TroubleinChaps by Ciana Stone Read Free Book Online Page A

its limits and released.
    Beckett had hold of him. And from the look on Beckett’s face, the man was soon to be toast. Roxie started after him as he pulled the drunk along toward the door. “Beckett!”
    Her call caused him to pause and when he did, the drunk took a swing. The blow clipped Cliff on the side on his chin and did little more than snap his head to one side before he retaliated.
    One punch and the drunk was flailing backwards, arms waving and spit flying. Two seconds later, he hit the floor. Two seconds of stunned silence filled the bar then the drunk’s friends jumped up and headed toward Cliff.
    Roxie hurled the bottle in her hand, catching one of the men in the side of the head. He stumbled into a table, arms out, reaching for support and managed to overturn the table, spilling beer on two women. Their companions took exception to that and went for the man.
    Meanwhile, the remaining two cowboys were closing in on Cliff. Roxie broke out into a run, headed straight for them, but before she could reach them all hell broke loose. The men were attacked by patrons of the bar.
    It was ten seconds of mayhem before a boom caused everyone to freeze. The sheriff, Sam, stood in the middle of the room, his gun raised toward the ceiling.
    “Time for everyone to settle down.”
    Roxie’s eyes sought out Lola, who sat beaming at Sam. Roxie couldn’t say she blamed her. He was quite a sight. Like something out of an old western. His stance clearly said “Don’t fuck with me,” and his eyes gleamed with what might be anticipation that someone would.
    He marched over to the two drunks still standing. “Think you better come with me, boys.”
    Cliff hauled the man he’d punched to his feet and had a firm grip on his arm. Roxie ran over to him but he ignored her and shoved the man toward the door. She started to follow but a big hand wrapped around her arm and stayed her. Roxie whirled and looked up into Wyatt’s face.
    “We got this,” he said quietly.
    “Fine.”
    Wyatt released her and joined Beckett, stopping long enough to pick up the last unconscious man from the floor. Wyatt slung the man over his shoulder like a sack of seed and followed Cliff outside.
    Roxie turned and almost ran over Emily. “Are you okay?” Emily asked.
    “Yeah, fine.”
    “Oh? Then why are you biting my head off?”
    “Because… because I had it under control.”
    Lola appeared beside her. “Wasn’t that something? The way Cliff grabbed that guy and pulled him off you and the way Sam just took over and…”
    “And Wyatt heaving that guy over his should like it was nothing,” Emily added.
    “Yeah, a real Hallmark moment,” Roxie groused. Yes, it had been something to see, but she didn’t want to be impressed with the way Cliff had rushed to her defense.
    “What crawled up your ass?” Lola asked.
    “I didn’t need any help!”
    Lola looked from her to Emily and Emily rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we know you’re a big bad-ass, Rox , and could have kicked the guy’s butt, but this is Cliff’s bar and he was trying to protect you.”
    “I don’t need his protection!”
    “Well maybe he didn’t know that,” Lola offered.
    “Whatever.” Roxie didn’t want to listen to reason. She knew Cliff was within his rights to act as he did and it was his place to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.
    But damn it all, she didn’t want to remember the sudden thrill of seeing fury blaze in his eyes at having the man touch her. Didn’t want to get that hot little knot of excitement at seeing him be the alpha male and go all macho.
    She didn’t want anything to make her want him more. And the only way to keep from thinking about those things was to be mad. So she hung on to the mad like a lifeline even though she knew it was unreasonable.
    “I have to get back to work.”
    Before Emily or Lola could respond, she stomped over to the bar. Two seconds later a hand closed around her arm. She jerked around a split second before