Page 62 of Fierce Protector

“We’ll come with you.” Colton produced a flashlight from his jacket pocket, and Ivy used the flashlight on her phone to illuminate the shadows as they all made their way to the paddock.

Demi cast off the blanket and went straight into work mode. While the guys stalked around the ranch and searched each crack where a person could hide, she cleaned and stitched the wound on Maple.

Still hunkered in a crouch, Meadow caught her attention. “It wasn’t a wolf, was it?”

“No.”

“The same person who attacked Lonesome Rose attacked this horse.”

She nodded and reached for the thick gauze to wrap the wound.

As a new set of headlights entered the driveway, Livia turned to look. “The sheriff’s here.”

“One of the guys must have called the station.”

Sadness burned in Demi’s chest for Opal. She and her father had been close, and her young daughter often spent time here on the ranch with her grandpa. It broke her heart to think of breaking the news to Opal, but she was the best one to do it.

The ranger had been there for her several times over the past few weeks. Now Demi would be there for her.

“I need to call Opal. Have her come.”

Livia gaped at her. “Is that a good idea? It’s her father!”

Of all the people who knew how it felt to lose a father, Livia had firsthand experience with it.

Demi hesitated for a moment, considering other options. Then she nodded. “I’ll call her to come and I’ll break it to her.”

Ledger emerged from the shadows. His focus pinned on Demi. “Did I hear you say you’re calling Opal?”

She fiddled with the remaining clean gauze in her hand. “Yes.”

“Wolfe just gave her a call. She’s on her way.”

He moved off to meet the sheriff and a deputy. All of them armed, the men continued their sweep of the ranch, the house and all the outbuildings where a person could hide.

Being the first person on the scene, Demi knew she would be questioned. She had to prepare to recount all the moments leading up to when she discovered Mr. Vale.

“Opal is going to take this so hard.” Ivy’s murmur brought all four of the women to a moment of silence, broken by yet another set of headlights cutting through the night.

Demi pulled the blanket off her shoulders and draped it over her arm at the ready to wrap Opal in. Steeling herself, she walked over to the ranger’s truck.

Opal exploded out and took off running for the house. “Dad! Dad!”

“Opal.”

She stopped in her tracks. Spun to face her.

The expression she wore told Demi that she had already guessed what happened.

“Where is he?” she croaked.

Moving forward, Demi wrapped the woman in her arms just as she burst into tears.

The next hours were a blur of emotions. She couldn’t help but think of the group as a family, all there to support and protect.

When Colton and Webb emerged from the barn to join the women, Demi knew it was a distraction from what was really happening. The coroner had arrived.

Colton gave Webb a look. “We’re finished here and headed back to the Gracey. Can you bring Opal?”

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