Page 40 of Claimed by the Lawman

“Why didn’t you say something?” She stopped Spark again. When he kept on, she yelled, “Stop and talk to me about this. I deserve that much.”

He turned the horse and faced her. “You deserve this, do you? Are you trying to tell me that I did something wrong?” His face became stone hard.

“What I’m saying is that we had a good thing. That’s agreeable, but not once did you tell me your feelings. Whenever we talked about the future it seemed to be in joke, not truth.”

His jaw softened some. “Is that what you needed to hear? That I loved you, wanted to spend my life with you? That I bought a ring and planned to propose? Would it have made a difference?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Looking back, she remembered how deeply she loved Kace. How she couldn’t wait to see him, to feel his body wrapped around her, holding her. Maybe she’d hoped when she had told him about pursuing her dreams in New York he would have convinced her to stay, or at least confessed his love. To give her a reason to stay in Wyoming, or come back soon. Instead, he’d bid her good luck. “You can’t do this now. It’s unfair.”

He pushed his hat back onto his forehead. “Do what?”

“Pretend that you had emotions for me back then to make me feel bad now.”

“That’s sort of hard to prove, isn’t it? I guess we’ll never know.”

“What the hell?”

“I said, I guess…”

“No. I heard what you said. I’m referring to that.” She pointed to the saddled horse that was munching on the grass. “It must be Randy’s horse.”

“Randy?”

“A hand here.” She rode Spark across the short space checking the abandoned horse’s saddle. “Roy had been trying to reach Randy and he wasn’t answering.”

“You should go back, tell your father and I’ll go in search of Randy. He might have fallen.”

“I’m not going back. I’m coming with you to find him.” She pulled the radio from her belt. “I can radio them. Randy was out here watching the west fence,” she said with a straight back, her head held high.

“Keep your eyes open. If he’s hurt, he might not be able to call out.”

~~**~~

They didn’t have to search far. Kace was the first to see the man sprawled out on his back in the tall grass.

When Tyler spotted him too, Kace heard her gasp.

“Oh my God.” She was off her horse and running.

Kace slid out of his saddle and caught up to her. He knelt down to check Randy’s pulse. “He’s alive.” There was a bloody gash on his forehead and blood had dripped down his temple and cheek. “Hey, you okay?” Kace gently shook the man.

Randy’s eyes rolled under his lids.

“Randy? Wake up.” Tyler also shook his shoulders.

After several more shakes, he finally opened his eyes into slits. He tried lifting himself up onto his elbows, but with difficulty. Kace helped him up. “You okay, buddy?” He looked into the man’s eyes.

“I-I was bent over…fixing the fence then I was hit over the head. It was one of Bane’s men.”

“Bane’s man did this?” Kace met Tyler’s gaze for three heartbeats.

“Tyler, use your radio and have him picked up. He’ll need emergency care,” Kace said.

Once she did as Kace requested, she stood and started for the horse, a new energy in her step. “Where are you going?” Kace called after her.

“I’ve had enough of this! Who would do something like this to a defenseless man?” She was already up in the saddle.

Frustrated, Kace raced across the short distance and grabbed the reins of her horse. “I don’t know what you have in that head of yours, but it’s not going to happen. Now take yourself down from that saddle.”

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