by Sable Hunter
But as she made her way through the throng, Ryder felt isolated. Separate and apart.
She was immersed in a sea of happiness – and she had never felt more alone.
As she topped the hill, gazing down toward the area where the guests’ vehicles were parked, Ryder noticed a man wearing a bulky jacket wandering between the rows, looking to the left and then to the right. For a moment, she smiled, having been in his predicament before. If she had a nickel for every time she’d lost her car in a big parking lot, Ryder would be a wealthy woman in her own right. She felt sorry for the guy, almost deciding to call out to ask him to describe the type of truck or car he was looking for. From her vantage point, she had a good view of them all.
But then, he stopped and knelt on the ground. Curious, she stood on her tiptoes to see better. Ryder was a bit surprised that he seemed to be doing something to Samson’s Lamborghini. “Hmmm, maybe he’s just a car buff, checking out the tires.” She watched him until he stood up, glanced around, and took off in a semi-run. He didn’t seem to see her, so Ryder watched until he made his way out to a dark sedan, hopped in, and drove off.
“Hey, Ryder!” Pepper called some distance away. “Time to announce the winners!”
“Okay!” With one last questioning glance at the departing sedan, she went to join her sister.
“Guess what?” Pepper held the basket of small trophies and ribbons.
“What?” She couldn’t help but notice the twelve-deep throng of people standing around the Duke’s booth. Most of them women. A spark of jealousy rose in her breast and she forcefully tamped the errant emotion down.
“Your guys won. Heath came in second and Scott Eagleton came in third.”
“Oh, no.” She dreaded how unhappy Heath would be and she also dreaded having to present Eagleton with a ribbon. “They aren’t my guys, Pepper.”
“Yea, I believe you. Men who don’t like me, they bring me prize racehorses all the time.”
Ryder didn’t stop to ask how her sister had found out about Vashti. The woman had eyes in the back of her head. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
As the crowd looked on, she and Pepper presented the prizes to the winners of the cook-off and the other contests that had been held during the day. As predicted, Heath was one disgruntled cowboy. To give him credit, he didn’t show it, offering the winners a congratulatory handshake. Scott Eagleton tried to draw her in for an embrace, but she slapped the white ribbon on his chest and moved on. When it came time for Ryder to present the first-place award, her voice shook when she whispered her congratulations. The chaste kisses Samson and Gideon pressed to her cheeks burned like the sweetest fire.
“Thank you, pretty lady. Being welcomed at your home was a pleasure.”
When they walked away from her, leaving her alone, Ryder felt bereft. Even though the crowd pressed around her, people trying to speak to her – Ryder’s hungry eyes followed them as they moved down the hill.
Murmurs about them met her ears.
“I can’t believe they were here.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“Yes, those are the billionaire brothers who send rockets into space. I wouldn’t mind them putting me into orbit.”
“Did you hear they’re in some kind of feud with the Russians and the Chinese?”
“I heard on the news that they’ve received some kind of death threats.”
The comments were going in one ear and out the other until Ryder zeroed in on the last two. An unbidden image of the unknown man kneeling by Samson’s car came back to her. What if? What if someone were to try to… “Oh, my God!”
“Samson! Gideon!” she screamed and began to run. There was a chance she was wrong, but if she were right… “Samson! Gideon! Don’t get in the car!”
Ryder ran as fast as she could – pushing people aside, tears streaming down her cheeks. Why hadn’t she realized? Why hadn’t she put two and two together before? If something were to happen to them, “I would die,” she whispered in agony.
At the bottom of the hill, Samson opened his car door while Gideon went to the other side. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Gideon asked, opening his door.
“I thought I heard Ryder’s voice.” They both glanced up to see her running to them, her eyes wide, crying out.
“Don’t get in the car! Please! Stop!” She held out her hands to them.
Without shutting their doors, they came right to her. “Ryder? What’s wrong?”
She was crying so hard, that they pulled her into their arms, both holding her close. “I was afraid for you.”
“What do you mean, sweetheart?” Samson kissed her tears away.
She held onto them with both arms, nestled between them. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but I saw a man at your car earlier. He was kneeling, looking under it. Something a woman just said reminded me about it, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. I’m afraid he did something to your car. I had to stop you.”
Gideon pulled away. “Take her and get back, brother.”
Samson followed his sibling’s direction. Enveloping Ryder in his arms, he guided her farther up the hill, shielding her from whatever might happen. “Be careful, Gideon,” he called out, then asked in his mind when his brother drew closer to the car, “what do you see?”
Gideon knelt at the back of the Lamborghini, peering far enough under it to see a small electrical box with a flashing light. “Good God, it’s a bomb.” Aloud, he yelled. “Call 9-1-1! Clear the premises!”
No sooner were his words set loose in the air, Ryder was swept along in a maelstrom of chaotic activity. Highlands security converged on the spot, her brothers came running, men began the systematic and careful process of moving everyone to a point of safety. When Samson left her, she felt abandoned, so scared for him and Gideon she could scarcely breathe. From a safe vantage spot, she strained to see, hungry for any glimpse of the two men who’d come to mean so much to her.
Ryder covered her mouth, gasping at the realization of her feelings. “Oh, God, what have I done?”
… Samson spoke tersely on the phone. “There’s a situation at Highlands Ranch, Gabe. Bring the whole crew. We’ve got a bomb.”
“He’s just going to say ‘I told you so’,” Gideon observed dryly as his brother hung up from talking to their head of security. “Our keeping the guys at arm’s length is over as long as this launch is being threatened.”
The brothers stood back, watching as the authorities began to gather.
“God Almighty,” Heath McCoy whispered, “My chili cook-off has gone to fuck.” He stared over the tree line as two helicopters came into view. “Here comes the bomb-squad.”
“We’re sorry, Heath,” Gideon offered.
“Hell, it’s not your fault, Duke. I’ve been on the receiving end of a couple of crazies in my life.” He grinned at the brothers. “Almost married one of them.”
As quickly as possible, the attending crowd was escorted off the ranch. Celebrities like Eagleton and Jimmy’s friends were flown out on helicopters. Over the next hour, experts gathered and a deadly bomb equipped with a mercury switch was carefully removed from the Lamborghini, a bomb that would’ve detonated after the car had been driven no more than a few feet.
“She saved our lives, Gideon,” Samson whispered as they watched Gabriel Khan and his security team converse with the state police.
“I know.” Gideon stared at the ground, his mind full of horrendous possibilities. “With no care for her own life, she ran right into our arms to save us.”
Samson locked his gaze to his brothers. “She’s the one, she’s the one Mother always told us about. The one who’d be willing to sacrifice everything to be ours.”
Gideon let out a heavy sigh. “I know Mother always told us about her vision, Samson. I believed it when I was a kid, but how can we trust something like that? Ryder saved us, yes, we owe her our life, but that’s not going to change her or how she feels about
us.” As much as Gideon would like to grab onto this hope with both hands, his innate tendency to face the facts, no matter how bitter, came to the forefront. “Don’t make more of this than there is.”
“Boss, we’ve brought another car. Are you ready?” Gabe stood a few feet away, a mountain of a man who was ever ready to take a bullet for Samson and Gideon Duke if it was necessary.
They were about to walk away when Samson heard it…
“Wait! Wait! Please!”
Gideon and Samson wheeled around, just in time to see Ryder flying down the hill again. This time she raced toward them, throwing herself in Samson’s arms. “Are you okay?”
“We’re fine, precious. Thanks to you.” He glanced at Gideon, his eyes conveying a distinct message. Everything’s changed. Then, Samson cupped her face in his hands and kissed her in front of God, the McCoys…and Gideon.
We came prepared to let her go, Samson. Gideon hung back, waiting to see if she would come to him too. His heart was hammering harder than it did when his face was inches from the explosive device.
“Oh, Gideon,” Ryder moved from Samson’s arms into his. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t think to tell you sooner.”
Gideon cradled her close, breathing in the clean, sweet scent of her hair. “You came just in time, baby.” She moved closer to him, pressing herself so hard against him that he could feel every soft, sweet curve.
“What if I hadn’t stopped you, what if I…?”
“You saved our lives, Princess.” He kissed her face, mindful of those who were watching as she embraced first one Duke, and then the other.
Samson’s mind linked to his brother’s. And now, Gideon, what now?
Ryder shook in Gideon’s arms and he hugged her tight, absorbing her fear, reassuring her with whispers of thankfulness. Meeting his brother’s gaze, he conveyed a distinct message. I don’t know, I know what you want, what I’m afraid to want. But I don’t know if it’s right. He closed his eyes and let his body memorize hers.
“Ryder, come quick!” Pepper came running up.
Ryder stepped back from Gideon, quickly dashing the tears from her cheeks. “What’s wrong?” She could tell whatever worried Pepper was serious, her sister didn’t give Samson or Gideon more than a passing glance.
Pepper leaned near her, keeping her voice down. “A detective is here to talk to Philip. They’ve just discovered a body at the mine where Philip was working.”
“Someone was killed in the mine?” Ryder was confused.
“Yes. Someone was murdered on Highland’s property and they’ve come to question Philip.”
“They can’t suspect Philip.” Ryder’s heart rate picked up. “Philip wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Come. We need to be there for him,” Pepper urged, her face clouded with worry.
“Of course.” She turned to the Duke brothers. “Excuse me, I need to go.”
“We understand,” Samson said, reaching out to touch her arm. “We’ll call you and if you need anything, please call us.”
“Yes, if there’s anything we can do, just ask,” Gideon reiterated Samson’s offer.
“Thank you.” With one last fleeting glance, Ryder took off with her sister.
“What are we going to do?” Gideon asked his brother as he raised his hand to summon Gabriel.
“About the bomb? We find the son-of-a-bitch who did it and whoever is behind it and we crush them,” Samson said as they began to walk toward the limousine.
“You know I’m not talking about the bomb.” Gideon nodded at the chauffeur who held the wide door open for them.
“Yes. I know. Home, Gervis.” Samson settled in, closing the window between the front and back seat. “You’re talking about Ryder.”
“Yes, Ryder. I can feel hope rising in your heart.”
As the limousine left Highlands land and made its way to Falconhead, Samson spoke to his brother. “I can’t give up. I just can’t.” Swiveling to face Gideon, Samson asked, pointblank, “How about you? Are you as drawn to her as I am? Do you want to see this through? See where it will take us?”
“I am as blown away by her as you are, yes. I’m just afraid we’re all going to get our hearts broken. Do you think what happened today is going to change her mind about dating us?”
“I don’t think her head is ready to accept what her heart wants. It’s up to us to change her mind.”
“And how are we going to do that? Ryder lives at home. If we go after her with no holds barred, her brothers will immediately be involved. I’m not sure how this can happen without doing the one thing she fears the most – alienating her family.”
“I guess we’ll have to be subtle. Show her we can be her friends, someone she can depend upon, before we try to take on a role as her lovers.”
Gideon held his brother’s gaze as long as he could, then turned toward the heavily tinted window, running his finger across the glass, and staring at his own reflection. He could feel his brother’s determination, Samson intended to pursue Miss Ryder McCoy full force. “I guess we have our work cut out. None of this is going to be easy, Samson.”
“Nothing worth having ever is, brother.”
CHAPTER FOUR
A trouble filled year later…
“Sometimes life throws you a curve ball, sometimes it throws you a dozen. You just have to hold your arms up and hope you don’t get knocked down by one of them.” Ryder stood by her sister Pepper who was crying her eyes out. “I know you think the world just ended, but it didn’t. Life goes on. You just need to forget him and move on.”
“How can you say that? Judah James, the man I love, is getting married to someone else!” Pepper buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled. “Just because you’ve given up on being happy doesn’t mean I have to.”
Ryder felt a knifelike pain lance through her heart. “I haven’t given up on being happy, I just made the decision that was best for everyone. The family had to come first. Look at all that’s happened to us. Philip was arrested for murder. Tennessee married, divorced, and remarried. Jaxson lost his leg in a horrible accident. We discovered a whole new branch of the family, then promptly lost one when he was kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. Does that sound like I’ve had time to pursue a romance that can go absolutely nowhere?”
Pepper sat up, her face red, and her usual glorious hair a total mess. “Yes, but look where we are now, Ryder. Heath has found love, he’s married to Cato. Together, Cato and Zane solved Dalton Smith’s murder and Philip was exonerated. Tennessee is back with Molly, true love won out for them and now they’re about to have a baby. Jaxson is better, nothing can keep him down. And the whole family worked together to rescue Aron, he’s home and the McCoys are stronger than ever. Love conquers all. I don’t intend to stand by while Judah makes the biggest mistake of his life, I’m going to him. He’s marrying Ivana Paul for all the wrong reasons, he can’t love her, he just can’t. He loves me!”
“All right.” Ryder handed her some tissues. “I’ll go with you. Get up, wash your face, and let’s go.”
Pepper knew Ryder was baiting her. “You know I can’t.” She began to cry anew. “I don’t know where he is. He canceled the concert in Houston.”
“Call him. He’ll take your call, he always does.”
“All right.” She pushed her hair over her shoulder. “I will, but you need to get in touch with Samson and Gideon too. I know they’ve tried to reach out to you.”
Ryder almost wanted to put her hands over her ears. Pepper didn’t know the half of it. Since she’d alerted them to the car bomb, Samson and Gideon hadn’t let a day go by without reaching out to her in some way.
Her sister continued to make her case for Ryder’s would-be suitors. “They sent you those beautiful roses, which you kept in your room. You throw Eagleton’s bouquets away at the door. And all the tabloids say Samson and Gideon have stopped dating completely, the speculation is endless. The gossip rags talk as much about the Duke’s lack of a love life as they
do the controversy over their space travel. Samson has even ridden up in our yard, like a knight on a white charger. It seems as if they’re just waiting for a word from you and they’ll step in to fight anyone who dares to stand in the way of you being with them.”
Ryder turned her back on Pepper. “I have to consider other people. You don’t.” Even as she stated the sad fact, memories began to filter through her mind. A year had gone by, twelve months, a little over three-hundred sixty-five days…and during that time Samson and Gideon had never ceased to surprise her. The first indication they hadn’t given up came only one day after the cook-off. Ryder had taken Vashti out for the first time and like déjà vu, Samson had joined her, galloping up to ride alongside her…
“Hello, sweetheart, how are you two beautiful ladies this morning?”
Ryder couldn’t deny the thrill she felt at seeing him. “Samson, what a surprise. How are you and Gideon? Are you safe?” She couldn’t keep the concern out of her voice if she’d tried. Her own family probably would’ve reacted more strongly to the terroristic episode on their land had it not been for two things: Sheriff Carroll had assured them the incident was directed strictly to the Dukes, and second – finding out Philip was a serious suspect for the murder of Dalton Smith. No arrest had been made in the case, but just knowing their brother was being investigated made the whole family nervous. Each member dealt with their concerns as best they could – Ryder’s way had always been on the back of a horse.
“We are safe. Our security team is on top of this, no need for you to worry.”
As Samson’s mount fell into step with hers, Ryder didn’t waste the opportunity to drink in his presence. “I can’t help it.” She shook her head as if trying to dispel a bad dream. “When I think of what could’ve happened, it’s horrifying.”
“I won’t bore you with details, but we’re taking precautions.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “And one of those precautions is making sure you’re protected.”