Genuine Cowboy. Joanna Wayne

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      “Troy always talked a lot about his sons.”.

      “He will be so sorry he missed visiting with you.”.

      The conversation turned to less stressful topics. Ranch life. The house Dylan and Collette had just built. Helene’s treasured courtyard garden that Collette had restored with Dylan and Troy’s help. Life in the small town of Mustang Run.

      When Colette’s phone rang, Eve was surprised to see that an hour had passed since the ambulance had sped away with Troy inside.

      Collette pulled the phone from her pocket and checked the caller ID. “It’s Dylan.”.

      The tension seemed to melt from Collette’s features as she talked, allowing Eve to breathe easier. She stood and took their coffee cups to the sink, giving Collette a little privacy. For once, Joey didn’t follow.

      Collette was smiling when she joined her in the kitchen. “They’re still running tests, but Troy is responding to treatment and meds. He’s conscious and talking.”.

      “Thank goodness.”.

      Moisture brimmed in Collette’s eyes. “It would have been so sad if Troy had lost his life just when he was finding it again. I just hope his other sons give him a chance the way Dylan has.”.

      “Maybe tonight’s incident will open their eyes,” Eve said.

      “I wouldn’t bet on it, but I’m sure Dylan will let them know about it. Anyway, Dylan said Troy remembers that you were here, and he’s asked about you.”

      She’d almost hoped he wouldn’t remember. He didn’t need to waste his energy worrying about her.

      “He seems to be under the impression that you’re in some kind of trouble,” Collette said.

      “I’m sure I didn’t say anything to give him that impression.”.

      “Still, Dylan says he seems anxious to see you. I know this is an imposition, but is there any way you could make a quick trip to the hospital in the morning? It would mean a lot to him.”.

      “I’m not sure.” She wasn’t even sure she’d stay in Austin. Perhaps the best thing now would be to just go home and rely on the police for protection.

      “You could stay the night,” Collette said. “Then you wouldn’t have to drive these unfamiliar country roads in the dark.”.

      “You mean stay here at the ranch?”.

      “Sure, there’s lots of room,” Colette said. “It’s not fancy, but it’s comfortable. I’d invite you to stay with Dylan and me, but unfortunately we haven’t furnished the guest room as yet.”.

      Staying here was the perfect solution. Even if Orson was still planning revenge, he wouldn’t show up here. And by morning Orson might be behind bars again.

      “I suppose I could stay tonight,” she said, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. “If you’re sure Troy won’t mind.”.

      “After you saved his life? Not that he’d mind anyway. I’ll help you get your things out of the car and show you to the guest rooms. All the beds have new mattresses and linens, so you can take your pick.”

      “I can manage the luggage. I’ll just bring in an overnight bag.”.

      “Then I’ll straighten the kitchen. Oh, but first give me your cell phone number in case I need to get in touch with you about Troy. That way you won’t have to bother picking up the house phone if it rings and answering a hundred questions if someone calls for Troy. And I’ll give you my number in case you need something in the house that you can’t locate.”.

      Eve was hesitant to give Collette her phone number. The phone was new, temporary, bought with cash at a convenience store to make certain Orson could not use it to track her down. It had been purchased right after she’d gone to the bank and withdrawn five thousand dollars so that she wouldn’t have to use her credit cards.

      The only one who had the phone number was Gordon Epps—and the ambulance service, if they bothered to check their incoming call records.

      But surely Collette could be trusted.

      Once they’d exchanged numbers, Eve took her car keys from her pocket and started to her car. Joey jumped off the couch when he saw her pass with her keys in hand.

      “I’ll be right back, sweetie. You can keep watching TV. I’m just going to the car to get our luggage.”.

      “What about our adventure?”.

      “It’s late, and I’m very tired. We’ll spend the night and get an early start in the morning.”.

      “I don’t want to spend the night here. I wanna sleep in my bed.”

      “Your bed is all the way back in Dallas. Besides, this is your first visit to a real ranch.”.

      “And in the morning, I’ll show you the cows and the horses,” Colette said. “Do you like horses?”.

      “I think so. I never got close to one,” he said, hurrying to keep up with Eve as she started toward the car. “But I need to go home.”.

      Eve stooped and hugged him. “It’s going to be okay, Joey. You’ll like it here, and I’ll sleep next to you.”.

      “Promise?”.

      “I promise.”.

      The howl of coyotes in the distance and the forlorn hoot of an owl greeted them as they stepped onto the porch. Dark shadows jumped out at her as she took the creaking steps to the walk. Weirdly, she had a chilling feeling that someone was watching her.

      It was just the isolation of the ranch and the fear that stalked her. She couldn’t give in to it. Yet the icy trepidation stayed with her until she and Joey were back inside the well-lit house.

      She’d be safe here. To believe otherwise in the face of the facts would be letting Orson Bastion win the battle of minds without him ever making a move against her.

      She was tougher than that.

      THE CREAKS AND RASPS of the rambling old ranch house set Eve’s nerves on edge. Surprisingly, the same had not been true for Joey. He’d fallen asleep mere minutes after she’d tucked him into a twin bed at the end of the long hallway.

      Once she was sure he was sleeping soundly, Eve left him to brush her teeth and wash and cream her face in the nearby bathroom.

      Thoughts of Orson continued to plague Eve’s mind as she slipped into her cotton pajamas. Of all the inmates she’d counseled, he’d been the only one she dreaded having to talk to—even before the night he’d left no doubt that he could kill her without a second’s remorse.

      Joey was still sleeping soundly when she returned to the bedroom, but anxiety was buzzing inside Eve like a horde of angry bumblebees. Knowing sleep wouldn’t come quickly, she went back to the family room and turned on the TV.

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