Page 27 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

She wanted him to choose to be here. With her. But deep down, she knew that was no longer a possibility because of whatever secret he was harboring.

He raked his hair back and slipped on his cowboy hat. “How can you get me out of here?” he asked, and something inside of her deflated. “I won’t make it to the gate unseen and earlier your father increased security.”

“I have a way. We have a bunker beneath Light House. There’s a tunnel that leads to the woods. I can get you out there. But we have to be quick.”

INTHESTABLEback from his ride, Marshall put Zeppelin in his stall. Years ago, his daughter had asked him why he’d chosen such an odd name. He’d told her about a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin instead of telling her the truth. That he called his horse after his favorite rock band. Led Zeppelin.

There were other truths he kept from her.

Sometimes he thought about letting Mercy have her year away inpenumbroyage, to experience things such as the music he loved, like “Stairway to Heaven,” to eat whatever she wanted, to explore and make mistakes. To feel the pain that would inevitably come from that wicked world.

But he loved her too much to let her stray, even for a little while, and wanted to spare her that darkness. If only she could see that he was protecting her.

The vast majority of children who had been raised on the compound, like Alex, never sought to wander or question as adults. In fact, they became his most die-hard disciples.

Why hadn’t Mercy followed suit? How had he failed her?

The handheld radio he carried while riding squawked.

“Empyrean, this is Alex. Come in.”

He took it from his satchel and pressed the button. “What is it?”

“I have Sophia with me at the farm. I had to restrain her.”

Horror streaked through him. “Why on earth would you do such a thing?”

“She managed to take a gun from one of the guys on the security team and started shooting apples in a tree and talking nonsense.”

That didn’t sound like Sophia. “Untie her and put her on the radio.”

“But, sir—”

“You have the weapon, don’t you?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then put her on.”

“As you wish.”

Marshall left the stable and headed back toward Light House while he waited. The path would take him close to the farm.

Gun safety was a top priority on the compound. They trained everyone how to properly handle, shoot, clean and store a firearm. For the life of him, he couldn’t understand what could’ve possessed her to do such a thing.

“Empyrean,” Sophia said.

“Is what Alex told me true?”

“Yes.”

“You could’ve hurt someone by accident.” The act was beyond ludicrous, complete madness. And dangerous. “Why would you take a gun and shoot apples?”

“Because Mercy asked me to create a diversion.”

He stilled. “Did you do as I commanded?” Did she bait Mercy by telling her about Rocco, getting her emotional over the thought of flagellation, setting his plan in motion?

“Yes, my love. Exactly the way you wanted.”

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