Colleen popped off two rounds before he’d even finished. He tightened his lips and glanced at the target twenty-five yards away. There were two neat holes in the ring around the bullseye. Had to have been beginner’s luck.

  However, by the time she’d gone through two boxes of ammo, he was convinced she was a natural. If she could manage to remember to keep her loaded weapon pointed toward the ground and away from him or another hunter, she’d be more than qualified to carry a weapon. Not that he’d ever be all right with her in a live fire situation in the field. Still, it didn’t hurt for her to know how to defend herself.

  As well, Ethan, their realtor, had said the previous owners of the house they’d put a bid on had seen bear on the property. Not that the little Remington handgun he’d purchased for her would stop an angry bear, but she might be able to scare one away.

  After she finished firing, they turned in their ear protection, and Colleen proudly carried her rolled up her targets toward the truck.

  “I’m going to pick the best one and tape it to the side of my desk.”

  “You do that.” No one was going to believe it anyway.

  “Do you know Marti said I’m good on my feet? We’ve moved on from boxing to kickboxing, and I swear my pants are a little looser.”

  “Might not need that new pair of Spanx you bought after all,” he teased.

  She gave him a deadly glare. “You are never to mention to anyone what happened to the last pair.”

  Cowboy pressed his lips into a straight line, and then bit them with his teeth to fight the laugh bubbling up inside at the memory of her epic battle with her doomed Spanx. A snort escaped, and he bent and placed his hands on his knees as he tried to fight the chuckles that followed.

  Colleen slapped his back. “Not nice,” she said, but when he glanced up, her own eyes were sparkling and her lips were stretched into a wide grin. “Who knew it takes two people to get those suckers up?”

  Cowboy straightened and reached out to grab her arm, reeling her into his body. “You amaze me every day.”

  She blinked up at him, and her soft smile told him how much she loved his praise. “It’s hard for me to believe everything we’ve accomplished together,” she said.

  Cowboy kissed her. “It’s all you, babe. From day one, you took a chance on us. You nursed me back to health. You’ve worked your ass off,” he said, grabbing her backside again, “to find your place with the hunters. I’m proud of you.” He kissed her again. “But you know what?”

  She smiled and nuzzled his chin. “What?”

  “I wouldn’t have minded if you’d let me take care of you. I would’ve felt honored just being the man who walks around with you on my arm.”

  She patted his chest. “Well, I wouldn’t have been satisfied. I need to be a true partner. To know I measure up and belong by your side.”

  Cowboy held up his arm and pushed back his sleeve to glance at his watch. “We really need to hustle to get there for the morning meeting.”

  She moved out of his arms and ran toward the truck. When he slid behind the wheel, she gave him a stern look. “No shower for two this morning. You know that always makes us late.”

  Cowboy didn’t say anything, but he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist once he had them both stripped. Yeah, she’d be drying her back on the sheets again.

  * * *

  The morning meeting was wrapping up. Colleen had a list of cold calls to make to relatives and friends of skips who’d failed to show up in court. She loved this part of the job. Who knew she’d be so good at wangling her way into strangers’ confidences to hear all the good gossip?

  Marti held up a finger. “One last thing, folks. The showrunner sent me an email. She’ll be sending a file to me of the first episode they’ll be airing. Although, I think it would be more fun to watch it when it goes live. And…I think we ought to throw a party for the release.”

  There were smiles around the table. The new guy, Eli Pope, raised his eyebrows. Although he hadn’t signed up to be featured in the show, he had been on the periphery of some of the action the cameras had caught.

  Eli had been shadowing Cage to learn the ropes. So far, he seemed to be working out fine although he was a little aloof.

  Colleen figured that was just his way, seeing as how he’d worked as a sniper for so many years. She was intensely curious about the man, but she’d given him a wide berth. Not being an overly chatty kind of guy, she still didn’t know him well enough.

  He was a handsome man with a short, salt-and-pepper beard. His gaze was sharp like an eagle’s, and his tall rangy frame was attractive. Even Fig had checked him out a time or two, but Colleen didn’t think the woman was particularly interested in hooking up with the guy.

  Fig was almost as much of a mystery as Eli was. While she kept the office focused on work, and fixed all their technical issues, she didn’t spend a lot of time gabbing. Colleen thought maybe she should emulate her, then maybe everyone would take her a little more seriously. Still, she figured she was lucky to be accepted as part of the team when she was so different in experience and talents from the rest of the hunters.

  Yeah, thinking about Eli and the way he held himself away from the others had been a frequent topic on girls’ nights. Rhonda was convinced he just needed the right woman to pry open his “locked up tight” demeanor. Colleen wasn’t sure it was a woman he needed. Maybe he just needed to learn to trust the other hunters around him.

  That would change, she had no doubt. The team was a tight-knit group and good people all around. All trustworthy and watching everyone else’s “six” as the guys liked to call watching each other’s backs. Who wouldn’t want to feel like they were part of this family?

  Plans were set for the viewing party. They’d hold it here in the conference room with a potluck dinner and plenty of popcorn and beer on hand.

  Her cellphone rang. It was Ethan Palmer. Sliding a finger across the screen, she rose from the table and made her way toward her desk. “Yes, Ethan. Did you hear back from the owners?”

  “Can you two meet me out at the property today?”

  Colleen turned and signaled to Cowboy. “Wait just a second.” Placing the call on mute, she said, “Cowboy, Ethan wants to see us out at the house today.”

  Cowboy frowned. “Is there a problem?”

  She shrugged.

  Cowboy glanced at Chase.

  Chase shrugged. “Hey, man. If you want to do it now, I can ride with you and then we can leave to go pick up our skip from the house.”

  Colleen returned to the call. “Ethan, can we all head there now?”

  When he agreed, the three of them headed out to the parking lot. Colleen took her own car because she’d need to return to the office afterward.

  The property was five miles away from Dead Horse, just off the highway heading into the mountains. The second she pulled onto the long graveled drive, she felt all tension leave her shoulders.

  It was that way every time. Even the first day they’d driven out for a preliminary look. She’d known this was the place just from the feel of it.

  Fifteen acres, half of them heavily wooded and clinging to the rising hills, the other half flat with a stream that ran through it. Yes, with fresh snow covering the ground, it was hard to see what it would look like without the white blanket, but the two-story farmhouse was in good shape, if a little dated. The barn was sturdy, and there were a few other outbuildings—a chicken coop, a small hut for some goats, and a structure to house a tractor and ATVs.

  She didn’t want to think about the cost, but the advance Cowboy had received from the show would make a nice down payment toward full ownership.

  Hoping no other prospective buyers were jacking up the price, she crossed her fingers as she stepped out onto the drive and made her way to Ethan, Chase, and Cowboy.

  “Let’s go inside,” Ethan said.

  Glad to get out of the cold, she walked with Cowboy, climbing the steps of the wide porch, which already had a swinging chair—something that had only cemented her love for the place—and walking into the foyer.

  She drew up short when she saw the balloons filling the space.

  “Congratulations,” Elaine said, standing in the entryway. She held out a bouquet of red and white roses, and a table stood in the center, set with a lot of champagne flutes and an uncorked bottle.

  Behind her, she heard more vehicles arriving and turned to watch them as they filled the long drive. All the hunters were there. They’d all been in on this.

  Colleen’s gaze misted over, and she blinked rapidly to clear her eyes. “We got the house?” she asked, her voice roughening.

  “They accepted your bid,” Ethan said, smiling down at her. “We’re already drawing up the paperwork. Your lenders have approved everything.”

  She turned to Cowboy, who stood there with a crooked grin on his face. “You knew?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Ethan called me yesterday. Elaine called right after that and said we needed to ‘go big’ to surprise you. Everyone’s happy for us, Colleen.” He cleared his throat. “And there’s someone else who wanted to be here…” He tilted his head toward the doorway.

  She turned just in time to see Sean stomping the snow from his shoes before stepping over the threshold. His expression was a little wary as he approached her. “Hey, Colly,” he said softly.

  For once, she didn’t mind him calling her a dog. He wasn’t really. It was just a childhood nickname. His special name for her. “Hi, Sean. What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve been talking to your man, here, Lucas. Actually, he came to see me a few weeks back. He wanted me to get to know him. And he had a question for me.”

  Colleen’s jaw sagged a little as she glanced from her brother to Cowboy, who stood so quietly beside her. “You’ve been talking to my brother?” she said, not knowing how she felt about that. Should she be angry because he’d gone behind her back? Disappointed he hadn’t mentioned it even once?

  She turned back to Sean. “I don’t need your approval regarding who I spend my time with.”

  “No, you don’t. You’re a grown woman,” her brother said, blowing out a breath. “I was wrong to think it was my role to guide you. Your life is something you have to figure out on your own. I’m sorry I was such an ass.”

  Colleen blinked at tears and gave Sean a smile. Then she rushed toward him and gave him a hug. “I hated that I couldn’t talk to you about all the exciting things I’m learning and doing.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard plenty,” Sean said, grinning. “And I’ve already seen the attorneys to release your trust fund. I figured you could use the money on this place. Cowboy mentioned something about horses and goats… Now, about that question…” He glanced over at Cowboy.

  The room went completely silent. When she glanced around, it seemed like everyone was holding their breath. When Cowboy moved, she focused on him because he was going down on one knee. “Cowboy?”

  “He asked for my blessing,” Sean said, then gently pushed her toward Cowboy. “I gave it.”

  Colleen felt warmth suffuse her body. Pride welled inside her chest. This man, this handsome cowboy was about to…

  “Are you sure this isn’t too fast?” she hissed.

  The women surrounding them chuckled softly.

  “For Pete’s sake, don’t try to talk him out of it,” Rhonda whispered. “I’m taping this!”

  Cowboy cleared his throat. “Colleen, be quiet.”

  “Okay,” she said then gave him an encouraging smile.

  “That never happens,” Chase muttered.

  More chuckles sounded, and Colleen began to relax. How had he known to do this with all of her family around her?

  “Ah hell,” Cowboy said. “I had a speech memorized, but looking up at you,” he said, “you still take my breath away. You leave me tongue-tied. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, it’s been that way.”

  There were feminine sighs all around, none louder than hers.

  He opened his hand to reveal a small ring box, and she pressed a hand over her heart. Blinking rapidly, she was determined not to cry and miss this moment.

  “Colleen Erin Bradley, will you be my wife?”

  “Let me see the ring!” she said, her voice sounding suspiciously like a squeal.

  “Are you gonna say no if you don’t like it?” Chase asked.

  She sent him a glare. “This is my moment,” she growled.

  More chuckles sounded, but Cowboy cut them short when he flipped open the box to reveal a large round diamond with smaller diamonds sitting beside it.

  “A round diamond?” she asked.

  “It reminded me of you.”

  She couldn’t help the whoop of laughter that followed while Cowboy knelt, confusion written on his face. Colleen felt sorry for him and went to her knees in front of him. She reached out and gave him a big hug. “Of course, I’ll marry you, Cowboy. I love you—have since the moment you gave me my first—”

  “Intersex orgasm,” the women chimed out.

  She knelt grinning in front of him while he tilted his head, trying to figure out what she’d just admitted. Unwilling to wait while he puzzled it out, she pinched his chin and brought his face to hers. The kiss she gave him was soft…until it was lustful. Like all their kisses were.

  When they pulled away, Elaine began filling flutes and passing them around. “We’ve got so much to celebrate.”

  “A toast!” Chase called out. “To the couple who met over a broken dick.”

  Rhonda gaze him a swat. “You know I’m gonna edit that out.”

  Colleen shook her head. “This was perfect, Cowboy. You’ve made me so happy.”

  “I’ll spend my life making sure you stay that way.”

  Colleen had the feeling every day would be a big, happy adventure. She envisioned children and chickens and goats—and he might even talk her into learning to ride a horse. She couldn’t imagine a better future as they hunted for scumbags with all their besties.

  Leaning toward him again, she wiggled her ring finger and waited as he slid the ring home.

  Epilogue

  So, the release night party wasn’t like some red-carpet event with everyone dressed in fancy dresses and tuxes, but the women made it special, hanging a banner over the entrance and bringing in enough food to feed their big, hungry men.

  At the appointed time, everyone took their seats around the conference table.

  Cowboy sat beside Colleen, holding her hand. He wouldn’t have admitted it, but he was a little worried about the show, wondering whether the hunters and their women would come across as cartoon characters rather than real people.

  The commercial ended, and everyone sat forward in their seats. The showrunner, even Lacey, hadn’t told them what their show would be called…

  Music played, and then Bounty Hunters of the Northwest –We’re Dead Horse filled the screen.

  A hoot sounded, and laughter followed. The first scene was in the Dead Horse Walk-in Diner with Nadine standing beside the hunters’ table, her waitress’s notebook in her hand, telling them, “You’re not Dead Horse,” before hrmphing and walking away.

  The camera panned toward Chase, who gave the group a crooked grin. “Guess we have our work cut out for us.”

  What followed was an introduction to Dead Horse, Montana—the legend behind the naming of the town and the generous gesture Cage had made when the horse’s bones had been found on the Montana Bounty Hunters’ property during construction of the new office building. He’d had them strung together and presented to the town. A pan of the skeleton standing in the grass in front of the town hall with proud community leaders followed.

  After the commercial break, the show went straight to Cowboy and Chase. They stood beside a dusty gravel road, backing horses off a trailer while a narrator talked about Cowboy and Chase, their military records, and how they’d found their way to MBH.

  Then what followed was what could only be termed as a bloopers reel as Chase mounted his horse, only to have his saddle slide sideways, dumping him on the ground.

  A very perturbed Chase rose swatting off the dust.

  “Thought you said you knew how to ride a horse,” Cowboy said from atop his horse.

  “Man, I know how to ride a damn horse. I never said I could saddle one.”

  There was laughter inside the conference room as Chase sat wearing a sheepish smile. “It gets better,” he said.

  Sure enough, it did. Somehow the cameraman managed to film Chase and Cowboy riding across the grassland, looking sexy as fuck as they leaned low over their horses’ necks as they trailed a skip trying to outrun them.

  The two men quickly surrounded him, Cowboy leaping gracefully to the ground to pursue the man, Chase taking a second to calm his horse before he dropped from the saddle. When he followed Cowboy, he was rubbing his backside.

  “So, I was saddle-sore,” he groused. “We got him.”

  The show continued through commercial breaks, showing the women in the office, following Marti and Hardman on a hunt where every other word out of Marti’s mouth was bleeped out.

  By the time the credits rolled, Cowboy sat back feeling rather proud of himself and his team. The showrunner had managed to keep it real—the funny, the scary, and highlighting the camaraderie among the hunters.

  Fig flipped on the light switch. “Don’t guess we have to be embarrassed,” she said.

  The women all turned to congratulate their men with big kisses.

  Colleen glanced sideways at Cowboy. “Guess I didn’t need those Spanx. I looked pretty damn good when I played waitress at that bar to get close to that skip.”

  “Babe, you looked amazing.”

  Fig shouted from the bullpen. “We have comments on our website!”

  Everyone moved quickly to stand behind Fig’s desk with its large monitor. She had the show’s new website on the screen.

  Chase laughed. “They wanna know when the action figures will go on sale.” He lifted his head. “We gonna have action figures?”

  Elaine leaned over Fig’s shoulder. “This one wants to know where Colleen buys her clothes… Wait, this one has a link to the blouse she wore at the bar, but the commenter said it’s already sold out.”