by Sara Orwig
She stopped on the top step, hearing the solemn warning in his voice. She remembered Drake coming to talk to Josh and wondered why Josh was being so cautious.
“I’m taking Laurie inside,” he told Caroline, and kissed her cheek.
Caroline turned to walk to the car, while Ben sprinted to the driver’s side. “’Bye, Laurie, Josh,” he called, before he opened the door and waved.
“Ben is waving at you, Josh.”
“Let’s get you inside,” he said, standing on the lowest step and turning to wave at Ben. Then his gaze was drawn to the woods beyond them, as it had been time and again. A glint caught his attention and then he thought he saw a gun barrel. “Get down!” he yelled, too far away to reach Laurie himself.
The crack of the rifle sent birds flying, and shattered the quiet.
A piece of wood flew out of the wall behind Laurie, while to Josh’s horror, she crumpled to the floor of the porch and then lay still.
Chapter 10
“L aurie!” Josh took the remaining three stairs in one long stride and knelt beside her.
Unable to breathe while his heart thudded so hard, Josh felt her throat. Relief swamped him when he found a steady pulse. He turned her over, saw blood spilling from a head wound, and yanked out his handkerchief to press it against the wound.
Ben reached the porch as Josh picked up Laurie. “Call 911,” Josh snapped. “Then call Drake to let the men know a killer is somewhere on the ranch.”
Ben dashed past Josh, while Caroline caught up with them and held the door open. Josh carried Laurie to the sofa in the family room.
“Get some gauze and antiseptic, Caroline,” Josh ordered, placing Laurie on the sofa, yet wanting to hold her in his arms.
She stirred and moaned.
“Laurie?” he asked, lifting his handkerchief to look at the damage. To his relief, the bullet had grazed her head, giving her only a superficial wound. But it was bleeding profusely.
She moaned again and opened her eyes to stare at him. “You told me to get down. What happened? I heard a shot.”
“Someone was in the woods.”
“I can’t imagine Carter shooting at me like that,” she said, holding her head.
“Carter?” Startled, Josh looked down at her. At the same time she gazed up at him with shock in her expression.
“Josh,” she said, her eyes growing wide while she gripped his shoulder with one hand. “I remember a name!”
“That’s great, Laurie,” he said, waiting for her to blurt out more. But she gave him a dazed look.
“I don’t know who Carter is. I just remember that name and know he’s tried to harm me.”
“That’s better than not knowing anything.”
Ben burst into the room at the same time Caroline brought bandages and first aid supplies. Trying to avoid hurting her, Josh began to clean Laurie’s wound.
“The ambulance and Will Cordoba are on their way,” Ben said. “I think I hung up on the dispatcher, but maybe that will get them here quicker. I talked to Drake, and he’s taking some men to see if he can find anyone.”
“Thanks,” Josh said, getting antiseptic from Caroline. “This is going to hurt.”
“It already does,” Laurie said, closing her eyes.
Drawing a deep breath, Josh worked as gently as he could, too aware of each wince when he touched her.
“Josh, I can go help Drake,” Ben said.
“And give your mother a nervous breakdown?” Josh remarked. “No way. You and Caroline get in your car and go. It’ll be safe now, and you need to get back to college.”
“Aw, come on,” Ben grumbled.
“Please, Ben,” Caroline said. “We’re not needed here, what with the sheriff and an ambulance coming.”
“Once they get here, you may have to stay for hours to answer questions,” Josh said. “Take your mother and go.”
“You’re sure?” Caroline asked, and Josh nodded.
She bent to brush his cheek with a kiss. “You and Laurie be careful. Don’t take chances.”
“Go with them to the door and lock it,” Laurie said, opening her eyes to look at Josh. “I’m okay, and we need to keep the door locked.”
He left, and when he returned, she was standing in front of the mirror, dabbing at her wound.
“Will you sit down?” he demanded, and she turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling. He tilted his head. “What?”
“Josh, I have sisters. I can remember names and I know they’re my sisters! Well, I remember first names,” she said, her smile fading. “I don’t remember the all-important last names.”
“That’s great! If your memory is returning, more will come.” He took her hand. “Let me finish bandaging your head.”
She ignored his words. Instead, she walked over to put her arms around him. “Hold me a minute before all the lawmen get here. Just hold me and let me know I’m safe and you’re safe.”
“I’m not going to argue with that one,” he said gruffly, thinking about what a scare he had received, watching her go down as he heard the shot.
She looked up at him. “I’m getting blood on your shirt.”
“I don’t care.”
“Josh, I’m not married. I just know I’m not. I can remember a sister named Emily and I can remember her house. I remember a restaurant and another sister, Talia.”
“That’s great. More will come. Just relax, and it’ll come. And you’re single. At least I won’t have to worry about angry husbands and a guilty conscience,” he said lightly. But even if she was single, it didn’t change a thing as far as his feelings on long-term relationships and marriage went. He wasn’t a marrying man. Never had been, never would be. He didn’t want a life like his dad’s, with all that turmoil and upheaval and tearing up other people’s lives. He raised his head. “I hear sirens.”
“You have ears like a cat.”
“It’s from living out here where it’s quiet so much of the time. It’s a wonder city folk aren’t all deaf with that constant, infernal racket that surrounds them.” He led her to the sofa. “You stay here. I’ll go meet them.”
“They’re going to get tired of seeing me.”
“This is a different bunch. This is an ambulance from Stallion Pass, and you’re not going to go to a hospital. I’ll know these medics and I can talk them out of that. I don’t think you’re hurt that badly. They may clean your wound better than I did, but they’ll be on their way soon. Now the cops—we’ll have them with us all night. And I’m going with them to look for the guy.”
“Please don’t,” she pleaded.
“I’ll be all right,” he said tersely, and left, and she knew her protest was useless.
During the next hour paramedics cleaned and bandaged her wound, then packed their things and left. Police were in the house, and she knew they were on the grounds. At one point Will Cordoba came in to get information from her for his report on the shooting.
Long after dark, Josh returned, thanked the policemen who had been with her and locked up after they left. Then he came to sit down facing her. His angry scowl made her certain the shooter had gotten away.
“He’s gone. The police will continue to search for him, but they’re sure he’s gone and I’m sure he’s gone. He saw you fall and he may think he’s killed you.”
She shivered. “So I’m in as much danger as ever, and I’m putting you in jeopardy.”
“Yes, but if your memory is returning, you’ll be able to solve some of the puzzle, and then maybe the police can catch this guy.” Josh stood to switch off some of the lights. While he built a fire, she watched him.
“I’m going to make the rounds and turn off more lights. Want anything? Some hot cocoa?” he finally asked.
“That sounds great. I’ll start the cocoa, and you check the house and lights.”
“Sit still and let me wait on you.”
“I’m all right. If I get woozy or my head hurts worse, I’ll sit down and wait for you to do everything.”<
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“You don’t take orders well, do you?”
“I take them better than you do,” she answered, arching an eyebrow. Shaking his head, he left, and she could hear his boots scrape as he walked down the hall.
Later they returned to the family room. One small lamp was on, and a fire burned in the fireplace. As Josh entered the room, the phone rang and he picked it up. Laurie could hear his part of the conversation and realized something terrible had happened. As soon as he replaced the phone, he turned to look at her.
“That was Gabe. Remember, I told you we had another close friend?”
“Yes. Wyatt, you said.”
“Wyatt Sawyer. Hank and Olivia Sawyer, Wyatt’s brother and sister-in-law, inherited the ranch last year when old man Sawyer died. Gabe just called to tell me that Hank and Olivia were killed last night. Hank had his own plane and was a pilot. Their plane went down in the mountains of Colorado in a snowstorm.”
“How awful!”
“Yeah. They have a baby girl. Gabe said the baby wasn’t with them.”
“Think your friend Wyatt will come home now?”
Josh shrugged. “From what I’ve heard, I don’t think Wyatt has had any contact with his family since he left here. He probably won’t even know. I imagine Olivia’s family will take care of the little girl. It’s damned awful.”
“I’m sorry, Josh.”
He shook his head. “I wasn’t good friends with his brother. Hank was older than we were, and he and Wyatt didn’t always get along, so I didn’t know Hank that well. But it’s too bad. If they put the ranch up for sale, I’m sure Gabe will buy it.”
Laurie sat on a corner of the sofa with her legs folded under her, and Josh crossed the room to sit facing her in a wing chair. He held his cup of hot chocolate, while she set hers down on the coffee table near her.
“This afternoon, why did Drake come talk to you?” she asked.
Anger sparked in his green eyes. “Someone cut my fence and drove across part of the ranch. Whoever it was left in a hurry. I think the guy was here last night and had scoped out the place.”
She felt a chill, thinking about someone spying on them.
“He probably was watching the house, saw you leave with Nina, and took off. I don’t suppose you know whether or not you were followed?”
“When we got into the city, I couldn’t tell, but early on, there were headlights far in the distance behind us. Still, that could happen on any public road.”
“You probably were followed. Nina would never know, and when you’re not in the driver’s seat, it’s hard to tell.”
“I half wanted someone to see me leaving here so none of you would be in danger. But then, I didn’t want to put all those innocent women and children in danger, either.”
“You’re going to have to stay inside,” Josh stated grimly, looking at the closed shutters on the windows. “For a few minutes I thought we had a tail when we left the shelter this morning. If we did, the shooter saw you leave with me. He knew where to find you, so he probably just came back here, watched the house and waited for the right moment.”
“You’re scaring me again.”
“Well, that’s what I think happened. Drake and the men will take turns watching the house and grounds for the next few days and nights.” Josh got up and moved across the room to sit beside her on the sofa. “How’s your head?”
“They gave me something for a headache. I know the injury is there, but it’s okay.”
“Good. Now tell me what you remember.”
Her eyes sparkled and she smiled. “I do remember more. I remember houses and I know one of them is my sister’s house, and I remember her. I remember both sisters. I’m very fuzzy about Carter, but I can picture him and I know he wants to hurt me. I remember a bedroom and I think it’s mine.”
“And you don’t remember a guy in it?” he teased.
She smiled. “No, I don’t. I think I’m single.”
“It doesn’t change things a lot, Laurie. I’m not a marrying man.”
“Maybe you should make a sign to hang around your neck. Then you wouldn’t have to say it so often.”
“Miss Smarty-mouth.”
“I don’t recall asking you to marry me or asking you for any such commitment,” she replied in a saucy voice.
“No, you didn’t. You warned me to watch out for my heart because I might lose it.”
“So we’re both forewarned,” she said, teasing him, and Josh looked at her. Her blond hair framed her face in a silken fall. The red T-shirt she wore fit snugly, outlining her lush breasts and a tiny waist he knew he could span with his hands. Jeans covered her bottom half, but he knew how her legs looked and mentally stripped away the jeans. He caught her wrist. “Come here,” he said.
Laurie’s heart drummed as she gazed up at him. “Josh, you’ve been keeping your distance, as you should.”
“Since when did you get scared of tempting fate?”
“As you said, you’re a grown man, old enough to make your own decisions. You know you’re playing with fire, so if you’re willing to take the risks, I am,” she said, scooting closer.
Swinging her around into his embrace, he cradled her with her head against his shoulder, being careful of her wound. He leaned closer. “You sure can drive a man wild,” he said in a husky voice.
“Well, I wonder how many broken hearts you’ve left behind.”
“I don’t have to worry about yours. You’ve been taunting and tempting me since the first day I met you.”
“Sexy, tough cowboy—how could I resist?”
He inhaled, tightened his arms and leaned the last distance to kiss her.
Laurie’s heart thudded as she locked her arms around his neck and kissed him in return. His tongue stroked hers, while his arms tightened around her and he leaned over her.
Molding her body to his, she clung to him—softness against hardness, a fit that heightened desire. Each time they were together escalated a consuming hunger. Wanting him in spite of all the dangers and risks, she responded eagerly. He shifted, running his hand over her bottom and then around her waist, up to her breast. He caressed her there lightly and she moaned with pleasure, the sound lost in his kisses.
She felt him tug her T-shirt out of her jeans, and then his rough, calloused hand was on her bare skin, pushing aside her lacy bra.
She tore her mouth from his. “I want your hands there, everywhere,” she gasped. “But we can’t do this every night.”
“To hell with every night. We’re going to tonight,” he said, raising his head to look at her.
Her heart pounded at the expression in his eyes. He looked as if he could devour her, and she wanted him to. “You like this, don’t you?” he whispered, stroking her breast.
She closed her eyes, feeling his hard shaft pressing against her hip.
“You want me to kiss you, don’t you?” he whispered, his tongue touching her ear and his warm breath on her skin making her tingle.
“Yes, I do,” she answered without thought, sliding her hand beneath his T-shirt to run her fingers lightly across his muscled chest. She pressed her palm against him, feeling his racing heartbeat. Pleasure rippled through her at the effect she was having on him. She had to kiss and touch him as much as she wanted him to kiss and touch her.
She ached with longing to tug away his T-shirt, to press herself against his bare chest, to love him with more than just kisses and light caresses, but she knew she shouldn’t be doing any loving. She had to stop, yet she didn’t want to. Every kiss was torment and paradise.
She caught his wrist and sat up, gasping for breath. “Your family isn’t coming in tonight to stop us. And we do have to stop.”
Hating what she was doing, she moved off his lap to the other end of the sofa, straightening her clothes. Noticing his silence, she looked back at him. His smoldering gaze stole her breath like a blow to her middle.
Knowing she had to move farther away from him, she closed her eyes and stood.
“I’ll go.”
She hurried from the room, every step tearing at her because she wanted to be in his arms. She wanted his loving and wanted his kisses. She wanted to love him, and it was blatantly obvious that he wanted her.
Hurrying to her bedroom, she entered and closed the door. She should never have come back with him. How would the two of them stay out here alone, night after night, and be able to resist temptation?
While some of her memory had been jogged, not all of it had returned yet. She didn’t know anything about her life except that she was single, a man named Carter wanted to kill her, and she had sisters. Not enough to lose her heart to a tough cowboy who had no intention of getting deeply involved.
She pressed her hands to her head. Why didn’t the rest of her memory return? Was there something so terrible that her mind couldn’t cope with it?
She showered and changed into a red silk nightie, pulling on a matching silk robe. Still lost in thoughts about Josh, she strained her ears for any sound of him going past to his bedroom.
His bedroom right down the hall… Where she could be in his arms, loving him, all night.
She shut her mind to those thoughts, because she couldn’t cross that line. Their kisses were forbidden pleasures, and if she wanted to go home without a broken heart, she had to stop flirting with him, stop kissing him.
She switched off the lights and moved restlessly around the room, finally pulling a chair near a window and sitting down to stare outside, watching shadows, wondering about her past.
At night dark shadows were menacing, each one capable of hiding a killer. Who was Carter and why did he want to kill her? What had she seen or done?
Downstairs, Josh paced about the family room. He couldn’t sit still. He switched on the television, channel surfed for a ball game, then tossed down the remote control, heading for the kitchen.
He poured a glass of milk and got some cookies, heading back to the family room. He wanted Laurie as he had never wanted another woman. The realization of the depth of his desire shook him hard.
When Nina had told him that Laurie was gone, everything hurt. He had been worried about her safety, but more than that, he had to admit, he’d wanted her back just to be with her.