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  “That’s a relief. Thanks again.”

  Gage lifted his chin, winked at her and disappeared down the hall.

  It was time. At last. She called for the nurse to help her get dressed. Ever since she and Travis had been brought into the hospital, she’d been getting bulletins from the nurses and June on his welfare. She’d been counting the minutes until she could see him for herself.

  But now that the time was finally here, her insides began trembling as she worried about the future. Would this be one of the last times she ever saw Travis? Or would he forgive her so she could at least stay in Chance for Jenna’s sake?

  * * *

  Still frustrated two hours later, after she’d finally managed to get dressed, Summer headed down the hall toward the elevator that would take her to Travis’s room. She’d been going over and over what to say to him.

  “Well, well. Look at you. All dressed and ready to go.” Travis’s aunt June stepped out of the elevator and beamed at her. “Good. Jenna is dying to see you.”

  “I’m going down to speak to Travis before we leave the hospital. He’s been moved and wants to see me.” The elevator doors closed and she pushed the button again.

  “Yes, I know. I just stuck my head in his door, and he looks good. Shall I go pack your things while you talk to him?”

  Summer stopped and sighed. “If you wouldn’t mind. You’ve been so kind to me, June. I can’t tell you how much I…”

  “Nonsense,” the older woman said with a wave. “You go on.”

  June started to turn, then turned back. “Oh. I almost forgot. Rosie and her fiancé are here. They want to speak to Travis after you do. I’m not sure, but I think she’s going to tell Travis they’ll put off the wedding until he’s released so he can still stand up for Rosie.”

  “That’s sweet of her.”

  “I thought so, too. They also said they needed to see you.”

  “Me? But why? I hardly know her and I don’t know him at all.”

  June’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “You’ve become very special to everyone. They’re waiting down on Travis’s floor in the alcove off the elevator. Ask them why for yourself.”

  “I will.” The elevator door opened once again and she stepped inside. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

  After the quick ride down two floors, Summer stepped from the elevator and looked for the alcove. Turning left, she headed around the corner.

  And stopped dead in her tracks. The breath whooshed from her lungs and her knees started to shake.

  There standing before her was the man she had been looking for and having nightmares about for the last five years. Bobby “Hoss” Packard. And Rosie, Travis’s Rosie, was clinging to his arm as if she would die without him. It couldn’t be true. But it must be. Rosie’s fiancé was the man who’d left her to die.

  Speechless, Summer froze to the spot. She didn’t know whether to scream or to run.

  “Give R.J. a chance to talk to you,” Rosie begged. “I know this is a big shock. It shocked me too when he told me this morning. But please hear him out. He’s a good man who made a terrible mistake.”

  Summer found her voice and pinned Bobby or R.J. with a look that she hoped said she could start yelling for help at any time. “It took you long enough to come forward. If you’re a ‘good man,’ I can’t believe you would do this to someone as sweet as Rosie.”

  The man Rosie had called R.J. removed his cowboy hat and held it loosely in his hand. “You’d be right to think that, ma’am. But for so long I’ve been trying to tell myself that night never happened. That I was never there that day. I dunno. I guess I thought maybe if I stayed silent and worked hard, everyone back east would just forget about me.”

  She didn’t know when she’d lost her fear of this man—maybe when he’d appeared with Rosie by his side. “Sorry to disappoint you. Were you hoping I hadn’t survived that night? Or have you been hoping I wouldn’t survive being kidnapped here?”

  His face actually colored with embarrassment. “Neither one. I’m glad you survived—both times.”

  Something just occurred to her. “Who else have you told? Did Bodie Barnes know you were the one I’ve been searching for?”

  “No, ma’am. No one else knows. Not yet. But I’m planning on going to the sheriff after we speak to Travis. I can’t run anymore.” He glanced down at Rosie beside him. “I honestly didn’t think anyone would get hurt that night when we started out. And when I finally woke up and saw what my supposed boss meant to do, I tried to save you. I was the one who called 911. And I’ll be eternally sorry that it was too little, too late.”

  It was true that someone else had called for help anonymously that night. But Summer remembered thinking it had been a passerby who hadn’t wanted to become involved.

  “Did you leave my ropes loose deliberately?”

  He nodded but dropped his chin to stare at the floor. “But I couldn’t get to the second floor without being seen. The guy I was with thought I’d seen too much of his mob connections and was waiting to kill me, along with the rest of you. But I’ve thought about you and your baby every day since then. It’s time I paid for my stupidity. I’m only sorry that I came back to Chance and got Rosie involved.”

  “I’m not.” Rosie spoke up. “I’m not sorry a bit. I believe you didn’t mean to hurt anyone that night, and that you never knew the men who’d hired you were part of the mob.” She took a breath that sounded more like a choked sob. “You were lost to me for so many years. Now that I’ve got you back, I’ll never be sorry about what came before.”

  R.J. pleaded with his fiancée. “I love you. But you need to walk away. Now, before you’re in too deep. I’m going to prison for a long time, sweetheart. Don’t waste your life waiting for me.”

  “I’m good at waiting.” Rosie crossed her arms over her chest with a determined look. “Already been waiting for you for most of my life. I’ll still be there when you get out.”

  Summer’s stomach clenched, understanding the pain these two were facing. “We need to talk this through some more. Let’s go see Travis. He’s good at knowing what to do.”

  “I thought so, too,” Rosie agreed. Then she looked into Summer’s eyes. “I know R.J. needs to turn himself in. If for no other reason than he can’t live with what he’s done. But if you said something about how he’s changed and all, it might just help his case.”

  She would think about it. A lot. But at this moment, all Summer wanted to do was to see Travis. She’d never needed his strength more than she did right now.

  * * *

  Travis couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Summer. She looked pale and worried. And her injured shoulder was in a weird sling that was set at a funny angle and looked terribly uncomfortable. He’d been told she was healing and ready to leave the hospital. But she looked so weak and vulnerable; he didn’t think she should even leave this room.

  He’d wanted to be alone with her to talk about the two of them and where they went from here. And he couldn’t wait to take her in his arms—make that, arm. His own shattered arm was in a cast and would stay that way for several weeks. They made quite a pair.

  Instead of being able to talk by themselves, though, Rosie and her fiancé walked in behind Summer and stood beside his bed, waiting for a chance to spill their secret. He heard them out, but his eyes were glued to Summer the whole time. Surprise wouldn’t quite describe the shock he felt at finding out that Summer’s man was also Rosie’s fiancé. But it was Summer who most concerned him.

  When they were finished, he took Summer’s hand in his. “How do you feel about all of this?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d like to talk to you about it.”

  He shot a glare at R.J. “Summer’s the one you owe the most. You ready to do whatever she feels is right?”

  “Yes, sir. I wish it didn’t have to hurt Rosie, but I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to face justice.”

  “Good. Then you and Rosie go on back to the Bar-
C and wait there. Barrett will put you both to work for a couple of days until Summer can think things through.”

  “Thank you, Travis.” Rosie leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I’m so glad to see you looking healthy. You’ll be out of here in no time.”

  “Danged right.” The doctors thought he needed another week. They didn’t know Summer needed him more.

  He turned once again to R.J. as he and Rosie started to leave. “You run again, and I’ll hunt you down like a rabid coyote. You got that?”

  “I won’t run.” R.J. settled his Stetson on his head and took Rosie’s arm. “I owe you a lot for taking care of Rosie when I couldn’t, Travis. I’m willing to pay you back any way I can. I’d do whatever you say.”

  Travis nodded but stayed silent until Rosie and R.J. left, then he turned to Summer and lifted his good arm to beckon her closer. “Come here.” He felt hampered by having to stay in bed and decided he’d be up by this afternoon.

  She sat at the edge of the bed, but that wasn’t nearly close enough to suit him. “I’m so glad to see you,” she said. “I’ve missed you. I haven’t even thanked you for saving my life.”

  “Well, that just makes us even.” He reached out to gently touch her right arm. “You saved my life, too. I was empty until you came along. Simply existing and getting by. When you arrived, you brought the sunshine back for both me and Jenna.”

  He felt the words dry up as water filled his eyes. And she was still too damned far away.

  “Oh, Travis, I’m so sorry for lying to you about why I came to Chance.” She looked down to where his hand lay against her arm. “I won’t blame you for hating the lie, but please don’t hate me forever. I couldn’t stand it if you…”

  “Hate you? Never. Hey, you’ve been around long enough to see that I’ve been known to tell a couple of big ones myself. Have you talked to Jimmy Stockard lately?”

  She bit her lip, but the corners of her mouth crept up as though she was holding back a smile. “He told me what you said.”

  “See there? Nobody’s perfect. We belong together.”

  Drawing a deep breath, she shook her head. “But…Gage thought I was being a terrible person. I didn’t mean to lie to you or anyone. But that night has haunted me for so long. I…”

  “Tell me,” he offered softly. “Tell me all of it. I want to hear about the baby. Your husband. That night. All of it from your point of view.”

  At long last, she leaned into his good side and began to whisper. He held her, comforting her and letting her know that none of what happened had been her fault. It had suddenly become clear to him that she’d been blaming herself for her child’s death all this time. Searching for the second man was just her way of dealing with guilt. And guilt was also the reason she’d believed the stalker had to be the man she’d been after.

  But having her here beside him felt right. He just had to make her see that she was blameless in everything. And that he needed her.

  She was crying softly by the time she finished, and he was surprised to find wetness on his own cheeks. They needed each other.

  He leaned down and kissed her tears away. “It’s done. Your child will be a part of you for as long as you live, and I will always love that part. But my child needs you, too. And so do I. You can be strong enough to live again with us, I know you can.”

  A low sound escaped her. “You still want me?” She looked at him with such intense desire that he would’ve liked to show her how much he wanted her right here.

  Yes, he was going home from the hospital tonight.

  “Want you?” He laughed instead of doing what he’d wanted. “Only forever. I love you. And you’ll stay with me and marry Jenna and me because you love us, too.”

  “Pretty sure of yourself.” She laughed too, and then kissed him so intensely that he didn’t need to hear anything else.

  This time it was for real. He would never wonder about love again. Real love and real life. He had it all. And he knew that together he and Summer and Jenna would surely find their happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  Two days later, on a sunny fall morning, Rosie stood outside the ranch house beside R.J. as the two of them said their I-do’s. Summer found herself weeping just a little, knowing this was the last moment the couple would have together for a very long time.

  She looked over at Travis, who was standing beside his daughter. He must’ve felt her looking and glanced her way with a nod. His sure strength ran through her and she straightened her spine. Everything seemed right.

  After the ceremony, he made his way to her through the small crowd. “I sure hope a wedding was the right thing to do for Rosie.”

  “Of course it was,” she assured him. “Just look at how happy she looks.”

  Rosie was beaming at her new husband.

  “Well, it made Jenna happy to be in the wedding. And we’ll all be glad to keep Rosie with us for a little while longer.” Travis put his uninjured right arm around her waist. “Seeing as how the two of us aren’t much good for anything, with these slings.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.” The image of the two of them in bed last night rippled a fresh desire through her veins. “You’re still excellent at some things. Even with one arm pinned.”

  He chuckled and kissed her long and hard. She came up laughing and out of breath. “Remember where we are,” she cautioned.

  “I don’t care. I don’t care who sees how much in love we are. It’ll be our turn for a wedding just as soon as we get back from Connecticut.” He beamed at her as though they were the ones who’d just been married.

  She loved this man with her whole being. “I’ve been meaning to thank you for all you’re doing for R.J.” Summer gazed into the eyes of the man she loved. “Without you talking to the state’s attorney about R.J. testifying against the mob, and then hiring those high-powered lawyers for his defense, I’m sure he would’ve spent the rest of his life in prison.”

  “And you didn’t want that.” Not a question. They’d talked about it for hours on end, and she’d come to the decision that R.J. had reformed and, with Rosie’s help, would never find himself in trouble again. Travis had approved and made it happen.

  “R.J. will pay with his guilt for the rest of his days. But he can do some good in this world if he’s outside of prison. I think he should get that chance.”

  She finally understood that she was meant to do some good in this world as well, and that giving to others would go a long way toward soothing her own guilt.

  She had Travis to thank for showing her the way. And for so many more things.

  He kissed her again. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

  “I never get tired of hearing it.”

  Never was a good word, in her book. That, along with Travis’s favorite word, forever, applied to them from now on. No more disabling guilt. She had a wonderful new life and a family who loved her. And this time she knew the love would last forever.

  * * * * *

  ISBN: 9781459227576

  Copyright © 2012 by Linda Lucas Sankpill

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