Page 54 of Claimed By the Cowboy
They poisoned the wrong woman.
And now they’re about to find out what it means to face her family.
Chapter 16
Tom
I sit beside Kitty’s hospital bed, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest.
It’s been more than twenty-four hours since she collapsed, and I’m feeling the strain. My eyes burn, gritty from lack of sleep, and every muscle in my body aches from dozing in this stiff plastic chair with her hand clutched in mine.
The chelation therapy is working—her color’s better, breathing easier—but seeing her hooked up to machines because someone poisoned her makes rage burn steady and cold in my gut.
I keep my expression calm for her, but inside, I’m at war. Because while every bone in my bodywants to plant myself in this chair until she’s well enough to leave, another voice—the harder, colder part of me—reminds me that three men are upstream still running heavy equipment into our water. The same water that damn near killed my wife.
I can’t let them keep at it. Not for one more day.
I need to step away long enough to make sure those bastards never hurt her—or anyone—again.
Kitty’s fingers tighten around mine. “You’re thinking too loud, cowboy.”
I force a smile. “Am I?”
She nods faintly, her eyes still heavy with exhaustion but sharp enough to pin me. “You want to go.”
“Kitty—”
“I know you, Tom Sutton. You won’t sit here quietly while they’re still out there.” Her lips curve into a knowing smile. “And you shouldn’t. Not when our family needs you to fight.”
Emotion tears through me—pride, love, guilt, all tangled up. “The thought ofleaving you here?—”
“—is killing you,” she finishes softly. “But I’ll be fine. Delaney’s here. She won’t let anything happen to me.”
My throat works as I lean closer, kissing her forehead. “You sure about this?”
“Go. Do what you need to do. Then get some sleep before you come back to me.” She smiles as she cups my face, brown eyes shining despite the fatigue. “By the time you get back, I’ll be up pole dancing around the IV with Delaney. Maybe even juggling bedpans if I get ambitious.”
A surprised laugh bursts out of me, relieving some of the ache in my chest. “God, woman, you’re impossible.”
“Lucky for you, I’m yours.” Her smile softens, her thumb brushing along my jaw. “Now go. Raise hell. Then bring your gorgeous ass back here so I can keep you in line.”
Delaney looks up from where she’s sitting in the corner, flipping through Kitty’s chart like she’s memorizing every line. “I’ll hold the line here, Tom.”
I managed to convince Delaney to go back to the ranch with Luna so she could freshen up and grab a few hours’ sleep last night, so she’s sharper now, her protective instincts locked and loaded for her sister.
The knot in my chest eases a fraction. I nod. “Thank you.”
A knock sounds at the door a second before it opens, and Daniel enters the room. He takes one look at Kitty’s improved condition and nods with satisfaction.“You’re looking better.”
His gray eyes shift to me as he removes his worn Stetson and runs a hand through his dark hair. “Angus filled me in. Are we ready to move?”
I nod. “Almost.”
Daniel nods approvingly. “Good thing Delaney’s here to keep Kitty company while we handle those assholes.”
Delaney’s spine snaps straight, brown eyes going steel-cold. “While youmenhandle it, you mean?”
Daniel frowns, clearly not understanding why he’s suddenly in thecrosshairs. “That’s not—I meant Kitty shouldn’t be left alone right now.”
