Awakening Veronica(Divine Creek Ranch 17)(72)

“Yeah, I’m grateful at least that it was these ladies and not some individual bent on harming her. I’m sure the two group admins will give them access to the site.”

Jack whispered, “Trav, it’s probably not safe for her to stay here anymore.”

“I mentioned that to her and she agreed, but she wants to deal with that later, after this is over with.”

Right then, Veronica came out of the house and Travis was spellbound. As he glanced around, all the guys were, too. Whoever had planted that invitation had intended to humiliate her, to scare her, and to make her feel unsafe. She didn’t project any of those emotions at all. She fucking owned that potential disaster and he got to watch her do it.

She was dressed in cowboy boots, artfully ripped jeans, a sexy top, and had twirled her hair up into a disarrayed knot that looked like she’d spent an hour at the beauty shop to have done, and she graciously greeted and hugged the admins.

She pulled up a chair to seat an elderly lady who’d been standing on the porch without complaint and explained what had happened. She never betrayed the shock or fear that he knew she’d felt earlier at having such a surprise sprung on her.

“Veronica, we’re so sorry this happened,” Tracy said. “We’ll be happy to do whatever we can to make sure something like this never happens to you ever again. Whoever did this needs their ass kicked six ways to Sunday.”

The elderly lady, who looked like a librarian piped up. “Damned sons of bitches. They give online reader chat rooms a bad name.” All of the ladies agreed with her.

Veronica launched into a brief question-and-answer session, putting together an afternoon and evening filled with events that had the ladies crowing with happiness. They were all shocked that she was willing to take time out of her day for them with no notice.

Tracy Farmer raised her hands and hollered, “Ladies, listen to me. We’re going to call an impromptu face-to-face chat right now, amongst ourselves, to give Veronica and these other really…hot…scrumptious-looking cowboys time to get things pulled together. Please, no one post anything online until we agree how to handle this bullshit—I mean—this situation.”

Ash raised his hand and spoke loudly enough for the growing gathering to hear him. “Ladies, if you’ll follow me, we have seating in the covered arena next to Barn Number Two, where you can be in the shade while you hold your discussion. If you’ll all follow me and”—he pointed with a grin at Joaquin, who waved a hand in greeting—“Joaquin Martinez, we’re going to take you on a short tour of the Andalusian stallions and mares housed in that barn and then on to the arena where we’ll get you comfortably seated.”

Travis chuckled when several of the women sighed dreamily as they gazed at the cowboys who’d dropped everything to help Veronica out.

Several of the ladies hugged Veronica, giving her personal apologies and vowing to do what they could to help her in light of the way she’d been victimized.

Veronica came to stand beside him as they watched the ladies follow Ash and Joaquin on the short walk to Barn Number Two. Like tour guides, the cowboys took turns speaking to the ladies as they went, asking them for quiet as they entered the barn, and told them a bit about what responsibilities they held.

Travis glanced at Veronica, who glowed in the dappled sunlight as she watched her readers follow the men. He said, “You know, this could wind up being an expensive day.”

Veronica shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t give a damn. I’m happy to foot the bill. It’s because of ladies like those I’m able to do what I love more than anything else in the world. Grace is working her event planning magic as we speak. I’m amazed by what she already has set up. Whoever did this thought they would hurt me but they’re going to be disappointed.”

Travis fell a little harder as he looked at her. This woman who struggled with panic attacks and online bullying was turning a situation that had been intended to hurt her into something good. Something special. Not for herself, but for others who had been made innocent victims. He’d heard from some of them that they’d driven for more than six hours to get to the ranch. One lady had taken the day off of work and booked a red-eye flight the night before so she could be in Texas for the event.

“What can I do to help?”

Veronica looked at him and his cock tingled at the fierce light in her eyes, before she tilted her head and slid her arms around him, letting out a little sigh as she squeezed him. “Call Hank and let him know what happened. I just want him to know what happened. I know he’ll come when he can.”