by B. J Daniels
“I’ll meet you there,” Hud said and hung up.
* * *
THE FIRST THING Gillian saw as they started down the hallway toward Rebecca’s room was the empty chair outside her door where the guard should have been. Austin had seen it first. He took off at a sprint. She wasn’t far behind him, running down the hallway toward her sister’s room.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that there was no nurse at the nurses’ station. In fact, she didn’t see anyone in the hallway.
The hospital felt too quiet. Her heart dropped at the thought that they’d arrived too late.
Austin crashed through the door into the room, weapon drawn, yelling, “Call security!” to her. But it was too late for that. She’d been right behind him and was now standing next to him in the center of Rebecca’s room. Even if she had called security, it would have been too late.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Marc Stewart said. He stood shielded by Rebecca, his gun to her temple. The security guard who’d been posted at the door lay on the floor next to a nurse. Neither was moving. “Drop your gun or I will kill her and everyone else I can in this hospital.”
Austin didn’t hesitate, telling Gillian that he’d realized the same thing she had. Marc Stewart was no longer just an abusive bastard. He’d become a killer.
“Now kick it to me.” After Austin did as he was told, Marc turned his attention to her. “Now, you. Lock the door.”
Gillian stepped to the door and locked it before turning back to the scene unfolding before her. Rebecca was conscious, her condition obviously improved, but she still looked weak. What she didn’t look was scared.
“You found the ledger in the cave, didn’t you?” Marc said, although he didn’t sound all that interested anymore.
“I have it right here,” Austin said and started to reach inside his coat.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Marc warned.
She could hear voices on the other side of the door. But if she turned to unlock the door, she feared Marc would shoot her sister.
“You can have it,” Austin said and took a step toward Marc. “You can make a deal with it.”
Marc shook his head and motioned for him to stay back. “Too late for that. Could have saved a lot of bloodshed if I had gotten the ledger back when I asked for it.” Her sister made a pained sound as Marc tightened his hold on her for emphasis. “Now a lot of people are going to die because of it. Starting with you, cowboy!” He turned the gun an instant before the shot boomed.
Gillian screamed as Austin went down. She dropped to the floor next to him. She felt something heavy in her jacket pocket thud against her side. The gun. She’d forgotten about it. She reached for Austin. He’d fallen on his side. She’d expected to find him in a pool of blood, but as she knelt next to him she saw none. She could hear him gasping for breath.
“Any last words for your sister, Rebecca?” Marc demanded over the sudden pounding on the hospital room door.
Rebecca was crying. She’d dropped to the floor at Marc’s feet when he’d let go of her to fire on Austin.
“Come on, don’t you want to tell her how sorry you are for what you did?” Marc demanded. “I’d like to hear it. But make it quick. We don’t have much time left.”
Seeing that Marc’s attention was on his wife, Gillian started to stick her hand in her pocket for the gun. In that instant, she saw Marc’s thick leather ledger lying next to Austin, a bullet lodged somewhere in the pages. Austin’s hand snaked up and took the gun from her.
“Stand up, Gillian,” Marc ordered. “Rebecca, I want you to see this.” He reached down to take a handful of his wife’s hair and pulled her to her feet. As he did, Rebecca grabbed Austin’s weapon up from the floor where he’d kicked it. She pressed the barrel into Marc’s belly.
Suddenly aware of the mistake he’d made, Marc swung to hit his wife. The gunshots seemed to go off simultaneously in what sounded like cannon fire in the hospital room.
Gillian saw Marc’s reaction when both Austin and Rebecca fired. He took both bullets, seeming surprised and at the same time almost relieved, she thought. Before he hit the floor, she thought she saw him smile. But he could have been grimacing with pain. It was something she didn’t intend to think about as Austin got to his feet and she rushed to her sister.
In that instant, the door to the hospital room banged open as it was broken down. Marshal Hud Savage burst into the room, gun drawn. Within minutes the room was filled with uniformed officers of the law.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Christmas lights twinkled to the sound of holiday music and voices. Suddenly, a hush fell over the Cardwell Ranch living room. The only sound was the crackle of the fire. Dana saw the children all look toward the door. She had heard it, as well.
“Are those sleigh bells?” she asked in a surprised whisper.
The Cardwell brothers all exchanged a look.
Dana glanced over at Hud. “Did you—?”
“Not my doing,” he said, but Dana was suspicious. She knew her husband was keeping something from all of them.
She felt a shiver of concern as she heard the sound of heavy boots on the wooden porch. A moment later, the front door flew open, bringing with it a gust of icy air and the smell of winter pine.
A man she’d never seen before stomped his boots just outside the doorway before stepping in. Because he looked so much like his brothers, though, she knew he had to be Austin Cardwell.
He carried a huge sack that appeared to be filled with presents. The children began to scream, all running to him.
“I told you Austin would be here for Christmas,” she said as she got to her feet with more relief than she wanted to admit. “I’m your cousin Dana,” she said. “Come on in.”
It was then that she saw the woman with Austin. She was dark haired and pretty. Dana thought she recognized her as the jeweler who lived up the road, although they’d never officially met.
She knew at once, though, that this was the woman Austin had met in the middle of the highway and the reason he’d been missing the past few days.
“This is Gillian Cooper,” Austin said as he set down the large bag and put an arm around the woman.
Dana knew love when she saw it. There was intimacy between the two as well as something electric. She smiled to herself. “Come on in where it’s warm. We have plenty of hot apple cider.”
She ushered them into the large old farmhouse and then stood hugging herself as she looked around the room at her wonderful extended family. Having lost her family for a while years ago, she couldn’t bear not having them around her now.
Her sister Stacy took their coats as Austin’s brothers pulled up more chairs for them to sit in.
The children were huddled around the large bag with the presents spilling out of it.
Mugs of hot cider were poured, Christmas cookies eaten. An excited bunch of children was ushered to bed though Dana doubted any of them would be able to sleep.
“They think you’re Santa Claus,” she told Austin.
“Not hardly,” he said.
“I’m amazed that you remembered it was Christmas,” Tag teased him. “At least you didn’t miss the grand opening.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Austin said and they all laughed.
“Gillian,” Laramie said. “Please stay safe until after New Year’s. We want all five brothers together.”
Austin looked over at Gillian. They’d just busted a huge drug ring. Arrests were still being made from the names in Marc’s book. Rebecca and her son were finally safe. It was over, and yet something else was just beginning.
“We’ll be there.”
* * *
SNOW HAD BEGUN to fall as Gillian left the ranch house later that Christmas Eve night with
Austin. They walked through the falling snow a short way up to a cabin on the mountainside. Austin had talked her into staying, saying it was late and Dana had a big early breakfast planned.
“It should just be you and your family,” Gillian had protested.
But Dana had refused to hear it. “Do you have other plans?” Before Gillian could answer, Austin’s cousin had said, “I didn’t think so. Great. Austin is staying in a cabin on the hill. There is one right next to it you can stay in.”
Gillian had looked into the woman’s eyes and known she was playing matchmaker and this wasn’t the first time. Three of Austin’s brothers had come to Montana and were now either married or headed that way. She suspected Dana Cardwell Savage had had a hand in it.
Gillian was touched by Dana’s matchmaking, not that it was needed. Fate had thrown her and Austin together. In a few days, they had lived what felt like a lifetime together. But they lived in different worlds, and while maybe Austin’s other brothers could leave their beloved Texas, Austin was a true Texan with a job that was his life.
“Did you have fun?” Austin asked, interrupting her thoughts as they walked toward the cabins up on the mountainside.
“I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun,” Gillian answered honestly.
He smiled over at her as he took her hand. “I’m glad you like my family.”
“They’re amazing. I don’t know what makes you think you’re the black sheep. Clearly, they all adore you. I think several of them are jealous of your exciting life.”
Austin laughed. “They were just being polite in front of you. That’s why I begged you to come with me. They couldn’t be mad at me on Christmas Eve—not with you there.”
“Is that why you wanted me here?”
He put his arm around her. “You know why I wanted you with me. Making my brothers behave in front of you was just icing on the cake. You’re okay staying here?”
“Your cousin does know I won’t be staying in that cabin by myself, doesn’t she?”
“Of course. I saw the look in her eyes. She knows how I feel about you.”
“She does, does she?” Gillian felt her heart beat a little faster.
Austin stopped walking. Snow fell around them in a cold white curtain. “I’m crazy about you.”
“You’re crazy, that much I know.”
He pulled off his gloves and cupped her face in his hands. His gaze locked with hers. “I love you, Gillian.”
“We have only known each other—”
He kissed her, cutting off the rest of her words. When the kiss ended, he drew back to look at her. “Tell me you don’t know me.”
She knew him, probably better than he knew himself. “I know you,” she whispered and he pulled her close as they climbed the rest of the way to his cabin. To neither of their surprise, a fire had been lit in the stone fireplace. There was a bottle of wine and some more Christmas cookies on the hearth nearby.
“It looks as if your cousin has thought of everything,” Gillian said, feeling an ache at heart level. She was falling in love with his family. She’d already fallen for Austin. Both, she knew, would end up breaking her heart when Austin returned to Texas.
She should never have let him talk her into coming here tonight. Hadn’t she known it would only make things harder when the two of them went their separate ways?
She looked around the wonderfully cozy cabin, before settling her gaze on Austin. It was Christmas Eve. She couldn’t spoil this night for either of them. He’d promised to stay until the grand opening of the restaurant. In the meantime, she would enjoy this. She would pretend that Austin was her Christmas present, one she could keep forever. Not one that would have to be returned once the magic of the season was over.
Because naked in Austin’s arms in front of the roaring fire, it was pure magic. In his touch, his gaze, his softly spoken words, she felt the depth of his love and returned it with both body and heart.
* * *
THE NIGHT OF the grand opening, Austin was surprised by the sense of pride he felt as Laramie turned on the sign in front of the first Texas Boys Barbecue restaurant in Montana.
He felt a lump form in his throat as the doors were opened and people began to stream in. The welcoming crowd was huge. A lot of that he knew was Dana’s doing. She was a one-woman promotion team.
“This barbecue is amazing,” Gillian said as Austin joined her and her sister and nephew. He ruffled the boy’s thick dark hair and met Gillian’s gaze across the table. Andy had made it through the holidays unscathed.
As soon as Rebecca was strong enough, the Bakers had brought him down to Big Sky, where the two were staying with Gillian. Rebecca had healed. Just being around her son and sister had made her get well faster, he thought. Marc was dead and gone. That had to give her a sense of peace—maybe more so because she’d had a hand in seeing that he never hurt anyone again. She was one strong woman—not unlike her sister.
“Everything is delicious,” Rebecca agreed. “And what a great turnout.”
Austin looked around the room, but his gaze quickly came back to Gillian. He felt her sister watching him and was sure Rebecca knew how he felt. He was in love. It still bowled him over since he’d never felt like this before. It made him want to laugh, probably because he’d given his brothers Hayes, Jackson and Tag such a hard time for going to Montana and falling in love with not only a woman but the state. He had wondered what had happened to those Texas boys.
Now he knew.
* * *
DANA THREW A New Year’s party at the ranch for family and friends. Austin got to meet them all, including his cousin Jordan and his wife, Liza, Stacy’s daughter, Ella, as well as cousin Clay, who’d flown up from California. The house was filled with kids and their laughter. His nephew Ford was in seventh heaven and had become quite the horseman, along with his new sister, Natalie.
As Austin looked at all of them, he felt a warmth inside him that had nothing to do with the holidays. He’d spent way too many holidays away from his family, he realized. What had changed?
He looked over to where Gillian was visiting with Stacy. Love had changed him—something he would never admit to his brothers. He would never be able to live it down if he did.
Suddenly, Dana announced that it was almost midnight. Everyone began the countdown. Ten. Nine. Eight. Austin worked his way to Gillian. Seven. Six. Five. She smiled up at him as he pulled her close. Four. Three. Two. One.
Glitter shot into the air as noisemakers shrieked. Wrapping his arms around her, he looked at the woman he was about to promise his heart to. Just the thought should have made his boots head for the door.
Instead, he kissed her. “Marry me,” he whispered against her lips.
Gillian drew back, tears filled her eyes.
“I’m in love with you.”
She shook her head. “I’ve heard all the stories your brothers tell about you. All Austin needs is a woman in distress and it’s the last we see of him. Austin, you’ve spent your life rescuing people, especially women. I’m just one in a long list. I bet you fell in love with all of them.”
“You’re wrong about that,” he said as he cupped her face in his hands. “And don’t listen to my brothers,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t believe anything they tell you, especially about me.”
“I suspect your brothers are just as bad as you. After listening to how they met their wives, I’d say saving damsels in distress runs in this family.”
He grinned. “You’re the one who saved me.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Remember our first kiss?” he asked.
“Of course I do.”
“I knew right then you were the one. Come on, you felt it, didn’t you?”
Gillian hated to admit it. “I felt...something.�
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He laughed as he drew her closer and dropped his mouth to hers for another slow, tantalizing kiss. It would have been so easy to lose herself in his kiss.
She pushed him back. True, the holidays had been wonderful beyond imagination. She’d fallen more deeply in love with Austin. But her life was here in Big Sky, especially since she couldn’t leave her sister and Andy. Not now.
She said as much to him, adding, “You love being a sheriff’s deputy and you know it.”
He dragged off his Stetson and raked a hand through his thick dark hair. Those dark eyes grew black with emotion. “I did love it. It was my life. Then I fell in love with you.”
She shook her head. “What about the next woman in distress? You’ll jump on your white horse and—”
“Laramie needs someone to keep an eye on the restaurant up here. I’ve volunteered.”
She stared at him in shock. “You wouldn’t last a week. You’d miss being where the action is. I can’t let you—”
“I’ve been where the action is. For so long, it was all I’ve had. Then I met you. I’m through with risking my life. I have something more important to do now.” He dropped to one knee. “Marry me and have my children.”
“Our children,” she said.
“I’m thinking four, but if you want more...”
She looked into his handsome face. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious. You may not know this, but I was the driving force originally behind my brothers and I opening the first barbecue joint. I can oversee the restaurant—and take care of you and kids and maybe a small ranch with horses and pigs and chickens—”
Just then, they both realized that the huge room had grown deathly quiet. As they turned, they saw that everyone was watching.
Austin shook his head at his brothers not even caring about the ribbing he would get. He turned his attention back to Gillian. “Say you’ll marry me or my brothers will never let me live this down,” he joked, then turned serious. “I don’t want to spend another day without you. Even if it isn’t your life’s dream to become a Cardwell—”
