Page 86 of Dark Side of the River

She waited until the nurse and doctor left before going back into her sister’s room. “So what’s the word?”

Oakley smiled. “Not quite good as new. I’ll have a scar, but I get to go home tomorrow. I can’t wait.”

“I can pick you up,” Tilly offered.

“No need. I’ve got a ride.” She looked at her little sister askance, making Oakley laugh. “It’s not what you think. Brand offered to pick me up. I know, surprising, huh, that our brother offered. While it is probably out of the goodness of his heart, I suspect it has more to do with the new nurse working here.” She shrugged. “I don’t mind. I like helping out true love every chance I get.”

Tilly still found herself studying her sister. Oakley had been living a secretive life that had almost gotten her killed. But the big question was why CJ had shot her. Nothing he’d said before he’d wrecked the pickup made any sense. All her instincts told her that he’d lied about why he’d fired that shot. She just hoped it wasn’t because Oakley had discovered the meth lab. Then again, it could have been because of her involvement with Dirty Business. She doubted, though, that it had anything to do with CJ thinking she was meeting someone on the McKenna Ranch.

It worried her. Oakley had been living a dangerous life, and none of them had been aware of it. Soon her sister would be going back to it. Tilly had no doubt about that as she said, “Okay, I’m going to head home, but we are going to talk soon.”

“You worry too much about me when you’re the one you should be worried about. When Mother sees that rock on your finger...” She shook her head but smiled. “Just remind her that she would have married Holden McKenna if he hadn’t chosen someone else.”

“Oh, that sounds like the perfect thing to remind Mother of when she’d be having a coronary over my engagement to Cooper,” Tilly said. “’Bye. Call if you need me.”

As she left, she knew that her mother probably had already heard about the engagement, but she doubted she would call—even to tell Tilly how disappointed she was or to make threats.

No, Tilly knew that there wouldn’t be a showdown between her and her mother over this until she returned to the ranch with CJ—and who knew when that would be?

As she stepped outside into the Montana summer, she decided to enjoy this time. She glanced down at the ring on her finger. She was marrying Cooper McKenna, and she couldn’t be happier.

Her step felt light as she walked to her pickup. She was in love and right where she wanted to be.

“YOUMISSEDTHERODEO,” Holly Jo said when Cooper found her down at the stables. “Everyone was looking for you at the Fourth of July celebration.”

He doubted that. “I was busy.”

“Treyton was really mad. He said you were probably up to no good with Tilly Stafford.”

Treyton needed to keep his mouth shut around Holly Jo and her big ears. “You want me to teach you a trick or not?”

“Yes.” She closed her mouth, but he could tell she had all kinds of questions brewing.

After her lesson, he left her to put everything away under Deacon’s watchful eye and walked up to the house. He found his father in his den.

“Knock, knock,” he said, tapping on the open door. “Got a minute?”

“For you, always. Have a seat.”

“I just got Holly Jo started on a couple of horse tricks. She’s taking to it quickly. We might have created a monster. She keeps saying she wants to be a cowgirl in the Hall of Fame like Connie.” He held up his hands. “My bad. I mentioned Connie to her.”

His father chuckled. “Thank you for doing what you are with her. I wouldn’t have the patience.”

“It does take patience,” he admitted with a grumble. “But that wasn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. I gave Tilly the ring and asked her to marry me. We’re engaged.”

Eyebrow rising, Holden said, “That was quick.”

“I suppose that’s what people will say, but I think it’s been percolating for years.” Cooper got to his feet, feeling a little disappointed at his father’s response. “Just wanted you to know.”

“Congratulations,” Holden said, rising and reaching for his hand to shake. “She’s a delightful young woman. I’m honored for her to become part of our family.”

“Thank you,” he said, shaking his father’s hand. “I was worried that you—”

“No, no,” Holden said quickly. “I was just surprised you popped the question so quickly after I gave you the ring. You have my support.”

Cooper nodded, pleased. If his father had been against it, he would have been another hurdle to leap over—not just now but in the future. “It means a lot to me.”

“I hope you and Tilly will make your home on this ranch,” his father said. “You’re welcome to live here, there’s plenty of room, but I suspect you’ll want your own home.”

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