15. Beast
BEAST
Ididn't sleep much.
Not because I was worried.
Army Rangers didn't worry.
We planned.
There was a difference.
At least that's what I told myself while I sat on Sadie's porch at four in the morning drinking coffee and watching the darkness.
The ranch was quiet.
The house was dark.
The barn sat fifty yards away.
Nothing moved.
Nothing happened.
Which was exactly how I liked it.
A floorboard creaked behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Sadie stepped onto the porch wearing flannel pajama pants and an oversized T-shirt.
Her hair was a mess.
She looked half asleep.
And entirely too cute.
I immediately looked away.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
"You know, normal people sleep."
I took another drink of coffee.
"Normal people don't have crazy ex-boyfriends."
She rolled her eyes.
"Gerald isn't crazy."
I stared at her.
She stared back.
Five seconds later she sighed.
"Fine. He's a little crazy."
"A little?"
"Okay. A lot."
"Better."
Sadie dropped into the chair beside me.
The porch swing creaked softly.
For a few moments, neither of us spoke.
Then she glanced toward the pasture.
"You really sat out here all night?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
I looked at her.
Because somebody should have protected you years ago.
The words stayed in my head.
Instead I shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep."
She wasn't buying it.
Not even a little.
Unfortunately.
Sadie was smarter than people gave her credit for.
"You were watching the ranch."
"No."
"You were."
"Nope."
"You absolutely were."
I pointed my coffee mug at her.
"You're annoying."
She grinned.
"You're protective."
I didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Her smile slowly faded.
Something softer is replacing it.
Something that made me uncomfortable.
Because I knew that look.
And I knew exactly who it was directed at.
Me.
Before either of us could say anything, a loud crash echoed from the barn.
Both of us were moving before the sound finished.
Sadie jumped from her chair.
I was already on my feet.
Years of Ranger training taking over.
My pistol appeared in my hand.
My attention locked on the barn.
Every window.
Every door.
Every shadow.
"Stay behind me."
"Beast—"
"Behind me."
The tone left no room for argument.
For once.
Sadie listened.
We crossed the yard quickly.
Silently.
The barn door stood partially open.
I knew for a fact it had been closed an hour ago.
That wasn't good.
Not good at all.
I motioned for Sadie to stay back.
Then stepped inside.
The barn was dark.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
I moved forward.
One step.
Then another.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Something shifted above me.
I looked up.
And froze.
For one full second.
Then closed my eyes.
Because there were moments in life nobody could prepare for.
Not even Army Rangers.
"What?" Sadie whispered from the doorway.
I pointed upward.
She followed my finger.
Then immediately burst into laughter.
The three ranch hands were hanging upside down from the hay loft.
By their belts.
Twenty feet above the floor.
Like very confused bats.
One of them waved.
"Morning, Beast."
I stared at him.
"Explain."
"We were trying to catch a raccoon."
"By hanging yourselves from the ceiling?"
There was a pause.
"Well..."
Another pause.
"It sounded smarter a while ago."
Beside me, Sadie laughed so hard she nearly fell over.
And for the first time all morning...
I laughed too.