Breaking Boundaries (5th in Breaking Series)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four:

Ty was walking down the street while he ran his most important errand of the day. He tipped his hat to the ladies, nodded at the men and smiled at the children that would run in front of him now and then. He saw Widow Golden out feeding some of the stray dogs that ran around town and a young seven year old boy named Jonathon had his sling shot in hand and was shooting stones at the birds trying to get in his families small plot of corn behind their house.

Town was calm and for that he was happy. Liza was getting further along and bigger every single day. The woman was so short and petite that her stomach caused her to look a lot like she was smuggling a watermelon beneath her skirt.

He smiled as the aroma of the chicken and dumplings resting on the tray he was carrying reached his nose. Liza had been craving the diners chicken and dumplings for the last few weeks and like the dutiful husband he was, Ty had taken the time every day to get big steaming bowl full and take it to her at the school house.

He was heading up the hill on the outskirts of town. The schoolhouse was nestled at the top of the hill and he could already hear the children reciting the alphabet. The going up the hill was rough because of the ground being slick from the rain the night before. He had insisted on helping Liza up the hill this morning and was hoping the sun would dry the ground before she had to come back down it this afternoon.

Ty's thoughts were interrupted when the sound of pounding hooves filled the air. He turned quickly and saw one of the hands from Atkinson Spread galloping down the main street of town. Mud was flying from beneath the horse's hooves and women were gasping and muttering angrily as they tried to jump out of the way to avoid splatters.

Ty sighed, realized that Liza's lunch was going to be cold before he managed to get it to her and made his way back down the hill and toward the man who was hoping down off his horse with rage contorting his features, "Goddamn Atkinson bastards!"

"What seems to be the problem?" Ty asked as he approached. "You can't be galloping that fast down the main street while folks are going about their days."

"You're brother married in with that bunch of Atkinson's didn't he?" the man demanded and Ty nodded. "You better watch your back then, sheriff. Those Atkinson's are liable to stick a knife in it," the man spat as he swiped at his muddy cheek. Ty remembered his name to be Burt now and he also noticed that Burt had a split lip and his eyes seemed to be blackening.

"From what I know of Brody, Liz and the rest of the Atkinson's, they don't need to stab folks in the back, Burt. They're plenty tough enough to come at you from the front." Burt snorted. "What happened?" Ty asked.

"I expressed my strong dislike for their newest hire," Burt sneered. "Apparently my opinion was not appreciated and I was told to get the hell of their land."

Ty frowned, "Was this before or after someone did that to your face?"

Burt's cheeks reddened and he licked at the blood seeping from his swollen bottom lip, "After. And if I see that damn Brody Atkinson around town I'm going to pay him back for it too."

Ty didn't even have to fake his surprise, it was genuine as his eyes widened, "Brody did that?"

"Hell yeah."

"You're lucky that's all you got if it was Brody dealing out the punishment. You must have pissed them off real good," Ty chuckled.

"They're in love with their little Aiden and God have mercy on anyone who has something bad to say about the man," resentment was thick in Burt's voice.