Page 47 of The Bull Rider & the Wedding Planner

She screamed and thrashed, trying to free herself from his grip.

“Stop moving so I can get my knife,” he yelled at her.

Cassie struggled harder and prayed even more fervently. She lifted her face, breathed in some stinging cold air, and screamed as loud as she could.

“Shut up!” Baxter hollered, shoving her down again. “No one can hear you through this forest. I killed the security guard. You didn’t know I’m an expert marksman.” He barked a laugh. “Now you’re going to die. But I don’t want to make it as easy as a bullet. You ripped my heart out by leaving me and stealing my girl. Now I’m going to?—”

Baxter was ripped off of her.

Cassie struggled to sit up, pulling in gasps of air, and whirled to see who had come. “Easton,” she breathed.

The relentless cold was working on her, clouding her mind as it attempted to drag her away from consciousness. She wasback in the ballroom, during that first dance with Baxter. Easton had come looking for her, to save her this time.

Easton’s fist drew back. Baxter saw, and there was nothing he could do. With the inevitable momentum of fate itself, Easton’s fist smashed forward into the center of Baxter’s face.

Easton. He’d saved her.

Just like last time, Baxter crumpled to the ground.

It was now. Not an upscale New York ballroom. She was in a winter forest in Montana, and her hero was here.

Cassie sank back into the cold snow, wet and shivering and saved.

Grabbing Baxter, Easton ripped the man to his feet, wrenched his arm behind his back, and growled, “You ever try to touch my girl again and I’ll rip you to pieces.”

Baxter whimpered and tried to wrench his arm free.

Easton lifted the pinned arm higher, then glanced at her with concern. “Are you all right, Cass?”

She struggled to her feet in the deep snow, her fingers and toes numb and stinging. “Yes. You found me.”

“Of course I did. You know your ultimate alpha male would never let you down.”

“I n-never doubted,” she tried to tease back, but her teeth were chattering and her entire body shook with a combination of the fear settling, the cold penetrating, and the joy of him coming.

He smiled, but she could read the angst in his blue eyes and tight posture. He was concerned for her.

“You can’t have her!” Baxter screamed. With his free hand, he yanked a knife out of his pocket and jabbed it backtoward Easton.

“Easton!” Cassie screamed, pushing forward to try to reach them and help.

Easton released Baxter’s arm and dodged backward to avoid the knife. Baxter sliced at him again. Easton kneed Baxter’s hand and the knife flew into the snow.

Baxter cried out. Easton darted in and used Baxter’s face as a punching bag, driving him to the ground. Baxter crumpled and covered his face. “Stop!”

Footsteps pounded toward them. Aiden Porter and two of his men raced up.

“Good work, Easton, my friend,” Aiden praised. “Why don’t we take this scum from you so you can attend to your sweetheart?”

“Much obliged.” Easton yanked Baxter to his feet and handed him off to Aiden and his men.

They dragged him back through the forest as Baxter yelled, “This isn’t over. I’ll get you, Cassie.”

His voice faded.

Easton hurried to her and wrapped her up. She shivered and cuddled into his warmth and strength. He tilted her chin up with his forefinger and looked her over. “Did he hurt you?”

“I’m okay. Did he hurt you?”

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