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Bending forward, she screamed again and again, the sound losing strength as she fought to find enough oxygen to fill her lungs.

Colton whirled back around, the man forgotten, and rushed to her.

His warm, callused hands cupping her face grounded her, but not enough to stop her from being hysterical. Another shriek left her, cut off by her lungs that refused to function right.

“Baby, calm down. Meadow! It’s me. You’re hyperventilating. Calm down. I’m here.

Oh fuck, baby.” He gathered her to his chest and held her through the next frightening minute of not being able to breathe.

He swept her up in his arms and carried her outside. Over his shoulder, she saw the dark shadow of the form on the floor. The man wasn’t moving.

She hoped Colton had killed him—for attacking her. For killing her horse.

As soon as her lungs remembered how to function, a sob burst from her. “He…killed my…horse!”

“I know. I know, baby.”

“You know?” she screamed.

“I got you. You’re safe. He’s gone.” The harsh tone of Colton’s voice bordered on a growl as he carried her far away from the barn.

She clung to him. “What is happening?”

He said nothing as he strode with her to the porch. He sat on a step with her in his lap.

Her horse. That man. The things he said to her.

Shudders rolled through her, uncontrolled and unchecked.

“What… Who?” She didn’t seem to be capable of forming a full sentence.

“Shh. Calm down, honey. You’re safe with me now.” He cupped her head against his chest.

Clutching his shirt, she tried to find words to express what just happened to her. “What is going on?” she whimpered.

He stroked her hair. “Something is happening around here, but we don’t know what. We need your father to speak to us.”

“My father!”

“Yes. Forest knew something was going on. But I don’t know what that is. The only person who can tell us now is your father.”

Shock stole her words. For long moments, she couldn’t think of any response.

At last, she croaked, “What happens now?”

He drew back, staring into her eyes. The black depths of his own glittered with fury. “I protect you. I protect the ranch.”

Still stunned, she shook her head in disbelief.

“I have someone I can call. We get him here. I’ll call and he’ll be here.” Determination burned in his tone and in his rugged features.

Her memory jogged. “Ivy is coming home too. First of the week.”

His hard nod spoke of all this man was—a fighter. A warrior. A protector.

The love of her life.

Squeezing her tight against his chest, he brushed his lips over her forehead. “We’ll get them both here. And I swear on Forest’s name that nothing will ever happen to you again.”