Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8
Bold Bodyguards
Cora Takoda’s life changed when Garrick Tasmin and Kohana Shanley got involved with her. She hardly knew Garrick, and Kohana had left eighteen years ago. Garrick met with her and explained why he needed to protect her. Some men had tortured Kohana, and they had the necklace Cora had given him years ago. It had her name on it. The thugs might kidnap her and use her to break Kohana. Reluctantly, she agreed, as long as her friends, Gavin, Beck, and Heather were involved in helping to keep her safe.
Garrick and Cora were attracted to each other. He was the first man she’d been really interested in since Kohana. What would happen to their relationship if Kohana returned? Garrick was Kohana’s best friend. Cora wasn’t certain what feelings she had for Kohana, and could she trust him to stay. What if she loved them both? She’d never wanted a threesome relationship, but Garrick made the suggestion.
Genre: Contemporary, Multiple Partners, Western/Cowboys
Length: 50,017 words
BOLD BODYGUARDS
Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8
Paige Cameron
EVERLASTING POLYROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Polyromance
BOLD BODYGUARDS
Copyright © 2014 by Paige Cameron
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-233-1
First E-book Publication: August 2014
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
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www.SirenPublishing.com
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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband. You are so special and I’m so very glad we met and married. After twenty-five years, I love you even more.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
About the Author
BOLD BODYGUARDS
Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8
PAIGE CAMERON
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Kohana Shanley shook his head and peered at the man who’d just blackened his other eye. There was no doubt they’d kill him, whether he told them the information they wanted or not. He chose not to.
“You’re not such a tough guy now.” The leader bent over him and sneered. “What’s this?” He picked up the necklace in his fist and yanked twice before the chain broke. It left a cut on Kohana’s neck. Blood dribbled down Kohana’s body from a number of other cuts.
His heart pounded fast. They had his necklace, and it had Cora’s name engraved on one side. Kohana didn’t want these men to have even that much information. But he had to pretend he didn’t care or they’d know how important Cora still was to him after all these years.
His torturers walked off for a minute and Kohana slipped into semiconsciousness.
If Garrick had been with me, I wouldn’t be in this fix. They’d never have attacked us both, but with me alone, and not as alert as I usually am, they saw their chance. I miss Garrick. If I survive this, I’m going to call and visit him.
“No sleeping,” one of the gang said, and he punched Kohana hard in the middle of his abdomen. The pain sliced through him. Still, he refused to scream or beg.
He ain’t going to tell us nothin, boss,” one of the men said.
“We’ll take a break and eat. Then we’ll give him one more chance and afterward, he dies.”
The men strolled down the hallway, talking and laughing. Suddenly, someone was at Kohana’s back. His hands were freed and three men silently and quickly carried him to one of the two open windows where others took hold of him and lifted Kohana out.
“We’ve got you,” one of his friends whispered. They carried Kohana and ran to a nearby van. Then they took off as his attackers ran out, shooting at them.
“It took some time to find this old abandoned house, and then we had to wait for the right moment. We feared they might kill you first if we attacked right away,” Jarvis said.
“Nothing matters, but that you found me and rescued me alive,” Kohana said in a low, weak voice.
“We’ve contacted the local police and called 911. An ambulance will be waiting for us at the main highway and the police will go after the gang. Although they’ve probably fled,” Jarvis said.
Kohana tried to grin, but it hurt too much. “Thanks, guys. I owe you one.” Then he laid his head back, closed his eyes, and los
t consciousness.
* * * *
Garrick Tasmin’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket as he watched some of the cowhands moving cattle from one area to another. He checked the name on his cell. What the hell was Jarvis calling about after all this time?
“Hi, what’s up?”
“Kohana’s been hurt. He wanted me to tell you to get hold of Cora Takoda and keep her with you. Her life may be in danger,” Jarvis said.
“You’d better tell me more about what’s happening.”
Jarvis groaned. “I don’t have much time, but Kohana got jumped a few nights ago. It took us a while to find him. They’d tortured him. They also got the necklace he wears when he’s not out in the field. It has Cora’s name on it. He’s worried they’ll find her and take her. Then they’d use her to blackmail him to tell them where we took their leader.”
“The guy must be important.”
“He is to us and the people we turned him over to. Listen, I want to get back to the waiting room. Kohana’s in surgery. Will you help?”
“I’ll do my best. I’ve only met the woman once briefly. I’m not sure she’ll trust me.”
“You can handle it.” Jarvis clicked off his phone.
“And thank you very much,” Garrick snapped into the empty receiver. Cora Takoda wasn’t going to trust him. She’d think he was crazy trying to get her to stay with him until it was safe. And yet that was the only option. She’d be less likely to be abducted from the ranch than the hospital or wherever she lived.
Garrick pushed his cowboy hat back and stared at the mountains. He’d thought his past would leave him alone when he moved to Triple Dare County, but it had caught up with him. Then he remembered his best friend was in surgery. Kohana had to be hurt bad because no one would get information from him. He’d die first. Garrick had no choice but to protect the woman whose name Kohana wore close to his heart. Someone he seldom talked about and then only sparingly.
Garrick turned his horse around and galloped toward the ranch house. He hoped to find Beck Colley, his boss, in the office to the side of the barn or in the house.
As Garrick expected, Beck was sitting behind his desk talking on the phone. He motioned for Garrick to join him. When Beck hung up, he looked questioningly at him.
“It’s the middle of the day. Is there a problem?” Beck asked.
“Not to do with the ranch. It’s personal.”
“How can I help?”
“I appreciate your readiness to assist me. But I have to ask you to keep what I tell you in strict confidence. I know you’ll want to tell Gavin and that’s all right, but no one else must know.”
“Is it something unlawful, because I can’t promise if it is.”
“No.”
“Then I give you my word. The only other person I’d tell is my wife. We don’t keep secrets from her.”
“That’s fine.” Garrick took a deep breath and said, “You may regret offering to help. My old boss called me. A friend of mine, Kohana Shanley, needs a favor.”
“Our Kohana Shanley?” Beck asked.
“Yes. He lived here until about eighteen years ago.”
“How did you know him?”
“We worked together for many years as soldiers of fortune. Our group did jobs for the good guys. Assignments no one else could or would take.”
“You were involved in a dangerous occupation,” Beck said. “No wonder you like the quiet life on the ranch. What’s the problem?”
“Kohana always wore a particular necklace when he wasn’t out on a job. He was home, where the unit stays on downtime, and he got ambushed by a number of men. They held him prisoner until our guys rescued him. He’s in surgery now from the torturing they did to him, and they have his necklace.”
Beck leaned forward. “What’s the significance to the necklace?”
“It has the name Cora on it. Kohana asked the boss to request I keep her safe. He’s afraid they’ll get her and use her to make him tell them where their leader has been sent. Apparently our unit captured the man and turned him over to whoever had paid them to do the job.”
“The only Cora I know is Cora Takoda, and if I remember right she and Kohana were close friends until he left.”
“He’s told me a little about her, and he’s never forgotten her.”
“I don’t think she’s ever gotten over him leaving. She’s a busy lady, but I’ve never heard of her dating much. This is going to upset her world.” Beck frowned at Garrick.
“I know. But what can I do? She has to be protected.”
“What’s the plan?”
“I’ll bring her to the ranch to stay with me. If you agree. I realize it might put you all in danger, too.”
Beck leaned back in his chair. “Let me talk with Heather and Gavin. Heather’s here. I’ll call and ask Gavin to come home for lunch. You can join us, and we’ll all discuss the issue.” Beck glanced at his watch. “It’s eleven. Let’s plan to meet at the house at one.”
“I can’t thank you enough. I’m sorry I never told you my full background.”
“Well if there’s anything else we should know, be sure and tell us when we meet.”
Garrick tipped his hat and hurried out of the office. He liked his job, and he’d just invested in owning a small portion of the ranch. He hoped he didn’t upset Beck and Gavin and make them regret the deal. But he had no choice. He couldn’t ignore a woman in danger.
* * * *
“I know I haven’t been by much lately, Mother,” Cora said. She held her cell phone to her ear while she cleaned an exam table. “I’ve been busy tending to my patients.”
“Your physical therapy job has taken over your life,” her mother said.
“That’s not fair, Mom. I have a group of teenage girls I meet with every other week at the high school, and I teach horseback riding to children who’d otherwise not have an opportunity to ride. My life is full, but you’re right. I’ve been neglectful of you and Dad. I’ll come for dinner tomorrow night. It’s Friday, and I have the weekend off.”
“Your life is full of other people’s children. You need a family of your own. You’d make a wonderful mother.”
“Please don’t go there again. I’ve never found anyone I wanted to marry. I’m happy as I am.” Cora crossed her fingers as she told her mother a little white lie.
“Hah, I know better. I know you, and the reason you’re unmarried is because you haven’t forgotten the wild one.”
“His name is Kohana. You know that.”
“He hurt you. I’ll never forgive him.”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s been gone for years. He won’t come back after all this time. Please forget him, and be happy I have a good life.”
“Oh, all right. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Her mother hung up.
Cora snapped her cell off and finished cleaning the table. She’d almost forget Kohana, and then her mom would bring up his name and she’d see him as he looked that last day. His long, silky black hair blew in the breeze, and his gray eyes reminded her of the sky before a storm. When he spoke, his harsh words bounced off of her like sharp points of pain. She’d thought her heart would burst with the agony of watching him walk away. He didn’t look back. When he turned the corner, he was gone.
She shook her head and pushed the thoughts far back in her memory. She had one more appointment. Then she’d go to the school for her group’s session. She met with girls who needed an opportunity to talk about any topic freely and in confidence. The only rule was if what they said indicated danger to them or others, Cora had to tell the proper authorities.
Cora straightened from cleaning the bottom of the table and walked out to her desk to wait for her patient.
* * * *
Garrick sat around the kitchen table with Beck, Heather, and Gavin. He’d just told them what he’d shared earlier with Beck.
“What do you think?” Beck asked. “Do we have him bring her to the ranch?” He looked at Heather who was three months away fro
m having their first child. “I hate the thought of possibly putting you in danger.”
“We have to be there for Cora. Look how she helped me with my leg, and a lot of the work was done on her days off. I’m sure you and Gavin will keep me safe. One of you is by my side constantly anyway or almost always.”
Gavin leaned back on two legs of his chair. “Cora’s been my friend for years. I agree we have to keep her safe. We’ll make up a chart where one of us will be with Cora and Heather at all times. At night, we’ll be home with Heather, and Garrick can be with Cora at his place, or she can stay here. But during the day we’ll need the chart.”
“That’s a good idea,” Garrick said. “I appreciate the two of you getting involved.”
“Cora’s not going to want to come here if you go alone to confront her,” Heather said. “Gavin, if I remember you mentioned she liked you and would do my physical therapy if you asked her.” Heather grinned and winked at him.
“I’m never going to live that one down.” He playfully groaned. “I suppose you want me to go with Garrick.”
“Unless you want me to. I don’t mind, but…”
“No. I’ll go with him.” Gavin glanced at his watch. “I’ll call her and see if we can’t meet her after work.” He pulled out his cell and punched in a number.
“Hmmm, if I didn’t know how much you love me, I’d worry about you having her number on your speed dial.” Heather raised her eyebrow at him.
Gavin grinned and then said, “Hello, Cora, I’m glad I caught you. I have something we need to discuss. Would it be convenient for you to come by my office when you leave the hospital?” He listened for a minute. “I see. How long does the group last? Then afterward we’ll meet. Good, at four o’clock. See you then.” He clicked off his phone.
Bold Bodyguards [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 1
