Home For a Cowboy Christmas(57)

Sure, having things close was convenient, but she would rather have the quiet, the beauty, and the peace. Driving a little for things wasn’t a big deal. Had she not been forced to the ranch, she never would’ve known the things she had been missing. Never would have realized the things her soul craved. Never appreciated the simple things in life.

Like a good man.

Something slammed against the truck. Emmy’s eyes flew open, her heart thudding. She looked at Dwight’s door but didn’t see him. She unbuckled her seat belt and leaned over the console to put her hands on his seat so she could peer out the window in case he had fallen. Emmy listened for Sam’s barks, for anything, but she only heard the howl of the wind.

Then what had hit the truck?

Her blood turned to ice as fear clawed at her. The only thing that kept her from coming completely unglued was the fact that humans wouldn’t be out in this. The thought of an animal, a hungry one, going after the wounded heifer, Dwight, and Sam made her crane her neck one way and then the other to see if she could catch a glimpse of anything.

Just as she was sitting back down, someone wrenched her door open, and she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun.

“Thanks for making it easy,” the man said.





Chapter 28


“Dammit!” Dwight yelled as he struggled to clip the barbed wire to free the heifer.

The young cow was crying out in pain and looking for the herd. Sam stayed near without riling her. Dwight’s fingers were going numb, and the wind cut right through him.

He paused, lifting his head. He could’ve sworn that he heard a scream. He looked over his shoulder toward the truck, but he couldn’t even make out the vehicle’s silhouette. Dwight remained perfectly still, listening intently to see if he could hear the noise again. The heifer kicking him pushed him back into action.

Finally, he got the last of the barbed wire cut. He pocketed the shears and let the heifer get to her feet. Once she was standing, he motioned to Sam, who stopped her from running off. Dwight saw blood, but with the storm, he couldn’t determine how deep the wounds were. He could tie her to hold her but getting anything done with the wind would be nearly impossible. He would have to take his chances and see about the heifer come morning when the skies cleared.

“Sam!” he called.

Immediately, the dog rushed to his side, allowing the heifer to run to the waiting herd. Dwight lost sight of her before she crossed the stream. He blew out a breath, hoping that luck would be on his side, and the young cow would survive until the morning.

He rubbed his hands together. It was time to get back to Emmy. Dwight turned and grabbed the rope at his waist. Then he started pulling on it to drag himself toward the awaiting vehicle. Sam stayed in step with him the entire time. They had gone about ten steps when Sam let out a low growl. Dwight’s head jerked to the dog. He knew that growl. That was a danger warning, an indication of something or someone suspicious.

They weren’t that far from the truck. Dwight decided to pick up the pace and get to Emmy quicker. He tugged on the rope to tighten it again and make sure he was headed in the right direction when it suddenly went limp.

“What the fuck?” he murmured.

Dwight pulled on the rope, coiling it at his feet. He repeated the motion again and again until he reached the end. That’s when he saw that it had been cut.

Years of training kicked in. He remained calm, assessing his options. He didn’t have a gun or any other weapon, but he didn’t need one. He knew enough to knock someone out—or take their lives, if necessary—with nothing but his body. And if someone were after Emmy, then it would be necessary.

Dwight squatted next to Sam, who had his ears pointed toward the truck. He let out another low growl.

“Easy,” Dwight told the animal. “Let’s not let him know you’re here.”

Sam never took his eyes from whatever he was staring at.

Dwight couldn’t tell how close the truck was. He couldn’t see the headlights through the dense snowfall, nor could he hear the engine over the wind. It took him two tries, but he finally got Sam’s attention. Normally, the dog responded instantly, so whatever was out there was enough to make Sam nervous.

He gave Sam the same commands he would when he wanted the cattle contained. Without hesitation, Sam took off, bounding through the thick snow. Dwight slowly got to his feet and untied the rope at his waist. He looped it loosely in his hand, making a knot at the end. He wasn’t sure what he would find when he reached the truck, but he would be prepared.

Dwight started forward in the same line he had been following before the rope loosened. The wind pushed him to the side, doing its best to shove him off course. He gritted his teeth and kept putting one foot in front of the other. Then, finally, he caught sight of the headlights.

There was no time for relief, though. Danger was out there. He gritted his teeth and carefully moved forward, wishing with everything he had that he would’ve refused Emmy’s request to come out here with him. But he’d believed she was safe. She should’ve been. And that’s where he’d gone wrong. He had underestimated the people after her, but he would make sure that didn’t equate to her death.

Dwight moved to the right. A brief lull in the wind let him glimpse the truck. Unfortunately, that meant that someone could see him, as well. He spun the other way and tried to run when pain exploded through him.