Heartland Wedding

They tumbled over each other, arms and limbs tangling together. Dust swirled in the air, twisting around them in a choking brown cloud. Will warned them to stay down. Three of his ranch hands joined him, circling around the brothers.

Sal continued kicking Edward. In unison, Pete and Zeb lifted Sal backward and then slammed him against the wall in an identical move to the one his brothers had used on Edward.

Zeb told the crowd to go back inside their homes and businesses. “Nothing to see here,” he added.

That only drew the gawkers closer.

Pete pressed his forearm into Sal’s collarbone and glanced over his shoulder at Edward. “You all right?”

Moaning, Edward lifted to his knees, released a breath, then collapsed back to the ground. “I think he busted my ribs.”

Sal strained against Pete’s grip. “Serves you right, you dirty immigrant.”

As one, Pete and Zeb slammed Sal harder against the wall. “Keep your mouth shut,” Pete growled. “Or I’ll shut it for you.”

“What?” Sal jerked his chin in an angry gesture. “Like you’re so good? I know what you are, and I know what you do behind closed cellar doors with unmarried women.”

A wave of unconscionable anger flooded Pete’s ability to think logically.

But just as he raised his fist, Edward reached out and yanked Sal’s foot. Hard. “You’re scum, Sal Tully.”

Unprepared for the attack, Pete and Zeb lost their grip and Sal tumbled to the ground.

The crowd gasped.

Edward muttered a string of angry Norwegian as he struggled to grab Sal. Sal didn’t deserve the effort. The realization helped Pete calm his own anger.

“That’s enough, Edward.” He lifted his friend off Sal while Zeb shoved the oldest Tully into the street with his boot heel.

Sal ended up on top of his younger brothers, who were still tripping over one another in a whirlwind of cursing and dust.

Fingers squeezed into white-knuckled fists, Will waited until all three found their footing at last. “You’ve officially worn out your welcome. I want you out of my town now.” He paused. “And if I see any of your faces around here again I’ll make sure you wished you were never born.”

Sal wiped his nose with his sleeve. “I ain’t scared.”

Will held his ground. “You should be.”

Opening his mouth to speak, Sal closed it when he took note of the ranch hands closing ranks around Will.

With the odds no longer on his side, Sal accepted defeat at last. “Let’s go, boys.”