“Justa little payback, Sheriff,” Jimmy huffed.
“Payback?”the sheriff questioned.
“Aneye for an eye.”
SheriffEndsley looked over at Ethan, then back to Jimmy.
“Thisain’t the Old West, you dumbass,” Sawyer remarked with enough bite to down atree.
“Fuckyou.”
Clearlythis wasn’t going to be resolved anytime soon.
“Ilike the idea of an eye for an eye,” Beau spoke up, staring at Jimmy. “A littleretribution is in order, if you ask me. Someone have a baseball bat handy?”
“Whatthe fuck are you doing?” Zane asked, moving close to Beau.
Glancingback at his friend briefly, Beau ignored him.
“ClearlyI didn’t use the bat enough,” Jimmy bit out, glaring back at Beau. “I shouldakilled him when I had the chance. Then my brother would still be alive,” Jimmysaid, pushing to his feet.
“Isthat right?” Sawyer asked, taking a step toward Jimmy but coming to a halt whenCurtis put a hand on his shoulder. “From where I stand, your brother was justanother one of your victims.”
Ethanpushed off the post and moved to Beau’s side. It didn’t take long for the restof the Walkers to move in around them. Surprisingly enough, the sheriff hadmoved off to the side, standing beside Mack, the bartender, who had apparentlydecided to watch the show.
Noone said a word for long seconds. That was when Sheriff Endsley must’ve gotten bored.“How do you suggest we resolve this?” he asked the group collectively.
“I’llsettle it my way,” Jimmy said, spitting on the ground. “I’d suggest you watchyour back.”
Ethantook a step forward, and Beau stepped behind him, letting him know he was there.He would not take this away from Ethan. It was his turn to stand up, to letJimmy know he wasn’t going to take his shit anymore.
Beauwatched as Ethan notched his chin up, his eyes trained on Jimmy. “I didn’t killGavin,” Ethan said adamantly. “I loved your brother. You’re the one who madehim watch while you tried to kill me.”
Aseries of gasps erupted. No one said anything. They didn’t have to. Ethan hadjust done what no one would’ve ever believed he could do.
??
“Andlet me tell you this, youfuckingpiece of shit,” Ethan continued, hishands shaking as he stood just a few feet away from the man who’d sent his lifeinto a spiral years ago. “You won’t get another chance at me. Gavin paid theultimate price for your ignorance and your bullshit. I won’t let that happenagain.”
Ethanhad no idea what spurred him to speak up. Maybe it was the support he felt fromhis family, from Beau. Whatever it was, he couldn’t seem to contain all of thewords he had wanted to rant at Jimmy over the years.
“Gavintook his life because you embarrassed him. You’re the one who should be dead.”
Thatpossessive, beastlike growl erupted from Beau and Ethan moved one step closerto him. This was over; Ethan knew it, Jimmy knew it. Now it was just a pissingcontest.
“Letme hear you say that one more time and I’ll haul your ass in,” Sheriff Endsleygrowled in that raspy tenor that many folks feared.
“Me?What the fuck? He’s the one who should be punished. He’s a fucking queer. Thisain’t over, Walker.”
“It’sover,” Curtis’ voice boomed from behind him and the next thing Ethan knew, hisfather was stepping up beside him. “It’s fucking over because I say it’s over.If I hear one whisper that you’ve targeted anyone, I promise you thatthis,”Curtis gestured toward Jimmy as he continued to lean against the truck, “willfeel like a day at the spa. Got me?”
Everyonewas quiet. Not even Jimmy was stupid enough to challenge Curtis Walker.
Ethanfelt himself being pulled backward, urging him back inside the bar. The fightwas over. There was no winner. Not this round. There would never be any winnerseither. After all that Ethan had suffered, after Gavin had paid the ultimateprice, no one would ever come out on top.
“Iwant to press charges!” Jimmy bellowed as people were making their way backinside.
Ethanstopped suddenly, waiting to see what would happen next.
