Destination: Love (The Sandera, Texas Series)

by Hollister, Raine

“No, Michael, don’t run!”

  But he wasn’t listening. She watched in horror as Michael slid, as if in slow motion, precariously close to the river.

  Oh God, no! She started crying.

  Then she heard her name and turned.

  It was Logan. Thank God!

  By the time Logan reached Josie, the river had reached the embankment and was already flowing onto land. He had parked across the street, and was staring in the direction Josie had been running.

  His breath caught audibly in his throat. Something terrible rose up and gripped his heart. Fear. For a moment he couldn’t move. Déjà vu. It was two years ago, and his son was dying all over again.

  He watched helplessly as Michael clung to a branch with one hand and to Menudo with the other.

  Logan was also staring at his own worst nightmare.

  He started forward, shouting, “Hold on, son! I’m coming to get you!”

  Josie was running, too.

  They reached Michael at the same time.

  “Josie, grab the dog.”

  As Josie bent to pick up Menudo, Logan grabbed for Michael’s arm.

  Then—in that split second between the time that Josie grabbed the dog and Logan’s hand reached out for Michael—Logan slipped in the mud and went down hard. Thinking Logan had him, Michael let go of the limb and slid sideways, coming to a stop half on the bank and halfway in the river.

  Josie’s high-pitched scream rent the air.

  No! Logan’s mind screamed with outrage. An eruption of volcanic hatred escaped his lips as he yelled, “Damn you!” But whether he cursed God or Dry Devil’s River, or both, was anyone’s guess.

  It had only been a few seconds, but for Logan it seemed like eternity. With lightening speed, his hand snaked out, and he grabbed Michael by the neck of his shirt and clung to him with all his strength, and all the love he had ever felt for Stevie, and for this boy. Logan couldn’t tell if it was the rain or tears that blinded him. His mind only registered one thing. He hadn’t been able to save his son, but he’d be damned if he’d lose another child.

  They were drenched. Michael was shivering so hard that his teeth were chattering. Menudo shivered, too, and was making small yapping sounds.

  By the time they reached the restaurant, the rain had washed the mud off all of them.

  Inside, Josie grabbed Michael and held him to her. “Oh God, baby, I’m so glad you’re safe. Oh God, how I love you.” She was shaking so much that she knew Michael could feel it.

  “I’m okay, Mommy. Please stop crying.”

  “We have to change clothes,” Josie said.

  “There’s no time,” Logan told her. “Grab what you need. We have to get to high ground. Hurry, Josie. The river’s rising fast.”

  “All right. Just let me get a couple of towels and a blanket.”

  Josie ran upstairs and brought their suitcases down.

  Logan said, “We’ll go to my place. It’s high enough. But we’d better hurry. I’ll take the suitcase and then I’ll come back for you and Michael.”

  He rushed back in a moment later. “I parked the car as close to the door as possible. You grab Menudo, and I’ll carry Michael. Let’s go!”

  They all dashed to the car.

  They made the trip to Logan’s home in tense silence. The rain pelting angrily on the windshield made it difficult to see where they were going. At one point the car stalled, but Logan started up the engine again.

  When they were safely in Logan’s house, Josie uttered a sigh of relief. Thank God for attached garages—at least they didn’t have to make a run for it.

  Logan led them to a bedroom toward the back of the house–a child’s room. It had to have been Stevie’s.

  Logan set the suitcases down. “I have some flashlights and candles in the kitchen in case the lights go out.”

  “Will I be sleeping in here, Mom?”

  “Would you like to?” Logan stood behind him.

  “Michael nodded.”

  “You’ll have your own bathroom, and there are some extra clothes in the closet.”

  “Clothes?” Josie asked.

  “I never got around to getting rid of them.”

  After they were all in dry clothes, Josie kneeled before Michael. “Sweetheart, Mommy was so scared for you. Please, don’t ever run from me like that again.” Her arms encircled his little shoulders. “I couldn’t stand it if anything ever happened to you.”

  Michael’s voice broke. “I was so scared.”

  “I know, sweetie. We all were. You want me to sit with you until you go to sleep?”

  He nodded sleepily. The ordeal had tired him out.

  Later, while Michael slept, Logan came and put his arms around Josie and drew her close to him.

  She rested her head on his chest and sighed. “Thank God you showed up.” She drew back and looked up at him. “Thank you Logan, for saving my son.” The dam broke then, and she cried. She hated crying in front of him, but she couldn’t help it.

  “It’s all right, sweetheart. It’s all going to be okay. Let’s go in the living room, so we don’t wake up Michael.”

  “She followed him down the hall. As soon as they reached the living room, he drew her to him again.

  “Logan,” she whispered, “I owe you a great debt.” She swiped at her tear-streaked cheek. “You were there when we needed you.”

  “And you’re here now when I need you,” he muttered softly. “I was so afraid you’d left.” He remembered his urgency to reach them. “Josie, out there today, I...it was Stevie all over again.”

  “I know,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry about Stevie.”

  “I was worried about you and Michael. Didn’t you get my message?”

  Pain came welling up inside her. “Yes.”

  He frowned. “Exactly what did Dylan tell you?”

  “That I was off the hook. And then he handed me the receipt.” Tears burned behind her eyelids, and by sheer will she held them back. She didn’t want him to know how much he had hurt her.

  “Josie, that sounds suspect even to me. When I get my hands on Dylan, he’ll wish he was in Chicago with our older brother.”

  Josie was puzzled. “What are you saying?”

  “I was kind of hoping you’d change your mind about leaving.” He searched her face intently. “I don’t want you to go.”

  “But I thought that’s what you wanted—when you sent me that note. All you had to do was tell me, Logan. I would have left, anyway.”

  “Tell you what? That I love you?”

  “You wanted to be rid of me, so—you what?”

  “I love you! I had hoped to tell you under better circumstances, but—“ he sighed.

  “Then why did you send me the note, telling me I could leave?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “I thought that’s why you paid my bill. To tell me that my car was fixed, that I could move on. No ties, no commitments, no nothing.”

  “If you had left, I would have come after you. Besides, I didn’t pay your debt.”

  “But Dylan said you did.”

  “No. Dylan told you that I said the bill had been paid.”

  “Are you trying to be funny?

  “No. It was to be a secret. Dylan didn’t say I had paid the bill. He said that I had told him to tell you that it had been paid. Do you understand?”

  Josie’s eyes met his. “I’m confused. If you didn’t pay it, who did?”

  “Well, I did, in a manner of speaking, but--”

  “Logan, did you or did you not pay my debt?”

  Logan sighed. “I can’t tell you anything right now. The message Dylan was supposed to deliver was that your debt had been paid, and that you were to wait for me.”

  “Who paid the debt, Logan?”

  He smiled. “I can see I’m not going to get any rest until I tell you. The town. They wanted to surprise you with the paint job, as well.”

  “The town?”

  He gathered her
in his arms again. “Yes, you impossible woman. Didn’t you hear what I said a few minutes ago? I love you.”

  She smiled. “We’ll put a hold on the town for a bit. What were you saying about love?” She stared up into his beautiful eyes.

  “Josie, my love, I’m offering you my heart and soul and everything that comes with them. I can’t lose you now.” His eyes were intense as he whispered, “will you spend the rest of your life with me?”

  His words were so sincere, and with every word he uttered, her heart skipped another happy beat.

  Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, and her heart soared. He was saying everything she’d longed to hear.

  “There hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought about you,” he confessed.

  He leaned down and kissed her. When he raised his head, he said, “Te amo. Te necessito.”

  I love you. I need you.

  In spite of the tears that were running down her cheeks now, she smiled brightly.

  “Will you marry me?” he said softly.

  “Mommy, I had a bad dream.”

  They both turned to see Michael, just inside the room.

  “I’m so sorry, sweetie.” Josie whispered.

  “Come here, sport,” Logan said, and he picked him up and held him in the crook of one arm. His free arm went around Josie.

  While he held the two people he loved most in the world, he whispered to Josie, “Until you came into my life, I’ve been only half a man. I need you both in my life. Will you marry me?” he repeated.

  Josie smiled, her eyes showing him how much she loved him. Then she glanced at Michael. “What do you think, sweetheart? Should we marry him?”

  Michael smiled. “Can Menudo come to the wedding?”

  “Of course,” Logan said, and they all laughed.

  After Michael had gone back to sleep with Menudo resting at his feet, Logan proposed to her again.

  “Yes, I’ll marry you.” Josie cried.

  Just before his lips claimed hers, he whispered. “Then hang on to me, sweetheart. Hang on tight. Because I’m never going to let you go.”

  Josie’s heart soared. She had the incredible sweet feeling that she’d come home at last.

  Epilogue

  They sat at the same window table Josie and Logan had occupied the day Josie had decided to stay in Sandera. Consuelo’s place would always feel like home to Josie.

  “Just please don’t make me wear a sissy color,” Consuelo pleaded.

  “I won’t, Connie. You’re going to be a beautiful Maid of Honor.”

  “I trust you, amiga. I know whatever color you choose will be wonderful. After all, it is your wedding,” she smiled.

  Josie narrowed her eyes, knowing full well that where Consuelo was concerned, she would do anything.

  “Isn’t Logan late?”

  Josie shook her head. “He had to make a call.”

  Consuelo smiled. “It took all of us long enough to throw you two together.”

  “When did you know?” Josie asked.

  “That you two were meant for each other?”

  “Yes.”

  “The first day I met you. In the hospital, when Logan came to your room.”

  “That early?” Josie looked genuinely surprised.

  “There was a certain gleam in his eye I’d never seen before. The whole town knew.”

  “What?”

  “Your fiancé is very well liked in these parts. It was obvious to everyone, especially at the fiesta.”

  At that moment, Logan and Dylan walked in and sat down beside them.

  Logan leaned down and kissed Josie. “We were just talking about you,” she said.

  “Hmmm. Anything worth repeating?” He leaned over and kissed her again, this time a long, searing kiss.

  “Maybe,” she said kind of breathy.

  Logan smiled. “Have you decided where you want to spend our honeymoon?”

  “No. Have you?”

  He smiled. “We can discuss it tonight. I can’t wait to get you alone,” he whispered as his mouth slid down her neck.

  Dylan shifted in his seat and his golden colored eyes, so much like Logan’s own, threw him a disgruntled look. “Geez, you two need to get a room. The honeymoon hasn’t even started and you two are making me sick.”

  Logan looked up and grinned. “You don’t know what you’re missing, bro.”

  Consuelo interrupted and said, “By the way, since I’m the maid of honor, I assume Dylan will be your best man?”

  Logan shook his head. “Actually, Jake is coming here for that.”

  Consuelo’s eyes became shuttered but not before Josie caught a flash of pain then a spark of anger in them. “Does he know I’m going to be the maid of honor?”

  “Not yet,” Logan replied.

  Consuelo looked away for a moment, as though something unpleasant came to mind. “You might want to tell him far in advance of the wedding.”

  “Why?” Josie asked.

  “Because . . . we sort of had a falling out.”

  Dylan smiled. “Then it should be one hell of an interesting wedding.”

  Josie groaned and whispered, “What are we going to do, Logan?”

  “What do you suggest? Find another maid of honor?”

  “Never!”

  “Then we get married as quickly as possible, and leave them to their own devices.”

  “Just make sure he knows I’m in the wedding,” Connie said. “If he doesn’t mind being in the same room with me, I don’t mind either.”

  “Okay,” Josie said, “we can work with that. How about we pair up your sister, Luna, with Dylan as bridesmaid and groomsman?

  Dylan threw up his hands and muttered. “Uh, you might want to rethink that. I don’t think Luna likes me much.”

  Consuelo looked at Dylan suspiciously. “I’ve noticed she acts a little unfriendly toward you sometime. What’s up with that? It’s not like her to act that way, especially since she had a teenage crush on you.”

  Dylan shrugged. “Beats me,” he said and looked away.

  “Well, we’ll work it out,” Josie said. “At least I know Michael will be in good hands.”

  “Right,” Logan said. “He’ll have Consuelo and the rest of his adopted aunts and uncles and cousins making sure he’s having a good time.”

  “I know. When I spoke to Doug, he said he still thought Michael would be better off here. His wife expects to go into labor around that time.”

  “Speaking of babies,” he said in that low drawl she loved so much.

  Josie lowered her voice to match his. “I can’t wait to have more children, especially if they look like you.”

  He laughed. “I’d much rather they look like you.”

  Josie picked up her Cola. “I’m surprised to hear you say that, especially since you always seem to see me at my worst.”

  “If this is your worst, sweet Josie, I don’t know if I want to see you at your best. I don’t think my heart could take it,” he teased.

  Consuelo rose to leave. “Well, Josie, you certainly reached the right destination.”

  “For what,” asked Josie?

  “For love.”

  Don’t miss the second book

  In the Sandera, Texas Series

  By Raine Hollister

  Tall, Dark

  And

  Delicious

  Available in Paperback and EBook

  Read on for an

  Excerpt of Tall, Dark and Delicious

  Chapter 1 TD&D

  The Texas sun had barely made its presence known, but already Sandera tongues were wagging as excited murmurs made their way from one end of town to the other. No one knew who had started the rumor, only that the mailman had gotten into the act by stopping at every vendor’s door to spread the word. As gossip grew more frenzied, the majority of interested citizens rubbed their hands together in anticipation. Things were about to heat up.

  Jake McKinnon was back in town.

  “And just in
time for the Annual Shrine Festival,” one of the Sanchez twins told Lena Morales as they arrived at the bakery.

  “That should cause many a single woman’s heart to beat faster,” Lena replied, thinking of her own unmarried daughter. ”Don’t you think?”

  Lydia Sanchez nodded. “As well as a couple of married ones, too.”

  “Do you think Consuelo knows?” Lydia asked the baker as he was unlocking his door.

  He took off his cap and scratched his head. “Who knows?” He shrugged. “But if she doesn’t know now, she will soon,” he added, giving her a meaningful look. But Lydia didn’t notice because at that moment she stopped a passerby, and the line of communication continued to spread.

  Standing near the edge of the Concho River, in the cool tranquility of her snug retreat, where shadows hung from oaks like curtains, Consuelo Rodriquez took a deep breath. The spring dawn smelled of thawed earth, and she watched in fascination as the sun rose, painting the eastern sky a delicate rose color. She shivered slightly when a cool breeze blew off the river and lifted her hair.

  Consuelo fought the temptation to stretch out and relax on the soft, green earth, surrounded by wildflowers in all their color frenzy. She wanted to wallow in the peaceful, idyllic scene but resisted and turned her attention to the reason she’d come here.

  She walked over to a well-worn spot, the proof she’d been coming here for the past three years. Propped up against an old log was a large, brown grocery bag. She reached inside, took out six empty milk cartons, and stood them on the log. Placed wide apart, they looked like sentries at attention.

  Consuelo walked several feet away and turned to study the cartons. She took in a deep breath, let it out, then grabbed the coiled whip hanging from her belt and snapped it with a swift, smooth swing. The whip uncoiled in an arc and snared one of the cartons. With a quick jerk, she yanked it back, then did the same with the others.

  She smiled, recalling her friend Josie’s interested gaze when she’d spotted the whip hanging on her bedroom wall. Consuelo had laughingly confessed that ever since she’d seen Michelle Pfeiffer’s expert use of the whip in a Batman movie, she’d been obsessed with learning how to use one. And she’d gotten damn good at it.