Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

from behind.
    â€œI fired Tom.”
    And now she had to pay him.
    Minutes later Tom knocked on their front door. Natalie tore the freshly signed check from her father’s ranch account and hurried to the living room, hoping Willard and Jared would stay in the kitchen while she handled this awkward task. She’d never fired anyone before, and a part of her felt guilty for putting this man out of a job.
    Before she turned the metal handle of the front door, Tom barged in. His syrupy expression appeared borderline volatile. “You sure you won’t change your mind about firing me?”
    Natalie held the check out for him. “Here’s the last of your pay—and don’t worry, I’m being generous.” She managed to keep her voice from wavering.
    The hired hand cursed and banged the door against the wall, jarring the house with its vibration. “Why can’t you be reasonable? All I did was take a few hours for myself, and you’re calling it a crime. Don’t you know a man has to have time off?”
    She didn’t want to argue and had no reason to do so. “Time off, yes, but occasionally, you do have to show up for work.”
    â€œYour daddy would have known better than to fire me.” With every word, his voice escalated. He moved closer and raised his finger so that it almost touched her cheek. He stood so close she could smell onion on his breath. “You’re making a big mistake. And you’ll regret it, watch and see.”

THIRTEEN
    J ARED TUNED IN TO THE ESCALATING WORDS FROM THE NEXT ROOM , though muffled from the walls. Getting fired was never good, but for a man like Tom, being fired by a woman would sting even worse. “Think we should help her?”
    Willard growled. “I don’t suppose Natalie would cry for help if she had a knife to her throat.” He scooted from the kitchen chair, and as he rounded the corner to the living room, his voice thundered from within. “Her only mistake was not firing you sooner.” Willard spat the words out hard and powerful while Jared watched from behind.
    â€œStay out of this, old timer.” Tom’s arrogant gaze darted to Natalie. “Are these the men you’re gonna hire to take my place?”
    The ranch hand cackled, and Willard took a step forward. Jared clutched Williard’s arm to hold him back.
    A natural protective instinct kicked in, and Jared stepped forward to position himself between Natalie and the cowboy. His pulse thumped with adrenaline, but he forced himself to remain calm.
    â€œCome on now, no one wants trouble,” he said, hoping to defuse the situation.
    â€œWhat is this? A church service?”
    Ignoring the taunt, Jared inched closer, now eye-level with the irate man. “Let’s not make this worse than it is. I’m sure you had your reasons for not showing up for work, and Natalie has hers for letting you go. Getting riled won’t change things.”
    â€œMaybe not, but it’ll make me feel better,” Tom rasped back, his chin cocked like a banty rooster.
    â€œI’m sure that’ll happen when you cash your check.” Jared attempted to guide the cowboy out the door, praying he wouldn’t resist. If Tom turned violent, Jared would have no choice but to fight the man—and he’d lose.
    â€œBack off.” Tom shoved Jared’s hand away and made a fist. “I don’t need no preacher telling me what to do. I’ve had to listen to this here woman, and that’s bad enough.”
    The cowboy was in Jared’s face now, his nostrils flaring. Jared swallowed his fear. Though the two were the same height, Tom had more strength and inclination. Not good odds.
    â€œI’m not a fighting man, Tom. But I’m not going to stand here and let you talk bad about Miss Adams. You’d better leave quietly before someone says or does something he’ll regret. Then if you want to talk about it later, you