Home For a Cowboy Christmas(46)

“Sure, you can,” Vic said. “Use my credit card. Everything will be under my name, so no one will be the wiser.”

Emmy hesitated. “Eh, I don’t feel comfortable with that. You’ve already spent so much, and I can’t pay you back until after the trial.”

“It’s just money.”

“Says the woman who has enough to spare.”

Victoria laughed. “Point taken. Then you’ve got a couple of options. You could make him something.”

“I’m not handy or crafty at all. Unless it’s with numbers,” Emmy said in disappointment.

“Or … you can tell me what you’d like to get him, and I’ll have it sent to the ranch.”

Emmy sank onto the sofa to lay her head on the arm. “That’s the same as you giving me your credit card.”

“Not really. I’ll be doing the buying.”

“I don’t know,” Emmy said with a sigh.

“Think about it and let me know. By the way, Dwight sent me pictures of the house. You did an amazing job decorating.”

Emmy grinned at the compliment. “Thank you. Dwight helped.”

“Did he really decorate, or did he stand around and hand things to you?”

“I’d call that decorating.”

Victoria snorted loudly. “I’m just glad you got him to help. Ted likes to sit on the sofa and watch.”

“I’m adding in my two cents,” he hollered from the background again.

Emmy laughed at the two of them. “I wish I could meet Ted.”

“You will.”

Emmy didn’t correct Vic because she really hoped she did get to meet him. “I won’t keep you. Thanks for the advice.”

“Anytime. Talk soon.”

The line went dead. Emmy lowered the phone and set aside her now-cold tea. She had no idea what to get Dwight for Christmas. He’d never mentioned anything that he wanted. The last thing she wanted was to give him something he didn’t like. She’d been the recipient of bad gifts before and knew how disastrous they could be.

She snuggled under the blanket, her mind drifting as she waited for Dwight. In an instant, she was dreaming. She knew it was a dream because she didn’t have a care in the world as she and Dwight curled up on the couch before the fire with Sam. Half-drunk glasses of wine and dirty plates sat on the table beside them from dinner. Snow fell outside as the fire popped.

“Merry Christmas,” Dwight said.

She met his gaze. “Merry Christmas.”

“This is the first of many together.”

“I don’t want to dare hope.”

He cupped her face in his hands. “You don’t have to hope. It’s going to be so. I promised. Nothing will happen to you. I don’t break vows.”

“I love you, Dwight. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

He put his finger to her lips. “I don’t care how long it took. I’m just glad you said it. Say it again.”

She smiled brightly. “I love you.”

Emmy waited for him to say it back, but he seemed frozen. Then blood welled at the corner of his lips and ran down his chin.

“Dwight?” she asked, fear making her heart beat double-time. “Dwight.”

His head slumped forward before he fell to the floor. Emmy’s mouth opened on a silent scream when she saw Sam covered in blood, lying unmoving next to Dwight. A shadow moved, drawing her attention. She swung her head around and saw a faceless man pointing a gun at her head.

“Time’s up.”

Emmy woke with a scream, fighting against whatever tried to keep her arms and legs contained.

“Emmy! Emmy, it’s me. It’s me!”

It took her a moment to recognize Dwight’s voice. Her vision cleared, and his face came into view. She realized that lights were on all through the house now. But she didn’t move. She couldn’t. The dream clung to her like talons digging into her soul. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

“You got tangled in the blanket,” he said calmly while moving it away. Then his gaze met hers. “It’s me.”

Her gaze lowered to his mouth where she had seen the blood. Tears welled.

“It was just a dream,” he said softly. “It wasn’t real.”

The first tear fell down her cheek. “It felt real.”

He pulled her against him. The instant she felt his arms around her, she clung to him.

“Shh,” he said as he ran his hands soothingly up and down her back. “You’re safe.”

“You would tell me if I wasn’t, right?” He hesitated, and she pulled back to look at him. “I’ve had a bad feeling for a few days now. Tell me it’s my imagination. Tell me I’m crazy.”

Dwight sighed. “You’re not crazy.”





Chapter 23


Dwight hated the fear he saw in Emmy’s eyes. He’d kept the truth from her for good reason, but now it was time she knew everything. He dreaded it, but it was time. Hearing her scream, seeing the terror in her eyes when she woke from the nightmare was like a knife to his heart.

Emmy had suffered enough for doing the right thing. He wanted her to be happy, to be content and wear the smile he had gotten used to seeing. The only way that could happen was if she testified and put Joe Roma away.