Page 1 of Wyoming Bodyguard (Sunrise Security #1)

M adden McKay scrubbed a palm over the scruff along his jawline and studied the information on his computer screen. The numbers made his head hurt, but he couldn’t look away. Not until he figured out how to stretch the limited amount to pay the bills at Sunrise Security for another month.

An impossible feat if he couldn’t drum up more work.

Pushing away from his cluttered desk, he blinked the barrage of rows and columns from his brain and stared out the lone window in his office.

His view of Main Street showcased a cluster of mom-and-pop shops with colorful awnings stretched onto the sidewalk and hand-painted murals celebrating the town of Cloud Valley, Wyoming, on the storefront windows.

But it was the mountains in the distance that called to him. That made his blood hum, and he wished he could shut off the damn computer and enjoy the land that was a part of his soul.

Sighing, he pinched his nose and refocused on the computer screen. Working outside on the ranch where he grew up, the mountains his constant backdrop, wasn’t an option anymore so no use daydreaming about what might have been. Especially when he had a struggling security business he needed to save.

Sunrise Security had given him purpose when he’d returned from The US Marine Corps a few years before, broken and with no direction. He couldn’t let the business fail—couldn’t let down his partner, Reid Sommers, who’d stood beside him month after month to make this new dream a reality.

A sharp knock on his open door lifted his head.

Reid stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and concern in his narrowed gaze. His gray T-shirt matched the color of the walls. “How ya doing, boss?”

Madden rolled his eyes. “I told you not to call me that. We’re partners. Evenly split in this whole mess.” He picked up the pile of unpaid bills then let them fall back down.

Reid shrugged then crossed the room to sit in the single black bucket chair in front of the desk. “Not from where I sit. You’ve got a lot more to lose—a lot more invested.”

“And most of the reason for our financial issues is my fault.”

“Dude, you’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into this place. Things will turn around. We’ve gotten a few more clients this past month.”

Madden huffed out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, two ranchers who want us to install cameras on their property to catch cattle rustlers. We need more consistent work. Higher paying jobs. People in this town don’t trust me to protect them—protect their property—and my bad reputation is taking you down with me. ”

Reid ran a hand thought his shaggy brown hair then leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.

“We both knew it’d take time. We knew people here would hold some resentment after your father sold a parcel of land from McKay Ranch to developers.

But maybe if people understood why he sold part of the land they’d be a little more forgiving. ”

“Not gonna happen.” No one except him and his dad knew the full reason his dad had to off-load a big chunk of the ranch. Neither of them wanted those reasons to be public knowledge.

Reid frowned but nodded. “That’s your choice and I respect it. But the fact remains, something’s got to give.”

Madden sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Whether folks around these parts like me or not, I know them. They’re stubborn as hell, and in their eyes, selling family land to out-of-towners is an unforgivable sin. No matter the reason.”

“You knew that before we decided to set up shop here. You were confident you could change minds. That you could show you care about Cloud Valley and what happens here—that you want to protect the folks you’ve known your whole life. We can still make that happen. We just have to figure out how.”

Listening to Reid speak reminded him of his reason behind returning to his hometown despite the dirty looks and snide remarks. He had something to prove not only for himself, but for his dad and brother as well.

With a surge of determination, Madden rose to his feet and swiped his black cowboy hat from the coatrack shoved in the corner.

“You’re right, and moping around locked up in my office isn’t going to help a damn thing.

We need to show everyone we’re a part of this community, and we ain’t going anywhere. ”

Reid clapped his hands then rubbed them together before standing. “Hell yeah. That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear. My boy’s got some fight back in him. What’s the plan?”

A quick glance at the clock ticking away on the wall showed him it was lunchtime. “We’re heading to Tilly’s Bar and Grill.”

“Not sure what you plan to do at Tilly’s to help drum up more work, but I’m down for a burger and fries.”

“We’re buying more than that today my friend.” Madden slapped a hand on Reid’s shoulder then strolled down the narrow hallway, which spilled out to the lobby.

Reid dipped into his own office, situated directly across from Madden’s, then appeared with a tan cowboy hat covering his mop of hair.

Peggy Reynolds, the receptionist Madden had mostly inherited with the rental space, ate her packed lunch at the sitting area in the middle of the room.

She’d laid her plastic containers on the coffee table in front of her, balancing a peeled clementine on her knee while reading one of the magazines usually splayed where her lunch now rested.

“Where are you boys off to? Got a hot new assignment?” Peggy popped off a wedge of her clementine and slid it into her mouth, smearing a bit of the pink lipstick that always painted her lips.

She wore her gray hair straight and to her shoulders, her bifocals on the top of her head keeping the locks from spilling on her lightly wrinkled face.

“It’s May in Wyoming,” Madden said. “Everything we do is hot.”

Peggy flicked a finger toward her desk, situated where it was the first thing a customer saw when they walked in the door. “Madden, Dax called and left a message. Not sure why that boy refuses to just call your cell, but so be it. I left the note by the phone.”

“Thanks, Peg.”

Irritated, he stalked past the potted Ficus and skirted around the metal filing cabinets beside Peggy’s workstation. Her messy handwriting scrawled across a bright blue sticky note. “Pops wants you to come by for dinner tonight . ”

He fisted the note and tossed it into the trash can tucked under the desk. He’d call his dad later. A home-cooked meal was tempting enough to have him stop by the ranch after work, but the fact that Dax wouldn’t just call him directly chapped his ass.

At some point, they had to bury the hatchet.

“We’re heading to Tilly’s,” Reid said. “Madden’s got a plan to win some good favor.”

Peggy arched her brow, deepening the wrinkles along her forehead. “Is that so?”

Reid aimed a bright smile at Peggy. “Sure is. Want to join us?”

“Nah, you boys have fun. I’ve got plenty to keep me busy around here.” She flipped the next page of a home decorating magazine, her sign the conversation was over.

“Things are pretty slow today,” Madden said. “Why don’t we all knock off early?”

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Peggy said.

Madden couldn’t help but grin at Reid then tilted his chin toward the front door. His grin widened at the golden letters scrawled across the glass. Money might be limited, business slow, but having something he created tightened his chest in a way nothing else ever had.

Not even the McKay Ranch.

Because Sunrise Security was his baby. His lifeline after an injury overseas stole the future he’d been raised for.

Madden stepped outside, and a wall of heat pulled him back to the moment. He filled his lungs with hot, dry air before turning toward Tilly’s.

Reid fell into step beside him. “No matter how much time I spend here, I’ll never get over how pretty this place is.

The mountains looming on the horizon, the wide-open space on the other side of this charming ass town and the local women aren’t bad to look at either.

” He dipped his chin in the opposite direction.

Madden followed Reid’s eyeline and grimaced.

Lily Tremont walked along the sidewalk arm and arm with her father. Her hair was the color of unharvested wheat and tumbled down her back. It framed high cheekbones and sun-kissed skin. Her long legs matched the length of her dad’s, and her sleeveless shirt showed off toned arms.

A part of him wanted to encourage his best friend to take a shot at the woman he’d known his whole life—their families’ ranches side by side. But he wouldn’t wish her icy demeaner on anyone.

“You don’t want to bark up that tree, my friend. Trust me.” Madden watched her disappear into Tilly’s and bit back a groan. Walking into the tavern with her as a witness set him on edge.

“You sure? She’s always friendly when I see her around town. Couldn’t hurt to say hello.”

The smirk lifting a corner of Reid’s mouth told Madden his buddy had more in mind than a quick hello.

Madden kicked a cluster of pebbles on the ground and a cloud of dust covered his cowboy boots.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, aiming a tight smile at a duo of women who slid past them on their way to Cloud 9 Café.

The smell of coffee permeated the air as they passed.

“Even before I enlisted, her nose was too high in the air to notice anything beyond herself.”

A quick glance showed no traffic coming from either direction. He jogged to the other side of the street. Sweat dotted his hairline that had nothing to do with the blistering heat.

Reaching the old, weathered door, he pulled it open and stepped inside.

The dark paneled walls and scarred floors swallowed the natural light.

Neon signs buzzed, showcasing drinks offered at the bar.

Square tables cluttered the interior of the room with booths lining one wall, interrupted by a stone hearth and giant fireplace.

Reid swept off his hat and led the way to the long bar stretched along the back wall. Madden followed, sandwiching his hat in his hands.

Chairs scraped against the floor as people swiveled to watch him walk through the lunch crowd. He met every gaze, lifting his lips at the side and nodding in greeting.

He approached Lily’s table on the way to the bar. She narrowed her hard, blue eyes, her pouty red lips pressed in a tight line.

He widened his grin and shot her a quick wink. He might never win over Lily Tremont, but he wouldn’t let her get under his skin. Wouldn’t let her derail him from his mission, not today.

Because today was the first step in winning over his town and setting his business on the right path.

Reid made a beeline for two empty stools.

Madden settled beside him, greeting the middle-aged man to his left.

Eve Tilly, owner of the bar and grill, hurried out of the kitchen balancing four plates on a round tray. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, and her hazel eyes were friendly yet focused.

She acknowledged Madden with a nod then weaved through the tables to deliver the orders. She deposited the meals then approached him and Reid with a wide smile. “Afternoon. Don’t see you much this time of day. You usually stop in when the place is empty, not busting at the seams. Must be hungry.”

“More like thirsty,” Reid said, snagging a menu and flipping it open.

Eve chuckled and fisted a hand on her hip. “Most people here are.”

“Glad to hear it. I want to buy a round.” Madden plucked his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and tossed it on the bar.

“Seriously? During the lunch rush?” Eve bounced her gaze from Madden to Reid and back again.

“It’s all part of the plan, darling.” Reid slapped a hand on Madden’s back. “After you get those drinks passed out, we’ll take some food. But we don’t want to overwhelm you. We can wait to make that order.”

“Okay.” Eve shook her head and huffed out a small laugh. “Hope you boys know what you’re doing. No bulk discounts in my place.”

Thankful he still had at least one friend in town, Madden lifted his palms, eyes wide. “Wouldn’t dream of asking for one.”

“Here we go,” Eve said, letting out a long breath.

She took three short steps to a triangle hanging from the ceiling and grabbed the metal stick she used to make the instrument sing.

She banged the stick against the three sides of the triangle, the tinkling sound cutting into the noisy room and quieting everyone who understood the significance of the call.

“All right ladies and gentlemen. Round on Madden McKay. Figure out what you want to drink and be quick about it.”

A whoop of excitement and gratitude exploded, lifting Madden’s spirits along with the cold beer Eve had slid into his hand.

Maybe this would work. Little by little, people would stop seeing him as the villain and start welcoming him—and his business—back into their folds.

The sun might have set on one dream years ago when his dad had been forced to sell their land, but it had risen on another.

And come hell or high water, he’d do whatever he could to keep this dream alive.

Whatever he could to make Sunrise Security a success.