Trial by Fire by BA Tortuga Read Free Book Online Page A

began to scream.
    “You will not open my baby boy’s house up to anyone! Especially not strangers! What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you looking to sleep with this one? He’s obviously not into boys!”
    “Momma!” Holden’s voice was sharp, embarrassed. “What is wrong with you?”
    Lachlan sat very still, not sure what to do. If this was his house, his dad would take Mum to another room and chat, but he didn’t want to do the wrong thing and make matters worse.
    “What’s wrong is either of you acting like this man has a say in anything we do! He never once called her. Not once. Never came to see her. Now he wants to be family to her baby?”
    Right. Enough was enough. Lachlan rose, slapping his hands down on the table. “She left without a bloody word. I had a PI looking for her for more than three years. When I finally get the bloody call, he tells me she’s dead. You’ve had weeks to deal with this, but it’s raw in my gut still. Don’t you point fingers at me!”
    “Lachlan.” Holden stared him down, near-black eyes snapping. “Take the baby and go to the sunroom.”
    When he opened his mouth, Holden held up a single finger. “Now.”
    Lachlan took Chloe when Holden handed her off and walked to the sunroom, then shut the door most of the way behind him. The storm was gathering outside, lightning tearing across the sky, and Chloe chewed on her fist, eyes wide and serious.
    “Oy, now. You’re safe. You are, Chloe. I got you, Littlie.”
    The sound of screaming got louder, and then Holden snapped out, “It’s not yours to forbid. That land, that house, it’s mine now, and don’t you dare say I haven’t fucking earned it. I’ve been working this ranch for my whole life and running it for twelve fucking years!”
    “Don’t you curse at your momma,” Mr. Brandon thundered. “Woman, go lie down. I won’t hear any more of this shit.”
    Holden slammed out of the kitchen, then paused where Lachlan probably wasn’t supposed to be able to see him. He stopped like he was hit hard in the gut, then put his hands on his knees and fought to breathe, just wheezing hard.
    Maria, who was Chloe’s part-time nanny so far as Lachlan could figure, although they treated her like family, pressed an inhaler into Holden’s hand. “Here, mi’ijo . Take it now.”
    Holden nodded sharply and shook the inhaler for a few seconds before sticking it between his lips and breathing hard. She stayed with him, hand on his back until the fit passed and he could suck in a lungful.
    “There. Mira , Maria knows, eh? You don’t worry about your mama. Her corazón , it’s broke.”
    “So is mine, Mamacita , but we don’t have time for all this drama,” Holden said, gasping.
    “No. No. Dónde está la niña ?”
    “With her Uncle Lachlan.” Holden glanced at the sunroom door, and Lachlan backed off a little so it wouldn’t be so obvious he was eavesdropping.
    “Ah, the tall one. He look like Addie, sí ? I like him. He’s nice.”
    “He seems like a decent feller. Do you think you can remember how Addie snuck her tea in? How she made it? I bet he’d like that.”
    “ Sí. Sí . Now?”
    “That would totally rock, Mamacita . Bring it to the sunroom, and we’ll watch the storm. Momma’s gone to the bedroom, and Daddy’s out checking horses.”
    “ Sí . I can do that.” Maria left, and Lachlan walked Chloe back and forth, humming and bouncing her.
    Holden came in, and Chloe immediately started crying, reaching for him. “Oh, honey. I’m fine. Just dealing with your crazy maw-maw.”
    Lachlan handed her back to Holden, because he was her dad, no doubt about it. “She’s under a ton of stress.”
    “Between the storm and Momma? I don’t think she had a chance. There was a storm the day her folks died.”
    “Yeah. Screaming tends to upset the little ones anyway.” Oh, Ades, why did you go up in a storm? Why?
    Holden looked at him, nodded. “I know what you’re thinking. I keep wanting someone to say