40
H eather had known the shooting, the different targets, and different weapons was going somewhere, what she hadn’t been prepared for was for Aaron to ask her to carry. Could she? Yeah. Did she want to? Not really. Not all the time, long term at least. But now that she was thinking about it, it made sense. Even the whole different targets with each shot practice that Aaron had asked her to do made sense if she was looking at things from a protection point of view. Who knew how many people would come after her if they wanted the reward? And though she hadn’t asked, because she didn’t want to know, the reward had to be sizable enough Aaron and Matt thought people would try to take her back to Alabama to collect it.
She still didn’t want to think about that. But she had to. It was either that or actually go back and deal with the assholes in Alabama. She didn’t want to do that. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to go back at all anymore, at least not to stay. Sure, she’d go see her parents, but did she want to live down there? Especially now that she’d seen the beauty up here and found Aaron again?
Was she moving too fast in thinking Aaron wanted her around long term? What they had was good, but he hadn’t said anything about anything more long term than getting the jerks from Alabama off her trail. What if that was all he wanted? Did she want to establish a life up here, only to end up going separate ways then having to see him with someone else?
The truck pulled to a stop, making Heather look up she realized they were back to where they’d started out and Aaron had parked the truck where it had been when they’d gotten into it to go shooting. And she still hadn’t decided anything.
On either side of her, both men opened their doors and slid out. She sat for a moment, debating what to do, then mind still unmade she slid out Aaron’s side and got out. Why did everything seem so hard? Why couldn’t life be easier? She needed a few minutes to herself.
“Is lunch ready?” she asked, still thinking about how to get even a few minutes to herself.
“I don’t think so,” Jake said after a moment. “I’m not smelling anything, but we can go check, and if you’re not ready to eat yet, I’m sure it will hold. Is there something you’re wanting to do?”
“I was thinking about a short walk if I have time. I won’t go far, and I’ll stay on the road.”
“Sure, I’ll take you,” he said.
“No.” She set a hand on his chest. “I want a few minutes to myself. I promise I won’t go far.”
He took a deep breath and met her gaze for a moment.
“Go ahead, I’ll see you soon,” he said.
The way he kissed her forehead before she walked away sent tendrils of heat swirling through her belly. She enjoyed the way he treated her like she was something special. Like he wanted her around and wanted to make sure she was safe, but he also didn’t try to take away her choice. Like he wanted her to want to be there.
Heather found herself smiling to herself as she started down the road that led out to the highway. Her mind drifted to what he’d asked on the drive back from the range. Could she carry a weapon all the time? She could admit to herself that she was torn about the idea.
Not because she didn’t think she could use it. If she felt threatened, she had no doubt she would use it. She’d had to use her pistol on snakes before and more than one animal that was suffering and couldn’t be saved. Sometimes having to put animals down, or help do it, was part of her job. One that always broke her heart, but she knew she helped far more than she couldn’t. And ending suffering was helping too, even if it didn’t seem like it at the time.
What had her concerned about carrying all the time was the idea of people who would be scared. People who would confront her and demand to know who she thought she was, a gunslinger from the old west or something? While that would be embarrassing, there was always that one extremist who thought they were hot shit and that no one should be allowed to have a gasp gun, and then try to take it away. Those were the ones that worried her.
Maybe she should bring these concerns to Aaron. He knew the area better. He would know if something like that was likely around here.
She looked up and saw a plume of dust approaching. Had someone left earlier and now was on their way back? Was that why lunch wasn’t ready when they’d arrived. After Matt had arrived yesterday, she’d heard they had sensors or a camera or something at the front gate and knew when someone came in. Whoever this was must be expected, or they would be ready to stop them. She continued walking, expecting they’d pass her and continue on to the ranch house.
An older model pick up came into view, but it wasn’t one she recognized.
She frowned as the truck rolled to a stop a few feet from where she’d stopped to watch it, and driver’s window lowered.
“Damn. I never expected you to make it this easy.”
“What?” She wanted to ask more but both front doors opened, both men got out. She stepped backwards, wanting to put some distance between them but not wanting to turn her back on them.
“I know someone looking for you, sweetheart, and they’re about to make this real worth my while,” the driver said as he continued to approach.
She wished now she’d told Aaron yes and that she was carrying one of the pistols. She’d even take Matt’s, despite how heavy it had been.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She stepped back again. But her foot hit a rock, her ankle rolled, and she fell. The last thing she remembered was both men rushing toward her then the world went dark.