Page 82 of Barbed Wire Hearts

Dakota doesn’t blink. His eyes flicker with something I don’t understand, but he remains calm and collected. “Maybe,” he whispers.

The worry I’d slowly been working through returns tenfold.

ChapterFifty-One

Kate

By the eleventh day, it seems like there are constantly cars driving along the road that slow or pull over to the side of the road. No one ever gets out and we can’t ever see who’s inside, but the cars are always black. They mostly look like rental cars, but I know better. On a few of the cars, I’d seen tiny little chrome crow emblems on them.

“They’re watching us,” Levi says, his eyes on the third black car today.

“Should I be out in the open like this?” I ask. It feels strange to still be out here knowing they’re watching me. How long before they change tactics?

“Everyone is on guard,” Levi murmurs, but when he realizes that doesn’t seem to relax me, he adds, “everyone knows not to talk to anyone or get out if they’re there. We’re almost done. Three more days and we can head back to the ranch.”

And while yes, everyone at Steele Mountain is aware, we can’t exactly tell the other ranches what’s going on. Ned is the only one who knows that it was a man who attacked us, and every now and then he comes around and asks if we’re okay, but we can’t confirm what’s going on. Still, I watch him notice the cars, and he often glances back at us, especially when we change up our pattern.

I don’t get on a horse again. Instead, I ride with Levi in the side-by-side and we always ride on the side of the herd opposite of the road. To anyone perceptive enough, they’d know we were up to something, but no one asks. Everyone keeps to themselves out here, but they won’t hesitate to step in if there’s trouble, I know.

Still, we’re all on edge and when we call it a night and start the campfires, I slump down on the small chair Naomi brought out. Besides the physical exhaustion, the mental load I carry is starting to wear on me, too. The longer we go, the more sleep I need, but there’s no way to get extra sleep. Not when we have to wake before the sun comes up.

No one has tried to slip into our camp again. My tent is now set up close to the guy’s cots, so they’d practically have to trip over them to get to me. It’s both comforting and scary. Each night, it gets harder and harder to fall asleep. Even Wiley’s cuddles are starting to fail.

“So, this is all because of an ex-boyfriend,” Dakota suddenly sighs, drawing all our attention. “Seems you had a thing for red flags, city girl.”

I grimace. “Not gonna lie. I wasn’t great at picking before. If I saw red flags, I’d just paint my nails to match.”

Wiley snorts. “You didn’t?”

I shrug. “I did at one point. But after Josh, I took a break and realized I was shit at picking them. I’ve been single for over a year now. I didn’t have any desire to find someone again until. . . well, you three.”

Wiley wiggles his eyebrows. “So, we broke you out of your celibacy.”

I roll my eyes. “Sure. If that tickles your fancy.”

Dakota shakes his head. “Still shit at avoiding red flags though.” At my curious look, he gestures to all of them. “We’re all walking, talking red flags.” He thumps Levi on the shoulder. “Especially Levi.”

Levi narrows his eyes. “Why exactly am I more of a red flag than you?”

“You almost killed a guy for touching Kate,” Wiley points out.

Levi’s scowl deepens. “That’s a green flag. I’m a protector.”

I snort and laugh despite the nerve-wracking situation I’ve found myself in. I can always count on the three of them to make me laugh. “Depends who you ask,” I point out.

Levi focuses his gaze on me. “What is it to you? Green flag or red flag?”

Hesitating, I pick at the food on my plate. I should probably say red. Most people would. But you know what? I like feeling protected. I haven’t ever felt so cared for as I have since they’ve all decided to help me. “Green,” I mumble, looking down.

“See!” Levi growls at Dakota. “She likes it.”

“That’s because Kate has her own red flags,” Wiley teases, bumping his shoulder with mine.

“Like what?” I ask, raising my brow.

“Oh, I don’t know. The gang trying to kidnap you?” Dakota says, reminding me again of my situation. But I don’t get a chance to deflate at the reminder.

“And William,” Wiley says, laughing. “A cat on a leash? I don’t trust it. You must be a witch.”

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