by Susan Stoker
Knowing Dax would have two of the others take care of both his and Laine’s vehicles, Wes settled on the bench next to Laine in the ambulance, keeping one hand on her forehead to make sure she didn’t feel alone, not even for a moment.
When Sledge got the IV drip going and they were finally bumping their way back down the driveway, Wes blurted out, “I love you.”
Laine couldn’t turn her head, but her eyes widened as she looked up at him. “What?”
“I love you,” he repeated. “When you never showed up at my house and no one knew where you were . . . I knew that my life would never be the same without you in it. We’ve been hanging out together a lot, and I just assumed we’d continue to do so. Eventually I would’ve told you how I felt and hopefully we would’ve gotten married and spent the rest of our lives together. At least that’s what I assumed was what would happen.
“But instead, you scared the shit out of me and I never want to feel that way again, ever. I realized that I wouldn’t be that frightened if I didn’t care about you as much as I did. I love you, Laine. I don’t want to wait. I’m one hundred percent sure that you’re it for me. It took me forty-two years to find my other half, and now that I have, I’m not letting you go.”
“I want to name her Chance.”
“What?” Laine’s comment was so far away from how he thought she’d respond to his declaration of love and sort-of marriage proposal, he had a hard time switching gears to follow her line of thinking.
“The dog. I want to name her Chance, because without her, we wouldn’t have a chance to get married and live happily ever after.”
“Okay, darlin’. Chance it is.” Wes couldn’t help the goofy smile that crept over his face.
“I love you too.”
Wes sighed slightly in relief. He didn’t think he’d care if she said it back or not, but he did. He cared a lot. He didn’t know if she realized that she basically asked him to marry her, but he was going to hold her to it, no matter what she said later.
“When I was sitting at the bottom of that hole, all I could think of was that I’d never told you and I’d never get a chance to tell you. But then I looked up at our stars and knew you were out there somewhere . . . looking for me. And I had no doubt you’d track me down. Although . . . I was kinda hoping it wouldn’t have taken so long.”
Wes chuckled. “Sorry about that, darlin’, it took an expert hacker to figure out the clues you left behind.”
“How did you find me?”
“I went to your office and saw the names ‘Johnson’ and ‘Morningside’ scribbled on your calendar.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“That’s it?” Laine asked incredulously. “I knew you were good, but I didn’t know you were that good.”
Wes leaned over and kissed her forehead gently. “When you’re feeling better, I’ll tell you the whole story. But suffice it to say, you have a lot of friends who busted their asses to do everything they could to find you.”
“Thank you.” Her words were slurred as the painkillers Sledge pushed through her IV began to take effect.
“Close your eyes and rest now, Laine. I’ve got you. You’re going to be fine.”
Laine didn’t say another word as she slipped into dreamland, but Wes wasn’t expecting it. She was safe, and in relatively good shape for spending two days at the bottom of a well. He wouldn’t complain.
Chapter Thirteen
‡
Laine sat on the middle cushion of Wes’s large couch surrounded by her friends. Mackenzie and Dax, Cruz and his girlfriend Mickie, Quint and Corrie, Conor, TJ, Hayden, Calder, and even Penelope and Cade from Station 7 were there. When Laine had found out that Sledge’s name was Cade, she’d refused to call him by his horrible nickname, proclaiming it ‘too silly for such a good looking man.’” Maybe because she wasn’t quite up to par after her ordeal, he didn’t complain.
Wes had backed away, giving her friends time to see for themselves that she was all right, but Laine knew it was only because he’d had her to himself for the last day. She’d spent twenty-four hours in the hospital for dehydration and for tests, but they’d let her go early the morning before. Her ankles hadn’t been broken, only badly sprained, and she’d bounced back quickly after having two bags of IV fluids pushed through her body. Wes hadn’t even asked, but had brought her straight to his house and got her settled in his bed, where he’d proceeded to pamper her.
Mack had been waiting at the hospital when they’d brought Laine in. Wes had heard an earful from her about how Dax hadn’t let her come with him out to the property. He’d been scared about what they might find and had wanted to spare Mack the possible sight of her best friend dead. But he’d called as soon as Laine had been on the way to the hospital, so she could meet her there.
And she had been there. She’d browbeat and badgered the hospital staff enough that they’d let her say a quick few words when Laine had been wheeled in. Enough to satisfy Mack that her friend was indeed all right, and would be fine after everything that had happened.
After arriving back at his place, Wes had cooked a delicious lunch and dinner and brought both to her bedside. They’d watched a couple movies, but her favorite part of being with him was their conversations. She’d told him how she’d felt so alone at the bottom of the well, but that she’d never given up hope that he’d find her. Wes, in turn, admitted that in all his years of being a Texas Ranger, he’d never been so scared he’d screw up a case as much as he was while she’d been missing.
“It gave me a whole new perspective on what the families go through. I remember some of the things I’ve said to them and it makes me cringe.”
“You didn’t know.” Laine had tried to soothe him.
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I had the right to be condescending or rude, even if I didn’t know I was being condescending.”
The entire ordeal had brought them closer together, and while she wished it hadn’t happened, Laine was pleased with the ultimate outcome.
“I can’t believe how different Chance looks, now that you got her cleaned up,” Mickie said, commenting on the dog who Wes had brought home while Laine had been in the hospital. She’d been to the groomer and had a thorough bath, her nails clipped, and her ears cleaned. A trip to the vet for a once-over and some shots, and the exhausted but obviously happy dog was currently sleeping in the corner of their bedroom with her puppies, away from the commotion of all the people.
“I know, right? I thought she was a mix when I first saw her, but I can see now she’s probably mostly pit bull,” Laine said, her voice still a bit lower than usual.
“Are you afraid to have her around?” It was Cade who asked.
“No,” Laine said immediately. “I don’t care what breed she is. That dog literally saved my life. She didn’t show one ounce of aggression at the groomer or the vet, or even when we’ve been handling her puppies. I think she somehow knows that not only did we save her and her babies, but she saved me too.”
Wes told the story only some of the people in his living room had heard. “We were searching the property and I’d begun to think Laine had been snatched away and we’d have to start the search from scratch, when I looked into the pasture and saw Chance sitting there. She wasn’t moving, just sitting stock-still. It was unusual and it made me want to know why. If that dog hadn’t been out there by that old well, we would’ve left and never known Laine was there.”
Mackenzie put her arm around Laine and hugged her to her side. “I love you, Laine. Don’t do that again.”
Everyone laughed at the complete seriousness in Mack’s voice.
“I won’t. From now on, everyone is going to get a complete run-down of my plans for the day . . . every day. Getting up. Drinking coffee. About to shower. Driving to work. Going to X address for a showing. Driving home. Eating dinner.”
All the women laughed, the men did not.
“I was kidding,” Laine said with a smile, lo
oking at the alpha men staring at her.
“Someday I’ll tell you a story about people knowing where you are at all times,” Penelope said, fingering the Maltese cross around her neck with a faraway look in her eyes.
“Actually, that’s a good idea,” Quint agreed with Laine, and she could see him squeeze Corrie’s hand. Corrie had her own drama she’d been through . . . kidnapped by loan sharks, and she’d managed to save herself while waiting for Quint to find her. Of course he’d agree that it was a good idea to have her text with her whereabouts all day, every day.
“Yeah . . . no,” Laine shot back. “Look, it was a freak thing. Just like Mack being buried in that coffin. Or Mickie being in the middle of a turf war between a motorcycle club and a drug lord. The same with Corrie and Penelope being kidnapped. It’s not going to happen again.”
“Did you hear what you just said?” Conor questioned. “Those things usually don’t happen to most people, but the fact that they’ve happened to four of the most wonderful women—five, if I include you—I’ve met, who just happened to be dating some of my best friends? Yeah, I think all of you women should make a note of what your plans are every day . . . just in case.”
Laine smiled, but hid it behind her hand when she yawned. She probably wouldn’t make a list of every second of her day, but she would be a bit more careful in the future. She could’ve saved herself, and Wes, a lot of heartache if she’d only written down the address of the property she was going to, or at least told Rose or Mack where she was going. It had been careless and even a bit reckless on her part, and it wouldn’t happen again.
“Laine’s tired,” Wes said in a firm voice over the din in the room as the women—except for Hayden, who was sitting with her arms crossed as if daring one of her colleagues to suggest she needed to broadcast where she was every second of the day—argued against giving a blow-by-blow of every minute of their plans for the day to their men.
Wes’s words were the impetus to get everyone moving. One by one they said their goodbyes to Laine, every single person making sure she knew how happy they were that she was going to be okay.
Penelope gave Laine an extra-long hug when it was her turn. “I’m very glad you’re okay. If you ever need to talk to anyone, please let me know. I’m in a group . . . it’s for people who’ve been held hostage, and I know it’s different from what happened to you, but it might help if you need it. It’s nice to know there are others who are feeling a lot of the same things as you.”
“You okay?” Laine asked. She wasn’t that close to Penelope, but she’d met her a few times and really liked her. She was a firecracker and tough as a whip, but she somehow put out vulnerable vibes at the same time.
“Yeah. I’m okay. Some days are better than others. I was serious about the group. There are people who have gone through a lot of shit, and they’re amazing. One of my best friends in the group has to attend electronically now, but she’s working on her issues. It makes what you and I went through look like a walk in the park.”
Laine’s interest was piqued. “Worse than what you went through?”
“Yeah. She moved here from California. She’d been kidnapped by a serial killer. A SEAL team rescued her and another woman before the sicko could kill them, but he’d had her long enough to make her life a living hell. She has problems leaving her house now as a result. It all sucks. She was doing really well, but recently she’s been having issues getting to the meetings in person, so I set it up so she could attend remotely.”
Laine wanted to ask more, to get to know more about what the poor woman had gone through and how she was doing, but another yawn broke through before she could comment.
Penelope gave her another long hug then pulled back again. “Okay, I’ll let you go. I’m glad you’re all right, Laine.”
“Thanks, Penelope. See you later?”
“Definitely.”
Wes put his arm around Laine as they waved to everyone from the doorway. Finally, when they were all gone, he pulled them inside and closed and locked the door.
Feeling more tired than she thought she’d be, Laine didn’t protest as Wes helped her walk into his bedroom. He got her settled and said, “Let me take Chance out, now that the coast is clear. I’ll be back.”
“Okay.” Laine held out her hand and Chance came over to the side of the bed and licked at it, before she and her four puppies followed Wes out of the room.
Laine snuggled down into the covers and closed her eyes.
She felt when Wes returned and climbed in behind her. He was warm against her back and the arm around her waist held her tightly to him.
“I love you,” Wes murmured as he kissed her ear.
Laine turned to her back and smiled up at the handsome man above her. “I love you too.”
“Will you marry me?”
Laine wasn’t all that surprised at the question. She’d basically already told him she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him while they were out at the Johnson property, after Squirrel had hauled her out of the hole, but it felt good to make it official. “Yes.”
“Good. When?”
“Whenever you want.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Uh . . . excuse me?”
“Tomorrow. We can go to the courthouse and do it.”
“Don’t we have to get a license and sit out the waiting period and all of that?” Laine asked.
“Damn. Yeah, I think it’s seventy-two hours or something.”
“What’s the hurry? I’m not going anywhere,” Laine soothed, running her hand up and down his biceps.
“When I realized how much I love you and how precious life is, I recognized that our time here on earth is just too short. I want to spend every second of the time I have left with you.”
“We can do that and not be married,” Laine said reasonably. She wasn’t trying to talk Wes out of it, but was trying to understand the urgency he was feeling.
“I want my ring on your finger, and I’m hoping you’ll change your name to King. But I would totally understand if you didn’t want to. It’s kind of archaic that the woman has to be the one to change her name, but I can’t help that it would make me feel good.”
“Laine King. It sounds good,” she mused.
“It sounds fucking fantastic,” Wes agreed, then leaned down to kiss her.
“As soon as the three days go by, I’ll marry you. Although . . . Mack is gonna lose her mind if she’s not invited. And probably Mickie and Corrie too. And I wouldn’t want to do it without your friends there. Oh, and Squirrel and Moose and Penelope, and all the others from the fire station too. We can’t leave them out.”
Wes laughed. “How about we have a nice quiet civil ceremony then have a big-ass party later?”
“Deal. I want to make love to you, Wes.” When he opened his mouth to speak, Laine put her finger on his lips to shush him and continued, “But I’m still too sore. Just the thought of spreading my legs is enough to make me wanna hurl, imagining the pressure it’d put on my hips. But as soon as I’m feeling up to it, you had better watch out. I’m gonna jump you.”
Wes chuckled. “I’ll look forward to it, darlin’. I’m perfectly content to hold you close all night and every night until you’re healed enough.”
“Maybe in the barn . . . can we reenact that moment when we first saw each other? I’d love to act out my vivid dreams of running across the barn and taking you to the ground and having my way with you,” Laine told Wes with a smirk. “That rope and your cowboy hat have played front and center in a lot of my fantasies as well. I swear to God, the first thing I thought when I saw you standing there without your shirt on and your V-muscles leading to my Promised Land, was that you were the most amazing specimen of a man I’d ever seen in my life.”
“You too?” Wes asked with a grin. “That was my fantasy. Not my abs, but pulling you into my arms, stripping off your top so I could get a good look at those ti
ts and the nipples that stood up to say hello to me, and taking you right there against the wall in my barn.”
“I’m so glad I didn’t back out of coming to watch that photography session that day. It changed my life . . . for the better.”
“Mine too.” Wes kissed Laine, making sure she kept still so as not to hurt herself. “I got the photos from that day back from Jack. I’m supposed to pick my favorite three. I forgot about it until now. Will you help me choose?”
“Oh, shit yeah. I want you to be the hottest man in that calendar, but I was serious when I told you back then that I’d prefer for you to be all mine. I’ll let others drool over your body, but your face is all mine. My very own Texas Ranger cowboy. I love you, more than you’ll ever know.”
“I know, because I love you like that too. Sleep now. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives.”
The End
Look for the next book in the Badge of Honor Series: Shelter for Elizabeth. Scheduled to be released in May.
If you want to know more about Penelope, the Army Princess, and her ordeal of being kidnapped by ISIS, please check out Protecting the Future.
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Discover other titles by Susan Stoker
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth (May 2016)
Justice for Boone (Sept 2016)
Shelter for Adeline (TBA)
Justice for Sidney (TBA)
Shelter for Blythe (TBA)
Justice for Milena (TBA)
Shelter for Sophie (TBA)
Justice for Kinley (TBA)
