Page 311 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“Save it!” she shrieked and then turned and ran.

The pounding of the hooves matched the beating of her frenzied heart as Brooke leaned forward and urged the horse to go faster and faster. Tears were streaming down her face, getting matted into her hair. Darkness was setting in, and she could hardly see two feet in front of her, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was riding—riding until the searing hurt stopped. How could she have been so stupid? She’d opened up her heart to him, and he’d trampled it all over again. Nash didn’t love her. He’d been playing her—biding his time until he could be with his precious Shauna.

She heard a sound from behind. She glanced over her shoulder and saw another rider gaining on her. She dug her heels into Honey Bee’s side, urging her to go even faster. Then she felt a dip where the ground should’ve been. Honey Bee let out a squeal, then reared back on her hind legs. The motion sent Brooke catapulting backwards. And then came the blinding pain as her head struck a rock. Everything went black.

Chapter 19

She was floating up, drifting without a care in the world. It was the feeling of being caught up in a glorious dream, where time and space were irrelevant ...

Brooke looked over, startled to see two women, standing beside her. All three of them were suspended above the room, standing on air. How was this possible? She looked down and saw the woman below, lying in the hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, and a bandage was wrapped around her head. Wisps of blonde hair were visible underneath, strewn across the pillow like strands of gold. There was a grief-stricken man sitting beside the bed, clutching her hand, his shoulders shaking as he wept.

She felt like she should know the woman, but it was the man who caught her attention. She recognized the sharp curve of his jaw, as familiar to her as her own face. The deep-set brows with the brooding eyes. The calloused hands. The thick head of sandy-colored hair bleached by the sun. His features were wrenched in pain, and she longed to soothe away the hurt. Then her attention flitted to the women standing beside her.

The younger one with curly hair smiled. “Hello, Brooke.”

Confusion swirled over her. “Have we met?”

She motioned to herself. “Gracie.”

Gracie.She should know that name. How did she know it? It was right there on the edge of her consciousness, but she couldn’t quite grasp it. Then the knowledge was pounded into her like a bolt of lightning. “You’re Gracie!” she exclaimed. “The girl from the inn. You’re pretending to be my daddy’s secretary.” Her eyes narrowed. “And you’ve been following me.”

“Look around you, Brooke. Do you understand what’s happening?”

Gracie’s voice had a gentle, dream-like quality to it. Brooke shook her head, not comprehending. Then she looked down again. A silent scream tore through her throat as the reality of all that was happening took hold. She fought to grasp hold of something but found only air. “That’s me!” she gasped, wild-eyed. “I’m dead!”

“Almost. You’re in the in-between state.”

“But how?”

“You took off like a Banshee on your horse and had an accident.”

All of the sordid events came rushing back, and she felt the resurgence of the anger and hurt that made her lose all reason. “Nash!” Tears began flowing down her cheeks. “I thought he loved me.”

Gracie pointed. “He does love you.”

She looked down. Nash was there with her, holding her hand.

“He’s not the only one who loves you. Your mom and dad are just outside the door. They’ve been here the entire time.”

“My poor daddy. I should’ve taken his calls. Now he’s going to always feel like this is his fault. He’s always had such a big heart, loving me even though I didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry, daddy,” she mumbled. Then her thoughts took another direction as she turned to Gracie. “You’re an angel!” She spoke the wordvictoriously, like she’d just discovered the answer to a complex math problem.

“Almost-an-angel,” she said proudly. “It feels so wonderful to finally be able to say that to you.”

“All this time ... I knew there was something strange about you, but I never would’ve guessed … I treated you terribly. I’m so sorry.”

“No apology necessary.”

“It’s time,” Gertrude said.

Panic rippled over Brooke. “Time for what?”

“Time for you to complete your journey.”

“But I don’t want to die! I was just starting to really live!” she wailed.

“Let it go,” Gracie urged, “you’re free now.” She held out her hand. “Come.”

Freedom. The word wafted over her like a tender summer breeze, lifting her troubled heart. All of the burdens were suddenly gone. She was free! And happy! She flashed a radiant smile at Gracie. “I’m ready.” She reached for Gracie’s hand, nearly touching it. But wait … something below caught her attention. Nash was speaking. She had to get a closer look.

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