Page 80 of Caught By A Cowboy

“Jace, I need you to stay calm because what I have planned won’t just hurt that family, it’ll end them.”

“I could end him, right the fuck now.” I go to head for the door but she somehow manages to get up and block me.

“And risk missing out on your son’s life? Be smart, Jace, you know the Gendrys, they’ve made a living out of pissing people off. They have security and people in high power.”

“So what do you suggest we do?” I look to her for answers.

“We take our time, drip feed them poison while we wait for the opportunity to strike.”

“And how do I know I can trust you?” I stare her in the eye.

“Because they took someone from me, just like they took from you…and I like this town. Once all this is over, maybe I’d like to start a family in it.” I back down when I see pain looking back at me.

“I may be the sheriff but I’m prepared to let you run this town however you want. But when it comes to that family, we do it my way.”

I nod back at her because, as much as I hate it, she’s right. The Gendrys are clever.

“I’ll leave you to inform your uncle and Eli…I’ll even let you break the news to my deputy,” she sniggers.

“I take it you’ve already spoken to Sawyer, is that why he left?”

“He wanted to call you but I told him I wanted to speak to you myself, first. With all that's happened, I figure that's a conversation you should have with him tomorrow.”

She turns as if she’s gonna leave.

“How did ya know about us?” I call after her. “That night you came into town You wanted us to know that you knew something.”

“Jace, I was watching this town for a long time before I stepped into it. I’ll be in touch.” She slaps my shoulder before she sees herself out and, although I’m mad as hell and want to string Michael Gendry up by his balls, I’m kinda relieved that Riley Hale is no longer my enemy.

“I heard voices.” My wife stirs awake as I step into the bedroom and when I hear stirring coming from the crib, I head straight to it and lift up our boy.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. Go back to sleep if you want, I got this.” I smile.

“He’ll probably want to feed, again. Doctor West said newborns take little and often.” She sits up and unbuttons the front of my shirt she’s wearing to sleep in.

“Here.” I pass him over and sit down beside them, watching him latch onto her nipple.

“You getting jealous?” She smirks at me as he feeds from her.

“I can’t believe you're mine.” I ignore her question and say what's on my mind.

“Are you going all soft on me?I’msupposed to be the emotional one.” She laughs and I take hold of my son's hand in mine and wrap my other arm around her.

“No, I’m being serious. I don’t know what the hell I ever did right to deserve this but, right now, life’s feeling pretty perfect.”

“A wifeanda baby all in one day, not a bad day at the office.” She looks up at me and beams. “All the time we were making him, and even while I was pregnant I kept wondering if I was crazy, but now he’s here I feel so whole.”

“Baby, you were never crazy,” I tell her. “You just got yaself caught by a cowboy, and he wasnevergonna let you get away.” I kiss my wife and thank whoever was lookin’ down on me the day this pretty, runaway bride ran straight to me.

MADDISON

“How am I ever going to get anything done?” I’m sitting on the couch, just staring at my sleeping boy. I’m exhausted, but now that my parents have left for home and the girls have been over to meet him I can finally spend some time with my husband and our son.

“Hell, if I know. I’ve done nothing all day.” Jace rests beside me, staring at him too.

“So are we sticking with JJ?” I ask him, wondering what the future will hold for him.

“It seems strange to call him by anything else.” Jace smiles. “Babe, we gotta talk about somethin’.” I don’t like the serious tone of his voice as I turn my head to look at him.

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