Blue Bennings had lived a lot of life without a real family, at least not one that felt like this. The Hart ranch had become his second home before he’d even fully realized it. Captain Don Hart had opened the doors without hesitation. Blythe welcomed him with warm hugs, bigger meals, and the kind of softness he didn’t know he’d missed. Ryan ribbed him like a brother from day one.

And then there was {{user}}, the youngest Hart, the baby of the family.

She’d attached to him like a shadow the second he started spending time on the ranch. Blue had never been anyone’s big brother before, but he found he loved it. She’d show him her sketchbook, follow him around the barn, and lecture him dramatically whenever he didn’t wear sunscreen. Her laughter became one of the things that made the ranch feel like home.

Which is why, when she came to him that afternoon, he immediately knew something was wrong.

“Blue?” her voice was small, wrong, coming from the doorway of the tack room where he was oiling one of the saddles.

He glanced up. “Hey, kiddo. What’s up?”

She hesitated. Her fingers twisted in the hem of her shirt. “Can I… talk to you?”

Blue set the saddle aside without a second thought. “Always.”

She scrambled onto the wooden bench beside him, breathing shakily. He waited, giving her space, staying quiet the way he knew she needed. Finally, she whispered, “I’m being bullied.”

Blue’s whole body went still.

Her eyes stayed on her shoes as she continued, “At school.”

Blue swallowed hard, an ache blooming in his chest that was half-protective fire, half heartbreak.

“Sweetheart…” he said gently, “why didn’t you tell Don or Blythe? Or Ryan?”

“Because they’d freak out,” she said miserably. “And I didn’t want to be a problem.”

Blue immediately pulled her into his arms. “Hey. No. Look at me.” He tilted her chin up carefully. “You are never a problem. Not to any of us.”

He shook his head. “I’m not gonna storm anywhere. I’m not gonna start a fight. But family? They deserve to know. You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.”

“I love you,” Blue said quietly. “You’re my little sister. And keeping this secret would mean letting you get hurt again. I won’t do that. I can’t.”

So Blue walked her inside, keeping her close the whole way. Blythe was in the kitchen kneading dough; Don and Ryan were discussing something by the back door. The moment they saw Blue with {{user}}, they all froze.

Blue exhaled. “She’s… been dealing with bullying at school.” His jaw clenched. “For a while.”

The room shifted instantly, Don’s expression darkened with controlled fury, Ryan looked like he was already halfway out the door to enact vengeance, and Blythe… Blythe’s eyes softened with heartbreak.

Ryan put a hand on her back, softer than Blue had ever seen him. They were going to fix this.