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Authors: J.C. Isabella

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BOOK: Praying for Daylight
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He crossed his arms, “And I think it’s time I planted my feet for once, and not give into what you say.”

“Why are you being like this?” I stomped toward him, punching his arm. He didn’t flinch and rolled his eyes as if it didn’t even hurt. The guy was like a brick wall. “I can take care of myself!”

“Now see, that’s where you’re wrong.” He smiled like a devil. “You look wrung out. Frazzled. Tired. Upset. You’re jumpy. I could keep listing every little thing I see, but it’ll just piss you off more. So out with it honey, what the hell are you doing back in McCree?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

He waited, very patiently, going back to the stool and making himself comfortable.

“I’m worn out.” It was the truth. Not the whole one, but hopefully he bought it. “Being on the road, having people screaming at me…I just needed a break. I’m not used to it yet, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.”

He inclined his head, and I felt my hope soar. He believed me. He had to. “Right, and self-imposed isolation is the cure all?”

And he thought I was the stubborn one?

Damn him.

Damn Ellie.

Why did they have to care about me so much after I left them? I thought they’d hate me and leave me alone. Not show up trying to take care of me because they were worried.

I clasped my hands tight in front of me, taking a deep breath. “Okay, that’s not all of it. I have a…” I didn’t want to say murderous stalker. “I have an…overzealous fan. Someone just a teeny bit obsessed with me. And it spooked me a bit, so I came here.”

I waited, thinking he’d laugh or something, or tell me that he didn’t believe me again. But he merely nodded, and stood. Then to my shock he pulled me into a crushing hug. I couldn’t breathe.

He let me go and stepped back. “Here I was worried it was something really bad.”

I shrugged, hating that I’d lied to him. “It’s not. Just a little creepy.”

He smiled, “Well, no creepy fans here. Just your friends that care about you. So stay as long as you need, Katie. We won’t tell anyone you’re here.”

I handed him his cowboy hat and followed him to the front door. He stopped, looking down at me as if he wanted to say something else, but he just smiled, shook his head, and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

I hung onto the doorknob, watching him walk across the yard to his truck. He climbed in with a wave, and disappeared down the drive.

My eyes brimmed with tears. I locked myself in the house, feeling empty and alone, wishing he could have stayed longer. Part of me wished I’d been more honest.

I closed my eyes, praying that nothing bad happened here. And hoped that there was hope for us.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dustin

 

“Shit.” I kicked the tire of my truck and got in, thinking I was the biggest sissy in the county. I’ve kissed plenty of girls. But Kate? I froze. I was scared to death. She was pretty, and smart, and so ready for me to kiss her. But I lost my nerve and pecked her cheek.

I stared back at the house knowing I wasn’t going to sleep. I’d be kicking myself all night because I didn’t man up and kiss the girl.

I started the truck and drove down the driveway, but halfway down I was hitting the breaks. Man, something felt wrong, just leaving her like that. It was like I couldn’t make myself drive any further.

I backed the truck up the drive and sat staring at her house for the next five minutes. Just walk up to the door and knock. That’s all I had to. She’d answer, and I’d tell her I forgot something. Then I’d kiss her.

She’d either slap me or drag me into the house.

I was hoping it was the latter.

The lights were off downstairs now. And I watched a light come on in a room on the second floor. I smiled and waved out the truck window as Kate walked over to the window and pushed it open, no doubt to enjoy the cool breeze. She didn’t see me though.

Now, if I was using my brain, I’d go to the front door and knock. I’d pull Kate out on to the front porch and kiss her.

I grinned, staring up at the second floor window.

Climbing up to surprise her would be much more impressive.

I left my truck and walked up to the side of the house. The drainpipe was nice and sturdy, and I didn’t think it would bust under my weight. I gripped the pipe and started my climb to the second story window.

Now, this was romantic. If only I had a rose or some wildflowers. Then she’d really be impressed. Still, my stunt was pretty impressive. I was confident I’d get that goodnight kiss I was after.

The pipe started to creak as I got halfway up, then my boots slipped. I caught myself on the wood siding, and felt the rough edge dig into my palm. Damn it, my Romeo routine was going south. I gripped the sill and pushed up into the opening, just happy I’d made it in one piece.

I shut my eyes when I heard the shower running.

On second thought, this wasn’t cool or even romantic.

It was creepy.

Kate shrieked, and I knew I’d screwed up. “Dustin!”

“Hi…” That was it? Hi? What was wrong with me?

“You big idiot.”

Yeah, I agreed with her there. “Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking.”

She grabbed my arm, and I thought maybe she’d push me out, but she tugged me inside and I landed on the floor in a heap with a thud. “Why is there blood on the window?”

I held up my hand and smiled, still keeping my eyes closed. “Cut it on the house. You’ve got a rough patch of wood.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you climbed into my bedroom. And why are you keeping your eyes shut?”

“I heard the shower running.” I stood, “And I wanted to kiss you goodnight.”

“Open your eyes, that was the sink. I was brushing my teeth.”

I cracked my eyes open to find she was still dressed. “I should have kissed you. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight unless I gave you exactly what you wanted.”

She gaped at me. “And you think I wanted you to kiss me?”

“Yes,” I lowered my voice and stepped closer. “You’ve wanted me to kiss you since I showed up on the porch.”

“Yeah,” she laughed. “I’m thinking you wanted to kiss me more.”

“Why?” I was saying it all wrong. I bit the inside of my mouth. What the hell was wrong with me? It was like one look at her fried my brain.

“I’m not the one who climbed up a drainpipe.” She shook her head, “But you’re right. I’ve wanted to kiss you.”

“So kiss me,” I grinned, moving closer.

She eyed me with a smirk. “You came up here to kiss me, remember?”

“I think this activity takes two willing parties.” I leaned in, “You willing?”

“She planted her hand in the center of my chest and pushed me back. “How about we fix your hand, and then we’ll just let it happen naturally.”

I sat on the bed with a grunt, and watched her get a washcloth from the bathroom and wet it. “I thought I was being…I don’t know, romantic or something.”

“Dustin,” she smiled as she came back and sat beside me, cleaning my cut gently. “That was really sweet.”

I felt my chest puff up. “Thanks.”

“Uh…”

“What?”

“Did you realize you ripped your pants?”

***

“An overzealous fan?” Chase gave his gray horse, Ash, a pat and leaned around to look back at me, confused. “Isn’t that what she has bodyguards for?”

I nodded, tipping my hat back to watch the cattle. We were herding them toward a new pasture for grazing. “My mamma has magazines about celebrities, and none of them hightail it when they have someone obsessed with them. That’s good publicity.”

“Sounds like Kate isn’t being truthful.” Chase whistled at one of the cattle dogs, “Knock it off, Stinker.”

With my grandfather still recovering from a car accident he had last summer, and being short a couple men after two of our hired hands quit, Chase had offered to help me on a short cattle drive. We were taking them from the south pasture, up to the north, where the grass was ready to be grazed.

“I don’t even know her, and I knew she was hiding something.” Briar rode Ruby up beside me and smiled. “She’s bad at acting.”

I laughed, “Yeah, that’s for sure. She thinks she’s got us all fooled.”

“So what happened to your hand?” She asked, looking at the gauze wrapped around my palm.

I shrugged, “Cut it. No big deal.”

I wasn’t going to tell a soul what had happened last night. I got a kiss from Kate, but it took ripped pants, a cut on the hand, and a very bruised ego to get it.

It was the most satisfying work I’d ever done for a kiss.

And without a doubt the most embarrassing.

“Hey, how do you feel about a camping trip?” Chase asked, changing the subject, thank God.

“Yeah, that’d be nice,” I said, wondering if I could take Kate with us. She could probably use some time out with people. She was shut in the house most of the week, and only emerged to see me or Ellie.

“We could invite Kate,” Briar said what I was thinking. “And maybe she’ll slip up and say why she’s really here.”

Chase grinned, “That’s a great idea.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” I said, already planning how things would go. “How does Rocky Point sound?”

“I’m more a fan of Amber Valley,” Briar grimaced. She didn’t have to say anything else. Rocky Point was, well, rocky. It would be hard to get the horses up to the campsite. We’d need to hike part of the way.

“Okay, Amber Valley it is,” I nodded, and Chase gave a nod too. It was mostly flat, wooded, and would be ideal for a campout with the girls.

Once the cattle were settled in the pasture, we rode back toward the house. Briar was chatty the whole way, wondering what she should pack for her second camping trip. I offered a few suggestions, but she didn’t seem to think a shot gun and thermal underwear were key items. Chase would have it covered though.

We left the horses in the yard, knowing we’d be back out in a short time, and went into the house to find my mother with a pile of sandwiches. My grandfather, who everyone called Pap, was sitting at the dining room table, as sour as ever. No doubt wishing he could get on a horse and be a part of the day’s work.

“Where’s your daddy?”

I sat at the table, grabbing a big sandwich with a thank you to my mother. “Not sure.”

Pap slouched in his chair, “Does everything wrong. Can’t do nothing the way I like. Should have left the ranch to his brother.”

My eyebrows went up, and the room got quiet. Chase glanced at me, confused. I looked back at my mother, only to find her staring dumbly at my grandfather.

“Pap,” my mom wiped her hands on her apron and slowly came toward the table, “You do remember that William refused?”

“Oh, I remember.” His brow furrowed, “What sane man leaves all of this, for singing on Broadway?”

“Kate Kelly left to be a country singer…” Briar added.

“She’s a she,” Pap nodded, grabbing a sandwich.

“Are you saying men can’t sing?” I asked, wondering when he’d leave my uncle alone for his choice of lifestyle. Probably never. This was one old goat that didn’t have any interest in keeping up with the times.

“I’m saying he should be doing a man’s job.” Pap thumped his cane and stood, limping for the backdoor. He’d find someone else to bother now.

“Okay, well next time you turn on those soap operas you pretend to hate, just think about how you should be watching a man’s show,” my mother snorted when the screen door slammed behind him. “If Will ever brings that new husband of his to the ranch, Pap will up and die of shock, and I won’t shed a tear.”

Briar laughed, “He watches soaps?”

“Yep, records them too.” I bit into my sandwich. “He acts like the TV is on the fritz, recording things it shouldn’t.”

“Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Briar said. “I bet if he went to see one of Will’s shows, he’d love it, and never admit it. You know, next time Grandma comes to town, I should introduce them.”

Chase coughed. “I’m not sure that would be a good idea.”

“No, it’s a great idea.” My mother smiled, taking a seat with us at the table. “Your grandmother would drive him up the wall. And I’m thinking he’d love every minute of it.”

Briar smirked. “You’re in luck, Mrs. O’Brian. Grandma is coming for Easter. I think she’s going to bring Grandpa too.”

“Lord save us,” I laughed.

CHAPTER NINE

Kate

 

I’d taken to walking for long periods, following a trail out behind the house that wound down by the creek. If I followed it far enough, I’d end up on Chase McCree’s property.

I didn’t usually go wandering onto other people’s land, but today I was in a melancholy sort of mood, just letting my feet lead, and not really thinking about where I was going. I’d deal with it when I got there.

The weather was crisp and cool. A light snow hugged the ground and trees. My boots crunched the earth, the sound seemed deafening in the quiet outdoors. I hadn’t walked this far in so long that by the time the red barn of Chase’s property came into view, I was out of breath from climbing a hill, and feeling uncomfortably warm in my jacket.

I ended up taking it off, tying it around my waist, and leaving me wearing a sweater that would hold up until I got to Chase’s house.

I had no clue what brought me here, and no clue why I didn’t turn back. Someone would recognize me. If Millie saw me, news of my return would be all over town by sundown.

But maybe I was okay with that. Maybe I wanted it. I was so sick of hiding. It’d been a month of almost complete solitude, other than the occasional visits from my friends. I wanted to go into town dressed normally and talk to people. Just be myself. I didn’t want to be dark and unapproachable. And I never wanted to wear another wig ever again.

When I reached the edge of the massive yard, I stayed behind a cluster of trees. The house was close, I could see Millie in the kitchen window, and her ornery cat was lounging on the porch. That cat didn’t like me or Chase for some reason.

I almost stepped out from behind the trees, thinking I’d visit with Briar and get to know her better when some voices stopped me.

Jerry, Chase, and a few of their other ranch hands were walking through the yard.

BOOK: Praying for Daylight
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