Page 19 of Booker

Twist went, getting an almost perfect score. Only one of his bullets went outside the target area. Compass and Cowboy both shot and did the same. Her mom went but was a little off in her stance. Two of her rounds went wide. Lexi nodded for Booker to go next. He had a perfect score, with all of his rounds hitting dead center.

Her dad had built the shooting range so three people could stand at their stations, which were ten feet apart, and shoot at their targets down range. The guys had chosen to all shoot on one range. Lexi guessed that was because they thought she and her mom were novices. If she didn’t feel so horrible, she’d enjoy showing them up for underestimating her.

Lexi situated her stance and raised her gun after putting on her ear protection. Breathe in, then breathe out and fire. She did this five more times. She knew the last one was a tad off because the wind had come up, forcing her to change her stance.

Cowboy was shaking his head after she shot. She’d already checked and cleared her gun before he returned.

“Woman, why didn’t you tell us you were this good of a shot? We wouldn’t have needed to practice.”

“I figured you’d need to see to believe a woman could be that good,” Lexi replied.

“Nah, there’s a whole lot of women at Bluff Creek who shoot as well or better than some of our guys. We don’t discriminate against the sexes, and if you felt that we were thinking that, I apologize,” Cowboy said.

“It was probably just me being sensitive. I just don’t feel that great.”

Booker’s arm came around her. “Can I do anything? Do you need anything?”

She leaned up and kissed his cheek for asking.

“Just a heating pad and some ibuprofen.”

Lexi waited to see how he’d handle it.

“Oh, I know that some of the guys at Bluff Creek get chocolate or sweets for their women when they have their period. Is that something you’d like?” Booker asked.

He was seriously too sweet, and he didn’t deserve her bad mood, but she just wanted to be pain-free and sleep.

“I’m good. I think Mom has a hidden stash of candy in the freezer, but I appreciate the offer.”

Lexi walked back toward the house with Booker and the group. Was it horrible of her to want something to happen? I mean, she loved the ranch, but after only a week of being on edge, it was driving her up the wall. She had another signing in about five weeks, and Booker had gotten a text inviting all of them to a combined baby shower for some of the couples in Bluff Creek. She didn’t know any of them, but listening to Booker describe everyone, she really wanted to be able to go to the shower. Plus, who didn’t love getting to buy baby stuff?

Once they got in the house, she started some water heating for tea. She used her microwave when she was on the road, but at home, she liked a tea kettle. It was piping hot, and her tea was perfect then.

Booker came over to her and slid his arm around her low on her tummy.

“Tell me what to do. I hate that you’re in pain.”

She leaned back against him, relaxing and letting him hold her up. What a treat that she could lean on him when she needed. She’d been on her own for a long time.

“I just want hot tea, a heating pad, and my book by the fire.”

He pulled her close and hugged her, patting her back.

“I’ll grab the heating pad. Is it upstairs?”

She nodded. “In my dresser.”

“Be right back,” he said, then dropped a kiss on her lips before leaving. The way he always kissed her goodbye when he left a room or went to do something was something she enjoyed. It made her feel special and no man had ever done that before. Now, if they could just make sure her brother wasn’t going to do something to them, then they could get on with their lives.

Booker woke up to Lexi’s legs moving. He laid there for a minute to see if she needed anything. She groaned quietly and moved against him. He was wrapped around her, and the heating pad had been against her stomach. He felt it and realized it must have shut off during the night. He glanced over her shoulder at the clock. It had been six hours, so he could get her some more ibuprofen. He untangled himself from her and slipped out of bed.

He walked down the stairs, trying not to wake anyone else. Twist was standing at the back door of the kitchen, looking out. Booker walked over and got the water ready to heat, then pulled one of Lexi’s tea bags out.

“Are you on watch, or did you see something?” Booker asked.

“Cowboy thought he saw something on the monitors, but it was so quick he couldn’t tell. It was more a shadow. I keep wondering what the brother’s endgame is. I mean, why would he want Maureen on drugs? And then trying to run her off the road. If she’s dead, then he and Lexi would inherit unless Maureen had a will that didn’t include him.”

“I don’t know. I’ve thought through multiple scenarios and can’t figure it out. I want Lexi safe. Now that I have her back, I want to do all the things we missed.”

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