Page 130 of Risking it for the Cowboy

He’d been so excited by the prospect of them becoming a permanent thing, he’d been preparing to construct Daisy a brand-new bedroom with his own two hands, turning his bachelor pad into a family home.

She dropped the boot and rubbed her tear-stung eyes. Heart had, so easily, said he loved her. And this was so hard, because somewhere along the way, she’d fallen in love with him too.

And suddenly she knew what her gut was telling her to do. She swiped up his keys and phone, clicked off the shop light, and shut the door.

“You asked about my gut?”

Heart was hovering on the porch and looked up at her.

“Will you stay with Daisy, in case she wakes up?”

Heart nodded. “Yeah, but where are you going?”

Charlie smiled as she dashed up the stairs to grab her purse and do as Thad had bid she do. “Going to file a police report and let them photograph me. He can’t claim defense of a loved one unless they have proof of this.” She pointed to her bruise, breezed through the door, couldn’t find her keys, and so, took T.R.’s truck, dumping his phone into her purse.

Pacing the police station hours later, her report filed, and hoping to see Thad, it was late. Ty came out from the secured door leading into the precinct.

“They’re serving Jason right now, thanks to your report, photos of your cheek, and street cam footage. Battery in the second degree. Criminal, not civil, Charlie.” He gripped her shoulder and gave her a firm squeeze, a rare grin spreading on his lips, a victorious hunter who’d taken down his prey. “Wouldn’t you know, Mitchell has recused himself from any further civil complaints in yours and Jason’s custody and divorce. Your restraining order’ll stand this time. And tonight, Jason’s going to jail thanks to you. You’re a tough woman, Charlie.

“Furthermore, after Shelly got our motion in to the appeals circuit, Mitchell has mysteriously taken a leave of absence.”

Her eyes widened. “Is … that it, then?”

“Hell naw it ain’t.” The ranch-reared attitude in him surfacing, overriding Mr. Harvard. “Mitchell put you through years of hell to hide his affair, and he’s gonna face the music for it. But yes, your days of lookin’ over your shoulder are over. Between the criminal vandalism of university property and assault of a university employee, and now this?”

She dared to exhale. Dared to breathe while feeling truly at ease.

“Are they releasing Thad?”

“I hope soon. But you gotta get to Austin for the Homegrown thing, right? You guys no-show and your place is forfeit.”

They’d planned on packing tonight and leaving in the morning. Someone had to get home to make sure they were ready, except, “There’s no band without McClintock.”

Ty nodded. “Yeah, but they just need one member to sign in. He’s certain the band’ll forfeit anyway, even though I keep promising him he’ll be on the road by morning. And he’s convinced it’s over with you. Want me to say anything to him?”

No … she wanted Thad to know, from her, how much he meant to her, that she was going to fight through her fears for him. An idea of how to do it started to percolate.

She shook her head. “Just get him released and on the road, okay?”

“He’ll be there. If I have to cart his ass to Austin myself, I will.” He hitched his chin toward the door. “Go.”

They needed to be through the intake interviews by twelve noon, then outfitted with mics at the stage down-river from Lake Austin for sound checks after lunch.

She hurried into the parking lot—

Her purse buzzed into the quiet night, nature long-since having settled into sleep. She rummaged for the vibration and pulled out … Thad’s phone? A text notification, the screen lighting up with a snippet.

“Homegrown Awards Final Notice: Pay entry fee or forfeit registration by 12:00 p.m. Saturday, August 20th. Problems paying? Contact Zach at…”

There was an entry fee? And he hadn’t paid? Why? She shouldn’t be doing anything to his phone, and yet, was this part of why Thad was convinced they were forfeit? He couldn’t pay the fee? She tapped on the payment link in the message.

The page loaded. Three-hundred dollars…

She actually laughed.

She opened the truck door, jumping in, and rummaging in her purse for her debit card, inputting the numbers into the payment field.

Tapped submit and shook her head, still smiling.