Page 123 of On the Wild Side

“That’s my girl.” I brush my hand over Daisy’s hair. “My sweet princess. I want you to know that I would have followed you, andIwould have found you. There is no world where you run from me, Abbi. You’re it for me. You are the love of my life, and I plan to make a home and a family with you out here. No crazy broad is going to ruin that for us. Not today or any other day.”

She sniffs and turns her face so she can kiss my palm. “I panicked. I can admit that now. I’d let my guard down for so many months and had become so comfortable in our life here, and when that threat showed up again, every instinct told me to run, to protect my girl.”

“And from now on, you runto me, and we figure it out together, no matter what it is. You donotrun away from me.”

Abbi nods. “Cowboy?”

“Yes, Blue Eyes?”

“I love you. Forever. And I won’t run ever again.”

“Good.” I kiss her cheek and then her lips, and I slip beside her, pulling her against my side so I’m snuggling both of my girls, and this is where we stay for quite a while.

Until Chase comes calling, and then chaos ensues once more as we’re called back to the farmhouse so my girls can be fussed over, and Chase can ask Abbi some questions.

“It’s over,” Chase informs Abbi. “She’ll be moved to a psychiatric hospital in North Carolina. Her husband is on his way to collect her.”

“He doesn’t want to see Daisy, does he?” Abbi asks, fear moving over her face once more as she looks at the ceiling, where Daisy is in Holly’s room, playing.

“No,” Chase replies, shaking his head. “He didn’t say a word about Daisy.”

“What will happen to them?” Joy asks. “If she’s as mentally unstable as you say, Chase, what will happen next?”

“They’ll escort her to her home state, and she’ll be admitted. I’m no doctor, but based on what I saw, it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s committed for the rest of her life. But, just in case, we’ll file a restraining order, and if she does ever come out of the hospital, she’ll face charges of trespassing, attempted kidnapping, and a whole host of things. Basically, she’ll spend the rest of her life pretty miserable.”

“Good.” Abbi deflates in relief. “I’m sorry for all the drama, you guys.”

“Are you kidding?” Millie grins as she sips her beer. “We love some good drama. We’ll be telling this story for generations.”

“So, Abbi,” Remington says, catching our attention. “Do you still plan to move away?”

I start to speak, but Abbi shuts me up by pressing her hand to my mouth, making my family laugh.

“No,” she finally says, as if she’s really thinking it over, and then she grins. “I’m already home. Right here, at this ranch, with these amazing people.”

I kiss her palm and then move her hand aside. “Damn right, you are.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

BRADY

“Where are my girls?” The townhouse is still as I push inside and then drop my bag on the floor by the front door. I had to stay the night in Oregon last night, rather than heading right back home, but it’s Saturday morning, and they should be here.

So much has happened in the past month since everything came to a head with Janet, and Abbi’s past was finally put to rest.

The man who attacked Abbi in the condo all those months ago is officially back in federal prison, where he belongs. He won’t have the possibility of hurting another woman for more than twenty years, and Ryan made sure that the father wouldn’t be able to pay off another judge.

Rancher Jeans was sued by Wild Industries, and they settled out of court for two million dollars, and, in exchange, they got to keep the commercial. Every dime from that settlement went into a trust for Daisy.

I’m back to riding and don’t actually feel too bad. I’ll get through the rest of the season, and then I’ll propose to Abbi. I need to officially close that other door before I can ask her to take that last step with me.

But our house is framed in and should be finished by spring.

Now, I just need to see my girls.

“Ladies?” I call out, but the house is quiet.

There’s no one here.

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