Wrangling Riley (Whiskey and Roses #2)

Prologue

Garrett Johnson watched the crowd from his seat at the end of the bar.

With his back to the wall, he ordered a beer.

The people seemed carefree as they twirled and moved to the music.

Couples gazed into one another’s eyes as they touched each other.

Others slow danced and kissed, as if they forgot everyone else in the room.

He swiped the overgrown scruff along his jaw, longing to find someone to help him recall the softer emotions.

Sipping the alcohol, he allowed his body to relax and enjoy the evening out.

Newly retired from the military, he took a temporary job at the Mystic Ranch to make ends meet in Divinity, Texas.

Hoping to get a more stable position at Serenity Ranch in Embers, the next town over, he bided his time and put up with a couple of jerks staying in the bunkhouses.

“Do you want another?” the bartender, Dusty, asked as he picked up his empty glass.

“Yeah. Can I get a burger and fries?” he asked as he watched two of the assholes who caused trouble at the ranch walk in. Pulling his hat low, he leaned back and regarded them.

Two women scurried to the other side of the dance floor, avoiding the two men.

Glancing back at their vacated seats, Garrett noticed the woman who unknowingly captured the attention of Frank and Buddy Houser.

Snow’s raven-black hair and startling green eyes made her stand out among the crowd.

Dusty placed a plate of food before her, and she glanced up, flashing a bright smile.

Frank sat on her left, as Buddy moved to the stool on the right of her. Garrett’s fist furled, knowing they decided to make her their sacrificial lamb for the evening.

Frank leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, making her attention snap from her meal to the man beside her. Her eyes practically shot fire at him.

Garrett chuckled as he noticed Snow grabbing Frank’s balls and giving them a hard twist. The man’s face turned red as he leaned back and glared at her. Whatever she said must have pissed him off. Dusty sent a worried glance in her direction as she raised her hand to gain his attention.

“May I have a box to go?” she called.

Dusty dug under the bar, pulled out a to-go container and a plastic bag, and placed them in front of her. “Did you not like your meal? I can have them remake it if you want, darlin’,” he offered.

Garrett didn’t hear what she said but it caused Buddy to spit out his beer and Frank glared at her while she packed up the burger and potato. Placing a twenty down, she slid off her stool and headed for the door without a care in the world.

A minute later, the two brothers moved from their seats and followed her outside.

Garrett closed his eyes and muttered under his breath, “Shit.” Catching Dusty’s eye, he motioned toward the entrance.

Dusty sent him a nod of thanks as he slid from his stool and followed the men. Garrett refused to stand idly by while the Houser brothers terrorized her.

Walking outside, he saw Snow getting on her bike while the Houser brothers closed in to harass her.

“I believe the lady said she doesn’t want your company,” Garrett said, causing the brothers to turn around and glare at him.

Snow took the opportunity to kick-start her dirt bike while he distracted the brothers. A loud rumbling sound made all three men turn their heads, knowing it didn’t come from her bike. Garrett’s gaze roamed to Snow, finding her eyes widen in surprise.

“What the fuck?” Frank swore. “Who the hell is that?”

Garrett turned to watch a man on a custom-made Harley approach them. The stranger’s gaze remained focused on Snow, prompting Garrett to move protectively toward her.

“Garrett, I can take care of myself,” she yelled over the noise of the bike.

Garrett watched Snow glance over her shoulder, thinking it might be someone she knew. When she seemed startled, he took a few steps toward her, shielding her from the stranger.

She stared at the man, completely mesmerized. The stranger, in turn, seemed equally affected by her. His stare became so intense it seemed like his eyes practically glowed.

“Who the fuck does he think he is?” Buddy said, staring stupidly at the large man.

Garrett glanced at Snow, who turned her head to stare at the newcomer. A minute later, Snow’s head jerked back in surprise, appearing confused and panicked. His eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head, assessing this man as a threat. He didn’t like what he saw cross between them.

He watched Snow’s face as her lips parted and her eyes changed and appeared to glow. It seemed so strange, Garrett gasped, trying to comprehend the scene before him, and took a couple of steps back. His hand went to his sidearm, ready to protect Snow if needed. Her eyes continued to glow brighter.

“Something’s wrong with your eyes, Snow. What the hell?” Garrett asked, confused.

“Don’t speak to her that way.” The biker’s voice boomed after he shut the Harley’s engine off. Snow reacted to his voice, sending the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up.

“Look at his eyes.” Frank pointed out. “He’s a freak.”

“We don’t want any trouble here. I’m not sure why you rode into this town, but you can get back on your bike and ride on out.

” Garrett kept his hand on his weapon, letting the stranger know he meant business.

He didn’t like how the man confidently walked toward Snow, and the motorcycle separated Garrett from them.

He approached her as if they knew each other and whispered something in her ear.

The next thing he knew, Snow doubled over in pain and screamed bloody murder.

What Garrett saw next, he only read about in novels.

A big black bear stood where Snow sat only moments ago.

Garrett shook his head, thinking he only drank one beer, and someone must’ve laced it with something.

“What the fuck, man? Shoot it,” Buddy shouted at Garrett. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at him. Buddy wore a weapon. If he wanted to shoot it, let him. The only person he felt concerned about was Snow.

“Where did Snow go? What the hell did you do?” Garrett demanded of the stranger, who completely ignored him while he spoke to the sleek black bear.

The animal coughed and shook its head in understanding, only further confusing Garrett more.

Garrett raised his gun in the air and discharged it in the nearly deserted street, hoping to scare the damn thing off.

Unable to see the other side of the bike with the stranger’s body blocking his view, he envisioned Snow lying helplessly on the ground and bleeding.

The bear took off toward the trees and disappeared.

Garrett ran to the opposite side to aid Snow, only to find nothing.

He shook his head in disbelief and ran his hand through his hair.

Frank and Buddy ran back into the bar. Not knowing what else to do, Garrett took off to where he last saw the bear.

He didn’t know what the hell happened, but he was determined to get to the bottom of this shit or admit himself to a hospital for psychiatric treatment.

“I can’t handle this shit,” he shouted as a roar echoed through the trees. He searched the woods but found no sign of her.

He walked out of the edge of the woods toward the back of the bar, debating on calling the cops and reporting her as missing.

Garrett doubted they’d believe his story, considering he didn’t know what happened.

Imagining their questions, they’d probably chalk it up to him being drunk or on drugs.

He glanced up to find the stranger, who scared Snow off, staring at him.

Rage flowed through his body as he stalked toward the man, determined to get some answers from him.

The man paused, trying to act unaffected by Garrett’s expression. “Hey, man, I don’t want any trouble,” he said. “My phone’s dead, and I need to call my brother.”

Garrett didn’t give a shit who he needed to call. He only wanted answers. “Where’s Snow?” he demanded.

“That’s why I need a phone. I lost her,” he explained.

“You lost her? Fuck off. If you need to call someone, go use the one in the bar,” Garrett snapped. Seeing the stranger there, he turned back toward the woods. Snow might’ve hunkered down to hide if she saw his bike still behind hers.

“Snow, it’s me. You can come out now,” Garrett called every few minutes.

He stopped to hear any trace of her but heard nothing but the animals.

He walked the whole perimeter and headed back toward his truck.

Daylight was fast approaching and his anxiety increased as he worried about her.

Snow might’ve hitched a ride and returned to the only safe place she knew, Mystic Ranch.

Getting in his truck, Garrett headed back to the bunk house.

Before dawn, the place felt deserted, since all the hands went into town in search of some form of entertainment.

He grabbed a flashlight and made a mental list of places she might hide on the ranch.

It’s not as if she didn’t have reason to hide there.

Some of the other workers constantly teased Snow.

The women did it out of jealousy. Her tall stature, sleek black hair, and piercing green eyes caught a lot of attention from the men.

The fact that she seemed aloof and paid the men no attention drew more scrutiny from them.

When she brushed off their advances, some of them took it personally and made her life a living hell.

Recalling how they connected, the evening started when Frank and Buddy began their antics by loosening the cinch on her horse, causing her to fall off in front of the cowboys.

Laughter and jeers sent her running into one of the barns.

Garrett shook his head at the assholes before following her.

After several harmless pranks earlier in the day, they finally got to her.

It typically didn’t work with Snow, and her running off concerned him.