Guarding Hope

Needing to get home to check on the cattle, Gage unlocked his SUV with the click of his key fob. He’d just about got halfway to his vehicle when one of the guys called out, “Hey, you. Hey, cowboy.”

With a grimace, he spun on his heels, turned, and addressed the jackass. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for a young lady.”

“Aren’t we all,” Gage muttered, smiling at the thug in the suit who didn’t return the humor.

He brushed off Gage’s tease and continued. “She was in here a few minutes ago. Have you seen her?” They showed Gage a picture of the girl in question.

The minx following him hadn’t been following him at all—she’d been running from these fools. He wouldn’t let them have her. No one could have her but him.

“Yeah, she’s hot, but she wouldn’t even make any eye contact. I thought she got on the bus,” Gage offered.

“Are you sure?”

“Sorry, no. I don’t pay attention once a woman blows me off. I got a call when the bus pulled away.” Gage shrugged with his palms turning upward. “Sorry, fella. Maybe you can try to catch up to that bus. It only left five minutes or so ago.” He pointed in the direction the bus had left.

“Thanks,” the goon muttered ungratefully and headed inside to speak with the attendant. Gage turned and walked to his truck with a smile on his face. Getting into his vehicle, he refused to acknowledge the pretty little thing tucked down in his back seats with his coat over her body. He could smell her sweet scent, and she’d draped herself in his jacket. Fuck. He adjusted his hard cock before pulling out of the station.

He was a few miles from his home and knew that the gas station didn’t have a working surveillance system because it broke last month and the owner couldn’t afford to buy a good one. They were out in the middle of nowhere, and traffic was few and far between, so they didn’t feel the need for one. Most customers were local folks working on the farms.

The drive was short, but it felt so long because Gage fought himself from stealing glances at his stowaway. He had a plan to bring his little doll peacefully into the house as long as he could control his dick long enough to stay down. Bill and the hands were out on the pasture letting the cows feed, so he had a chance to sneak her inside without anyone seeing.

Once he jumped out of the truck in front of his large ranch house, he walked around to the backdoor and opened it. “So, gorgeous, let’s get you in the house before someone sees you.”

A territorial urge came over him at the thought of one of his hands seeing her. Beautiful barely even scratched the surface as far as he was concerned. Her long red hair had been messed up from the ride, giving him the image of what she would look like when she woke up.

She shook her head at him, nervously appraising Gage’s tall and broad figure. He knew how intimidating he appeared. It helped him in the courtroom every time he came up to a weak witness.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. I’m not going to hurt you, but I sure as fuck don’t want anyone creeping on my property looking for you. Got it?”

“I’m Hope,” she said, sticking out her hand for him to grab. A jolt of electricity struck him, only serving to make his interest in her grow.

“I’m Gage,” he mumbled, his cock throbbed as the softness of her hand pressed into his rough hands. He led her into the house, locking all the doors and keeping the window shades and curtains shut. Seeing the skittish look in her eyes and the way she tucked her body inward and with her lip quivering, he raised his hand slightly in a wait-a-minute motion.

Getting irritated that she believed him to be a danger to her, he bit out, “I told you, I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re Cummings’s daughter, correct?”

“How did you know that?”

“One, those two goons showed me your photo. Two, my friend with the Rangers asked me to help look for you. Then you went and jumped in my truck, saving me the trouble of hunting the whole damn state of Texas for you.”

“You’re not going to turn me in, are you?”

“I don’t like your daddy. In fact, if I could, I’d put a bullet in his ass this very minute. What I want to know is what the hell is going on, and why they’re on a tear, looking for you. But first, let me get you something to drink or eat. You must have had one hell of a day.”

“I really have, but in a sense, I’m so happy. Thank you, Gage.”