A Cowgirl's Secret(60)

On his feet, Kolt in his arms, Luke noted red and blue lights strobing through the dirty windows onto the walls. “Lucky for that scumbag,” he said with a nod toward Henry, “you won’t have to wait too long.”



UNABLE TO COPE WITH both her fears for her son and Peggy Montgomery’s blame, Daisy had asked her mother to take her back to the ranch, where at least she could concentrate on Kolt.

“Honey,” Georgina said, an hour into their wait, “you’re going to wear a hole in the carpet. Sit down. Rest. You know Luke and Dallas will bring Kolt home.”

“That’s just it, Mom, even if Kolt is healthy and emotionally unscarred, how do we ever feel safe in this town again? Kolt was snatched right out from under us at a family party. It’s insane.”

“Yes, it is,” Georgina said, rising to give Daisy a hug, “which is why you never need worry about an event like this happening again.”

Shrugging free of Georgina’s hold, Daisy continued to pace.

Fearing what Luke and Dallas might find, Josie had taken the twins and her baby to Wren’s. That’s how serious the situation was. No one wanted the girls overhearing details if their cousin had been killed.

Just as Daisy was contemplating this and continuing her pacing, the front door opened and in walked Dallas, followed by Luke, Kolt limp in his arms.

“Oh!” Daisy cried, running to be with her boys. “Is he all right? Did Henry—?”

“No. He’s been drugged, but the effects wore off a while back. Now, I think he’s just exhausted.”

Luke carried Kolt to the couch. Daisy sat beside him, cradling his head to her breasts. “My sweet baby boy. I’m so sorry.”

“Mommy,” Kolt said. He hadn’t called her that in a good four years. “Henry said he was my friend. He told me Uncle Cash needed my help with Robin and it was an emergency. I told him you’d be mad at me for leaving without telling you, but he said you’d understand and not be mad. Are you mad?”

“No, baby,” Daisy managed past the knot in her throat, “I’m not mad at all.”

“Henry wasn’t really my friend, was he?”

Daisy shook her head, unable to speak through her tears.



WITH KOLT SCRUBBED head-to-toe clean and tucked into bed, Daisy refusing to leave his side, Luke headed to the kitchen for coffee and one of the sandwiches a neighbor had dropped off.

The sheriff had stopped by to report that with Kolt’s testimony as well as that of a few other girls who had recently come forward, Henry would be locked away for a very long time.

Though the day had had a happy ending, Luke couldn’t help but let his mind wander to dark places. What if Kolt had been seriously hurt? Worse yet, killed? How would he have held it together well enough to help Daisy through?

While they’d made love, Daisy had told Luke she loved him. Luke hated himself for having pretended not to hear, but at the time he hadn’t been entirely sure what love even meant. After the events of this afternoon, after nearly losing his boy, Luke now recognized that love was the yawning black hole in your gut that loomed when you got a glimpse of your life without the people you most adored.

“You all right?” Dallas asked, sauntering into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of coffee.

“Yeah.” Grinning, Luke said, “oddly enough, I’m feeling pretty good. Sometime during all of this mess, I finally pulled my head out of my behind long enough to realize I’m crazy in love with your sister.”

“About damned time,” Dallas said with a pat to Luke’s back.

“Since you’re the man of the Buckhorn family, do I have your permission to ask her to marry me?”

Dallas laughed. “I’d have to go old-school, challenging you to a duel if you didn’t.”

“Thanks, man.”

“My pleasure,” Dallas said. “Welcome to the family.”

The two lifelong friends hugged before Luke headed up the back stairs two at a time.



A KNOCK SOUNDED ON Kolt’s open door.

Daisy looked up to see Luke. He’d never looked more handsome. His jeans might be torn and dirty, his once nice red plaid Western shirt crumpled and stained with what she’d learned was Henry’s blood, but for saving their son, she’d forever be in Luke’s debt.

“May I come in?” he asked.

“Of course.” She’d stretched out beside Kolt on his twin bed.