Chapter Twenty-Two

One text to Webb had the ranch workers catching a ride with a neighbor and returning to the Gracey Ranch. One text to his friend Ross had a man on the way.

Colton’s chest pounded with the adrenaline racing through his system. Some sixth sense he was thankful he was born with—one that had kept him out of the line of fire so many times—had seen him walking out of Badlands and jumping in the truck.

The urge to return to the ranch, to be with Meadow, overpowered him.

Now he knew why. But it offered no comfort.

A strange man lay dead in the barn, his neck broken from being hurled into the wall. Colton hadn’t even meant to cause such damage—in fact, he wished he were alive so he could do worse. The bastard deserved far worse than a quick death.

If he’d been even a minute later, who knew what he would have walked into that barn, to find.

Meadow stood in a ring of headlights from police vehicles, a blanket draped over her narrow shoulders, recounting her story to them.

He hung out at the entrance of the barn, battling the need to destroy, maim and kill.

The cops and the coroner surrounded the body. Overhead, the bright bulbs of the ceiling lights sent an unnatural glare through the space that usually seemed so warm and homey for the horses.

Now death and despair hung in the barn.

Someone stepped up beside him. Colton turned his head to look at Webb.

“Jesus Christ, Nox.” The man scuffed his knuckles over his short beard.

“It’s not over. Far from it.”

“You’re right. Dude’s missing.”

Shock tore through him. Fuck—in his worry over Meadow, he hadn’t even given the ranch hand a thought.

A twist of pain in his stomach told him of another sixth sense—that the man he’d trusted with Meadow’s safety…was dead.

Another life on his conscience. If he’d stayed behind instead of going to the bar looking for answers, he would have prevented all of this.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“That doesn’t begin to describe this fucking mess, but I get what you’re saying.”

“We have to start looking for him.”

“The guys are already out searching the outbuildings. I’m riding out in a minute to help in the search. I only came in here to suggest that you stay with Meadow.”

He twisted to look out the door at Meadow standing in the wreath of headlights, her face stark white and the blanket hanging around her like a shroud.

“I’ll never let her out of my sight again.”

“Good. It looks like the best man won.” Webb walked off before Colton could fully process his words.

The cops were still involved with the body, and Colton was no longer questioned for the moment.

Meadow needed him now.

As he approached her, she looked up, eyes wide and fixed until she seemed to realize she was staring at him. She broke away from the officer.

Colton rushed toward her, his arms already opening to receive her as she hurried to him.

As soon as he tucked her against his body, he was able to take a deep breath. But it didn’t stop the pounding agony of what might have happened if he hadn’t left the bar when he did.

So many questions were left unanswered. The trouble on the ranch. Her father’s role in it.

When Meadow told Colton that her attacker mentioned taking her as payment, his blood had run cold and fury prickled on his nape.

Her father had to get better—fast—so Colton could interrogate him about what was happening around here.

There was also the unsettling matter of Dude going missing. Colton did not have a good feeling about any of this. He’d seen evil in the world—spent his career trying to eradicate it.

This was evil on a different level. This time it was personal.

The cop watched them for a minute before he approached. “We have more questions for both of you.”

Over the top of Meadow’s head, Colton met his gaze. “Not now.”

Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to the house. The lights were all on, leaving a yellow blaze on the porch to light their way.

She tensed in his hold.

“The police searched the house, baby. It’s clear. You’re safe with me.”

She shivered, a reminder to him that he had killed a man in front of her eyes.

Right now, she was still in a state of shock. When that wore off, she might see him differently.

She may run away.

When he walked straight to her bedroom and lay her down, he lingered over her, unwilling to step away for fear that she may never let him close again.

“Colton?”

He forced himself back an inch.

She hooked her arms around his neck and yanked him down on top of her with more strength than he ever thought her capable of.

But that shook him too—he knew better. Meadow was a survivor, just like he was.

“Come back to me. I see the shock on you, Colton. Stay here, with me. Let me take care of you.”

He buried his face against her fragrant throat and groaned. “God, woman. It’s me who should be taking care of you.”

“You do.” She kissed his cheek, his temple. “You saved my life. You’ve saved my heart from the bleak darkness it was headed for. I love you more than anything in this world.”

“I don’t know what is going on around here, but I will find out.” His jaw ached from the tension clamping it. “I will find out and I will put it to rights.”

She curled her fingers into his shoulders, holding him closer. “We will find out together. We’re a team now, Colton Nox. Forest sent you to me for a reason, and I’m never going to let go of that gift.”

He found her mouth and kissed her, long and deep. The ache inside of him eased a little, but it was enough for now. It was enough to carry on.

“I love you, Meadow. Beautiful woman. Wild thing. You are my world now.”

She parted her lips for his tongue, and suddenly, nothing else mattered.

* * * * *

Meadow fiddled with her hair. Then she knotted her fingers in her lap.

Why was she a bundle of nerves? She was only picking up her sister. This was Ivy—they grew up together, playing with dolls and swimming in the pond.

The same pond that had started so much with Colton.

Openly, she studied his perfect profile. His attention was on the highway that led to the airport, but when he swung his gaze to her, the corners of his eyes creased with a smile.

Seeing her twisted fingers in her lap, he covered them with his big, warm hand. “Nothing to be nervous about, baby. I told you, my friend we’re picking up is one of the best. And he knew Forest too.”

She let a sigh trickle out. “I’m more nervous about seeing my sister after all this time. Then after we settle Ivy and your friend at the ranch, we have to go out and find all the things Daddy needs to come home.”

He squeezed her hand. “We will find everything on the list the home nurses gave you. It’s going to be all right.”

Her mind bounced all over the place. Between being attacked, the murder of her horse—and the fact that the guys had all been keeping it from her—plus her dad and sister, she was scattered to what felt like all four corners of the ranch.

“I need a distraction. Tell me about this friend of yours again.”

Colton shot her a glance and thumbed the brim of his hat lower, an action she felt was totally manly and distracting in a different way. “His name is Hunter Hart. They call him Sharps.”

When he told her this the first time, a shiver ran down her spine. Hearing the nickname had the same impact on her now. She could only guess at what a Navy SEAL, a friend of Colton and Forest, would have to have done to earn that moniker.

“And you say he was injured in combat?”

He ducked his head in a nod. “He’s been in the hospital in Germany for the last nine months. I never would have thought of asking him to come here. I lost touch with him, and things got complicated.” He tossed her a glance that spoke volumes. “But luckily, my friend at WEST Protection has a lot of connections to former military. He headhunts them for his security team.”

She took this all in, questioning how she’d gone from a peaceful country life to a crime show.

“I’m glad you’ll have a friend on the ranch. Though I know you and Zach have smoothed out things between you.”

He nodded, face pensive. “I only have a problem with him if he makes a move on you. But he seems to have come to terms with the fact that you’re mine.” He pivoted his head and pierced her in his dark, dark gaze.

The familiar tingle of awareness spread though her core, the memory of his hand on her ass in this very truck fueling a fire she couldn’t wait for him to put out.

She squirmed in her seat. “Step on it, Colton. We don’t want to be late picking up Ivy and Hunter.”

A grin stretched across his handsome face. Though they had a lot of worries hanging over their heads, she was so happy with her newfound love and couldn’t wait to wake up every morning to Colton next to her.

When they reached the airport, she gripped the posters she’d made. Colton teased her that she didn’t really need signs to direct the passengers they were picking up. After all, Ivy was her sister and he could pick Hunter out of any crowd.

But she only told him that she needed something to pass the time waiting, and it gave her a creative outlet.

In the airport, they headed straight to the gate where they’d pick up both passengers. Meadow passed Colton the sign with Hunter’s name on it, and he slipped an arm around her, anchoring her against his side.

“It’s crazy that they both flew out of Germany. Especially since I thought Ivy was in the South of France.” There seemed to be a lot that her sister hadn’t told her—yet. But Meadow planned to get every tidbit out of her.

“It was a good coincidence. One that helps us out. I don’t like being away from the ranch very long.” His expression darkened.

She ran a hand over his forearm to soothe him. “We’ve got more help now. Hunter will—oh! There’s Ivy!” She held up the sign, bouncing up and down on her toes as she spotted the long, blonde head of hair among the crowd.

As she waved at her sister, Colton let out a grunt. “She looks so much like you. And damn, Hunter’s right behind her.”

Ivy rushed forward, a duffel bag slapping her hip. The worry between her brows smoothed out as Meadow hurried to greet her with an enormous hug.

The feel of her sibling in her arms brought tears to Meadow’s eyes. When they pulled apart, Ivy’s green eyes bore some too.

“It’s soooo good to see you! I missed you so much.” Meadow hurled her arms around her sister again, smashing the sign in the process.

Suddenly, Ivy stiffened. Meadow drew away to see her sister staring at Colton, who was thumping a tall, muscled, hot guy on the back.

“Who is that?” Ivy’s tone held a note of contempt.

“That’s Colton—Forest’s friend. You remember?”

She blinked several times as more moisture hit her eyes and nodded.

“And my boyfriend.”

Ivy’s jaw dropped but then firmed again when she watched Hunter and Colton talking in rapid sentences. “I mean, who is the guy Colton’s talking to?”

“That’s our new ranch hand—Hunter. He was friends with Forest too, and now he’s coming to the ranch to…lend a hand.” She hadn’t yet told Ivy the tale of what happened on the ranch—or how their father seemed to be involved.

“Come on.” She dragged her sister a few feet over to where the guys stood. “Ivy, meet Colton.”

“You look a lot different from the picture Forest carried of you.” Colton smiled.

“I must have been about thirteen in that photo.” Ivy rolled her eyes, which pulled a snort out of the new ranch hand.

Ivy’s head whipped around and she sent him a glare that would shrivel a lesser man. Hunter, however, was no lesser man.

“And this is Hunter,” Colton introduced them.

Ivy cocked a brow.

Hunter’s lips twisted in one part sneer, one part amusement. “We’ve met.” His tone was dry.

Meadow locked eyes with Colton. Whatever was going on between her sister and the former SEAL was anyone’s guess.

“What’s your name again? Princess?” Hunter’s sarcasm drew a grumble from Ivy.

“It’s Ivy, as I told you before on the plane. But you must have amnesia.” She turned her nose up in the air. “Get me home. I need to change out of these clothes and go see our father.”

Meadow hung back with Colton for a moment, allowing the pair to walk to baggage claim ahead of them. “What do you think happened on the plane?” she asked him.

He shrugged. “If she’s anything like you, she just needs a firm hand to straighten her out.”

Meadows’s jaw dropped in outrage, and she lightly punched his arm. Then she leaned on tiptoe to kiss him fully on the lips. “You know how much I love that firm hand of yours.”

He slipped his hand low over her spine, stopping short of caressing her backside. “And I love teaching you lessons, baby.”

Even though there was a lot to worry about, Meadow knew that, with Colton at her side, everything would work out. Love—and family—would prevail.