Protector Cowboy (Whiskey Valley Bryant Brothers)

Every day, I get up, and King is the first person I see. He makes a point to eat breakfast with Eli and me each day before Eli rides the bus into town for school. I argued with him when he suggested he ride the bus, but Eli was excited about it and all King would say was, “Do you trust me?” After I told him I did, I let it happen and was more than surprised when I found out King sent a ranch hand into town in the morning to follow the bus to make sure Eli made it to school and then he had an off duty officer follow it in the afternoons to the ranch. I told him it was ridiculous, but he assured me it wasn’t. Eli feels safe, and he wants to do it.

From that point on, I stopped questioning King’s decisions because whatever he did, I knew it was in our best interest.

In the past week, we’ve cooked together, we’ve watched television, King has taught me how to saddle a horse and all the safety precautions, he’s taught me how to ride and to shoot a gun. And in between all that, I went between Paulina and Mia, helping out in the kitchen and the office in the barn. We haven’t repeated the night like the one in his office, but he still touches and holds me every chance he gets.

It’s Saturday when King comes into the house. I smile as soon as I see him, but it drops when I see the look on his face. With my hand over my heart, I know something has happened. “What is it?”

“Do you trust me to protect you and Eli?” he asks.

I nod instantly. I have no doubt at all.

He reaches for me, wrapping his hand around mine. “Brad is here, honey. But I don’t—"

“He’s here... on the Double B? Where’s Eli?” I start to move, needing to get to my son before his dad does, but King stops me.

“He’s with my brothers. No one is getting to him, honey.”

“King, what’s happening?” I ask him.

He pulls me against his chest and looks me in the eyes. “This is going to end today, Nat.”

I hear cars pull up, and I go to look out the front door. King is right beside me, and I watch as the sheriff and the deputy from the other day get out of their cars. The sheriff opens his back door, and Brad gets out.

Even from this distance, I can see that he’s mad. He’s running his mouth the whole time he’s walking toward the house. I grab on to King’s hand the closer Brad gets. When they come up the step King calls for Sheriff Andrews to come in.

Brad spots me instantly and looks at me fiercely. I straighten my spine. I’m not going to let him get to me. I need to be strong for me and Eli. King squeezes my hand, reminding me that I don’t have to do this alone.

“You bitch!” Brad snarls and comes toward me. The sheriff has him stopped, and King has moved in front of me before I even realize what’s happening.

“You won’t talk to her like that. Not ever again.” King’s voice is loud and booming, and I put my hand on his back to try and calm him down. “Sheriff, take him into my office. We’ll be right in.”

King doesn’t move until they’re gone, and then he turns around to face me. “This was a bad idea. I wanted you to be here and see it’s over, but it wasn’t a good idea. I’m not going to subject you...”

I shake my head. This man. I don’t know what I did to have this man decide he wanted to help me, but I know I’m lucky. “No, King. You’re not subjecting me to anything. It’s him. I can do this. I need to do this,” I tell him, even though I have no idea what the plan is.

He takes a deep breath and grabs on to my hand. “Okay, stay next to me.”

I nod and follow him into the office. We walk past the sheriff, the deputy, and Brad and go around King’s desk. He holds out his chair for me and gestures for me to sit down. King is still standing, and he looks as calm as can be.

“Sorry I’m late.” A man walks in holding a file. He walks directly to King, and they shake hands.

“No worries, Jeremy. You’re just in time,” King tells him before looking at Brad. “So now that we’re all here, I have a few things for you to sign and then you can be on your way.”

Brad crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m not signing anything.”

The man that just walked in opens a file folder, gets out papers, and lays them down in front of Brad.