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“Again? Has to be the same one coming around all the time. I’ll get rid of her.”

I parked the squad and pulled the shotgun out from under the seat. Annie took the gun from my hand and went running around to the end of the porch so she could shoot over the bear’s head and under the roof of the porch.

Blam.

The first shot made mama bear mad. She let out a loud roar and stood up on her hind legs in attack mode. She didn’t run away but showed how pissed off she was by swatting one of the porch chairs up and over the railing. The wicker chair bounced across the grass and stopped rolling near the truck.

Blam.

Annie let another shot go and this time the bear lumbered down the porch steps and turned in the direction of the field.

As soon as she was on the other side of the laneway, we ran in the front door and locked it. “She’s gone. Annie-girl scared her away.”

“Nice one, Mom,” said Jackson.

Annie winked. “Scaring bears is one of my specialties. Scaring kids into bed is another one. See this gun? Y’all get upstairs and brush your teeth.”

Harlan laughed as he ran for the stairs.

We could hear the boys laughing and horsing around upstairs as Annie and I got ready for bed. I was on a natural high having her home on my ranch for a few days and I wanted to make every minute count.

“I’m so glad you could come for a visit.”

“I’ve been missing you, sugar. I miss you in a lot of ways, but mostly in my bed.”

“I can relate to that,” I said.

“Let’s make up for it.” Annie rolled her naked body on top of mine, and it didn’t take much convincing.

Chapter Thirteen

Saturday June 2nd.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

Even before I opened my eyes, I felt Annie’s strong, muscular body right next to mine and that made me a happy man. A perfect start to a day that was going to be short on work and long on family fun.

As soon as I moved, Max and Sarge jumped up off their beds and scratched at the bedroom door wanting out.

“Stay there.” I ran to the back door in my boxers and let the dogs out, then ran back to bed before Annie got up. I had morning wood for her, and she’d be pissed at me if I wasted it. She was like that.

Exhausted after our wild morning sex, I dozed off and when I finally hauled my lazy ass out of bed, Annie was in the kitchen making biscuits for breakfast. Coffee was made and the kitchen smelled fantastic. Annie poured me a coffee and set it on the placemat in front of me.

I reached out and grabbed her and pulled her down onto my knee. “I love you, girl.”

She kissed me and the scent of her perfume made me dizzy with wanting her. Laughing and happy, she hopped off my lap and went back to the stove.

“Billy is missing out on the biscuits,” I said.

“How much longer will he be in rehab?”

“Undetermined,is the word he used when I called, and he sounded pretty depressed about it. From the hints he was dropping, I don’t think he’s going to stay there much longer.”

“He must be making some progress,” said Annie.

“He swears he’s not. He says there is no improvement, and the physio people are wasting their time and his.”

“Wouldn’t they tell him if nothing further could be done?” asked Annie. “They wouldn’t keep on and on torturing him with exercises if there was no hope.”