Page 48 of Cowboy Jeopardy

“Then, he’ll be back.” He sighed and pushed to his feet. “Once he realizes not all of the money is there, he’ll come back for it. You should head to the ranch where there’s more security.”

After a few seconds, she nodded. “I’ll go back. The boys can go with you. It’s not right to take away their fun because of the trouble I brought.”

He groaned. “Again, this isn’t your fault.” He exhaled heavily, wishing he could convince her she wasn’t responsible. “The undercover agent is waiting at the bottom of the waterfall. He can take you back. I’ll keep the boys.”

At the bottom, he wrapped her in a hug. “Dani, I hate letting you out of my sight. I’ve never been more scared in my life.”

“I’ll be fine. As you said, the ranch is the safest place. The agent will take me there. Let my mother know I’ll see her when y’all return to the ranch.” She caressed his cheek and stepped back, transferring her attention to the twins. “Boys, I’ve never met anyone braver than you. Behave for your daddy.” With another glance at Dylan, she followed the agent away from them.

~

Steven hugged his gun hand close to his body. Stupid dog. She’d clamped onto his hand right as he’d squeezed the trigger, causing him only to wound the other one. Then, he’d run to keep from being attacked. Now, his hand bled down the front of his shirt and throbbed like the dickens.

He slid into the driver’s seat of his truck and tossed the bag on the other seat. The other rental could stay at the ranch for all he cared. He had his money and would be gone from this hellhole by morning.

Hillbillies were too much trouble. He had no plan on ever returning to Misty Hollow or anywhere close. Steven cursed against the pain in his hand and turned the key he’d left in the ignition. No one stole a vehicle in the middle of nowhere. No one but him, anyway. He pressed the gas pedal. The tires spun in the mud before gaining traction, and he rocketed back down the mountain.

Finally, the motel came into view. He made a detour to a twenty-four-hour convenience store/gas station, purchased what he needed to doctor his hand, then went to his rented room. A hot shower, a hotdog from the store, and the hard mattress all called his name. Unfortunately, Misty Hollow was in a dry county, so he’d have no beer to help dull the pain from the dog’s bite.

When he lay down on the mattress, idly flipping through channels on the television before falling asleep, he dreamed of how he could exact revenge on Dani Cooper for all the trouble she’d caused him. His eyes were just drifting shut when his gaze landed on the duffel bag. A smile spread across his face.

Yeah, he’d be back for more money and revenge just as soon as he started building his empire.

~

Mrs. White, a robe tied tightly around her, stared at Dani and Agent Sawyer from the kitchen door. “I’m guessing there’s been some trouble.”

“You could say that.” Dani grabbed a hand towel and rubbed some of the water from her hair. “It’s all good now. I’m going to take a shower. After some sleep, I’ll fill you in.”

The agent stepped forward. “If it’s okay with you, I’ll crash on the sofa once my clothes dry. The sheriff will be here later to take your statement.”

Now that the adrenaline of fleeing from Langello had ebbed, exhaustion weighed on her. Dani’s steps dragged as she made her way to her room.

She undressed, turned the shower as hot as she could stand, then climbed in, lifting her face to the spray. The heat washed away both dirt and the chill that had seeped into her bones from the rain and the waterfall.

How would Dylan explain her absence to the guests? Not only was she missing from the group, but Sawyer and Langello as well. The boys were sure to say something. Would her trouble cause even more problems for the ranch? Guests might feel it was too dangerous to sign up for camping trips on the Rocking W.

Dylan already struggled to keep the ranch on its feet. Now, he’d lost the money from his safe and, possibly, any future income. She could replace the two thousand from the safe, and her mother would help, but she couldn’t help with the ranch’s future. Not with the danger still out there.

She turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around her hair, then used another one to dry her body before donning an oversized tee shirt to sleep in. She glanced at the clock. One a.m. That was all? The flight through the woods had seemed like an eternity.

After making sure all windows were locked, she did the same with her bedroom door. Langello had managed to sneak onto the ranch before, finding a way past cowboy security. She’d feel safer knowing he couldn’t get to her if he stepped foot on the property again.

Dani glanced out the window in the direction of the woods. Dylan and the campers wouldn’t return until mid-morning of the next day. Hours of idleness stretched in front of her. When was the last time she could say that? She pulled the curtains closed and picked up her dirty clothes. As she went to toss them into the clothes hamper in her closet, a hotel room key fell out.

Dani picked it up and stared at it for a few seconds. Okay, she now knew how to spend the idle hours until Dylan returned. She would put an end to it all come morning.

Chapter Twenty

After a few hours of sleep, Dani snuck into the kitchen before Mrs. White woke up and took the gun the cook kept in a cookie jar on top of the refrigerator. She left a note where she knew it would be found, but not for a while. After making sure the chamber in the gun was full, she slid the weapon into the waistband of her jeans and darted to her truck.

She had a surprise for Mr. Langello. No more waiting for trouble to come sneaking up on her. This time she would meet it head-on. By the time the sheriff came, everything would be under control.

Drat. She glanced through the rearview mirror as she drove away from the house. The two cowboys on patrol stood staring after her. Dani didn’t have as much time as she’d thought. They’d contact Dylan, then the sheriff, and the whole gang would come running to stop her. She had to end it all before the man hurt someone she cared about.

Langello had already said he’d go after her mother, then Delly, before turning to those on the ranch. Had he discovered the shortage of funds?

As she drove, she cast continuous glances in the rearview mirror to make sure no one followed. If they did, she’d have to lose them. She needed time to face Langello, then the calvary could arrive. Once she had the man secured, they could take over, but not before he answered some questions.

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