A Cowboy and a Promise by Pam Crooks

Author:Pam Crooks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
ISBN: 9781949707281
Publisher: The Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2020-02-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Beau pulled up in front of Ava’s cabin and cut the ignition. Wasn’t like her to leave the front door wide open. No one conserved air conditioning the way she did. She was damned near obsessive about it.

Something was wrong.

He got out of the car and strode onto the porch. One look inside the cabin, and his breath hitched. Shards of glass were scattered on her bed, onto the floor. The window shade ruffled inward from the breeze; a big rock near her table looked responsible.

He spun and bolted outside, searched the dirt road beyond her cabin and found her up ahead, running hard. She looked small in the distance, almost indecipherable, but he knew the way her body moved when she ran. Sleek, agile, fast.

She was chasing someone. Someone blond. Beau didn’t need to see a face to know it was Donnie. That long hair was a dead giveaway, and the kid didn’t have a chance to outrun her.

Gunner loped toward him from the direction of the Big House. Beau slid a sharp whistle through his teeth, and the Lab’s stride lengthened. Beau ran toward his horse, untethered the reins, and loosened the rope strap on his saddle before leaping into the seat. With a kick to the mount’s ribs, he took off at a hard gallop toward Ava.

She’d veered off the road. The ground was uneven and treacherous with rock and wild vegetation, everything from grasses to mesquite, and he wasn’t taking any chances of her turning an ankle or the teenager getting away. With his lariat spinning above his head, Beau rode closer and dropped the rope over Donnie’s body, then jerked the loop tight. The teen stumbled backward, scrambled for footing, and wasted no time in attempting to free himself.

Beau reined in. “You’re not going anywhere, Donnie. Might as well save yourself the trouble.”

“You can’t do this to me,” the kid sputtered.

“I just did.”

“It’s abuse. I’ll tell the cops, I swear.”

“You do that.”

Ava slowed. Wiping her arm across her forehead, she met his glance. Her expression had gratitude written all over it.

“You all right?” he asked roughly, looking her over. He’d bargain with the devil for a bottle of water to give her.

“Yes. Thanks.” She set her hands on her hips, blew out a breath.

Gunner joined them, barking like crazy. Donnie kept a close eye on him. As far as Beau knew, Gunner had never bitten anyone, but if Donnie worried over it, Beau wasn’t going to tell him otherwise. That worry would keep him cooperative.

“Quiet, Gunner. Sit.”

Donnie had some explaining to do, and Beau couldn’t hear over the racket his Lab was making. Gunner obeyed, and Beau relaxed his grip on the rope.

“You the one who threw the rock at Miss Howell’s window?” he asked.

Chest heaving from exertion, the teen glanced away. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“If you don’t, who does?” Beau kept his tone stern. “Did Will put you up to it?”

“No. He ain’t here.”

Beau’s glance swept the area. The ghost town wasn’t far ahead; could be the teen hoped to hook up with his brother out there.

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