Page 24 of Ghosted Cowboy
I WAS FASTENING MYfavorite earrings—delicate drops with tiny garnets—when my doorbell rang. My cottage on Maple Street was small but mine, decorated with castoffs from the shop and quilts Gran and I had made together. I'd changed into a simple gray sweater dress and ankle boots, left my hair down the way Ransom liked it.
"Coming!" I grabbed my purse and hurried to the door, already smiling. "Hi, Ran—"
But it wasn't Ransom standing on my porch.
Mason filled the doorway, his stocky frame backlit by the streetlamp. He twisted a pair of work gloves in his hands.
"Mason." I kept one hand on the doorframe, didn't invite him in. "What are you doing here?"
"After what happened today at the theater..." His eyes were too focused behind the fall of his too-long hair. "I wanted to make sure you're okay. Check on you."
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, but—"
"You shouldn't be alone right now." He took a step closer, and I instinctively stepped back. "Someone's targeting you, Rainey. You need protection. I could stay. Keep watch. Make sure nothing happens."
My skin prickled. "That's not necessary. Really."
"I think it is." Another step. His boot crossed the threshold. "I've been watching out for you, you know. Noticed things. People acting strange around you. I could—"
"Mason." I put steel in my voice. "I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine. I don't need—"
"You don't understand." His hand came up, reaching for my arm. "I've seen things. Someone's been—"
"She said it's not necessary."
Ransom's voice cut through the evening, low and dangerous. He materialized from the shadows of my walkway, his truck parked at the curb behind Mason's old pickup. Even in the dim light, I could see he looked ready for a fight, shoulders bunched tight, jaw set.
Mason's mouth tightened. "I was just checking on her."
"And now you've checked. She's fine." Ransom moved onto the porch, positioning himself between us. "Time to go."
"I don't think that's your decision to make."
"Mason." I rested my hand on Ransom's arm—felt the tension vibrating through him—and stepped forward. "I appreciate your concern. I do. But I have plans tonight, and I'm okay. Really."
He looked between us, understanding dawning in his eyes. His expression shifted—wounded and angry all at once. "You're back together. You and him."
It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway. "Yes."
"I've asked you out six times, Rainey. Six." His voice went rough. "You always said no, said you weren't ready, weren't interested. But he suddenly shows up again, and you just—" Heshook his head. "I've been here. The whole time. I would have been good to you. Better than him."
"Don’t do this." Ransom's voice dropped low and cold. "She's told you no. Multiple times. That should've been enough the first time. Now I'm telling you—don’t show up here again. Stop watching her. Stop whatever the hell you think you're doing. Are we clear?"
The two men stared at each other, tension crackling in the cold evening air.
Finally, Mason jammed his hands in his pockets and stalked to his pickup. The engine roared to life, taillights disappearing down the street too fast.
Ransom turned to me, his hands immediately on my shoulders. "Has he been harassing you to go out with him?"
I let out a long breath. "Not really harassing. Just... persistent. Like he said, he's asked me out a few times over the years. I've always said no, thought he understood by now we were just friends. Or acquaintances. This felt different though. More pushy."
"I don't like it." His thumbs stroked my collarbones, soothing despite the edge still in his voice. "Mason's always been odd. Quiet. But this obsessive watching, showing up at your house—"
"You think he could be behind the sabotage?"
"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." He pulled me close, pressed his lips to my hair. "You ready for dinner? Or do you need a minute?"
"I'm ready." I looked up at him. "I just need to feel safe again."
