Courted by the Cowboy

by Sasha Summers

  He nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Hurry up. I want to wash everything before we leave.” She filled both pillowcases with clothes.

  “But I don’t want to go,” Shawn repeated.

  “I don’t, either,” Kylee said, blinking back the tears that stung her eyes. “I don’t, either.” She sniffed, pressing a kiss to her brother’s forehead and wishing with all her heart she could erase every wonderful second with Fisher from her mind.

  * * *

  “WHAT’S UP?” FISHER took the phone Hunter offered him.

  “Hey, Fisher, have you talked to Kylee recently?” Josie asked.

  “Not since this morning,” he answered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

  “She and Shawn just left. Shawn took a few of Eli’s games without Eli knowing it, and Kylee was making him return them.”

  Fisher sighed. “I’m sure they were both pretty embarrassed.”

  “They were. I told them it wasn’t a big deal but I could tell it was eating Shawn up. It kills me what they’ve been through.” She paused. “It’s just, she said they were leaving town and—”

  “What?”

  “She said something had come up and they had to go. I thought I should tell you since I know, we all know, you care about her,” she said.

  “Thanks.” He thrust the phone at Hunter, his heart pounding a mile a minute. “I need your keys.”

  Hunter handed them over without question. He could feel the weight of his family’s eyes on him but couldn’t stop to explain. He had to get to her before she left. Because if she left he knew she’d make it impossible for him to find her.

  “We’re almost done,” Archer called out.

  “You’ll have to finish without me,” he called out, then climbed into Hunter’s truck and flew down the road.

  What had happened? On the drive from the ranch to town, he sifted through their conversation. She’d said they were on their own—they had no place to go. So why were they leaving now? Was Kylee ashamed because of what Shawn had done? It wasn’t right, but it was Shawn’s normal. It would probably take some time for Shawn to forget something he’d been trained to do. It was something they’d have to work on.

  They. As a team. A family. Because that’s what you did when you loved someone. And, dammit, he knew she loved him. Like he loved her. He parked in front of Shots, pushed through the doors, and headed down the hall to the small apartment.

  He knocked.

  “Hey, Fisher.” Shawn opened the door, wearing a hangdog expression.

  “Hey, Shawn.” Fisher stepped inside, being as calm as possible. The sight of the place, stripped down and cold, turned his stomach to lead. Two large backpacks and one beaten-up suitcase sat packed and on the counter. It was hard to breathe. “Where’s Kylee?” He needed to see her, needed to understand what was happening. He’d fix it so they’d never have to leave.

  “She’s talking to Cutter,” he answered.

  “You going somewhere?” he asked, panic thickening his tongue.

  Shawn nodded.

  “Where?” he asked.

  The boy shrugged.

  “What’s going on, Shawn? Things okay?” he didn’t mean to interrogate Shawn, but he needed answers—now.

  “I messed up,” he admitted.

  Fisher looked down at Shawn, the hurt and anger in the boy’s words begging for Fisher’s undivided attention. He drew in a deep breath and laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “What happened, Shawn? Whatever it is, we can figure this out.”

  Shawn slowly nodded. “I took some things. Jesse told me the best way to make easy money was to find things and sell them to pawnshops. But no one will buy the stuff. I’m too young to sell anything so I’ve been hiding it all.”

  Fisher listened carefully, watching the boy’s frustration as he spoke.

  “I tried to get Jesse to sell it for me, but he wouldn’t—said it was my problem.” Shawn frowned.

  Fisher’s blood ran cold. Shawn had talked to Jesse. No wonder Kylee was panicking. “You talked to Jesse? When?”

  “Last week.” Shawn’s eyes filled with tears. “Kylee found the stuff and made me take it all back but she’s still upset.”

  He could understand why Kylee would be upset. It was a small town and people talked. But that wasn’t a solid reason for them to go. But Jesse was—or so Kylee would think. He was the only thing that still scared Kylee. And when she was scared, she ran.

  “I’ve always helped out. I know it was wrong and I feel bad about it but... Kylee’s working two jobs and I’m...just drawing and riding horses. It’s not fair to her.” Shawn’s voice broke. “I don’t want to go, Fisher.”

  “Shawn,” Kylee said firmly.

  He turned, taking in her drawn expression. She looked pale—remote.

  “You’re the kid. I’m the adult.” She brushed past Fisher.

  “We don’t have to go,” Shawn argued.

  “We do.” Kylee sounded exhausted.

  “Why?” Fisher’s impatience got the better of him. He hadn’t meant to be so loud or gruff, but dammit, there was no way he was going to let them go if he could stop it. “Where are you going and why?”

  “Here.” She handed him his truck keys, still avoiding his gaze.

  He gently took hold of her wrist. “Kylee, look at me. Look at me and tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”

  She shook her head.

  Shawn spoke up. “Jesse knows where we are.”

  “I figured as much.” Fisher nodded. “So?”

  That made Kylee look at him. “So?”

  “Let him come.” Fisher slid his hand up her arm and beneath her hair to her neck. “He’s not going to hurt you. Not here. I won’t let him.”

  She stared at him, her blue eyes full of pain. She shrugged away from his touch. “I can’t do that to you, Fisher. I can’t do...this. Any of this...”

  Her words hung in the silence. She was upset. So he needed to calm her down. “Shawn said he talked to Jesse a week ago.” He stood, fighting the urge to reach for her. “He’s not going to come after you. He has no power here. It doesn’t make sense. You two weren’t the only ones working for him, were you? Why come all this way for you two?”

  Part of him wished he was wrong—that Jesse would show up. It’d feel good to beat the man senseless...but it wouldn’t change the way Shawn or Kylee felt. Or Kylee’s urge to run. And, right now, that’s what mattered.

  She shook her head. “Jesse doesn’t do things that make sense. He’s unpredictable. And dangerous. If we’re gone, he won’t stay...”

  “Kylee,” he whispered. The sound of her name was rough, full of the pain tearing through him.

  “I don’t want your family—or you—hurt because of my mistakes.” She glanced at her brother. “Shawn and I can take care of ourselves.”

  “Can’t we stay, Kylee?” Shawn’s voice broke. “I’m sorry. I thought he’d help me.” Shawn added, “But he said I wasn’t his problem anymore.”

  “You’re not a problem.” Kylee hugged Shawn. “You’re an amazing young man with a big heart. You’re a good person. He’s... He is not. Please don’t listen to him.”

  “Kylee’s right,” Fisher agreed, his mind racing. He looked at Kylee, waiting for her to look at him. When she did, he wasn’t expecting to see tears. He reached up, wiping them away. “Don’t go.” It was a plea and an order. He couldn’t make her stay, no matter how much he wanted to. His only choice was to lay it all out there. “You are my family. You and Shawn. I love you both. I’m not going to let you go without a fight.”

  She shook her head again. “This isn’t your fight.”

  “Maybe I want it to be,” he said softly, hoping she’d let him in. Where he belonged.

  “You don’t unde
rstand,” she said.

  “You’re right, I don’t. But I want to.” His gaze searched hers, giving rise to a glimmer of hope. He needed more time, to help her and Shawn come up with the best possible options.

  She stared at him, her blue eyes boring into his. “I want you to go,” she said, so softly he thought he’d misheard. She turned away to pick up her backpack. “Come on, Shawn, we need to get out of here.” Fisher had never felt such panic.

  “But next week...” Shawn stopped, his lips pressed together.

  But, even as his heart was breaking, Fisher understood. “Camp.” Next week was what Shawn had been waiting for. “Starts Monday—”

  “I don’t have to go to camp,” Shawn said, his voice dull and resigned. He picked up his backpack, sniffing softly. “This is my fault anyway.”

  “Shawn...” She sat on the couch, covering her face with her hands. “Dammit.”

  Fisher didn’t know what to do. There had to be a way to give them what they wanted—without losing them. But his mind was blank, still processing the last ten minutes and trying to make sense of what had happened. All he could do was be there. “What do you need?” he asked.

  Kylee glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I’ve got this, Fisher. We’ll be fine. You...you can go.”

  That was the one thing he couldn’t do. Leave her? Shawn? Now? “I can’t,” he forced the words out.

  There was a knock on the door then, startling them all. Fisher saw the way they jumped, how wide-eyed they were as they stared at the door. And it made his blood boil. How could he convince them he’d protect them? How could he explain that he would never let anyone or anything hurt—control them—again?

  “Fisher?” It was Renata. “Kylee? Sorry to break up the snuggle fest.”

  Fisher saw the siblings exchange a look, saw the instant easing of Kylee’s posture and expression. Instead of guarded and tense, Kylee looked defeated. And it tore at his heart.

  Fisher opened the door to find his sister, smiling broadly, completely unaware that his heart was breaking and his world was falling apart.

  “I talked Dad into bowling and thought you three might want to go...” Her voice faded and her smile dimmed. She paused, staring long and hard at him, Kylee and then Shawn. She stepped inside, sliding a reassuring arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Looks like you all could use some cheering up. And don’t tell me it’s nothing or to mind my own business, Fisher, because you know that’s not going to happen. What’s going on and how do we fix it?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Fisher stood, watching the wind blow through Kylee’s long black hair. Her attention was focused on Shawn riding around the corral. Not that she needed to worry, Shawn had more than proved himself as an able horseman this week. Still, she leaned into the fence, her forehead resting on the top beam, her arms crossed. Fisher could see the lift of her lips as Shawn glanced her way and knew she’d smiled that smile at her little brother.

  His heart twisted sharply, the air he breathed in razor sharp and stinging.

  Camp was almost over. And nothing had changed.

  For four days he’d acted as if all was right with the world. And, according to Renata, he was doing a good job. So what if he’d hung his punching bag on his back porch and pummeled it until his hands were throbbing? No one knew. And it had given him an outlet for the frustration that twisted his insides, at least for a little while. Besides, scowling and stomping around wouldn’t do a damn thing to change Kylee’s plan to leave.

  The problem was, he didn’t know what would.

  Every day for the last four days, he’d greeted her with a ready smile at work and at the ranch. With Renata and his father’s persuasion, Kylee and Shawn had moved all their belongings into one of the rooms at the Lodge. It wasn’t far from Stonewall Crossing, but it wasn’t where Jesse thought they were. Between Renata and Shawn, Kylee had reluctantly agreed to stay for camp. And that ensured Fisher had more time with them...if only Kylee would cooperate.

  Shawn went out of his way to point out how safe the ranch was. While Kylee reminded him over and over that it wasn’t their home. Even if that’s what Fisher wanted more than anything.

  The week was almost up and he’d made no progress.

  She dodged every smile or comment he offered, door he held open or hand he offered. Her eyes never met his—unless it was by accident. And then she’d look away, leaving him aching over the pain and sadness in her big blue eyes.

  He wasn’t giving up. He’d never give up.

  “Kylee said yes to Montana,” his father said, coming to stand beside him at the fence. “Kind of hard to argue with a job, a roof over your head and the added security of a seventeen-hundred-mile road between here and there.”

  Fisher nodded. “Makes for a long drive back and forth on date night,” he said, smiling.

  “Maybe,” his father chuckled. “But it was a good call, son. Your aunt Myra’s got that place to herself since Tandy and Toben up and left on her. Will do her some good to have extra hands on the farm. And, from the looks of it, Shawn’ll get a kick out of that, too.”

  Fisher nodded again. “Boy looks like he was born on horseback.”

  “He does at that. He and Trigger have taken a real shine to each other. Maybe it’d help Shawn to have Trigger go with him?” his father asked.

  Fisher looked at him.

  “Course, you’d have to drive him up in a few weeks, after the camps are done.” His father winked at him.

  Fisher laughed then. “Never knew you were such a matchmaker, Dad.”

  “Two down, two to go,” his father said. “Gotta keep the family name going and make sure there’s enough Boones to keep working the place.”

  “What if your grandkids are in Montana?” he asked. He’d go, if Kylee asked him to.

  “Pretty country up there,” his father said. “And it’s Boone country, too. Just a might colder in the winter months.” His father shivered.

  Fisher laughed again. He wasn’t a fan of long, cold winters, either. Truth be told, Stonewall Crossing was exactly where he wanted to be. But he’d follow Kylee anywhere if she gave him some inkling that’s what she wanted.

  He glanced at her only to find those big blue eyes watching him and his father. In unison, he and his father tipped their hats at her. She turned away, but not before he caught a glimpse of her smile. He’d missed that. He missed her.

  At the vet school, he lingered at the admissions desk. After work, he headed for the ranch to help Renata—knowing full well Kylee would soon be there. He’d chatted with Shawn, watched the progress the boy had made and tried to engage Kylee when she got there, but she’d shut him down and found a place to stand exactly opposite of him.

  “I admire your determination,” his father said.

  “Some things a man can’t give up on,” Fisher answered, meaning it. No matter how long it took, he wasn’t giving up on Kylee. Or Shawn. He knew they were his family, one he was proud of.

  Long after the blue sky turned pink and orange and black, he was still finding things to do in the barn. There were thirty kids in camp so there were thirty horses that needed brushing out, thirty saddles that needed polishing, stalls that needed to be cleaned, plenty of work to wear himself out. When he looked at the clock, it was almost midnight. He wiped his face with his bandanna and started flipping off the extra interior lights.

  “It’s late.” Archer strode into the barn, heading toward the small office. “Why are you here?”

  “Helping Renata,” Fisher mumbled.

  Archer looked pointedly around the empty barn. “Renata?”

  Fisher crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his brother. “Why are you here?”

  Archer paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as his gaze met Fisher’s. “I left my computer cord in th
e office.” He disappeared inside the office briefly. “Have some charts to review before I can power down for the night.”

  Fisher nodded. He’d caught up on his charts. “Need help?”

  Archer shot him a look. “With my charts?”

  He nodded.

  “It’s not like you to mope.”

  Fisher felt an instant flare of anger. “Mope?”

  Archer nodded, pointing. “Mope.”

  “Anyone ever tell you you’re—”

  “Opinionated? Honest?”

  “An asshole?” Fisher asked.

  Archer’s eyes went round.

  “I accept you’re not a people person. I accept that you don’t believe in love because it’s not concrete enough for you.” Fisher’s words were hard. “I can’t prove or explain or show it to you but I can tell you it’s pretty...damn great. And losing it hurts more than...anything. Like getting kicked in the chest by a horse, over and over and over.” He paused. “So how about giving me a break?”

  “Being kicked repeatedly by a horse would be painful. And it might kill you.” Archer’s tone was anything but sympathetic.

  Fisher sighed long and loud, shaking his head in pure exasperation. “That’s about right.”

  Archer stood there, his computer cord clutched in one white-knuckle fist. He frowned at Fisher, his lips pressed tight as he stepped forward and pulled Fisher into a hard embrace. Fisher was too startled to speak, his brother’s uncharacteristic show of affection awkward. And comforting.

  * * *

  KYLEE GLANCED AT the clock. It was two in the morning. Shawn snored in the other double bed, oblivious to her tossing and turning. She’d counted sheep, stared at a single spot on the ceiling and gone through the ways to make various drinks—but nothing helped. She was wide-awake.

  Maybe it was because the Lodge was so quiet.

  Maybe she was worried about this weekend, their trip—starting over.

  She drew in a wavering breath.

  She didn’t lie. She shouldn’t start now. She knew the truth. It was Fisher. Somehow the thought of leaving him scared her more than anything else. Even Jesse. She didn’t know what to do. Or how to bear the almost unbearable pain in her chest that thoughts of heading to Montana prompted.