Grey's sudden and perverse interest in Dina was borderline annoying. Neither of them was very good with relationships, and the last thing she needed or wanted was her best friend dating her brother. When they broke up, which would eventually happen, it would make things awkward for everyone.

"She wants me to look," Grey informed her.

Casey stared at him and appeared stunned by the comment. "You're sick. She thinks of you as her brother."

"Yeah, her very h.o.r.n.y brother."

"She doesn't do it to turn you on," Casey protested. "Her parents are non-existent. She sees us as her family."

Grey straightened and frowned at his sister. "You're no fun." He then appeared more serious. "You realize you have about two hours before the Harford boys show up and start their reign of terror."

"Yeah, but they're not usually drunk until midnight. That's why we always leave by then."

"I'm glad that fancy college degree is good for something."

Dina entered the tavern, approached them at the bar, and appeared depressed. "Missed him."

Casey refrained from commenting. "I see a pool table opening up," she announced. "Let's snag it before someone else does."

She groaned and shook her head. "What's with you and playing pool? There are other things to do here."

"Yeah, we could get drunk," Casey announced. "Unfortunately, neither of us drinks."

"I have good reason," Dina muttered and looked across the bar to a corner table.

Casey didn't bother looking and refrained from comment. A woman roughly in her forties, although much older in appearance, sat with her back to the wall while huddled over her usual scotch on the rocks on the table before her. She appeared so drunk that she was nearly comatose. Her once gorgeous, long blonde hair was rumpled, and her dark make-up screamed 'rent by the hour'. When Dina finally looked away with disgust, Casey cast a glance at the pitiful woman and frowned. The pitiful woman was Dina's mother, Olivia. A once beautiful woman, Olivia was driven to the brink by her cheating husband. Undeniably a tragedy, Olivia made her own choice to give up on life and her daughter. Perhaps a more caring person would feel sorry for her, but Casey couldn't. She nearly destroyed Dina with her own misery. Now she just drank herself into oblivion and occasionally traded her body for a few drinks. Most nights she pa.s.sed out at her table and remained there until morning.

"So I guess that leaves playing pool," Casey remarked to Dina while brushing off the image of her best friend's pathetic sh.e.l.l of a mother.

"We could always dance," Dina commented and already seemed to forget about her mother.

"Okay, first, it's country music," Casey informed her. "Ewe. Second, I don't dance and certainly not in front of other people."

"I've seen you dance," Grey commented from behind the bar.

He received a sharp look from Casey. "No one asked you."

"You know, I remember putting on a show once for some of your father's military--"

Casey glared at Dina. "I don't dance."

Dina made a face while looking at Grey and pointed at Casey, as if to say 'how about this one?'

Grey grinned enthusiastically. "I dance," he announced and did a little dance behind the bar. It was actually quite awful.

Dina's grimace told her feelings. "Hmm, I wouldn't exactly call that dancing."

Grey rolled his eyes and extended his hand to Casey for her usual comment.

She immediately took her cue and responded with, "Like a cat coughing up a hairball."

He shook his head. "Why did I have to have a sister?"

Chapter Five.

It was a little after ten o'clock that night. Casey and Dina played pool in the back along with a few other patrons. The mood was genuinely upbeat and friendly. Casey and Dina appeared to be having a good time joking with each other while playing their game. Four men ranging from their early to late twenties entered the pool area in a bustle of commotion, causing the mood of the entire room to change drastically. The four men were the infamous Harford boys, Wayne, Ryan, Blain, and Fred. They laughed loudly, talked dirty, and joked around inappropriately with the other patrons. The few other women who were in the backroom made a hasty departure almost immediately. Several men appeared disgusted shortly thereafter and left rather than confront the four. It was almost sinful how no one in town was willing to stand up to them. They were even above the law. Wayne and Ryan took the recently vacated pool table that had mysteriously opened. Casey and Dina glanced at the terror train that was the Harford boys. Both women exchanged looks and appeared disgusted.

"Ten o'clock. They're early," Casey muttered.

"They're also bombed," Dina added while casting a stray glare at the four repulsive men. "Do you want to leave?"

"No, we're going to finish our game," she replied. "We can't let them intimidate us, or they've already won."

"More words of wisdom from your father?"

"Actually, from his mildly psychotic military buddy," Casey replied. She appeared to consider. "I suppose that doesn't help my case much, huh?"

"No, but you're absolutely right," Dina replied. "Someone has to stand up to them." She sighed softly. "I just wish it didn't have to be us."

Ernest's four sons were tall and built like college linebackers. None were overly muscular nor excessively round. Ryan would probably be considered the 'pretty boy' of the group. He was reasonably attractive with shorter hair that he'd actually taken time to comb. He was also the only one who had taken time to shave that day. The others appeared unshaven for days or longer. Although none dressed to impress, Ryan made an attempt with moderately clean jeans free from holes and a shirt with few wrinkles and stains. Wayne was the undisputed leader. He was the loudest and had the foulest mouth. His hair was unkempt and nearly to his shoulders. Although sometimes the style of young men, his hair was long out of laziness. He had a day or more growth of stubble on his moderately creepy face. Casey wasn't sure if it was his beady, little eyes or his twisted smile that created the creepy effect. His slightly tattered, moderately stained jeans and wrinkled, torn shirt screamed hillbilly. The only thing missing from his ensemble was the bib overalls and a banjo strumming "Dueling Banjos" in the background.

Blain and Fred were bottom feeders. Void of their own personalities, they fed off their two dominant brother's insolence and reacted accordingly. If separated from the pack, they would almost be considered tolerable. An odd odor wafted from the four men. At times, there were often strange odors from the good old boys hanging out in the tavern, but it was usually a farming smell. With the Harford boys, it was an unidentified cross between body odor, cheap cigars, and what could only be described as fungal stench. It was a repulsive combination, and in confined quarters, the fumes could potentially be lethal.

Within twenty minutes, the four boys managed to clear the entire backroom without trying. Casey and Dina were all that remained in the room, which being alone with those boys was never in any woman's best interest. Wayne and Ryan stared at the two women and grinned most sinister. Neither woman gave them a second look. It was a repulsive feeling of being mentally undressed by the most loathsome of creatures. One of the young waitresses, Jeannie, entered the back with their pitcher of beer. They taunted and flirted with her as if she was their personal plaything. It was nearly impossible for her to avoid their groping hands. She obviously wanted nothing to do with them and managed to pull away, which infuriated them even more. Casey had heard stories from Grey about their treatment of the waitresses, Melanie being the exception, since she was related to them. It seemed surprising that their taunting and groping never led to something worse. Casey wondered if they just never took it that far or if they did and it just went unreported. Others who had complained about the Harford boys were met with protest when it came to actually pressing charges. That's where the law fell short. Sheriff Wiley was at the top of that corruption chain. It was a pick your poison sort of deal. Even if charges were pressed, Ernest would somehow pull strings to get them off and then the victim would be made to suffer.

"See if you get a tip, b.i.t.c.h," Ryan scoffed at poor Jeannie, who'd already had most of her body fondled by each of the four at that point.

Jeannie hurried from the pool area without a word. It seemed obvious she didn't care about getting a tip from them. Dealing with human debris such as the Harford boys couldn't be easy for the young, moderately attractive woman. Casey glared at Ryan and his cheap, perverse grin. She couldn't get over her feeling of detest for him and his brothers. She never knew it was possible to loathe another human being that much. And what was that d.a.m.ned smell? Wayne caught her disapproving glare, stared back at her, and appeared humored by her look.

"I'm sorry about my brother's language," Wayne said with a chuckle. "He didn't know there was a virgin present."

Dina immediately tensed. She no longer wanted to be there. Casey glared at Wayne with a cold stare and didn't take her eyes off him. She knew she was inviting trouble and that her father would be disappointed that she didn't steer clear of the infamous boys, but something inside her wouldn't allow her to back down. Wayne appeared to tense from the strange way she stared at him then laughed and returned to his game. Oddly enough, she had intimidated him! Her small victory empowered her. Casey finally dismissed the four mad dogs and focused her attention on her game with her friend. They briefly exchanged looks. Dina's concerned look told her she was ready to leave.

"Last game," Casey informed her softly, having read her thoughts.

Dina appeared grateful and moved between the two pool tables to line up her next shot. Wayne studied her b.u.t.tocks as she was bent over. He slid the thick end of his pool stick between her legs, grazed her crotch, and moaned mockingly. Dina jumped with a startled gasp and spun toward them with a look of surprise and anger. All four snickered and smirked.

"Knock it off!" Dina cried out.

Casey glared at the four loathsome men then shook her head with disgust. It wasn't the first time Dina had been groped by one of the Harford boys. For a woman, turning your back on any of them was a serious mistake. The four seemed to be on their worst behavior tonight. The fact that they were mostly drunk didn't help their charming dispositions any. Casey and Dina attempted to finish their game without giving the appearance of rushing it along. They played for a few more minutes before the four men start making dirty comments and suggestive remarks while jokingly grabbing their own crotches. Dina became increasingly tense while Casey became more agitated. It was a bad situation brewing. Casey eyed an easy shot from the far end of the pool table. She hesitated and reconsidered. Something at that moment snapped inside her head. She wasn't sure if it was her mother or her father in her coming out, but she opted for the more aggressive move. Casey went for the shot between the two tables closest to the Harford boys, placing her back to them, which was something she never did, and leaned over to make her shot. She wasn't just setting up one shot but two. Wayne moved behind her, grabbed her hips, and grinded against her with a groan. Casey suddenly thrust the b.u.t.t of her pool stick back and into Wayne's groin, dropping him to his knees. Two ball corner pocket. She'd succeeded on making her first shot. She turned toward them with the pool stick aggressively clutched in her hands and glared at the three standing men. She was well aware of the repercussion that was certainly about to follow.

"You b.i.t.c.h!" Ryan shouted and leapt for her.

Casey swung the pool stick for his head with intent to drop him. Ryan caught the pool stick just short of his head and backhanded her across the face. He slammed her backwards against the pool table. Dina appeared alarmed and ran for the opening to the bar area. Blain caught her around the waist and held her against him from behind while laughing. Dina fought Blain's hold and attempted to keep his hands from grasping her b.r.e.a.s.t.s as he grinded his hips against her backside.

"Grey!" Dina cried out across the noisy bar.

While pinning Casey against the pool table, Ryan grinned l.u.s.tfully, grabbed her hair, and roughly kissed her on the mouth. He suddenly tensed and broke off the kiss with a gasp. Casey stared at him through narrow eyes as her hand clamped with a vice-like grip on his crotch. She stared into his horrified eyes with a cold and almost psychotic look and straightened as he began to sink. Fred bolted toward them as Ryan was halfway to the floor. Casey released Ryan as Fred swung his pool stick at her. She dodged the stick, causing it to strike the pool table with a loud clatter behind her. In the distance, Grey was seen leaping over the bar and pushed through the crowd.

"Get your hands off them!" Grey shouted as he ran for them, alerting the entire bar.

A crowd quickly followed Grey. Casey darted away from the table as Fred leapt for her. She turned and karate kicked him in the ribs, knocking him backward. He tumbled over Ryan and crashed to the floor. Wayne finally returned to his feet and grabbed Casey from behind, partially subduing her. Grey repeatedly punched Blain in the back, kidney area until he finally released Dina. Dina jumped away from Blain and kicked him in the shin. Blain jumped in pain and turned toward Grey, who was about to hit him again. Blain punched him in the abdomen then across the face, sending him into the gathering crowd. Within seconds, half the tavern was throwing punches, chairs, and beer bottles. Gla.s.s was heard shattering, women screamed, and chairs broke. Casey continued her struggle to break free from Wayne's bear hug from behind. She aggressively threw herself to one knee and catapulted him over her shoulder. Wayne harshly struck the floor and gasped with agony. As Casey moved to her feet, Ryan suddenly appeared before her and backhanded her across the face. She fell backwards and onto the pool table. He attempted to jump on top of her with intent to harm. Casey used her leverage from the pool table to kick him in the chest and threw him backwards into several fighting men, knocking several to the floor. Sirens were heard in the near distance.

"Cops are coming!" someone yelled.

The few people who heard the sirens scattered. People screamed as the three deputies and Sheriff Wiley entered. Few of the fighting patrons in the back saw them arrive. Grey leapt onto Blain's back and punched him on the back on the head. Blain slung Grey from his back, turned toward him, and punched him in the mouth. Grey was thrown roughly into a nearby chair. Dina saw the deputies in the next room. Grey was about to leap to his feet to rejoin the fight when Dina jumped on his lap, knocking him back into the chair, and kissed him. Grey appeared surprised but returned the kiss regardless. Wayne lunged for Casey. Casey kicked for his groin. He deflected the kick, and she struck his thigh instead, nearly knocking him over from the force. Fred appeared alarmed and pulled Wayne away. Someone grabbed Casey's arm from behind. She turned and punched Vaughn in the mouth. Vaughn appeared momentarily dazed then glared at her. Those still remaining within the tavern appeared to fall suspiciously silent. Casey gasped and covered her mouth. She couldn't believe she'd hit Deputy Holt!

"I am so sorry--"

Vaughn grabbed Casey's wrist, spun it behind her back, and tossed her across the pool table while handcuffing her. His aggressiveness surprised her. She honestly didn't think he had that much fight in him.

"That's striking a police officer."

"Come on," Casey protested from her forward position across the pool table as he placed the cuffs on her behind her back. "I barely even hit you."

She knew that was a lie. She'd given him a good shot. She was actually surprised he was still standing. If he hadn't been handcuffing her, she'd almost be impressed. Vaughn pulled Casey up from the pool table and spun her to face him. She stared at the wildly unpredictable look in his eyes and his bleeding mouth. She felt both concerned and bad at the same time. Tucker and Mitch.e.l.l were already taking others out in handcuffs. Most of the bar had cleared out in only a few minutes. Sheriff Wiley approached Vaughn and Casey with a look of surprise. Dina remained on Grey's lap as both watched in silence. There was no way this was ending well.

"What's going on here?" Wiley demanded in a gruff tone.

"She struck a police officer," Vaughn informed him and dabbed the bleeding cut on the corner of his mouth.

"By accident," Dina chimed in. "Wayne started it."

Wiley glanced around the backroom with a curious look. "Where's Wayne?" he asked.

"He slipped out the back while Deputy Holt was handcuffing Casey," Grey retorted with hostility.

Dina firmly squeezed his arm to silence him. He didn't need to get himself arrested as well. It would serve no purpose.

Wiley suddenly glared at Vaughn with surprise. "You let Wayne get away so you could arrest a little girl?"

Vaughn appeared stunned by Sheriff Wiley's comment then turned defensive. "She's not a little girl, and she's the one who threw the punch."

"It was an accident. I said I was sorry," Casey announced. It was true; she actually felt bad about it. "You hurt me worse when you threw me on the pool table to cuff me." She knew she deserved it, but she didn't need to be arrested tonight. Her parents' lecturing her echoed through her thoughts.

"You threw her on the pool table?" Wiley suddenly demanded while glaring at Vaughn.

"I was handcuffing her--"

Wiley eyed the bruises on Casey's face and immediately appeared sympathetic. He shook his head with disgust. "Looks like she's been roughed up enough for one night. Take those cuffs off, give her a ride home, and get out on that road and catch some drunk drivers." Apparently, Wiley didn't take Abby's threat seriously.

Vaughn appeared disgusted and removed the handcuffs as Wiley walked away to patrol the tavern. Casey rubbed her wrists and avoided looking at Vaughn. She felt bad, but she didn't want him to know just how bad. Vaughn smirked with contempt and extended his hand in the direction of the door.

"After you, princess," Vaughn scoffed with a sneer on his handsome face.

"What about my horse?"

Vaughn obviously wasn't in the mood to deal with her now. "Your brother can take your horse home," he growled.

"I can?" Grey suddenly questioned from his chair with a look of horror on his face.

"Move it," Vaughn snapped at Casey.

Chapter Six.

The police blazer drove along a dark, isolated stretch of road leading away from town. Darwood Falls was usually a fairly quiet, conservative town. Being mostly farmers, a lot of residents were in bed by the time the sun went down. Most speeders on the back road were usually non-locals just pa.s.sing through. The isolated back roads encouraged aggressive drivers to joyride at frightening speeds. The woods and sudden curves often caused navigational problems for those unfamiliar with the roads and usually left cars in ditches, head on into trees, or a mangled mess of metal and fibergla.s.s at the bottom of the infamous ravine. Three or more times a year, a car would fail to negotiate the curve, plow through the guardrail, and plummet into the ravine below. One out of three times, the car turned into a fireball, but in all cases, the driver never survived. Patrolling the road late at night saved lives and brought in ma.s.sive amounts in fines to their town. Vaughn drove his police cruiser while Casey pouted in the back behind the mesh part.i.tion. She painfully flexed her hand then shook it.

"I think I broke my hand," she remarked simply to no one in particular.

"Good."

She glared at the back of his head with annoyance. He was very infuriating for someone so handsome. "Wayne started it," she retorted with irritation.

"And what did Wayne do?" he suddenly demanded to know while glaring back at her through the mirror.

Casey frowned while sulking. "Forget it."

The Harford boys were above the law. Everyone knew that. Ernest Harford was Mrs. Mayor's brother. Anything they did was swiftly swept under the carpet. Corruption ran rampant in their otherwise friendly little town. The last thing she wanted or needed was to recount Wayne and Ryan's s.e.xual advances toward her and Dina to Deputy Holt. Casey collapsed against the seat with disgust and stared out the window. She suddenly appeared concerned and sat up straight.

"This isn't the way to my house."

"The sheriff said to take you home and patrol the road," Vaughn announced. "He didn't say in what order."

It was just a little before eleven when Vaughn pulled the blazer into a small cove alongside the road within the woods and placed it in park. Casey stared at the back of his head with a shocked look. For a brief moment, she wondered if Vaughn intended to murder her and ditch her body in the woods. He seemed a little moodier than usual tonight. Maybe that was her fault. When he didn't make a motion to draw his weapon or get out of the car, she realized she'd seen one too many horror films.

"You're seriously going to keep me locked up in here while you patrol your speed trap?" she lashed out.

"Yep."

"Sheriff Wiley is going to hear about this," she scoffed.

"I'm just a dumb, hick cop following orders," he informed her. "How about some music?" Vaughn turned on the radio that played country music.