As country-lover, Pat protects this small group (4)

I believe the answer is:

trio

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'this small group' is the definition.
(group of three people)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for trio that I've seen before include "Riot (anag)" , "Beethoven's 'Archduke': famous piece written for this ensemble" , "Archduke, possibly" , "Three together" , "Beethoven's 'Archduke', for example" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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