"Colt, do you have anything you want to share with Star?"
"I, uh…"
He cleared his throat as he sat up. In his heart of hearts, he knew he was doing the right thing, but he also knew it would probably break Starlah's heart. He decided, though, that he couldn't worry about that when an unborn child was entering the world without a father.
"I'm going to help her raise him," he announced. Starlah's celebration quickly ceased. "I'm not trying to replace Creed. I could never do that, but he needs a man in his life."
"He could have one, but who the fuck said it had to be you?" Star fumed, looking at him, then Braelyn, and her jaw dropped. "Are you two…"
She looked at Logan, who sighed.
"Can we get the rest of this over with? I think I'm about to fucking throw up."
"We can, but I'd like to finish with you sitting down. This will take some time, but Colt can leave. Braelyn will meet you outside."
"Leave? If this has anything to do with Braelyn, I'm staying."
"Then both of you can get the fuck out," Starlah spewed. "And as for the mechanic shop, don't come back. So help me God, if you do, I'll have Swift kick your ass."
Colt laughed, then covered his mouth when she brought up the man he knew had been pining over her. It stung to know a man she'd barely seen in years had come into town, like a knight in shining armor, but he also knew he made it easy for Swift to swoop in and take his girl.
"Star, no. Colt's just trying to be supportive."
"Let him support you, but that baby in your stomach will be well taken care of. I won't deprive my nephew of anything I have or what Creed is entitled to but let me be very clear. Colt Shaw can go straight to hell."
Logan sat smiling with his legs crossed while the Starlah he knew finally took control of her life. He knew she still had a ways to go, but he'd be with her every step of the way.
"Colt?" he spoke, motioning for him to stand. "Braelyn will see you outside."
Colt stood up, kicking his chair back, and grinned. He could have left without further incident, but he had to be the self-righteous asshole he was and give his parting words.
"You know you're going to be lonely for the rest of your life, except for that damn dog, Chevy. Hell, he even betrays you forsnacks. You're miserable and judgmental, and when Swift gets what he wants out of you, you'll be right back outside like the rest of these bitches, looking for me!"
Braelyn gasped, clearly surprised at Colt's actions and words.
"No, I didn't want Braelyn like that, but at least she knows I'm still a good man, despite not being perfect. Enjoy your lonely life, trying to save that damn farm, too, and be careful because the people that?—"
Colt was on a rant, spewing so much hate that he had no clue Logan had come from behind his desk, waiting to escort him out. When he saw Starlah sitting in silence as Colt tore her down, one insult at a time, he couldn't take it anymore. He pulled his right fist back, which landed like a boulder on Colt's left jaw, knocking him out.
"Logan!" Starlah screamed, her body trembling while Braelyn stood completely stunned. She knew Colt's feelings were hurt, but she'd never heard him speak in such a vile way. "Is he dead?" she whispered.
"Fuck no, but if he ever speaks to you like he just did, he'll wish he was. Let me call Sheriff Jakes. Something tells me that Colt knows more about your brother and father's murder than he's telling."
Swift couldn't getinto Money's truck fast enough. He didn't care if Money called his mother, father, his uncle, or even his weed-smoking grandmother. He was heading home to Starlah. He'd only had the pussy once, but crazily, that wasn't what he missed.
Swift missed her.
He couldn't pull into the yard fast enough. He threw the truck into park, then quickly stopped. He sniffed himself, realizing he smelled of smoke, cheap perfume, and some indistinct smell he couldn't place.
"Fuck," he grunted. The last thing Swift wanted was for this to go left with Starlah if she thought he was with a woman.
He couldn't worry about that. Instead, he swiped up the lemon pepper and garlic parmesan wings and jetted inside. He almost pissed on himself when Chevy leaped up, his paws on Swift's chest as he licked his face.
"Damn, Chev. You miss me, too?"
Three months earlier, no one could have told Swift that coming home to any dog would have him grinning like he'd won a college bowl championship or had elevated his parents' trucking company to compete with the likes of any major trucking company. All he knew was that he wanted Starlah Steel.
She slowly eased into the kitchen, her face wet, her hair wildly falling over her shoulders. Her shoulders pushed back as a faint grin grew to a broad one when Chevy plopped down on all fours, watching them.
