Page 55 of Jake

The way he kissed her forehead before she walked away sent tendrils of heat swirling through her belly. She enjoyed the way he treated her like she was something special. Like he wanted her around and wanted to make sure she was safe, but he also didn’t try to take away her choice. Like he wanted her to want to be there.

Heather found herself smiling to herself as she started down the road that led out to the highway. Her mind drifted to what he’d asked on the drive back from the range. Could she carry a weapon all the time? She could admit to herself that she was torn about the idea.

Not because she didn’t think she could use it. If she felt threatened, she had no doubt she would use it. She’d had to use her pistol on snakes before and more than one animal that was suffering and couldn’t be saved. Sometimes having to put animals down, or help do it, was part of her job. One that always broke her heart, but she knew she helped far more than she couldn’t. And ending suffering was helping too, even if it didn’t seem like it at the time.

What had her concerned about carrying all the time was the idea of people who would be scared. People who would confront her and demand to know who she thought she was, a gunslinger from the old west or something? While that would be embarrassing, there was always that one extremist who thought they were hot shit and that no one should be allowed to have agaspgun, and then try to take it away. Those were the ones that worried her.

Maybe she should bring these concerns to Aaron. He knew the area better. He would know if something like that was likely around here.

She looked up and saw a plume of dust approaching. Had someone left earlier and now was on their way back? Was that why lunch wasn’t ready when they’d arrived. After Matt had arrived yesterday, she’d heard they had sensors or a camera or something at the front gate and knew when someone came in. Whoever this was must be expected, or they would be ready to stop them. She continued walking, expecting they’d pass her and continue on to the ranch house.

An older model pick up came into view, but it wasn’t one she recognized.

She frowned as the truck rolled to a stop a few feet from where she’d stopped to watch it, and driver’s window lowered.

“Damn. I never expected you to make it this easy.”

“What?” She wanted to ask more but both front doors opened, both men got out. She stepped backwards, wanting to put some distance between them but not wanting to turn her back on them.

“I know someone looking for you, sweetheart, and they’re about to make this real worth my while,” the driver said as he continued to approach.

She wished now she’d told Aaron yes and that she was carrying one of the pistols. She’d even take Matt’s, despite how heavy it had been.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She stepped back again. But her foot hit a rock, her ankle rolled, and she fell. The last thing she remembered was both men rushing toward her then the world went dark.

41

Hedidn’tlikeit,but it was just a gut feeling, he had nothing he could articulate better than that. No reason not to tell her to go, enjoy herself. “Go ahead. I’ll see you soon.” He dropped a gentle kiss against her forehead, then watched as she walked away before turning back to the truck to gather up the trash and dispose of it.

Lynnie had been gone maybe ten minutes when Jake ran into Lurch as he was overseeing getting Tuck and London’s things loaded, at least the things they wouldn’t need before they left the next day.

“Hey, I was getting ready to send you a message. Where’s Iceman?”

“Making sure he’s got all his stuff gathered and loaded. He’s planning to head back to Dickenson sometime this afternoon, why?”

“Because Watt just called and told me we’ve got two Kings headed in from the highway. There was a hole in the fence not far from the gate that he noticed while he was checking cattle, so he was mending it and saw them come through the gate. I figured they must be here to see Iceman,” Lurch said with a shrug then turned to accept a box from one of the men who was carrying things out. He fit it into place with the rest of the things he was loading into the trailer, stacking and arranging things like a game of Tetris to get as much in the space as he could.

“That’s odd, he didn’t say anything about expecting anyone.” Jake turned away thinking, he didn’t think Iceman had anyone coming here. If he had, surely he would have said something to someone, wouldn’t he? Especially when Lynnie said she was going for a walk along the road. Maybe he didn’t know they were coming. He’d better go check to be sure.

It didn’t take him long to locate the visitor, standing in the bed of his pickup, shoving his sleeping bag into the bag it came in.

“Hey, you know why a couple of Kings would be on their way in from the highway?” Jake asked as he stepped up beside the truck and propped both arms on the edge of the bed.

Iceman stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Jake.

“No. Who is it?”

“I don’t know. I was just told a couple of Kings. Give me a sec.” He pulled out his phone and dialed Watt. Better to go straight to the source for this.

“Hey, those two Kings you saw coming onto the ranch, who were they?”

“The two who were camped out outside the gate last year. The ones who scared London and Kerry by following them.”

The hair on the back of Jake’s neck stood, telling him something wasn’t right. He lifted his gaze to Iceman.

“The men who were here last year following London and Kerry, are they still Kings?”

“No. They were stripped of their colors because of that shit. Well, that and other shit they pulled but no.” His eyes went wide. “Are they the ones here?”

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