Bulletproof Christmas. Barb Han
had a long history with the family and was the same age as the twins. As their little sister, she’d trailed behind on their adventures, wanting to be included, but she had been so young. She had known Rory and vice versa for ages and that was exactly the reason Cadence knew a real relationship with Rory would never work. He craved independence a little too much to be tethered by a family of his own. She’d known it from the beginning and that was probably half the fun of spending time with him. He was untamed and untamable much like the land. There was a certain beauty to that freedom, which she admired.
Just like a too-wild horse, putting a saddle on it broke its spirit. She didn’t have the heart to do that to Rory.
Cadence had always been drawn to a challenge. She couldn’t regret the pregnancy, not since she felt her children’s first movements, but that didn’t mean the situation wasn’t complicated. But losing her father and the subsequent attacks on her siblings had given her a new respect for how quickly everything could be taken away from her. She was learning to appreciate every day and embrace the adventures life brought.
Rory stood there in the family kitchen and she couldn’t deny that he still looked good—damn good. It was probably hormones making her weak, making her notice the sexy dark stubble on his chin. He’d always had rugged good looks and she’d tried to forget how handsome he was. Dark hair, dark eyes. He was intense. About everything. Including making love. Especially making love.
A trill of awareness skittered across her skin at the memories.
Lot of good thinking about that would do.
She tuned back in as he was explaining the campsite he’d come upon. There was an animal, a beagle, which he’d brought with him and was now in the sleeping quarters with the ranch hands.
“Why is he out there and not in here?” Cadence asked a little too forcefully.
“I have no idea if Boots is housebroken and I couldn’t leave the poor thing alone on the land with all the coyotes,” Rory said.
“I wasn’t suggesting you should leave him out there.” She swept her hand toward the backyard.
Rory started to speak but cocked his head to the side and compressed his lips.
“The rifle was trained on the house and when I checked the scope it was aimed at Cadence’s window,” he said, glancing at the open shutter. He moved to the double doors that led to the patio and started closing blinds.
Dalton smacked his flat palm against the counter and grunted a swear word before joining Rory.
“It would be a tough shot but it’s possible with a high-powered rifle,” Dade said after a thoughtful silence. He muttered a few choice words under his breath as he worked to close the blinds in the great room.
Ella stared at the granite countertop. “We need to let security know what’s going on. They’ll want to take action against the threat.”
“Good idea. But keep in mind a trained shooter can hit a target from quite a distance and Landry didn’t find the guy. I did,” Rory supplied. “A professional would know to account for wind and velocity as well as other variables, even with a difficult shot.”
“We need to call the sheriff,” Ella said.
“Already did.”
“How about the guy? Did you get a good look at him?” Cadence asked. The horror of what was going on started sinking in.
“Yes.” He provided a description. “Do you know who he is?”
“Not off the top of my head.” Cadence searched her brain. Surely, she’d seen the guy before.
“Which means Cadence doesn’t go anywhere,” Dalton said with a look toward her. “Agreed?”
“Are we sure someone is after me?” She couldn’t fathom the thought, even though, to be fair, several of her siblings had been targeted since their father’s death. With the reading of the will coming up, everything could be stirring up again.
“I can’t think of who would want to hurt you but I’m giving Terrell the description of him so he can alert the others and keep watch for the guy,” Ella said. She was already texting.
“I’m guessing that you’re limiting access to the ranch based on recent events,” Rory said.
“That’s right,” Ella supplied.
It was probably just because she needed to eat but Cadence was dizzy and felt a bout of nausea coming on. This couldn’t be right. She’d been in Colorado for months now and had hoped to return the minute the will was read. This definitely wasn’t the time to tell her family that she had plans to move to Colorado on a permanent basis but Cattle Barge was proving to be unsafe for a Butler. She realized she’d been touching her stomach without noticing it. The move was becoming habit. She was already attached to the little people inside. “I’m not saying that we shouldn’t take every precaution but the wind could’ve moved the gun. I mean, it’s cold and windy outside and I don’t even think anyone knows I’m home.”
“Good. Let’s keep it that way. Maybe this guy was aiming at a random room and it had nothing to do with you personally,” Rory offered. There was enough hope in his voice to make Cadence believe he still cared about her. At least in general terms, and he probably cared even more now that he knew she was pregnant with his child. This didn’t seem like the time to tell him she was having twins.
He might’ve made it clear that he wasn’t the settling-down or parenting type when she’d thrown caution to the wind and had the fling she’d craved—or was it excitement? Who could tell anymore? Point being, he didn’t want the responsibility of a family and she hadn’t planned on any of this happening, either. There they were. Stuck in a situation and now it seemed that her life was on the line.
* * *
“WHAT KIND OF rifle did you say he had?” Dalton asked.
“M40.” One look at Cadence—at the hurt Rory had caused her—was all it took for him to know Maverick Mike Butler had been right. Rory was bad for Cadence. The senior Butler had given Rory a job on the ranch when he was destitute with the condition that Rory stayed away from his daughter. He must’ve seen the way Rory had looked at Cadence then. He’d given his word—and that was all he had to give at the time because he was poor—that he’d leave her alone. As soon as he came to his senses during their fling, realizing that Cadence would always be a Butler and he would never be the man she needed him to be, he’d done what he should’ve long ago and cut her loose.
At the time, she’d told him it was fine with her. She’d been convincing and he’d believed her. Until now. Until he saw the hurt deep in her eyes that she was trying to cover with anger. Until he realized she was hurting because of his rejection.
She could literally have any man she wanted. If Rory lived to be a hundred and ten years old he wouldn’t understand her. Her express rejection of his marriage proposal had him scratching his head and more than a little offended. He knew he was broken, but did she have to rebuke his offer so fast? Did she have to cut him down so quickly? He also couldn’t understand why she didn’t seem to want protection and especially while she was in such a fragile state. He almost laughed out loud. Cadence fragile? Pregnant or not, she’d always been a firecracker. Although, judging from the looks of her determination and everything he already knew about her, she didn’t seem at a disadvantage in any way shape or form, no matter the obstacle.
In fact, she seemed like even more of a force to be reckoned with now that she was carrying a child. His child. The fact that he was going to have a baby hadn’t really absorbed yet. Maybe when this whole scenario was over and the Butlers were out of danger, he could consider what was going on. Laser focus and the ability to shut everything else out had kept him alive so far.
Besides, how could he feel good about bringing a little person into the world with his messed-up background? His parents were the epitome of explosives and an agitator. Those two fought like cats and dogs, if cats