Free Rangers: Silver-Star Seductions: A Two-Book Box Set by Ciana Stone

there.” She felt for the light switch and sure enough there were all five ferrets lined up, watching her.
    “How about a treat?” Willa asked and headed for the kitchen with all five on her heels chattering away.
    She had to use a stool to reach the cabinet above the refrigerator where she kept the tin of popcorn. It was one of the extravagances in her life. Once a month she’d get a tin of cheese flavored popcorn. The ferrets loved it but she had to keep it tucked away because they were very smart and resourceful creatures.
    Willa piled a big bowl full and set it on the floor then laughed as all five dove for it. After returning the tin to the cabinet, she took a tray of meat from the refrigerator. Whenever they slaughtered an animal for food, she kept the cuts no one wanted for cooking for Lobo and Bobby. She’d defrosted two nice sized leg bones for them.
    Bobby was lying on the swing on the back porch when she walked outside. His nose twitched and then his eyes opened. He hopped down, stretched and ambled over her. “You wanna come in for the night?”
    His response was to mosey to the door.
    “Lobo?” She called and walked to the edge of the porch.
    He appeared out of the darkness, tail wagging. “Got something for you, big guy. Come on in.”
    She held the door for them and followed them into the kitchen. She’d already laid out the meat covered bones on their mats for them and it didn’t take any encouragement for them to dig in.
    Satisfied that all of her animal family was content, she went upstairs. She took off her boots and dress and slid into a pair of soft but nearly thread-bare knit shorts and pulled on a tank top.
    She’d just walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth when she heard the sound of a car. Her heart leapt. Zeb?  She ran to the bedroom window to look out and hope turned to anger.
    Willa ran downstairs, snatched up her shotgun and hurried to the front window. Carl and Carter Ellis climbed out of the front of the old beat-up truck. Two other men jumped out of the bed and all four started toward the house. It wasn’t lost on her that all four were armed.
    They had to have been watching. All this time she thought they’d given up, but the first time Zeb wasn’t there they showed up. Willa ran to the kitchen and started to pick up the phone but she saw Lobo standing there with his hackles raised.
    She knew as well as she lived and breathed that if the men got in the house, Lobo and even Bobby would fight for her. And get shot in trying to help her.
    “You have to go,” she said and raced to the back door. “Now. Come on Lobo. Bobby?  Bobby!”
    She shooed them both out of the door. “You stay out of sight, you hear me?”
    Both animals bounded off the porch, each in a separate direction. Willa locked the door and walked back to the entrance of the hall, watching the front door.
    She jumped as the door rattled and shook from the pounding that started. “Willa!  Open the fucking door. Willa!  Willa, open the goddamn door or I’ll kick it in. Willa!!”
    She racked in a load to her shotgun, trying to stem the rush of nausea and trembling that suddenly gripped her. She should have called 911 or Zeb. Now it was too late. God help me . She couldn’t remember ever being this afraid, not even when Clay would come at her with those big fists of his clenched.
    The door burst in, slammed against the wall and a man charged in. She saw the gun in his hand. Could she turn and run, make it out of the back door before he spotted her and fired. “I got her!” The man crowed and started in her direction.
    The next minute passed in sickeningly slow motion. Willa felt the bile rise in her throat, felt her hands grip the gun and her finger pull the trigger. The sound was deafening. Something dark splattered from the man at the same moment he was propelled backwards, his arms flailing and feet trying to find purchase. His gun went flying.
    He fell to the floor just as a second man rushed in.