Raging Love(65)

“Conner has been fine, Colt. I don’t understand?”

He ran his hands over his face. “He has been actin’ funny for months, but the alcohol abuse has become an issue. He doesn’t have a father and neither do I. You know I feel obligated to look out for him. Can you just please take the kids and Miranda and just go to the house. Ty and I will stay here and try to talk some sense into him. There is obviously something else goin’ on that we don’t know about.”

I put the toilet seat down and sat, giving us a bit more breathing room. “If he is abusing drugs or alcohol, how could we not have noticed? I mean, I know he likes to drink and go out, but I never thought Conner would get himself involved in something so dangerous.”

I was feeling like my breakfast was coming back up. Colt was very protective of Conner, so I knew if something was really going on, it was not going to be easy for him to deal with. With Miranda in good hands and living out of state, Colt had been able to relax more and worry about his younger cousins less. Now I wondered if he was somehow blaming himself for not noticing this before it got this bad. “Colt, this isn’t your fault. No matter what is going on with Conner, it isn’t because of something you did, or didn’t do. You have to know that.” I grabbed his hands and looked right at him.

He leaned down and kissed me on the head. “Darlin’, Krista’s dad was a big time drug abuser. I don’t know how many times I had to hear her talkin’ about him spendin’ all of their money and not takin’ care of himself. There were times where he wouldn’t even wake up for days. I don’t want this from Conner. I won’t let him ruin his life.”

There was no use arguing with Colt about his family. He wasn’t going to give up until he knew Conner was going to be alright. I stood up and kissed my worried husband. “I love you baby. I will see you when you get home. Don’t forget that you promised the kids they could ride today.”

A half smile was displayed on one of his cheeks. “I won’t forget, Darlin.” He lifted my chin up. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Miranda and I grabbed the kids and headed to the house. Neither one of us talked about her brother. I could tell she was anxious about her brother, but she focused on the kids and nothing else.





Chapter 21

Colt

The last thing I wanted to do was some kind of intervention on my cousin.

Ty and Miranda hadn’t come here to visit to deal with something like that, but we couldn’t let it go any longer. Ty and I had been working hard to try and expand the family cattle business. Conner was the biggest part of the operation. Without him, our plans would have to be put off until we could afford to find someone with all of the knowledge that I had trained Conner with.

I knew Ty was frustrated, but I wasn’t sure of the extent until I started paying attention to Conner’s actions. His stunt at breakfast was the last straw for me. He blatantly had brought a complete stranger into our home and didn’t even have the decency to introduce her, or thank my mother.

By the time that Ty and I walked the girls out, Conner had already taken the girl and gone back to his house. We hopped on the golf cart and rode toward my Aunt Karen’s place.

Conner’s truck was in the driveway, as well as a car I didn’t recognize. Ty and I looked at each other before walking right into the house. I led the way through the kitchen, until I reached the living room.

Conner was being straddled by the girl. Thankfully, they were both wearing clothes. I would have liked to say that was the worst part of us barging in on them, but I was wrong. A tiny bag of white powder was laying on the table, along with a rolled up dollar bill and a half snorted line of coke.

They obviously hadn’t noticed us walking in, or the door shutting behind us, because they were steady making out. My cousin’s hand was slipped down into the front of the girls jeans. She sat up and began rocking back and forth. I looked to Ty to roll my eyes, but he was just staring at the drugs on the table. I nudged him with my arm, grabbing his attention.

At the same time, we each headed over and grabbed the couple by the arms, separating them. Ty was closest to the girl. He pulled her by the arm, shoving her into the kitchen, while I held on to Conner.

“Get your hands off of her!” He yelled.

I could hear Ty yelling from the kitchen. “Get your shit and get out of this house. Did you know that Conner’s mother is dating the sheriff? How about we call him and have him come over right now. I’m sure he wouldn’t see too kindly about the drugs all over the living room.”

Conner looked down at the table and turned his gaze away from me. A loud crash sounded in the kitchen and Ty came walking in. “She’s gone.” A car motor started outside, followed by someone skidding away from the house.