Page 31 of Mountain Refuge

She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I saw someone sneaking around the ranch. When I figured out that it wasn’t one of the cowboys, I gave chase in hopes someone would come after us in time to catch the guy.” She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t come in time.”

“Seriously? Do you realize how foolish that was?”

“I wasn’t going to let him get close to the house. Not with everyone sleeping. I didn’t catch him, I lost my slippers, stepped on a thorn, and stopped to soak my aching feet before heading back.” Her eyes flashed.

“What were you going to do if you caught up with him?”

She glanced at the umbrella. “Just keep him under surveillance.”

At least she hadn’t intended to confront the man. “Come on.” He turned to go.

“Who was supposed to be patrolling?”

“Shiloh. He was caught unaware and hit with a shovel.”

“Clarence?”

“In the barn for some reason. The donkey doesn’t belong in the barn.” He suspected the boys were behind that mess-up.

“The dogs?”

“Haven’t found them yet.” He kept his pace slow because of her bare feet. “Shiloh is calling the sheriff. Hopefully, he’ll be here by the time we return. You can tell him your story and let him yell at you. I’m tired of trying to make you see reason. Maybe you’ll listen to him.”

“I would rather put myself in danger than someone else,” she said softly. “This is all because of my choices, no one else’s.”

He stopped and faced her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “You made some mistakes. Those are in the past. This man is coming on my ranch. That makes this my problem. You don’t have to do this alone, Dani. Let me help you.”

Her bright eyes clashed with his. “What if you die?”

“I won’t.”

“You don’t know that. What if the boys are harmed?”

“They won’t be.”

“How. Do. You. Know?”

He lowered his voice. “Because it’s you he’s after, and that scares me to death.”

“Boss.” Willy, a pistol in one hand, headed down the path with Buster. “Found the dogs. They’d been given a treat with a sleeping agent, we think. They’ll be fine. Did you find the guy?”

“No.” He stepped back from Dani. “The sheriff here?”

“Should be soon.” Buster glanced from him to Dani, then to her bare feet and pulled a pair of slippers from the back of his waistband. “Lose these?”

“Thank you. They made it hard to run.”

He stared at her as if she’d sprouted horns, then shook his head. “Woman, you beat all. You’ve got the whole ranch on edge.” He marched back down the path toward the ranch.

“Guess everyone is mad at me, but I don’t care.” Dani slid her feet into the slippers. “I did what I thought needed doing.”

Nothing he could say would change her mind that she didn’t have to do this alone. She’d put herself in the midst of danger to keep him and his boys safe. Why wouldn’t she let him do the same?

Gripping the umbrella handle hard enough to snap it in two, he picked up the pace toward home. Let Sheriff Westbrook handle Danica Cooper.

The sheriff waited in the kitchen, cup of coffee on the table in front of him and glanced up when they entered. “Have a seat, Miss Cooper.”

She shot Dylan an alarmed look, then sat. “I’d like to get dressed before being interrogated.”