“I agree. Go for it.”
He would have never guessed that it would take a spunky romance novelist to breathe life into his overly organized world. Beautiful and smart, witty and caring, he couldn’t wait to spend more time getting to know her.
“You do realize you are going to need to romance this girl, right?”
“How?” Holden asked, afraid he wouldn’t be able to live up to Olivia’s standards.
“You know that book you’ve been reading?” Gray asked as he leaned back against the wall on his stool. “She wrote it, man. You will never have a better guide book to her heart than that.”
“Wait. You’ve been reading her books?” Landon asked incredulously. “Which ones?”
“The Rancher’s Winter Bride,” Holden responded, taken back a little by the question.
“I loved that one,” Landon admitted.
Holden looked at his brother, shock not quite covering what he was feeling.
“I like her books,” Landon shrugged. “Get over it.”
“The two of you are as crazy as Granddad. Romance books are for girls…women. Not men,” Grayson chimed in.
“Just because you hide the books behind your Smalltown Justice magazines, doesn’t mean we don’t know what you’re really reading, Gray,” Landon teased.
Grayson returned the front two legs of his stool back to the floor with raised brow and a haughty smile, turning his attention back to his oldest brother. “You can do this, Hold.”
“Just tell us what you need us to do.”
“Can I get back to you on that?”
“Of course,” Landon nodded curtly. “Just don’t wait too long. Olivia is a one-in-a-lifetime kind of girl.”
“I know.”
“Well, that settles that. I think we’re all done here,” Grayson said, stripping off his blue latex gloves and tossing them in the trash. “I’m beat.”
The calf laid down in the grass. She’d had quite a long day too.
“Are you on shift tomorrow?” Holden asked Gray as they turned off the lights and all walked out of the barn together.
“Yes. I should be grateful the worst thing we see around here are stolen roses. But sometimes, I wish there would be something actually interesting to investigate.”
Landon snorted. “I heard the book club is trying to decide if they are going to make a calendar of the most eligible bachelors in Silver Falls. A sheriff and a rancher, I think you’d be at the top of the list.”
“Go to bed, you two.” Holden pushed his brothers toward the house. Although he enjoyed the friendly banter, it was late.
“Night, Hold,” Landon said, patting him on the shoulder. “Congrats on the girl.”
Holden couldn’t stifle the grin that spread across his face.
“See ya in the morning,” Grayson said with a dip of his head.
Stars now sprinkled across the dark sky. Holden wanted to enjoy the fresh air a little bit longer, so he sat down into one of the rocking chairs on the porch and just listened to the silence of the night.
The door opened and Holden watched in the dark as Olivia backed quietly out of the house and onto the porch. She set down her carryall and her suitcase, then reached up slowly to close the door behind her.
“Olivia?” he called as quietly as his deep voice would allow.
She squealed softly, like a frightened animal. Not the startled cry he’d expected, but a terrified yelp.
He was on his feet in an instant. “What’s wrong?” he asked, reaching out for her.
She pulled away.
“Holden, um…I have to go home. There’s an emergency.”
“What kind of emergency? I’ll drive you.”
She shook her head, her eyes wide, the stars adding catch lights to her pupils.
“No. I’ll be fine.”
“Is this about…the kiss?”
“Holden, please?”
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”
She shook her head again.
“I can’t.”
Holden’s world felt like it was crashing down all around him.
“Livvy, what is it?”
The porch light flipped on.
Mascara streaked down her cheeks, her eyes red and swollen. She picked up her bags and ran down the stairs.
Holden followed her.
“I won’t let you go,” he said—feeling near the verge of tears himself. “I can’t…let you go,” he whispered.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then, help me understand,” he pleaded.
“Holden?” Landon called from the doorway. He ran down the steps to where they stood. “I found this wadded up in the hallway outside Olivia’s room and I thought you needed to see it.” He handed Holden a crumpled photograph.
“No, please!” Olivia dropped her bags and reached for the picture.
He turned away to get a better look at the creased image, holding it up to the light emanating from the porch.
“What is this?” he asked, his brows scrunched together. “Where did it come from?”
“Lan, go get Grayson. Hurry.”
His brother turned back, ran up the stairs, and let the door shut loudly behind him.
“Please,” she said, “I can’t put you in anymore danger.”
“Danger?” The volume in his voice dialed up a notch. “Someone has been watching us, Liv. This picture was taken yesterday morning. In our backyard. While we were collecting eggs at five thirty a.m. They had to be pretty close to get a picture like this. Look at it.” He held up the photograph to her face, but she refused to look.
“Don’t you think I know?” The volume in her voice matched his and it surprised him. “Don’t you think it scares the daylights out of me? I have lived with this nightmare for over a year. I know exactly how close he would have had to have been to take a picture like that. I know exactly how it feels to have a stranger invade your privacy, your personal space. So don’t you dare lecture me on the dangers this poses. I am leaving, Holden. Before someone gets hurt. Before you get hurt.”
She needs you right now.
“You’re right. I’m wrong. Please forgive me.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, to help him resist the urge to caress her cheek, to move the strand of hair that had fallen down into her eyes.
Her shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry, Holden.” She placed her hand on his chest. “I have absolutely and unmistakably fallen for you,” she shook her head, “but I can’t do this.” She tucked the stray hair behind her ear and bent down to retrieve the bags she had dropped.
“Say that again.” Despite the seriousness of the situation, he couldn’t help the glimmer of hope that displayed on his face in a hint of a smile.
“What?” she asked, shaking her head as if confused by his request.
“Tell me what you just said.”
“I can’t do this,” she repeated. “I…”
“Not that part. The part where you said you have absolutely…and?” He waited, bobbing his head to encourage a response.
Nothing.
“Unmistakably?” he coaxed.
“Fallen in love with you. I have.” Olivia dropped her gaze to the ground, then looked back at him. “That is exactly why I have to leave. Goodbye, Holden.”
She made it to her car before he mustered enough courage to tell her.
“I’m in love with you, Liv!” he called out, his feet unable to stay in one place.
She froze.
He walked up behind her.
“I don’t want to lose you. Please don’t do this. We can handle it. Together. I’m willing to take the risk if you are.” He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Slowly, she turned to face him.
“You love me?” She searched his eyes for the truth of it. “I—”
Holden closed the gap between them in one stride, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into him, and kissing her in one swift movement. He picked her up enoug
h that her feet no longer touched the ground, teasing her lips with his own, and spinning her in tight circles. He loved her, there was no doubt about it. She had changed him. He would be a better man because of her. She was his world.
CRACK.
Pain sliced through Holden’s shoulder as he fell backward onto the ground with a grunt.
“Holden? Holden?” Olivia crouched down next to him.
He sat up, scooted behind the car, keeping his arm in tight to his body, and leaned up against the wheel hub. He looked down at his bleeding shoulder. There was a hole in his favorite wool-lined denim jacket. He’d been shot.
Grayson came running from the house, Landon behind him, both carrying weapons. They perched at different places on the porch, scanning the yard for their attacker.
“What’s going on here, Holden?” Grayson called out across the yard. “You okay?”
“He’s been shot,” Olivia yelled back.
Holden pushed back his jacket and grabbed a hold of the sleeve of his red plaid shirt and ripped it loose. The bullet had just grazed the upper section of his arm, but it still hurt like the dickens.
“Wes is on his way, Hold. So are the paramedics. You hang on. You hear me?”
Holden had never heard fear in his brother’s voice before. Not like this. Grayson needed to think clearly right now and couldn’t be focused on him.
“Gray,” he called out, “I’m all right. Are you listening to me? The bullet just grazed my shoulder.” Holden glanced over toward the drive where his truck was parked and mumbled a curse under his breath.
It was too far away to safely get his rifle from inside the cab, and he couldn’t risk leaving Olivia alone. He looked around, wincing as she applied pressure to his shoulder with a shirt she’d pulled from her bag. He had no idea from which direction the shot had come. For all he knew, they could be in the shooter’s sites right now.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
That evil, blessed bird.
He’s over by Brewster’s cage. The rooster’s crow was distant, but he’d crowed all the same.
He was sure his brother had picked up on it too.
“Listen to me, Liv.”
Her eyes found his and she nodded.
“We’ve got to get you out of here. Where are your keys?”
She held them up with a little jingle.
“Good.”
His arm throbbed and tingled at the same time.
Buck up, Kane!
“I won’t leave you here, Holden. Not like this.”
A wailing siren mixed with the sound of barking dogs in the distance and before long the blue and red lights on top of Wes’s truck illuminated the sky with color. Holden leaned back against the car and took a deep breath.
“We’re going to get in the car and I am going to drive you right up to the porch where my brothers are on lookout. Keep your head low.”
She responded by pushing the button on her key fob, unlocking the doors, then she handed them to him.
Holden reached up and pulled the driver’s side door open, cursing the pain that shot through his upper arm and shoulder. “Go.”
Olivia crawled inside and moved over to the passenger seat, then he climbed in after her. When the engine roared to life, he shifted into reverse, looked over his shoulder to make sure his brothers were out of the way, and slammed on the gas so hard that the tires squealed in protest as they spun over the gravel. He backed up, maneuvering enough so that the passenger door lined up directly in front of the porch steps.
“Get inside. Stay away from the windows. I need to know you are safe.”
She leaned over and kissed him hard before pushing the door open and darting toward the front door. Holden caught Landon’s eye and nodded his gratitude.
Landon acknowledged with his own nod.
Once she’d made it safely into the house. Holden shifted into a forward drive, leaning down close to the steering wheel. This time he eased his way onto the gas and slowly pulled up next to his truck. He needed that rifle. He opened his door, then, without closing it, opened the door to the truck. He reached over the seat with a groan and pulled the rifle from the back, making sure to keep as low as possible. Sweat gathered on his brow, yet he grew colder.
Several minutes passed away and there were no more shots.
Wes pulled up with Granddad in the passenger seat. As soon as his vehicle came to a stop, making a v-shape with Olivia’s car and his truck, Ian gave a whistle and a command and the dogs jumped out of the back, taking off into the yard.
“Grayson said there were shots fired,” Wes said, his weapon drawn.
“Holden Redbourne Kane, looks like you’ve gone and gotten yourself shot.” Granddad said as he crouched over next to them. “You all right?”
“I’ll be fine.” Blood dripped down Holden’s arm and onto his hand. “I think the puncture from the rooster’s beak bled more.” He chuckled half-heartedly. “Wes, it has been several minutes now and nothing.”
“You stay here with Granddad.” Wes slipped out from behind his shelter and ran in a jagged pattern across the yard to where Grayson and Landon still stood on lookout.
Holden couldn’t hear the conversation, but a few minutes later, Grayson hopped the porch deck and slid across the front of the house, peeking around the corner before venturing to different sections of the yard, holding up his flashlight with his gun. Wes did the same, only he crossed the yard behind the barn to approach from a different angle.
“That’s bleeding pretty good, Holden. We need to get it bandaged up or you aren’t going to be any good to anyone.” Granddad helped Holden out of his jacket, then ripped the rest of Holden’s sleeve off of his shirt and used it to wrap around his arm. “You were lucky you had on that thick coat.”
“I don’t feel very lucky about now.”
Granddad laughed. “Still have that dry sense of humor, I see.”
After a few minutes, Grayson and Wes came back around the front of the house, their guns holstered.
Holden and Granddad both stood up and joined them at the base of the steps.
“It looks like he’s gone for now, but we did find this.” Wes held out a piece of cloth that had been caught in the fence of Brewster’s pen.” He whistled and his two beautiful black border collies came running up to him from two different sections of the yard. He held out the cloth for them to smell and they both immediately started sniffing around the grounds. Soon, one gave a howl and they both took off around the back of the homestead.
“Over here,” Wes said, running after the collies.
Holden jogged after them, biting his lip as he tried to keep his arm as still as possible, every jolting impact sending a fresh piercing pain through his shoulder. The dogs didn’t get far before they started circling and scratching a spot in the grass. The men looked around with their flashlights. There was no trace of the intruder.
“It doesn’t make any sense. It’s like he disappeared right through the ground or into the sky.”
Grayson looked up at the trellis on the wall. “Not through the ground, Hold. Up the wall. He’s in the house.”
There had never been a better motivator for him to move so fast. Holden took off running, ignoring the pain that continued to stab at his shoulder. At least there was still feeling left in his arm.
“Don’t be a hero, Holden,” one of them called after him. He couldn’t tell which, but he wasn’t about to let some psychopath hurt Olivia. The room at the top of that trellis was hers. He burst into the house and bounded up the staircase two at a time, calling her name.
“Olivia!” he called as he approached her room. The door sat slightly ajar. Holden stood to one side, taking a deep breath.
“Please, God,” Holden pleaded under his breath, “keep her safe. Don’t take her from me when I’ve only just found her.”
It didn’t take long before some of the others filed up the staircase. He imagined that Landon and Wes had stayed outside to cover all of their bases.
&n
bsp; Grayson held up two fingers, close together, and nodded as he snapped his hand toward the door.
Holden placed his fingers on the door panel and slowly pushed it open. When it had cleared five inches or so, something in the mirror at the edge of the room caught his eye. A man, dressed completely in black, hid in the space behind the door, his face obscured by a black balaclava mask.
The intruder’s eyes caught his at the same time. Holden shoved open the door as hard as he could with his undamaged shoulder, gratified when it connected with their attacker. The man grunted as he was slammed into the wall, knocking the pistol loose from his grip. It slid across the floor toward the bathroom. Holden swung his rifle up into his hands and cocked it.
“I wouldn’t,” he warned as the man started for the gun.
The intruder raised his hands in the air and turned to face him, but before the others could get inside to help, the man reached down as he spun his body in a circular motion, pushing the barrel of Holden’s rifle away from him, giving him enough time to escape.
CRACK!
The shot blew a hole in the bathroom door and shattered the mirror. The man moved with lightning speed as he slipped out of the room through the open window.
“He’s gone out the window!” Holden yelled at everyone in the hallway. He darted to the open curtains and saw the man nearly half-way down the trellis. He held his rifle outside and aimed. “Stop!” he yelled.
The man looked up and caught Holden’s stare, then jumped the rest of the way. Holden heard a sickening crunch as bones snapped in the man’s legs when he landed, crumpling him to the ground. When the man attempted to stand, Holden shot the ground next to him and seconds later, Wes and the others had surrounded the stalker, several guns pointed directly at him.
Olivia.
He un-cocked his rifle.
“Olivia?” He called her name over and over as he stormed through the house.
Granddad stepped out of the library. “Is it safe?”
“They’ve got him,” Holden affirmed.
Granddad held out his hand and waved his fingers in a beckoning motion. Olivia slipped her hand into his. The moment she stepped out of the room, Holden handed his gun to his grandfather, picked her up, and buried his face in her neck, never wanting to let go.
Landon's Love (Silver Spring Series Book 2) Page 7