“Stay here. I’ll take a look.” Kade handed her Hannibal’s reins. Ellie wasn’t used to staying behind, but two moving targets were easier to hit than one, and Kade was already on his way. She watched him weaving between the rocks, staying low as he made his way toward the ridge where the shots had come from. She caught occasional glimpses of his brown canvas duster and the crown of his hat before he disappeared.

Ellie chafed to go with him. Time ticked past, and her worry increased. Tying the horses to a tree branch, she prepared to follow Kade and make sure he was all right. Just then he reappeared.

“Couple of kids target practicing.”

Ellie breathed a sigh of relief.

Kade glanced back at the muddy road. “He’s got wheels now. No way we can track him very far.” He untied Hannibal’s reins, raised them over the horse’s thick neck, and swung up into the saddle. “We’ve got a long ride back. Might as well head on home.”

Ellie swung up onto Painted Lady. She was tired and a little stiff, but after the hours she had spent in the saddle during the storm, her muscle memory had returned. She hadn’t ridden much the last few years, but she’d practically been raised on the back of a horse.

They set out at an easy canter, the return trip not nearly as difficult as the one out. Kade knew the area, so they were able to travel the fastest, easiest route. Still, it was a long day on horseback and dark by the time they got home. Ellie was bone-tired, and she could tell Kade was angry and disappointed.

As it was a school night, Billy had already gone home, so they unsaddled and put away their own mounts. Wyatt came out of the bunkhouse to talk to them, and Kade filled him in on the day’s progress—or lack thereof.

“The security team arrived,” Wyatt said.

“That’s good news.”

“Six guys, including Delaney, all former military or police. Slate spent part of the day with them, getting them acquainted with the layout of the ranch. They seem extremely efficient, happy to live on MREs, but I figured we’d be able to come up with at least one meal for them a day. They’ll be working in shifts, so we won’t know exactly when they’ll be coming in.” He looked over at Ellie.

“I’ll keep something in the kitchen for whenever they show up. It won’t be a problem.”

“Looks like Delaney gives the orders. He said not to expect to see them around. Staying out of sight is part of their job. That’s how they work.”

“Sounds like they know what they’re doing,” Kade said. “Which is a helluva relief. I don’t want anyone else getting shot.”