Page 90 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“That’s the way I remember it. John?” Mac moved to her side.

“Oh yeah,” John agreed. “We could tell the guy had come at her, tried to shoot her, but she managed to get the drop on him. Score one for the fairer sex.”

“Hey, Cowgirl, why don’t you let me have the rifle. John can put this guy in cuffs, and we can head home,” said Mac gently.

“I think maybe I’ll put some clothes on first. You don’t mind, do you?” she said, trying to regain her emotional footing.

“Well, yeah, but John would probably prefer you do, and if he doesn’t, Mandy will,” Mac teased as he took the rifle from her and folded her into his arms.

Willa clung to him. Right now, it was the only place she felt even remotely safe.

“It’s okay, Willa, I’ve got you.”

“Could you help me gather my things and stand between the others and me while I put them on?”

“Sure I can, sweetheart.”

“Eastwick, turn your ass around and step forward.” John shoved him hard enough, Eastwick stumbled and fell on his knees. He booted Eastwick in the ass as the fugitive got to his feet. John turned away from Willa as well. “Eyes forward, asshole, unless you want Willa to be the last thing you ever see.”

Once Willa was dressed, Mac helped her onto Gator as John got Eastwick mounted. Mac trained the rifle on Eastwick as John got on and grabbed Sadie’s reins.

“Didn’t you once tell me Sadie has the roughest gait of any horse you own?” John asked Willa.

“Yep.” She grinned. “If he’d had anything of interest between his legs, he’d have been damn uncomfortable.” She leaned out of her saddle to kiss Mac. “Don’t ever ride Sadie. I’d hate to see you injured.”

Mac laughed and shook his head as they dropped behind John leading Eastwick.

He leaned over and whispered, “You’re really okay?”

“Babe, the minute I heard the Scissor-tail, I knew everything would be okay. I’ve never been so happy to hear a birdcall in my life. Gus and Baez are okay, aren’t they?”

“Baez went to the hospital but will be fine. Gus is at the truck and trailer, chomping at the bit and mad as hell at me.”Mac straightened and took his phone out of the saddlebag. He called his team to let them know Willa was fine and Eastwick in custody.

By the time they returned to Gus and the trailer, Mac’s team had arrived and placed Eastwick in the SUV to take him to a federal holding facility. Each member of the team made sure Willa was all right but chastised her for taking off like she did.

“I’ll tell you what. Y’all come to the ranch tomorrow, and I’ll show you what I can do with a real kitchen and no budget restraints. Gus? You up to cooking a side of Wagyu on the spit?”

“You bet I am. I heard John say you had promised to make your famous Drunken Decadence pecan pie.”

“I can do that. I also do a great peach cobbler with a bit of a kick and homemade Mexican vanilla ice cream.”

“Willa, you don’t have to?—”

“Sure, I do, don’t I, boys? I figure you’re only slightly more pissed at me than they are, and I can’t placate them with lots of sex.” She grinned, trying to coax a smile out of him. She knew he was going to fail keeping a straight face when his men started laughing, partly at her but partly at seeing how she could rattle their normally cool-as-ice boss.

“You’re a piece of work, Cowgirl,” Mac said, shaking his head. “How about we let them take him in, and you, me, and Gus head to the ranch? We can figure out dinner when we get there.”

“I kind of horned in, Mac,” John said. “I gave Mandy a call. I knew she’d want to see with her own eyes that Willa is okay. My guess is, by the time we arrive, Mandy will have everything ready.”

“Sound all right to you, Willa?” Mac hugged her close.

“As long as I end up sleeping next to you tonight, I’m fine with anything that comes before.”

The team of marshals headed to Scottsdale to process Eastwick. Not only did they now have Willa’s testimony abouthis confession and Mac able to corroborate it, they had him dead to rights for assault, kidnapping, intimidation of a federal witness, and a handful of other charges. Eastwick would never take another breath as a free man.

“John, you sit up front with Gus. I want to keep Willa close.”

Exhausted, the minute the door to Mac’s side of the SUV closed and he pulled her over to him, she dropped her head onto his shoulder, nuzzled his neck, and fell fast asleep. She didn’t know how long she slept before Mac kissed her softly, coaxing her up from the depths of slumber.

---