Page 32 of The Cowboy's Wild Side

“Yes and no. That lake and cabin was such a wonderful surprise. I still can’t believe you went to so much trouble for me.”

“When the idea came to me I was surprised too,” he exclaimed with a grin. “Though I admit I’m a spur of the moment kinda guy.”

“Apparently, and it was fantastic.”

“But why do I get the feelin’ there’s something botherin’ you?”

“Because there is, and it’s not something, it’s someone.”

“Gino Stallone, the crooked trainer,” he said with a sigh. “Try not to think about him. He has no idea where you are.”

“Don’t think of a brown bear,” she declared. “What did you do? Think of a brown bear, right?”

“Then I guess I should say—don’t think about the greattime we just had.”

“Cade, the thing is…” she said, lowering her voice as he turned into the ranch, “a few minutes ago I suddenly had a really bad feeling. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but he’s sure to know I’ll tell my parents, and they’ll go to the authorities, I can’t even imagine the fall out. He’ll probably be arrested.“

“There’s no probably about it,” Cade remarked grimly as he pulled to a stop.

“What will happen to his training stable…all those horses and owners…the people who work for him. It’s going to be nuts! Obviously he’ll do just about anything to stop me, but this feeling I have,” she continued solemnly, “it’s…it’s…hard to explain. It feels ominous, like he already knows where I am.”

“Damn,” Cade muttered, staring at her. “I know about those moments. We all have a sixth sense. I had the same thing happen last winter. I woke up in the middle of the night and a second later the dogs started barkin’. They raced to the kitchen and I got there just in time to see a wolf’s head poking through their doggie door.”

“Oh, my gosh.”

“He took off, but yeah, I never ignore those feelin’s, and we shouldn’t ignore yours. I think we should contact Sheriff Cooper.”

“You know I’m scared about that.”

“I understand, but like I told you he has people he can trust, and I have another thought. Even though I highly doubt you’ll be tracked here to Smoky Hill, just to be extra cautious let’s put your Hyundai in the garage. You told me it’s a rental, but even so…”

“Cade, yes, that’s a great idea!”

“And you brought everything you had at the Rutherford Estate, right? You don’t need to go back?”

“No, there wasn’t much to bring. I was in such a rush I left Dallas with practically nothing.”

“Here’s the remote control,” he said, sliding it off his sun visor. “Go ahead and move it while I talk to Joe. We need to get the horses ready for the lesson and the students will be arrivin’ any minute, but when it’s over we should make that call.”

* * *

When Gino had heard the sound of an approaching vehicle on the quiet country road he’d hurried to the edge of the bank and watched the black F150 turn into the ranch. Hastily throwing down the oilskin coat, he’d laid on top of it and peered through the binoculars. Several minutes passed before Karen and the cowboy climbed out. As he strode towards the barn, two dogs raced up to greet him, while Karen settled behind the wheel in the Hyundai.

Gino’s heart skipped a beat.

She was probably heading to the Rutherford estate.

But as he reached for his phone to alert Paddy, instead of turning and leaving the property she drove the SUV around the house and rolled into a garage.

“Fuck,” he grunted under his breath.

Hastily making his way back to the BMW, he made the call.

“Gino? What’s happening?” Paddy asked anxiously.

“You won’t believe this! She’s staying at the ranch! She just moved her SUV into a garage.”

“That’s not good.”

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