Page 51 of Protected By the Mountain Man

A shadow of movement caught my eye, and I noticed Shadow, Ben’s black gelding, shifting restlessly at the back of the trailer. He'd always been a skittish one, even more so since the incident. But today, he seemed on edge, his muscles tensing like coiled springs.

“Easy there, big guy,” I said, slowly approaching. I held out my hand, letting him get a good sniff. To my surprise, Shadow nuzzled his nose against my palm, the tension melting away from his frame.

“Looks like he's taken a shine to you,” Kat observed.

“Guess he knows I'm the one who's keeping his home safe,” I joked, scratching behind Shadow's ears. Something about the way Kat looked at me then made my heart kick up a notch. There was gratitude, sure, but something else too—something I wasn't quite ready to name.

“Let's get these beauties settled in,” she said, her tone all business again. “And let's hope we won't be needing that security system of yours anytime soon.”

“Hope's good,” I agreed, leading Shadow down the ramp. “But being prepared is better.”

We started bringing the horses over to the shiny new barn one by one, about fifteen of them all-in-all. Clay and Kat’s cousin Owen met us halfway, going to get horses of their own. It turned into a steady rhythm, the four of us clicking our tongues and enticing the horses with carrots and apples to get them into their new stalls.

“Shadow's in,” I called out, securing the stall gate behind the gelding. “How are we doing over here?”

“Last one's Sundance,” Kat replied, patting the golden horse's neck as she led her into the stall next to Shadow's. “There you go, girl. Home sweet home.”

“Looks good,” Clay said, eyeing the barn like it was his own child. Pride was etched in every line of his face—and rightfully so. Two weeks of sweat and sawdust had transformed the charred ruins into something magnificent.

“Livy’s gonna be thrilled to have the horses back,” I said.

“Yeah—if I ever let her come home,” Kat muttered. “Not sure I trust this place yet. Wanted her away from all this until we're sure it’s safe.”

“Can't argue with that,” I agreed.

Once the horses were settled, we all sat down around the old kitchen table at the Martin house, Kat washing her hands at the sink. She went over to the fridge and peered inside, a lock of hair falling into her eyes.

“Beer?” Kat offered.

We all nodded. It had been a long two weeks. A couple minutes later, she returned with four cold ones.

“Thanks,” Owen grunted, accepting his with a nod before taking a long pull.

“Nothing beats a cold beer after a day's work,” Clay sighed contentedly, tipping the bottle to his lips.

“Here's to a job well done,” Kat raised her bottle, and we chimed in, a small chorus of clinks resonating through the kitchen.

“Y'know,” Clay started, wiping a drop of beer from his beard, “we've been busting our asses for nearly two weeks straight. We deserve a night off. How about the Silver Spur tonight? My treat.”

Owen set his now-empty bottle on the table, the glass making a solid thunk. “Actually, I can’t swing it tonight,” he said, pushing his chair back with the scrape of wood on wood.

“Got yourself a hot date or something?” Kat teased.

“Something like that,” Owen replied. “Y’all have fun.”

“You know we will!” she called after him as he headed for the door, but Owen just raised a hand in a half-wave, not looking back.

With Owen gone, I turned to Kat. “What about you, Kat? You in?”

She chewed her bottom lip, a frown creasing her brow. “I don't know, Gabe,” she hesitated. “After everything, it feels strange leaving the ranch.”

“Kat, the security system is all set,” I reassured her.

“Plus, Sheriff said he’d have patrols pass by periodically,” Clay added. “Place will be safe as houses.”

She looked between us, the indecision clear in her eyes. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Alright, let's do it. But if anything happens?—”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” I cut in, certain. “We've got it covered.”

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