Page 90 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“Let’s go,” Decker said, picking up the bag where he’d already stuffed his laptop. “I’ll stay in touch.”

“Before you go, I’m assuming you want us to continue looking through the journals?” said Sam.

Decker nodded once. “A slew of questions remain, so yes.”

“I’ll walk you out.” I followed Pete and him to the door.

“My brother needs to hear this from me,” I said once we were outside.

Deck’s eyes met mine. “Agreed. We’ll leave in the morning unless you want to try to travel tonight.”

“Wait.We’llleave?”

“You heard correctly.”

“Why?”

Decker put his hand on my shoulder. “The clock starts ticking the minute you leave the Lilacs property, and you have forty-eight hours to get your ass back here. I’m going to make sure that happens. So we’re taking my jet.” He leveled his gaze at me. “You have enough on your mind, Wheaton. Let me be the timekeeper.”

“I appreciate this.”

He squeezed my shoulder. “Buck is a member of my team, but he’s also a friend. You are too, Cord. Whatever I can do to ease the burden you and your siblingsare carrying, I will.”

“I don’t know if she’ll agree to it, but?—”

“Yes. Juni can come with us.”

I grinned. “Thanks. For everything. I mean that.”

I stayed on the porch a few minutes after Pete and Decker got in the car and left. Was it wrong for me to want Juni to go with me? Was I only thinking of myself again and not of her? I didn’t want to be that guy. She had her own life and sure hadn’t been able to live it in the last few weeks. Maybe it would be best if I didn’t even bring it up.

27

JUNIPER

Iknew how important it was that Sam and I get through as many of Miss Cena’s journals as we could, but my concentration was shot. Thankfully, Beau and my brother had offered to help too.

“How’s Cord doing?” she asked. “I guess that’s a stupid question.”

“He’s probably in shock,” said Gray.

Sam’s eyes met mine. “I hate that the Lilacs represents the worst time of his life.”

“It also represents the best time,” Cord said, walking into the room and straight over to me. He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

“Same for me,” said Beau, winking at Sam.

“Oh, jeez,” muttered Gray.

“You’ll find someone one day who you’ll feel the same way I do for your sister,” said Cord.

I beamed up at him.

“Can I help?” he asked, leaning in to brush my lips with his.

“The more eyes, the better.” I stood and plucked the next journal from the bookshelf.

“What about Mom? She’d probably help too,” Gray suggested.

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