Page 55 of Christmas Ransom

“You’re right about that,” he said. “I’ve spent my life taking chances, drawing rank bucking horses that will either put me in the money or the dirt or the hospital. Betting on myself, fighting the odds, testing myself over and over again against eighteen-hundred-pound animals. In all that time, you’ve never taken a chance. Not one. Not on me,” he said. “Not even on yourself.”

She watched him snatch up his Stetson. Their gazes met and held for a moment. She could see him waiting for her to say something. To ask him to stay. But she couldn’t do that any more than she could ten years ago, she told herself.

“I swore I wouldn’t let you break my heart again,” he said, his voice cracking. “This time, it is all on me. Goodbye, Carla.”

She stood there, shaken to her core. Only minutes ago they’d been locked in each other’s arms, promising to love each other forever. What had happened? She heard him drive away in his new pickup, furious with him and what he’d said, furious with herself and how much of what he said might be true. Either way, her heart was breaking all over again.

It wasn’t until the sound of his pickup engine died off in the distance that she let herself break down and cry.

DAVYWENTDOWNto the office the next morning. He’d smelled coffee and knew he’d find someone there working.

James was behind their father’s large old desk. He looked up, not seeming surprised. “Packing up to go?” he asked.

Davy helped himself to a cup of coffee from the pot that was usually going—except when something happened that called for them to dip into their father’s blackberry brandy. “You were right.”

James put aside his work to give Davy his full attention. “I’m always right, but you’ll have to enlighten me why this time.” Then he seemed to see his brother’s face. “You and Carla. She didn’t take it well, you returning to the circuit?”

He shook his head. “I actually thought I could talk her into going with me. Just for even a year, and if she hated it, I would have quit and come back here.”

“Did you tell her that?”

“What would be the point? She’s settled. My life isn’t for her even if I quit the rodeo. There was nothing I could say.”

“I’m sorry,” James said. “I know how you feel about her.”

All Davy could do was nod, his chest aching from the heartbreak when he thought about how much he loved her. “These days together... So tell me about Dad’s case,” he said, wanting to change the subject. “Willie thought he could get a copy of the file—or at least get a look at it.”

James shook his head. “It’s missing.”

“You know it’s those Osterman brothers’ doing. Both Osterman sheriffs were crooked as a dog’s hind leg. So there’s nothing we can do?”

“There’s a good chance there wouldn’t have been anything helpful in the file anyway,” James said.

“Or there could be something someone wanted to stay hidden,” Davy argued. “Why get rid of it otherwise?”

Before James could respond, Willie came in the door, followed quickly by their brother Tommy. One look at Davy and Willie said, “Sorry, bro. I get it, I do. But if after all this you still can’t find a way to be together—”

“You’ve never been in love,” Davy said to Willie as his brothers came in the door on a gust of winter-cold air and snow.

Willie looked as if he wanted to argue, but conceded the point since they all knew it was true. Their older brother guarded his heart closely when it came to women. “If it hurts as bad as you look, then I never want to fall in love.”

“How’s this sheriff’s deputy gig going?” Davy asked him, again anxious to change the subject.

“Good,” Willie said, sounding almost surprised himself. “I like it. I have a lot to learn and I’m definitely a rookie at this point, but...” He smiled. “I’m a fast learner.”

“We were just talking about Dad’s case,” James told them.

“I guess James told you that the file on the accident is missing,” Willie said. “But I did find out something interesting. I think Dad’s pickup might still be in Evidence. I just need to find out where if that’s the case.”

“I’m not sure I want to see his pickup if you find it,” Tommy said with a shudder. “I don’t even want to think about the kind of damage the train did. Anyway, what could you hope to find in it after all this time?”

Willie shook his head. “I don’t know, but if I can find the pickup, I’m definitely going to. So, you’re leaving,” he said to Davy, clasping his brother’s shoulder. “Hope they give you some decent broncs. Do you know who’s supplying the stock for your first ride?”

Davy was grateful that the conversation didn’t return to Carla and his broken heart. Not that he could stop thinking about her. He could still smell her on his skin and ached at the thought that he might never hold her again.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A few days after Davy walked out of her life, Carla got up, showered, dressed and headed for the bank. She’d cried until there were no more tears. She’d also had a lot of time to think about the robbery and the times she’d escaped death. Mostly she thought about Davy and what he’d said to her before he’d left her house.

---