Page 88 of Soldier Cowboy
And now it might happen again.
Colton blamed himself.
Maybe it took a line of trucks following him to Lupine Lake, but it all came back to him now. He wasn’t alone, and never had been. This was hishome, not simply the place where his family and ranch were located. Everyone cared for each other, the residents looked out for one another. Even Beau, who Colton previously wrote off as a playboy who worked only to pay for his fun.
Instead, he was the one who’d noticed something unusual and was now leading the calvary. So, yeah, maybe Colton didn’t always have to be the leader. Maybe, for once, he could let others help. Because if Jennifer didn’t walk out of this situation safe and whole, he wasn’t going to be good to anyone. For anything.
Beau pulled up just outside the single lane entrance to the lake and everyone followed suit behind him.
He walked up to Colton’s truck. “We don’t want a line of vehicles to come in at once and spook him if he’s here. My truck is the only one he might expect.”
“I’ve got to get in there, Beau. I can’t justsithere.”
Beau held up his palm. “No. I get it. Let’s just allwalkinside and try not to make it too obvious. Remember, there are people here. Families andchildren.”
Right. Beau was probably terrified of collateral damage and suddenly so was Colton. When Dan had brought Jennifer here, he’d made it everyone’s problem. Beau was correct. They had to protect the residents. Cooler heads and all that rot.
If onlyhishead wasn’t about to explode.
“Let me walk around first and see if I can spot the car.” Beau tapped Colton’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Colton pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn’t seen the car because he’d been too busy inside thinking he didn’t have a care in the world. Looking forward to exactly how he would slowly disrobe Jennifer the moment they got home.
With the others, Colton huddled and waited, gun loaded, holstered under his jacket.
Only a few minutes later, Riggs pulled up next to Colton and rolled down his window.
Colton met him. “What are you doing here?”
“I got a call there was trouble. You think someone took Jennifer? Why? How the hell did that happen?”
Colton dragged a hand down his face. “My own stupidity and hubris. I thought I could keep her safe without your help. Without anyone’s help.”
Riggs scowled. “Explain.”
Colton told Riggs everything. How he was doing a favor for a friend, Jennifer’s father. How her podcast had acquired a stalker and how her father had made an executive decision and sent her out of town. He finished by confessing Colton wasn’t actually her fiancé, but her bodyguard. Riggs’s guarded expression went from irritation to shock but landed square back on anger.
A familiar place for him when it came to Colton.
“Does Sean know?” Riggs spit out through a tight jaw.
Colton shook his head. “No. He was getting married and the last thing I wanted him to think is I’d come to his wedding with a job. It all happened very suddenly. I couldn’t say no to her father, and Jennifer needed me. And, to tell the truth, I hoped having a fiancée might go a long way to help you finally believe I was here to stay.”
“Damn it, Colton.” Riggs climbed out of his truck, looking ready to give Colton hell.
He should have never brought trouble with him, should have never brought Jennifer here. He’d led a dangerous stalker right to their quiet little town.
“Youshouldhave asked for my help from day one.”
“That’s…not what I expected you to say.”
“No, it never is, is it? What’s it going to take for you to know that we’re brothers and we stick together? We’re blood, by both birth and choice. If I’d ever had a choice in the first place, I’d still choose you for a brother.”
“I would choose you, too.” Colton swallowed hard, the emotions running too deep for him now. “Every single time.”
He was on the cusp of despair, anger, revenge, and Riggs had thrown in brotherly love. Riggs, the older brother who’d made sure to keep them together when they were all farmed out to foster care. He’d heard since then that it was unusual for all siblings to remain together, but Riggs was old enough to make the argument. It was probably the first time he’d made a persuasive argument worthy of his future law degree.
