“He’s an hour out,” T announced to the crowd gathered in Natalie’s mother’s kitchen.

“If he keeps that up we’re gonna have a real deal shootout at Saddleback’s on our hands,” Jessie whispered in Natalie’s ear. “Your brothers are way too twitchy for my liking.”

Giving her mother a nervous grin, she nodded. “I know but I can’t exactly ask him to stop.”

“You know I can outshoot all of ya, so why don’t I just go sit in my truck at the entrance gates, blow his ass to hell when he arrives, and the rest of you can go on about your lives,” Jessie asked the crowd at large. “I can’t take much more of this. Lord have mercy on my indigestion.”

“It’s true,” Ev agreed. “She can shoot a gnat off a bull’s ass but you ain’t gonna blow anybody to hell tonight, darlin’. Less he gets ornery, which I’ve never known him not to be, so maybe I oughta go on and put a down payment on your bail.”

“No one is going to kill him,” Natalie ordered yet again. “You all are making me crazy. I’m going riding.”

Rushing out of Aaron’s arms, she raced down the steps and headed to the barn. He was on her heels a half second later. “I’m going with you.”

The air in her parents’ home was so thick you could’ve cut it with a dull ax. At least outside she could breathe. Corn-sweetened, manure-laced air rushed into her lungs. She closed her eyes and soaked it in. This was her home. She worked for it, played in it, kicked her boots up on it, dug her heels into it, and sweated and bled on it. She would bet her very life on it. This was who she was. Nothing was going to keep her from it.

“Fine, but I’m going fast.”

“Works for me.”

With every thundered gallop of Sundance’s hooves, her mind settled. Aaron had saddled Grant’s horse and he had no trouble keeping up. They flew together. The wind whipped in her face and cleared her mind. He was coming. She was standing firm. He was going straight to hell. As soon as she’d had her say she was going to bed with Aaron and they were going to heaven.

Her heart timed itself to every rhythmic gallop. It was the music of her soul. She was a cowgirl. He was nothing. Taking off up another trail, Natalie let her instincts guide her. A few minutes later, her field was in view. Her ass bounced against her favorite saddle. Leaning in, she held on tight as Sundance flew over the deep ditch that kept the rest of her family away.

Laughing, Aaron managed the same jump without quite as much grace. Pulling up on the reins, Natalie gasped for breath when she came to a stop. “You’re not half bad for a farmer’s kid,” she goaded.

“I feel certain my cowgirl can teach me a few tricks of the trade.”

“Speaking of that, you ever think about becoming a cattle rancher?”

“I’m definitely not opposed to the idea. It’d beat having to put up with Ed and Eliza. Getting to work with you every day sounds like perfection to me. Don’t know much about how it all works though.”

“I could teach you. There was one other thing I wasn’t completely honest about.”

“What’s that?”

“I hate going to Saddleback’s. I don’t like drunk men. I’m pretty sure they’ll always make me nervous.”

“Nat, I wish you’d said something.”

“I know, but I wanted to be with you so I didn’t.”

“Want to maybe figure out what to do with the rest of our lives after tonight?”

“Probably a good idea.” Clicking her mouth, she canted farther out in the field so she could see the sun set over the ranch.

When she’d run out of places to ride and the air was dark and cold enough she could see Sundance’s breaths, she headed back to the barn. Surely her uncle was there now. They took their time brushing the horses and giving them treats.

“Nat, we don’t have to go back over to your parents,” Aaron offered again.

“I know, but I want to get this over with. Constantly waiting on whatever is going to happen to actually happen is making me crazy. I want to yell at him and then tell him to get his ass off of my ranch and never to come back. Then you’re taking me to bed.”

She recognized his single nod as the one he gave when he’d been given orders he didn’t like. He managed to keep his arm wrapped around her shoulders and her slightly behind his body as they walked back to her parents’ home.

There were no strange cars parked anywhere. Relief and confusion fought for dominance in her mind.

“He isn’t here, baby girl,” her father immediately assured her.

“So where is he then?”

“He’s in town. Out on Holly Hill near Main.” T stared at his phone.

“That’s my place.” Aaron sounded as surprised as she felt.

“Why is he there?”

“He’s with Rasmussen.” Her mother rolled her eyes. “Kind of like rats, you see one you got more.”

Brock was seated at the table with his head in his hands. “The only human being on the planet that doesn’t hate him. I’m going out there. This is insane. He’s not getting anywhere near Natalie, or my kids, or my wife.”

“I’m going with you,” Natalie informed everyone.

“If she’s going I’m going,” Luke huffed. “Shoulda whipped his ass a long time ago.” A chorus of me toos flew around the kitchen.

Jessie sighed. “Fine, we’re all going. If you married one of my children you all know I love you more than the ones I birthed, but if you’ll stay here with the young’uns? I think my children have something they’d like to say to their uncle.”

Her mother’s determined dignity gave Natalie another round of strength.

“Of course,” Indie agreed. “You all go. Luke honey, if you need me to bail you out, call me. I’ll be right there. And I might’ve put a few extra tire irons in the back of your truck last night should you need one.”

“Oh, that reminds me. Grant, do you remember when you bought that Louisville Slugger for Keith and I told you he was way too young for it and stuck it in the garage?” Katy asked.

“Yeah.” Grant smiled.

“It’s not in the garage anymore. It’s in your truck.”

“I have always liked the way you think, Katy Belle.”

Dec lifted Holly’s chin. “You’re sure you want to go?”

“Definitely.”

Certain he was going to crush the steering wheel with his own fists, Aaron followed Luke’s truck. Natalie was seated right beside him with her arms crossed over her chest. Determination rolled off of her in waves.

“You’re awfully quiet.” She finally spoke.

“Taking everything in me not to just keep driving until we’re somewhere in the vicinity of Oregon, taking a boat from there to anywhere he isn’t. I don’t want you to do this. There. That’s the absolute truth.”

“I know but I want to do this.”

“That’s the only reason I’m going along with it. Grant handed me a pistol when we left. I’m taking it in with me, although Indie’s tire iron idea has merit.”

“If anyone gets to beat him with a tire iron it should be me, or maybe Brock.”

“Fine. I’ll hold him for you.”

A line of Camden trucks filled Rasmussen’s yard. Aaron had gone into battle with a lot of different kinds of men. This was the first time he’d fought alongside cattle ranchers. He was beyond certain they were America’s finest.

The Sevens took the front line as they headed up to the front porch. If Rasmussen and company hadn’t seen them coming, they were in for one hell of a surprise.

The front door swung open before Griff could kick it in. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Rasmussen demanded. His dentures were out making his attempt to sound tough oddly humorous.

“We’re here to talk, old man. Move or be moved,” Aaron snarled.

“Let ’em in.” A voice from inside the house had Natalie gripping his arm tighter. A shiver worked through her.

“Baby, we don’t have…”

The fierce clinch of her jaw said she was doing this. Aaron kept her behind his body as they entered the house.