by Becky Barker
Within seconds, they were at a full gallop and leaving the copse of trees for open field. Susan's heart raced, too. She allowed the few seconds she imagined it would take the gunman to redirect his fire, and then slid to the horse's side.
The pounding of Mariando's hoofs rivaled the pounding of her pulse as blood roared through her ears. Wind whipped her hair wildly and dust flew in her face, but she kept Luke in sight. He was swearing so loud she could hear him above all the raucous, but all she was concerned about was reaching him with his weapon.
Another shot rang out, this time aimed at her. Susan heard the bullet ricochet off some part of the saddle and whiz past her right shoulder. Then she was urging Mariando to an abrupt halt and sliding into Luke's arms. He snatched her to safety behind the tree trunk, and then shouted to send the startled horse galloping back to cover.
His expression was tight as he grabbed the rifle and pushed Susan into the curve of the tree trunk where the upended roots offered more cover. She was breathing so hard she couldn't speak, but he had no trouble verbalizing a string of raw curses.
His eyes were dark and furious as he flipped the safety off the rifle and shoved the clip into place. He took aim and fired several shots toward the ridge. The shooter returned fire, but now that Luke was armed, he didn't dare move any closer.
It was a standoff, but a long and noisy one. Susan huddled closer to the tree and covered her ears with her hands until the worst of it was over and Luke finally stopped shooting. When she eventually lowered her hands, it was to the sound of an approaching helicopter.
Relief washed over her. Help had arrived. The chopper passed over them toward the ridge, and then she heard the engines cut back. There was shouting from a distance as the sheriff used a bullhorn to demand the gunman throw down his weapon. She held her breath, hoping he'd comply without endangering anyone else.
"He's surrendering. I can’t see him very well, but I saw him throw down the rifl,'' Luke said, straightening from his crouched position. He laid his gun aside and turned toward her. His eyes were turbulent when he focused on her. "Are you all right?" he growled, reaching out a hand to help her up.
Susan couldn't speak. She was trembling so violently she didn't trust her voice. She quickly jerked her hand from his grasp and stepped aside so he wouldn't realize how shaken she was or think her a coward.
His expression tightened even more, eyes blazing with fury. She didn't know if he was furious with her or just the whole situation. She averted her eyes so he couldn't read the raw emotion she was too traumatized to hide. Before either of them could say anything, they were surrounded by people. Everyone on the property had been alerted and they all wanted to make sure neither of them had been harmed.
Juan was the first to reach them, enveloping Susan in a bear hug. Then John was grabbing her for a hug while Luke began yelling at the men for letting her risk her life.
"What the hell's the matter with you?" he raged. "Have you all taken loss of your senses? That guy was good. He could have picked her off the horse if he'd reacted fast enough! His shots came too damned close as it was!"
Juan and the men didn't make excuses nor explain that the gunman's accuracy was exactly the reason they'd welcomed Susan's help.
"You knew the sheriff was on the way! Why the hell didn’t you just follow my orders and keep everybody back?"
Susan realized he needed to vent his anger, yet the tone of his voice made her tremble even more. Reaction to the scare she'd received began to set in, and she clung tightly to John for another long minute.
"Can you get Susan up to the house while I deal with the sheriff?" Luke asked his grandfather, his tone losing some of its heat. "I'll be up as soon as I can."
John agreed and steered her toward his pickup truck at the edge of the meadow. Susan walked to the truck on shaky legs, relieved to take a seat in the cab.
The sheriff's helicopter landed in the open pasture, and they watched as Luke and the men went out to meet him. Then John drove her to the house without another word. She thanked him and let Rosa fuss over her some more, but soon pleaded the need for rest and headed for the master bedroom.
* * * * *
A short time later, Susan heard Luke climbing the stairs, and she lifted a hand to swipe the tears from her face. She braced herself for more of his anger, but continued to pack her clothes in a couple of ragged suitcases left over from her college days.
The door swung open behind her, but she didn't turn to face him. He stepped inside and quietly closed the door. Suddenly the whole room was charged with explosive tension.
"What the hell's going on?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
She cleared her throat of tears, determined to get through the next few minutes without breaking down and crying like a baby. Keeping her back to him, she offered an explanation.
"I think it's time I leave. It's obvious we're never going to make this marriage work, so we might as well cut our losses right now."
A heartbeat of brittle silence passed and then another.
“I told you I’d never let you go.”
She swallowed hard. “Your actions speak louder than words,” she argued. “I can’t stand much more of your anger and disgust. I thought we could get past it, but apparently we can’t.”
He started to speak, but she interrupted him. "You don’t have to worry about losing the Hanchart land. I found another way for you to keep it in the family," she explained, reaching into the drawer of the nightstand and retrieving a legal sized envelope.
She turned briefly to give it to him, but kept her eyes downcast. When he didn't take it, she laid it on top of the stand instead and turned back to her packing.
"When you first offered to pay off Shane’s debts in exchange for the land, I stupidly refused. My common sense was blinded by silly pride. But you took care of the bills, and now I can afford to start a new life and you can find a more suitable wife.”
“The hell!” he growled.
The tone of his voice sliced her like a knife, so she told him the rest in a breathless rush. “I've decided to deed the land to your firstborn child," she said, swallowing more tears. "That way the land can remain in the family without me actually selling it to you and without breaking the terms of Shane's will. I had the papers drawn up to make you guardian of the property until your son or daughter reaches an age that you consider responsible enough to take possession."
The idea had come to her one night after they'd made love, when she'd thought about the possibility of being pregnant with Luke's child. At the time, she'd imagined herself to be the mother of that child. Putting the land into a trust had seemed a good way to counter some of Luke’s lingering resentment. Now it had turned into a way to release him from their marriage altogether.
Even though she loved him with all her heart, the day's events had convinced her that he was never going to return those feelings. He was never going to consider her an equal partner in their marriage. He even resented her help when his life was in danger.
Sometime during those traumatic minutes out there in the pasture, she'd realized that she couldn't go on living a lie. It was just too hard to love him so desperately and feel him growing more distant each day. Before long, his resentment would grow into hatred and she couldn't bear the thought.
Now was the time to make a clean break and allow them both to get on with their lives. A sob caught at her throat, but she fought for control. She folded and refolded clothing, waiting for him to agree with her and leave her alone again.
His voice, when he finally spoke, was so low and deep that she had to strain to hear it. "Did you lie when you said you loved me?"
Susan's hand flew to cover her mouth and stifle an unexpected sob. He certainly knew how to cut her to the quick. She might not be the woman of his dreams, but she wasn't a liar.
“No,” her answer was muffled, but clear.
"Did you lie when you said you wanted a real marriage, a family, and a lifetime commitment?"
"Have you changed your mind about all those things? Realized you don't really love me?" Her love for him had changed; had gotten more intense, more passionate, and more heartbreaking in depth.
"No." Her response was a thready whisper.
Then Luke touched her. It was little more than a hesitant touch of his fingers to her back, but it was almost her undoing. They were always more honest and open with their physical communication than with the verbal.
“Turn around and look at me,” he insisted gruffly.
Susan hesitated. Dust caked her face, and hot tears streaked her cheeks. She didn’t want to face him looking red-eyed, insecure and as vulnerable as she felt. Instead, she stiffened her spine.
When she made no move to turn, Luke stepped closer. She could feel the heat of his big body. His tone went even lower in a soft. “Please.”
She heard her own vulnerability echoed in Luke’s voice and that hit her hard. She turned slowly, but he swiftly enveloped her in his arms, dragging her close to his chest and hugging her tightly.
Susan wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, overjoyed at the thudding of his heart. "I was so frightened for you out there," she mumbled against his shirt. He was hard and warm and alive. She clung tighter, trying to absorb the scent and feel of him.
She heard a groan rumble from chest, and he clutched the back of her head. "You couldn't have been half as scared as I was when I saw you riding across that field with no protection at all."
Luke scared? The very idea made Susan's breath catch. She tilted her head back so she could see his face. He returned her steady regard without flinching or attempting to hide the raw emotion displayed there.
What she saw in his eyes made her heart stop, and then begin to race. Could all that emotion be directed at her alone. "You were frightened for me?"
Luke moaned, closing his eyes and hugging her more tightly. He sunk his fingers into her hair and held her head against his heart. Then he lowered his head until he was whispering in her ear.
"I've never been so scared in my life, and I never want to be that scared again. I wasn’t afraid of the shooter until he aimed at you. I don't want you taking risks like that for me."
"I thought you were furious because I interfered and ignored your orders to stay out of the way."
"I was furious because I was scared," he admitted huskily, nuzzling her ear and neck with his face. "The thought of anything happening to you scared me a whole lot more than having bullets whiz by my head."
Her heart soared. Did she dare believe she was important to him? That he was beginning to care for her the way she cared for him? The thought brought new hope for their marriage. Maybe he was willing to give their relationship a chance to grow. Maybe she didn’t have to go.
She had to know. It was hard to verbalize the next question, but being held securely in his arms gave her courage. She pulled back until she could look him in the eyes again.
"Does that mean you're finally willing to forgive me and maybe learning to care about me a little?" she asked softly. "For more than the Hanchart land? For more than a bed partner?"
Their gazes tangled, each searching the other's for a promise of true commitment.
"That means I love you more every day," he managed in a voice rough with emotion.
"Oh, Luke," she cried, her heart leaping with joy. She grasped his face in her hands and pulled him close for a kiss. Then their mouths locked; lips hard and demanding while their tongues danced to an ancient rhythm of love.
They were both breathless when their lips finally parted. "I love you so much!" she cried.
Luke laid his forehead against hers. "Dear God, I don't know what I ever did to deserve your love, but I'm selfish enough to want to keep it forever. Can you forgive me for letting my pride get between us these past few weeks?"
“I thought you were angry and feeling trapped.”
“Trapped in the misery of wanting you but not knowing how to ask you for what I really needed; your trust, your respect, your love.”
Susan thought her heart would pound through the wall of her chest. Wild joy spread through the rest of her body, making her giddy with relief. “You’ve had them all for a very long time.”
“Promise me forever,” he demanded, nibbling at her lips.
"You don't have any choice," she murmured back. "You're stuck with me now."
"You were going to leave me."
"Only because I so desperately needed your love," she explained softly. "I thought you were growing to hate me. I couldn't bear that, Luke. I had decided I couldn't stay if you didn't really want me."
"I want you," he insisted hoarsely. "Every minute of every day for the rest of our lives. Can you promise me that?"
"I can promise you'll always have my love no matter what the future holds. Nothing is going to change that."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Sealed with a kiss?" he teased, capturing her mouth with his again and wrapping her securely in his arms.
She kissed him and let him carry her to the shower. There was no lack of emotion in the loving they shared.
* * * * *
Hours later, when dinner was over and everyone had left the house for the night, Luke and Susan finally found themselves alone in the family room.
She'd showered and slipped on worn cutoff jeans with a white tank top. Her bare feet were curled beneath her on the sofa. Luke had on clean, but faded jeans that rode low on his hips. He'd showered, too, and pulled on a soft blue T-shirt that was equally form fitting. Just looking at him made her pulse accelerate. Every time she thought of somebody trying to kill him, she felt ill.
"It's over," he insisted, watching her from the opposite side of the room. "Don't let it worry you anymore."
Susan lowered her lashes. It was disconcerting to have him reading her mind and witnessing her vulnerability. She couldn't help being upset every time she thought of the events of the afternoon.
"I can't believe Rod Matthews was stupid enough to try to kill you. I've never liked him, but I never thought he was capable of cold-blooded murder. You don't kill someone for firing you."
"That was only part of it," Luke explained. "I let him know I suspected him of conspiring with Shane on that crime spree. I'd warned him about the drinking and drugs, but he didn't listen. He blamed me for all his problems."
Susan shook her bead in disbelief. She hoped they kept Rod locked up for a very long time, and she hoped she never had to re-experience the fear she'd felt when Luke's life was in danger.
"I'm just thankful nobody got hurt,” she said.
Luke's eyes darkened and his voice went low as he moved closer. "I'm thankful I have a wife who's as brave as she is beautiful."
Her heart skipped a beat and her gaze locked with his. The warmth and admiration in his eyes filled her with joy. "I'm not brave or beautiful."
Luke sat down beside her, scooping her into his lap. "You're everything a man could want."
She searched his face, wanting to believe, but so afraid. "Do you really think that?"
"Really," he whispered, caressing her cheek with his thumb. "I've never been very good at expressing myself, but I want you to know how special I think you are."
"You're not just saying that?"
Luke shifted her slightly so he could reach into his pocket. He pulled out a small jewelers box and snapped the lid. She gasped at the beauty of the diamond solitaire tucked into red velvet folds.
His smile was tight, his tone tightly controlled. "Do you like it?" he asked.
She sensed a wealth of insecurity in the question.
"It's gorgeous," she whispered, reaching out to touch the brilliant gem.
"Try it on," he insisted.
Susan slipped the ring from the box and slid it next to her wedding band. It was perfect.
He'd asked her prefere
nce about a wedding band before buying one, but never mentioned a diamond. "Did you get it with our rings?" she asked, wondering why he hadn't given it to her after the ceremony.
He hesitated briefly, his eyes searching hers. "I bought it three years ago."
The admission halted her breathing, and then brought a rush of emotions. Guilt and regret warred with warmth and jubilation.
"You were going to ask me to marry you?" she asked softly. It was sad to realize what a horrible mistake she'd made back then, but she couldn't change the past.
"Yeah."
Her eyes searched his. She remembered Caroline's suggestion that John was behind any marriage proposal.
"Why?" she asked, holding her breath.
Luke grasped her hand and drew it to his mouth for a kiss. He brushed his lips over the rings.
His voice was little more than a rough whisper. "Because I fell in love with you the first time I heard you whispering sweet nothings to Mariando. I bought the ring when we started seeing each other. I knew it was too soon, that you didn’t feel the same, but I was so damn sure you were falling for me. In return for my arrogance, fate dealt me a cruel blow with your marriage to Shane. I battled some ugly emotions while you were married to him. It was hard to get past the gut-deep anger and ravaged pride, but I never stopped loving you."
The simple words were backed up by the adoration in his eyes and sincerity in his tone. For an instant, it was all Susan could do to push air in an out of her lungs. She wanted to bask in the warmth of his eyes.
"Not just because of what happened today? Not just because you want a family or for any other reason except you love me?"
"Just everything about you."
"Promise?"
Luke gave her a lopsided grin. "Promise."
"Forever?" she demanded.
"Forever."
"Oh, Luke!"
Then she was locking her arms around his neck and dragging him close for a kiss. Their mouths met in a wild exchange of giving and taking. Several minutes later, he dragged his mouth from hers. "Say the words to me," he insisted.
Susan was high on life and decided to tease him. "You told me not to say them again."