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Chapter forty-six

You don't want to know

Lorilei

I must have died and gone to heaven.

When I blink my eyes open, Mason’s tender face is watching me, and I can feel his arms holding me tightly against his chest.

“Hey, baby. Welcome back.” His lips brush my forehead before he looks down, concern deepening his frown. “Are you hurt?”

Am I?

“I don’t think so. My fingers and toes move. Besides being sore, I’m okay.” I pull on his arm to help myself sit up.

“I think she got the wind knocked out of her.” Sophia appears on my other side, her blue eyes dark in the waning light. “Clover startled at the gunshot.” Her mouth thins into a line as she looks at her dad.

“There was a lot going on.” He looks down and strokes my hair away from my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know she bucked you off. I’d have been back sooner.” His mouth is soft when he presses another kiss to my temple.

“Are they, um. Are we safe?” The fear churns in my belly making me sit up. I don’t see Cash or Trevor, but their horses are tied nearby.

“You’re safe.” His words are firm.

He saved us.

I can feel the smile match the relief flooding through me. “My superhero.”

“You are, Dad. Mine, too.” Sophia stands, dropping her palm to his shoulder before going to Misty.

“It’s getting dark. Are you okay to ride? You’ll be with me on Hank.” Mason gently helps me stand, worry still etching his features.

I test my legs gingerly, then rotate my torso. “Yep, I am looking forward to a hot bath, though.” Wrapping my arm around his, I walk with him over to Hank.

The huge horse offers a comfortable peace. He earned my trust from the first day, and now he’s rescuing me.

Well, so is my amazing husband.

“Up you go, baby.” Mason lifts me easily so I can throw my leg over. “Lean forward, you’ll be kind of on my lap.” He winks up at me.

His hot body nests against mine as he pulls me close. Our hips are wedged together in the snug saddle.

If I hadn’t been through such a crazy day, this would be pretty sexy.

“We might have to try this again,” he growls against my neck. “I like it.”

He wraps his arm around me and holds me firm as he navigates Hank over the rough terrain.

It’s almost like the horse knows to be easy with every step. Sophia follows closely, but none of us talk the entire way home.

Darkness has nearly fallen when I start seeing familiar shapes. I’ve never been so thankful to see the house.

There’s at least three sheriff’s vehicles parked in the front.

I almost feel guilty they’re here. This isn’t the kind of attention I enjoy.

“Mason. Glad to see you found them.” A big man with russet colored hair reaches up to guide me down as Mason lowers me. “Ma’am. I’m Sheriff Wade Rowland. I’m glad to see you’re okay. I do have some questions for you.”

“Not until she’s checked out.” A deep voice calls from the entrance. Dixon stands there with Sawyer pushing past. Dixon moves to Sophia and helps her off of Misty. “I have the truck ready to take you both to the clinic.”

“Thanks, Dix.” Mason climbs down, encircling me with his arm.

Under the lights, I notice the flecks of blood on his hands. Turning in his grasp, I look up at him and see dried droplets spattered across his face, too. “Are you hurt?” I whisper, panic taking hold again.

He shakes his head. “No baby, just my heart when you were in danger.” Cupping my cheek, he pulls me against his chest. “That’s a pain I never want to experience again.”

“Where’s Ford?” Wade waves his flashlight in the direction we arrived from.

“He’ll be here shortly. He had to round up their horses. They took off.” Watching Mason’s jaw tighten, I know him well enough that he isn’t telling the full story.

I wonder if he ever will?

The sheriff sends a deputy to escort us with lights and sirens as Dixon drives.

Sophia is huddled in a blanket next to me, with Mason on my other side.

He hasn’t stopped touching me. I don’t want him to.

My fingers find each of them, gripping a hand on each of my knees.

Sawyer is in front with Dixon, but he keeps stealing glances backwards.

“Did you get the contract?” I ask. It was the whole reason for the events of today, but no one has said.

Sawyer nods his head and swallows hard. “Yea. I’m sorry I didn’t know.” His voice cracks.

Letting go of Mason, I reach forward to rest my palm on Sawyer’s upper arm. “It’s okay. This isn’t your fault.”

His Adam’s apple bobs before he drops his chin. “You guys were going through hell, and I was complaining about being bored in an office. That ain’t right.”

“Son, you did exactly what needed to be done. If you hadn’t, they would have won.” Mason rubs my back, then reaches behind me to pat Sophia’s shoulder. “Soph? You doing alright?”

She jolts at his touch, then blinks rapidly.

The bravado she showed earlier seems to have slipped into silence.

“Yea. It’s just, well, a lot. You know what I mean?” she says quietly. “What if they come back?”

I can feel Mason’s grip on her tighten. “You don’t have to worry about that.” He sounds confident.

What isn’t he telling me?

Dixon pulls into the brightly lit parking lot in front of the main entrance and escorts us in. He barks orders like he’s in charge, and the staff seem to accept it.

We’re ushered into rooms right away and put through a litany of checks.

The one I’m most nervous about is the ultrasound. Even the idea that my baby is injured makes me queasy.

Dixon comes into the room with the tech. “Mind if I join? I’d like to meet my new niece or nephew, too.” His mustache twitches over a slight smile.

Why do I get the feeling he doesn’t do that very often?

“If Lori doesn’t mind, I sure don’t.” Mason doesn’t hide his look of worry as he sidles up to the stretcher where I’m laying.

“I’d be grateful. I just want to make sure our baby is fine.” I know the fear adds a tremor to my voice that Mason picks up on, because his hand tightens over mine.

Dixon leans over the technician and directs her with the probe, his eyes focused on the black and white images on the screen.

“Good news, my nephew looks perfectly normal and healthy.” Dixon’s smile broadens, then he chuckles. “Oops. Sorry. Congratulations, it’s a boy.”

Tears surge into my eyes then spill down my cheeks as I turn to Mason.

He’s beaming as pulls my fingers to his lips. “I love you, baby.” He threads my palm over his whiskers and kisses the inside of my wrist.

“You’re cleared to go. Let’s get you both home. I hope you can get some rest after today.” Dixon pauses by the door. “You girls are very lucky. Mason, it might be time to teach them both to handle a gun.”

Mason nods. “I think you’re right.”

There’s some sort of secret conversation in expressions between the two of them, but I don’t know what those particular looks mean.

I don’t think I want the details. Today was too much already.

Once we’re alone, Mason helps me change back into my dirty clothes.

“I’m never leaving you alone again. You can puke the entire trip to Helena and back next time,” he says quietly.

“Mason? What happened to them?” I shouldn’t ask, but I also don’t want the nightmares of thinking those men are out there, lurking in the shadows.

His head shakes almost imperceptibly. “You don’t want to know, baby. They’re gone, they can’t hurt you anymore.”

“Then why did Dixon suggest learning how to shoot?” I’m a little confused.

He takes a deep breath, and pulls me close. “Because you’re important to me. And men in my position make enemies simply because of success. There’s always someone out there who will want what we have, baby. And will take any steps to get it.”

A shiver runs down my spine. I never thought about it that way before.

“But—” He leans down and softly touches my lips with his. “—I’ll do anything to protect you, and my family. They don’t know that. But they will.”

I believe him.

It makes warmth spread through my body knowing how much he loves me.

Mason. My protector. My husband.

No matter what, I know he’ll be there for me.

He holds my heart and soul. We may have fought this bond in the beginning, but there’s no denying how strongly we are connected.

We were made for each other.

No one will break us apart.