WALLY’S MAKESHIFT CRUTCH THUMPED AS Ty paced across the porch. “Where the hell is she?” he muttered to the darkening sky. “I never should’ve let her go alone.”

“If she didn’t make it to the Owens place, someone would have told you before now.”

Wally’s quiet statement interrupted his self-bashing.

“So I reckon the best place to start looking is in town.”

Ty didn’t hesitate. “She’ll be mad as hell at both of us, but yeah, go find her.”

Wally’s departure left Ty with nothing to occupy his mind except visions of all that might have happened.

What if she didn’t make it to Sarah’s? What if something happen in town? Thoughts of her being caught alone by Walker had him shaking in impotent anger. I should have gone with her. I promised to protect her! Instead, I’m useless!

He slammed the crutch against the porch post and promptly found his ass on the rough floor when the crutch snapped in half. “Dammit!”

He threw the remaining piece across the yard as Lupe and José ran to the door. “Señor, Ty! What has happened?”

He huffed out a breath, shame flooding his cheeks with heat. “Help me to the chair, José. Please.”

Once settled, he grimaced. “I broke the crutch.”

“Wally made two,” said José, “He was not sure of the strength of his work.”

“His work is fine. I’m the problem.”

“She will be fine, Señor,” said Lupe. “She is smart and strong, whatever has delayed her, she will be fine.”

He didn’t share her optimism.

“Shall I bring you some coffee?”

“No thank you, Lupe.”

She nodded to her husband, then went back inside.

“I’ll get the other crutch,” said José, “It is in the barn.”

He didn’t reply as the older man walked away. Where the hell is she? He took a deep breath and tried to calm his raging anxiety. Please God. Let her be all right.

The screen door opened and he turned to see Lupe standing there, a steaming cup in her hand. “I added a touch of whiskey. It will help.”

“Thank you.”

She paused. “Your heart knows she is all right. Just like hers knew you lived.” Then she turned and disappeared inside.

Did his heart know something he didn’t? He lowered the cup to his lap and closed his eyes, visualizing her as she appeared when he woke this morning. Hair mussed, emerald eyes radiant, wearing nothing but his shirt…and that smile. Did she have any idea how captivating she appeared to him at that moment? He doubted it. Unlike other beautiful women he had known, she didn’t seem aware of her beauty; didn’t use it as a tool, which made it all the more alluring. Something’s wrong, but she’s alive.

The thought, more like a voice in his head, made him jump. “She’s alive.”

He sat back in his chair and took a sip of the whiskey-laced coffee.

And waited.

An hour later, the calm brought on by the spiked drink disappeared. “Where are they?” he muttered to the darkness, then tensed when the sound of an approaching rider reached his ears.

One horse. Not two.

His heart rate escalated as he grabbed the crutch and hobbled to the edge of the porch waiting for the visitor to come into view.

“Found her, Boss,” said Wally as he approached the porch and dismounted.

“What the hell happened?” he snapped as Emma slid to the ground and limped up the steps.

“I think Midnight has spent way too much time with Diablo.” She walked up to him and grinned. “I was distracted when something spooked her and she tossed me. Again. I walked a couple of miles before Wally found me.” She exhaled loudly and looked toward the barn. “I figured the stupid horse beat me here and you sent him to find me.”

He noted the dirty face and disheveled hair. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. As you well know, I’ve been tossed before.”

“Dammit, Red!”

His harsh voice made her take a step back.

“I’ve been going out of my mind! I knew I should never have let you go alone.”

She bristled. “Let me? Now see here –”

Her retort ended when he dropped the crutch and pulled her roughly, almost violently to him even as his sore arm protested and a shudder ran through him. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

She pulled back slightly and met his steady gaze. “Ty, I’m all right.” She caressed his cheek with one hand. “I’m sorry I worried you. I’ve been on my own for so long, I didn’t…I’m sorry. Everything took longer than I thought, and then Midnight acted up.”

As if on cue, a soft whiney announced the skittish horse’s arrival.

“I’ll get her to the barn,” announced Wally, “and make sure she’s not hurt.”

“About time you got home,” announced Lupe from the open doorway. “Supper is ready.”

Ty couldn’t stop shaking. “Is this what it was like for you?”

She nodded, eyes never leaving his.

He wrapped his arms around her again, more gentle this time, breathing in her scent as if it were a life-giving potion. “I don’t want either of us to ever feel that way again.”

Emma cast a sideways glance at Ty as they sat side-by-side eating supper. His reaction to her tardiness unnerved her. She had no idea he would be so upset. What will he do when I tell him about Walker?

In an effort to delay the inevitable, she steered the conversation elsewhere. “Sarah has been so worried about you. I’m glad I had good news to tell her.”

“When’s the baby due again? I don’t seem to recall.”

“She said it could be anytime now but she thought probably a couple of weeks.” Emma shook her head in wonder. “No idea how she can be so sure.”

“Probably a female-thing,” mumbled Ty around his last mouthful of potatoes. “Kinda like how horses and cows know when it’s time.”

For whatever reason, that struck her as funny and she chuckled. “I don’t think I’ll tell her you said she was like a cow.”

He cast her a quizzical look, and frowned. “I didn’t say she was like a cow.”

Emma patted the hand resting beside hers on the table. “I know. It just sounded funny to me. Oh, I almost forgot.” She reached in her shirt pocket and handed him Leo’s message. “They should be home sometime next week.”

Ty read the telegram, then handed it back. “Wonder what his surprise is?”

“I’m hoping the heifers are bred. Mr. Ralston said he thought they might be.”

“That would be nice.” He swiped his mouth with a napkin and placed it on the table. “I know you saw Walker in town. What happened?”

She jerked, then caught herself. “What makes you say that?”

He turned sideways in his chair and faced her. “It’s a very small town. And you have talked about everything under the sun.” He paused and fixed those all-seeing eyes on her. “Except what happened when you got there.”

Lupe’s entrance from the kitchen gave her a brief reprieve.

“José took these from the saddle bags.”

Emma took the paper wrapped packages and placed them on the table. “Thank you, Lupe.”

“Would you like more coffee, Señor Ty?”

“Not right now, thank you.”

She nodded and left the room

“I know how you like sweets.” Emma slid the treats toward him, carefully avoiding eye contact.

He glanced at it, then back to her. “Well?”

She picked up her fork then lay it back down, glancing at him. “I’m not trying to keep anything from you.”

The scowl on his face said he disagreed.

She huffed, then turned and faced him. “Fine. I saw Walker in town. He spoke. I left.”

His jaw muscles moved, but he remained silent.

She sighed. “It was outside the general store. I was about to leave when he walked up.”

“And?”

“And nothing. Mable was standing there and all he said was something like nice to see you Mrs. Roundtree.” There was more but she would not tell him tonight. He stood much too close and licked his lips. His fingers touched the brim of his hat then inched forward.

She blocked out the fear he instilled with his presence. He fed on fear and she would not give him the satisfaction. Not anymore.

“He offered to keep me company on the long ride home.”

Ty stiffened.

“I told him to go to hell.”

His face showed no reaction. “You did?”

“Yes. And frankly, it felt pretty damn good to do it.” She rubbed her hands on her thighs. “I thought Mable would choke trying not to laugh.”

“What did he do?”

“Walked away.”

“He just walked off?” His voice carried a note of disbelief.

“Well, he mumbled something under his breath I didn’t catch.” Liar. He said he liked his women to have spunk. “I didn’t hang around to ask him what.”

After a moment, Ty shook his head, voice firm. “That’s your last trip to town alone.” He held up his hand to silence her protest. “You can holler and scream till your eyes bug out but you are not going anywhere alone again. Period.” He raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Something’s not right about him, Em. I’m not sure what it is but something’s wrong and you’re involved in it. Until I know you are out of danger, do as I say. Please.”

She started to object to his decree, argue for her independence. She was not helpless after all; but one look at the gravity and concern in his expression and she swallowed her objection.

He loves me.

“Well, since you said, please…”

After a brief hesitation, one heavy brow lifted slightly, a smile edging up the corner of his mouth. “Damn. I was hoping you’d argue more…so we can make up.”

She leaned toward him, hands sliding up his thighs. “Oh, but I did argue,” she whispered softly, “I hollered and screamed till my eyes bugged out. The fact that I did it all in my head means nothing.”

The caress of his lips on hers set her body aflame.

Her hands slipped around his neck and she lost herself in the tenderness of the kiss.

“Don’t forget – I won’t always be so agreeable.”

He pulled her in his lap. “I’m counting on it.”