From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,38
back at them, but she couldn’t deny feeling at loose ends. If it was about money, she would’ve worked for free, she didn’t care. The Watering Hole was as much home to her as the Lone Wolf.
She stopped on the sidewalk and sucked in a deep breath. Directly in front of her, Trace’s truck was parked at the curb. He was leaning back against the door with his arms folded and the brim of his hat pulled down low. As if he were waiting for someone. For her?
“Hey,” he said, pushing off the truck.
“What are you doing?” She hadn’t seen him inside. Unless he’d slipped in and out while she and Sadie were talking. “Were you in the Watering Hole?”
“Nope. Just got here. Come sit in the truck with me for a minute.”
“What is this?” She wished she could see his eyes better. “How did you know I’d be out here?”
“Come here and I’ll explain.”
“No.” She squeezed the set of keys until it dug into her palm, then pulled her arm back when he reached for her. “I’m staying right here until you tell me what’s going on.”
Main Street almost always quieted down after six-thirty. At nine, with the Food Mart and Abe’s Variety closed, the town was dead. Two trucks and a blue sedan were parked in front of the diner. Other than a pair of headlights coming toward them from the south, nothing moved on the street.
She wouldn’t even have noticed the headlights except Trace seemed weirdly interested. He stood silently watching the vehicle’s approach, his mouth a grim line as the car passed.
“Dammit, Trace, you’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to.” He caught her this time, tightening his grip on her wrist when she tried to shake him off. “Would you settle down?”
“No, I won’t. First Sadie sends me home like I’m a kid who’s disobeyed, then I come out here and—” She gasped at the feel of her breasts being crushed against his chest. His rough treatment stunned her.
“I’m sorry if I pulled too hard.” He put his free arm around her before he released her wrist. Apparently he wasn’t contrite enough to let her go.
“What is wrong with you?” With the light from the bar’s sign shining in his face, she could see his eyes now. They were dark and serious, and she knew something bad had happened. “Is it Matt?” Her heart nearly exploded from merely voicing the question. “Tell me he’s okay, Trace. You tell me right now.”
“Matt is fine.” His genuine look of surprise reassured her more than the words. “It’s Wallace.”
“He’s dead?”
Trace nodded. “He passed away about forty minutes ago.”
“Why did you scare me like that?” She punched his shoulder. “Damn you.” Pausing, she struggled to take a breath, and shivered in the warm summer air. It was finally over...the waiting and having to watch her brother care for the man who’d shown him nothing but contempt. She should feel relief. Still she felt nothing. “I thought it was Matt. God.”
“Now will you get in my truck?”
“Why? I drove—” She stared at him as things started falling into place. “Is that why Sadie told me to go home? She knew about Wallace?”
“I called her after Rachel phoned me. She and Matt, we all thought it was best that I come get you before you heard the news from someone else. Doc Heaton gets summoned this late it means either he’ll be delivering a baby or certifying a death.”
“Was that him in the blue car?”
“Yep. Somehow his comings and goings seem to spread fast around here.”
Nikki sighed. She couldn’t be mad at everyone for caring, no matter how misguided. When Trace hooked a finger under her chin and gently tipped her head back, she said, “If you’re looking for tears there aren’t any.”
A faint smile curved his mouth. “I want you to be okay, that’s all.”
She twisted away from him, lifted her hands, palms up. “Look, I’m fine. Just like always.” She twirled all the way around. “See?”
“Yes, good.” He gestured to his truck. “We should go.”
Screw his patronizing tone. She sidestepped him and headed for her own truck. No, not hers, the pickup belonged to the Lone Wolf. She didn’t have anything of value. Never had, probably never would. The hell with the Gunderson trust fund. Matt considered half the ranch hers, she didn’t.
“Nikki...what are you doing?”
“Going home like a good girl. Isn’t that what everyone wants?”
She kept walking without glancing back, wanting to run. But that would only convince Trace she