by Lisa Jackson
“Right.” He glanced at Casey. “Except that Barry White’s still on the loose.”
“Not for long. Polk called. Looks like they picked up his trail north of Dawson City. Dogs are tracking him. They think he’ll be in custody by nightfall.”
“Good,” Sloan said, then realized he had no reason to stay. He folded the check into his wallet.
Max cleared his throat. “You know, we can’t thank you enough.”
“No need.”
“No, I mean it. If it wasn’t for you, Casey might never have been found and—”
“But I was,” Casey said with a toss of her head. Her eyes still bright from her fight against tears were steady with determination. Crossing the room, she extended her hand. “Thanks, Sloan. Now it’s my turn to owe you.”
He shook his head, but saw a glint in her gaze. “Goodbye,” she said, and he’d never realized until just that moment how final that word could sound.
Hours later, it was over. Ned Jansen, breaking down completely, had confessed to everything. He even named the man he’d hired to kill Sloan and Casey—a drifter by the name of Mitchell Cox—and told Hammond Polk where he was hiding. A deputy reported back that Cox had been arrested.
The FBI had come and gone and Sheriff Polk was proud of himself, even if Sloan had broken the case. It was just a matter of time before Barry White would be hauled in and that would be that. Jonah McKee’s murder, the arson, the attack on Beth’s car, Casey’s kidnapping—everything solved. And one neat feather for his cap. Yep, Hammond left the ranch full of himself, and Casey felt empty inside.
She was relieved that the trauma was over, but the thought of Sloan leaving caused an ache deep inside. She paused at the door to Jenner’s old room and felt cold to the marrow of her bones. Then, because she couldn’t stand another second of sitting in the house and pining for him, she found her jacket and boots and took off for the barn. She’d go riding. This time alone. This time without fear. Even though her heart was cracking.
“Come on, Jezebel,” she said as she entered the barn and switched on the lights. She had just reached for the bridle when she saw him. Mud streaked and unshaven, his eyes ablaze with anger, Barry White was crouched beneath the ladder to the hayloft. She tried to scream, but before she could utter a word, he jumped and pressed one grimy hand hard against her lips, while the other held her firmly against him.
“Now listen!” he growled. “You’re my ticket out of here. I know that Ned sold me out, but I’m not goin’ down, got it?”
She nodded, but her mind was spinning ahead. She knew that she would never allow him to victimize her again. “You’re going to drive one of the rigs from the ranch away from here and you’re going to take me with you. To Canada, just like in the original plan. Then I swear I’ll let you go. I never did hurt you before now, did I, Casey?”
She wasn’t even listening to his excuses because now she knew how violent he was. Hadn’t he shot a state trooper or policeman, then probably crashed his car on purpose to give him time to escape?
“Okay, now remember, I got this here gun, and if I have to, I’ll use it, so you go real quiet like and walk over to one of the trucks. I’ll follow along and no one will be the wiser.”
He turned toward the door as headlights flashed through the windows. “Damn!”
Without a second’s hesitation, she rammed the heel of her boot into his shin. He let out a howl, and she spun, kneeing him in the groin as he fumbled with the gun. Horses neighed wildly. With a holler, he grabbed his crotch, and she whirled away from him and ran backward trying to reach the door.
“Stop!” He leveled the barrel of the rifle at her and she dropped to the floor, crawling snakelike to cover behind a barrel of oats. “Stupid move, Casey,” he rasped, his breathing short, anger making his words tremble. Oh, God. She couldn’t just cower here, waiting for him to lunge. She looked around wildly and then reached upward, knocking the pitchfork from the wall.
“Ain’t no little pitchfork gonna save you.”
“Help!” she yelled, then screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Son of a bitch!” Barry kicked the oat barrel aside.
The door flew open and Sloan dived into the room, knocking Barry to the floor. The gun exploded. Horses screamed in terror. Shouts erupted from the house as the two men struggled, grunting and cursing, rolling on the floor. Casey picked up the pitchfork and forced the wicked tines into Barry’s leg. He squealed, but didn’t give up his hold. Barry had his hands around Sloan’s neck, but Sloan was astride the other man, intent on pounding his head against the floor.
Casey saw the rifle and grabbed it, pulling it to her shoulder and aiming right at Barry’s balding head. “Stop!” she commanded. “Stop it right now, or I swear, I’ll kill you!”
Barry’s hands dropped to his sides just as Max ran into the barn. “What the hell? Oh, God! Casey, are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she said as Sloan hauled Barry to his feet.
“Call the sheriff,” he said.
Max grinned wickedly. “Should we let Grandma at him first? She has plans for this one.” Casey remembered just how Mavis thought she might teach Barry a lesson.
Using baling twine, Max tied Barry’s hands behind his back, then marched him back to the house. Casey started to follow, but Sloan pulled her back into the barn. “Don’t you want to know why I came back to the ranch?”
She squared her shoulders and braced herself. “Why?”
“I forgot something.”
Her heart squeezed a little. “What’s that?”
He looked long into her eyes and then drew her closer to him. “You, Casey. I forgot you.”
“You what?” she whispered, barely daring to breathe.
“I had just about reached the city limits of Rimrock when I realized that what I was leaving was more important than what I was running to—and that’s what I was doing. Running. Because you scared me.”
“Scared you?” she repeated, her heart thundering. “I didn’t think you were scared of anything.”
“Oh, there was one thing.”
“Which was?” she prodded, hardly able to catch her breath.
“Love.” He groaned and touched her forehead with his. “I didn’t want to fall in love again. Not with anyone and especially not you. You were too alive, too stubborn, Jenner’s little sister. But I couldn’t help myself.”
Her throat chocked up with emotion and she could barely speak.
“Casey, why I came back, why I couldn’t leave is because I don’t want to spend another day without you.” He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “I want you to marry me.”
“Oh, Lord—”
“And I want you to come to Warm Springs with me. Help me buy a ranch. Find the right place for us. For our children.”
“Ch-children?” Her heart soared. Could this be real?
“I love you.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “But—”
He placed a finger to her lips. “If you say no, I might just have to kidnap you myself.” He held her so tightly she could hear the pounding of his heart, see the raw emotions in his eyes. “I came back to ask you to marry me and then I found you with Barry White and I thought I’d lose you all over again.” He blinked rapidly and his dark eyes shone. “Marry me, Casey McKee, and I’ll promise to make you happy for the rest of your life.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “You already have, Sloan,” she whispered. “You already have.”
Poinsettias filled every corner of the house. Holly, mistletoe and ivy were strung along the mantels and through the hallways. Millions of tiny white lights winked in garlands strung with miles of red ribbon.
Skye was in white, her simple gown touching the floor as she stood with Max in front of the preacher and exchanged vows. Casey watched the ceremony and her heart was filled to overflowing as she witnessed her brother marrying the woman he’d always loved. They shared a private secret, one that Skye had whispered to Casey
just before the ceremony. Skye was pregnant. Despite the odds against it, she and Max had conceived a child. She planned to tell him tonight, on their honeymoon.
Casey couldn’t help beaming. She shot a glance across the sea of guests standing in the living room and spied Sloan near the windows. Her life was so full and she loved him so much. They planned to marry soon, just after Jenner and Beth, then move to Warm Springs.
Everyone seemed blessed today. Even Dani was smiling at her sister, and Clarisse, escorted by her two boys, caught Casey’s eye and winked. But Casey only had eyes for Sloan. He was staring at her so intently, she blushed. They shared a secret smile, but Sloan waited until the bride and groom had greeted all of their guests and were busy pouring champagne and cutting the cake before he pulled Casey outside.
“What are you doing?” she asked, laughing when he kissed her bare neck. She trembled, as much from his kiss as the snow-laden breeze.
“I have something for you.”
“What?”
“A pledge.”
She didn’t know what to say as this man she loved handed her a cream-colored envelope. She opened it slowly. Inside was a diamond ring, along with a letter. She read the words and tears filled her eyes, then she turned to him and he slipped the ring over her finger.
“I love you,” he whispered as the wind kicked up and lifted the hem of her skirt. Somewhere in the distance, a horse neighed.
“And I love you.”
“Forever?”
“And a day.”
She smiled up at him and laughed at the snow catching on his eyelashes. She would spend the rest of her life with this cowboy. Finally, after years of searching, she’d found everything she wanted in life and oh, so much more.
Dear Casey,
I’m not much for words, so I’ll be brief.
I never thought I’d fall in love again, never thought I’d want to settle down with a woman and raise children, but you’ve brought me past my pain, made me see that there is a tomorrow.
I vow to love you and our children forever. Trust me and know that I’ll always be at your side.
Until eternity,
Sloan
ISBN: 978-1-4201-3603-6