Page 33 of The Trail Boss

The SUV rumbled over the uneven road, the hum of the engine filling the tense silence between Gavin and Roxie. He kept his hands firmly on the wheel, his knuckles white as he gripped it. Roxie sat beside him, her gaze fixed out the window, though she didn’t seem to be looking at anything in particular.

Gavin’s mind raced, replaying the ambush in vivid detail. The flash of gunfire, the thud of his fists against one of the attackers, the guttural cries as he incapacitated the others—it was all second nature to him. But now, with Roxie in the mix, it felt different. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d seen too much of the man he used to be, the one who thrived in combat but scared people when they got too close.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice gruff but quiet.

She turned toward him, her brows knitting. “I should be asking you that.”

“I’m fine,” Gavin said, too quickly. His gaze was fixed on the road. “Just... didn’t mean for you to see all that.”

“All what?” Roxie asked, her voice softening.

“The violence,” he said after a beat, his tone quieter now. “The things I had to do back there. I know it’s not... easy to watch.”

Roxie stared at him, her expression unreadable for an instant before she spoke. “Gavin, stop.”

“Stop what?” He glanced at her briefly, his jaw tightening.

“Stop acting like I’m some fragile flower who can’t handle reality,” she said firmly. “Do you think I don’t understand what it takes to survive? Or what it means to protect someone?”

Gavin’s grip on the wheel loosened slightly, though his shoulders remained tense. “It’s different when it’s up close,” he muttered. “When you see someone take a life.”

She let out a soft, almost disbelieving laugh. “Do you think I’m disgusted by you? Because of what you did back there?”

He didn’t respond immediately, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he kept his focus on the road. “A lot of people would be.”

“Well, I’m not one of them,” Roxie said, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. “What I saw back there wasn’t some mindless brute, Gavin. I saw a man doing everything he could to protect me. A man who’s willing to put himself in danger to make sure I stay alive.”

His chest tightened at her words, but he didn’t let himself fully relax. “You don’t think less of me?”

“Less of you?” She shook her head, incredulity in her tone. “If anything, it made me respect you more. Trust you more.”

The words hit him harder than he expected, cutting through the tension like a knife. He exhaled slowly, his shoulders easingfor the first time since the ambush. “I didn’t expect you to say that.”

“Then maybe you don’t know me as well as you think,” Roxie said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You can stop worrying about what I think, Gavin. I’m not scared of you. I’m scared of whoever’s trying to kill me. And I’m damn glad you’re on my side.”

The SUV turned onto the long dirt road leading to the ranch, the faint glow from the front porch light appearing through the trees. Gavin parked the vehicle and killed the engine, leaning back in his seat as the weight of the night settled over him.

“We’ll be safe here,” he said, his voice low.

Roxie nodded but didn’t move to get out. “You really think this is over?”

“No,” Gavin admitted, turning to face her fully. “I think it’s just starting.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes shadowed with worry. “How do you stay so calm? So... sure?”

“I’m not calm,” Gavin said honestly. “And I’m only sure of one thing—that I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Her eyes softened, and she reached out, her hand brushing against his. The touch was fleeting but enough to send a spark through him. “I believe you,” she said quietly.

“Good,” he said, his voice firm but warm. “Because I mean it.”

“Your truck?” Hawke said stepping out on the porch.

“Back down the road aways. Use the GPS tracker and send a team. I left behind some assailants. They were well armed and I didn’t take the time to secure them or their guns. My guess is, they’ll be long gone, but better safe than sorry.”

“Damn,” said Hawke. “You never let anyone else have any fun.”

Gavin shook his head and chuckled, taking Roxie’s hand and leading her inside. “Jesse?” He called. “Double-check everything and give the patrol teams a heads up.”

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