Page 19 of Christmas Ransom

He gave it a moment’s thought. “Naw. I doubt bronc riders know what they’re doing out of the arena.”

She gave him the eye for a moment as if trying to tell whether he was being truthful or just trying to mollify her. “Well, Davy Colt seems to think that Carla might be in danger. He’s staying the night with her at the hospital.” She blew out a puff of air, lifting her blond bangs from her forehead. The kitchen was small and hot. They usually ate takeout in front of the television in the living room.

“You think she told Davy Colt about the note?”

Jesse shrugged. “Depends on how much she trusts him. They seem close but not like they’re involved. There’s something between them though. He’s way too protective. You sure he and his brothers won’t be a problem?”

“They don’t have anything because she doesn’t have anything. If she knew who I was, she would have already told and I’d be behind bars.”

“What about that tattoo?”

He shrugged, playing it down. “So she knows our names start withJ. Good luck finding us—even if she does talk to the feds.”

“She’d better not or she’ll regret it,” Jesse said.

He was beginning to think that Buddy had been right. “The only way they’ll catch us is if I make a move on her.”

Jesse didn’t seem to be listening. Instead, she had a strange look on her face, her eyes narrowed, her lip caught in her teeth. “Carla’s being released from the hospital today. I’ll know if she talks.”

CARLAOPENEDHEReyes to sunshine streaming in the hospital room window. She couldn’t believe that she’d slept through the whole night. For a moment she forgot where she was. When it all came back in a rush, she sat up abruptly.

“Easy, Sleeping Beauty,” Davy said as he approached. He’d been standing on the far side of the room by the window. She hadn’t seen him until he spoke. Her expression must have given her away. “You thought I’d left.”

She started to deny it but stopped herself. “I was just startled for a few moments.”

“Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?” he asked, frowning.

“No.” She chastised herself. If anyone wasn’t trustworthy, it was her. Davy had trusted her, thinking they had a future all those years ago. Then she’d given him the ultimatum—her or the rodeo. She’d known it was a mistake the moment the demand left her lips, but there had been no taking it back.

She’d never forgotten the hurt she’d seen in his eyes. He’d pleaded with her not to make their relationship an either-or. But she’d been adamant, determined to make him choose. When he hadn’t, she’d broken up with him and started dating Levi Johnson. She’d known about the animosity between Davy and Levi. It was one of the reasons she’d jumped at going out with him when he’d called. News of her breakup with Davy had spread fast and Levi had moved quickly.

Carla realized fast that she and Levi had both wanted to hurt Davy. After a few dates, she’d told Levi that she couldn’t see him anymore. By then Davy had gone back to the rodeo circuit, so he probably hadn’t even known anyway.

That she’d purposely tried to hurt him was one of her deepest regrets. That he had now slept in her hospital room on the visitor’s chair to protect her only made her feel worse about the past.

“I’ve given you reason not to trust me though,” she said quietly.

Davy shook his head and gave her a smile. “All water under the bridge.”

She felt tears sting her eyes and had to look away as the doctor came in to tell her she could get dressed to go home. It was no surprise Davy had had one of his brothers get her clothes from her house.

“I’m going to step out into the hall while you change,” Davy said, pretending he didn’t see how close she was to crying.

Carla changed in the bathroom once he was gone. The clothing she’d been wearing the day of the robbery was now in the hands of the feds. Davy had picked up her coat, hat and scarf from her office at the bank.

As she came out of the bathroom, she saw an aide waiting with a wheelchair. Not the same aide who’d brought her food and flowers yesterday.

“We can have your flowers sent to your house if you like,” the woman said.

Carla felt ashamed because she didn’t want to take the flowers. She’d hardly acknowledged the ones from her boss and coworkers. Her life had been so much about her work that she’d let other friendships go, hardly ever seeing old friends who’d stayed in town. How had her life become so small? And now there was a killer threatening to destroy it?

“Could you share the flowers with other patients?” she asked the aide, who quickly nodded.

“I have some elderly patients who would love them,” the woman said, pulling all the cards from the bouquets and handing them to her. “I’ll take care of it.”

As the aide wheeled her from the hospital room, Carla saw Davy waiting for her just outside the door. Sometimes she forgot how handsome he was with his longish dark hair and those incredible blue eyes. But what struck her most was how genuine he was. It made her heart ache for what could have been and the lost years between them.

DAVYHELPEDCARLAinto his pickup and hurried around to slide behind the wheel. He knew this woman, so he could tell that she was uncomfortable being dependent on him. And yet she was scared and didn’t want to be alone.

---