Her pulse was racing and her mind reeling as she fought to keep the old beater on the wet, winding road. She had to reach Cade, had to tell him what she’d overheard. She had her cell phone with her, but neither he nor Burk would hear the kitchen phone from the barn and she doubted they’d have their cell phones on them.
A beam of light glinted off the rear view mirror, distracting her from her thoughts. Looking up, she watched the distant blur of that light become two as the approaching car moved up behind her.
Mac flicked on the sedan’s high beams, nearly blinding her. She reached up and tipped the rearview mirror toward the roof. If they were trying to scare her, it was working.
Lacy tromped on the gas. The truck’s V-8 kicked in, leaving the sedan behind. But her escape was only temporary as the sedan quickly closed the distance between them once again.
Despite the poor conditions, it swung out around her and attempted to run her off the road. The black sedan struck the pick up’s rear fender with a hard jolt, sending it fishtailing back and forth across the wet country road.
She screamed. They weren’t trying to scare her. They were trying to kill her, just as they had Karen.
Please don’t let me die this way. She knew what it would do to Cade.
The Mercedes rammed her again, this time from behind. The impact snapped her head back, shattering the back window. Thousands of stars exploded in her head and then everything went black.
* * *
Cade looked up through the rain to see Doc Andrews racing across the storm darkened pasture toward them. Still spry for a man of seventy, he moved quickly.
“Sorry it took so long,” the gray-haired man, who had once been his father-in-law, said as he dropped to his knees by the sickly animal and opened his bag. “I left right after Burk called, but there was an accident on my way out here.”
“An accident?” Cade replied distractedly as he tended to the fallen bull.
“Yeah.” Doc Andrews adjusted the brim of his hat, shielding his face from the blowing rain. “A young woman skidded off the road in her pickup. Not too far from here. Made a hell of a mess of her truck, not to mention your fence.”
Cade’s head snapped up. “A woman?”
“Who was it?” Burk asked as he moved around to the other side of Bluster.
The doc shrugged. “Couldn’t tell you.” He began examining the fallen bull. “Don’t think she’s from around here. Although seems to me I’ve seen that truck somewhere before. That color sort of sticks in one’s mind.”
Cade’s heart stopped. No! It couldn’t be her!
He reached out, his hand gripping the front of Doc Andrews rain-soaked shirt. “What color? What color was the truck?”
“Take it easy, son.” He pried Cade’s fingers loose from his shirt. “It was blue.”
“Baby blue?” Cade blurted out, his heart pounding.
The older man nodded. “I reckon you could call it that.”
“Oh, God, no!” He shot to his feet. It was happening again. “I...is she...?” He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
“She’s alive,” Doc assured him as he tended to the bull. “I stayed with her until the ambulance arrived.”
He nearly dropped to the wet ground as relief surged through him. “Thank God.”
“You know her?”
“Yes.” He raked a trembling hand through his hair. “H...how was she when you left her?”
“Took a hard knock to the back of her head.”
“You talked to her?”
“No, she was still unconscious when the ambulance took her away.” He reached into the front pocket of his raincoat and pulled out Lacy’s tape recorder, handing it to Cade. “She was holding this when I found her. I stuck it in my pocket and forgot about it in all the commotion. Can you see to it she gets it back?”
His eyes burned as he reached for the recorder. “Sure.” Memories of the last time he saw Lacy flooded his mind, long hair whipping about in the wind, blue eyes wide and sparkling with the excitement of their engagement. And her laughter...
“Cade?” Burk said, his wet face creased in concern.
He nodded. “It’s Lacy.”
Burk cursed.
“Where were they taking her?” he asked.
“County. Who is she?”
“My fiancée.” He met the questioning gaze of the man whose daughter Cade had loved and lost, a man who would always be a very important part of his life. “This isn’t the way I planned to tell you.”
Doc reached out to clasp a hand over his shoulder. “You’d best get going, son. Burk and I can handle the bulls.”
No more words needed to be exchanged. Cade turned and sprinted back across the pasture toward his truck. He vaulted the fence without breaking stride.
Hang on, Dalton, I’m coming.
He sped down the road, slowing when he passed by the place Lacy had gone off the road. The muddied ground held deep ruts where the truck had skidded over it. Pieces of wood from the splintered fence posts were scattered across the wet grass like match sticks. And the truck...
An animal-like cry filled the inside of his truck. His cry. Cade struggled to see the road through the hot tears that blurred his vision.
“Don’t you even think about dying on me, Dalton.”
He reached for the tape recorder, desperately needing to hear her voice. But when he rewound the tape partway and hit play it wasn’t Lacy’s voice he heard.
“Cade won’t know what hit him until it’s too late. And with his main money maker dead, he’ll be forced to sell the ranch.”
“Well done, Danners. The Flying T is as good as mine. And Tyler will have nothing. He’s going to wish he had died in that fall at nationals once I’m through with him. Hell, he should have died in that car accident two years ago. I didn’t expect his wife to be the one behind the wheel that day.”
“You mean that was an accident? Tyler was supposed to die that day instead of his wife?”
“Yes, but it all worked out anyway. An eye for an eye. His bull killed my son. I killed his wife.”
Cade listened to the recorded words in shock. Anger and pain threatened to consume him. Danners and Brandt were going to pay dearly for what they’d done.
* * *
Lacy awoke, her head feeling as though it had been split in two. Forcing her eyes open, she realized she wasn’t lying in her bed back at the ranch. She was lying in a hospital room. Then it all came rushing back.
Danners and Brandt chasing her. The rain. The accident. She sucked in a breath. She was alive!
“Hello, beautiful.”
She turned to find Cade seated next to her bed in one of the oversized hospital chairs. He looked tired. His blue eyes were lined by dark circles, his jaw unshaven. But he’d never looked so good.
Her gaze moved down to the large hand that held hers tight. “Bluster...” she said in a hoarse whisper.
“Shh, don’t try to talk. Bluster’s fine.” He stabbed at the call button on the bed rail.
“Yes?” a voice replied from a nearby speaker.
“Miss Dalton’s awake,” he said, gently squeezing her hand.
“I’ll let the doctor know,” she replied and then the speaker light went out.
Lacy managed a small smile. “I feel like I have the world’s largest hangover.”
“A concussion is more like it.” He reached out to touch her face, tenderly caressing her cheek. “You’ve been out of it for two days.”
“Two days?” She couldn’t believe it. “I remember going off the road. My truck...”
“You decided to make your truck a convertible. Geezus, Dalton, when I thought I’d lost you...” his voice cracked.
She heard the pain in his voice and knew at that moment the true depth of his love for her. She managed a weak smile. “You really didn’t think you’d get out of marrying me that easy, did you?”
He released her hand and stood, walking over to the window. “Cade?”
�
��I’m selling the ranch,” he announced without turning around.
She gasped. “You can’t. You love that ranch.”
Silence.
“I love that ranch. Why, Cade? Why when you’ve fought so hard to keep it?”
He spun around. “Why? Because my trying to keep that broken down ranch running nearly got you killed.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is true,” he argued, his voice tight with emotion. “I hired Danners...that bastard!”
“You know about Danners?”
He nodded. “So does the sheriff. Danners and Brandt are sitting in jail as we speak, awaiting trial for murder and a whole shitload of other charges.”
“I had no idea Mac-”
He hushed her. “I know you didn’t.”
The anguish in his eyes tore at her heart. “I’m so sorry about Karen.”
He walked back to the bed, jaw clenched, tears in his eyes. “I still can’t believe that bastard ran her off the road.”
“For revenge,” she recalled. “How could he blame you for what a bull did during a rodeo?”
“Jason Brandt was green and panicked after he was thrown. My bull charged and the kid froze. I guess Brandt needed someone to blame for what happened and since it was my bull...”
“Mac confessed?”
“No. You somehow managed to record them talking.”
Things were still a bit hazy. “They were in the next aisle,” she recalled. “I had my tape recorder out.”
“That recording gave the sheriff all the evidence he needed to bring them in. After their arrest, Danners confessed everything he knew in an attempt to save his own sorry ass.”
“I remember trying to get to you, to give you proof of what they’d done. They tried to stop me.”
“Thank God they failed.”
“They’re both going to pay for what they did to you,” she said. “That’s all that matters.”
“You’re wrong about that, Dalton.” He leaned over her, brushing his lips across hers. “You are all that matters to me now. If I had lost you...”
“You didn’t,” she said softly.
“I need you in my life, Dalton. Don’t ever leave me.”
“I have no intention of going anywhere, cowboy. I’ve developed a particular fondness for a certain ranch called the Flying T, and I have every intention of raising our children there. So selling it is out of the question and that’s that.”
“Stubborn woman.”
She smiled. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
His mouth moved over hers again.
“Uhh, hmmm,” Burk said, clearing his throat from the doorway.
“Looks like Sleeping Beauty has finally awakened,” Katie joined in with a wide Irish grin as she followed Burk into the hospital room.
Burk held a bouquet of fresh flowers clutched in one hand, his weathered brown hat in the other. “Suppose she was just waiting for Prince Charming to kiss her.”
Katie nodded. “I think you’re right.”
“Too bad Cade got here first.” He shot Katie a wink, then handed Lacy the flowers they’d brought for her.
She twirled them around slowly, admiring them. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Katie said. “We’re just so glad that you’re going to be all right. We’ve all been worried sick. Especially Cade.”
“Speaking of which,” Burk said with a grin, “I just saw the chaplain down the hall.” He looked to Cade. “Should I go fetch him?”
Cade’s mouth curled into a wide grin as he looked down at Lacy. “You got any plans for today?”
She laughed softly. “Hmm, let me think. I suppose I could fit you in somewhere between getting my temperature taken and my next sponge bath. But I think we need a license first.”
“Tell you what, I’ll give you that sponge bath if you promise to marry me as soon as you’ve recovered.”
“On that note,” Burk said, slapping his hat back onto his head, “I’m outta here.”
“Me, too,” Katie said, fanning herself. “It’s getting a little hot in here for me.”
“Katie, before you go,” Lacy called out, “I was wondering if you might consider being my maid-of-honor. I’ll understand if—”
“I’d love to!”
“You would?” Burk said, seemingly surprised by Katie’s reply. “You do realize you’d have to wear a dress, don’t you.”
Katie bristled slightly. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
He arched a brow. “Hmm, that should be a sight to see. Katie O’Brien in something other than jeans.”
“While we’re doing the asking,” Cade cut in, “Burk, I’m hoping you’ll agree to be my best man.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Katie grabbed him by the sleeve. “Come on, Burk, let’s give these two a little privacy. They’ve got wedding plans to make.”
“Thank you both for everything,” Lacy said, her eyes tearing up again.
“Just make him happy, Lace,” Burk told her with a sentimental sniff. “He deserves that much.”
Cade groaned. “Dammit, Burk, don’t go getting all gushy on me. I’ll have to fire you again.”
“Promises...promises,” their friend called back over his shoulder as he and Katie walked out.
* * *
The little white church that sat on the outskirts of Deep Creek was filled to capacity with the smiling faces of all Cade’s friends and neighbors.
His gaze moved to where Doc Andrews sat in the front pew. A row reserved specifically for family. Something Doc would always be to him.
Then he looked to Burk who stood next to him at the front of the church, best man and best friend all rolled into one. They had been through a lot together, both good and bad. They had long ago accepted each other’s shortcomings, Burk’s being his desire to do good deeds which almost always backfired on him. Bringing Lacy into his life being one very big exception.
“You got the ring?” Cade asked him with a nervous smile.
“Safe and sound.” Burk patted the front of his tuxedo jacket.
The organ began to play and Burk’s attention slid toward the back of the church. His freshly shaved jaw went slack and then a huge smile moved across his face.
Cade turned to see Katie O’Brien standing beneath the flower covered archway, in her hands the silk bouquet Lacy had made to go along with the deep green bridesmaid gown Katie had chosen to wear for the occasion. Katie O’Brien in a dress. Now that was something to see. No wonder Burk was grinning like an idiot.
But it was the beautiful face behind Katie that drew Cade’s attention. A sheer veil hung down from the crystal tiara atop Lacy’s head, but it couldn’t hide those incredibly large amber eyes and full, pink lips. Lips he would soon be kissing, not only as her lover, but as her husband. A man who intended to spend the rest of his life loving her with all his heart.
“Excuse me,” Burk said. “I’ve got a job to do.” He left Cade’s side and made his way down the white runner to where he was about to perform his other wedding duty, walking the bride down the aisle.
Cade had to admit it was a bit unconventional to have the best man stand up for the groom and walk the bride down the aisle, but then nothing about his relationship with Lacy had been conventional. And he liked it that way. It kept him on his toes.
Burk gave Lacy a warm hug and then linked his arm with hers. The bridal march began to play, making Cade’s heart lurch. This was it. Despite having sworn never to love again, ever to marry again, here he was. And he couldn’t be happier.
Katie winked at him as she walked past and took her place next to where his bride-to-be would soon be standing. Then the music stopped and everyone stood, turning to watch Lacy as she made her walk down the aisle.
She was a vision that took his breath away as she moved toward him on Burk’s extended arm. She had chosen to wear a simple white satin gown and...
Cade did a double-take as the toes of
the fawn colored boots he’d bought her the week before peeked out at him from beneath her gown with every step she took. Boots she’d worn in his honor. Lord, how he loved this woman.
He looked up to find her smiling at him from beneath the sheer netting that veiled her face. He smiled back. He knew then that this was the moment he had waited for all his life. While he had loved and respected Karen, there had never been the meeting of souls he’d found with Lacy. She was his heart. And her love had given him back his life.
He couldn’t keep from smiling. Life was too damn good. Cade turned as Lacy joined him at the altar.
The minister opened his book. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“I do,” Burk replied as he turned to lift Lacy’s veil away from her face. “Her best friend.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she mouthed the words, “Thank you.”
He squeezed her hand, then placed it in Cade’s before stepping away to fulfill his duty as best man.
The preacher smiled. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today...”
* * *
“Dance with me, Mrs. Tyler.”
“I’d love to.” Lacy smiled as she stepped into her husband’s welcoming arms, her heart overflowing with love for him. Together, they moved out across the makeshift dance floor that had been assembled in the front yard of their ranch house.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look today?” he whispered against her ear.
She rolled her eyes upward as if in thought. “Oh, let me see, about a zillion times. But rest assured a woman never tires of hearing it said.”
His lips brushed over her hair. “Good, because I intend to say that to you every day for the rest of our lives.”
“Pardon the interruption...”
Lacy turned to find Burk and Katie standing there, both grinning as if they were up to no good.
“Everything ready?” Cade asked.
Katie nodded. “All set.”
“Thanks.”
“What’s all set?” Lacy looked up at her husband. “What are you up to now, Cade Tyler?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out.” He released his hold on her narrow waist and took hold of her hand, leading her off the dance floor.
Capturing the Cowboy's Heart Page 19