1. Kat

ONE

Kat

It started as a day like any other, but by sunset, everything had changed.

"Looking good Sundance," I murmured, patting my mare's neck as we moved along the fence line. She snorted, content with the praise, or maybe just the freedom of the open field. Beside me, my brother Ben kept pace on Shadow, the black gelding trotting alongside us. Ben's dog Bandit darted between the horses, his tail wagging a mile a minute.

The aspens shivered in the breeze at the field's edge, their leaves burnished gold. It felt like we would have an early winter—which made this trip all the more important.

"Feels good to be back, huh?" Ben glanced over, a half-smile on his usually sad face.

"Nothing beats Silver Ridge in the fall." I inhaled deeply. "Apple cider, pumpkin pie…home."

"Missed you 'round here." He nudged Shadow closer, and for a moment, our stirrups almost touched.

"Missed you too."

"Been all over the country making your movies," Ben chuckled. "I take Livy to see every single one. Sometimes we spot Sundance, and we always stay to see your name in the credits."

I grinned over at him, looking at the lines on his face. He looked older than the last time I'd seen him, nothing like the loud, funny brother I'd grown up with.

He needed me. Or at least…he needed someone to help around here. Anyone.

"Lots to do before winter hits," Ben said. "The north fence needs mending before the snow comes. And that barn roof won't hold up much longer if we don't patch it."

"Right," I said. "And we need to stock up on blankets for the horses. Check the heaters and generator too. Can't afford them conking out mid-blizzard."

Ben sighed, his gaze wandering over the vast expanse of our land. "It's a lot for one person to manage." He turned to me, his brow creased with concern. "You think you might stick around through the winter? Just until things settle down?"

I hesitated. The notion of staying tugged at me, warm and enticing. "I'd like to, Ben, really. But I've got that job lined up in Texas next month."

"Figured as much." He scratched the stubble on his chin, eyes narrowing in thought. "Might have to bring on some extra help then."

We rode on in silence for a moment, the sound of hoofbeats and Bandit's joyful barks filling the air.

"Hey, sis…" Ben suddenly reined Shadow to a halt. A puzzled frown creased my forehead, and I nudged Sundance closer to his side.

"What's up?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn't hear his answer.

It was overpowered by a boom.

A shot.

I dropped low over Sundance's neck, the sound a shock. That was way too close. Couldn't be hunters…could it? They'd have to be on our land.

"Ben, you okay?" I asked. "That was…Ben?"

My eyes found him in his saddle, his mouth open…and he coughed up blood.

Lurched forward.

Fell .

"Ben!" I screamed.

Shadow let out a shrieking whinny and bolted, a dark streak against the gold and green backdrop. I couldn't gather my thoughts enough to stop the horse.

I was too busy staring at my brother bleeding out in the tall grass.

Instinctively, I threw myself off Sundance, hitting the ground hard. Bandit was going ballistic, his barks sharp and fierce as he placed himself between us and the tree line, his body tense and ready. I looked at Ben's wound…and realized I couldn't do anything. It was too much, too bloody, too…

"Okay, Kat, think," I commanded myself, fumbling for my phone. I dialed 911 with shaking fingers, pressing the device hard against my ear. "We need an ambulance at Martin Ranch, near the west pasture. My brother's been shot. Fast, please!"

"Ma'am, help is on its way?—"

Another shot cracked through the air; splinters of wood burst from the fence post beside me. A cold realization washed over me; we were being targeted, hunted.

Somebody out here wanted us dead.

That meant I had to get us out of here.

"Stay with me, Ben," I whispered, hoping he could hear me over Bandit's frantic barking.

I shuffled over to Sundance, staying low, knowing I needed to get her saddle off if I wanted to fit both me and Ben on my horse. Shadow was gone—no help there, since he spooked easier than my mare. Sundance, on the other hand, was still as a statue, waiting for instruction.

My hands worked furiously; I unbuckled the cinch and yanked the saddle off. The leather slipped from my fingers once, twice, before it finally came free and thudded to the ground.

"Good girl," I muttered, grateful for Sundance's steady presence amid the madness. No time to be gentle now. I grabbed Ben under the shoulders. He groaned and staggered, a dead weight that made my muscles scream in protest. "Come on, big brother, don't do this to me."

Bandit barked as another bullet zipped across the grass. Now was my chance; through sheer willpower and adrenaline, I somehow managed to haul Ben up onto the horse.

"Stay awake, Ben. Livy needs you," I urged. Ben was clutching Sundance's neck, taking choked breaths as he sputtered on more blood.

"Tell Livy…I love her…" he gasped.

"Hell no, we are not doing this!" I snapped. I swung up behind him, wrapping my arm around his torso to keep him in place. "Hang on!"

With a kick to Sundance's flanks, we lurched into motion, Bandit nipping at our heels. The rhythmic pound of hooves on earth melded with the staccato of my heart, each beat a silent plea for survival.

He had to live.

He'd just been fine…he was healthy.

He had to live .

My fingers were slippery with blood as I clutched the reins, Sundance's hooves pounding the earth beneath us. She couldn't move fast enough; I needed her to fly over the tall grass, and we weren't moving fast enough and Ben was dying.

"Kat…" Ben choked out. "You need…to look out for…"

"Save your energy!" I shouted. "You can tell me after we get through this."

Even as I said it, I knew the ambulance wouldn't arrive fast enough. Just like the horse wasn't fast enough, just like I wasn't fast enough.

If this was a movie, I would ride straight to the hospital and get Ben into surgery.

But this wasn't a movie.

And my brother was running out of time.

By the time we reached the road, Ben's head lolled against my arm, his consciousness slipping. The crimson soaking through our clothes made my stomach churn, but I shoved the nausea aside. I couldn't lose focus now; it was life or death, even if I was out of harm's way.

"Ben, stay with me," I said, and my voice came out funny, wrong. The ambulance wasn't here yet—and I wondered if I should try riding to the hospital, defying all sense of logic and reason…

…wait.

Someone was coming.

A truck rumbled into view, its approach a prayer answered. I waved frantically, every cell in my body screaming for help. "Over here! Hey!"

The truck screeched to a halt, dust billowing up behind it. It was an old beater, clearly used for work more than looks, and the dirt on the windshield meant I couldn't see who was inside. The only other remarkable thing about the truck was a Semper Fi bumper sticker on the rear windshield. A marine, then…but I didn't know any marines in Silver Ridge.

I faltered for a split second.

Someone had just shot my brother…and no one had any reason to be out here.

Had I just flagged down the shooter?

The driver's door swung open and boots hit the dirt, heavy and determined. A huge man rounded the corner, bearded and covered in tattoos. At first, I didn't recognize him—but my heart did a nosedive when I finally realized who it was.

Gabriel Mitchell.

Of all the people in Silver Ridge, it had to be him—the man who nearly sent Ben to an early grave years back.

And with a pang of horror, I wondered if he'd just pulled up to finish the job.