Page 41 of Some Cowgirls are Worth Protecting

“I think it’s the perfect idea. Let me finish up here. You get it prepared. Then we’ll head out.” He brushed a kiss first to her lips, then whispered into her ear. “Congratulations, Rachel. You deserve this.”

Rachel exhaled, then looked up at him with those large, beautiful blue eyes. “Thank you for everything.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Sure, you did. Your support means more to me than you will ever know.”

They rode their horses side by side. The dogs darted ahead, investigating the brush, other plants, and the occasional rocks. Every so often, a critter would scurry away from them which always set off a chase until Hudson called them back.

Sun shone brightly in the west as it made its descent. A light breeze tickled past them, relieving them from the warmth of the day. The smell of fresh, growing grass and pollen filled the air. The occasional bug buzzed past his face, and every so often, Rachel would toss him an adoring look.

This must be what his brothers were raving about.

Heaven.

That’s what this was. He couldn’t describe it any other way. There was nothing he wanted more than to continue going down this path he’d chosen for himself. He couldn’t believe that he’d been so closed off to something so great.

Rachel glanced at him, a sly smile touching her lips. Then she leaned forward and gave her horse a swift nudge with her heels. Together they bolted forward, leaving Hudson in the dust. He chuckled and chased after them. Butterflies burst from a patch of nearby milkweed, only adding to the magic of this moment.

They wove between trees, then through a field of wildflowers until they reached a clearing where Rachel pulled her horse to a stop and turned her around. Blonde whisps of hair fell around her face beneath the cowboy hat she wore. She released an exuberant laugh, then stood and swung her leg over the saddle to dismount.

Hudson followed suit. When his feet landed on the ground, he let his focus sweep through the area. “I don’t think I’ve been here before. How did you find this place?”

Pulling a saddlebag from her horse, Rachel glanced toward Hudson over her shoulder. “I got a topography map drawn up when I submitted the paperwork for the sanctuary. This was the only place that looked flat enough for a picnic next to the creek over there.” She jerked her chin toward the far side of the clearing.

She’d done her homework—one more reason to love her. Rachel moved toward him and shoved the bag into his chest. “I’m going to take the horses over to the creek bed to see if they can get something to drink. It looks lower than normal. I hope that’s not an indication of what’s going on in the mountains.”

He shot a look toward the creek. Sure enough. Normally, they’d be able to see the water from this distance. It seemed quieter than usual as well. He frowned, his gut clenching with concern. He’d gotten the same feeling when he’d left to check the perimeter of the property only to come back to the people raiding the house.

Hudson pushed the bag into her arms. “No. You’re staying here.”

“What?” she laughed. “I’m not staying here. I want to get them water.”

He gave her a firm look. “You’re staying here.” He didn’t have to say more than that. She could hear from his tone that something was wrong. Her eyes widened and her body went on alert.

“Do you think something’s wrong?”

His focus swept over the area, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. There were too many places for people to hide. They could be ambushed. Hudson’s protective instincts went into overdrive, and he pushed her behind his back as he continued to take stock of their surroundings. His voice lowered to a murmur. “Something is definitely wrong.”

She sucked in sharply and pressed up against his back. “What do you think it is?” she whispered.

Hudson turned his head slightly and glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t know.” Torn between staying by her side and leaving her here while he went to investigate, Hudson turned to face her. “It could be nothing, but just in case it isn’t, I want you to get on your horse and get ready to take off at a moment’s notice.”

Her eyes rounded. “But?—”

“Just do as I say. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.” He frowned, his brows drawn together. “You mean more to me than anything. I need to know you’re safe.” The breeze picked up, sounding even louder in the suddenly quiet clearing. He nudged her toward her horse, then boosted her into the saddle. “I’m going to check out the creek.”

At least she wasn’t foolish enough to argue with him. She nodded, then leaned down and grasped him behind his neck as she pressed a desperate kiss to his lips.

Hudson wanted to forget himself in that kiss. He would have given anything not to feel this sick feeling in his gut that told him things had been quiet for too long. They hadn’t won the battle yet.

He stepped backward, then turned toward the creek. Dirt and twigs crunched beneath his boots. After he took a couple steps, he glanced over his shoulder to ensure that Rachel hadn’t gone against his request. She remained in the saddle, her worried gaze on him.

Right about now, Hudson wished he would have brought his shotgun, but with all the trips his brothers had taken to canvas the property with no additional sign of vandalism, he’d gotten complacent. Maybe he needed to get back on top of things. From this point forward, he wouldn’t go anywhere without it.

The closer he got to the creek bed, the worse he felt. His stomach all but fell to his knees when he stood beside the creek and stared down at what should have been a rushing water source.

Instead, it was barren. Mud, twigs, and stones lined the bottom. A couple of rainbow trout lay lifeless a few feet away from him, with only a small puddle of water beneath them. He glanced upstream where the water should have been coming from. The water had been running through the property for decades. The fact that it had dried up now couldn’t be a coincidence.

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