Page 69 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
“You’ve caused your own problems,” Ciara snapped. She would not sit by and play damsel in distress. “You’re the ones earning a living off the blood of these poor animals. You can’t complain when people don’t like it.”
The man turned red, but under her glare, didn’t respond.
“I know about the messages.” Rowan’s voice was quiet and solemn, and all the more dangerous for it. “That’s a serious crime, and we won’t hesitate to prosecute.”
“We didn’t do anything,” the man snarled. “You have no proof!”
“Actually, we do.” Spencer stepped forward. “I traced the messages on the ride here. If you aren’t feeling agreeable, I could just pass the information to the cyber-crime unit of the local police and–”
“We’re agreeable!” Sweat sheened on the bearded man’s face. “Please don’t go to the police. I just got out of prison, and I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings.”
Ciara gasped, as Rowan visibly stiffened. She’d boldly challenged them, never truly believing they would harm her. But a man who had already broken the law could very well do so again.
“There won’t be any more misunderstandings as long as you stay away.” Pure power forged Rowan’s every word. “If we seeyou again, or receive any more messages, we’ll go straight to the authorities.”
The men backed up, turned and stumbled to their truck. The engine roared to life, tires screeching, as they drove far too fast down the rural dirt road. In moments, only the scent of body odor and alcohol remained of the thugs.
They were gone. It was over. She was safe.She repeated it again and again, yet her heart didn’t stop galloping, like a horse who didn’t realize she’d passed the finish line. At least one of the men had already been to prison, and he was clearly scared of going back. What had they done?
What would they have done if Rowan hadn’t showed up?
Stay strong.Sweat coated her body, even as she shivered, despite the day’s brutal heat. Burning and freezing, a smothering juxtaposition of sensation. Suddenly, she was pulled against an iron chest, wrapped in corded arms, captured against a wall of strength. The fear receded as Rowan embraced her, smoothing down her back, whispering soft words of comfort. She pressed into him as he tightened his hold, enveloping her in pure power. She never wanted to let go.
She couldn’t stay forever, even as she let herself linger, caught in possessive arms. Ever-so-slowly her heart returned to normal, her breathing quieting to slow, steady breaths. Finally, she pulled away.
He didn’t let go.
But after a few seconds he finally did, with a reluctance that proved they’d be doing this again soon. For longer. And closer. And even now, he kept a hand on her back, a reminder he was still present. “Are you all right?” Concern darkened his eyes, and something far deeper. Emotions he never showed lurked, as he rubbed his thumb against her cheek. No, she was not okay.Not even a little. Yet instead of the truth, she said nothing, nodded.
His jaw tightened. She hadn’t fooled him. “Being afraid does not mean you aren’t strong. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he promised solemnly. “But I am furious.”
Ciara narrowed her eyes. Rowan still held her, but a sternness tightened his expression. They held each other’s gaze, neither blinking, neither moving. A horse neighed, and they both turned at the same time. “We need to take care of the horses.”
Rowan took a deep breath, clearly fighting for control. Finally, he nodded. “Even with multiple trailers, it’ll take two trips to get all the horses to the ranch. We’ll load half, the men will drive them, then Spencer and Quinn can get them settled. You and I will stay here to care for the rest until they get back.”
How smoothly he usurped the reins of the operation. A tinge of irritation flashed, but she smothered it; he had, after all, just gotten her out of precarious situation.
Yet his need for control dominated as they loaded the horses onto the trailers, as he directed everything and everyone. When the men finally left with the first load of horses, gratitude had turned to frustration.
Now they stood at the fence overlooking the remaining horses. For just a moment, she let herself savor the moment, the warm sun on her back, the dewy grass under her boots, the sights, sounds and scents of her favorite animals. Yet even the lily-scented air couldn’t erase the tension.
“How could you come here alone?” Rowan’s voice was low, somber. “What were you thinking?”
She exhaled slowly, reminded herself what could’ve happened if he hadn’t come. “I was thinking I had to save the horses.”
His grip on the fence tightened. “I told you to take someone. You said you would.”
“I said I would try,” she corrected.
“And did you try?” He pushed back from the fence. “Did you even ask anyone?”
A frisson of danger sparked, from the powerful man who would never hurt her. How the thugs must have felt. “It wasn’t convenient to ask.”
“Because you drove away even as you promised to recruit help.”
So he had realized the truth. “I couldn’t afford to lose any time. I left as soon as possible to stop the auction, and it worked. If other customers arrived like those men did, the owner might have gone through with the sale. I could have lost some of the horses.”
“Except you had hours, Ciara.” He gestured to his watch. “You could’ve wasted twenty minutes and still made it with time to spare. It wouldn’t have been difficult to find someone to help. My brothers would have happily joined you.”
