Unbridled Trails Page 12

  After the too-close experience with the fire, Sherri doubted she’d take too long. She wanted happiness and stability and she didn’t want to come home to an empty house by herself again.

  Mostly she wanted to be around someone who drove her crazy. She didn’t want safe, vanilla feelings. She wanted the crazy stirrings inside her when she saw him and the safety of just being around him.

  Like when she was with Kyle. Would he even want her? Was he okay? Between Cyan, Rachiah, and Kyle, why hadn’t anyone visited her in the last couple days?

  The time to get to Nate’s ranch passed in discomfort. His ranch was south of the reservation, so that area didn’t look to be evacuating yet.

  But with Montana neighborliness, more horses and stock than Nate normally had were rounded into the southern-most field with a creek and extra hay spread out along the fence line.

  Her callousness toward M.T. slapped her in the face when she gave him more than just a cursory glance with fresh perspective. He was a good-looking man, was kind and considerate. He just wasn’t for her.

  She reached over and curled her fingers over his on the steering wheel when he stopped the rig.

  M.T.’s shoulders lifted and dropped in a sigh. “I know.” He patted her hand with his and then pushed her away. “I need to check the reservation for anymore stubborn residents.” He nodded at her and looked out his window, turning completely away.

  “I’m sorry.” Her whisper was butterfly soft, but in the sudden silence of the truck, he heard. His tiny nod told her it was okay to get out.

  She slid out and grabbed her spider’s cage. Closing the door felt like shutting away a part of her childhood.

  The steps to the deck rose before her with daunting steepness. Before that, she hadn’t really noticed the angles and edges. But everything hurt and she didn’t want to climb so much when she really didn’t even want to move.

  But the chance that Kyle was in there pushed her past her limits. She had to see him. Cyan, too.

  The excruciating climb passed before she knew and she took a breath before knocking on the door. She worried at her lower lip with her teeth. She couldn’t talk. Honestly, she probably should be in bed resting with the burns on her hands, face, and neck. Not that she could stay with her bed. Sudden displacement slapped her in the face. She didn’t have a home for the moment.

  Guy had done that. Anger held her together. She refused to let him wound her further. He could take all of that away from her.

  But she’d survived the fire. Not alone. But she’d survived it.

  Her shoulders straightened. She had survived the fire. Even in the midst of the flames and the heat, she’d survived. Kyle had rescued her, but she’d made it. She’d gotten over her fear and taken the steps to stay alive.

  She could do anything. She’d faced her biggest fear.

  And won.

  If Sherri could do that, she could talk to Kyle about what was going through her head and heart.

  Doubt warred with her confidence. What was she doing? He’d never believe her when she said – or rather whispered – that she loved him. Maybe she’d pantomime it and he’d misunderstand. Then she could save her pride.

  She didn’t have any way out of there to escape humility.

  Even if she wanted to call someone else, she had no cell phone after jumping into the pond with everything in her pockets and no car. She had to go inside to make a call.

  Who would help her?

  Sucking in a deep breath, she knocked on the door again.

  Another moment passed before the door answered. Kyle stood on the other side, his eyes red-rimmed and downcast. “Yeah?” He looked up, his eyes growing wide as he recognized her. “Sherri!” He reached for her, careful when he touched her elbow and joined her on the deck. “Sherri, you’re here. I called the hospital and they said you didn’t make it.” His voice cracked on the last two words and he adjusted his hat, his eyes bloodshot in the shadows.

  Soot covered his face, dark in the creases around his eyes and by his nose. His flannel shirt had burn spots in it and his jeans were closer to black than blue. But he was refreshing. His blue eyes so clear, so concerned and relieved at the same time.

  Sherri furrowed her brow, slightly shaking her head.

  “Which hospital did you go to?” He rushed on, only waiting for her head movements. “I called Missoula. No? Colby, then?” At her nod, he grunted. “I should’ve called Colby. I – wow, your burns don’t look as bad as they did on the ranch.” He reached his fingers up like he meant to touch her cheek.

  She turned to the side, wary of more pain on her already sensitive and blistered skin.

  “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.” He dropped his hand. “I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

  She shook her head, but reached out to reclaim his fingers with hers.

  “Ah, I see. You can’t talk. That’s okay. Why don’t you come inside? Everyone thinks you’re dead – well, I told them you were because... well, I didn’t think you made it.” He slapped his leg. “They meant you hadn’t made it to their hospital.” He carefully wrapped his arm around her back. “Come on. I’ll get you something to drink for your throat.”

  Sherri stopped him, releasing his fingers to put her hand on his arm. She shook her head and brushed her thumb over his chin. Her throat tightened further, leaving her breath more ragged.

  Glancing down at their joined hands, she fought for just enough throat control to say, “I love you, Kyle.” She grabbed her throat. “Too soon?”

  “I can’t... No, it’s not too soon. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to say that to me. I saved you, but that doesn’t mean you owe me anything.” Kyle stared at her, then hung his head. “This was all my fault. I’ve been after Guy for a long time to get even with him for doing to my sister what he tried to do to you. The fire. You. Everything is because I wouldn’t leave it alone.”

  “Not. Fault.” Sherri shook her head and closed her eyes, exhausted at the effort to talk and stand there. She needed to sit, to rest. But she needed to make him hear her more. “No. I. Love.” But she couldn’t finish.

  Kyle’s suspicion faded to wonder. “Really? You really feel that way?”

  She nodded, embarrassed that her raw feelings had been lain out there like the burns on the backs of her hands and face.

  He didn’t say anything, just studied her, watched her. Like she had more to reveal.

  Touching her arm, Kyle was soft at first and then applied more pressure. “I thought you were dead and I didn’t get to tell you what I’d realized earlier. How much you mean to me.” He brushed his knuckles over her hair and along her ear. “And now, here you are. Alive and I’m given a second chance. I’m so lucky.” He leaned forward, brushing his lips across her sensitive lips. His whispered words breezed over her blistered skin. “I love you, too.”

  And it was like he released her pain, filling her instead with euphoria that he’d answered and she hadn’t had to ask him to say something.

  Her favorite thing about Kyle – he worked to protect her. She could handle that kind of affection. She could take care of herself, but he wouldn’t make her do anything on her own.

  She was free because her heart was unbridled, able to be and love as she wanted. Kyle gave that to her.

  “Come on, the family will be so excited to see you.” He opened the door and motioned her through. “We’re just meeting for a family council. Nate was just about to announce something.”

  Sherri couldn’t help but feel like her whole future had the potential to be in that room, at least with the man by her side.

  She could handle that. She retrieved her tarantula and followed him indoors.

  Chapter 20

  Kyle

  Sherri was there. Somehow she’d gotten her spider and showed up at Nate’s. She couldn’t talk and Kyle didn’t care. He’d get the answers from her when she could give them. He’d take whatever he could get. The last four days had been horrific as they’d fought fire
s and caught up on sleep in random places only to head right back out.

  When he’d called the hospitals in Missoula and been told she didn’t make it, he had returned to the fire fighting with a reckless abandon. His fury at her loss something he was willing to cope with, work with. He hadn’t taken the time to face his loss. He couldn’t.

  The family had gathered an hour ago. Everyone was exhausted and avoided the topic of Sherri because Kyle held up a hand when anyone asked. He hadn’t had a chance to call any other hospital. Honestly, though, he hadn’t known they had a facility in Colby that could handle burn victims.

  None of that mattered, though, now. Nothing.

  Sherri was alive and she walked inside with him. He had her.

  She loved him. In light of the fire and the fact that he’d almost lost her, it didn’t seem too soon. It didn’t seem near soon enough.

  He led the way to the kitchen where Nate sat at the head of the table with his head in his hands.

  “Sherri!” Cyan’s half-scream announced Sherri before anything else could. She rushed from behind the kitchen counter, a towel in her hands. She half-tackled Sherri before Kyle could stop her. “You’re not dead. Oh my gosh, Sher, you’re not dead.” She pulled back, tears streaking her cheeks.

  Sherri didn’t seem to care. She dealt with any pain Cyan’s touch might have caused. She accepted it.

  The rest of the people in the room exclaimed over her good fortune, but Sherri acknowledged them with a soft smile before she stared at her friend. Her whisper reached Cyan and Kyle. “Happened?”

  Cyan wiped at her cheeks. “The fires are still burning. They can’t find the guy who started the fire or chased you... and...” She glanced at the Montana Trails sitting around the room. “The Jonesy ranch is gone and so are three more along the northern edge of Clearwater.” She glanced down, her grasp on Sherri’s shoulders complete.

  “Jonesy’s didn’t have full coverage.” Nate’s words broke through Kyle’s mixed bitterness that they’d lost Guy and happiness at finding Sherri was alive.

  Jareth groaned. “No. What does that mean?”

  Emma’s soft voice carried from an easy chair set up in the corner. “It means, we’re responsible for the difference which comes to about fifty-thousand dollars. Since Nate was the foreman, we’re taking it. You guys don’t need to worry about any of it.”

  Cyan dropped her hands from Sherri and reached for Jareth’s elbow. “I could ask my parents to help. They might have it.” But her voice trailed off as the Montana Trail cousins lifted their chins in pride.

  “Thanks, Cyan, but we can’t take money like that. We need to figure out another way.” Emma’s sweet smile belied the worry in her twisting fingers as she worked on the blanket on her lap.

  Nate met her gaze and then looked away sharply. “I can do it. We can figure something out.”

  “Nate, stop. We can’t even cover basic medical for us. For me.” Emma threw back the comforter on her frail appearing frame.

  Stefanie stood, her hands braced on the table. “I’ll work on the ranches, too. I can do that. I’m sick of working in town, Nate. I don’t make half as much as you guys and I swear I work harder.” She ignored Ryland’s snorting.

  “Me, too.” Hannah stood beside her sister, crossing her arms over her chest. “We can help.”

  Nate pushed up from his chair and approached Emma, even with the room full of all of their cousins. He knelt on the ground beside her as he looked up at her. “I don’t want to leave you anymore.”

  “I know.” She framed his face in her hands, her smile sad but tender. “I know, Nate, but now we can’t worry about that.”

  He stared at her, as if they spoke with their gazes.

  Sherri’s heart took on an all new ache and she reached for Kyle’s hand. They held on, watching as the entire family held their breath.

  Nate was the oldest. He and Emma held them all together. What they decided, the rest of them would go along with. They always did.

  Nate slowly pulled Emma’s hands from his face.

  Standing, he turned to take in the whole group. Emma’s fingers found his and he cleared his throat. “I’ll need to put the ranch up for sale.”

  Stefanie slumped into her seat, gasping. “You won’t take money from Cyan, but you’ll sell the ranch? This is my home, too. Not just yours.” She bit her lip and rushed from the room.

  “Nate, no.” Emma grabbed his hand with both of hers, tugging as if her slight weight would budge him.

  “We need to cover medical bills and what happened at the ranch. If Stefanie and Hannah are going to work with us, we’ll just have to make sure we only take jobs where we can board.” Nate hardened his jaw. “We’ll have to figure this out.”

  Hannah’s quiet voice broke through the shocked silence that fell around the room. “Where will Emma stay?”

  Nate looked down at his wife. He gripped her shoulder and nodded hard. “It’s time to call Drake.”

  Hard times were ahead, but at least they had each other.

  And sometimes that’s all that mattered.

  The end of Unbridled Trails, book #3 of The Montana Trails series, Clearwater County Collection.

  Join my Survivors Newsletter and keep up to date on Hidden Trails, book #4 of The Montana Trails series and the rest of the family. Read more about Nate Rourke and Kyle Darby and their cousins, and what can make a cowboy lose his heart.

  Dear Survivor,

  We’re deep into the series with the finish of book #3. I love the stories of the Montana Trails and I promise we have many more to cover. Bear with me as we head into book 4, Hidden Trails, with Stephanie and Drake’s story and see where Nate and Emma end up.

  The family is a strong one and I know they have each other’s backs, but watch for upcoming feuds and loss and love that has the potential to tear this family apart.

  This book was hard for me to write from an emotional standpoint. Sherri was hard to write – let’s be honest, someone who isn’t a fan of chocolate? I mean, come on. But thanks to Team Paulson, I was able to find out that her favorite dessert is cheesecake.

  Team Paulson... what would I do without you?

  I’m very excited to continue with this series and I hope you are, too. I look forward to seeing you in the next book!

  Don’t hesitate to drop me a line and let me know what you think. Please leave a review wherever you are able. Authors need reviews more than you know!

  Until the next book, if you’d like to see more of me, follow me on social media and sign up for my newsletter.

  Stay Alive,

  Bonnie

  Clearwater County Collection has multiple subseries! Here’s the reading order.

  Lonely Lace series

  Spurs and Lace (book #1) (FREE)

  Secrets and Lace (Book #2)

  Sorrows and Lace (Book #3)

  Redemption series

  Romancing Redemption (Book #1)

  Riding for Redemption (Book #2)

  Resisting Redemption (Book #3)

  Regretting Redemption (Book #4)

  Rewarding Redemption (Book #5)

  The Montana Trails series

  Broken Trails (Book 1)

  Forbidden Trails (Book 2)

  Unbridled Trails (Book 3)

  Hidden Trails (Book 4)

  Forgotten Trails (Book 5)

  For a list with covers and descriptions as well as links to all of Bonnie’s other works, please click here.

  About the Author

  Bonnie R. Paulson is all about survival. Do you have what it takes to turn the page?

  Find Bonnie at

  Twitter: @bonnierpaulson

  Facebook: http://facebook.com/bonpaulson

  www.bonnierpaulson.net

  bonnierpaulson@bonnierpaulson.net

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  Www.BonnieRPaulson.net

  Join my Survivor Newsletter

  http://www.bonnierpaulson.net/#!subscribe-to-survival-in
-bonnies-world/c21y3

  Acknowledgements

  To Bear

  To Lysette, great title, thank you!

  Captiva Publishing

  Bonnie R. Paulson

  www.bonnierpaulson.net

  Copyright © 2016 Bonnie R. Paulson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold.

  Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover design by Kristin Bryant, contact her through kristindesign100@gmail.com

  Editing by Grammar Smith Editing

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  Did you love Unbridled Trails? Then you should read Hidden Trails by Bonnie R. Paulson!

  When a desperate cowgirl faces the loss of her childhood home she loves beyond reason, a pauper-turned-Prince from her past returns and whips her problems from devastating to heartbreaking. Can they ever accept their hidden potential or are they destined to ride through life alone?

  The only thing Stephanie wants is stability in a life where she doesn't lose everyone and everything she loves. When her older brother puts the only home she’s ever known up for sale because he needs the money to save his wife, Stephanie has to do something, anything, everything to protect her home – and her family.