Kylah stumbled over an invisible rock. “As in, not need to talk to me?”
“No.” Wolf stopped and tugged the hand he held. When she stopped as well, he turned her to face him. “As in, what if you stay? What if you’re close enough he can stop by and chat with you if he needs to.”
“I’m not good at guessing games,” she said hesitantly. Her heart was in her throat or, horrible thought, still wildly beating in her chest but completely visible to him.
“You don’t need to be. Not with me. I’ll never make you guess.” He studied her face, as if trying to read her. Or memorize her. “Stay with me, Kylah. Please.”
A thousand thoughts and fears and questions filled her mind, clamoring to be heard. In the end she pushed all of that aside for one reason. In her chaotic mixture of emotions, the one thing she didn’t feel was doubt. “Yes,” she said softly.
Wolf pulled her close and murmured, “Thank God.”
“So … what do we do now?”
“Nothing hard about that,” he said, and then he kissed her.
* * *
Kylah seems in a pensive mood, which I find surprising given the happy ever after exchange last evening. Oh, my word, I certainly hope second thoughts are not now buggering the romance just as I await my Tammy Lynn’s arrival. I’ll have no time to set things right should that prove the case.
I note Jake’s small frown as he drinks his morning coffee and watches as Kylah’s grows cold in her hand. He senses her brooding as well. “What’s on your mind?”
Kylah pulls a folded slip of paper from her pocket. “This.” She unfolds it and begins to read. “I guess if you’re reading this, I did it. Finally. I’m sorry, babe, I can’t carry the weight inside me anymore. Love you most, M.” Her voice breaks on that last letter. I’ve overheard enough conversations to know the M stands for Marty, the husband who was not strong enough for this life.
Jake says nothing. Just watches and waits.
“I feel guilty letting go. There’s no one left to remember Marty. To care that he lived and that he died.”
“Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting, K.T. You’ll always care and you’ll never forget. I suspect Marty loved you enough to want you to be happy. And I think Wolf is the guy to make sure you are.”
Kylah looks across at Jake and there are tears in her eyes, but they do not fall. She takes a deep breath. “I think so, too, Jake.”
“At least I won’t have to worry about some stranger picking you up drunk in a bar anymore.”
“Well, the two who did got me home safe, now didn’t they?” A faint smile curves her lips as Jake snorts and gets to his feet.
Kylah stands as well and I leap from my perch on the steps of the living quarters. I might as well watch the fun of cleaning stalls and saddling horses until my human arrives to take me home. There will be exciting times to come as Wolf helps Kylah and Jake relocate these and her remaining horses to his neck of the woods, as they say. But I’ll be safely home with Tammy Lynn by then.
We match Jake’s unhurried pace toward the barn and tiny scraps of shredded paper drift from Kylah’s fingers to land in the dust at my paws.
Kylah’s heart has moved on at last and I believe that to be a good thing.
Acknowledgments
While it’s true that writing can be a lonely profession, publishing is not. Just as it takes a village to raise a child (and I truly believe this), it takes a village (of skilled professionals) to publish a book. Many thanks to Carolyn Haines, who had the guts and drive to create KaliOka Press, Priya Bhakta - I don’t even know how to define all she does for us! - Cissy Hartley, who is book cover designer extraordinaire, and Jennifer Haines Williamson, who keeps it all straight. #dreamteam
I cannot begin to thank the BETA readers who help us clean up our act and then post a review that has looked beyond the typos and small mistakes to the heart of what we hope to create. Some have become true friends. I am honored.
Also, much gratitude to contest winners, Paula Adams and Grace Henley, for helping to name my male protagonist. Wolf (Waya) proved to be the perfect name for the male lead in Trouble in Action. I hope you enjoy reading about him as much you enjoyed helping to name him!
About the Author
Susan Y. Tanner continues to blend her passion for horses with her passion for writing. In Trouble in Summer Valley, she introduced readers to the rescue horses of Summer Valley Ranch where they prove their worth in therapeutic riding. In Turning for Trouble, her own rodeo experience brings that rough and tumble world to life. Her third romantic mystery, Trouble in Action, showcases the risky profession of stunt riding while giving a glimpse into historical reenactments. Published by KaliOka Press, these romantic mysteries are part of the Trouble Cat Mysteries series written in concert with some very talented authors.
Two of her historical romances, Fire Across Texas and Winds Across Texas, have been rereleased by Secret Staircase Books, an imprint of Columbine Publishing. Soon to follow will be A Warm Southern Christmas, Highland Captive, Captive To A Dream, and Exiled Heart. All were previously published by Leisure Books.
www.susanytanner.com
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Trouble Cat Mysteries
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Familiar Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Dixie | Rebecca Barrett
Trouble in Tallahassee | Claire Matturro
Trouble in Summer Valley | Susan Y. Tanner
Small Town Trouble | Laura Benedict
Trouble in Paradise | Rebecca Barrett
Turning for Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble’s Wedding Caper | Jen Talty
Bone-a-fied Trouble | Carolyn Haines
Trouble in Action | Susan Y. Tanner
Trouble Most Faire | Jaden Terrell
A Whisper of Trouble | Susan Y. Tanner
The Trouble with Cupid: 10 Short Mysteries Spiced with Romance | Multiple Authors
Trouble Under the Mistletoe | e-novella | Rebecca Barrett
A Trouble’d Christmas | e-novella | Susan Y. Tanner
Year-Round Trouble: 14 Original Cozy Holiday Mysteries | Multiple Authors
Trouble’s Double Contest Winner
Wanda
Wanda Bellatrix Feline was my first black cat foster for Big Hair Animal Rescue here in Central Massachusetts. Wanda was a street cat - the queen of a colony who readily adapted to the pampered life inside. She is a take-no-nonsense cat, and would stand her ground and bully the other cats (my Beret, a sweet lovable gentle giant Norwegian Forest Cat and Curious George, a grey and white tiger.) She never gave up out on the street, as evidenced by her tail which lost two-thirds of its length in a fight and healed without the benefit of vet care. She is now the pampered queen to a lovely senior lady, who will do anything for her - she even created a special perch for Wanda so she could watch the birds at the feeder. Wanda is a snuggle-bunny and purr machine. She loves to be next to her human while watching TV, reading a book or watching the birds.
Judi Dionne
Trouble in Action Page 22