Chapter 23
Standing beside the ambulance, Silver clutched around her shoulders the blanket that one of the EMTs had given.
The older man and the young woman who was his assistant had both been so kind to her.
They’d cleaned her cuts and abrasions and had even assessed her for any broader injuries as best they could.
She was feeling better now that she had bandages on the worst of her wounds, which hadn’t been all that many considering it could have been so much worse with broken bones, a concussion, or internal bleeding.
The burlap sack had actually protected her face during the roll on the gravel before she’d shaken it off.
They’d told her she would probably have a lot of bruising and be sore but that they didn’t think she would suffer beyond that. Of course, they still wanted to drive her to the hospital in Colorado Springs just to make sure she was okay and that they hadn’t missed anything.
But the truth was, she was ready to leave and go home to her own ranch. Now that they’d arrested the two brothers, the police in Boulder had also been alerted and were on their way to arrest Paula.
Silver had been more than a little surprised to discover Paula was the one who had been involved in the stalking, especially since she’d always been so friendly and sweet. Of course, Silver hadn’t known the housekeeper for long, so it was possible the woman had been putting on an act.
That thought left Silver quaking inside, along with the realization that she might be a poor judge of character and too naive.
She didn’t want to change her positive outlook on life and people—wasn’t sure she could since that was her nature.
However, she had to learn to be more discerning so that something like this didn’t happen again.
Hopefully, Dustin and Isaac and the police would get to the bottom of Paula’s involvement along with that of her two sons.
Silver slid a sideways look in the direction of one of the police cars, where Dustin stood talking with Isaac and several police officers. The two stalkers were handcuffed and locked away in the back of one of the vehicles. Thankfully, they were no longer a threat.
Dustin had his arms crossed, his feet spread, and his gun holstered out in the open.
He looked every bit like a bodyguard in this moment—tough, imposing, and dangerous.
He was so gorgeous with his strong features so grave, his eyes dark and brooding, his mouth pressed in a firm line.
She didn’t want to admire him, wanted to despise him, but she couldn’t.
He darted a glance her way, as if he sensed her attention on him.
She peered down at her phone. She’d contacted Franklin shortly after Dustin and Isaac had arrived and had explained the whole incident. He was on his way by helicopter and was almost there, having gotten the coordinates of their location from one of the policemen.
His last text had said he would be arriving in about ten minutes, maybe less. She had no doubt he would be relieved the whole incident was over.
Although every moment had been dangerous and scary, she was proud of Dustin for how quickly he’d found her and how powerfully he’d taken down her abductors.
He’d charged toward them without any hesitation, putting his own life in danger.
He’d been swift and brutal in his kicking, disarming them and freeing her all in one move.
“Time to go to the hospital.” Dustin’s voice rumbled beside her.
She startled at his nearness but kept her focus on her phone. “I’m not going to the hospital.”
“You need to be checked over.”
“These nice EMTs have checked me over already.” She smiled at the older man and his assistant.
They were both watching Dustin with awe-filled eyes, probably because they were local and knew all about him and his valor.
“I’d like a doctor to assess you.” Dustin’s voice dropped lower and was filled with concern.
For a reason she couldn’t explain, his concern stirred frustration inside her. “I’m okay.” She tried to keep her voice cheerful, but it felt strained. “Really. I have just a few scrapes and bruises.”
“C’mon, Silver. You jumped from a moving car.”
She glanced at their small audience again. She wanted to tell Dustin to stop acting like he cared about her when he’d made it clear earlier that she didn’t mean anything to him. But she couldn’t say that here in front of everyone.
A text pinged on her phone at the same time that she noticed the sound of an incoming helicopter. It was probably Franklin telling her he was here.
She took hold of Dustin’s arm and guided him a few paces away from the others.
Then she let go of him and faced him, lifting her chin and giving him what she hoped was her most severe look.
“Listen, Dustin. I appreciate all that you did for me tonight. If not for you realizing I was gone and chasing after me so quickly, who knows what may have happened? So thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving me.”
“If not for my foolishness, you wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped at all.”
“Foolishness? What foolishness?” Once the words were out, she wished she could take them back. He was referring to their earlier conversation about how he’d turned into a weak, simpering man when he was guarding her.
His expression remained taut, his eyes dark and probing.
“Never mind.” She straightened her shoulders. The air around them was swirling now as the helicopter began to descend. “You don’t need to explain anything. I already know what you’re referring to, and I’m sorry you think caring about me is foolish.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant.” She had to talk louder over the whirring wings. “I’m sorry you think loving someone makes you weak. Maybe someday you’ll realize that loving someone actually takes courage and strength.”
His brows furrowed, but he didn’t respond.
“Yes, Dustin,” she continued. “I hope you find a woman who’s worth fighting for and loving in spite of all the obstacles and hardships. I want that for you. But I’ve realized I’m not that woman.”
To her side, she could see the helicopter landing, its lights flashing brightly. She was more than ready to leave behind the hurt that was squeezing her heart extra hard at the moment.
“Silver!” At the shout of her name, she turned to see Franklin in a tailored business suit, descending from the helicopter.
As he raced forward with his long, purposeful stride, she started toward him.
She wanted to dash, but she was still shoeless, and the ground was covered in dry grass and small stones.
In only a few seconds, he was standing before her. She flung herself into his arms, needing someone to comfort and support her. She’d wanted that person to be Dustin, but he hadn’t offered it. Instead, he was only pushing her away all the more.
Tears began to come, and in an instant, she found herself sobbing in Franklin’s arms. Everything she’d just experienced was overwhelming, and she couldn’t hold back the pressure from it any longer.
She knew, too, that she was crying over her sorrow from losing Dustin so thoroughly. If she’d held out any hope after their disagreement earlier in the evening, she snuffed it out now that she knew he thought he was foolish for allowing himself to care about her.
Maybe his rejection wouldn’t have hurt so much if she hadn’t already fallen in love with him again.
But she had. She hadn’t held anything back but had plunged into loving him as easily as if they’d never been apart.
In fact, there were even more things she loved about him this time than when they’d been kids.
He’d grown up to be a wonderful man, so wonderful.
“Hey, now.” Franklin patted her back. “Everything’s going to be just fine. You’re all right.”
She knew she should believe Franklin. A part of her did.
But another part of her couldn’t imagine a future without Dustin in it.
She would miss him, and it would probably take her a long time to be interested in other men again.
Maybe she never would find someone else she cared about as much.
But that was okay. She had her ranch and the horse therapy and helping people.
She still had her plans to expand the facility. Those were the things that mattered.
Franklin pulled back just a little and wiped her cheeks with his fingertips. “You’ll be safe and happy now. I promise.”
If only he could really promise her that.
He held her at arm’s length and smiled down at her. In the next instant, however, his gaze narrowed on something behind her, and his jaw hardened.
“Franklin,” came Dustin’s voice. “Good to see you.”
Franklin gently set Silver aside. Then before she knew what was happening, he threw a punch into Dustin’s face, smacking him on the nose.
Dustin didn’t move even a fraction of an inch. His face was impassive, unreadable, and he stiffened his shoulders as if he was waiting for a second hit.
Franklin raised his fist to oblige Dustin.
“Stop.” Silver latched onto her cousin’s arm. “I don’t understand why you’re hitting Dustin when he saved my life.”
“You want to know why?” Franklin didn’t fight against Silver’s hold, but he continued to glare at Dustin. “He let you get kidnapped.”
“I let myself get kidnapped by walking into the changing room even though Dustin told me not to go in, that he wanted to return to the cabin.”
“Is that right?” Franklin leveled the question at Dustin.
“It doesn’t matter.” Dustin’s voice was hard. “I should have been more careful.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“I blame myself for everything that happened.”
“As you should.”
She couldn’t keep from shuddering—from the cold air the helicopter was stirring or from Dustin’s coldness, she didn’t know.
Franklin adjusted the blanket around her. “Let’s get you home.”
Dustin took a small step forward. “She needs to be seen by a doctor.”
She leaned into Franklin. “Please just take me back to the ranch.”
Franklin hesitated.
“You can call my physician once I’m home if you really think it’s necessary, and she’ll come out to the ranch to see me.”
“Okay.” Franklin began to guide her to the helicopter but then glanced over his shoulder at Dustin, who was standing where they’d left him, watching them. “By the way, you don’t get the bonus.”
Dustin didn’t even blink. “I wouldn’t take it now even if you offered it.”
“Good.”
Silver stumbled beside her cousin. “What bonus?”
He halted and frowned down at her bare feet. Then he swept her up and began to carry her.
“Tell me about the bonus,” she insisted. Even though she was grateful for Franklin and his assistance, she was too curious to drop the matter.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Tell me.”
He didn’t speak for several heartbeats but obviously realized she wouldn’t let him get away with keeping this from her. “I offered Killian and Associates a bonus if Dustin came. A large bonus.”
So that’s why Dustin had come. She’d hoped in some small way it had been because he’d wanted to be near her.
But she couldn’t keep deluding herself into thinking he was interested in her in any way.
Regardless, if Franklin had promised a bonus to Dustin and his agency, then they needed to give it to him.
Franklin reached the helicopter.
She patted his cheek. “I want you to give them the bonus.”
“I hired him because he was supposedly the best.” He began to lower her into the seat. “If he’d been the best, he wouldn’t have let you get kidnapped.”
She settled into her place and reached for a headset. “He did an excellent job under the circumstances.”
“You heard him.” Franklin climbed past her and took the other seat. “He doesn’t want the bonus.”
“Send it to the agency anyway. They can determine what to do with it.” Dustin was a man of integrity, and he wouldn’t take a bonus he didn’t feel he’d earned. But he had to know she wouldn’t withhold a bonus he’d been promised.
Giving to the protection agency was a good cause because she would be helping others who might be in a situation like hers, who were being unfairly targeted. Hopefully, the bonus would improve the security efforts and make people safer in the process.
As the helicopter began to lift, Silver couldn’t keep her gaze from straying to Dustin.
He was still in the same spot and was watching her fly away.
The lights from all the vehicles seemed to be shining right on him.
His shoulders were slumped and his hands stuffed into his pockets.
His expression held sorrow—at her leaving or at himself for his perceived weakness?
She wasn’t sure. Whatever the case, she was riding out of his life tonight, and she knew this had to be the last time she ever looked at him.
She didn’t want to memorize him, but she found herself taking in his buff shoulders, thick arms, strong legs, and his handsome face. He was a good man. But he wasn’t the man for her, and it was time to let go of him once and for all.