Page 36 of Mountain Rescue
“Her parents live in Florida, right?” Noah said, getting a nod from Jack. “Maybe she should pay them a visit until Hargrove’s behind bars.”
“That’s a good idea,” Dallas said.
Jack sighed. “She’s not going to like being sent off with Rachel here, but she can be mad at me all she wants if it means she’s safe. Maybe we should send Rachel with her.”
“No.” Panic surged at the thought of being separated from her. “He’s only after Rachel. If we send her, too, we’ll all have to go to guard them. Plus, you’d be putting Nichole’s parents in danger.”
“Yeah, bad idea,” Jack said. “Let’s finish up here so I can go break the news to Nichole.”
“Give me a few minutes to call my sister.” He clicked on Cheyenne’s number as he left the room.
“You’re an ass, baby brother” was Cheyenne’s greeting.
He winced. Yeah, he pretty much had been, considering he’d fled without telling everyone except for his father that he was leaving. He’d been drowning, and his father understood. As a boy, Laramie Manning had been tortured by his stepfather until his biological father had learned of his treatment and had rescued him.
When he’d said he had to leave, his father had nodded as if he’d been expecting it. “Son, if that’s what you need, I’ll take you to the airport. When your mother kicks me out of our bedroom for sending you off without telling her, you’re going to owe me a new horse. I’ve got my eye on one and he’s not cheap.”
Damn, but he loved his father. His mother, too, but he didn’t know how to tell her he couldn’t handle all the hugs she kept giving him, that even her touch was unbearable.
“Yeah, I guess I am, but I had to get away for a while, Cheyenne. Dad understood.”
“If that’s what you needed to do, I’ll accept you had to leave, but you’re still an ass for sneaking away.”
“If I promise to never do it again, will you forgive me?”
“Maybe. Probably. Hell, I never could say no to you. That doesn’t make me happy, Dallas.”
He smiled. He loved and respected his three brothers, but his two sisters had him wrapped around their fingers. Cheyenne was the second oldest, a mini-mommy. They’d never been as close as he and Shiloh because of the age difference, but she was a mama bear, always protecting those she loved.
“I have a story to tell you.” He told her how he’d found a wildcat in the cabin when he’d arrived in Asheville, and why Rachel was hiding out.
“She really tried to bash your brains in?”
“There’s entirely too much delight in your voice about that, sis.”
She laughed...for much longer than he thought necessary. “So, moving along. Her grandmother is the only family she has left. Her name is June Denning, and I’m sending her to you. It will break Rachel’s heart if any harm comes to her grandmother, so tell the family her life is important to me. You all keep her safe, Cheyenne.”
“Of course, we will. But I have to say, you fall in love way too easily, baby brother. You always have.”
He pulled the phone away from his ear and scowled at the screen. What. The. Hell? “Cheyenne, I’m not asking for your opinion. I’ve only been in love once, or thought I was at the time, and you know it. Just keep Rachel’s grandmother safe. She’ll be there sometime tonight. Have a room ready.” He gave her the names of the couple bringing June, then disconnected before she could answer.
Her observation might have been true before he’d joined the Navy. He’d never beenin love, but he’d loved all his girlfriends. Nothing wrong with that. After enlisting, he’d realized that long deployments weren’t conducive to relationships. Even when he was home, the team was always training, so there was little time for dating. Like many of his SEAL brothers, he’d kept his hookups to women who weren’t looking to get his ring on their finger.
He returned to the conference room and slid back into the seat next to her. “Your grandmother okay with moving?”
She made air quotes. “New hot cowboys, new meat.”
He snorted a laugh along with Jack and Noah. “She actually said that?”
“Yep. June dances to her own bongo drums.”
Noah sang “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” making her laugh. She’d been around Noah enough to know that his parlor trick was singing a song that fit the moment. It was always funny, not to mention that he had a fantastic voice, so she loved listening to him.
“My grandmother’s theme song.” She glanced at Dallas. “You might want to warn the boys on the ranch that she’s headed their way.”
“No, I think it will be more fun to let them be surprised.” The love she had for her grandmother was there in her voice. He put his hand over hers. “I promise my family will keep her safe.”
“I believe you. Knowing that means more than I can say, so thank you.”
