Cowboy, Cross My Heart

by Donna Grant

  Clayton pushed away from the fence as the truck came to a stop.

  Chapter 10

  The closest Naomi had ever gotten to the East Ranch growing up was driving on the road and gazing in wonder at the massive wood and iron entrance.

  Now, she was actually on the ranch.

  Jace laughed as he glanced at her. “They’re really good people.”

  “How do Brice and Caleb know the Easts?” she asked while taking in the pastures and the cattle grazing on either side of the drive.

  “I forget that not everyone knows,” Jace said as he rested his wrist on top of the steering wheel and grinned. “Brice and Caleb’s older sister, Abby, married Clayton East. From the time Brice was sixteen and Caleb was fourteen, they grew up here.”

  Naomi raised her brows in shock. “Wow.”

  “You’ll like Abby and Clayton. They’re good people. So were Ben and Justine, Clayton’s parents. They passed within months of each other about a year or so ago.”

  Naomi licked her lips and then turned her head to stare in shock at the impressive residence. There was something about the red clay tile roof and the overall Spanish feel of it that seemed to fit the ranch. She looked in awe at the sweeping arches and windows everywhere.

  Jace chuckled loudly. “It certainly is a gorgeous house.”

  “That isn’t a house. That’s a mansion,” Naomi pointed out.

  “Yes, ma’am, it is.”

  As they pulled around to the back of the home, Naomi saw a man in a straw cowboy hat at the fence talking to another man on horseback. Moments later, the cowboy on the horse rode away.

  Jace parked the truck and turned off the engine. Naomi swallowed nervously as Jace opened the door and looked back at her. He hesitated, waiting until she put her hand on the handle and opened it. Only then did he exit the vehicle.

  Naomi slid from the truck, wincing when her sore muscles pulled from where she’d fallen on her bag. She shut the door and found herself looking up at a tall man with pale green eyes and blond hair partially hidden by his hat.

  He was exceptionally handsome with broad shoulders and an easy smile. He extended his hand as she approached. They shook, and he held her hand for a moment as he said, “You must be Naomi. I’m Clayton East. Welcome. My Abby will tell you later, but I’ll say it now. Make yourself at home here. Whatever you need, don’t hesitate to ask any one of us.”

  “That is very kind of you,” she said and adjusted her bag strap.

  “She’s had a rough day,” Jace said.

  Clayton nodded, a frown furrowing his brow. “Brice texted to let me know you two were coming, but Caleb called. Abby is inside, waiting to get all the details.”

  “I can do that,” Naomi said. “I, uh, I need to let my mom know where I am. But I seem to have lost my phone somewhere.”

  Clayton held out his arm toward the house. “There’s a phone inside. Should I bring your mom here?”

  “Oh, God, no,” Naomi said hurriedly. She rolled her eyes as she realized how she sounded. “I love my mother dearly, and I don’t want anything to happen to her. It’s just that she’s like a tornado.”

  Jace laughed. “Sounds like my mom. We’ll keep an eye on her. If things get bad, we’ll bring her.”

  “You can’t expect to take in everyone,” Naomi said to Clayton.

  He raised a brow. “Have you seen the size of my home? We have plenty of room. Now, come. Let’s get you inside before Abby comes looking for us.”

  Naomi followed Clayton toward the back of the house, where she glimpsed large, arched windows everywhere, lending to the Spanish style of the house.

  They walked into the kitchen, and Naomi was immediately taken with the home. She had expected something extravagant and over-the-top, which the kitchen was, but it was also homey and welcoming.

  There were bar stools along the island, and a basket of fruit as well as a covered cake stand with an assortment of cookies on the counter.

  Jace immediately went to the cookies and stuffed one into his mouth before grabbing another. He lifted his brows to Naomi in a silent offering, but she shook her head in refusal.

  “Eat,” Clayton urged her. To Jace, he said, “Grab a couple for Abby.”

  Naomi walked to the island and peered at the cookies. She opted for a gingersnap and took a small bite before closing her eyes in delight. It was delicious.

  “I know,” Jace said. “Abby and Ms. Justine combined their recipes. I mean, Caleb and Brice are amazing friends and all, but I really come for the food.”

  “I heard that,” came a woman’s voice from another room. “And look in the fridge, Jace. I made you something.”

  Jace rushed by Naomi and yanked open the refrigerator doors. He groaned loudly and stuffed the cookie into his mouth to use both hands to withdraw a large covered dish.

  Naomi laughed as Jace kicked the door closed with his foot and carried the bowl to a drawer, where he pulled out a spoon. Jace then yanked the foil off and tossed it on the counter before he began eating the banana pudding.

  “Want a bite?” he asked Naomi.

  She smiled and held up her cookie. “I’m good, thanks.”

  “Abby, this is better than last time,” Jace said as he walked past Clayton and Naomi.

  Naomi looked at Clayton. “I gather Jace spends a lot of time here.”

  “It wasn’t long after Abby and I married that Brice and Caleb met Jace and Cooper. The four have been together ever since.”

  Naomi took a bite of her cookie and followed Clayton around the kitchen into the family room. It was huge. The six arched, double-door windows helped, but it was the eye-catching height of the dark-beamed cathedral ceilings that truly captured a person’s attention.

  The off-white marble floors were beautiful and enhanced by the various rugs. A huge fireplace on the far wall was the focal point of the room, made obvious by the three cream couches—two regular-sized and one massive, curved one—flanking it.

  Naomi found Abby reclining on one of the sofas, looking as if she were going to give birth any second. Abby’s long, brunette hair was pulled up into a messy bun with wisps falling around her face. Her smile reminded Naomi of Brice.

  “Hi,” Abby said. “I’d stand, but it takes me forever to get to my feet.”

  Jace glanced at Abby’s feet, frowning. “Your ankles will return, right?” he asked around a mouthful of pudding.

  Abby swung her head to him and narrowed her gaze. “I may not be able to move quickly right now, but Clayton can. And he’d be happy to take that pudding away from you.”

  Jace turned so the pudding was out of reach. He glanced at Clayton before looking back at Abby. “I think swollen ankles are beautiful.”

  Abby nodded, a brow raised. “That’s what I thought,” she said before she ruined it with a smile.

  All the nervousness Naomi had initially felt quickly fell away. It was obvious that the Easts were much admired and loved.

  Abby motioned to the furniture as she turned her attention to Naomi. “Please, sit and make yourself at home.”

  “I have food,” Naomi said.

  Abby then laughed and exchanged a look with Clayton. “The first time I was inside this house, Justine brought me in here and served me coffee. I was terrified I’d spill. She informed me that it was just furniture and that it could be cleaned. I’ve held to her thoughts on the matter. And trust me when I say this furniture gets cleaned regularly with my brothers, their friends, and my kids always spilling something.”

  “Told ya,” Jace said to Naomi and shoveled a heaping spoonful of pudding into his mouth.

  Naomi sat and listened as Clayton and Abby made small talk with Jace for a few minutes, allowing her time to settle and calm down. It was Jace who turned the conversation to why she was there.

  “It wasn’t until today that Brice told Cooper and me about what occurred last night with Whitney and Naomi,” Jace said.

  Clayton removed his hat and set it on the table. “He told me wh
en he came home yesterday. We’re more concerned about today.”

  Naomi cleared her throat. “I think this is my fault. I took the film and developed it at the college this morning.”

  “Developed it?” Abby asked. “You’re a photographer?”

  “I am. I take photos and sell them to individuals and companies. I use digital for that, but I’ve always kept a darkroom to develop my own film.”

  Jace smacked his lips. “Impressive.”

  Naomi glanced at the unfinished cookie in her hand. “I wanted to see if I had caught the attacker. I did. But no matter what filters or lighting I used, I couldn’t see his face. But I thought maybe Brice or Whitney might recognize something about the guy. Brice didn’t, unfortunately. Then he asked if he could keep the photos to show Jace and Cooper.”

  “Which he did,” Jace interjected. “We didn’t recognize anything either.”

  Clayton blew out a breath. “It was a good try, though.”

  “Brice urged me to remain with someone at all times, and I did,” Naomi continued. “I was with a group of women. I tried to see if Whitney would tell me anything about the attacker, but she told me to leave it alone. So I went to the arena to watch the rodeo.”

  Jace set aside the half-eaten bowl and licked his lips. “During that time, Brice was looking for Caleb. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but Cooper and I found Brice lying on the ground between the cattle pens. I saw the blood, and we tried to wake him. About the time he regained consciousness, Caleb ran up. The first thing Brice said when he came to was Naomi’s name. I’d seen her in the stands and told Caleb, who rushed to find her.”

  Abby reached over and took Clayton’s hand. “How bad is the wound on his head?”

  “He got his bell rung pretty good,” Jace admitted, his lips twisted. “I was more concerned about his hand that had been stomped on, but he wasn’t worried about either one.”

  “Sounds like him,” Abby said and looked at Clayton. She blinked several times and nodded. “Then what happened?”

  Jace turned to Naomi. She’d been reliving what happened, but she wasn’t keen to actually put it into words.

  “You don’t have to tell us,” Clayton said.

  Jace’s face fell into contrite lines. “Yeah, sorry, Naomi. I can tell them.”

  “It’s okay,” she said and forced a smile. “I stood up to cheer on the wagons as the race began. The next thing I knew, I felt someone shove hard into my back. I fell toward this little old woman next to the railing, so I twisted to miss her and toppled over the fence.”

  “I believe the point was for her to go over regardless,” Jace said.

  Clayton drew in a deep breath. “I’m inclined to agree.”

  Naomi glanced out the window. “I hit the ground hard and landed on my bag, making it difficult to move. I knew the wagons were on their way back around when I felt the ground shake. I looked up and saw the horses bearing down on me. Somehow, I managed to roll out of the way. And then Caleb was there, putting himself between me and the horses.”

  “Dear God,” Abby said and put her hand to her throat. “It’s a miracle neither of you was killed.”

  “The asshole stole the photos from Brice,” Jace said.

  Naomi finally had a reason to smile. “I don’t know why, but something told me to hide the film this morning. I can make more of the photos.”

  “There has to be something in them that this guy fears,” Clayton said.

  Abby dropped her hand to her lap and shrugged. “Like someone recognizing him.”

  “He broke into my Jeep to look for the film,” Naomi added. “But I don’t leave any in my vehicle. It’s always on me.”

  Abby blew out a breath. “I could really use a drink right now.”

  “I’ll have yours, darlin’, because at this point, I need one, too,” Clayton said.

  Jace leaned his elbows on his thighs. “Whitney will be here tonight to tell us everything.”

  “Including the guy’s name?” Abby asked.

  Naomi shrugged. “That’s what I’m hoping. She’s very … reluctant.”

  Abby then pointed to the computer. “I think y’all need to read the article I found.”

  “About?” Jace prodded.

  Abby’s lips twisted. “It’s a story that was buried about someone who stalked and sexually assaulted a contestant from a local rodeo pageant.”

  Jace dropped his head and took off his hat. “The girl’s name is Jamie Adcock, isn’t it?”

  “How do you know that?” Naomi asked.

  Jace lifted his head and looked at each of them. “Because her mother told everyone exactly what the article says, but no one believed them.”

  Chapter 11

  Impatience chafed him. Like rubbing against a raw, exposed nerve. Brice looked over at the speedometer as Caleb drove down the road.

  “I’m about to kick you out. While we’re moving,” his brother grumbled over the music playing.

  “We need to hurry.”

  Caleb glanced at him. “I’m going as fast as I can pulling the horses. And at night, if I need to remind you.”

  “I know.” Damn. He did know. What the hell was wrong with him?

  But he knew the answer to that, as well—Naomi Pierce.

  He scrubbed his good hand down his face and blew out a harsh breath.

  “Naomi is safe at the ranch,” Caleb said.

  Brice looked out the window and nodded. “I know.”

  “Clayton, Jace, Shane, and the others won’t let anything happen.”

  Brice removed his hat and scratched his head. “I should never have sent Naomi to the ranch. Abby is there with the kids.”

  Caleb chuckled and shook his head as he slowed and put on his blinker. “Anyone stupid enough to try and come onto the ranch to do anyone harm deserves the double-barreled shotgun that will be aimed at them.”

  “Yeah.”

  Brice wished he could think clearly. His head had yet to stop pounding, but it was more than the hit. He was worried. Really worried. Someone had attempted to kill Naomi.

  “You’re thinking of that video, aren’t you?” Caleb said.

  A spectator had managed to capture Naomi going over the railing and falling into the arena and they’d posted it on social media. Brice saw firsthand just how close she’d come to dying.

  “Seeing it was harder than you telling me,” Brice admitted.

  Caleb drew in a breath. “I didn’t see all of it. By the time I got to the stands, Naomi had already fallen. But I’ll admit, watching the video made me more than a little sick to my stomach. A member of the rodeo did that. It could be someone we know.”

  “I’ve thought of that. I’m looking at everyone differently now.”

  “Me, too.”

  Brice reached around and felt the spot on his head. Karl wanted him to go to the ER for stitches, but the bleeding had finally stopped. That didn’t mean the area around the wound wasn’t painful.

  “How’s the hand?”

  Brice looked at his bandaged appendage. “I’ll be fine.”

  “The jerkwad stomping on your hand acted infantile.”

  “As if he couldn’t control his temper and hitting me over the head wasn’t enough.”

  Caleb turned down the music. “I think, in his mind, you interfered. Had you not been there, he would’ve either taken Naomi’s camera or destroyed it and the film. Your arrival halted that. And brought all of this.”

  “So why not try and kill me? Why only Naomi?” Brice asked as he looked at his brother.

  “Hurting Naomi could be a warning to Whitney to keep her mouth shut.”

  Brice pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “And we interfered again.”

  Caleb’s head jerked to him, concern evident even in the dim light of the cab. “Call Cooper now. If this guy will go after you and Naomi in the middle of a rodeo—”

  “Then he won’t hesitate to attack Whitney,” Brice finished as he fished out his p
hone, fumbling with it because of his bandaged hand.

  He let out a loud curse when his injured fingers wouldn’t work properly and caused the phone to fall on his bad hand. Finally, he dialed Cooper’s number. The longer it rang without an answer, the more anxious Brice became. When it went to voicemail, he tried again with the same results.

  Brice then called Jace. No sooner had his friend answered than Brice said, “Have you heard from Copper?”

  “Not since he texted to say he and Whitney were leaving the rodeo. And they aren’t alone.”

  Brice frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Ms. Biermann is with them.”

  “Shit. I just tried to call Cooper, twice, with no answer.”

  Jace said, “They left about ten minutes after y’all did.”

  “Thanks,” Brice said and ended the call. He looked at Caleb and said, “Whitney’s chaperone is with her.”

  Caleb made a face. “I don’t know if I’m relieved or irritated.”

  “Do you actually think Whitney will talk candidly with that woman around?”

  His brother suddenly smiled. “You forget where we’ll be. There are plenty of others around who can keep that woman occupied while we talk to Whitney.”

  “I want to get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, we’ll be looking over our shoulders constantly.”

  “I agree,” Caleb pointed out.

  Brice felt some measure of relief when he spotted the East Ranch entrance that had spotlights lighting it for all to see. He knew Naomi was all right, but he hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to her himself.

  Or touch her.

  He squeezed his eyes closed and fought against the sudden tide of fear he felt for Naomi. When Caleb finally turned the truck and trailer onto the drive, Brice knew every dip and bump. He kept his eyes closed until Caleb turned in front of the barn.

  Brice put on his hat and turned his head to the house to see Jace and Clayton headed their way. But his gaze moved to the windows as he exited the truck. The tightness in his chest loosened when he saw Naomi with Wynter sitting beside her as she talked to Abby.

  “She’s safe,” Clayton said as he stopped before him.

  Brice pushed the vehicle door closed and nodded first to Jace then Clayton. “Thank you both.”