Chapter 25

Chase's anger boiled. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his heart pounded in his ears. He couldn't get there fast enough to keep Clint from smashing his fist into Lauren's beautiful face. His fury toward the man who had dared to put his hands on her again turned red hot.

"You ready to pick on someone your own size now, asshole?" Chase came up swinging and threw the first punch. Clint hit the ground not far from Lauren, but pulled himself up and swung at the rancher. Chase ducked and landed a solid blow on his opponent's right side of his face. Lauren had told him that Clint had broken her jaw once before and it had to be wired shut for months. He hoped he'd broken the bastard's jaw. He hoped his mouth would have to be wired shut for months, too.

Chase waited while Clint rolled to his hands and knees and staggered to his feet, then he let him have it with a left jab. Cartilage crunched, and blood spurted from Clint's nose as he fell, bruised and broken, to the dirt. Chase