Page 58 of Tainted Empire (Sins of Our Father)

Ezra gets out of his truck, a group of men walking behind him. They all look like cowboys, like outlaws, mean and aggressive, but as they get closer and I peek around Earl’s shoulder, I’m able to get a better look at them. The men walking behind Ezra are Native American and they look like they’re ready to fight. For what, I don’t know, but it fills my stomach with an uneasy feeling.

“What are you doing on our property, Ezra?” Earl growls, pulling out his gun at the same time Hunter and Rob do, aiming at the men as they draw their guns as well.

Shit.

“Easy there, Earl. We just came to deliver this cease and desist letter. You and your workers need to stop building on the northwest plot of the land immediately, since its ours,” Ezra says, a sinister and cocky look in his eyes.

Hunter stiffens, his body large and angry as he aims his gun directly at his father.

“That land was signed over to me when I gave your tribe nearly ten grand for those three acres years ago,” Hunter growls, his finger on the trigger.

“That’s where you’re wrong,” one of the natives says, his accent thick as he steps forward.

“The chief at the time was in a coma when you made that deal, there was no next of kin in charge. The man who signed that paper did so illegally and he paid for it in blood,” the man says, his voice low and deep as he stares at us with narrowed eyes, his black hair long and hanging underneath his hat, a few feathers woven in.

“I am the newly elected chief and I’m here to tell you that all you got that day was a ten-thousand-dollar loss. The land is still ours and we plan to use it accordingly, since it’s touching Brooks Ranch at the north end, a ranch that is also mine now as well,” the man says, Ezra scoffing at his side.

“Ours,” he hisses, but the man doesn’t look his way.

“What are you saying?” Earl asks, lowering his gun.

“I’m saying that the little compound you plan to build is going to have to go somewhere else, because that portion of the land is mine. If you continue to build on it or even touch it, I’ll paint the grass with your blood. Starting with the Bailey kin,” he growls, eyes directly on mine as I stare at him from behind Earl’s shoulder.

Eyes that say there is a long, rough war ahead of us and I’m practically the target.