Page 13 of Fierce Protector

She managed to do her job and started pumping water into the tube. “What about your daughter Opal?”

“She’d help if I asked, but I don’t want this life for her.”

Demi had seen this plenty. Older people didn’t want to pass their ranch on to their loved ones because they knew the heavy burden of such a life. Fact was, ranching came with a lot of work, but a lot of joy too.

“Isn’t she already working hard outdoors as a forest ranger?” She felt the water resist against the clog of food in the horse’s throat and pushed more water in against it.

Mr. Vale nodded. “She is, but she doesn’t need to settle for this.”

“This life could kill you if you’re not careful.”

He shot her an amused look. “I thought you were here to take care of the horse.”

She laughed. Just then, the clog broke free and the water flowed freely into the horse’s stomach. “I’ll send you a bill for the horse. The therapy is free.”

Chapter Three

Ledger never expected to leave the military. He didn’t expect to get a chance at civilian life. He certainly didn’t expect the ranch life.

The homey tasks around the Gracey brought a level of peace. Peace that was broken when he and his men were forced to fend off danger.

He, Colton, Hunter and Wolfe weren’t planning a strike on a terrorist bunker. They were deciding what the hell to do with the trespassers who seemed to be outsmarting them every time they turned around.

Hunter held his phone screen out so they could all watch the security camera footage. Sure enough, a dark, shadowy figure entered the barn.

“Replay that bit.” Colton peered over his shoulder.

Hunter rewound the footage and let it roll again.

“Stop!”

Wolfe leaned in. He examined the image in silence before shaking his head and straightening. “I can’t make out a face.”

“That’s the problem.” Hunter held the screen up to Ledger to take a look.

He tried to focus on the image. He was pissed as hell that a criminal got past him, but if the horse hadn’t been attacked, the veterinarian wouldn’t have been called to the ranch.

And Ledger wouldn’t have learned about her being pregnant.

A dozen questions flooded in. Like seriously, what the fuck? How did it happen? She was smart. A vet.

After their condom mishap, she assured him she was going to the pharmacy and buying the pill to prevent getting pregnant. She told him she’d take care of it.

Hunter cleared his throat. At that moment, Ledger realized they were all staring at him. He didn’t like their expressions either. They’d been looking at him that way since the day he held his friend in his arms and watched the life drain from his face.

They looked at him with sympathy. Like they understood his ghosts haunted him.

He didn’t for a minute believe every one of the men left standing that day didn’t experience the same traumas. He wasn’t special. Nobody was.

“You seem distracted, Ledger. What’s going on?” Oldest of the crew, Wolfe had been their leader. When it came to the ranch and the security duties on it, he stepped down onto a level playing field with them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still take control at times.

Ledger leveled Wolfe in his stare. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Seeing that horse like that—all the blood—couldn’t have been easy on you.” Hunter stowed his phone in the breast pocket of the canvas jacket he wore for morning chores.

“It was just blood.”

The guys shuffled their feet, their boots making a whispering noise in the grass outside the paddock where they stood.

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