Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Rhys snorted as he watched his brother walk out. “Don’t mind him. He and Grant… They’ve had their differences, but they love each other.”
“It’s fine. Rogue’s been nothing but a good friend to me. And Grant…” There was nothing about my relationship with Grant I wanted to talk about with his brother.
“Grant certainly seems to like you a lot,” Rhys said.
I shrugged. “He wants to keep me safe.”
“You think he just picks out random boys and decides to protect them?”
“No, I guess not, but that’s really all there is.”
“If that’s what he’s told you, he’s lying to you and probably also to himself. Come on out to the barn.”
“I need to clean up in here first, but I’ll join you as soon as I can.”
I hurried through cleaning the kitchen, not letting myself think about the implications of what Rhys had said. If Grant wanted more, he wouldn’t have put up a wall between us.
It was wonderful to be on a horse again. Rhys was a patient teacher, not at all the hard-ass Rogue warned me about, though he did have high expectations and made me want to work hard to meet them. By the end of the lesson, I was comfortable trotting again and felt ready for more.
The thought of racing over the hills and along the trails around the ranch made my heart soar. Of course, Grant had told me not to leave the house unless I was with him or one of his brothers. Maybe if I got good enough to be cleared for a trail ride, Rogue would go with me.
“I’m impressed,” Rhys said as I walked Biscuit back to the barn to untack her. “You know how to work with the horse, not against her. You’ll be a fine rider in no time.”
I ran my hand along Biscuit’s neck. “I’ve always loved horses. I just haven’t been able to ride since my grandparents died.”
“Well, now’s your chance.”
But not for long. Surely, Grant wasn’t going to keep me here for more than a few weeks. He’d be tired of watching over me by then, and hopefully, Trey would find someone or something else to focus on. I still wasn’t sure what Grant meant by dealing with my problem. I should ask, but did I really want to know?
As we walked into the barn, Rogue came running up behind us. I could tell by his expression something was wrong.
“The guy is back, the one that was watching the place before. Madison saw him, and he’s got someone else with him up in the hills.”
“Are we going after them?” Rhys asked.
“I don’t know. I guess that’s up to us with Grant gone.”
“Then the answer is yes, but I want you to take Jacob back to the house. Stay there with him.”
“I’m as capable of taking this guy out as you are.”
“You’re a damn fine shot, Ri, but you haven’t had years in the marines to hone your skills, and we need questions answered, not a body on our hands.”
“I’m not—”
“Keeping Jacob safe is the most important thing to Grant.”
“I’ll be fine in the house,” I interjected. “I’ll stay there and—”
“No.” They answered simultaneously.
“For one thing,” Rhys said, “Grant would murder us if we left you alone. And you shouldn’t be on your own. You never signed up for this.”
Rogue nodded. “I got you into this. I’m going to keep you safe.”
“Y’all get to the house. I’ll meet up with Madison and Colton. Where’s TJ?”
“He’s already out there with them,” Rogue said.
“Good. We might need him. Everyone here is trained to defend themselves, but that’s a hell of a lot different from having the skills he does.”
A distant series of shots startled all of us.
“Shit.” Rhys grabbed a gun that had been stashed on a high shelf.
“Never mind going to the house. Just stay here,” he ordered before taking off.
I shivered as I watched him go. “Wouldn’t we be safer in the house?”
“There’s too much open ground between here and there.”
“You don’t think Trey sent these guys here, do you? I don’t want to cause trouble for you.”
“That’s what we’re here for. If we didn’t like trouble, we would never have agreed to run the ranch.”
“But I’m not a real guest here. I can’t afford to pay you anything. This kind of protection can’t be cheap.”
“It’s not. The other guests are paying us plenty, so we can afford to take care of you too.”
I still didn’t like the idea that I could’ve brought this trouble down on them. “What if I led these men here? That will compromise everyone.”
“I don’t think this is Trey, or if it is, he’s not just here for you.” He took my arm. “Come on. We don’t want to be out in the open in case any of them make it to the barn.”
“Do you really think that’s going to happen?”