Read Online RattlingtheCage by Ann Cory - Free Book Online

identity.
    Spewing obscenities, he walked away.
    A muffled scream stopped him cold. He sprinted to her door.
    “Montana?”
    On a muted sob, he kicked the door open.
    His body stiffened. Montana struggled with the deputy, her
body pinned beneath him.
    “Get off her right now, asshole, and I’m not asking.”
    The deputy cocked his head. “Hey, asshole, walk away, and
I’ll act like I didn’t see you.”
    “Get off her or I’ll throw you off.”
    Montana whimpered. “Garvey, please do what he says.”
    “Stay out of this,” he hissed and went for his holster.
    Lawson lunged, taking a lamp with him. He grabbed Garvey’s
forearm, pinned it behind his back and shoved him into the corner, collapsing a
table on his way down.
    The deputy heaved himself to his feet and Lawson swung his
arm, nailing him in the mouth.
    “Don’t ever touch her again,” he snarled, his teeth
vibrating.
    “You just bought yourself time in the slammer.” Red-faced,
Deputy Gutless reached for his handcuffs.
    From his back pocket, Lawson pulled a knife. “Leave, or I’ll
demonstrate how I gutted a guy in the military.”
    Garvey’s hand halted. Sweat beaded his forehead. “My pop
will be hearing about this.”
    “That’s right, go run home to your daddy. I’m terrified.”
    “You ought to be. He’s the sheriff.”
    An invisible fist punched Lawson in the gut. Another fucking
Mitchum? Why didn’t he hear about that until just now? He held his fighting
stance while Mitchum Jr. backed toward the door.
    “I’ll be back, Montana.” His mouth pulled back into a
wolfish sneer. “I aim to finish what I started.”
    “Like hell,” she seethed.
    Lawson readied his fist but the deputy booked out to his
car. Standing guard in the doorway, he waited until the car lights faded.
    He took a sharp intake of air and faced Montana. “You okay?”
    She palmed her eyes dry and slammed a fist into a pillow.
    “Damn you. What are you doing? Don’t you know how to stay
away?”
    His eye twitched. “Hello? I saved you.”
    “That’s not the point.” She rubbed her eyes and ran her
hands along her thighs. “You don’t need them in your business.”
    “I’ll handle myself.”
    Concern etched her delicate features. “I’m scared for you.”
    “Don’t be.” He rubbed the top of his head. “Hell, I didn’t
know there were two Mitchums.”
    “I thought you knew.”
    He chuckled. “No matter. I can take that one in my sleep.”
    “I’m sure.”
    Lawson eyed her lithe form. Her hair lay in a tangled mess. Lips
pouted. The strap of her shirt hung off her shoulder, showing the swell of her
breast. Damn her for not wearing a bra.
    As if she’d read his mind, Montana slid from the couch and
straightened her clothes. “Why were you coming to see me?”
    His rehearsed apology fell flat on his tongue. He needed to
cut all ties. He cared more than he wanted, and anything he said now would
haunt him later.
    “I forget.”
    He walked out the door and didn’t stop until he’d reached
the motel.
    * * * * *
    The floor moved under Clint Mitchum, followed by a slam.
Garvey stalked inside.
    He lit a cigarette and poked his head down the hall. “Did
you see Montana like I said?”
    Garvey answered over his shoulder. “Yeah.”
    Amusement creased his brow at the sight of dried blood in
the corner of the boy’s mouth. “Did she sock you?”
    “No. The stranger did.”
    His neck tensed. “Now how did that happen?”
    “You won’t want to hear it.”
    Lips curled, he said, “Tell me.”
    His tolerance thinned as he listened to Garvey’s account of
what took place. Was the boy so stupid that he didn’t bother to fight back? “I
can’t believe you didn’t haul his ass in.”
    “Pop, he had a knife.”
    “And?” He jabbed his finger against the boy’s holster.
“Christ. You had a gun. Why didn’t you use it?”
    Garvey looked at him with unfocused eyes.
    “Ah hell, I’ll deal with him myself.”
    “No, I’ll do it,