Page 56 of Some Cowgirls are Worth Protecting

There it was. Athena had her own perspective on this issue, and she’d been holding back. Rachel gave her a dark look. “Not you too.”

She lifted her hands in defense. “I’m not saying you’re making the wrong choices. I’m saying that you’re dealing with some heavy stuff, and you might need some help. It’s not a bad thing to ask for some, you know?”

Rachel gritted her teeth. This was starting to sound like Athena just didn’t want to get on her bad side. “What if I decided to sell this place? That charity that I was offered… I could do a lot of good.”

“No one doubts that,” Athena hurried to say. “If that’s where you need to be, then do it. I won’t stop you. I’ll support you all the way.”

“You will?”

Athena moved closer to her on the couch. “Of course I will.”

“Even if you don’t think it’s the right move?”

Her sister smiled in the way only an older sister could. “I don’t have to agree with you to support you. I have no idea what you’re going through, but I know you have a good head on your shoulders. You’re going to figure this out.”

Before Rachel had the chance to tell her sister how much she appreciated her input, Odin went crazy. His barks and growls remained close to the front door, indicating he hadn’t gone anywhere. Athena glanced out the window, then frowned. “There’s someone in a suit in the driveway. You expecting anyone?”

Rachel shook her head as she got to her feet and peered through the window into the night. She didn’t recognize the man who kept his distance while Odin growled and sent a warning that one more step would result in injury. Each step she took toward the door filled her with a new sense of trepidation. She couldn’t explain it, but something told her not to go out on the porch. But she couldn’t risk Odin completely losing his cool and charging after the stranger.

She opened the door, and Odin moved to the edge of the porch. “Odin, no,” she said firmly. But the dog wouldn’t listen. Rachel glanced toward the individual. “I’m sorry, but he’s not my dog.”

The man kept his eyes trained on Odin briefly, then scowled at her. He held up a business card. “I heard you might be selling.”

The fact that he was here after dark was only one of the red flags of this situation. “I don’t know where you heard that, but?—”

He nodded to the barn. “Looks like you’ve had some problems.” There was something about the way he said it that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Her eyes narrowed and she inched closer to the edge of the porch. Slowly, she reached for Odin’s collar. “Who are you?”

He smirked. “That doesn’t matter.”

“I’m not going to sell my property to someone I can’t vet.”

“That would be very unwise, Ms. Walton.” He shoved his card back into his pocket. “The people I work for are very interested in the property. They were displeased to discover you’d swooped in and taken it out from under them.”

Understanding dawned on her. He was with the developers. “You,” she hissed, “you’re one of the ones who’s been causing all these problems.” Rachel felt sick to her stomach.

“I’d be careful what kind of accusations you fling. You might realize that it only causes a bigger mess.” His voice was more menacing than before.

“Get off my property,” Rachel seethed. “I won’t ask you twice.” Now Odin was pulling to charge down the steps, having felt the change in the dynamic between Rachel and the visitor.

The man glanced at Odin, fear flickering in his gaze. He shot one more dark look in her direction, then made his way to his car and drove away. He’d only accomplished one thing with his visit. She knew who she was dealing with, and with that knowledge came a fresh wave of determination. Rachel refused to be bullied into leaving. That man might not think she could tie the crimes to them, but he’d never come up against a Walton.

27

Hudson

Hudson entered the bar and glanced around the dim room. Just being in this place made his skin crawl. After seeing how hard it was for Wade and Annabel to kick their own addictions, he’d vowed to never let things get that far.

His hand wrapped around the empty cigarette box in his jacket pocket. Something told him that he would have a better chance of finding someone involved with the crimes committed against Rachel at a place like this. The folks around here weren’t exactly the most upstanding.

Only a few people tossed curious glances in his direction. When no one immediately got up to leave, Hudson moved to the bar and pulled out a stool. His eyes darted down the counter, but he didn’t immediately recognize anyone.

Hudson wasn’t naïve enough to believe he’d get lucky at the first place he entered; even still, his frustration and disappointment grew. Time was running out. It hadn’t sounded like Rachel had made a firm decision yet, which was his only saving grace at this point in time.

The bartender brought over a menu and a glass of water with a napkin. “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”

“Thanks,” Hudson murmured. The cigarette box practically burned a hole in his pocket, prompting him to call back the bartender. “Actually, can I ask you something?”

She returned, a wide smile on her face. “What do you need, sugar?”

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