HER COWBOY BODYGUARD

Laura Jackson trusts no man—especially after her father’s gambling debts force her into the crosshairs of a ruthless loan shark. But when fearless army-ranger-turned-cowboy Colton Blackwell charges in to save her from the barrel of a gun, the self-reliant nurse must accept his help. Whisking Laura away to his secluded Louisiana ranch doesn’t provide the sanctuary Colton planned. But he intends to keep his promise to protect her, despite secrets in his past that could drive her away. Laura may have a bounty on her head, but the only thing at risk under Colton’s care will be her heart.

“Have you ever fired a gun?”

”No.” Nor did she want to. Although she had a feeling she might have to.

“You should know that I always have one on me.” He opened his jacket to reveal a holstered weapon. “As a ranger, it was my job to go into an area and clear it of enemy risks. It taught me never to be afraid. Fear is your worst enemy in battle.”

She suspected he didn’t fear anything or anyone. He’d swooped in to save her, facing death to protect someone he didn’t even know.

She felt a rush of gratitude. So much for keeping a level head around him. She stared up into his face. “Thanks for helping me, Colton. I don’t know what would have happened to me…” She fought back tears.

His eyes met hers. “I’ll keep you safe, Laura. I promise.”

How long had it been since she’d been able to trust a man?

And why did she want so badly to believe in this one?

VIRGINIA VAUGHAN is a born-and-raised Mississippi girl. She is blessed to come from a large Southern family, and her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted around the dinner table. She was a lover of books from a young age, devouring tales of romance, danger and love. She soon started writing them herself. You can connect with Virginia through her website, virginiavaughanonline.com, or through the publisher.

Ranch Refuge
Virginia Vaughan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,

nor His ear too dull to hear.

—Isaiah 59:1

This book is dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You have seen me through the ups and downs of life, always preparing me for what is to come and helping me to stand strong against the storms.

Also, to my sister, Lisa, for your nursing expertise that greatly added to the authenticity of this story.

Contents

COVER

BACK COVER TEXT

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TITLE PAGE

BIBLE VERSE

DEDICATION

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

EPILOGUE

DEAR READER

EXTRACT

COPYRIGHT

ONE

Laura Jackson quickened her pace as she headed for her car. The parking lot had been full of activity when she’d arrived for work at the River City Medical Center at seven this morning, but now, after a nearly sixteen-hour shift, the employee parking lot was all but deserted. Her car sat in the back of the lot, along with a handful of other vehicles of shift workers, abandoned for the night.

The streetlamps illuminated a scattered area of the dark lot, but her car was on the back row, past the safety of the bright lights. Although she’d initially toyed with the idea of calling the security office for an escort, she’d opted against it because she hadn’t felt like waiting for them to arrive. She was ready to get home, into her own bed, and try to get some rest. Wiping away a trickle of sweat from her brow, Laura hiked her backpack up on her shoulder as she crossed the parking lot. The Louisiana summer night was muggy and added to the lethargy she was already feeling. As an ER nurse, she was accustomed to the long shifts at the hospital, used to operating on only a few hours of sleep, but lately something else had been keeping her up, even on her nights off work.

She stopped short when a man stepped from between two rows of cars. He nodded at her, then leaned against the back of a truck, seemingly paying her no more attention. He was tall and good-looking, dressed in boots and jeans, and, even without a hat on his head, she could tell he was a cowboy. Laura continued past him, her senses on high alert for anything suspicious. As she walked past, she felt his eyes follow her, watching as she neared her car.

She readied her keys, prepared to do battle against him if necessary. She hated how her mind automatically moved toward evil intentions. A few weeks ago she might have smiled flirtatiously at the ruggedly handsome cowboy or confronted the man and demanded to know why he was lurking around the parking lot. But that was before the notes began...before the late-night visits from Chuck Randall and his goon squad...before she’d learned her father had done the unthinkable and promised loan sharks and bookies that Laura would cover his gambling debts. Was this cowboy one of those men who’d come to try to collect from her? She’d made herself clear. She wasn’t paying. And she certainly wasn’t interested in anything else Randall wanted from her, either.

Laura hit the button on her key fob and the lights on her car flashed. The cowboy moved, approaching her as headlights from another car in the lot flickered on and an engine revved loudly. She glanced at the car and saw it roar from its parking space and head her way.

Laura ran for her car, fumbling with her keys as the car sped toward her. The keys slipped through her fingers and hit the ground. She reached down to grab them and suddenly the cowboy was upon her, grabbing her arm and yanking her out of the way as the vehicle barreled past her.

Heart hammering in her chest, she hit the hood of a parked car with a thud and heard tires screeching behind her. She scrambled to her feet to see the cowboy pull a gun from his belt and aim it at the vehicle that was turning back toward them.

“The black pickup. Go now!” he shouted at her.

But Laura stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the vehicle barreling toward them.

“Laura, move now!” The cowboy punctuated his words by firing several shots at the approaching car.

Oh, God, help me!

She couldn’t move. Paralyzed with fear, she could barely drag in her next breath. This can’t be happening... It just can’t be.

The cowboy sprinted in front of the oncoming car and grabbed her, once again pulling her out of the way just in time. He fired off a couple more shots as the vehicle screeched to a halt and then he gripped her arm and pulled her alongside him, his stride brisk and determined.

Laura tried to wrench herself free from his iron grasp as he headed toward the black pickup. Safety lessons rushed through her mind about getting into cars with strangers. She wouldn’t go with these men...refused to let Randall win. “Let me go! What do you want with me? I don’t have anything of value. Please! Just let me go.”

He stopped and loosened his grip on her arm. His sharp features softened as he turned his warm, brown gaze to her, his eyes reflecting urgency. “I’m here to help you.”

He was trying to rescue her. Maybe he wasn’t one of Randall’s men.

She looked at the car headed their way. Those were Randall’s men. She was certain of it. But something about this stranger was different. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what, but she saw more than strength in his square jaw and rock-hard physique. He had kindness in his face. Should she take a chance that he was one of the good guys? What choice did she really have?

He turned and fired toward the thugs again, hitting the windshield. The car swerved and smashed into a row of parked vehicles. “Get in the truck now,” he commanded.

This time Laura did as she was told. She pulled open the passenger door and hurried inside. The cowboy slid into the driver’s seat, gunned the engine and took off. Laura scrambled to find the seat belt and buckle it as they raced away from the would-be abduction.

She glanced back to see that the car was following them, but the cowboy—her rescuer now—pressed down hard on the accelerator and took off. His shoulders were tight, his jaw tense, yet his composure remained calm, cool, self-assured. She had the feeling he knew what he was doing and hadn’t happened upon her by accident.

“Hold on,” he instructed as he slammed on the brakes and turned the wheel, causing her to slide toward him. The seat belt locked and she was yanked back in the opposite direction. Laura grabbed hold of the dash and tried to hang on. She wasn’t complaining. Anything to keep free of Randall and his crazy obsession with her!

He gunned the engine again as the car came alongside them and the man in the backseat pulled out a gun.

“Get down!” her cowboy shouted, pushing her head down as shots rang out, dinging the truck and smashing the side window behind him. “Get on the floor!”

She unbuckled her seat belt and crouched on the floorboard as another shot whizzed past her and hit the passenger door.

He jerked the steering wheel and Laura heard metal crunch metal as he smashed into the side of the car, pushing it onto the shoulder and off the road before maneuvering the truck back onto the road, never once taking his foot off the accelerator.

Laura peered out the back window and saw the car on its side in a ditch and several men scrambling from the vehicle. “You did it. They’re not chasing us.”

He nodded curtly. “They’ll regroup and be back.”

Relief flooded her, then the startling realization that Randall had indeed sent men after her. She’d tried ignoring his threats and his advances, but it had done no good. If it wasn’t for this handsome stranger, who knew where she might be now or what Randall would demand of her.

She stared at him as he concentrated on the road. His rugged jawline and profile seemed the embodiment of strength and courage. She wasn’t afraid of this man, but she had no logical reason not to be. She didn’t know him, yet she’d jumped into a truck with him. He’d swooped in like a hero in an action flick and rescued her.

“How did you know they were going to try to kidnap me?” she asked.

He turned his chocolate-brown eyes her way and her toes tingled at his gaze. However, his next words stopped her cold.

“Because I’ve been following you, Laura.”

* * *

Colton didn’t let up on the accelerator as he sped down the highway. He was less concerned about getting a speeding ticket than he was about getting Laura to safety.

She pressed herself against the passenger door, her hands shaking and her expression morphing from one of acceptance and gratitude to confusion and fear at his words.

“You...you were following me? Who are you? What do you want with me? And how do you know my name?” Her green eyes were wide with fear and her lips pressed hard into a line.

He gripped the steering wheel. “I don’t want anything from you. I just saved your life. Those men were going to abduct you.”

“And what were you doing? Why were you following me?”

“I was trying to help you.” He saw the terror written across her pretty face and his gut clenched. He’d seen that expression too many times before during his deployment as an army ranger when his team had arrived out of the blue with guns and orders. But this wasn’t Afghanistan and he hadn’t brandished his weapon at her. And he was no longer taking orders from anyone.

He’d met her father in Gamblers Anonymous and seen a man who was where he used to be. When Bill had confided that his daughter was in danger, Colton had offered his expertise. “I was only following you so I could be on the lookout. I figured Randall would send men after you. I just didn’t know who or when. I wanted to be close by when they appeared. I’m not going to hurt you, Laura. I’m here to help.”

A cautious relief flowed over her as she sat straight and tall on the seat, her auburn hair tumbling from its ponytail, soft wisps falling around her pale face. “I appreciate what you did tonight. You can drop me at the closest convenience store and I’ll call someone to come and pick me up.”

He grinned, having already summed up her type from shadowing her over the past two days. No gushy gratitude from this lady. She was set and determined to take care of herself. He admired that. She was a strong woman, but even strong women sometimes needed help. “Who?”

“Excuse me?”

“Who are you going to call to come get you?”

Her eyes widened as if surprised that he would ask and she took on an indignant tone. “I don’t see how that’s your business.”

“I just rescued you from kidnappers. I’d hate to have wasted my time only to have them find you now.”

A flush of anger crept over her face at his unwillingness to stop. “I appreciate your stepping in tonight, but I must insist you stop the truck and let me out. Now.”

He understood her frustration, but he also wasn’t going to allow her to walk right back into a dangerous situation. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Laura.”

“Again...how do you know my name?”

“I know all about you. My name is Colton Blackwell, in case you’re interested.”

“Thank you, I’m very interested. Now I know who to tell the police abducted me.”

He flashed another grin, enjoying her quick wit. She was smart. He liked that. “You’re not my prisoner.”

“Then stop the truck and let me go.”

“Think of this less as an abduction and more like protective custody.”

“Are you a cop?” she asked.

“Nope. I’m a cattle farmer.”

“A cattle farmer? Really? So a cattle farmer has kidnapped me and placed me in protective custody?”

He nodded grimly. “I’d say that’s a fair assessment of what’s happening.”

She pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her scrub top. “I’m calling the police.”

He couldn’t allow that, either. He snatched the phone from her hand and tossed it out the open window.

“Hey, that’s my phone!”

“They can use that to track you. Better safe than sorry,” he said, keeping his eyes trained on the road. “I’m taking you to my ranch in Compton. It’s about an hour’s drive. My buddy is the sheriff there. I’ll have him meet us and you can explain to him what happened.”

She reluctantly sat back in the seat and her manner softened. “Look, Colton, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but what good can a small-town sheriff in Compton do? No one can help me.”

“I trust him. He’ll be able to help.”

“This is not your problem. It’s mine.”

Her knew her story and saw the truth on her beautiful but sad face. It was a heavy burden she was carrying.

But she no longer had to shoulder it alone.

* * *

The hum of the highway and the soft sound of country music spilling from the radio greeted Laura as she awoke. The cab of the truck was dark except for the lights of the dash. She rubbed sleep from her eyes, surprised that she’d nodded off so easily. She shouldn’t be surprised. She hadn’t slept well in more than two weeks, not since she’d discovered the predicament her father had placed her in. She’d found herself triple-checking the doors of her apartment and even then sleeping fitfully in case someone tried to break in. But tonight, in the cab of Colton Blackwell’s pickup truck, she’d slept soundly.

She stared at the black road stretching out in front of them, lit only by the bright lights of the truck. “Where are we?”

“About twenty minutes from my ranch in Compton, Louisiana.”

She took a good long look at the man who had been her rescuer tonight. His face was sharp and angled and the stubble on his face appeared as rough-and-tumble as he seemed to be.

She turned away her eyes. She shouldn’t be examining any part of this cattle rancher except his intentions toward her. “Why were you following me?”

“I heard you were in trouble. Whenever I hear of someone in trouble, I try to help if I can.”

“What makes you think you can help me?”

“It’s kind of what I do, Laura. I used to be an army ranger. When I got out of the service, I looked around for something else I would be good at. This is where my skills lie, so I try to lend a hand if I hear of someone in trouble. Think of me as your very own private security.”

“But how did you know I was in trouble? Who told you about me?”

“Your father told me about your predicament. He was worried someone might be after you. It looks like he was right to be worried.”

“My father hired you? I don’t think so. He doesn’t have any money. He can’t afford to pay you.”

“I didn’t ask for anyone to pay me.” He shrugged. “I only want to continue to protect and serve.”

She sat, tense, uncertain what to do. On the one hand, Colton had saved her from a kidnapping. Those men had undoubtedly belonged to Randall. In his last communication with her, he’d told her he was tired of waiting. But on the other hand, Colton was a stranger and just another man making assurances to her he might not keep. How could she trust him?

He turned off the road and Laura saw a two-story ranch house appear in the headlights. As they approached, she glimpsed a barn off to one side and a large metal shop to the other side. He parked in front of the house and cut the engine.

“I know you don’t know me, but I really do just want to help keep you safe, Laura. This isn’t my first time involved in something like this, and I’m good at what I do. You’ll be protected here, I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She glanced around at the house and barn. No one else appeared to be around. There were no other cars in the driveway and no lights on inside the house, but she did hear the sound of dogs barking in the distance. They were all alone out here together. If circumstances were different, she knew she could be in real trouble. She was reminded of one of those movies that claimed that no one would hear you scream.

Still, she couldn’t be too careful. “I want to call my father.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. No one knows you’re here and I’d like to keep it that way. That means you don’t call friends, family or coworkers. Those men will keep searching for you. Don’t make it easy for them to track you down.” He slid from the truck and walked around to open her door.

Laura slid from the truck and let him lead her toward the house. Everything he said made sense, but his words had dual meaning. If no one knew where she was, then no one would know what had happened to her if Colton Blackwell turned out to not be what he seemed.

He flipped on light switches as he entered the house, illuminating simple yet comfortable furnishings. It wasn’t fancy, but Laura wasn’t used to fancy.

“Do you live alone?”

“Yes. I bought this place two years ago, after I left the service.”

She spotted a photograph on the mantel of Colton with a group of men all in uniform. “You said you were a ranger. Was this your unit?”

He nodded, but a terse look crossed his face. “It was.”

She saw his pained expression before he pushed it away. She recognized that look. She’d seen it many times during her stint as a nurse in the ER. It was the look of someone whose loved one had passed away. She’d heard about the Army Rangers and knew the work they did was dangerous. He’d lost men, probably one or more of the men in the photograph, and probably in battle.

“The one on the end is Blake Michaels. He’s the deputy sheriff I told you about.” Colton started for the staircase. “I’ll show you where you can sleep.”

He opened a door at the top of the stairs and Laura looked around at the simple bed, dresser and chair. It wasn’t fancy, but it was cozy and clean. She glanced at the dresser drawers and realized she had nothing to put inside them. She hadn’t had time to pack a bag and her extra scrubs were in her backpack, which she assumed was now lying abandoned in the hospital’s employee parking lot.

“You’ll have your own private bathroom,” Colton continued, motioning toward a closed door. “There should be some extra toothbrushes in the cabinet and we’ll go into town tomorrow to buy whatever else you think you might need.”

He kept extra toothbrushes? That meant this wasn’t the first time he’d intervened to help someone. It seemed to confirm what he’d told her in the truck. “I take it I’m not the first person you’ve helped to stay in this room.”

He stared at her, his brown eyes filled with dismay. “You don’t trust much, do you?”

His words were true if unwelcome. “I’ve never had much reason to trust easily.”

“Well, you can trust me, Laura.”

She wanted to believe that, but she’d been burned too many times before.

“I’ve already moved my stuff downstairs. I’ll be sleeping on the couch while you’re here, so you’ll have the entire upstairs. If you need anything, holler.”

After he left, Laura locked the bedroom door. She glanced around at the room. This was her safe haven for now. No one knew where she was or what had happened to her. A phone sat on the end table and she considered phoning her father to let him know she was safe, but she decided against it. Would her father worry about her? A part of her was happy to think that he might spend a few restless nights fretting about her. Or would he simply assume she’d taken care of his debt? No, Colton had said her father had been the one to hire him. He was trying to fix the mess he’d gotten her into.

It was small consolation.

She shuddered at the thought of what might have happened to her if Colton Blackwell hadn’t been there. And, despite the fact that she didn’t know if she could really trust him, she was thankful for his help.

* * *

Colton headed downstairs. He felt better having Laura under his roof. If anyone was coming after her, they would have to face him on his own turf.

He hated how distrustful she seemed, unwilling to believe that anyone would want to help her without asking for something in return. She was clearly so used to being disappointed that she couldn’t imagine things going any other way.

God, please help her to believe that I only want to protect her. And grant me the strength and discernment to keep her safe from harm.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Bill Jackson’s number, his stomach turning as he made the call. This was the man who had caused Laura so much pain and grief. It was too real seeing the pain in her face. He knew that look. Oh, how well he knew that look.

“It’s me,” he said when Bill answered. “I have her. She’s safe.”

He listened to the rush of thanks and gratitude from the other end but soon cut him off. He hadn’t intervened for this man’s sake, regardless of how thankful he was. He’d done it for Laura and to make up in some way for the mistakes he’d made. Laura Jackson represented to him every person his own gambling addiction had hurt. If he could keep her safe, maybe he could make up for his past, even if just a little.

* * *

Laura’s mind raced. Sleep was impossible. Thoughts of the night’s events kept playing over and over again, reminding her that she was in a stranger’s home. How had she just gotten into the man’s truck and driven away with him? Away from everything and everyone familiar to her? Yes, she’d been under attack. Those men had been out to get her. But how did she know Colton Blackwell wasn’t one of Randall’s men, as well? For all she knew, his intervention had been planned, premeditated, to get her right where Randall wanted her—alone, frightened, vulnerable...and looking for a hero.

She stopped that line of thinking before she made herself crazy. Randall’s men had been after her and Colton had rescued her. She’d acted on instinct, going along with him because she’d had no choice. But that didn’t mean she had to remain with him now that the moment of danger had passed.

She picked up the phone to call for help, then realized she had no idea where she was...except for the city. Compton. That was, of course, assuming he’d been telling her the truth. She couldn’t trust him. After all, the only thing she knew about Colton Blackwell was that he’d said he had been watching her. What if he was worse than Randall? There was no telling what this man wanted from her.

Certainly she’d been acting purely on adrenaline before. But now that she’d had plenty of time to digest what was happening, she realized she had to get away from him. Now. Tonight. She would sneak out and flag down a car for help.

She slipped back into her shoes and quietly unlocked the bedroom door. Opening it softly, she walked to the top of the stairs and peeked down. The house looked dark except for the dim light above the kitchen range. She glanced at the sofa bed where Colton said he would be sleeping and saw a figure wrapped in a blanket. Now was her time to escape—while he was asleep. Hopefully she would be well out of his grasp before he awakened in the morning.

She tiptoed across the floor and quietly pulled open the door.

“Don’t move!” Colton hollered, leaping from the sofa bed and pointing a gun at her.

“Please don’t hurt me,” Laura cried out. Her heart raced with fear at the sight of Colton’s gun trained on her. This only confirmed what she’d been afraid of: Colton Blackwell was not her friend.

He flipped on the light and the intensity of his expression fell. “Laura, I nearly shot you.” Lowering the gun, he rasped, “What are you doing?”

She pressed herself against the door and tried to breathe. No telling what he might do to her now that he’d caught her trying to sneak away. Would he continue with the charade of trying to protect her? She struggled to find her voice against the rapid shaking of her muscles. “Please, just let me go. I won’t tell anyone who you are.” Tears streamed down her face. “Please. I just want to go home.”

His expression softened and he nodded. “Okay, Laura. Okay.” He placed the gun on the table and then turned to her. “I’m not going to hurt you. I only want to help you.”

But all the reasons why she couldn’t trust him kept flittering through her mind. She didn’t know him. She didn’t know his intentions. How could she really believe him? And why would someone like him want to help someone like her?

He gave a resigned sigh. “Let’s try this another way.” He grabbed the truck keys from the end table and held them out to her. “Take these. Take the truck. Take my phone. Call your father and confirm my story, but don’t tell him where you are. If he knows, Randall could force him to tell.” He pulled cash from his wallet. “Take this money. Find a hotel and hole up there for a few days. But don’t go home, Laura. You’re not safe at home.”

The keys shook in her hand. “You...you’re letting me go?”

“You’re not my prisoner. If you don’t want my protection, fine. I get it. You don’t know me. If this is the only way you’ll allow me to help you, then take it.”

She turned and ran to the truck, certain he would be right behind her to stop her, certain this was all a sick trick to make her trust him. But he was offering her a way out and she was going to take it.

She climbed into the truck and started the engine. Colton was still on the porch, standing, watching her, making no move to stop her. She jammed the truck into gear and sped up the drive. She saw him in the mirror, still watching, making no move to stop her or to follow her.

She stopped at the end of the drive. The house was no longer visible and the darkness of the road stretched in front of her. She had no idea where she was going or what she was going to do. Her pulse was slowing; fear of the unknown replacing her need to flee. If she left Colton, she had no idea what she was getting into. Randall and his men were still coming for her, and if they’d tried to abduct her once, they would do it again.

She leaned against the steering wheel as confusion confounded her. Was it really possible that Colton was just who he’d said he was and that all he wanted was to help her? All she knew for certain was that bad men were after her and that Colton had done nothing but protect her from them.

She glanced at his cell phone on the seat beside her. Colton had said her father had hired him and that would be easy enough to confirm. She picked up his phone and recognized her dad’s number listed under his recent calls.

She pressed the number and waited. He answered on the third ring.

“Dad, something happened tonight.”

“I know, Laura. Colton already called me. Are you okay, honey?”

“I—I don’t know. Who is this guy, Dad? How do I know I can trust him?”

There was a long pause. “You can trust him, Laura. I believe he really wants to help.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she snapped. “I can’t believe you did this to me.”

She heard the catch in his voice as he rushed to apologize. “Laura, I’m sorry. I never thought this would happen.”

She caught herself before she said what she was really thinking. You never thought about me, only about yourself.

“Well, it’s a little too late for regrets now, don’t you think?”

“Laura, please, I—”

Satisfied that the army ranger had indeed been hired by her father and unwilling to stomach any more of Bill Jackson’s lame excuses, Laura clicked off the phone.

She needed to trust Colton Blackwell—and pray he was the good guy he appeared to be.

Taking a deep, bolstering breath, she put the truck into Reverse, turned around and headed back toward the house.

He was still on the porch, barefoot, his dark hair disheveled, as if he’d been running his hands through it. He’d obviously not made a move even to put his boots on. She pulled up to the porch and stopped the truck.

She stared at him through the open window, glad she’d returned, because no matter what her overly analytical mind said, she needed to trust this man with her life.

* * *

She was shivering when Colton led her into the house. He doubted it was from the slight breeze in the night air, though, as much as the threats against her. He ushered her into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. She sat watching him as he turned on the coffee and let it brew, then lowered his large, muscular frame into an adjacent chair and got down to business. “Let’s talk about who is after you, Laura. Your father already gave me the basics, but I’d like to hear it from you. Who were those men tonight?”

Her chin quivered as the weight of her situation settled into her. “They work for a man named Chuck Randall.”

“The loan shark?”

“You know him?”

Colton knew him well. He’d had dealings with him once or twice back in his gambling days. “I’ve heard of him. He prowls the casinos in River City looking for souls desperate enough to utilize his services. But what does he want with you?”

Her face reddened and she lowered her head, shame coloring her face. “My father is indebted to him.”

“And he wants to use you as leverage to get your father to pay?”

“Not exactly. It started with him wanting me to cover my dad’s bills. I refused, but he kept hassling me. He threatened me. He said my father would die if I didn’t pay. Finally he said he would wipe out my father’s debt if I did something for him.”

“What does he want you to do, Laura?” Colton asked, his face already grim in anticipation of her response.

A sob caught in her throat and her calm began to unravel. Her hands shook and he could see voicing the truth was painful and bitter. “He wants me to marry him. And if I don’t, he will kill my father.”

Colton was stunned. This went beyond just getting payment for gambling debts. It had already escalated into something much more sinister. Money could be paid back, but if Randall had set his eyes on Laura and she’d rebuked him, she could be in real danger.

“I tried to tell him I wasn’t interested, but his advances only got worse. He phoned me constantly. He sent me flowers and gifts. He even showed up at my work. I begged him to leave me alone. Why would he want someone who doesn’t want him?”

Colton wasn’t surprised. “Randall is used to getting whatever he wants. He’s used to owning people through his money. It’s about power. When he couldn’t control you with money or threats or gifts, he became obsessed with having you. He sent men after you, which means either he’s decided to take you by force or else he wants you to pay for what he would consider the ultimate betrayal.”

She shuddered, rightly frightened by the situation she was in, and he had the sudden urge to take her into his arms and comfort her. He pushed back that feeling and instead steeled himself with determination to keep her safe from Randall and his crazy demands.

“How do I convince him to stop? I’ll give him the money. I’ll pay him whatever he wants to leave me alone.”

“You can’t, Laura. It’s no longer about money. It’s about control.”

She shuddered again and he rushed to reassure her, placing his hand over hers and relishing the softness of her skin. “I told you, Laura, this is what I do, and I’m good at my job. Don’t worry. We’ll find you a way out of this mess.”

She turned those wide green eyes full of hope on him. He’d seen situations like this before and knew they didn’t often work out well, but he didn’t let that sway his resolve. He would keep her safe no matter what it took.

“What about my father?”

“Randall will put pressure on him to uncover your whereabouts, but he can’t tell what he doesn’t know. Bill doesn’t know where I live. I never even told him my last name. Did you call him?”

“Yes,” she replied.

Narrowing his eyes, he gave her a look. “You didn’t tell him where you are, did you?”

“No, I didn’t tell him.”

* * *

She shivered at the thought that Randall might hurt her dad just to get to her. A tear slipped from her eye. She wiped it away quickly. The last thing she wanted was for Colton to feel sorry for him.

“You’re worried about him?” he asked gently.

She pushed away that worry and shook her head. She was done crying for him. “He brought this on me. He placed my life in danger so he could try for his next big score. He stopped thinking of me as a daughter a long time ago.”

“Gambling is just like any other drug. It’s a crutch—”

Laura stopped him before he continued. She was sure he meant well, but she’d heard it all before. “Spare me the ‘gambling is an addiction’ spiel, Colton. I can’t tell you how many people have tried to tell me my dad has a sickness and that he can’t help himself. I tried to help him. I tried everything I knew to do to help him, but he didn’t want my help.” Her anger rising, she blew out a frustrated breath. “All he wanted from me was another handout, and when I stopped giving them, he stopped coming around. I’m sorry for the hole he’s dug himself into, but now he’s dragged me into it with him, and if only one of us can get out of it, it’s going to be me. I won’t continue to let his problem control me.”

She turned away from him, walked back into the den and plopped down on the couch, sinking into the cushions and hoping Colton wouldn’t continue to try to justify her father’s actions. She needed to stay mad at her dad. It was the only thing that was holding her together. But if Colton kept pulling at that string, her entire demeanor might unravel. She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t do herself any good if she became a hysterical mess.

Colton obviously took the hint. “It’s late and I realize you haven’t had anything to eat since you got off work. Why don’t I whip you up some eggs?”

She appreciated all he’d done for her, all he was trying to do for her, but there was no point in him cooking for her. She hadn’t eaten since her lunch break, now nearly eight hours ago, but the pit in her stomach would prevent her from keeping anything down. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m just going to go upstairs and try to get some sleep.”

He was by her side in an instant. “Laura, I’m sorry if I upset you.” His handsome face was full of kindness and concern. For one crazy moment she imagined stepping into his embrace and weeping against his strong shoulders. But that was only a pipe dream.

“None of this is your fault, Colton. In fact, you’re the one bright spot in all of this.”

In fact, she didn’t know what she would have done without him and his intervention. She should never have doubted him. She’d prayed for a way out of this mess, and God had sent her Colton. For that, she was grateful, although she would have preferred that God make the entire mess go away so she could continue on with her life.

Would she ever have a normal life again? She realized she’d taken normalcy for granted when she’d had it. When her mom had gotten sick and died, her father had turned to the casinos for comfort. Laura’s life had not been the same since.

She longed for the assurance of a job where no one knew how dysfunctional her family was, and the stability of a home that didn’t include having to sneak out in the middle of the night because her dad had gambled away the rent money. Mostly, she longed for a loving relationship. That one day she’d have someone who would stand beside her and share her burdens, and she could share his... A lump rose to her throat. But who would ever want to share the burdens she carried? Any man in his right mind would run screaming for the hills when he discovered her twisted family ties.

She swallowed hard, determined not to let her vulnerability show. For now, she had Colton, and she would take what she could get for as long as she could. Because eventually he would realize the depth of the hole her father had dug for her, and he would realize the futility of trying to help her out of it. He would be gone, just like the rest, because the load she carried was too heavy for anyone else to bear.

He stopped her before she reached the stairs. “Laura, we all make choices that have consequences. Some of those consequences are worse than others. I’m sure your father never meant to do anything to cause you harm.”

“He’s getting what he deserves. He brought this on, not me. I can’t concern myself with him right now.” She rushed up the stairs and locked herself in the bedroom before the tears began to fall.

* * *

Colton leaned against the sink. Laura might as well have punched him in the gut. It felt the same. Her words had hit him. Hard. She didn’t know it, but she could have been talking about him when she’d spoken about her father. She was a living, breathing, in-your-face reminder of all the people he’d hurt through his dark time.

If she knew the truth about his past, she would turn tail and run as far from him as she could get...and then Chuck Randall would get to her.

But if Colton could rescue her, then maybe he could gain a bit of redemption, too.

TWO

Laura’s eyes fluttered open. Sunlight filtered in through the curtain. She lifted up onto her elbows and glanced at the bedside clock. It was already afternoon. She’d slept most of the day and had to admit she felt rested for the first time in a long while.

She owed it to Colton and his presence. But even though she felt safe here, she knew she couldn’t afford to let her guard down. She heard his voice from outside her window. Glancing out, she saw him walking toward the barn, several dogs following along behind him. She raised the window and heard him talking to them. It caused her to smile that he talked to his dogs. She liked that about him. Then her face reddened as she realized that wasn’t all she liked about Colton. She enjoyed the way his shirt pulled tight against him, revealing broad shoulders and muscles for decades.

Transfixed, she watched him kneel and pet one of the dogs that jumped up on him, rubbing him affectionately. He suddenly glanced her way. She reddened again, this time at being caught staring. But he good-naturedly raised his hand in a wave to her.

She moved away from the window. Trusting Colton to keep her safe was one thing, but finding herself drawn to the man was another. Still, she couldn’t deny the attraction. But then, why wouldn’t she be affected? A good-looking man had swooped in and rescued her from the bad men. Her feelings were probably natural, but she couldn’t act on them. She didn’t have a great track record with men. Her last serious relationship had ended ugly, causing her to realize the idiom that girls fall in love with men like their fathers wasn’t just a saying. It was true. Lance liked the casinos as much as her father did. Once she’d realized this, she’d quickly ended the relationship. She already had one gambler in her life and certainly didn’t need another.

* * *

Before she went downstairs, she took a few moments to phone her neighbor Mrs. Duncan. Laura told her she was going to be out of town for a few days and asked her to check in on her cat, Misty, and to make sure she had food. Mrs. Duncan agreed and wished her a good trip. Laura hated not being honest with her, but she thought this was the best way. Colton hadn’t even wanted her to phone, but she couldn’t go into hiding while her kitty starved.

Next, she called her friend Denise Jenkins, another nurse in the ER. She wanted to let her know she was safe and ask her to pass along the message to the nurse manager that she’d had to go out of town unexpectedly, so they could remove her from the work schedule and find someone to cover her upcoming shifts.

Denise sounded groggy when she answered and Laura remembered that her friend had worked the graveyard shift. She’d begun her shift while Laura was finishing hers. Laura glanced at the clock and realized her friend had probably just gotten home and into bed an hour or so ago.

“Denise, it’s Laura. Are you awake?”

“I am now,” she moaned. “Why are you calling me so early? You know I just got off work.”

“I know. I wouldn’t have called, but it’s important. Something happened last night. A group of men tried to abduct me in the employee parking lot.”

“What!” Denise’s voice cleared and Laura could tell she was now fully alert. “Are you okay? Are you being held captive? Should I call the police?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Another man was there and he rescued me. I’m safe, but I don’t think I’m going to be returning to River City for a while.”

“Did you go to the police? Did they find the guys who tried to get you?”

“No, we didn’t go to the police. You know this wasn’t a random kidnapping attempt. Randall sent those men to grab me.”

She had told Denise about her father’s gambling debts and Randall’s insistence she pay, but not the rest—the horrible truth that Randall was demanding she marry him. She shuddered, thinking about the idea of him ever laying a hand on her.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Denise asked her.

“Yes, for now. Anyway, the reason I called is that I didn’t want you to worry about me, but I also need you to call the nurse manager and ask her to take me off the schedule. Just tell her I’ll call when I get back into town.”

“When will that be?” Denise asked, her voice growing ever more frightened.

“I don’t know. Maybe not for a while. I don’t have my phone anymore, so you can’t call it, but you can reach me at this number.”

Denise was silent on the other end for several moments. Laura wondered if she’d hung up or fallen back asleep, but when she spoke, Laura could hear the uncertainty and fear in her tone. “Laura, tell me the truth, is someone there with you now? Are they making you say this?”

“No, Denise. I’m fine. Will you please just do as I asked?”

“I will. I’ll take care of it later this afternoon. And will you do me a favor? Stay safe.”

“I will,” Laura promised, then hung up the phone, not knowing if she would ever see her friend again.

* * *

By the time she dressed, Colton was on the front porch in one rocker, a mug of coffee in his hand. Laura spotted a well-worn leather Bible in his lap. He placed it aside as she stepped outside. The dogs lazing at his feet lifted their heads to her curiously.

“Afternoon. How’d you sleep?”

“Good. Too good. Why didn’t you wake me sooner?”

“What for? I guessed you could use some catching up on your sleep. I made breakfast. Nothing fancy, just eggs and bacon. I saved you some.”

“Thanks, but I’m not hungry.” She sat in the opposite rocker and one of the dogs—a brown mutt—moseyed over and sniffed around her. Laura held out her hand to him, then reached down and petted him.

“That’s Milo.” He pointed out the other dogs one by one. “This is Freddie, Rowdy and Miss Roxie.”

Laura scratched behind Milo’s ear. “How are you, boy?” In response, he jumped up onto her lap. “What kind of dog is he?”

“He’s just a run-of-the-mill mutt. All of them are. No thoroughbreds here.” He gave her a wry look. “I hope you like animals because I have a mess of them. The dogs are good for alerting when someone is approaching the house.”

“I heard them last night, but I didn’t see them.”

“I had them penned up.”

“I love animals,” she confided. “I have a cat. Misty. When I was younger, I always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.”

His eyes alight with interest, he asked curiously, “What happened to that dream?”

She sighed. As with most other things, her father’s gambling had stolen another dream from her. “Life happened.”

He must have sensed her reluctance to talk about it because he set aside his Bible as he stood.

“I thought we would go into town and see about getting you some clothes and such. But first I want to give you the layout of the ranch.” He walked to the front door and she saw a small box mounted on the wall. “I always keep the alarm set. The passcode is 824. It’s set to ring to my cell phone if it’s set off. I also wanted to show you this.” He moved through the house to the kitchen and into the laundry room, but it wasn’t just any laundry room. He pushed open a closet to reveal what appeared to be a weapons arsenal.

He reached for a handgun. “Have you ever fired a gun?”

“No.” She knew many men in this part of the country hunted, but her father had never been one of them. Guns cost money and he’d preferred spending that money at the casinos.

Laura stared at the incredible display of weapons, some small handguns and some larger. She didn’t know much about weapons, but she knew not all he had were for recreational use. “Do you really know how to shoot all of these?”

“Each and every one. I wouldn’t have them if I didn’t know how to handle them.”

He set the handgun back into its place and closed the door. “You should know, too, that I almost always have a gun on me.” He opened his jacket to reveal a gun and holster. “The Rangers are an infiltration group. It was our job to go into an area and clear it of enemy risks. It was a dangerous job, but we got it done and it taught me to never be afraid. Fear of the unknown is often your worst enemy when you’re doing battle.”

She stared up into his handsome, now clean-shaven face. It seemed to her that he must not fear anything or anyone. He’d swooped in to save her, staring down the barrel of a gun just to protect someone he didn’t even know.

She suddenly felt a rush of gratitude wash over her. So much for keeping a level head around him. She stared up at him. “Thank you for helping me, Colton. I don’t know what would have happened to me if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” Tears pricked behind her eyelids, but she willed them away, not wanting to appear weak in front of him.

He bent and locked gazes with her, his warm, brown eyes assuring her it was okay to be scared. “I will keep you safe, Laura,” he told her. “I promise I will keep you safe.”

How long had it been since she’d been able to trust a man, any man?

She wanted so badly to believe in this one.

* * *

Laura had fled River City with only the clothes she’d been wearing from her shift at the hospital. He’d loaned her one of his T-shirts to sleep in while she’d washed and dried her scrubs and she was stuck wearing them again today. But women needed things besides clothes, so they were off to town. Compton didn’t have big-name shops or fancy restaurants, but the town had the essentials.

As they drove, Colton tried to reassure Laura that finding the ranch would be difficult for anyone who didn’t know where they were. They’d come in last night when it was dark, so she hadn’t noticed the acres of land surrounding them. “We don’t have a lot of traffic on this road anymore, so I don’t have many close neighbors,” he said.

In fact, his closest neighbor had recently moved away. She was an elderly widow who had run a drive-in movie theater with her husband back when the highway was a main thoroughfare. Once the interstate rerouted traffic from the highway, the drive-in had faltered and eventually closed. However, the widow had lived on the grounds until she’d moved to live with her daughter. The screen was in disrepair but still standing in the middle of a field, which he thought was cool.

He drove to a large retail store off the interstate that was central to three adjoining towns. If anyone saw them that he didn’t know, they would still have a difficult time pinpointing where Laura was staying.

To his surprise, Colton ran into someone he knew soon after they entered the store. He heard his name being called, then looked up to see Miranda Ryan heading their way. She was pushing a buggy loaded with groceries. Miranda was engaged to his friend and former army ranger friend Blake. “Miranda, hi.”

“Colton, I’m glad to see you.” She gave him a hug, then glanced curiously at Laura. “Who is your friend?”

“Miranda, this is Laura Jackson. I’m working a protection detail for her.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Laura said graciously.

“You, too,” Miranda responded. She was obviously intrigued about seeing Colton with an unknown woman, but she didn’t question him about her. “Blake has been trying to call you for days. He’s nearly ready to send the Rangers out looking for you.”

He knew what that meant. He was worried about where he was and what he was doing. “I’m okay. I’ll call him.”

“Good.” She started to push her buggy away, then stopped and gave Colton a knowing wink. “She’s cute.”

“It’s not like that, Miranda.”

She didn’t seem convinced. “Whatever you say, Colton.” She turned to Laura. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

He envied what his friend Blake had with Miranda.

Compton had become a safe haven for Colton since leaving the Rangers. The quiet, laid-back lifestyle suited his needs. He had nearly everything he needed here, except someone to share it with. He was ready to settle down and start a family, and had been thinking about it more and more lately. But he doubted that would even be possible given his past.

He watched as Laura sorted through clothes on the rack. She was just the kind of woman he would choose to fall for if he could. She was beautiful and smart, and she was compassionate, too. He’d seen it when he’d trailed her, noticing her kindness toward her elderly neighbor. Even the way she’d bent and rubbed his old mutt this morning on the porch had touched his soul. Laura was a good person, a giver. And too many people had already taken more from her than she had to give.

She tucked her hair behind her ear as she leaned over the rack to get a closer look at the tag. He got an up close view of her creamy white skin and long, graceful neck. She moved her head and caught him staring, but she didn’t look upset. Instead her pink lips lifted at the corners, then she turned back to the jeans’s tag.

He pulled his eyes away from her and tried to focus on something else. No sense pining after something he could never have.

He spotted a man looking their way and Colton’s radar went off. It was possible he was merely admiring Laura’s good looks. She was a fresh, new face in town, after all. But something about the man’s expression caught Colton’s attention. The man kept glancing at his phone, then curiously back at Laura.

He was probably overreacting. No one knew Laura was here. No one could know. Still, he led her away from that department and headed for the grocery aisle with the excuse that he needed to pick up a few things. She went willingly and didn’t argue.

As they approached the frozen foods section, Colton spotted the man again. This time he was peeking out from behind a freezer, his cell phone raised as if he were trying to get a photo of them.

“Wait right here,” Colton told her. He moved away from her and around the freezers. The man’s eyes never left Laura, further confirming for Colton that he was targeting her. He approached the man from behind, grabbed him by the shirt and yanked his phone from his hand.

“Hey, what are you doing?” the man protested.

Anger pulsed through him when he scanned the device and saw several photos of Laura on the man’s phone. “Why are you watching her?”

“I—I need the money. At first I thought it was nothing, but then when I saw her, I couldn’t believe it. I’m in deep. I need the money.”

“What are you talking about? What money?”

“The reward.” He motioned toward the cell phone. “It was posted this morning on one of the social media sites I’m on. I, of course, just scrolled on through it, but when I saw her...”

“Show me,” Colton demanded, then watched eagle-eyed as the man scrolled through his social media pages. He stopped when he found what he was searching for and showed it to Colton. “Here it is. Like I said, I couldn’t believe it was her.”

The image stopped his blood cold—a photo of Laura with the caption Have You Seen This Woman? There was a reward for anyone who could bring her home.

The message had been posted this morning by an account named Bring Laura Home. Colton saw that it had already been liked and shared many times.

Colton noted that the man hadn’t yet given away Laura’s location...and he wouldn’t.

He pocketed the phone. “You’ll forget about her if you know what’s good for you. Bother her again and I’ll make sure you regret it. Got it?”

The man nodded solemnly. He didn’t seem like a threat, just an opportunist, and that was what Randall had been hoping for by sending out that message.

He’d in essence placed a bounty on Laura’s head and Colton was sure there would be a line of people hoping to collect.

He sent the man on his way, then retrieved Laura. “We have to leave now.”

He grabbed her arm and led her away.

“Wait! What about the buggy?”

“Leave it,” he barked, hurrying her along.

Anger bit through him at his own foolishness. He’d let down his guard and placed Laura in a perilous situation. Protecting her should have been his first priority.

“What’s going on?” she asked in a low voice as they made it to the truck. “What happened back there?”

Fear tinged her features, making him feel like a heel for getting so worked up.

“It was probably nothing, but I’d rather not take the chance.”

She crawled into the truck. Colton scanned the parking lot and the front of the store, making certain the mystery man hadn’t followed them out. Satisfied he hadn’t, Colton slid into the truck, gunned the engine and roared away before anyone had the opportunity to follow.

* * *

Whatever had happened at the store had Colton shaken. She could see it in his tense muscles and the vein throbbing in his neck as he drove like a maniac. He didn’t let up on the accelerator until he pulled into the ranch and stopped the truck in front of the house.

“What happened back there?” Laura asked him again as they got out of the truck and walked inside.

He locked the door, then turned to her. “Someone was watching you.” He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “He had this on him.”

She opened the phone and saw a message on the screen asking for information about her location and offering a reward. She gasped at the amount. Ten thousand dollars was a lot of money, but she supposed that was only a drop in the bucket, since her father still owed Randall close to fifty thousand dollars.

“It looks like Randall is reaching out to anyone who might know your whereabouts.”

“This man had my picture and he was watching us.” She swallowed hard. “Did he follow us there?”

“I don’t think so. I think he just happened upon us and recognized you from your photo.”

Her heart started pounding and fear crept into her soul again. It seemed Randall would do anything to get his hands on her.

“I thought you said I was safe, that no one knew I was here.”

“No one does and no one is going to know,” he rushed to assure her. “We just need to stay low here at the ranch and not go out in public again.”

“But he knows. This man knows I’m here.”

“He only knows approximately. That store is ten miles away from here and there’s a lot of country between there and here. Besides, it’s centrally located. For all he knows, we could be in another city. We’re still okay.” He turned away, heading for the kitchen.

She stared at the phone number at the bottom of the message. It was most assuredly Randall’s number. She recognized it from the multiple calls he’d placed to her trying to win her affection.

Laura thought about the men last night. She’d seen their expressions in the lamplight. They’d been on a mission and she was their target. Had Colton not been there, she didn’t know what might have happened to her.

Without a second thought, she dialed the number. It rang twice before a man answered.

“It’s Laura,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m calling to tell you to leave me alone.”

“Laura! Where are you? I’ve been searching all over for you.”

“I know you have. I’m calling to tell you to stop hounding me. Don’t you understand I don’t want anything to do with you?”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Laura. You belong to me now and no one is going to keep us apart...not even that loser cowboy you’ve taken off with. My men told me all about him swooping in and whisking you away. I will find out who he is and then I will find you and, when I do, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.” The threat in his voice was real and terrifying.

“Who are you talking to?” Colton asked, reappearing in the den.

Laura was at a loss for words even as Randall ranted on in her ear. “Is that him? Tell him I’m coming for him, Laura. I will find you and, when I do, you’ll be sorry you left me.”

Colton grabbed the phone from her and listened a moment as Randall’s threats continued. The last words she heard before Colton threw down the phone and smashed it with the heel of his boot was Randall’s promise to butcher them both if she didn’t return home.

She stared up at Colton warily as common sense prevailed. “I don’t know why I called him.” She hardly even remembered dialing the phone. All she knew now was that it had been useless, pointless. Randall controlled her life now more than ever. Even when she wasn’t with him, she was thinking about him and wondering if and when he would find her. She hated the feeling of loss of control that he’d saddled her with. It wasn’t fair that a man she hardly knew could have so much power over her life.

Colton sat beside her on the couch. She expected him to be angry at her foolishness, but instead she saw understanding in his expression. “You needed to try one more time.”

She nodded. He did understand. “There should be something I can do, something I can say, that will end all of this and make him just leave me alone.”

“There isn’t,” Colton said grimly.

Well, she wouldn’t continue to be Randall’s victim. But she also didn’t want to depend on someone else to keep her safe. “I want you to do something for me, Colton. I want you to teach me to shoot a gun. I want to be able to protect myself if I need to.”

He didn’t seem surprised by her request. He only nodded and said, “Okay.”

Laura stared at the smashed phone on the floor, imagined that was Randall’s head and kicked it herself.

She wouldn’t be his victim any longer.

* * *

Teaching Laura how to shoot was an excellent idea and he was glad she was up for it. He loaded up an ATV with weapons and a few rounds. It felt good to be doing something, anything, besides sitting around and waiting. His lips quirked as he watched Laura walk out of the house wearing one of his T-shirts tied at the waist, her pretty auburn hair floating in the breeze. Milo tromped along behind her as she approached him. The dog had taken a quick liking to her and he couldn’t blame him. She just kept growing in his estimation. And her spunk and determination truly amazed him. When he’d realized she’d called Randall and confronted him again, he’d been terrified at first and then proud that she was still able to stand up for herself after all the man had put her through.

“Are we going somewhere?” she asked when she noticed the ATV.

“I thought we’d go out onto the edge of the pasture so the gunfire doesn’t spook the animals.”

He hopped onto the ATV and she climbed on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He was mega aware of the daintiness of them as he started the engine and set out across the pasture.

He still couldn’t believe Randall was demanding she marry him. It sounded to him like something that would happen in the Third World countries he’d been in, not in modern-day America. It was a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in. But the bitter taste in his mouth was so familiar. The fact that her father’s gambling had pulled her into this mess resonated with him. He was constantly amazed at how far people would go—how far he’d gone—in the name of the next big score.

He didn’t like remembering how far he’d fallen before his ranger brothers had intervened for him. But, besides him, who else would intervene on behalf of Laura?

He reached the clearing and set up a target of aluminum cans. He then ran through a basic tutorial on the pistol he’d picked out for her.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” he asked gruffly.

“Absolutely.”

He held out the weapon to her. “It’s heavier than it looks.” When he gave her the full weight, her eyes widened.

She raised the gun, aiming it toward the cans. Colton stood behind her, reaching around her to move her hands into the correct positions. He noted the way her body fit just right between his arms. The scent of her shampoo wafted up to his nostrils, sending his senses reeling. He had to push thoughts of her that had nothing to do with protecting her from his mind. His past was everything she’d been fighting against for years. He tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

“Be ready for a kickback. It can be jolting if you aren’t used to it.”

She fired the gun and it kicked, jarring her backward against his chest.

She squealed at the kick, then laughed. He grinned, understanding the rush she was feeling. The first time shooting a gun was a frightening yet exhilarating experience. To him, it had become second nature, so it had been a long time since he’d shared that feeling with anyone.

“That was amazing,” she told him.

“Let’s try it again.”

She was a quick learner and soon became accustomed to the kick of the gun and even managed to hit one of the cans. With practice, he felt certain she could become an excellent marksman.

“You did good,” he told her.

“Thank you for teaching me this. It helps. I feel a little bit more in control than I have. I keep asking myself how this all happened to me. I should have been able to do something or say something that would have prevented this.”

“I doubt anything you could have done would have made much of a difference. Randall is dangerous.”

Narrowing her eyes, she shot him a quizzical look. “How do you know about him?”

Personal experience. “I know the type,” he said instead. “Driven, power-hungry, controlling.”

“He doesn’t seem to care that I want nothing to do with him.”

“No, that probably makes him want you even more. It’s the challenge, Laura. If he can take what he wants, it gives him a feeling of control.”

She shook her head. “I can’t believe my father put me in this position.”

“How long has he been gambling?”

“My mother got sick when I was twelve. It started then. When she died, it was like the problem kicked into overdrive. He stopped going to work. He started taking the rent money, then the grocery money, then—” Her voice caught. “Somehow, I still don’t know how he did it, but when I started college, my father managed to get into my bank account and take the money I’d saved for my tuition. He wiped me out. My tuition check bounced and I was politely asked to leave, since, according to their records, I was never truly enrolled.”

His stomach turned at such a story of desperation. He remembered that feeling all too well, and it was just one more reminder of all the people he’d hurt. “Yet you kept going. You became a nurse.”

“I worked nights, weekends, whatever I had to do to pay for my classes. I knew if I gave up, I’d be stuck forever. But it looks like I’m stuck regardless.” Bitterness tinged her words.

It stung him. Being around Laura was a constant, painful reminder of all those he’d hurt. God had been reminding him about that lately, forcing him to come to terms with his behavior. But having her around was...hard. Real hard. She was clearly suffering, yet during times like these he felt powerless to help. All he knew to tell her was what God was teaching him about his own situation. “Forgiveness is the toughest thing of all, but usually it’s the only thing that will set you free.”

“Forgiveness?” She scoffed. “In the past several years, I’ve lost my mother, my father for all purposes and my future. He doesn’t deserve my forgiveness.”

They were the words he’d expected—still expected—to have thrown at him for his behavior, but his friends and family had been kind even though he was certain they must have harbored the same anger and resentment that Laura felt. His one gratitude was that at least he hadn’t been married, hadn’t become a father or a provider who’d failed those completely dependent on him. “Forgiveness isn’t about what someone deserves. In fact, it’s not even usually for the person that needs forgiving. I know I certainly didn’t deserve forgiveness, but Jesus gave it regardless.”

She stared at him. “I suppose you have to believe that to be a soldier. But you have no idea what I’ve been through. My father doesn’t deserve the kind of absolution you’re talking about.”

“Sometimes, forgiveness is more for us than the other person. It releases us from the burden we carry around. At least, that was how it was for me.”

She stared at him. “Who did you have to forgive?”

Something caught his ear before he could answer her. He glanced into the surrounding wooded area on the edge of the pasture. He’d definitely heard something moving in the brush. He gripped his gun and scanned the area. Probably it was just a deer or other critter, but it raised his senses regardless.

“Stay here,” Colton told her as he moved toward where he’d heard the noise. He could discern nothing now, but he hadn’t imagined it. Someone or something was out there and his instincts were on high alert.

He stopped and turned back to Laura. “Let’s head back to the house.”

She didn’t argue as they moved to the ATV.

A shot rang out before they could climb on and leave. Colton felt something zing past him and jumped behind the ATV, pulling Laura down with him. He caught movement in the woods and then another round of shots rang out. His first instinct was to rush into the woods after the assailant, but his training kicked in. He couldn’t leave Laura alone.

He glanced at her for the first time and realized how pale she’d grown. She was holding her arm and blood was pooling around her shirtsleeve. Alarm skittered through him. “You were hit.” He kicked himself for not noticing before he’d grabbed her arm and pulled her off her feet. She must be in terrible pain, yet she hadn’t even cried out.

“It’s nothing,” she insisted. “Just a scratch. I just need to keep pressure on it.”

He knew she was downplaying her injury. The way it was bleeding, it had to be more than a scratch. He pushed up her sleeve and saw that the bullet had clipped her shoulder, though it didn’t look as if it had gone through. Still, it was bleeding like crazy.

“We have to get you back to the house.”

But the shooter was still out there.

“When I say go, I want you to run into the woods. We’ll have better cover there.”

She nodded and he wondered if she had the strength. But he had to get her to cover.

He raised his gun. “Run!” he shouted, covering them by firing into the wooded area where the original shots had come from. He followed behind Laura as she sprinted across the grass and didn’t relax until he heard the crunch of her feet against the brush. Even then, he didn’t fully relax because the shooter was still out there, but now they were on even playing fields, which made him feel a smidgen better.

“Stay here,” he whispered, parking her beside a tree while he went after the shooter. When she nodded, he moved quietly in the direction of the shots. A few yards away, he heard movement in the woods and spotted a fleeing figure dressed in camouflage.

“Freeze!” Colton yelled, running in that direction.

The camo-clad figure hopped onto a waiting motorcycle and took off.

Colton fired several shots, but the shooter roared away.

He didn’t follow. Instead he hurried back to Laura, who had grown even paler. “Let’s get back to the house.”

They ran to the ATV and he asked, “Can you hold on to me?”

She grimaced, then shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

He helped her onto the front of the seat and then settled in behind her. She leaned back against him. The scent of her hair rushed through him as he started the ATV and took off across the pasture, going as gently as he could. She groaned in pain as the bumps jarred her, her face growing even paler. Her shirt was wet with blood and she felt frail in his arms.

Colton pushed forward, refocusing his attention on reaching the house.

How had he let this happen? He’d promised to protect her. He’d promised she was safe here, and he’d already let her down.

* * *

The wound wasn’t nearly as serious as Colton was making it out to be. It hurt, but once they stopped the bleeding, it wouldn’t be a life-threatening injury. He took the bumps through the pasture with ease, but she felt him cringe with each and every jolt. She tried not to cry out in pain, taking comfort in the strength of his arm cradling her as he maneuvered with his other hand. He was quickly becoming someone she felt she could depend on.

He stopped in front of the house and helped her to her feet, a rush of dizziness washing over her. Colton caught her before she fell, and the next thing she knew, she was swept up in his big, strong arms. He carried her inside and placed her gently on the couch.

“I’ll get the first-aid kit,” he said, rushing upstairs.

Laura did her best to sit up, leaning against the back of the couch. She pulled at her sleeve, now wet and sticky with blood. Colton returned and stripped the sleeve away, then cleaned the wound.

“How does it look?” she asked.

“It’s a clean wound.” She felt his pulse begin to calm. “Looks like it just grazed you.”

“I’m fine,” she insisted. “I don’t need all this fuss.”

“Let me fuss, Laura. I promised to protect you and I didn’t. I underestimated Randall. That’s a mistake I won’t make again.” She felt him shut down, pulling away from her emotionally as he bandaged her wound. It was evident from the tense set of his jaw that he was beating himself up as he worked through how this could have happened.

Her own tinge of guilt washed over her. She knew instinctively this was her fault. Had she inadvertently given away her location? “It was me, wasn’t it? When I called Randall? I led him here.”

He shook his head. “No, he wouldn’t have had the time to do that before I crushed that phone. But from now on, you stay inside the house. No wandering around. I’ll also start doing sweeps around the property. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

She saw worry crease his face. It reassured her in a strange way. She knew he took her safety seriously and personally. Was it possible this was a man she could trust to keep his word? She hoped so, because despite today’s turn of events, she felt safe here with Colton. She found herself trusting that he would protect her.

THREE

Colton opened his weapons closet and double-checked his supplies. He’d let his guard down, lost his focus, and Randall had found a way to get to Laura. The pained look on her face as she napped on the couch was all the reminder he needed that he’d already failed her. He’d promised to protect her, assured her he was good at his job, then lost his focus at the sight of her.

He couldn’t deny she was beautiful, and she wasn’t the first pretty lady he’d protected without getting emotionally involved. But Laura was different. She was someone he knew he could never have. She’d said herself she was stuck because of her father’s addiction. He could never ask her to take on his own past, as well. That wouldn’t be fair to her.

He phoned Blake. He needed to bounce ideas off someone while Laura dozed on the couch.

Blake sounded exasperated when he answered. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days. Where have you been and why haven’t you been answering my calls? I was worried about you, Colt. I nearly called in the Rangers until Miranda said she saw you at the store today.”

Colton knew he was referring to his ranger brothers. They’d intervened before when Colton had hit rock bottom. “I’m fine. Really. You don’t have to worry.”

Blake sighed. “I’m glad you called finally. What’s happening? Miranda said you had a woman with you?”

“I’m working a protection job that’s gone bad. The man who’s after my client is both powerful and obsessed with her. He’s a loan shark in River City named Chuck Randall.”

“You said it went bad. What happened?”

“Someone was here on my property. We were out by the back field and someone shot at us.”

“Did you catch him?”

“No, he got away on a motorcycle before I could reach him. I had to get Laura to safety first.”

“So you think this Randall followed you from River City?” his friend asked.

“No, he’s not the type of person to do his own dirty work. He has her face plastered on social media and is offering a reward for her return. There was a man this morning at the store who was watching her.” He cleared his throat, then went on. “I don’t think he followed us back to the ranch, but maybe he recognized me and knew where I lived.”

“You’re sure no one followed you from River City? How careful were you?”

“I was careful, but...” He grimaced. In his old life he’d spent a fair amount of time in that city hitting the casinos and becoming familiar with the locals.

Blake obviously saw the direction he was headed and finished his thought. “You aren’t exactly a stranger in River City, are you?”

“If someone recognized me, they could connect me to Laura.” It was possible his past had already hindered his ability to keep Laura safe.

But his pal was quick to reassure him. “Unlikely. River City has grown by leaps and bounds since your days there. Unless there’s something you need to tell me?”

He knew what Blake was alluding to. His friends had pulled him from that gambling life after he’d lost everything, including his ranger career, to it. The addiction had overtaken him, tossing him into a deep, dark pit of despair. They’d all had their ways of coping with the aftermath of the ambush. That had been his.

“No. Except for meetings, I never go near there.” His Gamblers Anonymous meetings were held at a church on the outskirts of town. It was a small connection to his old life, but it was one he still considered important.

Colton was certain he heard relief in Blake’s voice. He knew how bad he’d gotten and Blake, the closest of his ranger brothers, had had a front-row seat for his descent. “For now, keep a low profile. I’ll swing by and we’ll see if we’ll take a look at the area. We might be able to find some bullet fragments or tire tracks that could lead us to the shooter.”

“We’ll be here. Can I ask one more favor? Laura didn’t have time to pack a bag and we left the store before purchasing anything. Do you think Miranda would mind lending her some clothes?” They’d left behind the groceries as well, but he still had a full freezer, so they would be okay food-wise.

“Sure, I’ll ask her.”

Colton thanked him, then hung up. His friend wouldn’t let him down. The bond they shared was something that could never be erased. Because no matter what he did or where he went, his ranger brothers would always have his back.

* * *

Blake arrived at the house later that afternoon with Miranda by his side. Colton and Laura met them on the porch. Laura saw Blake had an air of former military about him. Miranda was pretty, blonde and petite, but her jewelry suggested a flamboyant personality.

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