Page 18 of Logan

She turned to look behind her at the sound of a noise, seeing Logan standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, and he gazed at his father before turning and leaving the room, defeated with slumped shoulders.

Clint gently took Dixie’s hand and squeezed it, so she had to meet his gaze. “He still loves you; you know. He always will.”

Dixie shook her head, tears continuing to fall. “He never loved me—”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Dixie,” Clint interrupted, a note of frustration in his voice. “He fell hard for you. It about killed him trying to hide everything from you. If you could have seen him after he arrested your father…” He shook his head sadly. “He knew he’d lost you.”

“He lied to me, Clint,” Dixie whispered brokenly.

“Not about everything,” Clint replied firmly. “He never lied when he told you he loved you.” Taking a deep breath, he continued. “Did you know that he requested another agent take his place right after he met you? He knew he wasway too attracted to continue with the case, but it was too late by then. He never meant to intentionally hurt you, Dixie. He was doing his job and as much as it pained him to do it, he didn’t have a choice. You have to see that. You two belong together.” He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to speak. “You have to move past it. You might not believe it, but he does love you. I can see it in how he looks at you, and you feel the same about him.” He shook his head again. “At least think about it. You’ll both be miserable for the rest of your lives if you stay apart.” His eyes were pleading as he finished. “Now, I’m tired and I want to rest a little. Come see me again, honey.”

Dixie stood and wiped the tears from her cheeks, leaning down to kiss the top of Clint’s head before walking out of the room. She closed the door quietly behind her and walked to the living room, heartbroken at the thought of what Logan was going through.

He was standing by the window, his back to her as he gazed out at the night sky. She approached him slowly, slipping her arms around his waist and resting her cheek against his back. She felt him stiffen up, then take a deep breath, and placed his hands over hers, silently taking any comfort she offered. They stood like that for a long moment, neither one speaking but finding solace in each other’s presence.

With a deep sigh, Logan finally turned to face her. He strode around her, his steps slow and heavy. “I have to get out of here for a while,” he murmured, his voice strained. “Iwon’t be long, so if you want to leave, you can. The nurse is here.”

Dixie’s heart ached as she watched him. She knew he was struggling with the impending loss of his father, and it tore at her heart. She couldn’t imagine how difficult this must be for him.

“Where are you going?” she asked softly.

Logan turned to face her, his dark blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. His strong jaw was clenched, and she could see the turmoil raging inside him. “For a ride,” he said simply, his voice trembling with emotion. “I can’t...” His words trailed off as he shook his head, unable to finish the sentence.

Dixie watched as Logan put on his worn cowboy hat and pulled on his thick coat before opening the door and stepping out into the frigid air. She peered out the small window, following him with her gaze as he strode purposefully toward the dark barn, disappearing into its shadows.

A few minutes later, she saw lights flicker on within the barn and then watched as Logan rode out on his horse, spurring it into a gallop across the open field. The horse’s powerful muscles rippled under its glossy coat as they moved in perfect synchronization. Dixie couldn’t help but admire the way Logan handled his horse, the ease and grace of their movements together despite the weight of his emotions.

As she watched him disappear into the snow-covered landscape, tears welled up in Dixie’s eyes. She couldn’t imagine what wouldhappen when Clint passed away. Would Logan stay in Clifton? Or would he leave, unable to bear the pain of losing someone who meant so much to him?

The thought brought a sharp pang to her heart. No matter what had happened between them, she still loved Logan deeply. But his lies had torn them apart and it would be best if she remembered that. She was in love with a man she hated, and that’s how it had to be.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Clint was right about moving on from Logan’s betrayal. After all, he had been working undercover and had no choice but to use her to get to her father. But did he truly fall in love with her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the flutter of snow outside the window. She prayed that Logan would be safe if the weather got worse. Pressing her forehead against the cool glass of the door, she let out a quiet sob for both the man she loved and the man he loved. Despite how much she would miss Clint, it paled in comparison to the pain it would cause Logan when he was gone.

****

Logan eased his horse to a stop, the sound of hooves muffled by the mud and dusting of snow that covered the ground. The rustic fishing cabin, tucked away on his father’s property, stood before him like a beacon of comfort and solace. He dismounted and secured the reins around a nearby post, taking in a deep breath of crisp fall air before enteringthe dark building.

Flicking on the table lamp beside the door, Logan was greeted by a warm glow that illuminated the small room. He removed his hat and coat, and his boots creaked against the well-worn wooden floors as he made his way to the worn sofa and sank into its familiar cushions.

His gaze wandered over the walls adorned with photographs, each one capturing a different moment shared between him and his father. Memories flooded through Logan’s mind, each one a precious treasure. This cabin had been their sacred place, where they had bonded over fishing at the nearby pond and hunting in the surrounding woods. Despite being away for two years, Logan had made it a priority to visit his dad as often as possible. Even with his avoidance of going into town to dodge encounters with Dixie, he never missed an opportunity to spend time with his father, especially after Clint’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Standing, Logan walked to the photos. As his fingers traced over a photo of one of him as a young boy proudly displaying a massive bass while his beaming father stood by his side, tears welled up in his eyes. He smiled sadly as he remembered his dad swearing as he tried to set the camera to take a photo. It took him three times.

Logan then moved to another photo depicting himself as a toddler cradled in his mother’s arms with Clint’s protective arm around them both. Logan knew how much hisfather missed her; she had passed away when he was too young to remember her, leaving only photographs as glimpses into her life.

With a heavy heart, Logan returned to the sofa, sat, and closed his eyes, allowing tears to trickle down his cheeks. How would he ever cope without his father by his side? After a few moments of silent reflection, Logan stood and made his way toward the door. He glanced around the room before leaving, wondering if he would ever come back here again. It wouldn’t be the same without his dad there with him.

This cabin held countless memories for them, ones that no one else had shared. Even during his time with Dixie, Logan had never brought her here. This was a special place, just for him and his father. For a moment, he entertained the thought of tearing it down after his father’s passing, but quickly dismissed it. Too many cherished moments were tied to this place.

With a deep breath, Logan pulled on his coat and hat, opened the door, turned off the light, and stepped out onto the porch, only to be met with flurries of snow swirling in the air. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath as he jogged down the steps and untied his horse. The wind whipped at his face as he mounted up and urged the horse into a run toward home.

The frigid air stung against Logan’s skin as he raced through the countryside toward the warmth and comfort of home. As he rode into the barnyard, he noticed that Dixie’s SUV wasgone. She must have left for work. He silently hoped that the snow wouldn’t amount to much; the last thing he wanted was to be called in to help with accidents on the roads.

After tending to his horse, gently brushing its coat and making sure it had enough food and water, Logan walked out of the barn and made his way across the yard toward the house. He wiped his boots on the welcome mat. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped into the cozy kitchen.

Hanging up his hat and coat, Logan headed to his father’s room. Quietly pushing the door open, he saw that his father was peacefully asleep, the nurse sitting by his side and reading a book. With careful steps, Logan approached the bed and pulled up a chair, sinking into it with a sigh. Stretching out his legs in front of him, he clasped his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes, letting out all the tension and exhaustion built up in his body.

---