Mason by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online Page B

trespassing as of right now. And it’s well within my
rights to arrest you for it.”
    “This is my house.” The cop only shook his
head and told him to move along. “I’m not going anywhere. These people are full
of shit if they think I will. I’m fucking Dirk McBride. This is my home.”
    “Mr. McBride, I’ve called for backup, and if
you don’t get on down the road, we’re going to take you to jail. Your parents
filed for a restraining order against you this morning, and it has been
granted. You’re not welcome here anymore.”
    A second and third cruiser pulled in behind
the first one. Dirk was pissed, but he wasn’t stupid enough to think he could
outrun a bullet should these idiots try and shoot him. Looking at the people on
the porch, he just glared at them, then spit at Mason.
    “You’re going to regret this. All of you. I’m
not going to be tossed away from here, my home. You’ll see…I’m coming back, and
when I do, you’re going to wish you’d been better to me.”
    Mason came off the porch and stood within an
inch of him. Dirk wanted to back up more, but he was leaning backwards over the
cruiser as it was. Mason looked…well, like an animal, and Dirk was suddenly not
just afraid of him, but scared shitless.
    “You come back here and I will kill you,” he
said so only Dirk could hear. Mason’s voice was hard and sounded like he meant
it. “Come near any of them, especially my sister-in-law, and they’ll never find
you when I’m finished with you. Understand?”
    “Fuck you.”
    Dirk turned and left them then. He had no
idea what he was going to do, where he was going to go, but he had to leave or
be hurt. Mason would hurt him. The man was bigger and stronger because he was
nothing but a farm hand…one that was going to pay for treating Dirk McBride
like he was nothing.
    But not if I hurt Mason first , he thought. Dirk
walked all the way to town, a cruiser right behind him the entire time. He had
a plan by the time he found himself outside the bar he’d been at until closing
time this morning. He was going to start him a tab and have it sent to his dad.
That was the first part of his plan, and he loved it.

 
    Chapter 4
     
    Mason watched the cruiser. He didn’t expect
anything to happen right now, but he knew that this was just the beginning. When
he heard the door to the house open then close, he turned to see who might be
left. Landon was just sitting in one of the many rockers that sat on the big
porch. Mason went to join him when he waved him over.
    “I’m so embarrassed.” Mason asked his friend
why. “I never…I wasn’t aware that Dirk was like this. So, he’s so angry
and…well, I hate to admit it, but I’ve been avoiding his temper in favor of
giving in instead of just making him mind. Should have beaten him more as a
child. But I’m glad you were here. I’d hate to think what might have happened
if you hadn’t been.”
    Mason laughed, and so did Landon. It was sad
sounding coming from the elderly man, but Mason thought it made him feel less
embarrassed. Things were settled enough between the two of them that Mason
thought he could talk plainly with him. This was going to be hard, a very hard
conversation to have, but he wanted him to be aware of what might happen now. But
Landon spoke before he did.
    “I’m not sure how to…you’re not human, are
you, Mason?” Mason told him he wasn’t. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. I suppose I
should have asked you a while back, but there didn’t seem to be any reason to.
I know that Fox isn’t either, and a few other men that work for me. Women too,
I guess, but I never really cared so long as they didn’t hurt me or my family.”
    “They won’t. And they’ll protect you in ways
you cannot imagine. You didn’t ask, but I’m a cougar, as is the rest of my
family. Holly included, as of recently.” Landon rocked in his chair for a few
minutes before either of them spoke. “Landon, he’s going to come back here.