Page 48 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“A quarter mil,” I whisper.

“Christ!” Levi growls. “And so, you ran.”

“Of course, I ran. I don’t have that kind of money and I wasn’t going to let them take me,” I say. “I thought Wyoming was far enough away, but they know a rough idea of where I am now. Anyone in town could tell them I’m here. So you see why I have to leave now. I’m so sorry. I’m?—”

Dakota snorts and shakes his head. “None of that means you have to leave, Kate. In fact, I’d argue you should stay.”

“Agreed,” Levi says, his eyes on me. “You stay.”

“I won’t risk anyone on this ranch,” I growl. “It’s my problem. I’ll handle it.”

“We’ve got guns and the law, city girl,” Wiley points out. “We’ll be fine. There’s no reason to leave.”

I panic at their stances, at the way they hold themselves determined. “You don’t understand! These aren’t gangsters with a few guns. These people may as well be the mob where I’m from. They’re in every pocket, in the cop’s, the government’s. They only have to pay off the right person to find me. They have connections!”

Levi snorts. “This ain’t New Jersey, princess.”

Dakota nods. “We don’t run out here. We stand our ground.”

“Besides, you can’t run forever,” Wiley points out. “If you think we’re gonna let you go somewhere we can’t protect you, you don’t know us very well.”

I blink, my eyes misting again, this time because of their words. Each of them nods in agreement, that they want to protect me, but the fear is still there. There’s only three of them. Against a whole crime ring? They’d never stand a chance.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” I rasp, my hands shaking.

Dakota and Wiley only hold on tighter, offering comfort.

“And yet you ask us to let you get hurt by leavin’?” Dakota asks, his eyes on mine. “Earlier, I said you were ours, and I mean that, just as we’re yours.”

Wiley whips his head around, his eyes flickering. “We have titles?”

I can’t help but chuckle at his reaction and squeeze his hand in reassurance. “But what if they come?” I ask. “What if they find me here?”

“Let ‘em,” Dakota says. “When they do, they’ll find we ain’t scared to get rough.”

I bite my lip, worried. “So, I shouldn’t leave?”

“Of course not,” Wiley growls. “You should keep that pretty little ass here. We can take care of ourselves, and ain’t nobody getting in this ranch that don’t belong.”

I hesitate, but I slowly nod, if only because I want to believe they can do as they say. But the first moment one of them gets hurt, I won’t allow it. I’ll leave. I’d rather protect them than save myself.

I wonder if they know that. I wonder if they understand that I’d give up everything to make sure they keep living.

I’ve already given them my heart without realizing it. What’s one more thing?

ChapterThirty-Three

Kate

My paranoia is at an all-time high over the next few days. I feel as if I’m looking over my shoulder constantly, thinking someone is out to get me, but despite that, ranch life doesn’t stop. Dakota let everyone on the ranch know exactly what’s going on. At first, I’d thought they’d look at me differently. Instead, each and every one of them came up to me to let me know that I’ll be okay.

Family. I hadn’t realized how much like a family we were until Naomi came up to me and wrapped me in a hug, offering her support.

“Don’t you worry about those Crows, darlin’. We’ve got you. We take care of our own,” she whispered in my ear. I hadn’t even realized I’d started crying until she leaned back and wiped my tears. “None of that. You’re safe here.”

But I’m not certain how safe I really am. Clearly, the Crows know a rough idea where I am, and if they ask anyone in town, they’ll point them toward the ranch since I haven’t been trying to hide my presence while in town. Hell, after our night at the Boot Scoot, I doubt there isn’t a person here that doesn’t know about Kate up at Steele Mountain Ranch. I’ve well and truly fumbled this whole low-profile thing.

We’re only a few weeks away from the annual cattle drive, both a daunting and exciting event despite the threat hanging over me. In the months I’ve been here, Wiley has talked nonstop about it but now, Dakota has joined in. Dakota talks about going on the drive as a child with his father, but by the time he was a teen, they’d started slowing down. It wasn’t until his dad died and he took over that the cattle drive was taken up again. He’s so very clearly proud of his progress, of going from a few hundred cattle to thousands. I can’t pretend the way they talk about it doesn’t get me just as excited. This is some real cowboy shit and I’m here for it despite my fear.

---