Dean had chosen this year not to book any guests at the ranch over the holidays. He wanted the house to themselves and didn’t want to be distracted by having to take care of visitors. He had even given all the employees the day off to enjoy the holiday. It had really been a day for family, and Cheyenne realized how fortunate she was to have this one she now called her own.
Tantalizing smells drifted from the kitchen, and her stomach growled in anticipation of what Gwen was cooking for the dinner they would have midafternoon. She couldn’t wait for that, but what she was looking forward to most was Luke’s arrival.
“Cheyenne,” Maggie said, interrupting her thoughts. “I’m glad that man didn’t hurt you yesterday.”
Cheyenne reached over and kissed Maggie on the cheek. “Thanks to you I was rescued. I think you were really the heroine yesterday. If it wasn’t for you, no one would have known what happened to me.”
Maggie looked down at the floor. “Yeah, but I didn’t obey you. I came back in the house after you told me to go to the barn.”
Cheyenne laughed and put her arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “I think we can overlook that this time. Everything turned out the way it was supposed to.”
“I guess so,” Maggie said. Then she looked down at the new doll and all its clothes that she’d gotten for Christmas. “Want to help me dress Sally for Christmas dinner?”
“I’d love to,” she answered.
Twenty minutes later they were sitting on the floor, doll clothes all around, and discussing which outfit would look best at dinner, when a knock sounded at the door. “I’ll get it,” Maggie said as she jumped up.
Cheyenne heard the door open, and then she heard his voice. “Maggie, how’s my girl doing today? Did you get a lot of presents?”
“Oh, Luke,” Maggie squealed. “Wait until you see everything I got.”
Cheyenne smiled as they appeared in the door, Maggie pulling Luke after her. His eyes warmed when he saw her and he came to a stop next to her. “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’m fine. We’re dressing Maggie’s doll for dinner. Want to help?”
“I can’t think of anything I’d like better,” he said as he plopped down on the floor next to her.
They were still sitting there thirty minutes later when Gwen appeared at the door. “Maggie, it may be Christmas, but you still have your chores to do. Go on and get them over with before dinner.”
Maggie nodded and jumped to her feet. “I have to feed and water my dog and my pony. I won’t be gone long.”
With that she ran from the room. Gwen watched her leave, then smiled at them. “I’ll try to keep her occupied for a while so you two can have some time together.”
Cheyenne felt her face grow warm. “You don’t have to do that, Gwen.”
Gwen arched an eyebrow. “Oh, I think I do.” Her gaze lit on Luke, and a somber expression crossed her face. “I want to thank you for what you did for Cheyenne yesterday. That was very brave of you, and we appreciate it.”
He looked at Cheyenne and smiled. “It was my pleasure.”
“I understand Trace Johnson is going to live,” she added.
Luke nodded. “Yeah, he’ll stand trial for stalking, for attempted murder and kidnapping here. Of course, there are charges against him in Wyoming for the murder of Cheyenne’s parents and Clint Shelton. I don’t think he’ll ever see the light of day outside a prison again.”
Cheyenne glanced up at him. “Have you talked to Bill?”
“I have.”
“How’s he taking it?”
Luke sighed. “Not so good, I’m afraid. It seems like he’s always been hard on Trace. Now he wishes he could go back and do things differently to try and help him. Of course, it’s too late for that.”
“I feel so sorry for him,” Cheyenne said.
Gwen took a deep breath. “Let’s not talk any more about the bad things that happened. This is Christmas, and we need to celebrate. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”
“Need any help?” Cheyenne called after her as she walked away.
“I’ve got it under control. Enjoy being with Luke.”
Cheyenne turned back to Luke, and he was smiling. He leaned over and brushed his lips across hers. “I think we’re being set up again.”
She grinned. “I think so, too. Are you sorry?”
He reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Not a bit. I’m so thankful everything turned out as it did. I feel like we’ve been given a great gift, and I want to enjoy just being with you.”
“I want that, too,” she whispered as he put his arm around her and drew her close. She laid her head on his shoulder. “You really are one of a kind, Luke Conrad.”
He smiled. “How so?”
She snuggled closer. “Well, for starters you carry a gun in your job, and you’re the bravest man I’ve ever known. Even so, you’re not afraid to dress up like an elf to brighten the day for children in the hospital. You don’t mind sitting on the floor and helping a little girl dress her dolls. And besides all that, you still took time to save my life again.”
He turned his head to stare down at her. “Again? When did I do it before?”
She twisted in his arms until she was facing him. Then she slipped her arms around his neck and looked up into the blue eyes that had almost taken her breath away the day she’d run in front of his car. “When you taught me how I could learn to live with myself and overcome my guilt. That changed my life and saved me from the prison I’d put myself in, Luke. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
He smiled. “And here I thought I was the one who should be grateful. I’ve been lonely for so many years, and I wanted someone to share my life with. I’d almost given up hope. Then you came along, and I knew my life would never be the same again.”
He lowered his head until his lips were only inches from hers. “Merry Christmas, Cheyenne Cassidy. I love you.”
“Merry Christmas, Luke Conrad. I love you, too.”
His lips pressed down on hers, and she didn’t think about Trace Johnson or anything that had happened to her in the past few years. Luke had helped her put that behind her. Now she had a future to look forward to, and it included the man she loved.
EPILOGUE
Six months later
Cheyenne stood beside Patches backstage at the Wild West show and waited for their time to perform. Right now there was a drill team of horses in the arena, and the crowd was going wild. She only hoped they felt the same when she did her act.
This was her first performance back, and she was scared. She’d told herself a dozen times that she had nothing to worry about. Patches had been released by the vet, and he was as good as new. They’d picked up their training just where they’d left off, but she still couldn’t help being a little nervous.
“Are you ready?” a voice behind her asked.
She turned and smiled as Luke walked up and stopped beside her. “What are you doing back here? I thought you were going to sit with Dean and Gwen.”
“I have been. I’ve even eaten some of Maggie’s cotton candy, but I wanted to come and see you before you perform. This is a big night for you. It’s been nearly seven months since you performed, and I know you’re apprehensive.”
She nodded. “I think the nerves are normal. I just want to do my best.”
“I don’t have any doubt that you will.” He looked around. “Have you seen Ken yet?”
“I saw him at a distance, but I haven’t talked to him.”
“How’s he making out?”
Cheyenne shrugged. “I think he’s doing okay. He’d always wanted to own a show like this, and he snapped it up the minute Bill put it up for sale. I was sorry to see Bill leave, but I understood his reasons for not wanting to stay here.�
�
Luke sighed. “Let’s just hope he can find some peace in his life.” He reached down, pulled her left hand to his lips and kissed the diamond ring he’d given to her a week ago. “You’ve sure brought some to me.”
“As you have for me,” she said. “I can’t believe we’re getting married this summer.”
“Well, we are.” He hesitated a moment and a troubled look played across his face. “You do like my ranch, don’t you?”
She threw back her head and laughed. “How many times do I have to assure you that I love it? The house is perfect, and the barn is wonderful. And I also like the idea of our starting a business that I can operate while you’re off chasing law breakers. I’ve always wanted to have my own place, where I could have a riding stable that also boards other people’s horses and train the ones we’re raising for sale. Maybe in a few years we can even get into horse breeding.”
He smiled. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”
“No, I think we’ll have some problems along the way. Every business does, but we’ve got one thing on our side. We love each other, and we want a future together.”
He stared down for a moment before he smiled. “You got that right, lady.” Then he brushed his lips across hers. “Now go out there and show everybody what you can do.”
“I will,” she whispered.
She watched as he turned and walked away. Ken Dandridge, the new owner, ran up to her and stopped. “Cheyenne, you’re on next. Everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine, Ken,” she said as she swung into the saddle and stood up in preparation for the hippodrome stand, the trick she always performed as she entered the arena. She closed her eyes for a moment and wished that her parents were here, but she knew if they were they would be happy for her. They would like Luke, and they’d want them to have a happy life together.
She could hear the announcer as he began his introduction, and she smiled. “And now, ladies and gentlemen,” he declared in a booming voice, “get ready for the thrill of a lifetime as after a seven-month absence, the Smoky Mountain Wild West Show welcomes back Cheyenne Cassidy, three-time women’s International Trick Riding Competition award winner. Put your hands together and give a Smoky Mountain cheer for Cheyenne and her horse, Patches!”
The door opened, and Patches galloped into the arena with Cheyenne perched in a standing position on the saddle. Applause and whistles rang out as they sped around the ring. Somewhere in the crowd she knew that Luke was watching, and he was cheering. She closed her eyes and basked in the moment as Patches galloped around the ring, while Cheyenne’s body stood straight and balanced on the saddle as her hair blew backward.
She’d missed performing, and now she was back. But this time it was so much better. There was no stalker, no one to make her life miserable. Instead she had found a man who made every day seem like a new adventure, and she was going to spend the rest of her life living it.
* * * * *
Be sure to pick up the first story in
SMOKY MOUNTAIN SECRETS:
IN A KILLER’S SIGHTS
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Keep reading for an excerpt from HAZARDOUS HOLIDAY by Liz Johnson.
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Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Stalking Season, the second book in my Smoky Mountain Secrets series. As I researched and wrote this book, I developed a deep heartache for the victims who endure the nightmare of being stalked. Not only did Cheyenne have to endure the fear of being watched, she also had to contend with guilt that her actions had brought about the deaths of her parents. She came to know, however, that just as God forgives the choices we make, we can learn to forgive ourselves. It is God’s intention that His children should live in peace. If you haven’t come to know the comfort He can bring to your life, I pray that you will seek what He offers.
Sandra Robbins
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Hazardous Holiday
by Liz Johnson
PROLOGUE
“I guess we’d better get married, then.”
At Zach’s words, Kristi Tanner dropped her mug. It shattered and splashed coffee across her kitchen floor, dousing the nearby cabinets in the pale, creamy drink.
All six feet two inches of Zach McCloud stooped in silence to scoop up the porcelain shards, but she couldn’t move as his words rang in her ears, over and over.
We’d better get married, then.
Get married, then.
Married.
As proposals went, that was the very worst one she’d ever heard. Of course, she’d heard only two in person. But this was nothing like a sweet, romantic scene from the movies.
From his knees, Zach stared up at her. “I guess that was a bit of a surprise.”
She gave him a curt nod.
“Sorry about that.” He threw the broken mug away, then shifted into the traditional proposal pose. She sucked in a quick gasp. Was he going to do it right this time?
But she didn’t know what right looked like.
When Aaron had asked her to marry him, he’d pulled a ring out of the front pocket of his work jeans and slipped it on her finger before she’d even known what was happening. That had been fine with her, since she’d been in love with Aaron Tanner since he shared his pudding cup with her in the second grade.
But he was never going to share his dessert with her again.
Tears burned her eyes, and she tried to wipe them away. No matter how similar their hazel-green eyes and cleft chins—genetic traits the cousins shared—the man kneeling before her wasn’t Aaron.
“Why exactly do you think we should get married?”
Zach rubbed at his bald head, the superclose shave most likely masking the McCloud men’s tendency toward early hair loss. “Guess I sort of jumped ahead there.”
“You think?” She couldn’t help the snark that laced her words. It wasn’t pointed at him precisely. It wasn’t pointed anywhere actually.
Maybe a little at Aaron.
Definitely kind of at Aaron.
He’d promised they’d grow old together working the ranch they both loved.
Then he’d gone and walked in on a robbery in progress. He’d tried to protect the pregnant clerk behind the gas station counter. And he’d been shot three times in the chest.
How dare he leave her to raise their five-year-old son, Cody, all by herself?
“As I see it, you can’t stay in Montana,” he said, his voice low, laced with pain that was entirely too familiar.
Aaron hadn’t just been Zach’s cousin. He’d been his best friend, too.
He snagged a towel from the counter and mopped up the coffee streaks down the cabinets before wiping at the puddle on the floor. “Not with Cody’s condition.”
That was a placid euphemism for the sinister heart defect that had been slowly stealing her son’s life, breath by breath.
“He needs to be near the best doctors when he reaches the top of the transplant list. And you need support...and insurance.” The flecks of brown in his green eyes seemed to glow as he leaned forward. “You’re all alone out here.”
Like she needed the reminder. Their nearest neighbor was more than a dozen miles away. The nearest hospital was more than fifty miles. Aaron’s parents—Zach’s aunt and uncle—had moved into town when she and Aaron took over the ranch.
And the ranch hands spent their time mending fences and minding the herd. They weren’t around the house, if she ever needed them.
But why would she need them? She’d grown up on a ranch—albeit a much smaller spread. Still, she could stitch up a cut, round up a stray and fix a broken tractor.
If something happened to her, she’d get through.
But now that something had happened to Cody, well, she’d go crazy if she couldn’t get him to help fast enough.
On paper, Zach’s solution made sense. But in reality...could she really do this? Could she marry Zach McCloud?
* * *
Zach stared up into the deepest brown eyes he’d ever known and called himself every kind of fool for springing his plan on Kristi. In all the time he’d spent chewing on the idea—since he’d heard about Cody’s heart condition—he should have had time to come up with a better approach. But despite her shock, he still knew this was the right decision.
He’d even asked his pastor for advice. They’d spent two hours searching Scripture for direction.
Stalking Season Page 17