Ranch Refuge. Virginia Vaughan

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      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.

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