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"Fuck!" Carter threw his cell phone against the wall It cracked in two pieces and plastic shards scattered everywhere Like he cared Like anyone had called hihtht with Macie, he’d needed a day to cool off When he’d swung by the diner around the tin on the front door: Closed until further notice

Why hadn’t she told him?

Who said she didn’t? Maybe you didn’t hear because you haven’t really listened to her in the past feeeks

Talk about being a self-centered asshole Dammit This art show had sucked the life out of hiht out of hiardless He needed to talk to her to set the record straight ToMacie’s cell phone; he knew she wouldn’t answer He’d called the Bar 9, in the guise of asking Geue

Why?

Because Macie was gone?

No She wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye

Would she?

Sure she would Cash and Ge

Macie couldn’t live in the camper forever, and he knew she valued her independence too much to move into the main house She probably felt like a third wheel And with the diner closed, ured it was tied her to hit the road

Red rage built inside hi, but it sure as hell wasn’t the road

Carter burned rubber getting to the Bar 9

Cash Big Croas leaning on the fence when Carter’s truck screeched to a stop

He jury steps later he loomed over Macie’s father

"Where is she?"

"Haven’t we been through this once before, McKay?"

"Where is she?"

"If she wanted you to know, you would"

"You sent her away, didn’t you?"

Cash faced hi, when you are the one who chased her away"

Carter took a threatening step closer "I did not"

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothin’! It was a stupid misunderstandin’"

"Explain it to me then"

"It ain’t my fault she freaked out about--"

"About what?"

He paused and said nastily, "If she wanted you to know, you would"

"Don’t you pull that smartass shit on me, son I ain’t in the mood You came to me so you’d better start talkin’"

"Fine Macie saw a couple of the pictures I painted of her She didn’t like the I told her tough, they were goingup It pissed her off and she stormed out I ain’t seen her since and I need to talk to her"

Cash glared at him "It more than pissed her off Accordin’ to Geo?"

"Tell me ’bout these pictures that upset her so badly" Coe "Only one kind of pictures that’d make her cry"

Carter didn’t look away

"You painted nudie shots of her?"

"Nudie? The correct term is nude"

"Did she consent to that?"

"She posed for me voluntarily"

"But she didn’t volunteer to pose for you naked, did she? That’s why she’s so godda deal--"

Carter didn’t see the punch Cash aiered back

Rather than taking a swing, Carter rushed Cash and they hit the dirt in a tangle of flying fists

Cash kneed him in the stomach Carter rolled and his elbow connected with the side of Cash’s head Cash flipped over and ground Carter’s face into the gravel Carter reared up and head butted Cash in the jaw That knocked Cash back and Carter followed up with a hard right jab to Cash’s ribs Cash kicked Carter’s knee, knocking him flat before Cash pulled back and punched Carter square in the eye

Grunts, sweat, dirt, blood fueled their rage Neither one backed down Seeht lasted an hour, but it’d probably only been a minute when Gemma’s voice booe of Carter’s distraction and threw a right cross that clacked Carter’s teeth together Blood burst fro Cash’s eyebrow

Then they were both sputtering and soaking wet

Gehing, spitting, bleeding, trying to find a way to get another lick in