I wrapped an arm around Jensen. She stiffened at first, but then relaxed against me, realizing this was something we’d always done. I gave her shoulder a few reassuring squeezes.
She sighed. “Nothing says ‘Merry Christmas’ like a spray-painted barn.”
With Christmas and more snow only a few days away, it was unlikely that this would get remedied before the spring snowmelt. “I’m sorry, Wilder.”
Walker pushed to his feet. “We’ll get it fixed as soon as we can. But for now, I don’t want you coming up here alone. Grab one of the hands to come with you.”
Jensen stiffened. “I’m not going to let this creep change the way I do things.”
Walker cursed under his breath. “Either you agree to bring someone, or I’ll tell Dad to just assign someone to be up here waiting for you.”
She glared at her brother. “You always were a little tattletale. You know snitches get stitches, right?”
Walker chuckled. “I could always throw you in lockup, that’d keep you safe.”
I couldn’t hold in my laugh.
Jensen turned her glare on me, as well as the end of her elbow. “You two deserve each other.” She threw up her hands. “I’m going to work. Do me a favor and feed my horses while you’re up here, would you?”
I nodded through my laughter but sobered when I caught sight of the angry letters on the side of the barn. “This guy could be fixated on her now, you know that?”
Walker ran a hand through his hair. “I know. I’m hoping it’s just some pissed-off rancher and not the same person shooting the horses.” He met my gaze, and his look said we both knew that was unlikely. “I don’t want to freak her out, but I want her to be careful.”
My hands fisted. “We’ll just have to keep a closer eye. I’m gonna start doing a drive through the property at night. Maybe I’ll catch sight of someone. Or, if they’re watching, they’ll see that someone’s keeping an eye out.”
Walker nodded. “I’ll do the same. Between the two of us, we’ll keep J safe.”
I rolledto a stop outside Jensen’s guest house. I knew Walker had told everyone that we’d both be doing drive-bys, so I wasn’t going to get my ass accidentally shot. But he didn’t know that I might be lingering.
Guilt filled my gut. Walker would lose it if he knew. My truck continued idling as I stared up at the bedroom windows. Noah’s room was dark, but there was still a light on in Jensen’s. I pulled my phone out of the cupholder.
Me:Can I come in?
Two minutes passed with no response. I put my truck in reverse when my phone buzzed.
Wilder:You’re here?
Me:Should I throw some pebbles at your window?
Wilder:Only if you’re okay with me throwing some at your truck.
I grinned down at my phone, starting to type out a reply when the front door opened. Light spilled out around Jensen, silhouetting her form in the doorway. A body clad in only a short robe. I jumped out of my truck and strode for the door. “What are you doing? You’ll catch your death,” I whispered.
Jensen straightened the towel turban on her head that I hadn’t even noticed—her damn legs had been too much of a distraction. “Well, hello to you, too.” Jensen did not whisper.
“Shh.” I made a pointing motion to where Noah’s room was overhead.
She laughed. “He’s next door. He and Irma had a viewing ofTheKarate Kidso they could get ideas for the fight they’re choreographing, and he fell asleep mid-movie. They figured they’d just keep him over there for the night.”
I let out a chuckle. “Irma’s doing a fight with Noah?”
“She’s surprisingly limber for someone her age.” Jensen studied my face. “How are you doing?”
As always, Jensen saw right through any facades I had in place. “I’m fine. I just needed to see you.” I pulled her to me, resting my chin on her towel-covered head. I wasn’t fine. Someone was killing the horses I loved, that crazy person now had their eyes on Jensen, and the run-ins with my dad were only getting worse.
Jensen placed a kiss on my pec. “I haven’t seen your dad in a long time. Why didn’t you tell me things had gotten worse?”
I sighed. “I don’t have to deal with him often. I just feel bad for my mom.”
