Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series) (28 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Cassie caught a whiff of Millie’s stale perfume before hearing her stride down the hall.

“Cami, dear?” the woman said, sticking her head in the doorway.

While stroking the cats sprawled over her lap, Cassie stared out the window, barely seeing what lay beyond. “Yeah?” There was no use in correcting the woman on her name. It seemed Millie’s mind had aged in her seventy plus years, as one would expect.

“Sandwiches are ready. You’re welcome to join us on the front porch.”

“Thanks,” she replied, feeling guilty for being such a slug. Less than a week had passed, yet it seemed like years compared to her time on the ranch. With what felt like great effort, Cassie turned to the woman. Purple eye shadow framed her pale blue eyes while bright pink lipstick coated her heart-shaped lips.

The woman gave Cassie a kind nod while wringing her hands. “I’m not sure it’s my place to say this, which is why I’ve waited until now to do it.” She stepped hesitantly into the room as she continued. “But … well it’s plain to see you’re struggling to get over something. Or perhaps, someone?”

Cassie cringed at the accuracy of her words. It felt as if the truth had been stripped from her somehow, torn from her heart for all to see the sad, bleeding ruins. Was the source of her pain so obvious that a mere stranger could sense it?

“You know, dear, you can talk to me about it if you’d like.” Millie’s eyes turned wide and hopeful as she waited for her response.

Cassie bit at her lip, daring herself to speak, knowing it might help to break down and divulge the depths of her sorrow.

“Millie?” Mike’s gruff voice echoed from the kitchen.  “She don’t need any of your therapy. Just let the girl be.”

Millie’s face scrunched in disgust. “Hush up, Mike. No one’s forcing her to do nothin’.” She leaned further into the room and brought her voice down to a whisper. “Mike sure can give me the darndest time.”

A brief moment elapsed while the woman put a quivering hand to her chin, her light eyes dancing with secrets. “Even still, I fell in love with him. He may have turned into a royal pain over the years, but I’m crazy about the man.”

Cassie smiled, envying the woman in that moment. Millie had the one she loved by her side; beyond that, what else could she want for? And though the pair seemed to get ornery with one another, it was plain to see they loved each other dearly. “You two make a nice couple,” she said. “And in case I haven’t told you – I really appreciate you guys taking me into your home.”

“Happy to do it,” the woman said, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ve taken in half a dozen witnesses over the years. Just glad they still let us do it, even though Mike’s retired. Anyhow, we hope you become more comfortable as the days go on. Perhaps even warm up to us a bit.”

“Millie,” Mike grouched. “Get on with it, would ya? I’m starving to death out here.”

“Oh, the big baby.” With the shake of her head, Millie dashed toward the door. “The man won’t eat without me,” she said over her shoulder. “Do come and join us if you’d like. If you’re not up to it, I’ll understand. We can always wrap up the sandwiches or feed them to the birds.” With that, the sweet little lady scurried back down the hall, scolding Mike for being so rude.

Cassie sighed. Three long days had trudged slowly by, and she only felt more miserable with each passing moment. Though she shouldn’t complain. She was alive, unlike some of the others who’d served on jury with her. And from what Mike had relayed, Detective Gonzalez was safe as well. Mike and Millie’s home was clean, modest, and welcoming enough. Yet it somehow felt empty. Cassie had spent entire days in Shane’s house while the men were away, and had never felt so alone. But the reason was clear – back at the ranch,  Shane was always a horse-ride or truck drive away.

She turned her attention back to the motionless view out the window. No garden growing. No horses running. No hope of seeing Shane’s truck barrel over the dirt road. Shane was with Natasha. Perhaps spending a nice long lunch under the large oak tree, laying back as the wicked witch fed him bites of her poisonous apple pie.

Cassie dashed the image away, giving into the terrible tremble of her bottom lip, and broke into full-out sobs as she considered how beautiful it had all been – like a dream. And though she knew it would be best to forget it all and move forward, Cassie was determined to preserve every memory. She didn’t want to forget the first kiss they’d shared in the hotel. Or the way he’d teased her about looking at him while he lay in his hotel bed. She loved that playful manner. Her heart kicked up a beat each time she considered the way he’d taken her in his arms, kissed her at Betty and Grant’s, right there in front of everybody. And then in the pantry. And again at the house.

A deep burning flared within her as she recalled watching Shane in his element. Birthing calves and caring for cattle. The way he looked in that cowboy hat – so rugged and masculine. And without it – boyish almost, with the slight wave in his thick, dark hair. She had fallen thoroughly in love with him, and though the truth of it racked her body with a pain she could barely fathom, Cassie would never take it back. Would never give back the rain-drenched kiss they’d shared out on the patio. Their moments outside the hot tub.

She wondered if this is what Shane felt when they were gathered around the bonfire. When he’d stated that he would never take back the time he shared with Natasha. Perhaps, to him, their time spent together was much too precious to erase.

A rush of fresh tears spilled over her cheeks as she clenched her eyes shut. Her shoulders shook with a mixture of laughter and sobs. What a beautiful romance they had shared. More wonderful than anything she’d experienced, yet it was  gone in a blink.

Oscar’s gentle purr grew louder as she began rubbing him once again, alternating between the two. With a bit of apprehension, Cassie looked down at her hand, frowning at the absence of her ring. A pale, slender line marked the place where it had been. Leaving without saying a word to Shane had been the hardest thing she’d ever done. Harder than saying goodbye to parents who were never there to begin with. Tougher than letting go of a boyfriend whom she hadn’t seen in years. Shane had become her life – her everything.

Nothing about Seattle sounded appealing to her then. Yet that was her new reality. Best-case scenario, the pending trial would end well, the Lawson brothers and their deadly mob would be put away, and she’d go back to her lonely life in the city she used to love.

Until then, Cassie was stuck living with an old couple who shot tin cans in the back field nearly a dozen times  a day. When they weren’t shooting, Mike and Mille dwelled on an outdoor sofa. Sipping iced tea and watching the “goings on”, which mainly consisted of weeds growing and wind blowing.

Cassie had tried joining them out front once, but found it unsettling. Disappointing, really. While in her room, she didn’t hope. Didn’t anticipate. Didn’t dream. She couldn’t say the same of her time spent on the lounge chair out front. There, Cassie hadn’t been able to squelch her hope for seeing Shane’s truck pull into the drive. The anticipation had nearly drained the life from her. She couldn’t endure that kind of desperate longing. Watching. Waiting.

It took Cassie a moment to acknowledge the strange ruckus sounding from out front. She tipped her head, staring into the empty hall, willing herself to detect the source of the noise. Quickly, she set the cats in their kennel, hid it in the corner, and came to a stand. Voices carried throughout the home – men – more than one.

The Lawson brothers. They had found her.

Cassie grew nauseous with fear, knowing just what they were capable of. She grabbed the lamp off the night stand, yanking the cord from the outlet, and reared it over her shoulder like a baseball bat.

Nudged up to the pale green wall,  Cassie worked to calm her breathing. Footsteps came, sure and steady as they strode over the kitchen linoleum, undeterred by Mike’s threats. Cassie gripped the brass lamp with sweaty palms,  eyeing the frayed strands of gold carpet as the muted steps drew near.

Closer.

Closer still.

She tightened her grip, readied to swing when she recognized the cowboy boots approaching the room.

It was him!

Shane Emerson stopped in the doorway, looking her up and down. “Don’t hurt me,” he said, lifting his hands in surrender.

The shock alone caused Cassie to take a step back, releasing the lamp as she did. She blinked while taking him in, every marvelous inch, wondering if she was only dreaming the whole thing. “Shane?”

In one swift move, the handsome cowboy swooped in, wrapping his strong arms around her lower waste and lifted her off the ground. “Cassie,” he uttered, spinning her in place.

Her arms tightened around him in return, shock being replaced with excitement. “You came,” she said. “How did you find me?”

Mike and Millie stood in the hallway. “I’m going to need to get approval ‘fore you take her, young man,” Mike threatened, thumbing the pistol at his belt.

Take her?

“Sir,” Shane said, voice deep and certain, “this woman is my wife.” He turned back to Cassie, looked right into her eyes.  “The department said I’d have the option of seeing her to another location, and that’s what I plan to do. She needs protecting,
I’ll
see to it.”

Warm heat – smooth and tingly – spread over her body in a fluid wave. Shane reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. Cassie noticed then he still wore his. He dropped to one knee, looking at her while balancing the ring over her finger with one hand. “I should have told you this long before now. I didn’t, and I almost lost my chance.” Shane gulped as he glanced at her, those hazel eyes warm beneath his dark lashes.

“Cassie Lovell, you are beautiful in every way. On the inside, the outside, and everywhere in between. If you’ll do me the honor of marrying me, for real this time, I can take you away from here and keep you safe now and forever. Say you’ll be my wife.”

Cassie nodded. “I will,” she cried.

Shane was on his feet again, taking Cassie into his embrace once more. She giggled as he ran the rough scruff of his jaw along her neck, nuzzling into her.

“I thought you said you was already married.” Mike placed his hands on his hips.

“Oh, hush,” Millie scolded him. “Can’t you tell these two are in love?”

“You hush, Millie. I’m the one who’s got to answer for this gal’s whereabouts.” Mike looked at Shane, brows puckered into a frown.

“Sir, you can say I held you up at gunpoint or tied you to that sofa on your porch. And I can do it if needs be. But I won’t be going anywhere without this woman.” 

In minutes flat Cassie’s belongings were stashed back into her suitcase. Cassie secured the zipper, grabbed her medicine cabinet bag, and sighed.

“Cats are in the truck,” Shane said, stepping into the room.

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Shane grabbed her suitcase and led the way down the hall, out of the house, and into a new life. A life they would live together. The thought raised goose bumps on her arms.

From the front drive, Cassie waved at the couple on the porch, thanking them once more as Shane packed her luggage in the truck. Just as she noticed an extra suitcase tucked in back, Cassie was lifted off her feet and into Shane’s strong arms. His mouth was at her ear just as quickly, murmuring words she wanted to hear again and again. “Now let’s go make you my wife.”

~+~

The sun took its final bow for the evening as Shane drove on. And though the sunset had been one of the prettiest he’d seen, he wasn’t sad to see it go. Not when it marked the end of one day, and the start of a new.

Who’d have known it would pay off so nicely to fall for a woman with no real family? No one to notify about a spontaneous wedding to a guy they’d never met. Nobody to stop them. ‘Course they’d do it right eventually, when things were safe once more. But for now, Shane and his new bride were off to stay in a home just outside of Rexburg. Blake and Gavin had set to work on the internet and found Shane a position as foreman over Morgan Ranch. The job included housing that, from what his brothers said, would be similar to the house at Emerson Ranch, minus the seven dwarfs living in the basement.

Shane glanced at his beautiful bride, nestled snuggly up against him on the middle seat. “Mrs. Emerson,” he murmured, squeezing her hand. She gave him a warm smile, along with the flirtatious lift of one brow. His belly warmed in response, his pulse hammering. He pressed the gas pedal with a new sense of urgency, anxious to have her in his arms.

“I love that we’re really married,” Cassie whispered in his ear. “You’re mine. All mine.”

Boy, was that ever true. “When we get back to Montana, we’re going to have to do this right, you know.”

Cassie laughed. “I know.”

“Betty won’t make it too painful. You’ll have Reese picking out your dress, Jade selecting the band, which will probably consist of Gavin, his guitar, and a few of the ranch hands.”

She chuckled and added, “And Blake gracing our presence in his lucky boots.”

“That’s for sure,” Shane said. “’Course Grant will take the microphone and talk about all the hell I raised when I was young, throwing in stories of Blake and Gavin just to keep it interesting.”

Cassie chuckled. “So this family in Rexburg knows we’re coming tonight, right?” she asked as they slowed onto a narrow dirt road.

“That’s right. Here’s the main place – out back is where we’ll stay.” Once the truck rolled to a stop, he opened the door and climbed out, insisting Cassie come along with him. Shane had no intention of leaving Cassie’s side.

After meeting his new employers, signing a few papers, and collecting a small advance, Shane held the keys to their honeymoon getaway, for better or worse. He hoped it was nice inside the modest home. Cassie had refused Shane’s offer to stay at a hotel in town, saying that she just wanted to start their lives together. And she couldn’t imagine a better place to do that than on a ranch.

Two lamp posts lit the small walkway leading to the porch. Shane carried Cassie up the steps, smiling at the way she raved about the sun-paled siding and old, picket fence. She did the same thing inside as well. While Shane brought in the luggage, Cassie wandered from room to room, oh-ing and awe-ing about everything from the old fashioned fireplace to the hardwood floors. By the looks of it, there was a kind team of thoughtful folks nearby who’d done their best to make the place look real nice.