doesn’t matter where we live.”
Standing on tiptoes, she placed a soft kiss
on his lips. “Thank you.”
Strong arms lifted her off the ground for a
hug. He buried his face against her neck and drew a deep breath
before letting her slide to the ground.
“Are you sure you can handle Gage? Don’t
forget the company he’s been keeping.”
“I’ve known him all my life. He may have
fallen in with a bad crowd or made a mistake allowing Carter to
involve him in this mess, but Gage would never harm me. He was
nowhere near the farm when Pike held me captive there.”
A peculiar expression shadowed Trip’s face.
She couldn’t quite discern it, but something in his eyes sent a
chill up her spine. Shrugging it off as paranoia, she forced a
smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” she told him,
wishing she felt more confident than she did.
“I’ll be in the diner next door waiting for
you.” He lifted her chin with a gentle finger, gave her a parting
kiss and strolled across town.
They’d agreed beforehand to remain casual in
public and not flaunt their deepening relationship. Both wanted to
avoid any unnecessary gossip if possible. She watched him walk. He
had a slight swagger in his step but not a hint of arrogance—just
raw confidence swathed in undeniable charisma.
A knot formed in her stomach as she made her
way toward Gage’s office. Her last encounter with him hadn’t ended
well at all. She worried over how he’d treat her now and if he knew
anything about Trip. Unsure of how deeply involved Gage had become
in Carter’s criminal activity, she had no way of knowing if Pike
had told Gage about the incident in the barn. Such a tangled
mess, she thought.
After straightening her half-top, smoothing
her pants and finger combing her hair so that she looked
presentable, she opened the door to his foyer. She breathed a huge
sigh of relief that La wasn’t at her desk. Shye was not in the mood
to deal with her today. Her mind raced over how to break the ice
with Gage. How do I ask him about my farm without putting him on
the defense again? Looking around, she didn’t see anyone about.
His office was quiet today. Thank goodness. She stared at
the closed door to his personal office. Is he in there? Maybe
he’s with a client or on the phone? Why am I suddenly so nervous?
It’s only Gage. An eerie chill settled over her.
The thought of nosing around flitted through
her mind but she dismissed it. Even if Gage had been involved, he’d
have destroyed anything incriminating after Carter’s arrest. Her
nerves began to calm as she realized she’d probably done Gage a
tremendous favor. Her gaze moved around the lobby area, which
housed numerous bookshelves and a few replicas of famous paintings.
Nothing unique, just boring colors and stifling décor, how anyone
could function in this oppressive atmosphere baffled her.
She lived to breathe fresh country air, enjoy
the sounds and smells of nature, and roam free. The longing to
regain ownership of her land that was rightfully hers consumed her.
She could almost smell her mother’s venison stew roasting over an
open fire and hear the melodic music of her ancestor’s—hauntingly
sweet tunes that had been passed down for generations on handmade
wooden flutes.
Ate has not played the music since I’ve
been home. She felt sad. Though her parents pretended they were
okay on the reservation, she knew in her heart that their spirits
grieved the loss of something so precious. Surely Gage will help
me. He’s known them all of his life. She summoned the nerve to
rap lightly on the large oak door to his private study.
“Who is it?” he asked from the other
side.
“Shye,” she replied in a soft voice. “May I
come in?”
No reply. The sound of papers shuffling could
be heard through the door, then footsteps approached. The door
swung open.
“Shye, what brings you to my office today?”
he offered her a welcoming smile but suspicion lurked in his eyes.
Handsome,
Standing on tiptoes, she placed a soft kiss
on his lips. “Thank you.”
Strong arms lifted her off the ground for a
hug. He buried his face against her neck and drew a deep breath
before letting her slide to the ground.
“Are you sure you can handle Gage? Don’t
forget the company he’s been keeping.”
“I’ve known him all my life. He may have
fallen in with a bad crowd or made a mistake allowing Carter to
involve him in this mess, but Gage would never harm me. He was
nowhere near the farm when Pike held me captive there.”
A peculiar expression shadowed Trip’s face.
She couldn’t quite discern it, but something in his eyes sent a
chill up her spine. Shrugging it off as paranoia, she forced a
smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” she told him,
wishing she felt more confident than she did.
“I’ll be in the diner next door waiting for
you.” He lifted her chin with a gentle finger, gave her a parting
kiss and strolled across town.
They’d agreed beforehand to remain casual in
public and not flaunt their deepening relationship. Both wanted to
avoid any unnecessary gossip if possible. She watched him walk. He
had a slight swagger in his step but not a hint of arrogance—just
raw confidence swathed in undeniable charisma.
A knot formed in her stomach as she made her
way toward Gage’s office. Her last encounter with him hadn’t ended
well at all. She worried over how he’d treat her now and if he knew
anything about Trip. Unsure of how deeply involved Gage had become
in Carter’s criminal activity, she had no way of knowing if Pike
had told Gage about the incident in the barn. Such a tangled
mess, she thought.
After straightening her half-top, smoothing
her pants and finger combing her hair so that she looked
presentable, she opened the door to his foyer. She breathed a huge
sigh of relief that La wasn’t at her desk. Shye was not in the mood
to deal with her today. Her mind raced over how to break the ice
with Gage. How do I ask him about my farm without putting him on
the defense again? Looking around, she didn’t see anyone about.
His office was quiet today. Thank goodness. She stared at
the closed door to his personal office. Is he in there? Maybe
he’s with a client or on the phone? Why am I suddenly so nervous?
It’s only Gage. An eerie chill settled over her.
The thought of nosing around flitted through
her mind but she dismissed it. Even if Gage had been involved, he’d
have destroyed anything incriminating after Carter’s arrest. Her
nerves began to calm as she realized she’d probably done Gage a
tremendous favor. Her gaze moved around the lobby area, which
housed numerous bookshelves and a few replicas of famous paintings.
Nothing unique, just boring colors and stifling décor, how anyone
could function in this oppressive atmosphere baffled her.
She lived to breathe fresh country air, enjoy
the sounds and smells of nature, and roam free. The longing to
regain ownership of her land that was rightfully hers consumed her.
She could almost smell her mother’s venison stew roasting over an
open fire and hear the melodic music of her ancestor’s—hauntingly
sweet tunes that had been passed down for generations on handmade
wooden flutes.
Ate has not played the music since I’ve
been home. She felt sad. Though her parents pretended they were
okay on the reservation, she knew in her heart that their spirits
grieved the loss of something so precious. Surely Gage will help
me. He’s known them all of his life. She summoned the nerve to
rap lightly on the large oak door to his private study.
“Who is it?” he asked from the other
side.
“Shye,” she replied in a soft voice. “May I
come in?”
No reply. The sound of papers shuffling could
be heard through the door, then footsteps approached. The door
swung open.
“Shye, what brings you to my office today?”
he offered her a welcoming smile but suspicion lurked in his eyes.
Handsome,
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