Chapter Twenty-One

The bunkhouse was as noisy as always, but when Colton walked in, the guys quit talking.
He closed the door behind him and faced the room.
“What are you guys talking about?”
No one answered.
He arched a brow and looked Webb in the eyes. “Did you find anything out about Meadow’s horse?”
He gave a slow wag of his head. “I spent some time at the neighbor’s ranch today. Asked if they had anything unusual happen to their livestock recently.”
“And?” Colton moved to pull out a chair and plopped into a seat at the table where the other men gathered, dusty elbows on the surface and mugs of coffee in front of them.
Webb hunched his shoulders. “Nothing at all. When they asked what’s going on here, I made up a story about seeing some tracks we thought were coyote.”
The guys didn’t respond—they obviously knew this already.
Colton pushed out a sigh. “We need to dig deeper. Somebody heard something or saw something. This is Friday night—are you headed to the Badlands?”
“We were planning on it.” Dude got up and reached for his Stetson he’d set on the table. “I’m going to clean up before we head out.”
Colton’s mind worked through the options. All of them had asked around town and spent time patrolling the ranch’s borders for any sign of trespassers, but so far, they were hitting a dead end.
He needed to be in Badlands tonight. He was good at talking to people. If anyone could weasel out information, he could.
Since finding the dead horse, they’d been questioning who would want to hurt the Graceys. He’d contemplated everything from Meadow’s father having an enemy to the culprit being the guy Colton pulled off Meadow in the parking lot at Badlands.
He managed to track him down, and paid him a special visit. After a brief talk, Colton was pretty damn sure that wimpy asshole didn’t have enough balls to fight a housefly, let alone retaliate by killing a horse in the most brutal of ways.
The ranch hands started moving around the bunkhouse. Webb hung back and turned to Colton. “You joining us down at Badlands?”
He heard another question loud and clear—was he going to spend the night with Meadow in the big house instead? He hadn’t slept in his bunk in days since Gracey was carted off by ambulance, and he really didn’t plan to start leaving her alone in the house. Especially knowing what happened to her horse.
“I need to be there. People don’t know me around these parts. They might slip up and say something we need to know.”
Webb eyed him. “But?”
“I don’t want to leave Meadow alone on the ranch. Those days are over. It’s not safe.”
“I’ll stay.”
Colton arched a brow in challenge. “I’ll ask Dude.”
Webb glared at him for a long moment before turning and walking off to his room.
When Dude emerged from the bathroom, his hair slicked back with water, Colton waved him over. “I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“Sure.”
“I need you to stay on the ranch and watch over Meadow.”
Dude cocked his head. “You trust me with your woman?”
“Yes.” He was a good judge of character. Dude had the loyalty and heart of a warrior. He would give up his life for one of the Graceys or the other ranch workers.
Dude ducked his head in a nod. “I’ll stay.”
“Just watch that she doesn’t leave the house. Keep your eyes peeled for anything strange.”
“Got it, boss.”
Webb and another guy were moving through the main room. They stopped at Dude’s words to Colton.
The ranch hand glanced around. “What? If he marries Meadow, he is the boss.”
Neither guy said a word, and Colton didn’t have anything to add or subtract. The topic both scared the hell out of him and sent his heart soaring.
He was in love with Meadow. Couldn’t see himself living without her by his side. But he’d never envisioned himself as the marrying kind.
In his small, cramped space, he located a clean set of clothes. Leaving Meadow at all didn’t sit well with him. Not with an unhinged person targeting the Graceys. But he was truthful with Dude when he told him he trusted him. And Colton would have a much better chance at wheedling information from people at the bar.
The only person who knew something was off on the ranch, was dead. Forest couldn’t help him now. And he suspected that the reason for Sean Gracey’s heart attack was in his son’s letter.
Though Meadow’s dad was improving by the day, he still wasn’t out of the woods. Last he heard from Meadow, the man was getting off the ventilator in the next day or two. After that, he should be able to speak.
What Colton had to ask him wouldn’t be good for his heart. He wasn’t going to be responsible for another death in the family, so he’d have to wait. It could be a while before Gracey could tell him anything.
After stripping off his clothes, dirty from the day’s chores, he paused, thinking of all the things that could go wrong tonight. His military training would take him far, but he suddenly wished he’d gotten a chance to train with Ross and the WEST Protection crew. They were at the top of their game. The SEALs of the security world.
Once he was dressed, his hat in place, he strode out to find the others waiting on him. With a nod for Dude, he followed the others to the truck. Webb jumped behind the wheel, and Colton took shotgun.
On the way down the long driveway, he watched the lights of the ranch house dim to pinpricks in the side mirror.
“We need more workers on the ranch. We’re spread too thin.”
Webb swung his head to look at him. “That’s easier said than done. Don’t you think I’ve tried to hire more people? Workers are scarce. They either don’t want to work at all or they already have a place on one of the neighboring ranches.”
He compressed his lips. “What I know from serving my country is that the more guys you have on your six, the better.”
“I’ll argue with you about a lot of things, Nox, but we’re in agreement on that point. I’ll put out the word that we’re looking for more guys on the Gracey, but I can’t make any guarantees.”
“I might know someone who can help.” Again, his mind went to Ross. If he could send him a guy or two, Colton would feel a lot better.
With his mind so preoccupied, they were at Badlands before Colton knew it. The place was hopping again, the parking lot packed full. A few drivers had even created their own parking spots in odd places, which reminded him of Meadow.
The little things that surprised him about her, made him fall in love with her. In the weeks since his arrival, he’d watched some of her light dim, though. It hurt him to witness. Hurt him even more that he couldn’t make things better.
Her father just needed time to heal. Her sister was in the wind, but maybe Colton could pull some strings there and find her. He had a lot of contacts in Europe.
The beat of a fast tune blasted out as the bouncer admitted them to Badlands. As soon as Colton stepped inside, he began casing the joint, examining every man bellied up to the bar and in every corner.
Then he spotted Gabby—the one who’d clung to him far too much for his liking. He let out a groan.
Webb’s hand came down on his shoulder. “Don’t let her hang on you tonight. You’ll never get a man to talk to you if she’s within a dozen steps.”
He glanced at Webb, surprised by the sudden show of camaraderie. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
Webb thumped him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry—I got you. I’ll tell her you’re gay.”
Despite himself, Colton felt a chuckle rumble in his throat. Though it was definitely unexpected, for the first time in a long time, he felt like someone had his six.

Meadow woke to the lamp burning on her nightstand. A glance at the windows showed deep darkness.
Disoriented, she scrubbed a hand over her face to clear away the haze of sleep and sat up in bed.
She glanced down at herself and saw she’d fallen into bed fully clothed. What day was it? What time? Where was Colton?
After returning from a day spent at her father’s bedside, she’d come home exhausted from doing nothing for days on end. Since Colton was busy with ranch chores, she climbed into bed and immediately passed out.
Now her mouth felt dry and sticky, her mind fuzzy, and a slight headache throbbed in her temples.
She couldn’t even recall when she’d last eaten a meal. Colton made her a sandwich—but that was the day before.
Moving to the edge of the bed, she reached for her phone, thinking to text him. A notification popped up.
She had new emails.
Rattled, she hastily threw her long hair over her shoulder and opened her email.
Seeing Ivy’s name had her heart leaping and her mouth even drier. She skimmed the message. Her sister’s voice came through loud and clear in her mind as she read how sorry she was that she hadn’t received the messages—she lost her phone swimming in a pond in Germany and hadn’t bought a new one yet. She only checked her email at a cyber café in the South of France.
Meadow plastered her hand over her face. That was just like Ivy.
She read the note over again, slower this time, taking in all the details. She told Meadow she was coming home. She would catch a flight out at the beginning of the week and asked her to pick her up at the airport.
When she read Ivy’s sadness over their father, tears blurred Meadow’s vision. She set aside her phone and dug her thumb and forefinger into her eyes to stave off the emotion.
She did not want to cry. The past few days had left her nose sore from wiping. She had to collect herself. It would be great to have Ivy around, but Meadow was always the strong one. She would have to keep her sister on track.
Excitement burned in her. She had to tell Colton the good news.
A glance at the time told her it was close to midnight. Colton hadn’t come to bed. Where was he?
It was Friday night—at least she thought it was. The guys would either be at Badlands or sitting around the campfire.
She raked her fingers through her messy locks before leaving her room in search of Colton. The old truck he drove sat in the same spot in front of the garage. So he hadn’t gone to the bar with the others. It was unlikely he would have ridden with any of them. He was too much of a loner for that.
That meant he had to be sitting by the fire.
But as soon as she walked out of the house, she sniffed the air and found it absent of the sweet scent of burning wood that always drifted to her when the guys had a fire.
Damn him. That meant he did go to the bar. Without her.
And that horrible woman Gabby would be there trying to sink her claws into him.
Miffed, she considered heading down there right now and demanding to know why he hadn’t woke her to join him tonight. Then she caught the low nicker of a horse. The sound carried on the breeze, drawing her like she was on a rope toward the barn.
The moon was obscured by thick clouds tonight, leaving no light to guide her. But Meadow could walk the path to the barn in the dark and totally blind. How many times had she counted the steps it took to reach her horse?
At the door, she reached for the handle to slide it aside. The well-oiled wheels rolled quietly, and she stepped inside before reaching for the light switch on the wall.
Something hard grabbed her arm. A hand.
She opened her mouth to shriek, but another came down on her mouth, cutting off any sound. Terror and panic rose inside her, hot and thick and jagged. The thorns of fear jabbed her deep, and she began to struggle against whoever had grabbed her.
Twisting, she balled her fist and tried to strike any part of the man holding her.
As she struggled, his hand slipped on her mouth, and she let out a shriek, pushing the sound out with the entire force of her lungs. The scream echoed through the barn. But how far would the sound carry? Who was nearby to even hear?
To help?
To save her?
She had no one. She had to save herself.
“Let me go!” She kicked and bucked against the prison of the man’s arms. “If you know what’s good for you, let me go!”
A deep voice penetrated her fog of terror, washing across her ear. “Did you come to see your horse?”
She went still.
“Your horse is dead. I gutted her myself. Your father didn’t get the memo, though, did he? He hid in the hospital instead. Now I’m here to take you in payment.”
Her heart raced so painfully that she could scarcely breathe. Panting hard, she ran her tongue over her parched lips. “Payment for what?” she croaked.
Tough fingers bit into her arm. The other hand clapped over her mouth once more. Before he could seal off her air, she shrieked again. His hand muffled it too much.
No one would ever hear her.
She was going to be killed…like her horse? Oh god. Jewel. When? Why?
Who was this man?
He moved his grip and shook her until her head snapped on her neck. Still, she screamed—it was her only defense now. If anyone was left on the ranch, they wouldn’t be far and would come running to her aid.
“Shut up! Shut the hell up!”
He locked his hand over her nose and mouth. She struggled to find a hint of air, but he seemed to know how to cut off all her supply of oxygen.
Arching her back, she tried to elbow him, to kick—to cause any damage to her captor.
Suddenly, three things happened at once. His hand fell away from her mouth. The other slid down her arm. And the noise of an splintering wood echoed through the barn.
Meadow looked up in time to see her assailant flying into the wall. The form crumpled to the floor.
Then she made out the familiar wide pair of shoulders.
Her heart jerked in her chest, her mind frozen with fear as she looked on.
Colton slowly advanced on the man lying on the floor. Fists curled at the ends of his long arms, he walked up to the guy and kicked him.
He didn’t move.
A hysterical scream bubbled out of Meadow’s lips. She was sucking in the air she’d been deprived of, but too fast. In the back of her mind, she realized she was hyperventilating.
Bending forward, she screamed again and again, the sound losing strength as she fought to find enough oxygen to fill her lungs.
Colton whirled back around, the man forgotten, and rushed to her.
His warm, callused hands cupping her face grounded her, but not enough to stop her from being hysterical. Another shriek left her, cut off by her lungs that refused to function right.
“Baby, calm down. Meadow! It’s me. You’re hyperventilating. Calm down. I’m here.Oh fuck, baby.” He gathered her to his chest and held her through the next frightening minute of not being able to breathe.
He swept her up in his arms and carried her outside. Over his shoulder, she saw the dark shadow of the form on the floor. The man wasn’t moving.
She hoped Colton had killed him—for attacking her. For killing her horse.
As soon as her lungs remembered how to function, a sob burst from her. “He…killed my…horse!”
“I know. I know, baby.”
“You know?” she screamed.
“I got you. You’re safe. He’s gone.” The harsh tone of Colton’s voice bordered on a growl as he carried her far away from the barn.
She clung to him. “What is happening?”
He said nothing as he strode with her to the porch. He sat on a step with her in his lap.
Her horse. That man. The things he said to her.
Shudders rolled through her, uncontrolled and unchecked.
“What… Who?” She didn’t seem to be capable of forming a full sentence.
“Shh. Calm down, honey. You’re safe with me now.” He cupped her head against his chest.
Clutching his shirt, she tried to find words to express what just happened to her. “What is going on?” she whimpered.
He stroked her hair. “Something is happening around here, but we don’t know what. We need your father to speak to us.”
“My father!”
“Yes. Forest knew something was going on. But I don’t know what that is. The only person who can tell us now is your father.”
Shock stole her words. For long moments, she couldn’t think of any response.
At last, she croaked, “What happens now?”
He drew back, staring into her eyes. The black depths of his own glittered with fury. “I protect you. I protect the ranch.”
Still stunned, she shook her head in disbelief.
“I have someone I can call. We get him here. I’ll call and he’ll be here.” Determination burned in his tone and in his rugged features.
Her memory jogged. “Ivy is coming home too. First of the week.”
His hard nod spoke of all this man was—a fighter. A warrior. A protector.
The love of her life.
Squeezing her tight against his chest, he brushed his lips over her forehead. “We’ll get them both here. And I swear on Forest’s name that nothing will ever happen to you again.”