Chase: (Contemporary Western Romance) (New Horizon Ranch Mule Hollow Book 3)

by Debra Clopton

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chase brought himself to his knees blood dripped from his shoulder and pain seared through him. He had to get to Amber. He stumbled forward just as Adela came hustling around the corner of the apartments.

  “Amber,” he called staggering toward her. He had to get to his truck. Adela yanked her sweater from around her shoulders and pressed it to his wound.

  “You have to stop the bleeding,” she urged. “The girls have gone after Amber.”

  “The girls?” What craziness was this?

  App’s big old truck came wheeling into the parking lot and the old man hung his head out the window. Stanley was in the driver’s seat and Sam jumped from the back seat and hurried to him and Adela.

  “Come on, let’s get you in the truck. Honey, get on in thar we’ll tend to this on the way. We got women to catch. No tellin’ whose gonna get shot with that group flying across country.”

  Chase stumbled to the truck. Thinking he must be in worse shape than he thought from what he was hearing. He collapsed into the back seat and Adela immediately set to tying up his wound and stopping the bleeding. Sam climbed in behind him and slammed the door.

  “Hang on,” App yelled and wheeled the big truck around and swerved out of the parking lot.

  “Who went after Amber?” he asked wincing when petite Adela nearly punched her tiny hand through the bullet hole attempting to stop the bleeding.

  “Lacy’s driving with Norma Sue and her shotgun riding shotgun,” Stanley boomed. “Esther Mae and Sheri are with them too. In that caddy with Lacy driving they’ll catch her. Don’t you worry.”

  Worry? Chase started praying because this had just turned into a nightmare. He grabbed the back of the seat and sat up so he could focus on the road up ahead. He blinked and could see the hot pink caddy up ahead. Lacy’s blonde hair whipped in the wind as she drove the car like she was racing in the Indy 500. “Can you make this truck go any faster, App?”

  “Danged ole truck ain’t got the juice it used to but hang on,” he warned and punched the pedal to the floor.

  Behind them, thank the good Lord, Chase heard sirens.

  Amber had lunged toward the steering wheel and Ned had aimed the gun at her. Now she sat in the seat willing her head to stop spinning. Blood trickled down her forehead from where he’d hit her and she figured she had a concussion, it was throbbing something fierce. But if she could just get him stopped she might be able to get away. Fear for Chase clung to her and she had to get back to him. Had to check on him. She glanced over her shoulder and almost choked…

  The posse was in pursuit.

  There was no mistaking Lacy’s caddy hurling toward them in hot pursuit and Lacy’s trademark white blonde hair whipping in the wind. And behind her, the unmistakable red hair of Esther Mae stood straight up in the wind. As the car gained she could make out Sheri beside Esther Mae and in the passenger’s seat there sat Norma Sue and...Amber squinted—the ranch woman had a double barrel shotgun pointed straight at them.

  Amber had just enough time to brace as fire erupted from the end of the gun and the next thing she knew the rear tire of Ned’s car blew.

  Ned cursed beside her and Amber dove toward the steering wheel. Just as his pistol went off.

  Chase watched in horror as Norma Sue aimed and shot the rear tire nearly smooth off the car that had Amber inside. The car swerved and then, it did a wild spin and caught two tires. He prayed it wouldn’t flip. Because he knew there was no way Amber had on a seatbelt.

  The wheels came back down, but the car spun several times then veered off the road and slammed into a ditch. App screeched to a halt right behind Lacy. Chaos erupted as he made it out of the car and yelled for everyone to get back. “He’s armed and dangerous.”

  Thankfully they all moved away as he crouched down and moved to the back of the car. There was no movement inside. Brady and Zane screeched to a halt and within minutes they’d had the doors opened. Ned lay motionless. Chase got to Amber's side and pulled the door open. The bag had hit her too but she was only stunned. She gasped when she saw him and launched herself from the car.

  “You’re alive,” she cried and clung to him.

  He clung to her and buried his face in her hair. “I thought I’d lost you,” he said.

  She shook her head. “Never.”

  She looked up at him. Tears in her eyes. “He told me he was going to take something I loved. And that was you.”

  Chase went still. “You love me?”

  “Oh, Chase, I do. Crazy I know but all I could think about was you. I knew I’d do anything to get back to you.”

  He smiled and pulled her close. “I love you too crazy girl.” And then he kissed her.

  “Okay you two, love birds into the truck. Someone call the ambulance,” Brady demanded as he steered them toward his truck. “We’ve got a concussion and a lot of lost blood going on here.”

  Amber looked dazed. “Maybe true. But I do love you, Chase Hartley.”

  He grinned. She did look like she might not be thinking straight. He sank to the seat of Brady’s truck and wrapped his good arm tightly around Amber and then…everything went black.

  Amber looked around the apartment at Adela’s as the women all crowded into the living room. This was her guardian angel group. The posse plus some. Sure-shot Norma Sue, speed racer Lacy, fearless Esther Mae, Sheri and Adela. Sadie and Maddie were here too and looking at all of them Amber had to blink back tears. Never in her entire life had she felt such a sweet sisterhood as she did now, with this group. They’d come after her. Risked themselves to stop a madman from harming her. And there had been all the others too. App and Stanley, Sam, Brady and Zane. And there had been Chase.

  She sniffed and wiped a tear as they all had pitched in to on the apartment project-all but Chase who had no clue what she was up to. Ned Talbert was in jail now and would be for a very long time. It had taken two weeks for her to feel normal again. She thought her head might never stop swimming or the headaches go away that were left over from the severe concussion that Ned had given her when he’d smacked her with his pistol, but they finally had.

  She’d said some crazy things when she’d been fuzzy in the brain and one of those things had been telling Chase that she loved him.

  But he’d told her the same thing. He’d lost a lot of blood and by the time the ambulance had arrived they’d both passed out. When they’d awakened they’d each drawn back a little, she figured he’d realized the craziness to his declaration and she’d known that hers had been completely unlike her. She’d reminded herself that she needed to be cautious. Falling in love in a week...it was irrational. And she and Chase were both rational people. They thought things out. They planned. They did not give into irrational things.

  So they’d not said the L words again. They’d talked. And he’d even kissed her and told her he wanted her to stay. He’d even told her either way that he was coming to court her and that she needed to be ready...but she hadn’t been able to think straight and she’d made no promises. This was too important. She’d had to think.

  “So, what do you think?”

  Sadie beamed. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. And after all you’ve been through I believe you’re making a very smart choice.”

  “I agree. This apartment is perfect for you,” Maddie said.

  “I think it’s great,” Esther Mae huffed, “but I still don’t understand. You two are perfect for each other and this just does not make sense to me.”

  “Esther Mae, hush,” Norma Sue snapped. “Give the girl some room. She’s been through one heck of an ordeal.”

  “I know it. I was there too, remember. I nearly passed smooth out when you shot that tire out and sent that car into conniption fits.”

  “We all did,” Lacy said. “But now these two have a shot let’s give them space.” She winked. “You go, girl.”

  Amber watched as Lacy and Sadie hustled everyone toward the door. Feeling both trepidation and elation at the
same time. “Wish me luck,” she called.

  Sadie halted and glared at her. “You don’t need luck. God’s got this and after all that happened...everything that could have gone wrong already did.”

  “Ain’t that the truth,” harrumphed Norma Sue as she reached the stairs and led the procession down and out of the building.

  Amber listened to their footsteps and chatter disappear and she took a deep breath as she looked around once more. She’d moved a few things in from her apartment back in Houston. The rest would come later. But already the apartment was taking shape. Tonight would be her first night to sleep in her new home. Tomorrow she would celebrate Thanksgiving Day with Sadie and Rafe and hopefully Chase.

  She heard the rumble of a truck and went to the window and peered out. Chase shut the door of his truck and stared at the building. He looked tired. She hadn’t seen him in several days and though he’d called, she hadn’t answered the calls because she needed him to have his space. She needed him not to feel responsible for her.

  Adela had asked him to come by the apartment for a moment. He was probably wondering why she needed him to stop by.

  Walking to the top of the stairs Amber waited for him to come through the doors and see the note telling him to come upstairs. When he looked up he stopped.

  “Amber,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

  He looked so wonderful. If he just didn’t look so tired she’d say he was doing great but she had a feeling he wasn’t sleeping good.

  She smiled at him, knowing her heart knew what it wanted. “I have a surprise and I’m hoping you like it.”

  He moved up the steps, his gaze steady on hers as he came. “This building doesn’t give you bad memories?”

  She shook her head. “No. It’s not this gorgeous old home’s fault about what happened here. And actually, what happened here was good in many ways.”

  He reached the landing where she stood and her heart was pounding so hard it was a wonder he couldn’t hear it. She stared at him, drinking him in and knowing she could look at him for the rest of her life.

  It had been a month now that they’d known each other so that wasn’t as off the wall as a week.

  “Are you alright?” he asked. Touching her cheek with his palm.

  “I’m good. Just happy you’re alive and well.” She reached for his hand. “Follow me please I need to talk to you.”

  She led him through the doorway and into her new home. He paused just inside the room. Looking around. “Amber?”

  She laughed. “Chase?”

  “What are you up to?” he asked.

  “Welcome to my new home.”

  “You’re moving here?”

  She nodded and moved to stand beside him. “Chase, I know we’re both practical, rational people. And I know that we went through a week together that was kind of intense...but, when you were shot. When I thought I’d lost you I really did know that I loved you. I haven’t said it again because I didn’t want to scare you away. But it's true. I decided to start over here in Mule Hollow. I’ve taken that job at No Place Like Home. I want to see the results of what I’ve always done. I want to live near you. I know what I feel for you is love...but it’s happened so fast and I’m worried that it might be too fast for you after all. So, no pressure on you. I just wanted to start here and see if you might want to—” her words stumbled to a halt when he smiled, a slow sexy smile that sent butterflies swooning inside of her.

  “Amber, darlin’, I told you I loved you the day Ned tried to kill us. And my mind hasn’t changed. I’ve just pulled back to give you some space because I knew you had a lot on your mind. You’ve been under tremendous pressure and I wanted you to have time to process us.”

  Relief filled her. “Us. I like us.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “I love us,” he said and kissed her so she knew he really, really loved “us”. When he pulled back her knees were weak.

  “Oh,” she sighed. “I could get used to that.”

  He grinned. “God gave us a second chance when I could have lost you that day and I’m forever grateful. I’d planned to come to Houston and court you if that’s what it took. Because you deserve to be courted. And that’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to live here. Get settled into your new job and your new town and I’m going to take you to dinner, take you to the movies, on picnics.”

  “On horseback rides,” she interjected.

  “On horseback rides too,” he said. “I’m going to take my time, and make sure you feel just as cherished as you’re supposed to feel. And then, Amber Rivers, if you still want me, then I’m going to marry you. How does that sound?”

  Amber knew what he was doing. He was showing her that he would be around. That he cared enough to spend time with her and be there for her. He just didn’t realize that she already knew that about him.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. “I think that sounds wonderful. Just as long as you’re going to marry me. Because I’m planning on marrying you and last I heard it takes two to make that work.”

  He chuckled. “You are so right about that.” And then he kissed her and she decided that life in the country was going to be far, far, far from boring like she’d once believed.

  —The End—

  Coming soon!

  TY

  NEW HORIZON RANCH: MULE HOLLOW Book 4

  Best friends forever…happily ever that is…Christmas wedding bells will be ringing if the Matchmakin’ Posse of Mule Hollow can get this stubborn cowboy and cowgirl together under the mistletoe for the most anticipated kiss of the holiday.

  Will Ty Calder, mild mannered partner in the New Horizon Ranch, get his secret Christmas wish and heal his lonesome heart this season? Find out in Book 4 of the New Horizon Ranch/Mule Hollow series.

  Horse trainer Ty Calder did the right thing four years ago and sent his best friend, Mia Shaw off with a hug and best wishes in her quest for her rodeo dreams to come true. But now she’s back for the Christmas holiday and he’s not sure he can send her off again without revealing his true feelings…

  Mia is back in Mule Hollow healing up from an injury that could end her run for the championship. But, lately her heart’s not been completely committed to her rodeo dreams and Ty has her thinking he might just be the reason.

  Suddenly, tensions are running high between Mia and Ty…sparks are flying and have been spotted by the Matchmakin’ Posse. Now these two are dodging mistletoe, matchmakers and the kiss they’re both fighting to avoid and longing for.

  But Ty can’t believe Mia is ready to give up on her dreams when she’s so close…he knows it means more to her than most people realize. No matter how much he wants a life with Mia he refuses to stand in the way of her dreams even if it means losing her forever…

  It may take his four partners at the New Horizon Ranch and the town of Mule Hollow to get these two believing Christmas is especially the time that love can conquer all.

  This is going to be one Christmas these two will remember forever…

  For news on upcoming books, click here for

  Debra Clopton's Newsletter

  Dear Readers:

  I hope you enjoyed Chase and Amber’s story as much as I loved creating it! CHASE (#3) of the New Horizon/Mule Hollow series was a blast to write and the first 3 books of this series are now available: HER MULE HOLLOW COWBOY (#1) RAFE (#2) CHASE (#3) and coming very soon TY (#4) and then DALTON (#5). I’ve included a short excerpt of TY. To get notified of TY’s release date the day the preorder goes up, and all other news on my books, sign up for my NEWSLETTER today!

  I’ll be starting a Review “Posse” soon and would love to have you join…more on that soon! For now, if you’d consider leaving a review of this book (here) I will be YOUR fan forever ☺ xoxo

  Happy Reading!

  Debra

  New Horizon Ranch: Mule Hollow Series

  Her Mule Hollow Cowboy (Book 1)

  Five ranch-hands in
herit a Texas ranch from their boss. These cowboys and cowgirl vow to honor their beloved boss by making the New Horizon Ranch the success he envisioned when he chose to leave his legacy in their care. Along the way they each find the love of a lifetime. You’ll fall in love with these fun, sweet, emotional love stories.

  Cowboy Cliff Masterson saw a woman in need and stepped in—because Maddie was too stubborn to ask…

  Cowgirl Maddie Rose has never belonged anywhere but she’s just inherited part of New Horizon Ranch—along with her partners, four handsome, extremely capable cowboys… Maddie’s trying to adjust to her new life and her new partners she’s still unable to believe she’s an owner of this fabulous ranch. Not sure why she was included, she’s out to prove herself worthy of the honor of the inheritance. Loving her new life in the small Texas town of Mule Hollow, she’s determined that, for the first time in her life, she’s going to finally belong somewhere…

  Professional Bull Rider Cliff Masterson has been chasing his dreams for years—or has he been running from his past? He’s searching for more in life and ready to dig in his spurs and put down roots deep in the heart of Texas. Rescuing a beautiful cowgirl from being trampled by a bull has him dreaming of romance, home and hearth.

  But Maddie’s had enough people in her life leave and she’s not willing to risk her heart on him—Sparks fly as he’s determined to prove to the feisty cowgirl that the only think he’s chasing now is wedding bells with her…