Gerald visibly flinched. “Kirk Devereux?”
“Kirk Devereux is the owner of the magazine which makes him your boss. Correct?” Cash asked with feigned patience. Gerald didn’t answer. “Do your research, pal,” Cash said. “This is not Triple C’s first rodeo inRanchers and Ranges. It’s a follow-up in honor of my deceased parents.”
“Let’s go, boss,” Ed said to Cash with an emphasis on the word boss.
Gerald had looked worried since the mention of Devereux. “Tracy isn’t who you think she is,” he said, switching the subject away from his employer.
Cash clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. “Who do I think she is?”
With scorn in his voice, Gerald said, “An innocent little girl from the sticks.”
Having been the man who’d taken her virginity twenty-four hours earlier, Cash defended her innocence. “I know that’s exactly who Tracy is.”
“No way.” Gerald laughed mockingly as if Cash didn’t have a clue. “Tracy Dalton has spread her—umm—self to half the men in the Springs.”
Besides his intimate, firsthand knowledge that Gerald was lying, Cash would not allow him to slander Tracy. He reared back his fist, but Beau caught his arm in mid-strikepreventing him from landing the punch. Ed also grabbed Cash and they walked him back a few steps.
“He wants you to hit him, Cash,” Beau said.
“Then he’ll tell his boss you started a fight,” Ed said, holding on to Cash.
“Get the hell off my ranch, Moles,” Cash growled, shrugging off Beau and Ed. “Or I’ll kick your sorry ass off it and haveyoufired!”
“What’s going on?” Tracy called out, hurrying toward them.
“Somebody dented my car and Cooper is threatening to kick my ass if I don’t shut up about it and leave,” Gerald said.
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Cash barked.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Cash!” Tracy stepped between him and Gerald. Facing Cash, she placed her hands on his hard chest. The rugged rancher in his cowboy hat, red button-down shirt, and blue jeans pooled around his boots, splayed his large hands to the belt fastened by his Triple C buckle. She whirled on the man wearing slacks and loafers. “Gerald, both Beau and Ed told you to park in the field. If your car was dented, it’s your own fault.”
“It’s not dented,” Cash growled, protectively standing right behind her.
“She wasn’t talking to you,” Gerald sneered at Cash. “She’s talking to me.”
Tracy frowned at Gerald. “Not only have you been rude since the moment you arrived, but now you’re lying about your car. What’s wrong with you, Gerald?”
“It’s this showboater and his ranch.” Gerald inclined his head toward Cash and asked dismissively, “You know he inherited all of this. Right?”
“I know Cash, his wranglers, and other staff work long hours every single day to be excellent stewards of this ranch.” Conviction rang in Tracy’s voice. “They make that hard work look easy as they teach and entertain their guests. At the same time they’re sharing their knowledge andrespect of the animals, the land, and the natural resources with us city folk.”
Gerald ignored what she’d said and reached for her. “Let’s get back to the city where we belong, Tracy.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you, Gerald,” Tracy said incredulously. Retreating a step from Gerald, she placed her back against Cash’s muscular chest. “Nor am I going to continue working with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean if Mr. Devereux won’t give me a different editor, I’ll quit.”
“You can’t quit in the middle of an assignment,” Gerald warned her, beads of sweat showing on his temples and making his yellow pompadour wilt.
“I sure can, and I’ll tell Devereux you’re the reason why,” Tracy said.
More casually, Gerald said, “Up until this assignment, we’ve made a great team. I enjoy working with you, Tracy.”
“Boss, didn’t this guy just claim Tracy had spread herself to half the men in the Springs?” Beau asked as Ed nodded and glared at Gerald.
