Page 72 of Protected By the Mountain Man

“Looks clear,” I said, some tension easing out of my shoulders.

“Good,” Livy replied, but her eyes stayed on the road ahead.

For now, home was still safe.

But for how long?

TWENTY-SEVEN

Kat

Since we were in town, I took the opportunity to run a couple errands. Together, Livy and I hit the grocery store, then the feed store. I kept trying to cheer her up, but the visit to the police station had rattled her.

We both wanted to know who had killed Ben.

Right now, that seemed more difficult than ever.

It was already snowing again by the time we got back to the house, though it wasn’t anything serious—not yet, anyway. As soon as we turned into the driveway, I shot a quick text to Gabe.

Snow’s on its way. Come home soon.

The car rattled as we made our way down the gravel road, leaving tire tracks in the snow. I looked ahead of me, frowning; there was another set of tire tracks, which meant someone was here. I wondered if it was Gabe…but they didn’t match his truck.

I got my answer when we pulled up to the house, and I found Owen’s truck parked outside. It was weird; he hadn’t let me know he was coming, and he hadn’t really been around much since we’d rebuilt the barn. I got the impression he didn’t like Gabe…and our conversation last night had confirmed as much.

I didn’t know why, but it set my skin crawling.

“Go see what Owen wants…and make sure Bandit hasn’t gone after him,” I said to Livy, my voice sounding more tense than I'd meant it to. She nodded, then she slid out of the truck and headed straight for the house, backpack over her shoulder.

My gut twisted. Something wasn't right.

But I shook it off, focusing on the task at hand. We needed to be prepared if the snow decided to stick around, so I opened the back of the truck and started grabbing feed bags.

As I hefted the heavy sacks toward the barn, footsteps crunching in the snow, Bandit's barking cut through the cold air. No…that was all wrong; I’d left him in the house, seen him on the cameras just a couple hours ago. But sure enough, the sound came from the barn, a steady, anxious rhythm.

Damn. He must have nosed his way in and couldn’t get back out.

I put the bags down on the ground, dusting snow off my gloves, preparing to rescue him.

“Bandit!” I called out, hoping he'd quiet down. But the barking continued, insistent. I hesitated, torn between going into the house and checking on the dog.

That's when Livy screamed.

My head snapped toward the house, and I ran, heart pounding, snow flying beneath my boots. It felt like hours before I slammed the door open, the warmth inside clashing with the chill on my skin…

…and there he was.

Owen.

He was facing me, holding Livy just like those strangers had weeks ago…and he looked wrong. I’d seen that expression on his face a few times, but it had never seemed this cruel.

It was the look he’d given me when he’d tried convincing me to sell the ranch.

When Gabe had shown up.

He was angry.

“Kat.” His voice was like ice. “Don't scream.”

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