Courage To Follow (Cowboys of Courage 1)

by Charlene Bright

  “How can you say that? When you know that I can’t figure out what to do, how can you make that promise?”

  Now he drew her into his arms, as sure as he could get of what he needed. “I’m convinced, Shakota. I know that your spirit is connected to mine, and I couldn’t ever break that bond. I couldn’t betray it with someone else. So, if your spirit is telling you to stay on the reservation, I’ll wait here, and we can see each other whenever. I’m connected to you, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise.”

  She searched his face, apparently trying to find a sign of uncertainty or deception, but he knew she wouldn’t find any. “I love you, Garrett Woodward. I know our spirits are kindred, but that’s not the only reason I want to be with you.” She sniffled, though no tears fell. “We haven’t known each other long, but two people couldn’t be thrown into a more intimate situation. I fell in love with you almost the moment we met, and it’s only grown since then.”

  Garrett couldn’t believe she’d said it, and it hit him square in the chest with the force of a bullet. He couldn’t breathe for a moment as his own emotions raged out of control, and he had to sort through them before he could speak. “I’m in love with you, too, so even if I think you’re crazy, I can’t cast stones.”

  She squeezed him tight, burying her face in his chest, and he held her for a long time, resting his chin on her head. When she finally pulled back and gazed up at him again, she said, “We should eat, and then, I want to go out to the woods for a bit. A little alone time.”

  He understood. When he was indecisive and needed to do some soul searching, he either went to the family cemetery he’d built or into the edge of the woods, to the creek that was nearby. “Of course.” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder. “The burgers are done, so let’s eat.”

  Chapter 20

  With Garrett being so open and understanding, Shakota didn’t feel so strange about taking this time to assess her needs. At least she would be alone, which meant she didn’t have to worry about Garrett or anyone else thinking she was crazy for talking to herself or humming a tune.

  Tonight, though, as the sun faded purple and pink on the horizon, neither was going to suit her purposes. She needed to call on Mother Nature. She found the tiny stream Garrett had mentioned, and a suitable tree, and sat on the ground, testing the water with her toe as she leaned back against the rough bark.

  It was frigid, and she couldn’t walk in it, so she contented herself with the sound of it bubbling by. This place, the woods and the ranch, was just as peaceful as the reservation, if not more so. Here, she didn’t have to prove herself every second of every day just to be accepted. She had a wonderful, attractive man with a good heart who loved her and understood that the spirit guided everyone. He believed, and they were kindred.

  Here, she had so much to learn. She could bring her culture, and Garrett would never fault her for being different than the rest of society in her beliefs. Should they have children, she could imagine he would agree to teach them both ways of life so they were balanced. She could grow accustomed to socializing, perhaps even offering some assistance to Chrissy with her children or others who needed someone to back them up from time to time. After all, Garrett did the same from what she’d heard.

  Staying here had so much to offer, but two questions remained: could stand to leave behind the life she’d created on the reservation and would she be cutting her connection with her mother and the spirit of her father? She also hated the idea of appearing to run away, which is what so many would accuse her of. And disappointment wasn’t her strong suit, either. Her mother would be disappointed, thinking she’d given up, and she was afraid her chief would think the same. Of course, since Solid Fist knew Garrett, maybe he would be more understanding.

  A whisper of wind caught her hair in much the same way Garrett tended to do; it brushed the locks behind her ear. It brought back a memory from childhood, of her father tucking her into bed. He would blow at her ear, pushing the hair away from it, and then he would run a single finger over her cheek and tuck the hair back. “Be sure your ears are always uncovered so you can hear when I call you, my child,” he would tell her every night as he kissed her cheek.

  Shakota frowned as a crosswind did the same to the other side of her face, and in the back of her head, she heard the softest whisper, so quiet and ghostly she couldn’t be sure she hadn’t imagined it. I am where you are.

  “Father?” she asked aloud, and again, the breeze kicked up, feeling like a brush of lips against her cheek. She touched the spot, and rather than feeling cold like the brisk wind, it was warm. Perhaps she imagined all of it, but whether real or not, she had her answer.

  Now she sang, a song of mourning and farewell the Crow Nation often sang when sending warriors off to battle in their past. She would make a trip back to the reservation, pack her things, and say her farewells. She wouldn’t stay away; there were too many there she considered family and would visit, but the reservation was no longer her home.

  Her spirit yearned to be where her kindred was, and that was here, with Garrett. She had to make this change or her own spirit would mourn, and she knew that, despite his willingness to let her go, Garrett’s would as well. If she was meant to go, her mother would be happy for her, and so would the rest of the ones she cared for who cared for her, too.

  Gathering herself, she slowly made her way back to the cabin, finding Garrett sitting rigidly on the couch, not really paying attention to what was playing on the television. Diablo lay across his feet, and as she sat next to him and leaned into his side, Garrett relaxed and wrapped an arm around her. With the same easy welcome, Diablo licked her feet and settled back down. Tonight, they wouldn’t talk about it anymore. They would let the turmoil of the last two days dissipate.

  Tomorrow morning, they would go into town, and they would give their statements. Then, Shakota would tell Garrett her decision and hopefully he would accept it.

  Chapter 21

  “Hoyt’s trying to claim you kidnapped both of them,” Leland said with a derisive snort. “He claims you found all this information and planned to make it look like he’d committed suicide out of guilt.”

  Garrett laughed in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Well, you and I both know that. Apparently, spending time with his partner in crime killed half of Hoyt’s brain cells.” Leland sat forward and looked at Shakota. “We took a look at the tracks you found leading off Garrett’s property before the snow started to fall, and I have to say, you’ve got a good eye.”

  Shakota nodded with a smirk. “I should hope so, considering my training, but thank you.” Garrett loved her response.

  Leland nodded and told them, “We got a statement from the store clerk with a positive ID on both men, and the weapons in the trailer are being catalogued. We’re also checking into the statute of limitations on the old trafficking charges to bring against Hoyt. Obviously, there is no limit on prosecution related to murder, so he’d be tried for accessory and possibly conspiracy. I’m waiting to hear from the DA on all that. But charges against you were never filed and won’t be. The badge is yours, whether you want it or not, and if you don’t, we’ll start looking for someone else.”

  Garrett wasn’t sure. After all, a man he’d trusted had been one of the most corrupt people he knew. Who knew what other sort of person would come in and take over the office? He hated the idea of police work, but he trusted himself over anyone else. “I’ll have to think about that, bud. For now, I’m happy to fill in, and we’ll leave it at that.” Maybe, somewhere down the road, Leland would be ready to take over. They weren’t the best of friends, but now Garrett knew he could trust the man.

  “Whatever you say, boss,” Leland replied, no longer sounding hateful but teasing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Garrett grunted and shook his hand, guiding Shakota out of the building with a hand at the small of her back. He couldn’t think of any way
to delay her trip back to the reservation, having finished their business, and in yet another desperate attempt to get just another few minutes, he asked, “You want some coffee at the diner before we go back up the mountain?”

  She shook her head, looking apologetic. “If I’m going to make this trip, I need to get on the road. I have a lot of things to take care of, and I’d like to get it all done in time to be back late tonight.”

  Garrett frowned at her, confused. “What are you talking about? I thought you were already packed and ready to go. What else do you need?”

  She stopped walking and turned to him, taking his hands in hers. “I don’t mean back to the reservation by late tonight. I mean I want to get to the reservation early so I can resolve all my business there and be back here late tonight. That is, if you want me back.”

  Garrett was happy to have her as long as she wanted to stay, and the idea of having her back tonight made him exuberant. “Well, of course I want you here, as much as possible. How long were you going to stay?” He could come back to town, stock up on supplies, and have them settled so they didn’t have to leave the cabin for at least a week, if not more.

  She pretended like she was thinking about it, and then she said, “You know, I don’t know how long I’ll live, so I can’t give you an exact time frame, but I think I have at least a good fifty or sixty years left in me, if that’s acceptable.”

  The surge of excitement that coursed through his body nearly stopped his heart, and he wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “I thought you were going back to the reservation.”

  She shook her head. “No, Garrett, my spirit belongs with its kindred, and that’s you. I couldn’t be apart from you like that, and I know now that anything I need on the reservation can come with me. I love you, and I want to be with you.”

  He didn’t have the words, and despite the snow beginning to fall harder and faster, he pulled her against him and kissed her with all the acceptance and joy he had in his heart. She melted against him, and it took every bit of strength he had to let go of her. “Okay, the sooner you’re on the road, the sooner I get you back. Let’s get up there and put the chains on your tires.”

  She laughed, and Garrett knew he was acting like a little boy, but he didn’t care. His life had turned upside down less than a week ago, but it seemed like he’d needed the upset to find his place in this world. He wasn’t meant to be alone. He needed Shakota in his life. And he’d gone through the academy for a reason. His integrity surpassed that of the average human, and with Shakota to help him on the ranch, he could handle playing sheriff for a while. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about corruption of the office while he was in charge.

  He had only one regret, and that was his parents not getting to meet Shakota. But he had a feeling, from the way she talked about her father watching over her, they knew he’d found the love of his life and would be okay because he’d found the courage to believe--to believe the spirit guides your heart exactly where you should be. It gave him closure on the hardest chapter of his life, and now he was ready to move on to a happier one.

  ~ The End ~

  I do hope you enjoyed Garrett and Shakota’s story. If so, I’d like to ask you to take three. Take three minutes to do three things:

  Please leave a review. Oftentimes, purchasing decisions are based on other reader’s reviews.

  Please follow me on my blog and Facebook. This way you’ll be the first to know when a new book comes out.

  Please give book two a try: the story of Lucas and Gillian. I’m including the book blurb for you.

  ~Enjoy and thanks again, Charlene

  Courage to Believe

  He just wanted to make a living...

  It seemed that every time Lucas Graham got a little ahead, something threw him back three steps. With financial problems beyond his control and a ranch he’s only just begun to build, the coordinator of Treasure County Search and Rescue in Courage can’t catch a break. Just when he thinks he’s solved his problems, another arises. It’s always a girl, and this one is in a race against time. Gritting his teeth, he heads out into the storm fearlessly, prepared for the worst... or so he thinks. This time, though, the challenge is beyond his experience, and he might be bested.

  She was supposed to be on vacation…

  With her life just beginning, Gillian Grayson simply chose to visit her aunt and uncle up on the mountain in Courage. She wasn’t the most accomplished rider, but with a trustworthy horse, she didn’t count on getting thrown and destroying her ankle. A storm is brewing, and she can’t hike back to the ranch. She’s at the mercy of anyone who might think to look for her. But with her independent streak and a desire to go home and live her dream, she might not have the courage to be truly found.

  About the Author

  Charlene Bright is the author of several contemporary western romance novels. She’s a lifelong resident of the American South and currently residents in southern Oklahoma on a family-owned cattle ranch. She greets each morning with a hot cup of coffee and an optimistic smile. Traveling to America’s national parks is her favorite pastime. You can find out more about Charlene and her books at Charlene Bright and don’t forget to connect with her on Facebook.