Page 43 of Some Cowgirls are Worth Protecting

She sighed again. “What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to admit that you have feelings for him. I see the way you look at each other. There’s enough electricity between you to light a rodeo stadium.”

Rachel pressed her lips together tightly. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Athena’s gaze. “Is it really that obvious?”

Athena tilted her head. “Maybe not to everyone. But for Henry and me? I think he noticed it first, mostly because of that night.” She didn’t have to confirm the day she spoke of. Rachel already knew. Her sister smiled warmly. “There are worse things than falling for a Keagan.”

Rachel let out a soft laugh.

“I mean it,” Athena pressed. She squeezed Rachel’s hand again. “And from the looks of it, he loves you just as much. He wants to help, and as much as I agree that something bad could happen, if I know one thing, it’s that Keagan men are stubborn as all get-out. You’re not going to stand in their way if they want to do something.”

What if something happens? The question clung to her lips, but Rachel wasn’t able to voice it. Maybe Athena was right. The Keagans were an answer to her problems, whether she liked it or not. “I guess we’ll have to see what happens when they find out where the water went. Do you think they’ll get it figured out before it gets noticed?”

Athena shrugged. “As far as I figure, you wouldn’t have found out if you weren’t out there today. No one else will find out without someone reporting it or inspecting the property. You’re probably going to be just fine.” She wrapped her arm around Rachel’s shoulders. “Now, let’s forget all about that stuff. How about you tell me what happened?”

“What happened?” Rachel laughed. “What do you mean?”

“With Hudson. How did he win you over? No one missed the way he treated you when you showed up. Now, all of a sudden he’s your biggest fan. So, what happened?”

Rachel laughed again. “Nothing.”

Athena wasn’t convinced. “Do I have to point out the obvious again? You might as well tell me what he did to win you over. Granted, there’s still a lot about you that I have yet to learn, but the Rachel I know doesn’t trust just anyone. So, beyond the whole being a knight in shining armor…” Her voice trailed off and she grinned. “What is it?”

Rachel rolled her eyes.

“I’m going to get it out of you one way or another.”

“Fine,” Rachel groaned. “It’s Cookie.”

“He gave you a cookie?”

She snickered. “No, he got me a puppy.”

“A puppy? You’re kidding.”

Rachel shook her head. “He wanted to get me a companion to help me sleep.”

Athena let out a soft, exaggerated sigh. “That is so sweet.”

It was. Hudson might have a crusty exterior, but when he started warming up to someone, he was the most generous person Rachel had met. The more she got to know him, the more she realized just how lucky she was.

All the more reason to want him to be careful. Based on their last experience at the creek, she didn’t have a single doubt that he would step into the line of fire for her. He would do anything to keep her safe.

But who would keep him safe?

“Don’t even go there,” Athena murmured.

Rachel jumped and stared at her sister, who was pinning her in place with that knowing look of hers. “Go where?”

Athena waved a finger over her with a shake of her head. “Don’t even go to that place. Nothing is going to happen to him. He’s going to be just fine. The people who came to break into your place probably didn’t cause the creek to dry up.”

There really wasn’t another reason. Athena was just trying to make her feel better, and it wasn’t working. Rachel lifted one eyebrow. “You can’t really believe that.”

“All I’m saying is that we don’t know what’s going on—not really. The people who broke into the house might have left that note, but then they didn’t come back. Why would they change course and mess with the property again? Why not go after you again?”

“Gee,” Rachel drawled with sarcasm, “thanks.”

“But think about it. The people who want you gone… they were brazen. They attacked you while you were home. This? It’s different.”

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