Protector Cowboy (Whiskey Valley Bryant Brothers)

He nods. “Yes, sir. Ten kids, all accounted for.”

“Fuck” I mutter.

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Nothing. Have you seen Mia?”

He points to the main house. “Last I saw her, she was heading to the main house.”

“Thanks, Alan. Tell my brothers I have to leave, and I’ll be back later.”

I don’t wait for him to respond. I take giant strides to the main house and go straight to the office at the back of the house. Before I get through the threshold, I can hear Mia’s voice. “You’re a man on a mission, I can hear it by the stomp of your boots. What’s up?”

I get in the door and have my hands on my hips. Thank goodness Mia knows how to deal with me. She’s been the secretary at the ranch for two years now, and she knows the ins and outs almost as well as my brothers and I do.

“There was a boy, Elijah. He was supposed to be at the camp today but didn’t show up.”

Mia walks to the cabinet and starts thumbing through folders. I do my best to be patient, but honestly, that’s not who I am. I walk toward her, planning to help when she pulls a folder out and opens it. “Oh yeah, Elijah Jones. His teacher called last week and canceled. I issued the sponsorship to another kid. Is that okay?”

I nod, pulling the file from her hands. I scan the file and pull out my phone. I type in Natalie’s number and then keep reading.

“Uh, is this how you pick up dates now?” Mia asks, and I can hear the disapproval in her voice.

I ignore her until I find the place on the application that says where Natalie works. Sunrise Diner. I snap it closed and hand it back to her. “No, I’m not trying to pick her up. I need to make things right. I’m doing another sponsorship. Elijah will be back in the camp.”

“That will be eleven...”

I always try to keep the group at ten, but this year I’m making an exception. “I’ll make it work.”

I walk out to my truck and take off toward town. The whole way, I think about what I’m going to say. I should have trusted my gut and found her before today, but I never dreamed she’d cancel the camp.

As soon as I get the truck parked in front of the diner, I take the steps two at a time and walk in. My head swivels to the left and then to the right, and I spot Elijah first. He’s sitting in a booth, picking at his breakfast. I walk toward him and stop next to his table. When he looks up, he smiles at me, and it completely transforms his face. “Hey, Elijah.”

“King! I mean, Mr. Bryant. Hey!”

“How’s it going? Is your mom here?” Just as the words get out, Natalie comes out from the kitchen. She stops when she sees me, and her whole body tautens. She grits her teeth. “Hello, Mr. Bryant. What can I get you to eat?”

“Do you have a minute to talk?”

She shakes her head and pulls the tray up to her chest as if it’s a shield. “No, I’m sorry. I’m working.”

“It’s okay, honey. I can cover your tables. Go see what King wants,” the other waitress says.

I read her nametag. “Thank you, Kendal. I appreciate that.” I take the tray from Natalie and set it on the table and gesture for her to go first.

She doesn’t want to. It’s obvious she wants to refuse me, but she doesn’t. She knows there’s going to be talk and even more so if she argues with me right here in the open. She’s looking at me with fire in her eyes when she walks past me.

As soon as we get outside, she walks down the steps and starts pacing back and forth. I don’t have to look back to know we have an audience. “Honey, you may want to quit the pacing. I’m sure they’re all wondering what’s going on.”

She looks at me, and I nod with my head toward the diner. Natalie and I both turn our heads, and every person in there is looking at us through the window.

Natalie stops in front of me and crosses her arms over her chest. “What is it you want, Mr. Bryant?”

Damn, she’s pretty even when she’s mad. “Why did you cancel the scholarship? Elijah would love the camp.”

She juts her chin at me. “I know he would, but I couldn’t afford it.”

I shake my head. “It was free. It wouldn’t cost you a penny.”

She laughs shortly. “It’s all about money with you, isn’t it? What I mean is I couldn’t afford to have another male influence on my son like you. I’ve taught my son to respect women, and I can’t let you undo that.”