Her Rancher Bodyguard

Maria Wilder waved a hand. “Don’t be silly. We don’t mind.”

She led Kayla up the stairs to a bedroom that was small but bright and airy. A quilt covered the twin bed. A rocking chair nearby had another quilt folded over the arm. Braided rugs in soft spring colors were scattered on the wood floor.

“It isn’t much but it’s clean. And most of Boone’s smelly past has been evicted. Shoes, clothes, high school uniforms that got shoved in corners and forgotten.” Maria Wilder turned down the blanket on the bed.

“It’s perfect.”

Boone’s mother gave her a quick hug. “Are you hungry?”

“Prepare to be fattened up, Stanford.”

His mother swatted at his arm. “Behave. No one likes to go to bed hungry. And young ladies don’t like to be told they need to be ‘fattened up.’”

“I’m fine, but thank you. We grabbed fast food on our way.”

Maria made a face. “Bah. Fast food isn’t real food.”

“Really, I’m fine. But thank you. I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep.”

Maria glanced at her watch. “You should go to bed now. Morning comes early around here.”

Kayla covered a yawn. She agreed, it was bedtime. She looked at Boone, who was already heading for the door. The limp she’d noticed previously was more pronounced tonight.

“Get some sleep and try not to worry.” He stopped just short of exiting.

She nodded. Of course she wouldn’t worry. She was in a strange home with people she didn’t know. And someone she didn’t know wanted to harm her. What did she have to worry about?

“Stanford?”

She met the dark gaze of her protector.

He smiled that easy smile of his. “Don’t worry.”

Of course.

“If you need anything,” Maria said, “don’t hesitate, just ask.”

They left and she was alone. What she truly needed, they couldn’t give her. She didn’t even know how to put a name on the empty spaces in her heart. For several years she’d filled those spaces up with anger, with rebellion and a lifestyle that had worn her out physically and emotionally.

She always wondered about the people who seemed emotionally whole and happy. How did they do it, find that happiness?

Alone she sat on the edge of the bed, her hands splayed on the cottony softness of the quilt. On the stand next to the bed was a Bible. It was small, leather bound and worn. Her gaze wandered from that small book to the needlepoint picture on the wall with a Bible verse she’d heard most of her life. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The words were lovely and encouraging. But her heart still felt empty.

* * *

“She’s a lovely girl,” Boone’s mom said as she followed him out to his truck. He opened the door of the old Ford and leaned against it.

“Mom, go ahead and say what you want to say. I need to get home and get some sleep.”

“You need to get off your feet.”

“Yeah, that, too.” He took a seat behind the wheel of the truck, his hand on the key.

“Just be careful. She’s pretty and lonely.”

And there it was. He let out a long sigh. His mom knew him better than anyone. She also had a hard time remembering that her kids were growing up. “No need to worry. I’m going to do my job and then return her to her family.”

“She doesn’t have a family, not really.”

He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. “Now I know where I get the fixer complex. From you. You’re worried about me getting too involved.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “But you know that you’re just as bad.”

She laughed. “I won’t deny that. I look at this girl, and I see that she’s lonely and hurting and could easily fall in love with her rescuer.”

“I’ve been hired to do a job. I’ll make sure all she feels for me is annoyance.”

His mother patted his cheek and smiled. “You’re so handsome, my son. And so clueless.”

“Stop.” He leaned and gave her a hug. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

He headed down the driveway to the RV. It always felt good to come home, even to his thirty-foot camper. The place was quiet. It had a front deck he’d built earlier in the spring. His dog was curled up on a patio chair, waiting for him. Yeah, home sweet home.

He limped up the steps and sat down on the chair next to the dog, propping his feet up on the footstool. Man, it felt good to stretch. He reached, rubbing the calf muscle of his right leg. The pain eased.

He let out a deep breath and relaxed again.

The collie that had been sleeping half crawled into his lap, resting her head on his leg. He brushed a hand down her neck. “Good girl.”

She pushed at his hand with her nose.

“You’re right, time to go inside.”

He eased to his feet and headed inside. The door wasn’t locked. It never was. He flipped on a light and headed for the kitchen. Halfway across the small living area, he stopped and took a step back.

“What in the world are you doing in my house?” he yelled at the man sprawled on his couch.

“Sleeping,” Daron McKay grumbled. “And I could sleep a lot better without all the yelling. Did you get her settled?”

Daron tossed off the afghan and brushed a hand over his face as he sat up. Boone limped across the room and settled into the recliner.

“Yeah, my mom has her. And is already worried about feeding her. And keeping her safe from me. Or maybe me safe from her.”

Daron perked up at that. “Your mom is a smart woman. We should hire her.”

Boone tossed a pillow, hitting Daron in the head. “Go away.”

“You’re the one who told me the place is always unlocked.”