Nimrod growled. “Money? A property deed? Jewels? Whatever it was she gifted you, it does not belong to you! It belongs to we Fletchers!” Briney couldn’t draw breath, and the sensation was terrifying! She couldn’t move to defend herself. She was at Nimrod’s mercy! “You signed a legal document forfeiting any claim on anything!” Nimrod raged. “Promising never to contest—” But Nimrod’s furious rant was cut short when Gunner leapt from the loft, knocking Nimrod to the floor next to Briney. “And who the hell are you?” Gunner roared. Reaching down and taking hold of Nimrod’s collar, Gunner pulled the man to his feet. Without another word, Gunner let go a devastating fist to Nimrod’s jaw, knocking him to the stable floor once more. “You don’t touch Briney! Do you hear me? And you don’t walk into my stable and—” Briney’s breath returned only an instant before the gunshot split the air. “Gunner!” Briney screamed as she saw Gunner’s hand go to his right shoulder—saw the blood beginning to trickle from the wound.
