Page 10 of Daddy's Little Cowgirl

“How am I going to get my things?”

Gage stood. “I can go with the two of you to pick them up.”

Darian nodded. “Then, when you get back, we’ll have dinner.”

“Sounds good.” Ridge held out his hand and was thrilled when she put hers into his immediately. It was a good feeling, and he wished he could describe it.

Gage, Ridge, and Ellie piled into Gage’s truck and drove forty minutes to her place. They followed her in and waited until she unlocked the door.

The first thing he saw was a younger man—about five feet eight and on the slim side. He’d caught the look in his eyes when he first saw Ellie but then looked shocked to see the men with her.

Ellie stood nervously. “Ron, this is Ridge and Gage. They’re going to help me with my things.”

“Why, where are you going?”

“I’ve got a job elsewhere. Where’s Christy?”

“Oh, she said she’d be late.”

Ridge knew exactly what would have happened if they hadn’t been there, and he wanted to punch the man in the mouth. He could also see Ellie guessed what he would have done to her and looked relieved.

She took us over to a corner where six boxes sat. One of them was open, and he could see clothes. “Is this all you have?”

Ridge pulled her into his arms when she looked ashamed. “Honey, it’s nothing to feel sad about. We can get you everything you need when we get home.”

“I can pay for everything.”

“We’ll see,” Ridge said.

“Can I write Christy a note?”

“Sure.”

The men took the boxes out and came back to see Ron standing very close to her and how stiff she was.

Ridge turned to Gage. “Can you distract her for a bit?”

Gage grinned. “Sure.”

Gage walked over to stand by Ellie as she wrote the note.

“Hey, Ron, man, can you come here for a sec?”

Ron sauntered over and followed him into the bedroom. He had the guy’s back slammed against the wall as soon as the door closed.

“Listen, you little prick,” Ridge growled. “You are fucking lucky you haven’t touched her because she’s got a lot of friends in high places, and now she’s got me. You better learn from this. If a woman doesn’t want you to touch her, you don’t. Do you fucking understand me?”

Ron held his hands out in front of him. “Shit, yeah, man. I get it. I never touched the cunt.”

Ridge slammed his fist into Ron’s stomach, doubling him over with a pain-filled grunt. “Another thing. You don’t call women cunts, you asshole.” Ridge punched him one more time and let him slide to the floor, clutching his stomach.

He walked out of the bedroom and closed the door to see Gage and Ellie by the front door. Gage had a grin on his face, and Ellie was looking worried.

“What was that sound?” she asked.

“I helped Ron with a few things. He told me to say goodbye for him.”

She brightened. “Oh, okay. Good.”

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