"Thanks for coming by." Colten slapped Sparrow on his shoulder. "Didn't mean to bring you out so late."

"Clayton's working late at the Ugly Broad. Between you and me, I'm working this shift just so I can keep an eye on him." Sparrow smiled. "But don't tell him that. Man gets ornery when he thinks I'm checking up on him."

"There's nothing wrong with protecting the ones you love," Colten said. "I need to head back inside, but I'll keep you in the loop."

Sparrow said his good-bye before he slipped into his patrol car and headed toward the saloon.

Steven hadn't eaten in two days. He couldn't. Every time he put something in his stomach, it came right back up. It was the worst feeling in the world. And now he was standing here watching Colten and some of the ranch hands sort through the new head of cattle that had been delivered. Colten had forbidden Steven from doing anything that could put him in danger.

Being idle was dangerous. Steven wasn't used to standing around doing nothing. He needed something to keep him busy or he was going to go mad. Colten insisted that Steven stay close so he could be Steven's anchor-to cancel out the noise in Steven's head. Now all he could do was stand on the other side of the catch lot and watch the others work.

He. Was. Bored.

It had been two weeks since his attack and so far no one had seen Leonardo or Nate. Not that Steven wanted to see them. But his gut told him those two weren't finished with him yet. He also didn't trust his parents. Lily and Harold Chesney weren't the type to give up. Their brains were too analytical. They'd poured a substantial amount of money into their research where Steven was concerned. They wouldn't care about the money, only the science. They'd want to finish their project analyzing Steven's mind, trying to figure out how he could do what he could do. They might not be responsible for engineering his mind, but when they found out what he could do, they seized the opportunity to study him, to treat him like a lab rat.

They had had Steven confined for most of his life to a lab, undergoing test after test. While most kids played with toys, Steven had played games to strengthen his curse. But his parents had never taught him how to protect his mind from invasions. They had no interest in Steven being able to filter out all the noises. They only wanted to know how he read other's minds, saw their lives in snapshot images.

He might be bored, but at least Steven was outside, in the great open plains, and he loved every second of it. The white-capped mountains were breathtaking, the smells of everything around him welcoming. He tilted his head back and enjoyed the cool autumn breeze, smiling as it caressed his face.

"You look exceptionally handsome standing there like that." Colten walked toward him as he removed his work gloves. The guy was dusty and there was sweat along his brows, but damn if he didn't look good.

"Just enjoying the day."

"I thought you'd be going stir-crazy."

Steven started to say that he was. That was until he saw the hesitation in Colten's dark eyes. The man was worried about him, but he was also concerned that Steven would resent the guy for making him stand around.

"Been able to eat today?"

"You should be asking if I've been able to keep anything down," Steven said as he rested his foot on the bottom rung of the wooden fence. "And the answer would be no."

The doctor had come by a few days prior and declared that Steven was pregnant. Steven was still absorbing that bit of information. The news wouldn't sink in until he saw the actual proof of his stomach swelling. But in the meantime, the nausea was driving him insane.

Colten's hand framed Steven's face. "Doc said saltines help."

"I've gone through a case of them. Nothing is helping."

"Harland's mom said she has a recipe for the nausea. Renee is bringing it by later," Colten said. "Do you need to rest?"

Steven chuckled. He might be exasperated about his diet, but ever since Colten had been told that Steven was carrying the man's child, the guy had been like a mother hen. It was both endearing and irritating. But Steven never complained. He liked having someone care about him so much.

"What I need is something to do."

Colten nodded before he shouted over his shoulder, "I'll be back, Rowdy."

The foreman waved Colten away. Colten climbed the wooden fence and dropped to his feet on the other side. He swung an arm around Steven's shoulders before leading him into the warmth of the house. "I might have the perfect job for you."

"What about being around others?" Steven asked. "You can't stay inside all day."

"Everyone is fully aware to keep fifty feet away from you if I'm not around. They know you can't be touched."

Steven gave an irritated sigh. "They must hate me for having to take such precautions."

"Nah," Colten said. "They like you. Besides, you're one of us now and we look out for our own. They'll do whatever they have to do in order to make sure you're not in pain."

Regardless of what Colten said, Steven knew the men must harbor some sort of resentment.

"Hey, T-Rex," Colten said as he walked Steven into the downstairs office. "You still looking for someone to take over the inventory logs?"

"Office work?" Steven asked.

"There's nothing wrong with office work," Colten replied as he kissed Steven on the temple. "It needs to get done and T-Rex has a lot more things to take care of. I'm sure he'll appreciate some of the load being taken off of him."

T-Rex sat back in his chair and nodded. "That I would. Running two separate businesses becomes taxing. Have you ever worked the records side of things before?"

Steven shook his head.

"It's not that hard," T-Rex replied.

Colten took a seat in a cushy chair in one corner and stretched out. "Wake me when you're done."

Steven knew Colten had to stay if T-Rex was going to show him the ropes. The head boss scooted his chair aside and then pointed to another sitting by the wall. "Pull up a chair and I'll show you what needs to be done."

Steven spent the rest of the afternoon with T-Rex. The man was very careful not to touch Steven as he showed him their inventory management system. To his relief, Steven caught on quickly and was navigating through the program with ease by day's end.

"I'll have an office set up next door," T-Rex said as he stretched. "The men will reinforce the walls to help you out."

Steven glanced over at Colten's sleeping form before he asked, "Why aren't you mad at me?"

"For what?"

"For putting you and the men through all this trouble." He wasn't used to anyone being so kind. Not like this. T-Rex and the others were going out of their way to help Steven out, and Steven wasn't used to such consideration. His parents and the other scientists who'd worked in the lab had never displayed any kindness or understanding. When Steven didn't perform to his parents' expectations, they left him to his own devices for the remainder of the day, both giving him disapproving scowls. The other men who worked the lab became snide with Steven, saying hurtful things and calling him nasty names.

But here, on this ranch, Steven found the others to be more than considerate. Not even the other ranches that he'd worked had tolerated his migraines and bouts of nausea from the onslaught of others' thoughts. He'd been fired from at least three ranches over the past two years.

He stood once T-Rex shut the computer down. Steven moved over to Colten and gazed at the guy for a moment, his heart swelling at the knowledge that he'd fallen deeply in love with the bear. He'd just been too afraid to say the words aloud. Although they were constantly in each other's minds and he knew Colten cared deeply for him, Steven had never told anyone that he loved them and was terrified of rejection.

It was more than likely an unfounded fear, but Steven hesitated every time he tried to utter those three words. "Hey, time to wake up, sleepyhead." Steven patted Colten's leg as T-Rex left the office and closed the door behind him.

"I've been awake for some time," Colten said, though his eyes were still closed, his face still sleepily serene.

"Then why haven't you said anything?"

Without opening his eyes, Colten reached out and grabbed Steven, pulling him down into the man's lap. Steven curled into Colten's embrace, pressing his cheek into the guy's warm, strong chest.

"Because I was enjoying the sound of your voice."

There were times when Steven had no clue how to respond. This was one of them. He'd had no idea that Colten had been awake and listening. But what confused him was the honesty he heard in the guy's voice. The man had actually enjoyed listening to Steven talk to T-Rex about something as mundane as work orders.

"It doesn't matter what you were saying," Colten said as he finally opened his eyes. They pierced Steven and Steven found it hard to breathe. "Just as long as I know you're in the same room, I'm content." Colten ran his knuckles over Steven's jaw. "And as far as you being afraid to tell me that you love me, I can wait."

Steven closed his eyes. He wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve such a man, but he would always be grateful for Colten. His mate pressed his hand to Steven's still-flat stomach and pressed a kiss to Steven's forehead. The move was simple, yet Steven basked in the glow of Colten's tenderness.

Chapter Ten.

Steven wasn't sure of anything anymore. He had a job doing paperwork instead of working the ranch. To be honest, he liked working outdoors. The feel of the sun against his skin, the sweat that told him he was working hard. He even enjoyed the occasional breeze that blew across his heated skin. Some might be happy not having to do hard labor. Steven wasn't. He liked what he did and sitting inside was a bit boring. His lower back constantly hurt from being in the chair for so many hours.

He wasn't sure what his parents were up to. He wasn't sure what Nate and Leonardo had planned. Steven wasn't even sure about this whole pregnancy thing. It was too strange for words. He knew a child was growing inside of him. The doctor had confirmed that a month and a half ago. And even though his stomach was growing rounder and rounder, it still wasn't sinking in.

The floorboards outside the office creaked and Steven glanced up to see Rowdy standing in the doorway. He hadn't interacted with the foreman since starting this desk job. Steven waited for the pain in his head, but nothing came. At first, he thought that Colten must be close by, but Steven knew that his mate was learning the ropes of selling the cattle at auction. Colten wouldn't be back for hours.

So why wasn't he in pain?

"You shouldn't be in here," Steven said. He pulled his hands from the keyboard and curled them in his lap, still waiting for some sort of reaction from someone being so close.

Rowdy cocked his head to the side and nodded at him, as if he knew he shouldn't be there. "I can help you."

Steven didn't know what the man was talking about. "What do you mean?"

Rowdy stared at him, his face perfectly still. "I've met people like you."

Steven worked at not showing his surprise. He sat there stiffly as he assessed the foreman. Was this some sort of trick? Was Rowdy about to tell him that the guy worked for Steven's parents and he'd come to kidnap Steven? The air around them was too silent, too motionless. Steven shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he waited for Rowdy to explain what he meant.

"You were never taught how to buffer," Rowdy said as if he understood Steven's situation. It seemed he did. Although Colten had told the men of the house what was going on, Steven knew that his mate hadn't said anything to the ranch hands or the foreman. So how did Rowdy know? He wasn't getting a very good feeling about this.

Rowdy moved into Steven's office and closed the door behind him. Steven felt as if the man had just sealed his tomb. The air grew even more silent-if that were even possible. Steven's hand automatically covered his growing belly as he tensed.

Colten, Shott, and Legend were off learning about auctions. T-Rex and Sam had gone into town. Stripper was the only one at home, as far as Steven knew, and the guy was in the communication room, doing whatever it was that he did when the door was closed. Steven had no idea where Gabe and Taylor were and knew they would be of no help to him.

It was just Steven and Rowdy. If he had to fight, Steven would lose. Rowdy wasn't thick with muscles, but Steven had seen the man work the ranch. He was no lightweight. And Steven was pregnant. That put him at a disadvantage.

An image shot through Steven's mind and he grabbed his temples. His pulse sped up and his breathing became labored. The pain was slight, but enough to make him wish that Rowdy would leave. "Stop it."

"That was just a small projection," Rowdy stated. "And you couldn't even block it."

Steven shook his head as he breathed through his mouth, the pain slowly subsiding. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Rowdy moved a step closer. "You ever watch someone you love die in your arms?" he asked.

Steven wasn't sure where Rowdy was going with his question. He wasn't sure what Rowdy was up to period. He didn't like it. The man was scaring the hell out of him. But he was trapped in his office with the foreman and Steven had to find a way out of here.

"Your brain is one big muscle," Rowdy continued even though Steven hadn't answered the first question. "Flex it and you'd be surprised what you can do."

Steven hated to admit it out loud, but he had to let Rowdy know. "You're scaring me."

"You should be scared." Rowdy's face was set in stone. Steven felt a trickle of sweat building along his upper lip. The foreman still stood just inside the office door, the shadows of the office playing across his carved features. "You should be terrified of what others could do to you."

"Others, as in you?" Steven asked.

"As in everyone," Rowdy replied. "The doors in your mind are wide open. You have no idea how to close them against the slightest intrusion, let alone an onslaught."

Steven paused when he heard the pain in Rowdy's tone. The guy was speaking as if he knew what Steven was going through, how much Steven suffered when Colten wasn't around. "Who?"

Rowdy shook his head. "What?"

"Who did you know that could do what I do?" Steven was being vague and he knew it. He wanted answers, but didn't want to piss Rowdy off. Not when it was just the two of them locked in this room.

The foreman didn't answer him but Steven could see the far-off look in the man's eyes. It had been someone close to the guy. Rowdy had felt deep sorrow at whoever it was.

"I invade. You slam the door." Rowdy pushed another thought into Steven's mind, like a magician waving a wand. It was there whether Steven wanted it or not. He could see a mocha-skinned, green-eyed man, so handsome, with a smile to light up the night. He could feel the love that Rowdy had for the guy.

"Slam the door."

Steven shook his head "How?"

The thought drove deeper and the handsome man was on his knees, rocking back and forth as blood trickled down his nose. His features were distorted in agony as he cried out in pain. Steven slammed the palms of his hands over the sides of his face. "Stop it!"

"Slam the fucking door." Rowdy's tone was merciless. Steven saw the unshed tears in the man's eyes, the pain and the anger etched in his expression. "Mentally reach out and slam it closed."

Bile rose to the back of Steven's throat as the handsome man in his mind rolled to his side, screaming. Others were in the room with him. They were torturing the man. They grabbed at the guy, knowing they were hurting him. Steven didn't want to see those thoughts. He didn't want to see the guy suffering any longer. Steven began to pant as sweat dripped down his face. A door appeared in his mind, one he'd never seen before. Steven lunged at it, gripping the edges and gritting his teeth as he slowly forced it shut.

The images disappeared.

Rowdy nodded, as if he approved of what had just happened. "Practice will make you stronger."

"You bastard," Steven growled as he collapsed against the desk, resting his cheek on the hard, cool wood.

"I'll own that. But you'll thank me when you can stand in a room without Colten and control what thoughts you allow in."

Steven rubbed at his temples, feeling as if he'd worked eight straight hours. He was exhausted by that one little feat.

"Get ready."

Before Steven could grasp what Rowdy was talking about, other images bombarded him. He gripped the arms of his chair and battled to close the doors, to shove Rowdy out of his mind. He nearly passed out this time from the effort.

"We'll keep practicing, daily," Rowdy said. "You have enemies at your door and you need to learn how to keep them out."

Steven could barely form the words as he tried to calm his breathing. "Why are you doing this?"