by Mary Winter
Wild Horse Rescue (a Brotherhood Protectors Kindle Worlds novella)
After her friends at the 2 Hearts Rescue allowed her to stay with them after a bad breakup, acclaimed wildlife photographer, Erika Alberts, eagerly went to the Crazy Mountains in Montana to photograph wild horses for their fundraising calendar. Everything isn’t adorable foals and beautiful sunrises though, because her camp has been sabotaged and things just aren’t adding up. She’s afraid her ex is back and he’ll stop her at any costs.
Logan “Mustang” Ryder knows Erika will not be happy if she learns her friends hired him to keep an eye on her. He’s the perfect member of Brotherhood Protectors to take the job. Not only is he a former ParaRescue with the Air Force Special Ops, but their motto “that others may live” is more than a duty, it’s a way of life. He remembered Erika from a hot week they’d spent while he’d been on leave a few years ago, and he’s wanted her ever since. It’s his job to keep her safe from a crazy ex-boyfriend, and to convince her that he’s ready to settle down—with her.
Buy now: https://www.amazon.com/Brotherhood-Protectors-Rescue-Kindle-Novella-ebook/dp/B075FG2DV4/
Chapter One
The lack of bars on her phone mocked her and as soon as she got back to a road and civilization Erika Alberts vowed to write the cellular company, because no, she couldn’t hear a damn thing without a signal. Of all the times for her truck not to start. It had run this morning—no problem. She’d driven out to the ridge, staked out a place for her camera, decided to return at dusk because that’s when she’d spotted the wild horses there. Now, the truck sputtered and coughed when she tried to start it, and she had a bad feeling that maybe she’d gotten some bad gas at that little station she’d stopped at before reaching town. Except, if that had happened then the truck should have died before now. She muttered under her breath about not being a mechanic and checked her phone for what seemed like the millionth time. Nope, no signal.
She kept hiking aware that sunset painted the landscape with hues of pink and orange that made her long to stop, break out her camera, and snap a few shots. Except, if she took the time to do that she wouldn’t reach the road before dark. She guessed she had about half an hour left to walk, maybe even a full hour. She picked up the pace. She’d packed the best she could with a jacket, water, some granola bars, a flare gun, a can of pepper spray and her long knife in her pack. Her trusty multi-tool hung from her belt in its holster next to her Swiss Army Knife. Aside from a firearm, which she hadn’t thought she’d need before now, she packed as smart as she could considering she was leaving her vehicle in the middle of nowhere and had no idea if, or when, she’d see anyone along the main road.
The sense of being watched prickled the hair on the back of her neck. She stopped and glanced around, seeing no one. She hated this feeling, had experienced it since making camp a few miles away. She’d chalked it up to an over active imagination. She hadn’t seen any wild horses, or much other wildlife out here for that matter, let alone any people. In fact, right now, she’d welcome a stranger. It would mean she’d get help for her car, or maybe just to somewhere she could get a signal on her phone. She’d been in more remote locations with better reception; she had no idea why there was none here.
Something bothered her about the sounds her truck had been making. She’d heard them before; she just wished she could remember where. If she wasn’t mistaken, it sounded like the fuel filter was clogged, but that seemed odd. Sure, it happened with age; she’d had all maintenance done on her truck. The usual culprit was someone putting something in the tank, except she hadn’t seen anyone. And who would want to do that anyway? Pranksters? She doubted it. Out here most people recognized the importance of being able to get back to civilization and wouldn’t leave a lady stranded.
The evening, just cool enough to make hiking long distances not uncomfortable, was clear with no rain in sight. At least she had that going for her. With each step the issues with her truck bothered her more and more. She wouldn’t tell the guys at 2 Hearts Rescue about this, though. They’d just feel bad for sending her up here to take photographs and she didn’t want them to feel burdened. She’d get through this. She’d certainly dealt with far worse in her time.