Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

Picking up her egg basket, she watched the chickens scrounge for the feed. Maybe Greer was right and she should ask Diamond for more hours. Logan was in school now. She self-admitted she was terrified for the day when Logan no longer needed her. The Porters would use the opportunity to do what Greer had been wanting to do since the first day they had met—get rid of her.

The front door opened, and she saw Greer come outside with his rifle. His hair was still wet as he confidently strode toward the stretch of the woods where she knew the Porters grew marijuana, despite Rachel’s protests.

Some of the Porters’ traditions would be better off abandoned, not instilled in another generation. So far, the Porters had kept their livelihood a secret from Logan. As he grew older, though, it would only be a matter of time before he found out. Greer would see to it.

He wasn’t embarrassed about what he did for a living. In fact, Greer bragged about the quality of weed he labored over, unless he thought you were an informant or a Fed.

Dealing with Greer involved a great deal of patience and a glass of wine that she gave herself every night as reward for making it through another day without killing him.

Latching the gate behind her, she was walking toward the house when Greer’s dog jumped up from his favorite spot on the porch. When Tate had moved into Sutton’s home, he had taken his dog with him, so Greer came home with a large puppy that was so ugly he was adorable, with floppy ears and sad eyes that constantly begged for treats. He had become her constant companion, despite Greer’s determination to make him his hunting dog. He had given up when, every time Greer took Hunter with him to go hunting, the cantankerous dog circled back to the house.

Despite Greer’s threats to shoot the dog after the last time he had tried to take him hunting, only to see the lazy pup sleeping on the porch, Logan’s panicked pleas had saved its life, or so Greer had said. Holly really hadn’t believed he would kill the puppy. But from the glint every time he went hunting, she couldn’t be so sure.

Holly didn’t recognize the truck that came to a stop by the house.

She swallowed hard when three men got out. Curt Dawkins, his younger cousin Justin, and Luke Baxter. They stood in front of the expensive truck, and Holly felt her skin crawl at the way Curt stared at her body.

Gripping her basket of eggs to her chest, she remained where she was standing.

“Greer around?” Leering at her, Curt’s mouth curled in a satisfied smile when she clutched the basket tighter.

“Yes, I’ll go tell him. He has company.”

When she would have taken a step toward the house, Curt and Luke moved to block the steps to the porch.

“No rush. I haven’t seen you in town lately. Greer and Dustin been keeping you busy?”

Holly’s mouth firmed at the sly innuendo. “Or maybe you haven’t seen me in town because I saw you first.”

Curt didn’t like her sarcastic insult.

Holly didn’t need anyone to tell her the man had a mean streak. It was right there in his body language.

“You insulting my cousin?” Justin’s square jaw tensed, his shoulders drawing back like he wanted to hit her for daring to disrespect the biggest bully in town.

He was easily twice the size of the older men. Holly had seen him a couple of times in town at the diner. He was usually hanging out with other members of the football team. Since he had graduated last year, though, he spent most of his time now trailing after Curt.

“It’s not an insult if it’s the truth.” Holly knew it wasn’t smart to antagonize the men when she was alone, but she didn’t like the crude way they were staring at her.

Curt placed a hand on Justin’s chest when a growl came from the porch. Hunter had stood up, and his growl had the three men tensing.

“Go on inside and tell Greer we’re here.” Curt gave Justin and Luke warning looks, which the two other men ignored.

“Bitch, you need to watch your manners, or Justin and I’ll teach you how to talk when company comes calling.” Luke’s insolent tone had her biting her tongue. One of the advantages of working in a small-town lawyer’s office was that she met most of the townspeople. Either they came into the office searching for advice to get them out of trouble, or they had a relative needing help. Luke had come into Diamond’s office to hire her to get him out of a drunk driving charge.

“Call your dog off,” Curt ordered as he took a stealthy step backward to his truck.

“You’re not thinking of shooting my dog with that gun you have sitting on your seat, are you?” Greer came from behind the truck.