Page 147 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

When he finally got to the entrance, Tiny was leaning against his truck beneath the Redemption Ranch sign. Fuck. They’d told Tiny they’d gotten a rescue call, too. He hoped to hell Cowboy and Dare hadn’t crumbled under the pressure and told Tiny the truth when they returned with an empty horse trailer.

Doc pulled up behind Tiny’s truck and went to talk to him.

“Heard the rescue went to shit,” Tiny said.

Thank you, Cowboy and Dare. “Yeah. Must’ve been a fake call.”

Tiny rubbed his jaw, shaking his head. “Y’all still can’t lie for shit.”

Fuck. Doc clenched his teeth.

“And you boys wonder why I had so much gray hair. Looks like he got a shot in. Is he still breathing?”

Doc nodded. “Feds have him.”

“You put your brothers and other good men at risk. Do I have to worry about you all going to prison?”

“No. We covered our asses, and I didn’t make them come with me.”

“I have no doubt about that.” Tiny’s eyes narrowed. “Do you feel better?”

Doc rubbed the back of his neck, weighing his answer. “If I say yes, are you going to think less of me?”

“Nothing could ever make me think less of you.”

“In that case, yes. With all the evidence the Feds will have against her father, he’ll be put away until he’s too old to piss by himself. But I won’t feel whole again until I see my boy sleeping safe and sound in his bed and I have Juliette in my arms.”

“Understood. This was a long time coming. If I hadn’t made a promise to your mother not to touch that fucker, I’d’ve done it myself after he had those two bastards beat the shit out of you years ago.”

“You knew about that?” What the hell?

“I guess you missed the memo about the unfortunate accident those two bastards got into. Nobody puts their hands on my kids without paying a price.”

Holy shit. He’d had no idea. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ignoring Doc’s question, Tiny said, “What are you going to tell your gal about tonight?”

“That it must have been a fake call.”

“Why not tell her the truth?”

“Because I love her, and there are certain things she doesn’t need to know.”

“Sounds about right. Listen, son, if this comes back to haunt your thoughts, you talk to someone. Don’t let that shit stew, ya hear me?”

“Loud and clear.”

Tiny nodded and pulled him into an embrace. “Love you, son.”

“Love you, too.”

As Tiny walked back to his truck, Doc couldn’t get over what his father had done for him. “Hey, old man.”

Tiny turned around.

“Did Mom know what you did to the bodyguards?”

“Not until the night Lucas took off. Juliette let it slip out that the assholes beat you up, and your mother asked if I knew about it. I couldn’t lie to her, so I fessed up and said they got their due.”