Brenda Minton - Her Rancher Bodyguard

The stepmother was bearing down on them. Marietta Stanford was tall with pale blond hair, a pinched mouth and less-than-friendly gray eyes. Boone didn’t know much about this world, but to his inexperienced eye he’d call her expensive and high maintenance.

“Of course I am. I couldn’t very well stay home, could I, Mother?”

Marietta Stanford’s nostrils flared. “Don’t start.”

Kayla smiled. “Right, I forgot. My father wanted me here. So I’m here.”

Boone moved a little closer, offering the protection of his nearness. That wasn’t his job, but if he was going to protect someone, he’d protect from all corners.

“Try to show some class tonight,” Marietta warned. And then she smiled, as if they’d been talking about the weather. “The pearls are a lovely touch.”

“For what it’s worth, I think she has the market cornered on class.” Boone winked at Kayla and was rewarded with a smile.

They moved away from her stepmother.

“Thank you,” Kayla whispered.

“No problem. Everyone needs someone in their corner.”

She nodded. “That’s a novel idea. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.”

“You’re okay?”

“Of course,” she said as they maneuvered through the room.

For the next five minutes he stood at the door waiting for Kayla to reappear. He glanced at his watch, then smiled at the group of women who gave him cautious looks as they walked in and out.

Finally he called Lucy. “She escaped.”

Lucy laughed. “Already?”

“She said she needed to use the restroom. I’ve been waiting here for a long time. People are starting to stare.”

“I’ll walk around back. See if you can get someone to go in. Maybe she’s just hiding in there.”

“Yeah, I will. Stay on the line.”

He looked around and as he did he caught a glimpse of a familiar profile.

“Luce, see if you can find her pronto. We have trouble in here. A certain blond with glasses.”

“Will do.”

As he hurried across the room, someone grabbed his arm, bringing him to a dead stop.

“Boone Wilder?” The older man had a firm grip, Boone would give him that.

“Yes, sir. You must be Mr. Stanford.”

“I am. And where’s my daughter?”

“She’s in the restroom. But, sir, I just saw the man who attacked her last night. If you don’t mind having this conversation later...”

“What? Where?” William Stanford glanced around. So did Boone. There were several hundred people in attendance and it seemed that half of them were gathered in the lobby.

“Great. He’s gone.”

“Of course he is. Or he never existed. My daughter has a wild imagination. This isn’t the first story she’s created and it won’t be the last.”

“The attack last night wasn’t her imagination. The concussion and the bruise on her jaw are not imaginary.” Boone continued to watch the crowd. He briefly looked at his client. “And the letters the two of you are getting, letters you failed to divulge, are not imaginary.”

A flicker of concern briefly settled in Mr. Stanford’s eyes. “She’s getting them, too?”

“Yes, she is. I don’t want to jump to conclusions but I think there might have been more to last night’s attack. It could be that their next step is to kidnap your daughter. Someone has something on you other than your daughter’s very public behavior. You’d best figure out what it is.”

Another man approached them, tall with graying hair and sharp, dark eyes. Boone guessed him to be in his late forties.

“Boone Wilder, this is my law partner and campaign manager, Paul Whitman,” William Stanford said.

“Mr. Whitman.” Boone shook his hand. It was a little too soft and a little too snaky. He refocused on his client. “I’m going to ask that you excuse your daughter from this event.”

“Has something happened to our little Kayla?” Mr. Whitman asked in a voice that matched his snaky appearance. “She does tend to fabricate stories.”

Boone caught a quick look between the two men. And Mr. Stanford’s was a definite warning to the other man.

“Being attacked isn’t a story,” Boone defended Kayla for the second time.

“Then, I’m going to ask that you keep my daughter not only out of trouble but out of harm’s way. I don’t want her hurt.”

“We might need to remove her from Austin.” Boone looked down at his phone and the text from Lucy. She had Kayla.

“I need my family around me during this election, Wilder.”

“Yes, sir. But you also hired me to keep your daughter safe. That’s my priority here, not your campaign.”

Someone called out and Mr. Stanford raised a hand to put them off. “I agree. But before you take her anywhere, you let me know. If you can’t reach me, then leave a message at my office, or let Paul know.”

No, Boone didn’t think he’d be leaving any messages with Paul Whitman. “I’ll let you know. For now, though, we’re leaving this event.”

“Where is my daughter, Mr. Wilder?”

“With my partner, Lucy Palermo. They’re outside in the vehicle and waiting for me.”

“Then, you should go,” he said. “Keep her safe, Wilder.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Boone headed out to the waiting SUV. He got in the backseat. Kayla was in the front. She didn’t turn to look at him.

“Nice move, Stanford. Did you go out the window?”

“Not now, Boone.” Lucy drove away from the building.

“Why not now? She’s in danger and rather than staying safe, she’s jumping out windows so she doesn’t have to go to Daddy’s fancy dinner party.”

Lucy shot him a meaningful look. “Not. Now.”

He raised both hands in surrender. “Fine, not now.”

That was when he realized there were tears streaming down Kayla’s cheeks. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, but he was far from relaxed. Protecting Kayla Stanford was supposed to be an easy job. Keep her out of trouble and make sure she showed up on time for her father’s campaign events.

He hadn’t considered she’d need a friend more than she needed a bodyguard.

Chapter Three

Kayla woke up early Monday morning. She blamed her new schedule on the cowboy and his partner, who had taken up residence in her apartment. They kept country hours, in bed shortly after ten and up by six in the morning.

She enjoyed sleeping in. If she didn’t sleep late, there would be too many hours in a day to live, to think, to try to be happy. And to fail. Her dad had asked her to go to work for him, to use her college degree in prelaw. He’d suggested teaching if she didn’t want that. She didn’t want any part of her father’s world. She knew it too well, knew the underhanded dealings and the backstabbing.

She tiptoed out of her room, leaving Lucy asleep on the cot she’d insisted on. Boone was asleep on her couch, stretched out, arm over his face, and snoring. She pinched his nose closed to stop the racket.

He jumped up off the sofa, gasping and flailing.

“Are you trying to kill me?”

She laughed. “No, I just wanted you to stop snoring.”

“That was a definite attempt on my life. And I don’t snore.” He glanced at his watch. “Why are you up so early?”

“Because my apartment has been invaded and I can no longer sleep late.”

“Tough, Stanford. Go back to sleep so I can sleep late.”

“You don’t sleep late,” she accused.

“Sometimes I do. Today is one of those days.”

“Too bad, because today is a day I’d like to go shopping and maybe grab some lunch.”

“Have fun with that.”

“You’re my date,” she shot back.

“No, I’m your bodyguard. There’s a difference. And I think shopping is dangerous for my health.”