The Ranger's Rodeo Rebel by Pamela Britton Page A

going to teach her to keep from being hurt.
    â€œThe first thing I’m going to teach you is how to deflect a punch.”
    Whoo boy. That was training she could have used a while ago. And it was crazy, because merely thinking about that night made the lip James had split in two hurt. The memory was so powerful it was all she could do not to run away. Her heart ran away instead.
    Despite her feelings, Carolina held her ground. Damn that James. Damn any man that would try and hurt her.
    â€œDo I use my arms?” It was what she’d done the night James attacked her. She had lifted her arms and used them to cover her face...
    â€œNo. Not quite. But first things first. If someone comes at you this way—” Chance stepped in her direction, and she flinched slightly, which was ridiculous, because she didn’t have anything to fear from Chance. His eyes narrowed.
    â€œI’m not going to hurt you,” he said quietly.
    â€œI know.”
    He stared at her in concern, and it made her breath catch just as it had yesterday. How could a man be such a warrior on the outside and so warm and tender on the inside?
    Chance tilted his head. “If this brings back too many memories, we can stop.”
    â€œNo. I need to learn this.”
    â€œGood,” he said. “Because if you listen to me closely, from here on out, you’ll be the one in control. No one will ever hit you again, I promise.”
    She looked down at the ground to hide her eyes. Despite her earlier anger, she wanted to cry again, and she hated that. She was not the crying type. Never had been. Never would be. And yet somehow, she’d become Pitiful Pearl—in the flesh—and damned if she knew how she’d gotten that way.
    She sucked in a deep breath. “Okay. Show me again.”
    For the longest time, his eyes roved over her face, as if trying to decide if he should trust her words.
    â€œBend your arms up like this,” he said at last. “Like a crossing guard holding a sign.”
    She followed his instructions.
    â€œGood. Now. When I come at you—” he stepped even closer “—you move your arm like I showed you. Are you ready?”
    Another deep breath, one that seemed to stoke the fires of determination in her heart. She could do this. She was not the sniveling ninny James had reduced her to. She could trust this man.
    â€œReady?”
    He swung a fist in her direction. She deflected it. Easily. Quickly.
    â€œGood job.”
    And the victory she felt, the euphoria at deflecting his swing, made her feel—well, she couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to take charge.
    â€œDo it again,” she told him.
    He swung once more, faster. She moved quicker this time, and the maneuver worked the same way. So easy. So simple. With practice she probably wouldn’t have to think about it.
    â€œThat was great,” she said. Never again would she find herself cowering before a man, letting him hit her, being afraid for her life.
    Chance smiled his approval, and she thought it was a crying shame no woman had caught his interest. With his masculine skills and easy smile, half her teammates wanted to go after him. Half of Natalie’s clients seemed enamored with him, too. She didn’t blame them.
    â€œNow,” he continued, “sometimes people will try and grab you when they realize you can deflect a punch. I’m going to teach you some pressure points that will help deter anyone who tries to grab you. The first one is here.” He pointed to his wrist. “Right above the bone. If you dig your thumb in, you’ll bring a man down. Trust me.” He offered her his arm, motioning for her to try it.
    â€œI don’t want to hurt you.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I’m going to swing again, only this time when you deflect, I’ll grab you, too. You clutch my wrist and press as hard as you can where I showed you.”
    For some reason, she crouched.