Protector: Doms of Mountain Bend Book 1 by BJ Wane (good books to read for 12 year olds .txt) 📕

her friends to walk around to the passenger side of Jen’s car. Pausing in the lane, her heart jumped to her throat seeing the approaching car speed up and aim right for her. Drew’s shout reached her as she started to jump out of the way, but the body-slam of a familiar build propelled her on top of the trunk, and she landed with Shawn’s heavy weight pinning her down, his labored breathing and low curses ringing in her ears.

“Fuck, Shawn, he came out of nowhere!”

Lisa caught Drew’s face out of the corner of her eye as he glared toward the vehicle roaring away. “Shawn, you’re crushing me so I…can’t breathe.”

He swore again and lifted off her, both him and Drew taking her arms to help her stand, which was a good thing given her wobbly legs and shocked state of mind. Tears pricked her eyes even though she wasn’t hurt. The very idea someone wanted her dead, hated her to that extent without knowing why, not only left her terror stricken but grieved in a way she’d never experienced before.

“Why, Shawn?” she whispered in a tremulous voice. “Why is he doing this?”

“I don’t know, Lisa, but I won’t let him get away with it, I promise.”

His rough tone carried a note of grim resolve, and she could almost feel his fury as he held her close. She shouldn’t count on his promise, but hearing it helped ease her tremors and her mind.

“I believe you.” Pulling away enough to look at his face, she asked, “What are you doing here anyway?”

“He probably didn’t trust me to watch out for you, which turned out to be a good thing.” Disgust laced Drew’s voice. “I tried to get the license but the plate was covered with mud.”

“On purpose, no doubt,” Shawn returned. “You were right there, Drew, and would have saved her from serious injury if I hadn’t cut you off. Don’t beat yourself up over what that asshole’s doing.”

Jen squeezed her husband’s arm. “Shawn’s right, you were on top of the danger immediately. Lisa, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, still digesting how fast that happened, but I’m not hurt. Thank you, all of you.”

“You can thank me after I lock the bastard up and throw away the key. Come on, let’s go home. Jen, Drew, we’ll get in touch later.”

Bruce vibrated with rage as he saw Halldor clinging to the deputy sheriff and knew where the couple would go next. Determined to end this now, without further delay, he kept driving until he reached the turnoff for the back road they would take to the ranch. If he moved fast enough, he could set up in the woods several yards from the road, cocked, aimed, and ready to fire. This time, he wasn’t taking any chances on failing, and if her bodyguard got in the way, he’d take him out along with Halldor and the threat she posed to his way of life.

Shawn couldn’t recall a time in his life when he’d been so terrified. As he got on the road back to the ranch, he couldn’t keep from checking on Lisa, just quick glances to ensure she was all right. In the split second he’d seen that car coming around the bend into the last row in the parking lot where she stood with Drew and Jen, he only had time to register the threat before leaping from his SUV to rush forward.

Whoever this person was, he was hell-bent on taking her out, for whatever reason had gotten into his warped head. Not trusting anything to chance, he shifted on the seat to reach his cell and press Dakota’s number while maintaining a constant eye out for someone tailing them. As soon as Dakota answered with his usual clipped greeting of “What’s up?” Shawn gave him the rundown.

“Who do you have close enough to the road to watch for a muddy blue sedan?”

“Pete and Casey for sure. I’ll check in with Dave and Scotty. Hang tight.”

Dakota clicked off, leaving Shawn confident he would have their backs if this prick was foolish enough to come after Lisa again today.

“I’m proud of you, Lisa. A lot of women would be in hysterics right about now.” He sped past a herd of buffalo who often grazed on their land near one of the watering holes, one reason why they left the majority of acreage unfenced.

“I’ve had a lot of practice at keeping calm lately,” she returned dryly.

He appreciated her attempt at humor, not at all sure he could handle her tears right now if she fell apart. Reaching across the gearshift, he squeezed her hand, noting the coolness of her skin and pale face. “We’ll figure out who it is and get him. Clayton is still researching your background, and he’s good at digging out information.”

“I’m grateful for his efforts but hate I’ve brought this to you and your friends. This is exactly what I didn’t want in coming here, to impose on you, or become a burden.”

She turned her head toward the window with a sigh that made him want to rip this guy’s heart out. He looked her way again and went rigid when he caught a bright flash from a small, wooded area. Slamming on the brakes, he whipped the cruiser around with a shout.

“Get down!”

With a startled cry, Lisa threw herself to the floor as he came to an abrupt, jarring halt with his side door taking the bullet. Grabbing his rifle from above them, he flung his door open and jumped behind it, taking aim over the window.

“Stay down,” he barked when she started to rise right as the next bullet caught him in the shoulder.

“Shawn!”

“No.” He spared a precious second to address her stricken gasp and reassure her. “It’s just a flesh wound, Lisa.”

Lisa’s stomach churned with nausea