Page 35 of The Cowboy's Wild Side

Before the lesson started Cade introduced Karen as a new student who was just starting with horses and would be watching the lesson. Though she found it interesting she couldn’t stop thinking about Gino and wondering how he had tracked her down. She was sure there was nothing in her condo that pointed to Smoky Hill, then realized it didn’t matter. If he’d found her, he’d found her. But at least she had Cade. It was almost forty-five minutes later he brought things to a close, and the happy students climbed off.

“You’re all doin’ great,” he declared with a broad smile as they approached and thanked him. “I have to take care of something for a minute, but you can take the horses back to the barn and Joe will help you.”

Karen watched them amble out, but as she turned to Cade to ask him what she should do, he put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

“Thanks, I needed this,” she murmured, closing her eyes and resting her head against his chest. “I just can’t understand it. Maybe it’s not Gino at all. Maybe someone else is trying to find me, though I can’t imagine who or why.”

“Like I said, we have to do this one step at a time,” he said, slowly pulling back. “First, I’ll call Sheriff Cooper and ask him to stop by, then I’m callin’ Jenny back.”

“From Luke’s Western Garb? Why?”

“I want to know what this fella looked like. Then we’ll know if it was Gino or not.”

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? He has a website, Gino Stallone Racing Stables. His picture is on the front page. She can look it up.”

“Perfect. Karen, if it it is him there’s no way I’ll let him find you, let alone hurt you, and once we’ve spoken to the sheriff I know just how to take your mind off all of this.”

* * *

Perched up on the bank across the street from the ranch, Gino was stretched out on his stomach watching Cade and Karen through the binoculars. When the lesson ended and the students headed out, it became obvious the two had become very close. The cowboy had hugged her, then made a couple of calls before putting his arm around her and ambling towards the barn. As they disappeared, he shifted his attention to the house and the golden retrievers playing nearby.

“Of course you’ve got fucking dogs,” he grunted. “Damn, you, Paddy!”

Rising to his feet and picking up his coat, he strode back to his BMW and climbed behind the wheel. Karen’s parents would be home the following evening. She needed to be dealt with, and quickly.

“By this time tomorrow, I don’t know how I’ll do it, but you’ll be dead, and if that cowboy gets in the way, he will be too.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cade and Karen were leaving the barn when Sheriff Cooper rolled down Cade’s driveway. When he pulled to a stop and climbed out they hurried forward to greet him with Jack and Diane leading the way. After Cade introduced Karen, they headed inside to talk at the kitchen table.

“Thanks for gettin’ here so fast,” Cade exclaimed as he began brewing a pot of coffee.

“You said it was important, and I know you wouldn’t make that claim over nothin’,” the sheriff replied as he petted the two dogs. “Would I be right in sayin’ this involves you, Karen?”

“How did you know?”

“When problems pop up around here it usually has something to do with a visitor—or visitors.”

“Actually, that’s true,” Cade remarked, pouring the coffee and carrying the mugs to the table.

“Thanks, Cade,” the sheriff said, immediately taking a sip. “Okay, Karen, tell me what the problem is.”

“I’m not sure where to start.”

“The beginnin’ is usually a good place, and take your time. I’m in no hurry and details matter.”

“It’s not a long story, but it’s a scary one.”

As Karen began to tell him who Gino Stallone was and how she’d overheard his phone conversation, the sheriff leaned forward and paid close attention. When she explained how she’d rented a vehicle and had it delivered because she was so worried, his expression grew grim..

“And I was right,” she exclaimed. “I was at the end of my hallway about to leave when I saw two of Gino’s men step out of the elevator and head to my door. Thank the Lord I’d planned to take the stairs and my suitcase was already there.”

“Sounds like a close call,” the sheriff muttered. “What makes you think they’re in Smoky Hill?”

“We don’t know if they are, but Gino is, and he knows she’s here,” Cade interjected. “A stranger went into Luke’s Western Garb after she shopped there this mornin’ and managed to get my address out of Jenny. She called me about something unrelated and told me. Gino has a website and when I sent her the link she confirmed it was him.”

“I’m sure he wants to find me before mom and dad come home tomorrow night,” Karen exclaimed urgently. “When I tell them what I overheard I’m sure dad will make some calls. Gino will be ruined, and that’s just for starters.”

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