Page 88 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“Yes, please.”

“How about you, Auntie D? What do you wanna eat to go with that nasty attitude you dragged in today?” Louisa says, finding her voice again.

Darla laughs lightly. “You could never take criticism. Makes you more like your uncle than you care to admit. Alright,” she pauses and glances through the menu. “Actually, you know what? I’ll take the same as Melissa. Chicken and mushroom pie. Salad starter. But add a coffee with my sparkling water, please. I need the caffeine fix.”

Louisa nods slowly and walks off, likely muttering a slew of curses that would make a nun blush.

“What?” Darla asks, raising an eyebrow at me. “She had it coming.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” I chuckle softly. “But I do appreciate it.”

“Don’t worry about it. That girl’s been carrying a torch for Colton ever since she was in pigtails. I warned Sammy, but he said it would pass.” She shakes her head slowly. “Colton told me about your date night and Louisa’s behavior.”

“Oh.”

“Well, nothing stays a secret for too long at the ranch,” she replies. “Speaking of. You do need to figure out how you’re going to tell them about the babies.”

“I’ll tell them tonight,” I say, nodding with newfound determination. “I’ll sit them down and just… lay it out. Oh, Darla, what if they don’t want any of this?”

She smiles broadly. “Are you kidding? Those boys are dying to be fathers, to start a family. They just so happened to get lucky enough to stumble upon a woman like you. If that ain’t God talkin’, I don’t know what is.”

“But the cartel—”

“Auntie Darla, can I talk to you for a moment?” Louisa cuts in. I didn’t even see her coming over. “It’s important.”

Darla looks up at her. “What is it?”

“It’s private. Please.”

“Go on, Darla, it’s cool. I’ll wait,” I say.

“Alright.”

The minutes roll by, and my thoughts continue to swirl, ideas brewing, fears unlocking. I become restless as the salads arrive, courtesy of the other waitress. I look around, but I can’t see Louisa anywhere. Darla, either. I check the time on my phone. It’s been twenty minutes. That can’t be right.

“What the…” I mumble and get up from the table.

I’d rather focus on my salad and toasted bread, but something feels off. I walk out of the Cavalier, hopefully finding Darla and Louisa, but they’re nowhere to be found. The street itself is almost empty. Barely a soul outside. It’s close to freezing, and it looks like it’s going to snow again.

“Where are they?” I ask and go up the road. There’s an alley to my right that leads to the back door of the pub.

There’s a car parked a few feet away, wedged between the building walls. No one else can get in or out. The headlights come on, temporarily blinding me. “Motherf…” My voice trails as I hear the car door open and the rushed footsteps.

My heart starts racing. My instincts kick in as I realize the engine is running. I turn to run back up the alley, but I react too late.

Jake covers my mouth with his hand to stop me from screaming. His arm snakes around my waist, and I’m hoisted off the ground. I struggle as hard as I can, trying to kick and hit whatever I can, but I’m no match for a desperate man’s strength.

He drags me out of sight and shoves into the trunk of his car.

“Jake!” I cry out when he pulls back.

“Shut up!” he snaps and smacks me so hard across the face, I see stars for long enough for him to close the trunk.

“Oh, God,” I mumble, fear and dread eating me up from the inside. I’m trapped in the trunk of Jake’s car. I listen to him get back behind the wheel.

The car starts moving, and I’m screwed.

27

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