A Cowboy To Keep: A Contemporary Western Romance Collection

by Hebby Roman

  Addison raised her head and focused on the person standing before her wielding a shovel. Bruised and battered, she hardly recognized him.

  “Sawyer?”

  “Yeah,” he slurred, clenching his jaw.

  “Oh my god.” She rushed to his side. Though she could hardly touch him with bound hands, she was too scared to try anyway. He was so badly beaten, there wasn’t a spot on him which wasn’t mangled. “We have to get you to the hospital.”

  He grabbed her hands. Wincing, he pulled free a small knife from his pocket and sawed through the twine. Once freed, she rubbed her wrists. Glancing up she realized his stare was stationed on the red welts the rope had left behind.

  Sawyer raised his head, locking her in an angry green gaze. If she didn’t get him out of here, the man was certain to do something he may regret. “Come on, let’s go. The law can take care of Ramsey.”

  “Sheriff Gatlin? You said he was on Ramsey’s payroll.”

  “He is. I’ll go over his head.”

  “Wait. There’s something I have to tell you. Something about my past. Slim’s probably dead. The other one may not make it either. They aren’t the only ones I’ve ki….”

  “At the moment, I could care less. As far as I’m concerned, they got what was coming to them,” Addison interrupted the confession. “You can tell me anything you want to later.” Pulling on his arm, she scurried to the door.

  A large shadow blocked the entrance. “Aww. I see you two lovebirds have reunited.” Ramsey opened the door wider. Harsh sunlight flooded the space. He lowered his stare, focusing on the bodies of his ranch hands, then unleashed a sidearm from his hip. He pointed the menacing weapon in their direction. “I see you’ve taken care of Slim.”

  Keeping her stare glued to the man, Addison dropped her hold on Sawyer’s arm and slowly lowered her hand to her side. Gradually, she inched her fingers to her waist until she was able to grasp the handle of her firearm. Cold steel prickled her palm. With her thumb, she flicked open the snap, but kept the weapon tucked in its holster.

  “Step away from the door,” Ramsey ordered, waving them to the side with his gun.

  Withdrawing her weapon, Addison rushed forward and placed the revolver firmly against his temple. “No. You step away from the door…and toward the chair.”

  A slow smile spread across Ramsey’s face. “I see now why she caught your fancy, drifter. It appears Miss Reed is a firecracker.”

  “Yeah, try me and see,” Addison warned. “Take his weapon, Sawyer.”

  “Not so fast.” Ramsey aimed his gun at Sawyer’s head. “It seems as if we have us a little situation. As you see, I have nothing to lose. You, however, could end up parting ways with your cowboy.”

  “Don’t listen to him Addison. He’s going to shoot me anyway. I know too much,” Sawyer said.

  “Drop your gun. “ Addison cocked the hammer back, then trailed the pad of her finger over the smooth line of the trigger.

  A loud boom filled the space and smoke filtered out of the barrel of Ramsey’s gun. In shock, Addison followed the trail of the bullet, watching in horror as the lead buried its way into Sawyer’s chest. He fell to the ground in slow motion. Within seconds, blood spread across his shirt and onto the ground, the crimson liquid surrounding his body like a moat.

  Another shot fired, whizzing past her ear and Ramsey escaped her clutch. Suddenly the space was filled with a cluster of armed, uniformed men. A face she never thought she’d see again came racing toward her.

  Jacobs?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sawyer went in and out of consciousness as he was loaded on a gurney and transported to the ambulance. Despite the EMT telling Addison everything would be okay, she had her doubts.

  Though they wouldn’t let her ride with him, an officer offered to take her, and they followed the emergency vehicle to the hospital. As soon as they pulled up to the facility, Addison thanked the man, jumped out, and raced to Sawyer’s side.

  “Not your fault…he was going…to shoot…anyway,” Sawyer mumbled, reaching for her hand.

  “Shhh…don’t talk,” she grasped his palm, entwining her fingers within his as she ran alongside the gurney.

  “There’s something you should know,” Sawyer continued. Struggling, he exhaled a ragged breath. The unforgiving florescent lighting highlighted the paleness of his skin as he strained to speak.

  “I know all I need to. Now quit talking,” Addison demanded. Though she tried to remain strong, tears streamed down her cheek.

  She pulled her gaze from his face and centered it on the makeshift bandages the EMT had secured. Numbly she stared at the red stained gauze. A nurse grasped Addison’s arm, holding her in place as Sawyer was rushed through two heavy doors.

  “He’s headed straight into surgery. I’ll make sure you are kept updated,” she stated sternly before ushering Addison into a nearby waiting room. “You can wait here with your father.”

  Addison raised her head and locked gazes with a sincere blue stare. Jacobs opened his arms and she ran to him for comfort. A flood of tears unleashed as she cried into his shoulder. She put his betrayal behind her, wanting nothing more than the condolence the man provided. After what seemed like an eternity, and no more tears could be shed, she was ready to hear what he had to say.

  “Ramsey was liar and a thief. He was blackmailing me. Started up right after your parents died. At first it was only a cow here and there. Called it a protection plan so you wouldn’t get hurt. But, I know now he was never going to stop. His goal was to own the ranch.” He raised a shaky hand and pulled her close again. She nestled into the crook of his shoulder. As he continued talking, his voice vibrated in her ear. “I couldn’t let something horrible happen to you. Especially after you’d just lost both of your parents. Addy, you have to believe me. You were, are, like my daughter.”

  A new set of tears blurred her eyes. “Why didn’t you go to the law? Or…or tell me?”

  “I did. Sheriff Gatlin is as crooked as they come. Maybe even more than Ramsey. I had to go higher, and wait for them to set up a sting operation so they could catch the crooks red-handed. I wanted to tell you, but couldn’t.”

  “You have no idea how betrayed I felt.”

  “I’m sorry Addy. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you. Or get this fellow shot. Who is he?”

  “My world.” Addison swallowed against the hard lump forming in her throat. “I may as well have shot him myself. Everything happened so fast. And now…he…what if he doesn’t make it?” A trembling shook her limbs.

  Jacob’s squeezed her shoulder with a gentle grip. “He’ll pull through.”

  “I hope you’re right. I can’t lose him.” Addison sat up and faced the man she loved like a second father. “I’ve doubted a lot of things. Especially you. I should’ve known you wouldn’t have done anything to hurt me.”

  Tears flooded his blue eyes and he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He pulled her into a hug again.

  A nurse emerged demanding their attention. “Miss Reed?”

  She straightened in the seat and nodded. “Mr. Dawson just got out of surgery. He’s asking for you. Everything went well, but he’s not out of danger yet. He’s going to be out of commission for a while and will need to be nursed back to health.”

  The woman’s words circled in her head. Not out of danger yet.

  “Bear in mind, he’s still under heavy anesthesia,” the nurse continued. “Take everything he says with a grain of salt. He may drift in and out, and more than likely fall asleep. But you can see him now.”

  As Addison followed her, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder to Jacobs.

  He reassured her with a smile. Determination quickened her stride. She planned on doing whatever necessary to nurse the man she loved back to health. For a moment all of her doubts disappeared…then she saw Sawyer.

  Chapter Twenty

  As soon as Addison walked into his room, Sawyer’s worry eased. The woman he loved w
as here. Safe and sound. But for how long? Especially after what he needed to tell her.

  “You again.”

  He reached out to touch her cheek, grazing the pad of his thumb along her soft skin with a gentle caress. To think he’d almost lost her…and now after he shared the part of his past he’d hidden, he probably would.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked. Concern shaded her tawny gaze.

  He inhaled a weary breath. “I’ll be better once I get what I need to say off my chest. I…uh…I wasn’t completely honest with you about my past....particularly the part about my stepdad. He liked to drink. And when he drank, he got mean.” He swallowed. His mouth as dry as cotton.

  He muddled through the fog in his head, focusing on what happened to Ansel. “I walked in on him hitting her.” Shaking his head, he continued. “No man should ever raise his hand to a woman. I shoved him. He charged me like a bull. Tripped and fell. Hit his head on the coffee table. Hard. Never came out of it. I killed him. I should’ve just took the beating for her. Wouldn’t have been the first time.”

  She flinched.

  Sawyer attempted his best to get past the unguarded response. He had to continue. She needed to hear it all. “They said it was self-defense. But my mom…,” his voice cracked. “She never forgave me. I saw it in her eyes. I didn’t want to tell you. Couldn’t see the same look. Not from you.”

  He glanced up and was immediately locked in a compassionate stare. Addison grabbed his hand and clutched it to her chest. “It wasn’t your fault,” she consoled.

  “I’m not done yet. Fact is, I didn’t want you to find out about my past. I thought it’d be better for you if I just left. After I made Ramsey believe I stole his cows, I was going to get in my truck and go. Find another town and try to forget all about you. But, I couldn’t do it. I love you.”

  “Good grief. You were going to leave me? I’m glad you came to your senses. I would’ve hated having to hunt you down,” she teased with a wide grin. “I swear Sawyer, this is the most I’ve ever heard you talk.”

  “Must be the goofy juice.” A bark of laughter escaped him. The sound echoed, bouncing off the walls in the small room. “Makes me feel all floaty. Now you know everything. Do you think less…of me?”

  “No. In fact, I’m proud of you for protecting your mom. What happened to your stepfather wasn’t your fault. Although, I do wish your mother would’ve handled things differently. And just so you know, I love you too. When I thought...” A visible shudder wracked her petite frame. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “Doc says you’ll be seeing a lot of me. I’m…out of commission.”

  “Good. You can call me nurse Addy.” She kissed the top of his hand, then planted a gentle peck on each of his knuckles.

  “Can I have a bell…in case I need something?”

  “You can, but I can’t guarantee where it might end up.” Addison laughed. “You probably won’t remember any of this anyway. When you aren’t so out of it, I’ll tell you what happened to Ramsey.”

  “Tell me now,” he demanded.

  She quickly gave him all of the details of what had developed after he’d been shot.

  “But how’d they know?” Sawyer questioned lethargically. A sudden drowsiness pulled, promising a deep sleep, and he fought against the heaviness of his eyelids.

  “That’s the part I’m getting to. Jacobs brought them. He didn’t betray me after all. Ramsey had been blackmailing him.”

  “Jacobs.” A slow smile spread his lips. “He can walk you down the aisle….”

  * * *

  “Aisle? As in married?” Addison questioned Sawyer, but he didn’t reply, responding with a sleepy grin instead. Apparently the pain meds had kicked in like the nurse had warned. “I’d marry you a thousand times,” she whispered, studying his face as he slept.

  His skin was a roadmap of injuries. What wasn’t swollen and discolored was marked with stitches. She counted four small black threads above his right eyebrow and three by the corner of his left eye. Soon to be scars of a day they’d never forget.

  Sawyer’s admittance had shocked her, but probably not for the reasons he’d feared. When he spoke of his past, she’d felt his pain.

  Addison clenched her jaw, gritting her teeth. If she ever came face to face with his mom, she may not be able to hold her tongue. How could a mother turn her back on her son? Especially if he were trying to protect her?

  So much suffering and guilt. And for what? An accident which wasn’t even his fault? Shame on his mother and the stepdad too. She vowed never to hurt him in this way.

  The doctor came in and swiftly informed her of the internal injuries. Though bruised, his ribs weren’t cracked, and other than the shoulder injury, nothing was broken. However, they would be keeping Sawyer a few days for observation.

  The bullet had done damage and the location of the wound would take some time to heal. On a good note, if Sawyer didn’t push his recovery, there’d be little long term damage.

  Maybe not physical damage.

  Addison brushed a lock of hair from his forehead and kissed him gently on the lips. She left the room with her mind set on preparing a space in which he’d be comfortable. She had just the place.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  It’d been two days since he’d seen Addison. And though Sawyer could only recall parts and pieces of their last conversation, he knew it had been too much for her to deal with.

  She’d flinched, recoiled from his touch in disgust. He’d remembered that.

  In minutes, he’d be released. Though he couldn’t wait to be out the hospital, he wasn’t in a big hurry to get in his truck and drive to some unknown place to start over again.

  Without Addison.

  Every thought circled around the girl. And now he faced a life without her. A heaviness tightened his chest. The emotional pain far worse than the bullet wound. In fact, he could’ve been shot a thousand times and if wouldn’t hurt this bad.

  A thousand times.

  He repeated the words over again, wondering what about the phrase seemed so familiar. The nurse walked in, interrupting his thoughts. He raised his head and stared at the clipboard she cradled to her chest.

  No doubt she had discharge papers for him to sign. He should be happy to go home…however, the concept held an entirely different meaning than it once did. Addison was the only home he’d ever known. And her absence made it crystal clear she wanted nothing more to do with him.

  “I’ll need your signature. The doctor did go over everything with you, correct?”

  Sawyer nodded.

  The nurse rifled through the paperwork. “I also have prescriptions for pain reliever and antibiotics.”

  “I don’t need the pain med. It knocks me out and makes me feel loopy. I prefer to be clear-headed.”

  “As you wish.” She pursed her lips. “I’ll give you the script just in case the pain becomes unbearable. Make sure you take the antibiotics as directed. You don’t want to get an infection. You are lucky the bullet went through your shoulder and missed vital organs.”

  He stared at her blankly, wishing it had pierced his heart. At least, then he’d be free of this misery.

  “Your clothes are on the chair. Will you need assistance getting dressed?” She pointed toward a seat stationed by the window.

  He shook his head. The last thing he needed was help putting on blood-stained clothes. Trailing his gaze toward the direction she’d indicated, he noted a clean shirt and pair of jeans. “Those are mine?”

  “Yes.” The nurse bobbed her head. “Your wife brought them in while you were sleeping.”

  Wife? Shocked, he stared at her for a moment in disbelief before returning his gaze to the neatly folded pile of clothes. A tingling sensation spread throughout his limbs. “Addison? She was here? When?”

  The nurse glanced at her wrist watch. “Earlier when you were sleeping. Not long after my shift started. In fact, I had her escorted out. She put up a big stink about not being able
to walk you out herself. Medical personnel has to wheel you through the door. It’s hospital policy.” She glanced at the paperwork again. “It’s no wonder you don’t remember. The pain meds you were prescribed are pretty strong.”

  “She’s still here?”

  The nurse nodded. “Yeah. At the front entrance.”

  Sawyer repeated her words until the shock wore off. A slow smile spread across his face. “Then we shouldn’t keep the lady waiting. Help me get dressed, so I can get the hell out of this place.”

  He quickly signed the release form. With the nurse’s assistance, he dressed and was wheeled out of the hospital. The sight of Addison standing by the door stole his breath away. Everything but the woman he loved faded into the background.

  She raced to his side as he stood. On unsteady legs, he reached his good arm out and pulled her into his chest. Holding her close, he inhaled the scent of fresh wildflowers and vowed to never let her go. “I thought you weren’t coming back,” he admitted, squeezing her tighter.

  “Are you kidding?” Addison jerked her head up. She pursed her lips and then glared at the nurse. “I was just waiting for your warden to release you.” She grabbed the elbow of his good arm and tugged him toward her pickup. Once positioned in the vehicle, she started the truck and they headed home.

  For a long time, they rode in silence until Addison started a conversation. “Slim and that other cowboy pulled through and they’re both in custody. Plus, they caught Ramsey,” she informed him. “Now his property is up for sale.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “Not really. Who knows what sort of neighbor we will end up with now?” She cast him an annoyed glance, then continued working herself up. “And what kind of hospital doesn’t let a loved one wheel out a patient? Policy my foot.” A sneer curled her top lip.

  A chuckle escaped him. “What’s really bothering you?”

  Addison stunned him with a pained gaze then returned her attention to the road, turning into the long drive heading to the house. She parked the truck before replying. “Nervous, I guess. Anxious. Like I’m waiting for the floor to drop out from beneath me. Every time I close my eyes, I see you getting shot. It just keeps replaying in my head.”