Page 116 of Track of Courage

He winced, his jaw tightening. “Keely. Vic already knew who you were. They calledher.I just confirmed it—”

“So you convinced her to what—act as bait? To save my life? Have you lost your mind?”

He blinked at her. Glanced at Vic.

And she knew she’d hit it on the head.

“You put her in danger to save me.” She shook her head, held up her hands. “Wow. So I could watch another mother die in front of my eyes. Perfect.”

“Keely. Stop being so dramatic.”

His final word was a blade, landing inside. She stiffened, narrowed her eyes. “Have you not met me, Dawson? Dramatic is who I am. Have you not met Bliss?”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve met Keely Williams.” He stepped up to her. “Bliss is just the disguise for the real Keely Williams, the one who is scared to show her true self.”

“Because when I do, someone betrays me.”

A beat, and his mouth opened. “I was trying tosaveyou.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t need a hero, Dawson. And you need to stop always trying to save the day. You just end up getting yourself—and people around you—hurt.”

He flinched then, and yes, she should stop talking, but anger felt like her only protection. So she stepped back, her voice shaking. “Why don’t you call a press conference, tell therest of my secrets.”

She could have slapped him with less effect. What looked like pain flashed in his eyes, and he shook his head.

As if she might be a child throwing a temper tantrum.

She pushed the thought away. “I should have never told you.”

“C’mon, Keely, let me take you home.” He reached out for her.

She backed away. “Not this time.”

His hand dropped, and he sighed. “Be sure to stop by the clinic to get that wound looked at before you head out of town.”

He turned away.

And that was it. The true ending of her love song.

She practically fled for the local sheriff.

He bundled her up in his SUV, a deputy on watch, and she refused to look at Dawson, her heart hammering as he talked with the sheriff.

Dramatic.

She looked out the window, her eyes burning. Then she turned to the deputy. “Could you please drive me back to Copper Mountain? I need to make a call.”

And only then did she realize that her voice emerged just above a whisper, destroyed. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat.

And let herself weep.

15

DAWSON NEEDEDto get Keely and her stupid words to him out of his head before he got someone hurt. Because everything inside him had started to whir, and yes, he got it.

He had PTS. And maybe a temporary gig, but still...

Even his dog had figured it out. He put a hand to his chest, did a little deep breathing, trying to quell the chaos inside.