Colton Hale. The name rolled off her tongue, and as they got closer, she almost drooled. He looked like a hot cowboy yanked from an old Western movie. His jeans fit just right, his T-shirt was tight across an amazing chest that peeked out from his jacket, and he wore a cowboy hat pulled down over his eyes. The butt of the shotgun rested on a bended knee, and the way his hand cradled the stock, Ellie had to wonder what that hand would feel like cradling something a little more sensitive.
The car pulled up until she was even with Colton. She started to open the door, but he moved off the steps and stopped when he reached her. "Any of those people with you?"
All she could do was shake her head. His voice was just gravely enough that she felt warm deep in her belly.
He gave her a curt nod and a wink that made her happy she wasn't standing because her knees would have buckled. "Wait here just a minute."
He walked away, and Ellie turned to the driver. "Do you know him? What's he going to do?"
The guy smiled devilishly. "Oh, he's going to run off the coyotes."
Ellie didn't understand the reference. "What do you mean?"
"Coyotes circle the livestock. Sometimes you just have to show them who's boss."
A loud blast made her jump. She slid over to the other side of the car so she could see out. Colton had the shotgun raised, but pointed toward the ground, which was where his shot went. Every one of the paparazzi had frozen. Colton's voice boomed loud and clear. "Next one won't be wasting good ammunition."
One of the photographers decided to challenge him. "You can't do that. We have a right to be here."
Colton swung the barrel over his shoulder and pointed. "You see that gate right down there? The one right by the road?"
"What about it?"
"That's as far as you have a right to be. Anything on this side of that gate is my property. Now get the hell off my land before I fill your ass full of buckshot."
"You can't just shoot me."
Colton leveled the shotgun at him. "You're on my property, threatening my family and my guest. I have every right to shoot you."
"We haven't threatened anyone."
He racked a shell into the chamber. "Prove it."
Ellie looked at the woman standing nearby. Nothing Colton did seemed to phase her, and she just waited with her arms folded to see how things worked out. The paparazzi members suddenly seemed to decide that maybe Colton meant every word, because as one, they all turned and headed for their vehicles parked along the road. Ellie waited until they were down near the gate before she got out of the car. Colton hadn't moved other than to rest the shotgun on his foot.
She didn't know what to say to him. "Thanks."
He glanced at her before turning his attention back to the intruders. "Do you get that often?"
"All the time."
The driver slapped Colton on the back. "I told her there was going to be hell to pay when I saw you standing there."
"I do what's right."
"You showed them." He turned around. "I need to get the car back to the shop. See you around, lady."
Ellie waved. "Thanks." She watched as he grabbed her suitcases out of the trunk and sat them on the porch.
The woman walked over as he left. "I'm Vinia Hale. Welcome to Outside Outfitters." Vinia gave her a good lookover. "I know you. You're on my show that I watch every day. And you were in that Christmas movie."
Ellie smiled. "My time on your show is over, but yes, that was me."
"Well, Ms. Ellie Dampier, a very special welcome for you. Cole, do you recognize her?"
He strolled over. "You know I don't watch your show, Mama."
Oh, Lord. I am in so much trouble with this cowboy.Ellie suddenly knew how her diehard fans felt about her, because she was instantly fangirling on Colton.
