Page 103 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

Amelia gasped, and Ford was sorely tempted to push his way inside when they heard a child’s voice shout, “I’m here!”

“I told you – you can fuck off! You can’t come in!” He started to close the door, calling back over his shoulder, “Don’t let him–”

But apparently, whoever was back there wasn’t able to hang on to Hunter. There was the sound of a struggle from inside the house, and that was as much as Ford could take.

He stepped forward, shoving his shoulder against the door and wrapping his hand around the man’s throat as he ground out, “You tell them to bring–”

But he didn’t need to finish.

A small figure came barreling toward them, dodged past Ford and the asshole foster father, and ran straight to Amelia. He was just a wispy little thing, with wide, frightened eyes.

“Auntie Amelia?” he asked.

When she nodded, he wrapped his arms around her waist and clung to her.

“Can I go with you? Please say I can go with you.”

“No, you fucking can’t!”

Ford tightened his grip as the man struggled – and Cash went to Amelia, saying, “Get him in the car, honey.”

Ford was so caught up watching the boy with Amelia that the man escaped his grasp. He lunged forward – and Ford roared as he landed a punch to the fucker’s jaw. He went down.

Cash grinned at him as he reached them and said, “Go make sure they’re okay. I’ll take care of this.”

Ty appeared around one side of the house and Wade at the other. Ford didn’t hang around. He hurried after Amelia and Hunter, reaching them as they made it to the SUV. He held the door open and helped them climb in before running around to the other side.

It was only once he was seated that he realized how small Hunter was. He was the same age as Ashton – but much shorter and skinnier.

“Are you okay?” Amelia asked him.

He nodded rapidly. “I am now. I can come with you, right?”

“Of course,” said Amelia. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Hunter looked up at Ford. “Thanks. Are you my uncle?”

Ford ignored the way Amelia tensed and said, “Yeah, I am. I’m your Uncle Ford.”

Hunter stared at him for a long moment. The fear in his eyes visibly subsided, and as it did, Ford could see a sharp intelligence in them. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised – the kid had managed to find Amelia on that forum.

Hunter turned to look out the window, but there wasn’t much to see. The front door to the house was now closed. Wade stood outside, and there was no sign of Cash and Ty.

“He’s going to be so mad,” said Hunter. “And who are those guys?”

“They’re my brothers,” said Ford. “We all wanted to come and get you and Natalie.”

Hunter looked at Amelia and asked hopefully, “Did you find her?”

She shook her head sadly. “Not yet.”

“But we will,” said Ford. “Some of our friends are out there looking for her right now. Do you have any ideas where she might be?”

Hunter sighed. “No. She wouldn’t tell me. I promised her I wouldn’t tell – no matter what they did to me – but she said it was best if I didn’t know.”

Ford pressed his fingers to his temple, not wanting to think what exactly Hunter meant by that.

“How does she contact you?” Amelia asked.