Honor Bound. B.J. Daniels
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But how, without Joe finding out and retaliating against one of her daughters or her grandchildren?
Her cell phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts. She checked caller ID. The hospital was calling. Her heart dropped like a stone. No! Please God, don’t let it be bad news about Russell.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Hamilton, you asked to be called if there was any change in Russell Murdock’s condition...”
Tears burned her eyes. “Yes?”
“He has come out of his coma. The doctor is with him now.”
Sarah hardly remembered thanking the nurse for phoning. She disconnected and burst into tears.
For months since Russell had been attacked she’d prayed for him to come out of the coma. But as more time went on, she knew that his chances worsened. She’d almost given up hope.
Now hope flared. If Russell could testify against the men who’d attacked him, then maybe it would all come out about The Prophecy. She didn’t care if she went to prison as long as Joe was stopped. Russell would know what to do. He had loved her, asked her to marry him, stayed around because he was worried about her. Together they could stop Joe. She prayed The Prophecy was like a house of cards. Once you began removing a few of the cards... Grabbing her purse, she headed for the door.
* * *
AINSLEY KNEW SHE was bound to cross paths with Sawyer at some point. This was a small video production company. Somehow, she’d avoided him almost all morning. But as she was leading her horse out of the stables, her luck ran out.
He walked up leading his horse, and she remembered belatedly that he’d had an early shoot. “I was just thinking about you,” Sawyer said.
“Yes, me, too.” The words were out before she could call them back. She’d been thinking how embarrassed she was, how lucky she’d been to avoid him and half hoping that he’d already done his scene and had left for good. “I mean...I...”
He laughed. “You don’t need to explain.”
She looked away for a moment before turning to face him with a sigh. “About last night—”
“No explanation needed for that either.” He grinned at her, and she was struck by how completely charming he was. “I heard that the landslide yesterday ruined plans to film there. Are you riding out to look for another location?”
She nodded.
“Would you mind if I rode with you? I haven’t seen much of this country around here. I’d love to tag along.” His gaze met hers. “That’s if you don’t mind.”
Ainsley actually felt tongue-tied. She’d known her share of handsome cowboys, but there was something about this one. Not to mention he’d saved her life yesterday, but then she’d embarrassed herself in front of him last night.
“If you’re thinking I’m a walking disaster who needs looking after—”
“I would never think that about you. Anyway, you said you were putting the new Ainsley Hamilton to rest, so there shouldn’t be much saving to be done, darn it.”
She couldn’t help but weaken. He was doing his best to joke away last night and make her less self-conscious. She appreciated that more than he could know. Sawyer Nash was one of only a few people in the world who’d seen her at her worst. And naked, too, she reminded herself with a silent groan.
“Sure, tag along, if you want to.” She ducked her head, hating how juvenile she sounded. It reminded her of the first boy who’d ever asked her out, a high school freshman when she’d been an eighth-grader.
“Great,” Sawyer said. “I’ll get my horse some water before we go,” he said and left her in the cool shadow of the barn as he led his horse over to the water trough.
Ainsley stopped to watch him go. For a moment, he was silhouetted against the daylight. His broad shoulders sculpted in relief. She shook her head at her wayward thoughts and tugged on her horse’s reins to get the mare moving again, telling herself she hadn’t noticed Sawyer’s slim hips or his long legs or how he filled out his Wranglers. It was just like eighth grade all over again, except...except that more daring, carefree Ainsley Hamilton was fighting to get out again.
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