The Christmas Cowboy Hero

by Donna Grant

  And that’s what rubbed Clayton raw. He turned away, stalking outside while looking for something to occupy him. The plan was for Abby to text him around lunchtime with the information. That was hours away though.

  He was going to go insane waiting and worrying. Because he thought of the worst possible outcomes—and each of them put Abby, Brice, and Caleb in danger.

  * * *

  It was just another day at the office. Of course, no matter how many times Abby told herself that, it was anything but. Every time she looked at the computer screen, she began shaking.

  And she hadn’t even begun to look for anything yet.

  She was so not cut out for any type of snooping. It felt as if everyone in the office were watching her. What had made her think she could do this?

  The answer was simple—Clayton.

  She’d wanted to do it for him. After everything he’d done for her, she wanted to repay that by giving him the information he and his family needed. If she wasn’t wrong.

  That was her worst fear. That she’d watched too many TV shows and had connected the two brands, but in fact, they weren’t. But the only way to find out was for her to actually find the name and address and let Clayton check it out.

  What little sleep she’d gotten had been peppered with dreams of her getting caught by Gloria or being arrested for some unrelated stupidity. That was her brain working overtime, which didn’t help the situation at all.

  She kept her head down and worked for about an hour. It was all she could manage before she looked at the stack of files on the corner of her desk that she’d worked on Friday. It wasn’t uncommon for her to go back through something, but she was so nervous this time that she kept second-guessing every action she took.

  Finally, she sorted through the files and found the one she was looking for. She memorized the client number before taking the files to a desk in the back for the part-time college student who came in and filed everything.

  Abby returned to her desk and worked for another two hours before she went to key in the customer number. She was about to hit enter when Gloria shouted her name.

  Quickly deleting the number, Abby rose and walked to Gloria’s office.

  “Well?” her boss said with raised eyebrows. “Do you have something to tell me?”

  Abby swallowed hard, her mind going blank, forgetting all the great ideas Clayton and his parents had given her to say if she got caught. “What?”

  “The East Ranch?” Gloria stated, her voice rising with agitation.

  Abby shifted feet as her hands grew clammy and she began to sweat. “What about them?”

  “It must have been one hell of a weekend if you can’t remember the deal we made on Friday,” Gloria said as she leaned back and crossed her legs. She eyed Abby. “You’re usually much sharper than this.”

  Relief surged so quickly through her that she grew light-headed. Abby grabbed hold of the back of the chair before her and smiled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  “Something going on with you and Clayton? I heard that he was gorgeous.” Gloria raised her shoulders to her ears as she smiled. “I’ve not caught a glimpse of him yet, so tell me every detail.”

  Abby was glad she didn’t have to lie about whatever it was that she and Clayton were. Gloria moved on so quickly that she was now focused on what Clayton looked like.

  “He is as handsome as they say,” Abby said.

  Gloria gave her a look that said she wasn’t buying it. “Come on, Abby. You may lock yourself away from the men, but even you must see that Clayton is a catch.”

  “He’s kind,” she admitted. “And good-looking.”

  “Tell me he’s got a cute ass in Wranglers,” Gloria pleaded. “I’ve got a weakness for cowboys.”

  Abby grinned. “It’s not cute. His ass is magnificent.”

  Gloria clapped her hands together and leaned forward. “I knew it! You aren’t as dead as you appear. You were checking him out.”

  “It’s hard not to with someone who looks like that,” she confessed.

  Gloria issued a loud laugh before she sat back with a wide smile. “Tell me you reeled him into the company, Abby. I’m ready to get your raise going starting today.”

  Abby hated lying. It didn’t matter if it was telling her brothers that Santa Claus was real or fibbing that she hadn’t eaten the last slice of chocolate cake. That’s when she realized she didn’t have to lie.

  “We did speak about the firm. Clayton asked me several things in regards to you and the business. I do know they’re looking to fill the CPA spot,” she said.

  Gloria picked up a pen and played with it as she looked shrewdly at her computer. “With the money Gilroy stole, the Easts are going to need someone who can manage things better.”

  “What about looking to see if Gilroy was bonded?”

  Gloria waved her words away. “Only companies like mine are bonded. No way the Gilroys did that.”

  “But shouldn’t you look?”

  “If he becomes my client, I will.”

  No, actually, it was something she’d make Abby do. For some reason, that irked Abby greatly. “Maybe look now and show that you’re willing to go the extra mile.”

  “Oh, sweetie,” Gloria said with a fake laugh. “Time is money, and I don’t waste time on anyone who isn’t a client. It’s too bad you didn’t get the Easts on board this weekend.”

  In the past, Abby would’ve walked out, defeated. But now, she didn’t push aside the anger that welled within her. She stared at Gloria. “You make it sound as if I won’t get the raise.”

  “You failed to gain me the Easts.”

  “There was no time limit on our deal,” she stated. “You simply said that I had to bring them in.”

  Gloria narrowed her black eyes, her lips pinching, showing deep lines around her mouth. “You’ve found your backbone, I see. You’re right. There wasn’t a time limit put on my offer. So be sure to get them in. Soon.”

  Abby nodded and turned on her heel to walk back to her desk. When she looked at the clock, she decided to wait a few more minutes until it was lunch and most everyone had left the office.

  She always remained behind, eating at her desk as she worked, so no one would look twice at her. Because they never did. When she was one of three people left in the office at lunch, Abby still found herself shaking when she input the client number and hit enter.

  The screen blinked and pulled up the file. It took a few more clicks before she found the name of the business, the owner’s name—which she recognized—and the address, all of which she entered into her phone and hit send.

  Then she cleared the screen and tried to eat her lunch. She couldn’t stomach the sandwich. Instead, she ate her banana. It took another twenty minutes before her nerves calmed.

  Her part was finished. She only needed to wait to hear back from Clayton on whether she’d found the person responsible for thieving his cattle. She knew it could take some time before she heard anything, so she promptly got to work.

  When five o’clock finally came, she couldn’t get to her car fast enough. In no time, she was on her way to the ranch since Brice and Caleb had gone together after school.

  When she pulled up, Clayton met her, opening her door before she turned off the engine. “Well?” she asked him.

  He gave a shake of his head. “I didn’t go on the property, but I took a look around. It’s a new owner who doesn’t appear to have any stock yet.”

  She’d gone through all the anxiety for nothing, but at least they had checked it out. Still, she’d been so sure her hunch was right.

  The few hours with Clayton were over before they began, and then she and her brothers were back in the car headed home. All three of them were subdued.

  She glanced at Caleb, who had called shotgun before looking in the rearview mirror at Brice. Both boys gazed out their windows, lost in thought. Ever since they’d left the ranch Sunday evening, they’d been quiet.

&nb
sp; Abby was trying to think of ways to ask them if they were all right without actually saying the words since her brothers clammed up tight when asked that. When she pulled into the driveway, and the beams from the headlights landed on the open front door, she gasped.

  “What the hell?” Brice stated as he reached for the door handle.

  “Wait!” Abby yelled, but he and Caleb were already out of the car.

  She threw the car into park and turned off the ignition but left the lights on before she jumped out of the vehicle while fumbling for her phone. She was trying to dial 911, but the call wouldn’t connect. That’s when she saw that her battery was dead.

  “Dammit,” she murmured and walked to her brothers, who stood looking at the door.

  The porch light was out, leaving only the car to illuminate the area. The front door had been kicked open by the looks of the shattered remains where the deadbolt had been. It made her blood turn to ice to think that the lock she counted on every night to keep them safe had been no more help than if it were a piece of tape.

  Caleb tried to push her away when Brice slipped inside the house. She shook her head and followed them. The bright beams of the car lights through the front window allowed her to see that the house had been ransacked.

  She gasped at the destruction and the way their few meager things had been ripped, torn, slashed, or smashed as if the items were nothing but trash. Tears welled in her eyes. Why would someone do this? They had nothing of value that a thief would want.

  There was a shout from Caleb. Abby jerked her head up at the sound, but all she saw were shadows. Then she saw Caleb as he swung something—a baseball bat—at someone before there was a loud bang and a flash in the dark.

  The next thing she knew, Brice had joined Caleb in attacking someone, but the intruder wasn’t alone. Abby screamed when the gun discharged again. She tried to get to her brothers but kept tripping over things.

  “Abby!” Brice yelled.

  She looked up and found a gun pointed at her face not five feet in front of her. Something slammed into her side the same time the gun went off.

  Abby grunted when she fell on something hard that rammed into her kidney. She began fighting whoever was on top of her before she heard Caleb say her name.

  She then pulled him down for a hug. There were sounds of footsteps and yelling, and then Brice came to kneel beside her. Something clicked, and she put her hand over her face to shield her eyes from the bright beam of the flashlight.

  “Abby?” Brice said, his voice shaking.

  She smiled up at him. “I’m fine. Are you two?”

  Caleb sat up as Brice turned the light on him. The blood covering his shirt made Abby’s heart drop to her feet. But her brother said, “It’s not mine.”

  That’s when Brice turned the light to her and said, “It’s yours, Abby.”

  Chapter 24

  Clayton sped through the streets, his clammy hands gripping the steering wheel of the truck as his stomach knotted. Ever since Danny’s call, the world had moved in slow motion with Clayton feeling as if he were bogged down in tar.

  And all he wanted to do was get to Abby.

  “You won’t do her or the boys any good if you wreck,” his father said from beside him.

  Clayton didn’t bother with a response. He wasn’t able to put together any words, not when his mind kept tumbling over the fact that someone had broken into the Harpers’ home.

  Someone was hurt. Clayton knew it. He’d heard it in Danny’s voice. After years of delivering such news, Clayton recognized the tone. What pissed him off was that Danny wouldn’t tell him anything. Just told Clayton to get there ASAP.

  Clayton would’ve walked out in his briefs had his mother not shoved clothes into his arms and ordered him to dress. He was the one used to being in the middle of peril, of knowing that every breath could be his last.

  He knew what conflict looked like, tasted like. Smelled like. It wasn’t supposed to be here in Clearview. Especially not in Abby’s home.

  The sight of red and white flashing lights could be seen seconds before the sirens sounded as an ambulance whizzed by, headed toward the hospital. Clayton jerked his head around to stare at it before being forced to use his rearview mirror.

  His father put a hand on his shoulder. This wasn’t a time for words, because there was nothing anyone could say that would make it better.

  Seconds later, the red, blue, and white lights of patrol cars came into view. A deputy was on site, moving rubberneckers along. Clayton pulled off the road behind a squad car and threw the truck into park. In one smooth motion, he turned off the engine and exited the truck.

  “Sir, you can’t—” a deputy started.

  “Danny!” Clayton yelled, looking around the man currently blocking him.

  Danny came out from the house and hurried toward them. He said something to his fellow deputy, and soon, Clayton and his father were let through the line of policemen.

  Clayton’s feet grew heavy the closer he came to the front door of the house. He’d seen so many dead during his time as a SEAL, but this was different. This was Abby. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it.

  “… get away. It was Brice who ran to a neighbors and had them call 911,” Danny said.

  Clayton looked at him, his throat closing painfully. He didn’t understand why Brice hadn’t used Abby’s cell phone. And he was too afraid to ask the question—even if he could’ve gotten the words out.

  When Clayton stepped into the house, he saw the destruction of every piece of furniture, picture, and item in the living room and into the kitchen. Walls had holes in them, cushions had been cut open, and shards of glass littered the floor.

  But it was the blood that pulled his gaze. He’d smelled it the instant he walked through the door. The familiar, metallic odor hung heavy in the air.

  “Holy shit,” his father murmured.

  Danny wiped a hand over his face. “Yeah. Someone was making a statement here.”

  “Where are they?” Clayton asked in a low voice.

  Danny jerked his chin. Clayton looked through the living room toward the kitchen to find both Brice and Caleb sitting at the table staring off into space as deputies stood near them.

  Clayton didn’t have to ask to know that Abby had been the one in the ambulance.

  “She’s going to be fine,” Danny said. “The wound is minor.”

  Clayton fisted his hands, squeezing his eyes closed. A wound. Abby was wounded. “Gun or knife?” he demanded. He knew what both felt like, and he hadn’t wanted Abby to ever know that kind of pain.

  Danny hesitated. “Gun.”

  Clayton dropped his chin to his chest and fought the red haze of fury that ripped through him.

  “The boys are going to need you,” his father said. “You have to hold it together for them.”

  His dad was right. Clayton took a deep breath and lifted his head the same time he opened his eyes, pinning Danny with a look. “What happened?”

  Danny pursed his lips together before putting his hands on his hips. “The door was busted open when they arrived. Brice and Caleb came into the house with Abby trailing behind them. They didn’t realize anyone was inside until one of them hit Brice.”

  “And?” Clayton urged when Danny went quiet.

  Danny blew out a breath and gave a shake of his head. “Caleb managed to grab his baseball bat that was near the door. He said he got a couple of good swings that connected with someone because he heard the grunts. That’s when another of them pulled a gun and fired two warning shots. For whatever reason, they turned the weapon on Abby. Caleb managed to knock her out of the way, but not before the bullet grazed her shoulder.”

  “Is that her only injury?” Ben asked.

  Danny shrugged his shoulders. “She landed in a lot of glass, as well.”

  Clayton walked past his friend and headed toward the kitchen. As he entered, the boys turned their heads to him. To his surprise, they rose and walked to him. He sp
read his arms and pulled them near.

  Though neither made a sound, he felt the tears they cried by the shuddering of their bodies. He held them for several minutes before Caleb pulled back.

  “I want to see Abby,” he declared.

  Brice stepped away but refused to meet Clayton’s eyes. “Me, too.”

  “Gather some clothes,” he told them. “We’re going to the hospital, but you’ll be staying at the ranch until we get this sorted out.”

  When Clayton turned to watch them pick their way to their rooms, he found his father and Danny behind him. “This wasn’t an accident.”

  “I agree,” Ben said.

  Danny’s brow snapped together. “What do you mean?”

  “The Harpers had nothing of value, Danny, and you know it,” Clayton said. “Look around. I bet every room looks like the living room and kitchen. Hell, they smashed every plate. That’s rage.”

  His father blew out a long breath. “This destruction could’ve extended to someone’s life.”

  “What do you know?” Danny demanded.

  “Abby gave us a name of a new ranch. The brand they registered made her think how easy it would be to rebrand over our E.”

  Danny briefly closed his eyes. “The stolen cattle.”

  “Yep. And Clayton went to take a look at the ranch today,” Ben said.

  Clayton gave a frustrated shake of his head. “I saw nothing, nor did I speak to anyone. Yet, it’s mere hours after I make that drive that someone does this?”

  “I agree,” Danny said. “This isn’t a coincidence. What’s the name of the ranch? I can do some digging on my own.”

  It wasn’t that Clayton didn’t trust Danny, but he was in protection mode. And he was used to doing things another way. Thankfully, he didn’t have to lie to Danny as Brice and Caleb came out with their bags in hand.

  Clayton watched as his father led the boys from the house. He remained behind until the brothers were out of earshot, then he turned to Danny. “I’ll tell you who it is, but not tonight.”

  “Clayton, you’re not in the Navy anymore. You can’t go after this person on your own,” Danny cautioned.