Home For a Cowboy Christmas(47)

“Tell me,” Emmy demanded.

Dwight ran a hand down his face before meeting her gaze. “I wanted to get the facts before I said anything. I want you to know that I always planned to tell you tonight. I need you to know that I didn’t keep it from you because I didn’t think you could handle it. I wanted to present the problem as well as a plan.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Dalton called the other day. We spoke, making it sound like chitchat, but it was code. He asked about you, about how things were. Then he let me know that someone was getting close.”

“Oh, God,” she murmured.

Dwight took her hand, gripping it firmly as he caught her gaze. “They’re not here yet. Just close enough that Dalton wanted to give me a heads-up.”

“Should I leave?”

“I thought about taking you somewhere, but in the end, both Dalton and I think the best thing is to remain right here.”

Her pale brown eyes widened. “Here? So you, Sam, and anyone else here can be killed?”

“Not only is this my ranch, but I know this land inside and out. Not to mention my tactical training. Dalton’s suggestion was that I hunt those coming.”

“You’re leaving.”

It wasn’t a question. His heart ached at the resignation he saw on her face. “No. Like I said, I’ve taken the last few days to form a plan and implement it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m using the cameras I already have, repositioning them to pick up any movement coming close to the property. I have four men out there ready to move at a moment’s notice and capture whoever it is. There will be rotating teams for round-the-clock surveillance.”

Emmy squeezed her eyes shut. When she looked at him again, she shook her head. “I didn’t like the idea of you being involved. Now, there are more?”

“No one knows specifics. These are my employees and friends—people who know this land as well as I do. People I trust. No one is saying anything to anyone. They know bad people are coming, but they don’t know why or for who. Nor will they.”

“We have some time until the first of the year. It’s not right to have these people out there that long.”

“I have a feeling whoever is getting close to us will come sooner rather than later.”

“Once they find us, all they’ll do is send another if the first one is killed.”

Dwight shrugged. “This isn’t Denver. It’s Montana.”

“It isn’t the Wild West, either.”

He gave her a smile. “Trespassing on private property isn’t something we take lightly. Those men out there know nothing about you. They simply think they’re helping me out with a situation that has gotten out of control—which is the truth. They willingly offered their services. Well, all but Carlos. I asked him to help. He told me about his nephew, who is an expert tracker. Billy prefers animals to humans. He spends most of his time in the mountains by himself anyway. Carlos sent him a message, and Billy is going to stay around the ranch.”

“Is that a good idea?” she asked with a frown.

“Whoever is coming is from the city. I doubt they’ll have much experience out here. Besides, Billy will blend in so well with the landscape, I doubt many people will be able to find him.”

She studied him for a moment. “I don’t want to die, but I don’t like anyone putting their lives in danger. Especially without knowing the real reason.”

“Every man taking turns patrolling knows this land inside and out.”

“And the men coming after me are killers for hire. They won’t hesitate to take someone’s life. Including yours.”

Dwight glanced down at their joined hands. “Whoever comes for you, however many there are, they won’t get close to the house.”

“Unless they come up the drive.”

He blinked at her statement. From the very beginning, he’d assumed that whoever they sent would try to come in undetected for the element of surprise. He hadn’t stopped to think the hitmen would drive up to the house. Had Emmy not said something, he would’ve overlooked that.

“That would take some balls,” Dwight said.

Emmy shrugged. “The marshals at the hotel were gone, leaving me unprotected. That allowed the assassin to get into my room easily. Joe Roma has connections everywhere and money to spare. People can be bought.”

“Not everyone. Dalton wasn’t.”

“I’ll be forever thankful for that. Because if he had been, I’d be dead.”

And Dwight never would’ve had Emmy in his life. Now that she was here, he didn’t want to lose her. Not to hitmen. Not to anything.

She licked her lips and released a sigh. “Thank you for telling me all of this. I don’t like it. Then again, I don’t like any part of what’s happened to me since I went to the DA. I could deal with things when it was only my life in jeopardy. But it’s more than that now. There’s you and Sam, and then there are these other people I don’t even know.”

“Trust me, Emmy. Please,” Dwight pleaded.

“I do. Completely. It’s just … if someone gets hurt, especially you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I won’t get hurt.”