Chapter 22
The crack of a gun sent a slice of fear through Duke’s heart. He ran toward the tree line. “That shot was even closer.”
Lane grunted his agreement and sprinted beside him. “Spencer should be here any minute but get your weapon out.”
Duke reached for his gun, the familiar weight in his hand doing nothing to erase his anxiety that spiraled higher with every step. He hadn’t been sure if his theory was correct until they’d left the hospital and saw streaks of upturned earth leading them to Sky High Point.
Then came the gunshots.
Each blast hit him like a poisoned arrow. Suzy was unarmed, and although feisty, no match against a grown man who’d spent a lifetime riding bulls. If she could stay alive long enough for him to find her, for him to reach her, he’d give his own damn life for her to keep hers.
When he entered the woods, he slowed and listened.
Lane stopped beside him, darting his gaze all around him.
A low cry caught Duke’s attention. He tapped Lane on the shoulder and pointed in the direction the noise had come.
Lane nodded. “I’ll head that way, you circle behind them,” he whispered. “Watch your step and stay hidden. We’ll take him by surprise.”
Duke peeled off, methodically darting between trees as he made his way up the hill.
He stepped over fallen logs and avoided patches of dead leaves.
He wanted his movements stifled, not announced.
Movement forty yards away caught his attention, and he held his breath, afraid even the tiniest shift of wind would give him away.
He continued his path, closing the distance between him and his enemy. At thirty feet, his blood turned cold.
Carl stood over Suzy with a gun pointed at her. Her cries heightened his awareness and demanded he tear Carl’s damn head from his body.
Duke’s finger danced on the trigger. He wanted to shoot, but he couldn’t. Not yet. He had to be one hundred percent certain putting a bullet in Carl wouldn’t result in him taking Suzy’s life.
“I see you,” Carl yelled.
Duke stopped. He swore the bastard could hear his heart beating as it pounded against his chest.
“No use in hiding,” Carl said. “Put your hands up and walk out nice and slow or your sister dies.”
Lane appeared with his hands in the air.
Shit. At least Duke’s presence was still unknown.
“Let her go,” Lane said. “You’re as good as caught. The sheriff’s department is on the way. We have your name, your license plate, and your accomplice. There’s no way for you to get out of this. If you let Suzy go, things will be a lot easier on you.”
Carl chuckled. “You think I went through all of this just to walk away with things left unfinished? You’re dumber than I thought.”
Lane’s hands balled into fists. “You have no problem with her or me. Let us walk away then you get the hell out of here.”
Duke tiptoed down the slope. He kept his weapon up, ready to fire. At twenty-five yards, he had a clear shot, but the gun still pointed at Suzy’s head kept him from taking it.
Lane shifted his attention toward Duke for a fraction of a second then took a step forward. “I won’t let you kill my sister.”
“You don’t have a choice. Just like I didn’t have a choice when your asshole friend stole my entire future. It’s only fair that I take his.”
Lane took another step, and Carl swung the gun in his direction.
That’s all Duke needed. He squeezed the trigger.
Carl screamed and his body jolted forward. Blood soaked the back of his shirt, and he fell to the ground, his weapon still in his hand.
Lane dove for Carl, wrestling for the gun.
Duke sprinted for Suzy. He dropped to his knees and shielded her shaking body with his. “I’ve got you, baby. You’re okay. You’re safe now.”
Another gunshot blasted his nerves. Keeping Suzy safe behind him, he shifted to take another shot, but Carl lay on the ground with Lane above him. Blood dotted Lane’s knuckles.
“Oh God,” Suzy yelled, burying her face in Duke’s neck. “Is it Lane? Who was shot?”
Duke searched for a wound on Lane’s body. “Are you hit? What the hell happened?”
“His gun went off, but nothing hit me,” Lane said, his face ashy and white. “I punched the shit out him. Looks like I knocked him unconscious, but I’ll keep an eye on him until Spencer gets here.”
Hurried footsteps caught Duke’s attention. He jumped to his feet, bringing Suzy with him and keeping her pressed to his body.
Deputy Ramirez emerged from between a cluster of trees. He glanced down at Carl then blew out a long breath. “Spencer and I were on our way to provide back-up and he was shot. He’ll be okay, but he’s pissed and hurting pretty bad.”
Lane scrubbed a hand down his face. “He must have taken that stray bullet. I’ll wait with him until help comes. Duke, you take Suzy back to the hospital. Make sure she’s okay.”
The trust and acceptance of that statement brought unshed tears to his eyes, but he held them back. He framed his hands along Suzy’s jawline, wincing at the dirt and scratches marring her beautiful face. “Did he touch you?”
She shook her head, letting her own tears stream freely over her cheeks. “No. You came just in time. I was so scared.”
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, savoring the feel of every inch of her pressed against him. He kissed the top of her head. “So was I. I didn’t know where you were or if I’d get to you on time. I’m so sorry, baby. So sorry I let him get his hands on you.”
She glanced up at him and brushed her knuckles against his jawline. “You didn’t put me in danger. You saved me. I don’t know what would have happened if…” A sob choked off the rest of her words.
“Shh,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You don’t have to think about the what-ifs. I’ve got you now and I’m never letting you go.”
She grinned. “Never?”
“As long as you let me hold you, you’ll always find a place in my arms.”
She sighed and melted further into his embrace. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. But can you do one thing for me?”
“Name it.”
“Can you take me out of these damn woods?”
In one swift motion he scooped her into his arms and pressed his mouth to hers. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. As long as we can go together. I love you, Suzy. I love you so damn much. I should have told you sooner, but I was an idiot.”
She touched her lips to his. “I love you, too.”
His heart nearly exploded with joy as he carried her out of the woods. She was his and he was hers, and nothing in this world could ever be better than that.
Suzy’s head continued to spin at the weirdness of life. Earlier that morning, she’d been convinced her life would soon be over. That the end was in sight and nothing could save her from the man who wanted her dead.
Now, hours later with the sun setting and the town decked out in holiday cheer, she couldn’t imagine ever being happier.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Duke asked, his arm hooked around her waist.
She smiled and sipped her hot chocolate. “I’ve told you over and over again, I’m fine.”
“Yeah,” Heather said. “We’re all fine and happy and want to experience this tree lighting we’ve heard so much about. Right, Mom?”
Dorthy beamed. After her kidnapping, she was left with a few bruises and trauma to unpack, but Chrissy hadn’t been able to hurt the woman who’d always taken such good care of her. “Right. This is all amazing. If this town was like this all year round, I don’t think I’d ever leave.”
“Duke and I would love that,” Suzy said.
“Nope, not happening. Mom can visit any time she wants, but she has to go back to Texas with me. Trust me, after we’re here another week you’ll be ready to be rid of us.”
“Let’s hope the rest of your visit is less eventful,” Duke said.
Suzy snuggled him close as they continued their walk down the sidewalk toward the town square. She silently agreed with Duke but couldn’t fathom a universe that would create any more chaos for them. Chrissy and Carl had done enough of that to last her a lifetime.
“Hey, there’s Lane and Celine with Parker.” Heather waved her arm over her head to gain their attention.
The little family weaved through the growing crowd to reach them.
“How you holding up?” Lane asked.
She peeled herself from Duke long enough to give her brother a hug. “Like I keep telling Duke, I’m fine. Happy to be here with the people I love the most to see one of my favorite things.”
“Me, too,” Lane said. “It’s been too long since I’ve been here for this.”
She could hear the emotion in his voice but didn’t comment. Lane showing up to be a part of the tree lighting meant more to her than she realized. “Did you bring ornaments?”
“We sure did.” Celine held out a golden bull with the words Baby’s First Christmas scrawled across it. “This is the start of a beautiful tradition. Heather and Dorthy will have to come back every year.”
“We’d love to.” Dorthy gave her daughter a side hug and pinned her close.
“What about you?” Lane asked Duke. “Doing okay?”
Duke grinned down at Suzy and winked. “Never better, but I’m still shaken from all this shit.
I can’t believe Chrissy went through so much trouble to hurt me.
And I never in a million years would think she’d be the one with a change of heart.
Doesn’t mean I’m not happy she’ll be behind bars for a while for the part she played, but without her letting Mom go this whole thing could have ended a lot differently. ”
Suzy wrapped her arms around Duke’s middle. “But it didn’t so there’s no reason to waste our time considering things that didn’t happen. I’m just glad Spencer will be okay. I hate that he was injured.”
Lane grunted. “Damn unlucky the way it happened. He’ll be on desk duty until his leg heals. That’ll drive him crazy.”
Dorthy clapped her hands together and gained their attention.
“Enough talk about the bad things. For the rest of the night, we’ll put that all behind us and focus on the good.
On the community you all have here, and the love that continues to grow.
This is a special place. I’m glad my boy found it, and all of you. Especially you, Suzy.”
“I’m glad he found me, too.”
Duke kissed her forehead. “You just like that I keep pumping you full of chocolate.”
Laughing, she shrugged. “What can I say? You know the way to a girl’s heart.”
The Christmas music piping through speakers on the lamp posts faded, replaced by the crackling of a microphone. “Please make your way to the tree for the annual lighting.”
Suzy tugged on Duke’s hand. “Come on. It’s starting.”
With her hand attached to his, they led the way through the throngs of people until they found a spot where they could all have a good view of tree. Fat snowflakes floated from the sky.
Heather squealed. “Snow! Finally!”
Duke chuckled. “That’s the only thing she wanted to see here. I’m glad she finally got what she came for.”
Tilting her head to the side she studied the strong line of his jaw and gentle slope of his nose under his cowboy hat. “What about you? Did you get what you came here for?”
He ducked his chin to stare into her eyes.
“When I showed up on Lane’s doorstep, I didn’t know what I wanted.
What I needed. Instinct and a desire to outrun my past carried me to Wyoming.
But the second I laid eyes on you, everything changed.
My reason for being became clear. You brought me to Hillmore.
Your spirit led me here, and your heart is what kept me.
I came here seeking peace and what I found is so much more. I found love. I found you.”
Rising on her toes, she circled her arms around his neck and kissed him deep and hard. Happiness filled her entire being as love for this man grew by the second.
A countdown began around them, people cheering and chanting as the number shrank.
She broke the kiss but kept her face close to his as the crowd yelled one and the lights blazed on the green branches. A gasp caught in her throat the way it always did when the tree sprang to life. “It’s so beautiful.”
“The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
She faced Duke, and the look in his eyes told her he wasn’t talking about the tree.
But neither was she, or at least not only the tree. It was the town and the people in it, the family who stood beside her in the moment that made her world look so darn good.
And it was the man in front of her. He didn’t complete her life, but he made it a heck of a lot fuller and filled it with so much joy.
“I love you, cowboy.”
He tipped the brim of his hat. “Darn tootin, ya do.”
She threw her head back and laughed. Life alongside Duke would never be boring and it’d always be filled with laughter and love.