EXCERPT #1
Rita rushed into an office she’d seen Robert enter a few times. But he was nowhere in sight. She hightailed it to the barn. Chad looked up from brushing a horse. “You seen Robert?” Her lungs burned.

 

“He just took off to the river pasture. What’s up?”

 

“I need to find him.” She tried not to sound desperate. But she was. “Can you take me there?”

 

Before Chad could answer her, a dark blue, four-door, one-ton pickup rattled to a halt near the barn’s front entrance, and Robert hopped out, Posse in his arms. He went around and strolled toward them. “Forgot my—”

 

“I’ll go with you.” Rita ran to him. “When do we leave?”

 

“To change pipes?”

 

“No. To Idaho. The rodeo.”

 

He placed his hand on the small of her back, led her into the tack room, and shut the door. “Why the change of heart?” He lifted off his cowboy hat and mopped his sweaty brow.

 

“You were right. He knows where I am and is on his way.”

 

“He’s coming here? You sure? How’d he find you?”

 

“I must have left the Seven Tine brochure in my room.”

How could she have been so careless?

 

Robert tapped his Stetson on his head, handed the pup

to Rita, and pulled his cell phone from the inside pocket of

his jacket. “Hang on.” He tapped the screen with his thumb

and held the cell to his ear.

 

“Who are you calling?”

 

Robert held up his finger. “She’s not answering.”

 

“Who?”

 

“Syd.” He made another call. “Hey, Trey, where’s my

sister?”

 

While Robert talked on the phone, Rita held Posse to

her chest and walked in circles, leaving dust trails on the

floor. They needed to leave before Bowie and any other goons

with him showed up.

 

EXCERPT #2
He led her to the area behind the chutes and dropped his gear bag and saddle in the dirt. She breathed in the earthy scent of bull hides and dung. Robert patted a few of his buddies on the shoulders, and they laughed and compared the horses they’d drawn. Her chin tucked, Rita recoiled at the cowboys ogling her.

 

One came over and introduced himself as Payton Sundown. He wore a black cowboy hat, a turquoise Western shirt, and spurs.

 

“You’re here with Bobby, huh?”

 

“Um—” She hadn’t considered how they’d explain their relationship.

 

“Hey buddy, leave my girl alone.” Robert draped an arm around her and didn’t waver when she stiffened. He rubbed her arm and kissed the side of her face.

 

What on earth? Words clogging her throat, shock froze her ability to shove him away.

 

“This is Rita.” Robert glanced at her, a bigger-than-life grin on his face, and she gave him a slight shake of her head.

 

“Nice to meet you.” Payton tipped his hat. “Looks like you’ve stepped up your game, bro.” His gaze locked on the side of her face.

 

She turned away.

 

When Payton strode toward the chutes, Robert released his grip on her. “Sorry. I don’t want anyone messing with you. If they think you’re mine, they’ll leave you alone.”

 

“Think I’m yours?” Was his claim supposed to put her at ease? She wrapped her hands around her tummy and squeezed.

 

“You know, my plus-one.”

 

She took a step to escape the panic galloping through her bones and stumbled. Robert caught her and gathered her into his arms.

 

“I’m only trying to protect you.” His minty breath brushed against her lips.

 

Nodding, her fingers curled around his arms. She righted herself and stepped back. “I’m fine.” But when she reached for his unshaven face, she pulled one hand back, shoved them both in her pockets, and looked away.

 

EXCERPT #3
Blizzard lowered his head and pawed the cedar bedding.

Puffs of steam rolled from his nostrils. A movement caught

Robert’s attention. “Whoa, boy.” He dropped the hay in the

wooden feeder and turned to face a squirming form under a

thin blanket. “What the heck?”

 

A sharp scream erupted and a hand emerged, brandishing

a knife. Th e colt stomped and charged Robert, then backed

away. “Whoa, boy.” He held out his hands.

 

A woman crawled from under the blanket. The right side

of her face shone dark and swollen, and a cracked bottom

lip protruded. She stood a few inches shorter than Robert,

bundled in a teal down jacket, red knit hat, and thick work

gloves. Worn cowboy boots fi t her small feet, and a disheveled,

single braid snaked down her torso.

 

She gave him what seemed like a look of recognition and

said, “I’m here to see Sydney Hardy.”

 

“Move out of there quiet and easy like. Blizzard’s rank.

Unpredictable.” When she stood without moving, he added,

“And put that knife away before you hurt yourself.”

 

“Rank? Why, he’s been nothing but a gentleman. Hardly

knew he was around.” While she scratched Blizzard’s nose,

he dropped his head and took a step toward her. “In fact, I

thought he was a pony.”

 

“For crying out loud. He’s had us buffaloed from the get-go.”

Robert took a step toward the stud colt and jumped back

when he bit at him and pawed at the cedar-scented wood

chips covering the ground of his soiled paddock. Lousy stud.

 

Posse whined and trotted over to the woman. She knelt

and scooped him up, and he became a red ball of wiggles.

“What a cutie. What’s his name?”

 

“What’s your name, and what are you doing here?” How

had such a beautiful mess of a woman ended up in his barn?

She glanced down and fiddled with her Leatherman. “I’m

. . . uh. . . . Is Ms. Hardy around? I mean is she available?”

Her face pinked.

 

Was she one of the abused women his sister held an

open room for? Yeah, there was a vacant room, but Syd was

gone. And he wasn’t about to babysit for her. That was her

wheelhouse. He turned to the barn’s alleyway. “I . . . um . . .”

He rubbed his forehead.