When the man complied, Sloan nodded at Heather. “Get Janna and bring her here.”

Climbing hastily to her feet, she ran to Janna and scooped the wide-eyed child up in her arms. Only when she had returned to Sloan’s side did he fire two shots in the air to summon his ranch hands. Then he pressed the barrel again to Lovell’s head.

“Tell your men to drop their guns and get off my land.”

Lovell nodded slowly. “Do it.”

One by one, they reluctantly but silently obeyed. The man who’d seized Janna crossed to his horse and mounted up. Then as a group, they turned their horses and rode out of the yard.

Not releasing his captive, Sloan spoke low in Lovell’s ear, in a voice that was savage. “I’d think twice before you show your face here again. If I see you on Bar M land, I’ll shoot you on sight. And if you ever dare threaten my wife or daughter again, you won’t live to see the sunrise. You got that?”

Just then Heather heard the rapid sound of hoofbeats. She breathed a sigh of relief when, a moment later, a half-dozen of the Bar M cowboys came racing into the hard-packed earth of the ranch yard, their horses going from a dead run to a sliding stop, with Rusty in the lead.

“Mr. Lovell needs an escort back to town, boys,” Sloan said almost casually. “Would you oblige me?”

“Be glad to, boss,” Rusty answered grimly for them.

Looking somewhat shaken, Lovell climbed up on his horse. Without a word, he turned to ride away, leaving the cowboys to follow.

The silence that remained seemed deafening to Heather. Trembling with fear and relief, she glanced at Sloan. For a moment he stood silently watching her, his expression inscrutable. Holstering his gun, he took a step toward her. Still without a word, he took his daughter from her, but his gaze was fixed on her face.

Heather’s breath caught in her throat as he reached up to slide a tangled tress from her face, the movement intimate, infinitely protective.

“You okay?”

The rough concern in his voice touched her, yet she understood his solicitude. No matter his personal feelings for her, a McCord protected his own. Even so, she couldn’t resist the need for his comfort.

Nodding briefly, she let her forehead rest on his shoulder, cherishing the sensation. For a moment she was surrounded by his strength and warmth, his subtle scent, and she never wanted it to end. And yet she knew it would.