Page 58 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“It’s here,” Juni said, picking it up from the dining room table. “It was in your jacket pocket.”

I went into the bedroom and got dressed. When I returned to the sofa, I noticed all the clothes I’d had on the night before spread out on the hearth of the fireplace.

“Shit,” I repeated when I swiped the screen and saw how many messages had piled up. One said the crewhad already checked and the cattle were still secure where we’d herded them the night before.

By the time I’d gotten out to the main barn last night, I realized there was no way in hell we could take the horses out. Instead, we’d piled into trucks and got every one of the herd we could find moved to the closest shelter. I’d driven out the main gate, remembering a back road that would get me to the farthest pasture. Right as it closed behind me, I saw a car drive up and park. When I stopped and asked the kid who had climbed out if I could help him, he told me he was Buck, who I’d spoken to earlier. Rather than sending him to the barns, I told him to climb in, and he rode out with me.

Thankfully, the estate had five large barns in various places on the property where we’d herded as many animals as we could before trying to get the rest to the next closest. I doubted we’d been able to locate them all last night and get them sheltered, but we’d done the best we could.

I read the next message. It was from my brother Buck, saying Maverick Morris had made it through surgery. He was still critical, but they expected him to pull through. His text was delivered at three my time.Since it was five their time now, I didn’t return the call. I would later, though.

Holt had sent a message too. I put my head in my hands when I read that Porter was in jail. “Fucking Port,” I said under my breath. I felt Juni sit beside me and reached for her to sit on my lap instead. “Do you know how grateful I am for you right now?” I said, burying my head between her shoulder and jaw.

She didn’t say anything, but she held her soft body against mine, and that’s what I needed more than anything right now.

“Cord? What happened yesterday? Can you talk about it?”

After the nightmare I’d had, I figured telling Juni might help me work it out of my system. I sighed. “Sam and I had our DNA tested, then got lunch before returning to the Lilacs. Since Decker confirmed no one from Schultz would be at the winery, Beau wanted to see the layout and inspect the equipment. Sam and I went with him. Maybe a half hour later, she said she wanted to go up to the house and make some calls.”

“With you so far,” she said softly.

“She was gone less than five minutes when alerts from the security system went off on my cell andBeau’s. The surveillance footage loads immediately, so we could see a live version of the breach.” I rolled my shoulders when every muscle in my body tightened. “Jimmy Rooker had Sam with a gun held to her side.”

She gasped. “Oh my God.”

“Beau and I took off running, and by the time we reached where they were, Decker and some of the other guys had them surrounded. I aimed right at the fucker’s kneecap, and when I saw his trigger finger move, I shot him. Looking back on it, Decker was right to be pissed at me for doing it. In the split second it took for the bullet to hit him, he could’ve shot Sam.”

“But he didn’t.”

“No. He didn’t. But I gotta tell you, my instincts told me, if he killed her, I’d be next on his list.”

“You did what you believed you had to.”

“All I could think afterwards was how in the hell did I get here? I’d gone from riding our ranch in Colorado, wrangling cattle and doing other shit like mending fences, to thinking my life might be in danger. Not to mention, fearing for the life of a woman who I might be related to.” She squeezed my hand, and I leaned into her. “I’m so gladyou’re here.”

“Me too.”

“It was the look in his eyes that really got to me. I saw so much hate. I can’t say I’ve ever encountered anyone I believed was pure evil. Not even my dad, and he was one of the biggest assholes I’ve ever known.” I scrubbed my face. “Sorry, can we change the subject?”

“Of course.”

“What do you say we make breakfast?”

“Sounds great.” When she smiled, I felt warm all over. How was it that a woman I’d known less than a month could come to mean so much to me? I wouldn’t say it out loud, but right now, I never wanted her to leave.

“I’d offer to make it on my own, but I have a feeling you’re a better cook than I am.”

She smiled. “Before we get started, is your brother okay? Have you heard anything?”

I told her that the driver of the other vehicle had made it through surgery and the prognosis was good. I also said that I was waiting until later this morning to call for an update on Porter, but Holt told me he’d spent the night in jail.

I took eggs and bacon out of the fridge. Thankfully, everything was still cold. I checked the freezer too, and it didn’t show signs that anything had thawed. Lookingat the snow covering most of the kitchen window, it didn’t look like anything was melting outside either.

“I, uh, am not sure when I’ll be able to take you home,” I said, setting the stuff on the counter.

“I know, but as I told my mom, I’m safe and warm and would rather my dad and brother refrain from trying to come get me.” Her forehead furrowed.

“What?” I asked.

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