Protector: Doms of Mountain Bend Book 1

by BJ Wane

  “I’ve had a lot of practice at keeping calm lately,” she returned dryly.

  He appreciated her attempt at humor, not at all sure he could handle her tears right now if she fell apart. Reaching across the gearshift, he squeezed her hand, noting the coolness of her skin and pale face. “We’ll figure out who it is and get him. Clayton is still researching your background, and he’s good at digging out information.”

  “I’m grateful for his efforts but hate I’ve brought this to you and your friends. This is exactly what I didn’t want in coming here, to impose on you, or become a burden.”

  She turned her head toward the window with a sigh that made him want to rip this guy’s heart out. He looked her way again and went rigid when he caught a bright flash from a small, wooded area. Slamming on the brakes, he whipped the cruiser around with a shout.

  “Get down!”

  With a startled cry, Lisa threw herself to the floor as he came to an abrupt, jarring halt with his side door taking the bullet. Grabbing his rifle from above them, he flung his door open and jumped behind it, taking aim over the window.

  “Stay down,” he barked when she started to rise right as the next bullet caught him in the shoulder.

  “Shawn!”

  “No.” He spared a precious second to address her stricken gasp and reassure her. “It’s just a flesh wound, Lisa.”

  Lisa’s stomach churned with nausea from the bright red stain spreading across Shawn’s khaki shirt before a reverberating roar of engines and pounding hooves snagged her attention. Peeking over the dash, she saw two trucks barreling across the field and coming to rest at each end of the clump of trees that hid her attacker. The two cowboys in each vehicle flung open their doors and mimicked Shawn’s stance, crouching behind them, rifles aimed toward the woods.

  “Fucking fool,” she heard Shawn mutter.

  Cutting her gaze toward the road, she gasped watching Dakota ride toward them, shocked to see him maintaining his seat on the massive, galloping stallion while using both hands to hold his rifle on his shoulder. If she weren’t so head over heels in love with Shawn, she might…her brain stumbled to a halt on that thought, and she had to force down the panic that threatened to come up from that admission.

  Huddling back down, she winced at the bullet wound that must hurt like hell, a bullet he had taken for her. How could she help but fall in love? She’d been telling herself her life was back in Phoenix, the only place she’d ever known before coming to Mountain Bend. But did she really want to return to the rat race of the big city and her almost solitary life? There were young men a few feet away whom she’d never met, who didn’t know her, yet they stood ready to defend her against a madman. Other than an aging priest, there was no one back home who would make such a sacrifice on her behalf.

  Another shot rang out from the trees, followed by a deafening barrage of return fire from all six men that seemed to go on forever. Lisa huddled lower, shivering when a sudden, eerie silence fell, the acrid smell of gunpowder wafting through Shawn’s open door.

  “Is it over?”

  Someone whistled, and Shawn nodded, rising from his crouched position. “It’s over.”

  Dakota reached Shawn before Lisa could get out, wailing sirens and a cloud of dust heralding the arrival of more law enforcement and an ambulance. As much as she wanted to rush to his side, she stood back and let the paramedics see to his injury, not surprised when they insisted he needed to ride with them to the hospital to get stitched up.

  Two sheriff’s officers, one young and lean, the other older with a middle-aged waistline, approached with grim faces.

  “Is he dead, then?” Shawn asked, holding his hand out to Lisa.

  The older man nodded. “They don’t come deader.” He tipped his hat to Lisa. “Ma’am, as soon as you’re up to it, I’ll need you to come in and make a statement. Are you up to looking at him and giving us an ID?”

  “I’ll try, but I doubt if I know him,” she said, looking at the stretcher two men carried from the woods, the body covered with a blanket.

  “Let’s get this done then you can ride with me to the hospital.”

  If for no other reason than to move Shawn along in getting the medical help he needed, she didn’t hesitate to step forward as the sheriff lowered the blanket from the man’s face. “No, I’m sorry. I’ve never seen him before.”

  “That’s okay. We had to check. You two get going. We’ll search him and the car and get his name soon enough.”

  “Thanks, Lyle.”

  “You can thank me by healing fast and getting on the campaign trail.”

  “Campaign trail?” Lisa asked, climbing into the back of the ambulance behind Shawn then giving Dakota a grateful smile as he strode up. “I really appreciate…”

  He cut her off with a hand slice. “No need. We take care of our own.” Turning his black eyes on Shawn, he said, “Clayton and I will meet you there,” before walking back to his horse.

  Lisa kept quiet as she sat next to Shawn, and he closed his eyes, leaning his head against the padded side of the van as it started rolling. All too aware he’d never mentioned their relationship was anything except a temporary affair, she hugged her newfound feelings to herself and made plans on where to go from here.

  ****

  Shawn stomped up to the front door of Lisa’s duplex, trying his best not to lay into her for slipping away from the clinic last night when he’d been groggy with pain meds. After refusing to let the ambulance take him all the way into Boise, they’d agreed to drop him at the small medical clinic in Mountain Bend that stayed open late for emergencies. Just as he’d suspected, the bullet had gone through the fleshy part of his upper arm, requiring minor cleaning up and a few sutures. That hadn’t kept Drew and Jen from joining Clayton and Dakota, or the entire sheriff’s department from converging on the clinic. That Lisa had taken advantage of the chaos to leave unnoticed still rankled.

  Upon discovering she’d returned here instead of his place, he’d waited to confront her and to bring her news until school let out today and he knew she’d be home. He wasn’t sure how she’d take to what Lyle and Clayton had learned about her stalker, the personal connection sure to break her heart. The stalking alone had taken a huge toll on her, to hear it was a blood relative would bother anyone.

  He rapped on the door then let himself in when he tried the knob.

  “Shawn.” Lisa rushed forward from the kitchen, surprised pleasure turning her face rosy. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”

  “I’m fine, Lisa, as I told you yesterday.” Tossing his hat onto the sofa, he stalked toward her with narrowed eyes, his lips curling as she backed up with a wary look until she bumped the counter. “You snuck out last night without a word.” He caged her in by bracing his hands on the counter behind her.

  “You needed your rest.”

  “Lame, Lisa, very lame. I needed you, and you weren’t there.” Leaning down, he brushed her lips before sliding his mouth down her neck. “To make matters worse, you weren’t there when I got home. Why?”

  “I wasn’t sure…” She tilted her head, giving him easier access to her soft skin.

  “About what?” he murmured, stroking her pulse with his tongue.

  “I can’t think straight when you do that.”

  He nipped the tender spot between shoulder and neck, liking the easy access the scooped neckline of her blouse offered. If he didn’t have more pressing matters to discuss with her, he’d forgo talk altogether. “Try.”

  “Well, you never said anything about me staying after….afterward. How was I supposed to know where you wanted me?”

  “You know, Lisa,” he said, lifting his head to give her a close, direct stare, “you’re quite a contradictory person. There are times you have no problem speaking your mind, and others when you shy away from asking a simple question.”

  Frowning, she placed her hands on his chest but didn’t attempt to push him away. Maybe she was learning how immovable he could be abou
t certain things. Hoping to catch her off guard, he stated, “We’ll work on that, but I’m warning you, it might take months, years even for me to straighten you out.”

  “Huh?” Her eyes rounded in a dumbfounded expression. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying if you love me half as much as I love you, we’re looking at a lifetime of working on your issues. Ah shit.” Pulling her into his arms, he stroked her long, blonde hair. “No tears. My heart’s been through enough in the last thirty-six hours.”

  “I think,” she hiccupped, “I love you a lot more than half.”

  “Excellent. Come sit with me. I have news.” He ushered her over to the sofa and settled her on his lap.

  “You know who he was,” she stated stiffly.

  “Yes, and it won’t be easy to hear. His name was Bruce Pomeroy, and he was your half-brother, and, until recently, the only heir to a fortune.”

  She drew back, her brows dipped in a perplexed look. “I don’t have…my father’s son?”

  “Yes, almost two decades older than you, and his father, whom Lyle has talked to, is Frank Pomeroy.” He went on to relate what the senior Pomeroy had told Lyle, not surprised when she adamantly shook her head when he mentioned her inheritance.

  “No, no way. I want nothing from him. That ship sailed when my mother died young, working herself to the bone to provide for us. I won’t let him use me to assuage his late-in-life guilt for abandoning his responsibility to her and me.”

  “Okay.” He understood her attitude and wouldn’t push her. She needed time to digest everything. It just happened he had the perfect way to distract her from thinking too hard on the fact her own brother had wanted her dead.

  “Your shoulder!” Lisa exclaimed as he surged to his feet with her in his arms and headed for the bedroom.

  “Is fine, but you can kiss it, for starters, if it’ll make you feel better.”

  She kicked off her shoes as they reached the hall, whispering in his ear, “Yes, Sir, it definitely will.”

  Epilogue

  Phoenix, two months later

  Lisa paused on the threshold of the large, stately home and rubbed her sweaty palms down the sides of her white cotton slacks. She’d debated for an hour over what to wear, but since this was her first experience with meeting a parent who had been absent from her entire life, she’d opted for cool and casual. She rang the bell then turned, taking one more look at Shawn and Father Joe who stood leaning against Shawn’s packed SUV.

  Her heart turned over, the sight of the two most important people in her life giving her that boost of courage she needed to see this through. Father hadn’t stopped beaming since they popped in on him as soon as she and Shawn had arrived in Phoenix last week. To say he was pleased with seeing them together and hearing they were staying together was an understatement. Telling herself the priest was the only parent she needed at this stage of her life helped her make the decision to give in to Frank Pomeroy’s pleas for them to meet. Of course, Father’s lecture on “to err is human, to forgive, divine” also chipped away at her reasons for having nothing to do with the man.

  But it was knowing she would be returning to Idaho with Shawn, living with him on his ranch, and starting a full-time job teaching second grade in the fall that bolstered her into agreeing to come here today. They’d cleared out her apartment, getting rid of anything that didn’t fit in the cruiser, and she’d enjoyed lunch with her former principal to turn in her resignation. All that was left was to ease an old man’s conscience.

  One side of the tall double doors opened, and Shawn gave her a thumbs-up as she pivoted and entered the cool foyer.

  “Hello, Ms. Halldor,” the smiling, plump woman wearing a maid’s uniform greeted her. “Mr. Pomeroy is waiting for you in the sitting room, if you’ll follow me.”

  The white marble floor gleamed, and Lisa wondered how it was kept so clean and shiny when she entered a white carpeted room and saw Frank Pomeroy seated in a wheelchair by the marble fireplace. Before she had time to question why anyone would need a fireplace in Phoenix, he beckoned her forward with a wave of one gnarled hand.

  “Come in, come in. Let me look at you. Regina, bring us some refreshments.”

  “Please, don’t go to any trouble. I can’t stay long. There are people waiting for me.” Sucking in a breath, she crouched in front of the wheelchair, grateful she resembled her mother. “I just stopped by to tell you I’m sorry about your son, and to reiterate I don’t want anything from you. I hope you’ll honor my wishes.”

  An investigation into Bruce Pomeroy’s finances revealed his massive debt from gambling and living beyond his already considerable means. She couldn’t imagine Frank’s pain,

  knowing his only son had cherished money more than human life.

  “You have your mother’s eyes.” His hand trembled as he fingered the ends of her blonde hair. “And her hair color, so light.”

  Cocking her head, she asked, “You remember her, my mother?”

  “Vaguely, more now that I’ve seen you. There were a lot of women in those days,” he answered with blunt honesty. “I was a different man back then, and I’m paying the price for my selfish ways now. Growing old alone is…” He swallowed and blinked watery eyes. “Hard, very hard.”

  Broken. That was the word that came to Lisa’s mind as she looked at the once-selfish man who had sired her. She didn’t hate him, couldn’t if she tried, and for the first time since hearing about him, she let herself feel compassion for him .

  “I can’t change that for you, but, for starters, why don’t you get involved with worthwhile projects, charities that could use your contributions?”

  His shoulders slumped. “You’re so generous, where my son, my son…how did I go so wrong with him?”

  Lisa stood, laying a hand on his shoulder. “I plan to return to Phoenix every few months. If you want, I’ll make time to come by and stay longer.”

  Gratitude suffused his lined face. “I would like that. At least now I know I accomplished one decent thing in my life…I had you.”

  Lisa found her own way out and stepped into the bright Arizona sunshine with a lighter heart. Walking toward her future, she thought it had never looked more promising.

  The End

  About BJ Wane

  I live in the Midwest with my husband and our Goldendoodle. I love dogs, enjoy spending time with my daughter, grandchildren, reading and working puzzles.

  We have traveled extensively throughout the states, Canada and just once overseas, but I now much prefer being homebody.

  I worked for a while writing articles for a local magazine but soon found my interest in writing for myself peaking.

  My first book was strictly spanking erotica, but I slowly evolved to writing steamy romance with a touch of suspense. My favorite genre to read is suspense.

  I love hearing from readers. Feel free to contact me at mailto:bjwane@cox.net with questions or comments.

  Contact BJ Wane

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  More Books by BJ Wane

  VIRGINIA BLUEBLOODS SERIES

  Blindsided

  Bind Me to You

  Surrender to Me

  Blackmailed

  Bound by Two

  MURDER ON MAGNOLIA ISLAND TRILOGY

  Logan

  Hunter

  Ryder

  MIAMI MASTERS SERIES

  Bound and Saved

  Master Me, Please

  Mastering Her Fear

  Bound to Submit

  His to
Master and Own

  Theirs To Master

  COWBOY DOMS SERIES

  Submitting to the Rancher

  Submitting to the Sheriff

  Submitting to the Cowboy

  Submitting to the Lawyer

  Submitting to Two Doms

  Submitting to the Cattleman

  Submitting to the Doctor

  COWBOY WOLF SERIES

  Gavin (Book 1)

  Cody (Book 2)

  Drake (Book 3)

  SINGLE TITLES

  Claiming Mia

  Masters of the Castle: Witness Protection Program

  Dangerous Interference

  Returning to Her Master

  Her Master at Last