Page 2 of Some Cowboys Fight for Love

He leveled her with a stare. “I’m still willing to fulfill my promise. If Ash hurts?—”

This time she let out a hefty laugh. “Ash is more protective over me than you are if that’s possible. I’ll be fine. You need to worry about yourself. Just because Mateo and Sophia are gone doesn’t mean you won’t have to contend with their younger siblings. Isabelle can be a handful when she wants to be. And she said Aria is sticking around for the undetermined future. They’re both loud and outgoing when they want to be.”

“So?” he said with a grunt. “I’m not there to babysit. I’m there strictly to take care of the horses. Roman is taking care of the dogtraining side of things, and I’m sure he can keep his sister and cousin reined in as needed.”

Charlie shrugged. “Yeah, probably. You seem to like your peace and quiet, is all.”

“Mateo gave me access to his hunting cabin near the wooded area of their property. I’ll have my space.”

She nodded, half her attention already turned back to the book in her lap. “Have fun, Daniel.”

He turned and headed for the door, tossing one more look toward his sister before he slipped out.

The smellof wet leaves on the ground, the bare branches of the trees in the backdrop of the cabin, and the chill in the air reminded Daniel that he far preferred the spring and summer months to fall. The cold didn’t bother him nearly as much as the darkness. He hated the shorter days. He couldn’t explain why, but he simply got into more of a mood when the leaves started changing colors.

He pulled his truck up the muddied road that would lead to the cabin, already knowing it was going to be the perfect place for him to stay while he took care of the horses. The main house and barns were a few football fields away.

When he turned the bend and the cabin came into view, he slowed. Then he blinked and his eyes narrowed.

There was a light on inside the building. Beside the cabin was a small lean-to where a couple of horses could be kept. He already planned on getting a couple from the main house to keep here so he could exercise them on his many trips to the barn. Smoke rose from the chimney. There was definitely someone in the cabin.

Daniel stopped his truck completely and pulled out his phone. The last text Mateo had sent made it clear that the cabin was up for grabs.

He whipped his head up and stared at the silhouette of the building. Yep, there was definitely someone living here. Did Mateo know?

His finger hovered over his phone as if deciding already that he needed to call Mateo and inform him that someone was squatting. And yet, he hesitated. Mateo was already worried about other issues out of state. He didn’t need Daniel to call him every few days to ask questions. They’d gone over everything he needed to know.

Putting his foot on the gas, he slowly approached the house and then shut off the engine.

Whoever was inside would get a rude awakening when he entered and pulled them from the building by the scruff of their neck.

He frowned and reached for the hunting rifle he kept on a rack on the back window. It was meant for wild animals whenever they encroached on Keagan land, but he wasn’t against using it against people who were clearly trespassing.

With a jerk of his arm, he loaded the weapon. Then he pressed the butt against his shoulder and moved toward the door as stealthily as he could. He’d always been told he was too quiet on his feet for his size. Today he couldn’t have been more grateful for it.

His hand wrapped around the knob. A voice could be heard, muffled from inside. The knob wouldn’t turn.

Locked.

Daniel glanced around for the fake rock by the edge of the patio and lifted it. Beneath the rock was the key Mateo promised he’d find.

Soundlessly, he slipped the key into the knob and turned. The click was quiet enough not to create suspicion of someone entering the building. Daniel shoved the key into his pocket and then turned the knob.

The door swung open on silent hinges, and the voice he’d heard before grew clearer.

“I don’t care what he says. It’s a lie! You and I both know it. I have pictures to prove it. What happened to those?” The woman’s raven hair was pulled up into a messy bun atop her head. Whisps of hair fell from the bun, teasing the nape of her neck and likely framing her face. She paced in front of the fire, one hand waving erratically as she spoke on the phone. “This should be illegal. They can’t let him?—”

She cut herself off and stilled before whirling around. Her eyes snapped to Daniel, dropped to the gun he held, then jumped back to his face. All at once her haggard appearance shifted and a broad smile filled her face.

The transformation was eerie.

“I gotta go, Soph. I’ll talk to you soon.” She hung up the phone and crossed her arms, her body language at odds with the smile she wore. Then again, didn’t predators smile? Hers could be considered just as sinister as those. “What are you doing here?” There wasn’t a hint of fear. “Daniel, right?”

He’d only met this woman twice before—though not officially. Aria. This woman was a cousin to the Palmer family.

“Would you mind lowering your weapon? I’m not interested in getting shot tonight.” For a moment, that tired tone returned to her voice.

Daniel did as he was told, lowering the rifle so it pointed to the ground. “I could ask you the same thing. Mateo said that I could use this cabin while he and Sophia went out of town.”

---