Page 109 of The Cattleman's Unforgettable Love

She wanted to think about Hunter and Natalie learning to ride. Wanted to imagine them settling into life in Montana – a life that couldn’t be further removed from the one they’d known until now.

But first, they had to find Natalie.

As they pushed through the doors at the end of the hallway, her stride faltered. She could see Emmett, standing talking to two boys a little further down – and beyond them, Hunter had reached a larger group of boys.

And one of them had just pushed him.

Ford yelled and broke into a run.

Amelia could only watch as the boy pushed Hunter again – this time hard enough to knock him down. Everything felt as though it moved in slow motion. Wade and Ty were running. Emmett had caught one of the boys he was talking to by the collar while the other fled. And Ace had grabbed another boy, who Amelia hadn’t even noticed until now.

Her hand came up to cover her heart as she watched Ford reach Hunter and scoop him up off the ground.

To her amazement, the boy was smiling as Ford hugged him to his chest – even though Ford looked ready to kill.

She gasped when she saw another small figure wearing a hoodie appear from behind a vending machine further down the corridor – at first, she thought it was a smaller boy – who stuck their foot out to trip the one who’d pushed Hunter. But when the child leapt on her victim and started to punch him, her hood came down, revealing long, dark hair.

It was Natalie.

Amelia finally came to her senses and started running toward them all from the spot where she’d been frozen, taking it all in. Even as she ran, Cash appeared out of nowhere. He hauled Natalie off her victim, dodging her flailing fists and giving the boy on the ground a not-so-gentle nudge with his boot. The kid got up and fled.

“Don’t hurt her! It’s Nat!” Hunter yelled.

Cash gave them a grim smile as he reached them, half carrying, half dragging Natalie with him. For her part, Natalie was shouting and scrabbling at him, trying to free herself.

“It’s okay, Nat,” called Hunter. “It’s okay. They’re with us. I found Auntie Amelia!”

Natalie froze – and for a second, Amelia hoped that she might react the same way Hunter had.

Her hopes were dashed when Natalie glared at her and yelled, “We’re not going anywhere with you!”

Amelia’s breath caught in her chest. She didn’t even know what to say. It seemed that the others were all as stunned by Natalie’s reaction as she was – and Natalie made the most of the chance to twist away out of Cash’s grip and run at Ford, yelling,

“Put him down! Let him go!”

Amelia could only watch as Ford set Hunter back on his feet and said in a low, soothing voice, “I was trying to protect him. That kid knocked him down. But then – you know that, don’t you? That’s why you jumped on him.”

Natalie glared at him but didn’t answer as she pulled Hunter to her side and asked, “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“I told you, Nat – I found Amelia. And these guys are all our uncles.” He took a step back toward Ford. “This is Uncle Ford.”

Amelia’s heart broke for her niece as she watched the play of emotions on the girl’s face. It was easy to see anger, disbelief, and fear.

What saddened Amelia was that she didn’t see anything that looked like hope.

“You don’t even know who they are, Hunter,” she hissed. “They could be anyone. They could be human traffickers, for all you know.”

“We could,” Ford agreed. “But we’re not.”

Cash took a step closer and smiled at Natalie. “Looks like you have a choice, darlin’. You either trust your brother and trust us – or you trust your instincts to keep you safe around the kind of people who prey on stray kids at the airport.”

Amelia’s heart sank when he added, “I reckon you’ve already met a few of that kind since you’ve been here, haven’t you?”

And Natalie dropped her gaze.

“I thought as much,” said Cash. “Listen, I know you don’t have enough to go on yet – but I promise you, we’re your best bet. Your Auntie Amelia and the rest of us.”

Amelia flinched when Natalie swung around to glare at her again.