the deputy’s attention.
“You have a minute?”
“I do. A minute…that asshole doesn’t deserve much more of my time.” He gave Early’s ass a pat and made his way to the squad car.