Books by Linda Conrad

by Conrad, Linda

  Hunter leaned over and whispered, “Kody now knows.”

  Cisco wasn’t sure what Kody would think, but both Long brothers deserved to be here for the end.

  The old man moaned slightly and raised his hand. “You came to help. Give me the parchment’s instructions.”

  Hunter spoke up from behind Cisco. “We don’t have them.”

  “Then I’m a dead man. Get out and leave me alone.”

  “Don’t you recognize us, Father?” Cisco asked in a clear, strong voice. Sure the old man was too weak, Cisco knew that his mind must be gone, too.

  No further words came from the blurred form lying in the bed. The vision wheezed once, then stopped breathing. Once again, right before Cisco’s eyes, a human body changed forms. Skin and sinew became fur and claw, until at last what lay dead in the bed was an old gray wolf.

  Cisco stood shoulder to shoulder with his two brothers, looking down at the abomination for the moment. Then, without needing to say a word, together they turned and headed out to join the rest of the Brotherhood in cleaning up the mess.

  Chapter 16

  H e’d left without a word. More than two weeks later, Sunnie still couldn’t believe Cisco hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye. He’d helped the Brotherhood fight off the rest of the Skinwalkers at the mansion. Then, at daybreak he’d had Hunter drive him to the airport without looking back.

  He’d left his car with the missing parts at Junior’s garage, the same way he’d left her with a missing heart.

  Not that she would have collapsed at his feet and begged him to take her with him if he had stopped to say goodbye. She’d known the two of them weren’t meant to be together. He’d made it clear that though he might love her, he would never stay with her. For some reason, he seemed sure she was meant to be in Dinetah—without him.

  Sighing, she thought about how the work of rooting out evil still continued in Dinetah. But without the Navajo Wolf and the leaders of his evil band, most of the Skinwalkers had been rounded up by the Brotherhood and were undergoing deprogramming and harmony training.

  Stumbling through her memories and thoughts, Sunnie finished bandaging a child’s skinned knee and put away her instruments while in a kind of autopilot mode. It was nice to be back to work at Raven Wash Clinic, even if she did keep catching stomach bugs every time she turned around. But neither work nor illness could keep her mind off the man who had helped save her entire clan from the darkness and bring them into balance.

  If he didn’t want to be with her, there was nothing she could do. She only wished for some way to capture a moment in time and space to bring her spirit back. A moment where the two of them could have a better ending to their story.

  Sunnie had to wipe the glaze of tears from her eyes. He’d thought she was strong and special—and would have a better life without him.

  “But I was only special in your eyes, Bounty Hunter,” she whispered to the shadows. “Without you, I’m back to being nothing but dull and gray.”

  Tory Wauneka caught up to her in the hall. “Hey. You don’t look so hot. Are you feeling all right?” Tory was none the worse for her kidnapping and had been helping out at her husband’s clinic for the last of the winter months.

  “Just a stomach thing. Must’ve been something I ate.”

  “You need rest…. Why don’t you go on home?”

  Yeah, home alone. It meant nothing to her anymore.

  Six weeks later, Sunnie stepped out the back door of the clinic, trying to find some air. She was tired and needed a break, but her thoughts never strayed far from Cisco. What was he doing? Where was he now?

  Then there he was, standing tall in the warm spring sunshine, next to a fancy red car. Waiting for her?

  “Cisco.” That one word was all Sunnie could manage past the huge lump in her throat as she closed the door behind her.

  “May I speak to you a minute?” he asked.

  “Sure.” He didn’t have to ask. She was his to do with as he wished. “I’ve been wanting to tell you…that is, I never had the chance to say a proper goodbye.”

  “Would you consider putting off the goodbye?” he asked softly. “Maybe making that a welcome back instead?”

  “Back? For how long?”

  He looked down at his boots like a man who was unsure of himself. Not at all like the Cisco she knew.

  “For as long as you’ll have me,” he murmured half under his breath.

  “Of course. You’re welcome…” His meaning hit her then like a baseball to the Adam’s apple. “What are you…saying?” she stuttered past a choking sob.

  “I love you, mi vida. With everything I am. And I think—at least I hope—you love me, too. I thought I could live without you. Thought you’d be better off in the arms of your own family. Living your own life. But it’s no good. I’m no good. I don’t know a thing about families, and I’m not sure I can fit into your world. But I need to try.

  “I’m useless without you,” he continued slowly. “The job, the houses…none of that means a thing. I can’t stand not knowing if you’re all right.”

  Tears streamed down her cheeks and she gave up on trying to hold them back. “I do love you. You know I do. But I didn’t think you’d come back. I thought I would have to find you.”

  He took her hand and held it against his beating heart. “You were coming to me? Isn’t everything okay? Why did you need me?”

  She threw her arms around his neck and laughed through the tears. “Because I want you in my world, too, Cisco. To be my life, my love, my always. And if you’ll stay with me, love me back, I promise you’ll have all the family you will ever want or need.”

  Epilogue

  C isco slipped out of the waiting room where all his family had gathered. His half brothers, Hunter and Kody, and their wives, Bailey and Reagan, chatted quietly with Mrs. James, who had become like another mother to both him and Sunnie. The rest of the Brotherhood would be coming later today. Even now, Michael Ayze’s wife and sister were gathering all the children so their parents could visit.

  But Cisco was on a mission. Determined to have a quiet moment with his wife and a chance to be alone with their new son, he crept down the hall and eased into Sunnie’s room.

  She lay in the bed, sleeping with their brand-new baby, Francisco Santiago Jr., in her arms. Cisco pulled up a chair and gazed down at his life. With his heart in his throat, he reached out to touch each of them.

  How his world had changed. Nine months ago he would’ve never guessed it could be so different.

  Up until a few weeks ago he and Sunnie had been traveling across the world. First so he could watch her face light up every time he showed her some new place or pointed out a new natural wonder. And secondly so he could work on his new assignment of tracking down the hundreds of bank accounts that the Navajo Wolf had secreted far and wide.

  The Navajo Tribal Council had hired his company for the task, and though his employees were competent at most things, this was one job he wanted to handle himself. Cisco had agreed to find and bring back to the People the money the Wolf had stolen. It might end up taking years, yet he was the right man for the job.

  For now, they were home.

  As he studied his new baby, Cisco had a moment of pure terror. Was he the right man for the job as this child’s father? He’d never had a good example to follow. But if love counted for anything, he would certainly die trying.

  Sunnie blinked awake and gazed up at him. The love shone there in her eyes, too. It gave him strength.

  He took her hand and squeezed. “He’s as beautiful as you are, mi vida. You did good.”

  “We did good, Daddy. And your son and I love you very much.”

  He bit back the sudden wetness in his eyes to behold everything he had ever wanted—and not realized he’d missed until Sunnie. Love. Happiness. And, most of all, family.