Page 57 of My Cowboy Temptation

I scroll through my texts, just in case I missed something in the time since I left the doctor’s office, but there’s nothing.

“Do you know anything more? Like where did he get shot? Was he conscious? Did anyone see who did it?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry. Brody just said to come and bring you to the hospital.”

Damn, Brody. I can’t believe he would be so cruel that he couldn’t at least call to give me the details.

I grab our last text thread, and my fingers hover above the keys a moment before I start typing.

You’re angry, I get it, but you at least owe me the courtesy of calling me yourself and telling me about my dad as soon as it happened instead of sending one of—

“Callie,” Childs says sharply, nearly causing me to drop the phone. “I’m going to need you to hand me the phone. Now.”

Now? That last word is nothing short of an order, and as distraught as I am, I’m ready to hurl a quick retort back. But when I glance up, every thought leaves my mind as I find myself staring into the barrel of a gun pointed directly at me.

I make a strange sound at the back of my throat, much like a whimper, and try to understand what I’m seeing. I look up to Childs, who is dividing his attention between me and the road ahead.

“Childs? What’s going on?” I ask in barely a whisper.

“Sorry about this, Callie. I really am. You’ve always seemed nice enough. Spoiled, though. Never probably worried a minute of your life how you were going to pay for food or a doctor’s bill. But you always treated everyone decent.”

“Sorry? Sorry about what?” I ask, my fingers still hovering over my phone keys. I wait until his gaze returns to the light that’s turning red ahead of us to push what I hope is send on my phone since I don’t dare look down to check.

He slows the truck to a stop at the light and turns to face me. “I’m sorry that it’s come to this. But I have my orders.”

I’m afraid to hear the answer, but I ask anyway. “Orders from who?”

“I’m sure you can guess. Your dad really screwed you over this time. He had to know that this last move was going to deserve a lethal response.”

Zeke Palmer.

I look out my window and stare at the pedestrians walking happily along, unaware of my crisis. Could I rip the door open and get out before he could fire that gun? Or maybe motion to someone I need help?

“Don’t even think about it, Callie. Now hand me the phone.” He holds his free hand out toward me.

Without any other option, I hand it over. I don’t say anything more, instead placing my hands protectively over my belly where I cradle the bump as if comforting the baby. I can’t risk any harm coming to him or her.

The light changes, and Childs steps on the gas, and we’re off again. He opens his window. “Probably best we get rid of this. Wouldn’t want it traced back to us.” And without ceremony, he tosses my phone out.

I don’t bother looking back, knowing that if it wasn’t destroyed when it hit the asphalt, it would only be a matter of time before it’s crushed against the tires of oncoming traffic.

I just have to pray that somehow that message reaches Brody, and he puts things together before it’s too late.

A few minutes later we’re racing down the highway, destination unknown.

* * *

Brody

I’ve been workingon fixing a broken fence in the north pasture when I feel the buzz of a text message from my front pocket. Pulling it out, I stare down at an incoming text message from Cal.

You’re angry, I get it, but you at least owe me the courtesy of calling me yourself and telling me about my dad as soon as it happened instead of sending one of—

The message cuts off before Cal can make any sense.

Tell her what about her dad? Did she mean my conversation I had with him last night? I shake my head. She probably sent it prematurely. If I give her a few more minutes, she’ll finish her thought.

I shove the phone back and try to focus on getting this new fence post pounded into the ground, even as I replay our earlier conversation back, still needing to understand her rationale for not telling me the truth about the baby.

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