Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake, #1)(49)

She gave a small lurch, eyes blinking rapidly. I gave her a gentle squeeze. “You’re all right. We’re just back at the cars. It’s time to get down.” She nodded silently. “Hold onto the saddle horn while I dismount.” She nodded again. I slid off Lightning, grabbing the reins and tying him to the trailer after I did.

“Put one foot in the stirrup, and swing the other around,” I instructed.

Taylor hesitantly obeyed. As her leg rounded Lightning’s rump, I grasped her waist. “I’ve got you.” I eased her to the ground. She wavered on her feet a little, so I kept hold. “Let’s get you in the truck.”

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks. Do you think I could have some more water?”

“Of course.” I grabbed a bottle from my saddle bag. Guiding Taylor towards the rear of the truck’s cab, I opened the door. She eased herself in with a little help from me, and I handed her the water. “You can lay down if you want. It’ll just take a few minutes for Jensen and me to get the horses loaded up.”

Taylor gulped down half of the bottle of water. “Okay. Thank you.” She grabbed my forearm, sending a jolt of electricity up my limb. “For everything.”

“You’re welcome.” She released me, and I headed to help J with the horses. By the time we had them unsaddled, loaded, and ready to go, Taylor was passed out in the back seat.

Jensen peeked in at Taylor’s sleeping form. “She’s exhausted.”

I opened the passenger door of the rig. “No kidding. I think it’s an adrenaline crash. A few hours’ sleep and some food, and she’ll be good as new.”

Jensen hopped into the driver’s seat, turning the key to start the engine. “It could have been so much worse. She could’ve been killed.”

I fisted my hands, trying to release some of the rage inside me. “I know.”

Jensen pressed her lips together. “You’re going to figure out who’s doing this, right?”

I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will. I promise.” She nodded and began navigating the trailer down the mountain.

Staring out at the passing landscape, I went through all of the possible suspects I could think of. Tuck and I needed to pay a visit to Frank Pardue tomorrow. But as crazy as the man was, I couldn’t see him going after a woman like this. I wondered if we could have some survivalist who’d lost it holed up in the mountains. I hated the idea of it being someone I knew. Someone who got their coffee at the bakery just like I did, who sat next to me at the saloon bar, who lived life in my town. I hoped it was a random stranger.

Before long, Jensen pulled up to the guest cabin. Officer Greg was waiting for us. I slipped out of the truck as quietly as possible and handed him the keys to my and Taylor’s vehicles. “She okay?” he asked, motioning with his head towards Taylor.

“She will be. I’ll brief everyone tomorrow. Has there been any sign of Caitlin or her car?” Guilt flashed through me at the fact that I’d been so focused on Taylor, I’d barely thought of Caitlin.

Greg shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll give you a call if we hear anything, and I’ll have the guys drop your vehicles back here.”

“Thanks, Greg. Just have them leave the keys under the floor mats. I don’t want anyone knocking and waking Taylor up if she’s resting.”

“Sure thing.” Greg pocketed the keys and took off.

I headed back to the truck and opened the door to the cab. Taylor let out whistling exhales of air. It was fucking adorable.

I brushed her golden-blonde tresses away from her face. Her skin, even scratched raw, still felt smooth as silk. “Time to wake up. You’re home.”

Taylor’s eyes fluttered open. Watery gray-blue depths stared back at me. I wanted to sink into them and disappear forever. “Hi.”

I grinned down at her. “Hi. You feel ready to sit up?”

She nodded, and I slowly helped her. “Ow.”

My brow furrowed in concern. “You hurting?”

“A bit.”

“Okay, let’s get you inside. We’ll get you something to eat and some pain meds. Then you can shower, and we’ll doctor your cuts.”

She nodded. I knew she wasn’t back to herself because she was agreeing with everything I said. My Taylor would have been arguing just for the sake of it. My Taylor. She wasn’t mine yet, but I was determined to change that soon enough. I shook my head as I helped her around the truck.

“I’ll keep you updated,” I yelled to Jensen.

“Thanks,” she called back. “Feel better, honey.”

“Thank you,” Taylor said in a voice that barely reached Jensen.

Taking her arm, I led Taylor up the steps, then unlocked the front door to usher her inside. “Why don’t you sit on the couch, and I’ll make you a sandwich.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I settled her on the overstuffed sofa in the living room where I could still see her from the kitchen. “You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

“Yes, I do. You came for me.” Her eyes bore into mine, a blazing fire within them.

“I’ll always come for you.” My voice came out ragged, as though ripped from my throat.

“I’m glad,” she whispered.