Maria climbed into the truck bed, picked up Alejandro’s hand, and pressed it against her cheek. “You’ll be all right, Alejandro. Señor Kade will make sure, and I will pray to the Blessed Virgin. You’ll see.”

Alejandro’s eyes opened, and a faint smile touched his lips. “So pretty . . . and so . . . sweet . . .” His features went slack as he drifted into unconsciousness.

A sound of pain slipped from Maria’s throat, and Kade sighed. Alejandro was a ladies’ man. Half the women in the county had warmed his bed, and the other half wanted to. Until today, Alejandro had been careful to keep his distance from Maria, a young woman he liked and respected. Who knew what would happen now that the girl had openly revealed her affections?

Kade thought of Ellie and the hot kiss in his study. Whatever happened, he was in no position to throw stones.

Maria held onto Alejandro’s hand as the chopper set down in the widest part of the yard, the doors slid open, and a pair of EMTs jumped out carrying a stretcher. Kade watched the men at work, grateful they had arrived so quickly.

He turned at the sound of a car engine pulling up the drive. The motor went off, and Ellie got out of her rented Jeep Cherokee and hurried toward him.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Alejandro’s been shot.”

“Oh my God, is he going to be all right?”

“We’ll find out once we get to the hospital. Get Maria, and let’s go.”

Ellie’s gaze went to the black-haired woman standing in the yard, tears streaming down her face. Ellie walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Come on. Kade’s driving us to the hospital.”

“I’m going with you?” Maria looked at her with big, wet, hopeful eyes. “What . . . what about supper?”

“The guys can make do for one night,” Kade said as he joined them. “In the meantime, I need to set up security patrols around the ranch. You think Delaney can handle that?”

“Nighthawk has a team that specializes in protection of just about any kind. They’re the best or Conn wouldn’t be using them. I’ll call him, tell him what’s going on and what you need.”

Kade nodded. “Wait here, and I’ll get my truck.”

* * *

The Vail Hospital was a well-staffed medical facility in the Vail valley, a four-story brick and stucco building on West Meadow Drive. Ellie waited while Kade talked to the receptionist, telling her they were there for Alejandro Ramirez. The woman behind the counter sent them up to the surgical floor, where a nurse guided them down the hall to a room in which several other worried families waited impatiently for news of their loved ones.

Seated on a pale blue vinyl sofa, Maria clung to Ellie’s hand, barely holding it together.

“Alejandro . . . he’s such a good man.”