Wyatt grabbed Gabe’s ankle, twisted it, and took Gabe back down onto the ground. Wyatt jumped up and stood over him. He was about to reach for Gabe again when someone grabbed his arm from behind. Wyatt spun around, swinging his fist and hitting Jake squarely on the jaw, knocking him to the ground. When he realized he’d just belted his oldest brother, he swore, and stormed off. He’d only gone a few feet when someone spun him around and punched him on the chin, knocking him down to the ground. This time, it was Jake, not Gabe, who stood over him.
“I owed you that,” Jake told him as he put his hand out to help Wyatt up.
Wyatt stared up at him, and then gave him a terse nod before accepting his brother’s hand. Once on his feet, he narrowed his eyes.
“All good, but get him the hell away from me.” He jerked his chin toward Gabe. Jake nodded.
“Are you all right?” Jake asked rubbing his own jaw.
“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”
Jake grunted. “Like I’d think he would. I meant, are you all right, since you and Olivia…”
Wyatt held a hand up. “I’m fine. I’ll get past it.” He tightened his jaw, turned and walked away through the barn.
* * * *
Sheriff Sam Garrett pulled into the parking lot of Dalton’s Motel. Sam was pleased with what he’d found out. It seemed Sharon Winters was, in fact, Charlotte Roberts and had an impressive criminal record. He shut off his SUV cruiser and got out. Scanning the doors, he found room sixteen and knocked. A few seconds later, she opened the door. Sam saw a flash of fear in her eyes but she quickly recovered and gave him a come-hither pose.
“Well, if it isn’t the gorgeous sheriff. What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to come in and speak with you,” Sam told her.
She hesitated and then opened the door wider, allowing Sam to step inside. He moved to the small table and nodded for her to take a seat. After she sat, Sam pulled a chair out, turned it around, and straddled it. He reached into his shirt pocket and took out a small writing tablet. Sam was old school. He wrote everything down on paper—no iPad for him. Finally, he glanced up at her.
“Who had you come here, Ms. Roberts?” He noticed her blink when he used her real name, but she kept a calm expression.
“I don’t know what you mean, Sheriff. I came here to see my daughter.”
He smirked. “And to extort money from her.”
Sharon gasped. “I did no such thing. If she told you that, she’s lying.”
He folded his arms across the top of the chair and leaned toward her. He knew she was feeling cornered because she wouldn’t meet his eyes. “We can talk here or at the station. It’s up to you.” He shrugged.
Sharon laughed, but it was forced. “We don’t have anything to talk about.”
He grinned. “Oh, I think we do…Charlotte. You see, I know all about you, except why you’re here, so you may as well tell me. You’re not getting any money from anyone. I know you’re wanted for embezzling from your last employer, and you’ve been hiding under assumed names for the past three years.”
Sam watched the blood drain from her face. If he hadn’t been so pissed about what she’d put Olivia through, he might have felt sorry for her. He sighed in impatience.
“All right, Charlotte. Let me tell you what I know. You, as Charlotte Roberts, embezzled over one hundred thousand dollars from your employer so you disappeared, and got a new identity. Then someone found you, and enticed you to come here to try to run your daughter out of my town.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t know why yet, but I want you to tell me what I’m missing.” Sam shrugged. “It may help your case of extortion, if you cooperate. As far as the embezzling, you’ll be fully prosecuted.”
He watched her put her hands over her face and burst into tears. Sam didn’t move. He knew tears and these were real. She was scared. He handed her a tissue. She blew her nose and stared at him over the tissues. He raised his eyebrow.
“Let me ask you this. Was Stephanie Taylor involved?”
Sharon shook her head. “No. I introduced myself to her the day you all saw me talking with her on the street. I just wanted to see what was so special about her then anytime I saw her after that, I spoke to her.”
“What made you want to see what was so special about Stephanie? How would you even know who she was?”
“Because of her father, Blake Taylor. He hired me to come here and run Olivia off so Stephanie could get Wyatt back,” Sharon whispered.
Sam reared back. “It was Blake? You’re sure about this?”
“Of course, I’m sure. I met with the man. He paid me fifty thousand up front and once Olivia moved away, I’d get another fifty thousand. Only, I underestimated my daughter. She didn’t run away.” She took a deep breath. “Blake Taylor hired a private detective to find me, and once he found me, Taylor made me the offer.”
“Was Blake behind running Olivia off the road?”
Sharon nodded. “Yes. He hired a man who used to work for Wyatt. Ben…something or other.”
“Collins?” Sam asked.
“Yes, that’s it. Ben Collins. He said he owed Wyatt.” She sniffed. “Now what, Sheriff?”
Coming to his feet, Sam reached for his handcuffs. “Now you stand up and put your hands behind your back.”
Sharon gazed up at him and blinked. “Isn’t there something I could do to change your mind?”
Sam glared. “No, there isn’t.” He snapped the cuffs on her wrists. “You have the right to remain silent…”
* * * *
Blake Taylor’s arrest shocked the entire town. He’d wanted to give his daughter what she wanted and she’d wanted Wyatt. Even his daughter was in shock. The townspeople stood outside the courthouse watching as Sam escorted Blake inside.
Olivia, Becca, and Emma stood across the street in front of the diner when Stephanie approached and stopped in front of them.
“I’m so sorry, Olivia. I know this was my fault. I never should have gone on about how much I didn’t want you and Wyatt together,” Stephanie said, and by her expression, with sincere apology.
“He did achieve what he wanted though. I’m leaving Montana,” Olivia said, and then entered the diner with Emma and Becca following her without giving Stephanie a chance to gloat.
She had no other choice but to leave. As much as she loved this little town and her friends, she couldn’t stay here so close to Wyatt. Seeing him without being able to be with him would destroy her. Both Becca and Emma had begged her to stay, but Olivia stood firm.
“You’re going to go get the rest of my things from Wyatt’s place, aren’t you, Becs?” Olivia asked after they settled into a booth.
“Yes.” Becca sighed. “I hate to see him since I may just have to give him a piece of my mind.”
Olivia touched her hand. “Please don’t. I knew going in it wouldn’t last. I have no one to blame but myself.” She choked back tears. “It’s not Wyatt’s fault. He made it clear from the beginning what kind of relationship it would be.”
They ordered lunch. Olivia had no appetite and only picked at her salad. The sooner she got out of this town, the better.
* * * *
Wyatt was sitting in his living room when he heard the back door open. He stood and headed toward the kitchen, half hoping it was Olivia returning. It was Becca standing in the center of the room wearing a surprised expression.
“What are you doing here, Becca?”
“Me? Jake told me you were going to Butte, otherwise…”
“I’m going tomorrow. Why?”
“I came to pick up the rest of Olivia’s things.”
Wyatt nodded and turned away from her. He should have known Olivia wouldn’t want to come back for any reason. She had sent Becca instead. He knew Becca was following him.
“Her things are in the bedroom. You know where it is.” He waved his hand toward the hallway.
“It’s too hard for her to come here, Wyatt.”
He nodded. “
You can tell her she’s welcome to come by and get whatever you miss. I’m sure she wants to see Coco once in a while too. She loves that horse.”
“She won’t be coming at all, Wyatt. She’s leaving Montana.”
“What?” he asked, shocked. He hadn’t expected her to leave town completely. He didn’t like that idea at all.
He listened as Becca told him how Olivia had decided to travel, and then settle down somewhere. He fell back into a chair and put his hands over his face. He felt Becca touching his knee. He opened his eyes and stared down at her as she kneeled in front of him.
“I really messed up this time, Becca. I should have told her how I felt a long time ago. Now, it’s too late.”
“How do you feel about her?” Becca asked him.
Wyatt took a deep breath. “I’m in love with her.”
Becca jumped up. “Well, then you have to tell her.”
He started shaking his head.
“Yes, Wyatt! You have to. Can you really just let her go? Can you live like this the rest of your life?”
“No, but I hurt her.”
“Yes, you did and it won’t be easy getting her here but I have an idea. Do you have to go to Butte tomorrow?”
“Not really.”
“I’ll convince her to come here to see Coco and check for any of her things I might’ve missed. In fact, I’ll deliberately miss something so she has to,” Becca said smiling.
Wyatt frowned. “And then?”
Becca swatted at him. “Then she’ll come over here and you’ll be here. You can tell her how you feel and convince her not to leave.”
He shook his head. “She won’t listen to me. I hurt her too badly.”
“Wyatt, she loves you. You have to try, at least. Don’t let the best thing you’ve ever had disappear from your life.”
“I suppose it’s worth a try,” he muttered. Becca hugged him and smiled happily as she headed back to the bedroom.
He wished he were as enthusiastic about it as she was. What if Olivia doesn’t come over? What if she does and tells him she doesn’t want him anymore? Jesus! What in the hell was he going to do if she told him she didn’t want him anymore? He ran his hand down his face, groaned, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. Becca had better know what she’s doing.
* * * *
Olivia pulled her car into Wyatt’s driveway and parked near the back door. She blew out a breath. How was she going to do this? How could she go into that house? Enter that bedroom? That bedroom with the bed they’d shared and not fall apart? She glanced around and didn’t see anyone. Had they all gone to the sale?
She shook her head thinking it didn’t really matter. Nothing would ever matter to her again. She blinked back tears as she got out of her vehicle. Once she entered the kitchen, she took a deep breath and headed toward the living room. She halted in her tracks when she saw Wyatt leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. Olivia blinked, thinking it was her imagination, but he raised an eyebrow at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her insides suddenly turning into a flock of butterflies fluttering around at the same time.
“I live here. What are you doing here?”
“I came to get the rest of my things,” she said, her voice ending on a sob.
Wyatt straightened up, moved toward the living room, and took a seat in the recliner. Olivia stared at him like a woman stranded in the burning hot desert and he was a sparkling cool swimming pool. She wanted to jump in. Gathering her pride, she headed back to the bedroom where she put the rest of her things in the bag she’d brought with her. As she left the bedroom, she glanced into his office. After a quick glance toward the living room, she entered the room and took the picture of Wyatt and Cochise. She stuffed it into the bag before entering the living room again.
“Weren’t you supposed to be in Butte?” she asked in curiosity, but grateful he was here so she could see him one last time, imprinting his gorgeous face on her mind so she never forgot it.
“I changed my mind,” he said without looking at her.
Olivia bit her lip to keep from gasping at the pain shooting through her heart. She blinked the tears back while heading out through the kitchen, pausing a moment to wish things were different but knowing they weren’t, and then left.
* * * *
Wyatt swore when he heard the door close softly behind her as she left the house. He’d have felt better if she would’ve slammed it. He jumped up and hurried through the kitchen. As he gazed out the back door, he saw her hesitating about getting in the car. Was she going to come back in? She closed the door of her vehicle and headed toward the barn. Coco. She was going to see Coco.
Do something, you idiot! If he didn’t do something quick, she was going to walk out of his life—forever. Wyatt put his coat on. He was about to go out the door when he saw her coming back from the barn, wiping tears away from her cheeks with her gloved hands. She started toward her vehicle, but then suddenly changed her course and headed for the metal building. Cochise. She wanted to see him before she left.
Son of a bitch! He couldn’t let her leave. Not now. Not ever. Wyatt went out the door and strode across the yard, and quietly entered the building behind her. She was petting Cochise. Other than him, Cochise only let Olivia touch him. She’d stolen his heart, too.
He leaned against the doorjamb, folded his arms across his chest, and crossed his booted feet at the ankles. To anyone looking at him, he looked completely relaxed but in reality, he was strung tighter than a bow. His eyes never left her and he was ready when she turned to leave. The minute Olivia spotted him, she faltered in her steps. Then her chin went up and she strolled toward him. He pushed himself away from the doorjamb and stepped into her path. He stopped and waited for her to reach him. She hesitated only slightly as she came forward, and then she moved around him.
Wyatt closed his eyes for a second, and then turned to watch her walking away.
“Olivia…” He cleared his throat. She didn’t stop. “Olivia,” he said louder and watched as she slowed her steps, but still she didn’t stop. Wyatt blinked his eyes quickly as tears made it difficult to see.
“Please…” He was willing to plead for her to stay. She stopped and turned to face him. He dropped to his knees. “I’ve never begged for anything in my life, but I’m begging you now. Please, don’t leave me.” Wyatt lowered his head.
Olivia slowly moved toward him. “What are you saying?”
He raised his head and heard her gasp. He knew she saw the tear rolling down his cheek. “I’m begging you to stay with me, darlin’. I’ll crawl if I have to.”
“Why? Why do you want me to stay, Wyatt?” Olivia asked him, and he knew what she needed to hear.
“I can walk away from anyone but you, Olivia.” He shook his head. “I can’t walk away from you.”
“Why?” She repeated her question.
“I’m in love with you.” He swallowed hard. “I love you so much. You’re the only woman I’d ever be on my knees for.” When she didn’t say anything, he thought he’d waited too long. He lowered his head and took a deep breath. “I blew it, didn’t I?”
“You hurt me, Wyatt.” He heard her whisper and the words were like a knife through him. He despised himself for hurting her.
He gazed up at her. “I swear I’ll never hurt you again if you’ll stay with me. I don’t want to be without you. I can’t be without you in my life. Please.”
She stared down at him with tears rolling down her face. “You love me?”
“More than you could ever know.” Another tear rolled down his face. “Please. You’re all I want in my life. I’d give up everything I own to have you back. Nothing matters to me as much as you do. Name it. If you want to leave Montana, we will. It doesn’t matter as long as we’re together.”
“Cochise?”
He nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”
Olivia gasped. “You love him.”
“I love you more.”
“I love you too, cowboy,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion, and her beautiful, amazing eyes glistening with accumulated tears.
“You do?”
“Oh, Wyatt, I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
He smiled. “I want to spend my life with you, sweetheart. I want to marry you.”
Olivia squealed and leaped into his arms, causing them to tumble onto the floor laughing. Wyatt rolled her onto her back catching her head in his palms, and kissed her deeply.
“I love you, darlin’. I’m going to tell you every day so you’ll never doubt it, and if I have to get on my knees to prove it, I will—every day.”
“I don’t want you on your knees, Wyatt. I never did. I just wanted you to love me.”
“I do. I love you so much it scares the hell out of me but if you ever leave me, I’ll come after you.”
“You’ll never have to worry about that. You’re stuck with me. Now let me up, cowboy. I have a wedding to plan.”
Wyatt burst out laughing and lowered his head to kiss her again. It was a while before they got off the floor.
Epilogue
June was unmercifully hot, but the bride and her party didn’t care. They sat in the living room of Becca and Jake’s home sipping champagne. Olivia gazed at her two best friends. Their gowns matched the color of their eyes. Becca wore green and Emma wore blue. Olivia had stolen Becca’s idea for the color of the gowns. In her wedding, Olivia had worn purple and Emma had worn blue. They looked so beautiful, making Olivia smile.
Wyatt Page 21
