Page 28 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

Willa eased into the house, hoping she could slip back into bed with Mac none the wiser. So far, so good, she thought as she removed her clothes and crawled in to lie beside him. Mac rolled up against her back, his arm draping her waist.

“Where the hell have you been?” he growled as his arm tightened like a vice.

Five Years Previously

Willa was returning home from leading an exhausting but enjoyable two-week guided gourmet wilderness tour in the Superstition Mountains when she heard the distinctive ka-thump, ka-thump of a flat tire. Normally, that wasn’t an issue, but the shoulder on this stretch of the highway was narrow, and her stock trailer held six horses. Willa pulled over as far as she could and removed her trailer jack, a device that allowed her to raise the trailer enough to change the tire without having to offload the horses.

She had removed the flat and was rolling it toward the bed of her truck when she heard the crunch of tires on the gravel as a vehicle pulled up behind her rig. Despite being a woman alone on a somewhat desolate part of the highway, Willa was well-prepared to defend herself, her horses, and her property. Shenonchalantly walked up to the cab of the truck and removed her rifle from the gun rack.

“Something I can help you with?” she said, turning and bringing the rifle up to bear.

“Whoa! I saw you broke down and stopped to offer some help. I’m going to reach into my back pocket and bring out my ID.”

Willa studied him. He moved with elegance and grace, combined with something strong and predatory. Taller than average with heavily muscled arms, broad shoulders, and a powerful torso and thighs, he wore faded jeans, cowboy boots, and what looked to be a fine cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing powerful forearms.

He opened the ID holder that showed a US Marshal’s badge.

“I’m Ethan McDaniel, Mac, to my friends.”

Willa grinned. She knew exactly who Ethan McDaniel was. Her best friend Mandy had married his friend, John Hampton. Mandy had been trying to fix her up with Mac ever since Willa had to miss the destination wedding. As much as she loved Mandy, the wedding had been scheduled to take place during the height of her busy season.

“I don’t think we’re friends. Fact is, Mandy thinks you and I have done everything to avoid meeting and becoming friends,” she said, lowering the gun.

He laughed. “That must make you Willa Reynolds.”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Can I help you with that tire?”

“I can manage. I’m used to doing things for myself.”

“I didn’t ask whether or not you could do it. According to Mandy, you’re part Wonder Woman and part Julia Child…”

It was Willa’s turn to laugh. “Yes, but trussing that duck up the other night with my Lasso of Truth was a big mistake.”

“I would think so. It’s hard for a dead duck to tell you anything.”

“Yes… and rope burns.”

“Let me put the tire on for you.” He held up his hand. “If I don’t, and John finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Yeah, he can go on and on when he’s in the wrong mood.”

“That he can.”

Mac walked over and threw the flat tire in her truck bed, then turned to grab the spare off the front of her trailer. He made short work of changing the tire, and her rig was ready to go.

“Thanks, Mac. I could have done it, but I’m just returning from a trip, so I’m beat.”

“Happy to do it, Willa.”

“We’re about half an hour from my place. Since you changed my tire, can I offer to make you dinner?”

“I thought you were exhausted.”

“I am, but I have to eat, and cooking for two isn’t any more trouble than for one. I need to put the horses up, then have some dinner before I go down to check on them.”

“Tell you what… I’ll follow you and put your horses away while you make dinner. I don’t know about you, but I hate eating alone. We can eat, then you can check your horses before crawling into bed.”

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