Laughing, Michael turned around and pulled her to his side, one armed. “I’m so sorry about that.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry.” The woman from the counter held out a hand. “I’m Shelley.”

“Tuesday.”

“This isn’t a reflection of who we are. Not as a family-run business and not as people. He’s a second cousin and my dad gave him a job. He’s been trouble here and there, but this—there’s never been anything like this. I just can’t apologize enough. I’m so embarrassed.”

Tuesday had heard that one before. Apologies were a dime a dozen. Action? Now that told her a lot more than I’m sorry. “Now you do know. I expect this will be handled appropriately.”

Shelley agreed. “Absolutely. Again, I do hope you’ll give us a chance to set things right and understand this is not us, but an employee who’ll be unemployed by night’s end. My dad’s going to flip his lid when he hears. I wasn’t raised that way.”

“You can’t control how he was raised or what he was taught. I won’t hold you responsible for anyone else’s mistakes.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it. I need to get my dad and handle this. I’ll call your business line later, Mr. Hurley, to let you know what we’ve done.”

“I’ll expect that call then, Shelley. Come on, sweetheart. Let me walk you to your car.”

When they got there, he opened her door but stopped before she got inside. “Honey, I’m so sorry that happened.”

He’d got in between a crazy old racist who’d decided to terrorize her in a fucking feed store. He’d used his power and his size to protect her. That meant a lot.

“You don’t need to apologize.” Tears stung her eyes, even though it wasn’t even as bad as some of the things she experienced on a regular basis. It was difficult not to let it get to her. Especially after the stuff with the Heywoods earlier.

“Aw, sweetheart, come here.” He pulled her into his arms and she couldn’t seem to stop the tears. Which made her mad but it didn’t matter because he was big and strong and truly cared about her and was giving her a hug she needed more than she thought she had.

He waited until she’d stopped crying to hand her a handkerchief.

“If they don’t fire him tonight we’ll never do business here again. I meant that.”

“If you’re expecting me to argue you have a long wait. I think the only way to get people to confront this stuff is financially.”

“Happens to you a lot?”

“Not usually so in my face. It’s usually subtle.”

“Which is worse because it’s tolerated that way I bet.”

She laughed in that it was either a laugh or more tears and she wasn’t going to spill any more over any dumb racist jerk. “It’s all pretty crappy. But having a crazy old man leap at me in a feed store and accuse me of casing his goods to steal is worse in my book than the shopkeepers who watch every move I make in their store. Overall, though, it comes from the same place. The quiet racist just hides it a little better.”

He exhaled and began to pace. “I...I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do with how mad this makes me. Which is selfish because this is about you. You must think I’m a pretty naive old man for being so shocked by what you see regularly.”

“I think you’re a fabulous man, who stood up for a near stranger in public. It is shocking.” She snorted. “I need to get back to the ranch. Ezra and I are supposed to have dinner after he gets back so I’m going to get it all started.”

Michael hugged her again. “I’ll see you in a bit when I drop the cat food off. You’re going to tell Ezra about this.”

A statement.

Bossy, just like his oldest.

“It’s been a jam-packed day for Ezra. This was handled.” And what she didn’t want was for him to feel saddled by her shit.

“It happened to you. He cares about you. It happened in public. It happened at a business we’ve patronized for years. You should tell him before I do.”

She saw his point. Ezra was his son and he had to know.

She blew out a breath. “Fine.”

He kissed her cheek and closed the door after she’d got in.

* * *

SHE TRIED CALLING NAT, but got voice mail. Tuesday decided to keep it brief. No reason to get her friend upset. The scene was over now. There was nothing she could do. But she’d hear it from someone so Tuesday wanted to be first.

She got out right as Damien and Ezra came out from the gear garage where Ezra kept the ATVs and his other stuff.

“Everything okay?” she called out as she approached them.

“Hey, gorgeous, how are you?” Damien gave her a hug.

“It’s been a weird evening.”

“You’re okay here.” Ezra moved around his brother to approach, concern on his face, thinking she meant the coyote.

“Well, that’s a small part of it. You’re going to hear this from your dad so I promised him I’d tell you first.”

He put both hands on his hips and she got sort of caught up in all that male beauty for a moment.

“What’s going on?” he repeated to get her attention back on the story and not his biceps.

“Just an incident at the feed store.” She told them both but kept it simple with not a lot of extra detail.

Ezra’s face darkened and the hands he’d had at his hips curled into fists. “And I sent you down there.”