She ran into the bathroom for a quick shower. The warm glow of last night hadn’t gone away. But what would happen when Kohana arrived, she wondered and almost wished he wasn’t coming. However, she realized she needed to know how she felt about Kohana before she and Garrick got more serious.
Garrick’s suggestion popped into her mind, a threesome marriage. She shook her head and chased her thoughts off. She’d go crazy if she didn’t stop trying to figure it all out at once.
Chapter Six
The days went quicker than Cora had expected. It helped that she’d had the evenings to look forward to. She and Garrick had long talks sitting before the fireplace, and then they’d end up in his bed for the night. But it was Thursday and soon Kohana would arrive. She woke feeling jittery, and she knocked her cup of coffee over. Garrick jumped up from the table and got a towel to clean the mess.
“What’s wrong? I’ve noticed how quiet you were when you woke up, and you’re obviously jumpy. Is it the possibility of Kohana arriving tonight?”
“You know it is. I don’t want anything to mess up what we have. Yet I fear just his being here will.”
Garrick knelt at her feet. “It won’t unless you let it.”
She looked into his crystal-green eyes. He’d become important to her in a few short days. He pulled her into his embrace. “We’ll all be fine. Trust me.”
“I do, but there are some things you have no control over.”
“But you do, and you’ll make the right decision for you, which will be the correct one for all of us. We might not think so at the time, but it will be.”
Cora grinned at him. “How did you get so smart?”
He just grinned and swatted her butt. “Go get your hat, and we’ll go for a short horseback ride before I start working. Don’t forget to put your ankle holster on with the gun I gave you the other day. I want us both prepared for anything.”
“I’ll get it. Do you have time to take me riding?”
“I’ll make the time, now hurry.”
It didn’t take long for Garrick to saddle the horses. They rode off across the wave of colorful wildflowers carpeting the prairie in front of them. Mountain peaks towered above them from a distance. The misty, cool morning air cleared Cora’s head and perked her up.
“This was a great idea. It’s so refreshing in the early morning. No wonder you like ranching.”
Garrick glanced her way. “It’s not always cool, but I like the ranch and the work.” He led her down a different path than they’d taken on their first ride.
At the top of a small hill, he stopped and pointed. “See the men mending the far fence. We have to keep a close eye out for any broken fences. This is a favorite spot of mine. I can see a good ways and know what’s going on in this area.”
“It’s a lovely ranch. Are you sure you won’t want your own ranch later?”
“Yes, I like working for Beck and owning a portion of all this.” He spread his arms wide to indicate the land around them. “Do you think less of me because I’m not more ambitious?”
“Not at all. When a person finds work they love then they are smart to stay right there. I’ve been at the hospital for years. I could make more money somewhere else. I chose not to.”
“You are one smart lady.” Garrick reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry about Kohana. Your friends and I will be by your side. And he wants to help us keep you safe. We have to make sure he’s recovered sufficiently to do the job.”
“I don’t need his protection.”
“Yes, you do.” Garrick said. His voice sounded firm and final.
“With him here we’ll have an extra set of eyes watching out for you. However, we’ll stick to our first plan and also have Gavin, Beck or me standing guard.”
“But Kohana’s wounded.”
“He’s better. If he can handle a gun, he can help us.”
“I see. When were you going to tell me he’d be part of my protection?”
“As soon as you got used to him being here.”
She turned her horse around. “We’d better get back. You’re going to be very late for work.”
He rode beside her, but they didn’t talk. At Heather’s, Cora swung down off Buttercup.
“Thanks for the ride.” She went in the house without a backward look.
When she glanced out the side window from inside, she saw him shake his head and ride toward the barn leading her mare. Heather was staring at her with a questioning expression.
“What happened? You don’t look like you enjoyed your morning ride.”
“I did until Garrick told me of the plan to have Kohana be part of the group to protect me.”
“It won’t be until you’re ready,” Heather said.
“You knew?”
“My husbands insisted I not tell you yet. They won’t go through with the plan unless it’s okay with you. I’m surprised Garrick told you.”
“I guess my questions forced his hand. He wouldn’t lie to me.”
“Sit. I’ll fix us a glass of iced tea. He must value your trusting him or he’d have not told you.”
Cora sighed and put her face in her hands. “Now I feel guilty for being angry with him.”
“Don’t worry. He has broad shoulders and men expect us to occasionally give them a hard time.” She grinned at Cora. “Making up can be lots of fun.”
“I hadn’t thought of that possibility. You’ve made me feel better already.”
* * * *
“Garrick, I’m on my way. Shall I go straight to where we discussed?”
“How close?” Garrick asked.
“One to two hours.”
“Yes, see you then.”
Kohana clicked off his cell. “He’s ready for me,” he said to Jarvis.
The helo flew through the dark night on a roundabout route to Triple Dare County. “Are you certain you want us to drop you off in the middle of nowhere?
“I know the way. I rode all over this territory when I was young. I haven’t forgotten it.”
“Let me know when you’re at target.”
“Right. Hover over that spot directly ahead five hundred yards.” Kohana fastened himself to the line, and when in place they lowered him to the ground. He unfastened the belt and waved. Then he watched as they disappeared from sight.
He had his backpack and a gun and rifle. Slowly he moved between rolling hills. The scent of cattle, hay, and wildflowers drifted on the wind and a sudden ache hit his midriff. He’d denied any feelings of missing home, but now there was a tightening in his chest, and sweat broke out on his brow. He looked down to gather his thoughts and center himself.
Once he’d regained control of his thoughts, he began to walk again. He stooped and ran quickly when he came to an area with no cover. Once he saw the stream, he headed in that direction, took off his moccasins, and waded in the creek bed in the direction to the bunkhouse.
Almost there he heard the murmur of voices. He stepped out of the brook and hid behind a group of trees. Further down he spotted a small fire with three men sitting around it.
“I think Leo is crazy to think we’ll find the woman in this god-forsaken place, and he insists we camp out instead of staying in a comfortable inn or motel. I’m ready to leave tomorrow.”
“Not me. You saw what Leo had Ervin do to that private investigator. He didn’t hesitate to have Ervin see he disappeared. I’m waiting until one of them says we can come home.”
“I guess you’re right,” one of the others agreed with him.
Kohana backed off and put enough distance between them to call Garrick.
“Where are you?” Garrick asked.
“By the creek bed about five miles from you. I happened to stumble upon some of the people we’re looking for. Bring some men and join me.”
“We’ll be there shortly.”
When Kohana clicked off his phone, he put it on vibrate and crept closer to the men. They were unrolling their sleeping bags and settling fo
r the night. One man sat against a spruce tree to keep watch.
Kohana listened closely for any movement in the brush. The guard’s eyes were closing and shortly he’d be asleep, too.
He heard footsteps and put on his moccasins and headed in that direction. When he saw Garrick, he waved and waited for them to join him.
“They’re sleeping not far from here. The guard’s eyes have closed so it should be easy to surprise them,” Kohana said.
“Damn, man, it’s good to see you.” Garrick shook his hand. “This is Beck Colley and Gavin Melwyn. I work for them. The others are some of our cowboys.”
Kohana nodded and started off toward the sleeping men. The others followed. When they arrived, they formed a circle inside, facing the men and holding their guns out at them. Then Kohana shot one bullet into a nearby tree. The men jumped up, confused. They saw Kohana and the rest of the cowboys and automatically reached for their weapons.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you. We have you covered, and I’d love to have the opportunity to shoot any one of you.” Kohana glared at the men who’d participated in his torture. They paled when they recognized he was one of the men holding a gun on them.
“What’s the plan?” Kohana asked Garrick.
“We’ll call Sheriff Kel Reardon. We gave him a brief rundown on what was going on. He won’t be completely surprised,” Gavin said.
“But this isn’t the head of the gang or the one who took over after we got their leader,” Kohana said. “We must make them talk and tell us where the others are staying,” he said harshly. Then he pointed at the smallest man and nodded. “We’ll start with you.” The deadly calm of his voice had all of the men glancing around as though hoping to find a way to escape.
“Wait,” Beck said. He frowned at Kohana. Garrick grabbed his arm, but Kohana shook himself free and ignored them.
He took out his knife and walked in front of the man he’d chosen. “I think you were the one who gave me this lovely scar across my cheek.”
“It wasn’t me,” the man whimpered. “It was Ervin.”
“Point out Ervin to me. I’d swear it was you.”
“No, no. Ervin is with Leo. They aren’t here.”
Kohana put the knife against the man’s neck and traced a line down his throat without leaving a mark. “Tell me where Leo and Ervin are, and we’ll call the sheriff.”
“Don’t tell him, you coward,” the taller man shouted.
“Hold him,” Garrick said. Two of the cowboys held the taller man’s arms while Garrick pulled out a roll of tape he’d tucked in his pocket. He knew how Kohana worked. The man fought, but the cowboys got the tape around his hands.
“Go on, Kohana,” Garrick said.
“Where are they?” Kohana lifted the man’s chin with the knife just hard enough to make a little prick.
“Don’t cut me. I’ll tell you.” His teeth chattered while he told them where the two men were and the rest of the group. He sank to the ground crying afterward.
“Tie them all up,” Garrick said to his cowhands.
Beck and Gavin watched as Garrick took charge. “You two must have been a terror when you were on a job together,” Gavin said.
“Yes, but remember the men we went after did worse things to innocent people than what they did to Kohana.”
Kohana had stepped into the trees to call Jarvis. “We got the ones here.” He told him where to find the others. “You might want to notify the authorities. Let them handle this their way.”
“Will do. Good job.”
Kohana joined the others. “I hope I didn’t scare you all. I had no intention of really hurting him. I had listened to them talk before I called you and heard enough to know he was the weakest link. He and another man did put the scars on my face.” Kohana touched where his face had been repaired. “It looks better now. The plastic surgeon did a great job on me. This guy was lying and scared silly.”
“Then you have very good restraint,” Beck said. “I called Kel. He’s on the way. After he takes charge of these roughnecks, we’ll head home.”
Kel arrived shortly. “It was nice of you to tie them up in ribbons for me. I hardly have any work to do.”
“He tortured me.” The small man nodded at Kohana.
“I don’t see any injuries on you.”
The man raised his chin. “See that cut?”
Kel strolled over to him. “Hmm, I imagine you got that in the struggle to tie you up. It’s a tiny spot and will be gone tomorrow.” He walked to Kohana. “I’m new here, but I’ve heard about you from your folks. If you’d like to work with me, I have an opening.” Then he leaned forward and whispered, “I don’t allow torture, not even mental.”
“Sheriff, we had a nice, friendly conversation.” Kohana grinned at the man whose eyes darted nervously in another direction.
“The job’s available with the restrictions I mentioned. I’ll see you all. I’m going to get these fellas locked up tight for the night.”
When he and his deputy had driven off, Kohana smiled and said, “I like him, but he’s no fun at all.”
They got in the truck with the cowhands riding in the back and headed to the bunkhouse. “Ted’s one of the rangeland managers. He’ll see you get introduced and find you a spare bunk,” Garrick said, as the truck stopped.
Most of the cowboys jumped out and went inside. Ted strolled over to Garrick and Kohana to be introduced.
“It’s nice to meet you. You look like you tangled with an angry bear, but I expect it was less friendly than the bear,” Ted said and grinned.
“You’re right. Thanks for letting me join you guys.”
“No problem. We were quite impressed. Come on in.”
“Thanks, Garrick,” Kohana said. “I’ll talk with you in the morning.”
“Come for breakfast,” Beck said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It’s best she see you the first time with all of us around.”
“Yeah.”
Kohana followed Ted inside the bunkhouse. The men who’d gone in first were already in bed.
Ted led Kohana to a bunk at end. “You can stay as long as you want to,” Ted whispered.
“Thanks,” Kohana said.
Ted nodded. “I live in a nearby house. See you tomorrow.”
Kohana undressed and lay in the bunk. His body ached from the earlier activity. He made himself think of other things.
In the morning he’d see Cora. After all the years of remembering her in his mind as a young woman barely in her twenties, he was curious about how much the years had changed her.
There had been numerous times he’d started to phone her and stopped, especially when he first left. But it wouldn’t have been fair to her. He wasn’t ready to come home, and he was afraid of opening wounds that hadn’t healed. Still, she’d never married. Why?
Twisting around in the small bed made him more restless. Kohana sat on the side of the bunk and stared out at the night sky. It’d be morning before long.
Whatever happened he didn’t want to hurt her again. The stark pain in her eyes when he left her had stayed with him for years. Wearing the necklace she’d given him had made him feel connected to her and home. No other woman he’d met had been able to stir his emotions like Cora did.
Chapter Seven
Cora had slept badly. She’d gone to her own room, but she still heard Garrick when he returned very late. When he had left, he’d told her the call was from Kohana. Whatever happened took a while. She pretended to be sleeping when he looked in on her.
Maybe he and Kohana had spent the time catching up on the news. But she doubted it.
Cora finally went to sleep, and it seemed only minutes before a knock on the door woke her. She groaned and hollered out. “I’m going to take a cold shower to wake me up. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
The icy water running on her face and body shook her awake. She stayed in the shower a few more minutes longer than she’d planned. It helped tak
e the sleepiness out of her system. She dressed in jeans, a gray-and-white-striped shirt, and her boots. Then she added light makeup and ran the brush through her hair, leaving it hanging loose. She didn’t feel up to worrying with putting it up.
When she walked in the kitchen, Garrick handed her a cup of coffee. “Thanks. I needed this.” She took a long swallow. “Hmmm, much better.”
“You didn’t sleep well without me.”
“No, and that has to stop. I can’t get used to needing someone by my side.”
“At least not just anyone,” he teased.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “We can get to know each other without that. I’m not ready to get used to depending on you. It’s too soon.”
“Not for me.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Let’s go. We’re expected to join Gavin, Beck, and Heather for breakfast.”
“Why?”
“Because Kohana is joining us. Beck and Gavin suggested it’d be easier for you this way.” He studied her expression closely.
“What happened last night?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
She hung back. “I don’t know if I want everyone around when he first comes in. I might embarrass myself.”
“We’re all friends. Nothing you do will make us think any less of you. Still, if you want to see him alone, we’ll go in the family room while you meet.”
Cora reluctantly got in the truck, and Garrick explained all that happened last night. “You have all the men locked up?” she asked.
“All but the ones the police are going after in Atlanta.”
“That was your home base?”
“Yes, but I trust you not to tell anyone else.”
“I won’t. Can I go back to my home and work?”
“I’d rather you stayed. You need the vacation, and we’d keep getting acquainted. But if you insist, then after we hear they’re all in jail you can return home.”
She didn’t know what to say so she kept quiet the rest of the way. She was aware of him glancing at her several times.
Bold Bodyguards [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 6