Page 19 of Twilight Tactics

“You’re such a rule follower,” Piper said, her voice sharp. “Her mental health is more important at the moment.”

He managed not to flinch at the rule-follower comment and held up his hands in surrender. “Right, of course. Do what you think is best, just keep your eyes open for anyone who doesn’t belong here.”

“I think I can handle it.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean—” He sighed. Seemed like he was going to be apologizing all day. “Of course you can.” She might be a relatively new agent, but she wasn’t incompetent. Quite the opposite. “I’ll be back.” If he didn’t hurry, he’d lose Elena. Sully darted out of the cabin and hurried around to the barn, saddled up Belle, and kicked the horse into motion.

It wasn’t long before he spotted Elena cantering toward the trees, head ducked against the wind. She had on jeans, boots, and a heavy sherpa coat that looked warmer than his FBI-issued one. He almost called out to her, but she was a good distance away, and for a reason he couldn’t explain, other than her body language, he kept his mouth shut and simply followed.

From what little Maya had told him, Elena was a skilled outdoorswoman and could take care of herself in pretty much any situation.

But they’d had an intruder.

Who ran from him.

Whose motives he had no idea about.

So, in his mind, it made sense to follow her and have her back.

She disappeared over a ridge and into a line of trees. The ranch was open land, gently rolling hills, and part of what seemed to be endless acres of hardwood forest with a mix of oak, cedar, maple, and hickory trees. A host of wildlife lived in those woods, including deer, fox, the occasional coyote, bobcats who stayed in the denser area, and so much more. He’d ridden every inch of this ranch during his summers as a teen, helping his grandfather and the other ranch hands with all the chores that came with a working ranch. He’d loved it at the time, but then the call of law enforcement pulled him away.

He didn’t regret it. Much.

Elena disappeared ahead, and he nudged Belle faster, working to catch up. Where was she going? Maya hadn’t alerted him to any more trouble, so...

It didn’t take much effort to find Elena and Harley’s path as she stayed on the dirt road leading through the trees. He pulled Belle to a stop, thinking. Maybe he should just leave Elena alone. If she’d wanted company, she certainly had her pick of who to take along on a ride.

He turned Belle around and headed back the way he’d come.

Then pulled the horse to a stop again.

No. He needed to listen to his gut and keep an eye on Elena’s back. If he was just being overly protective, then whatever. He swung Belle around and urged her forward at a slower pace, maintaining enough distance that Elena wouldn’t spot him through the trees or hear the horse’s occasional snort.

The sun cast shadows across the trail, and the wind did its best to dig beneath the neckline of his coat. He hunched his shoulders and kept watch. Every so often he’d catch a glimpse of her ahead as she followed the winding path straight to the perimeter fence and turned Harley to follow the fence line.

Sully frowned and continued his surveillance, but in order to keep her from noticing him, he had to veer off the pathand make his own. He picked his way carefully through the undergrowth, staying parallel to her as best he could.

Movement just ahead of her pulled his attention from her. A figure crouching behind a tree. Watching Elena.

What—?

He started to yell about the same time the person burst from his hiding spot toward Elena and her horse.

The movement toher rightyanked her gaze from the cut fence just in time to see a figure dressed in black grab for Harley’s reins.

She’d been so intent on examining the fence, she hadn’t heard the approach. “Hey, what—”

His right hand clamped around the rein closest to him and his left hand slammed around her right calf.

He pulled her off-balance and she tumbled out of the saddle. She came up swinging and her fist caught him under his chin. He cursed and stumbled back. Elena dropped into a fighting stance, instincts pushing out the shock of being caught off guard. She noted the tac hat and sunglasses.

Then crashing in the underbrush to her right reached her.

“Elena! Hey! Get away from her!”

Sully?

She didn’t dare spare a look as her attacker spun and landed a kick on her thigh. Elena cried out and whirled away, but he lunged in a surprise move and swept out a foot that slammed into her ankle. Pain flared and she went to her knees. He was a fighter too. When she rolled to her feet, he clamped a hand around her wrist and dragged her toward the opening in the fence.