McKay, let me tell you about the exciting purchase I recently made.”
He glanced up and feigned surprise. “How recent? I thought I won all your wages the last time we played.”
“You did. But I make that much every week, so it wasn’t the big loss for me it might’ve been for a rancher with no regular income.”
Don’t take the bait.
West played with his coins as he spoke. “Still, it stung, you bein’ so lucky that night.” He uttered lucky as if it were a curse word. “I thought that maybe if we spent more time together we wouldn’t have this mutual loathing between us.”
“Yeah, I don’t see that happenin’ anytime soon, so cut to the chase.”
“I doubt our fellow players are aware of your obsession with buyin’ land. I mean, the purchases are there on the county registers, but I don’t think they know just how fast you snap it up, since you keep to yourself out in the middle of nowhere. Maybe you have an inside track when parcels come up for sale since your brother is a county employee.”
“Jonas’s job is to keep the peace, not to scout for land deals,” Silas said coolly.
“Pity then that you didn’t know about it, because an exciting opportunity was recently offered to me.”
The bad feeling that started in his gut and was rarely wrong took root.
“I, too, would like a place to call home. An investment in my future and build ties to the land. So I can proudly say that creekside section, round about twenty acres once owned by Griffen and between you and Henrikson? Well, I bought it. You’re lookin’ at your new neighbor.”
No. He wouldn’t. West wasn’t that goddamned vindictive to go behind his back and make an offer on land that was all but worthless to anyone but him or Henrikson.
But he was. The look on Zeke’s face was smug to the point of evil.
Silas’s guts squeezed but he affected a carefree grin. “Aww. I’m beginning to think you’re a little sweet on me, Zeke darlin’, given your obsession with me. In fact, I think you know more about me than even my sweetheart does.”
The laughter that rang out turned Zeke’s face dark red.
But Zeke regained control quickly. “Such a joker you are, McKay. But I’m glad you brought up the lovely Dinah. Because she is part of this game.”
The hell she is. But Silas managed a droll, “You ever gonna quit flappin’ your gums and state your stake instead of blatherin’ on and stalling to save face?”
“Yes, by all means, let’s get down to brass tacks. I’m offering up the land I recently bought that would make us neighbors. And since you don’t own a single thing of value or interest to me, I’ll let you put your sweetheart up as your stake.”
Silas stood abruptly, anger filling every molecule of his being. “You shut your mouth. Don’t you even suggest something like that, you dirty-minded motherfucker.”
And Silas had played right into Zeke’s hands while Zeke played it cool. “Simmer down. Since our fellow players like a wager that’s interesting, I was only about to suggest that if I win, I’ll expect your promise to break off your engagement with Miss Thompson. I heard you haven’t even given her a ring yet anyway, so I’m being generous with allowing that as your stake.”
Expressions of disbelief and laughter taunted him.
While everyone around them talked and laughed at the audacity of the wager, Silas leaned in so only Zeke could hear him. “Why are you doin’ this?”
“Because you stole my life.”
That made no sense even when that wasn’t the first time this crazy asshole had said that to him. “What’s that have to do with Dinah?”
“You used your injuries to trick her into believing I’m a violent monster and now you’re with her instead of me. So I want her to know who the real monster is when she hears her intended is willing to gamble her future away for just another piece of dirt.”
This guy was plumb crazy.
“And if I get up and walk away from this poker game?”
“You won’t. You’d rather lose her than take a chance on havin’ me for a neighbor for the rest of your miserable goddamned life.”
That wasn’t true…was it?
If it isn’t, then forfeit right now.
But…this was all drama, all for show, all to make himself look like the most powerful man in the room. To get people talking about how audacious Zeke West was.