Page 64 of Cowboy Elite 2: Mike

"I cleaned his room. Ain't my fault if I happened to notice things while I was dustin'." She fixed Kenny with a look. "And before you ask—yes, I took pictures of everything with my phone. Texted 'em to Joe already."

"Arletta—" Mike started.

"Don't 'Arletta' me, Michael Watkins. That man's nosing around our girl. I'll be damned if I'm gonna just bake biscuits and pretend I don't notice." Her voice gentled. "Now. Y'all want lunch or you gonna stand there gaping like catfish?"

From the kitchen window, Liv pressed both hands over her mouth, torn between laughter and tears.

Mike appeared beside her, grinning. "Never a dull moment around here.”

Joe's phone rang around three o'clock. He stepped into the office, closing the door behind him.

"Talk to me," he said.

Johan's voice came through clear and certain. "Found your leverage on Harris."

"I'm listening."

"He's got a daughter. Emily, nineteen, sophomore at UT Austin. Smart kid, full scholarship, but she's got type one diabetes. Insulin costs are killing his ex-wife. She's been picking up extra shifts at the hospital just to cover the prescriptions."

Joe's mind was already calculating. "How much?"

"Monthly costs run about four hundred for insulin, another two for supplies. His ex won't take money from him directly. Too much bad blood from the divorce. But if someone else stepped in to help..."

"I can make that happen."

"Thought you might." A pause. "There's more. Harris's reputation is built on discretion. If word got out he was taking bribes or filing false reports, he'd be done in this business. And he knows it."

"So we've got carrot and stick."

"Exactly."

Joe was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Set up a medical trust for the daughter. Make it look like it's from a nonprofit that helps families with chronic illness costs. Route it through enough organizations that Harris can't trace it back to us directly."

"How much are we talking?"

"Enough to cover her through graduation. Call it forty thousand."

Johan whistled low. "You sure about that?"

"I'm sure about protecting my family." Joe's voice was flat. Certain. "Make it happen."

"On it. I'll have the paperwork ready by tonight."

Joe ended the call and sat in the quiet office for a moment, staring at the security feeds on his monitor. Liv was visible in one camera angle, laughing at something Charlotte had said, flour in her hair and peace on her face.

Forty thousand was nothing compared to what she was worth. Mike was in love with her. That was clear to just about anybody with a pair of eyes. And that made her priceless.

He picked up his phone and texted his brothers. Office. 4pm. We're making Harris an offer he can't refuse.

At four o'clock, Harris was escorted to the ranch office by Kenny, who'd appeared at his cabin door with the kind of polite insistence that made it clear refusal wasn't an option.

Joe sat behind the desk. Lyle leaned against the wall to the right. Mike stood by the door. Kenny positioned himself behind Harris's chair. Not threatening, exactly, but definitely a presence.

Harris looked between them, jaw tight. "What's this about?"

"We want to make you an offer," Joe said. "A generous one."

"I already told you?—"