“Yes, but what’s going to happen now? Is he going back to California? Are you moving me to a new location?”
“Neal will be staying in New Mexico and will eventually stand trial for the attempted murder on your life. If he’s found guilty, the states of New Mexico and California will decide together if he’ll do his additional time in the New Mexico prison system or go back to California. As for you, you’re free to leave the program, if you want.”
She didn’t understand. After three years of running and hiding, she was free to go, just like that? It couldn’t be that simple.
“Why would I leave the program?” she asked. “That murderer has shown he’s capable of breaking out of prison, avoiding capture, and finding me. He could do it again.”
“Because of his escape, he’s already been put in an isolation cell with round-the-clock guard duty, and that’s where he’s going to stay. No visitors will be allowed, nor any kind of communication from the outside. And he’ll only be let out of his cell for one hour a day to shower. That piece of trash is never escaping again. I’ll guarantee that. And without him to give orders, there’s no reason for those gang members of his to hunt you down.”
Joy wasn’t sure about that. “Do I have to decide right now whether I want to stay in the program?”
“No. Take a couple of days and think about it. In the meantime, here’s my new number.”
As she wrote his new phone number down, she realized what her next move should be. “I’m going back to California, Griffin. I’ll contact you once I arrive.”
When they hung up, she stepped into the hall and saw that Ella’s bedroom door was open. Joy knocked on the wood doorframe.
“Come in, dear.”
She sauntered inside and handed Ella the portable phone. After relaying the conversation she and Griffin had, she said, “Thank you again, Ella. For saving my life, and for everything you’ve done for me. For taking a chance on hiring me, and for making me feel like part of your family. I appreciate all of it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Ella grinned. “Knowing how to handle a gun came in handy tonight, but it was God who made all the other pieces fall together.”
Joy met Ella’s penetrating gaze and understood she wasn’t only talking about what had taken place in the barn. There was no use in delaying the inevitable.
“I’ve decided to leave tomorrow morning,” she said. “I’m sorry to go without notice and leave you without a housekeeper and masseuse, but I need to go home to California. My mother and I haven’t seen or spoken to each other for three long years. I need her right now. And I hope you can understand and will forgive me.”
Ella nodded. “I do understand, dear. And don’t fret over your decision. It must have been terribly difficult for your mother all these years, being without you. I’m happy for you, and her. I’ll get by, but I’ll miss you. I know we haven’t known each other long, but you’ve come to feel like a daughter to me.” Ella sighed heavily, and Joy sensed a combination of hope and sadness emanating from her.
Had she overheard Cole proposing marriage? Joy wondered. Her throat closed up tight. She hugged Ella, hoping her touch would say more than any words could, and retreated to her room for one final night.
****
The next morning, Joy said her goodbyes to Ella, Luz and the boys, and left quickly. As she drove past the unfinished cabin, she saw Tony and Bobby working, but Cole’s truck was not in sight. Had Ella called him last night to tell him she was leaving today? Probably. Ella would want to save him the humiliation of having to face her as she left.
Joy drove past the horses in the field and through the Painted Pony Ranch gate without looking back. Going through town and past the grocery store where she and Cole first met caused her stomach to lurch. But she continued around the curve and down the highway knowing she was doing the right thing.
As she passed by the street he lived on, she didn’t even allow herself to glance in that direction. If, by some weird twist of fate, he’d been sitting at the stop sign in his truck when she went by, she knew there wouldn’t be a chance in hell for her to armor herself against the pull of his vibrant, blue eyes.
Thirty-One
Four Weeks Later.
Cole congratulated Jordan and Wyatt. He’d just witnessed them tying the knot in the meditation garden in front of a small group of friends and family. He slapped Wyatt on the back the way men do and kissed Jordan on the cheek.
“I’m still not sure how you managed to rope this filly,” he joked with Wyatt, “but I wish you two all the best.”
“Thank you, sport,” Wyatt said, smiling and looking dapper in a suit, cowboy hat and shiny boots.
“Didn’t Cole do a nice job on the arch?” Ella said, approaching the trio and offering her congratulations.
“Everything looks beautiful,” Jordan said. “It was the perfect setting for our wedding. Thanks so much for making it happen, both of you.”
Cole raked her from head to toe. She looked lovely in her lace gown and with flowers in her hair. She appeared happier than he’d ever seen her. “You’re actually beaming,” he said, shocked.
“Of course I am.” Jordan punched him lightly on the arm, as she was prone to doing. “I just married my soul mate. I’m over the moon.” Jordan gazed into Wyatt’s eyes and they kissed.
“Get a room,” Cole teased.
“We plan to,” Wyatt replied, “just as soon as this shindig is over.”
Ella and a few other people standing nearby chuckled. Cole turned and threaded his way through the crowd to the refreshment table, with Jordan’s words rolling through his mind. I just married my soul mate.
There’d been no word from the woman he’d thought was his soul mate. And he didn’t expect there to be any. As far as he knew, Joy, or Lindy, or whatever her name was, was out of his life.
With the cabin done and everything running smoothly at the ranch, it was time for him to get back to his construction business. Mom had suggested he take a vacation on a singles cruise, or join an online dating service. But none of those things interested him. Work and the ranch were enough. At least, that’s what he told himself. Except that going home to an empty house and bed every night was getting harder to do as each new day passed.
He ladled pink punch into a cup and glanced up at the blue summer sky, remembering that evening when he’d found Joy in the garden gazing at the full moon. What kind of a fool had he been to think there’d been anything to that legend, and that she’d be the woman he’d marry?
“Damn that Tularosa moon, anyway,” he mumbled before downing the punch.
“I wouldn’t curse the moon if I were you,” came a soft, lilting voice behind him. “It could be bad luck.”
He swung around and nearly let go of the glass. Were his eyes deceiving him? In front of him stood the most beautiful woman in the world. When she smiled, her face glowed like the sun, and he felt a quickening in his chest. His heart picked up its pace, and a pleasant sensation spread through his body.
“Wh…wh…what are you doing here?” he stammered.
Joy’s gaze locked onto his. “Jordan invited me to the wedding. Her and Wyatt make such a beautiful couple. It was a lovely ceremony wasn’t it?”
He scrubbed a hand over his chin. “You’ve been here the whole time?”
She nodded and let her gaze drift over his face and down the length of his body. Today, he was in his dress-up clothes—white shirt, black slacks, boots and a cowboy hat. “You clean up real good,” she said quietly.
“So do you.” She looked as fresh as a spring flower in her blue dress. He took some steadying breaths and waited for her to explain her unexpected appearance.
“Steven Neal is dead,” she said.
Cole’s mouth dropped open.
“He was killed by another inmate. I’m free of him at last.”
“I’m very happy to hear that.” Cole hoped she’d recognize his tone as genuine. But he didn’t want her to think he assu
med that meant anything for the two of them. “That’s great news. Now you can move on with your life unencumbered.”
“Yes, which is what brings me back to Tularosa.”
He angled his head.
“I’m no longer in the Witness Protection Program. I’ve been home in California for the past few weeks staying with my mother. We’ve had a wonderful reunion.”
Cole smiled. “That’s terrific. I couldn’t be happier for you.” He meant it.
“I’m sorry I haven’t called.”
He smiled. “I know you don’t have a cell phone.”
“I do now.” She reached into her purse and held up a red cell phone and grinned.
“How about that?” Cole chuckled.
“I’ve been missing the desert,” Joy said softly.
He felt the nerve in his jaw start to tick. “The desert is a mighty pretty place,” he acknowledged. “I can understand how you’d long for it.”
She touched his arm, and a jolt of desire raced through him. “I’ve also missed those silly donkeys, Butch and Sundance. And the horses,” she said, sliding her fingernails up his arm. “And the romantic Tularosa moon.”
When her lips parted in silent summons, he pulled her into an embrace, not caring who was watching. “Did you miss anything else? Or should I say, anyone else?”
“Yes. I missed you. More than you can know.”
He grinned and felt his blood firing.
“Mom and I talked about her coming to New Mexico for a trip soon,” Joy said coyly.
Cole’s head tilted in question.
“I have an interview scheduled next week in Mescalero. There’s a position available at the Apache reservation for a substance abuse counselor. That’s what I used to do in my former life.”
He remembered that from when she told her tragic story. Could this be what it sounded like?
“Does that mean you might be staying around here for a while?” he asked.
“That’s exactly what it means. Are you okay with that?”
“I’m more than okay with it,” he said, kissing her. The touch of her lips was a healing balm for the gaping wound that her leaving had left in his heart. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. I told you once, but I’ll tell you again. I love you, Joy.”
“I love you, Cole. Being apart from you has made me realize just how much.”
He didn’t want to push his good luck by reminding her of his earlier proposal. Holding her in his arms right now was more than a dream coming true.
He felt someone watching and glanced over to see his mom standing to the side, smiling. Joy waved and blew her a kiss, and his mom blew her one in return.
“You did a fine job building that arch,” Joy said, returning her gaze to him. “This garden is a beautiful spot for a wedding.” Her passion-filled eyes fused with his.
Cole drew her into his chest and close to his heart again, never wanting to let go. “Maybe you’d like to marry here one day,” he whispered into her neck.
She smiled and answered him with a long, deep kiss.
A word about the author...
Stacey Coverstone is a multi-published author of western romance, romantic suspense, and ghost stories. She lives in Maryland with her family and a menagerie of pets.
When she's not writing, Stacey enjoys traveling, photography, scrapbooking, and cheering on her husband in horse riding and shooting competitions.
Please visit her website at:
http://www.staceycoverstone.com
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