A Cowgirl's Pride Read Online Free Page B

morning. Just for the record, when did you leave
Vancouver
?”
    “Last night during the show. By the time they
realized I wasn’t dancing when I should’ve been, I was long gone. I left the
city behind and headed north at first, just in case I was followed. Luckily, I
wasn’t. I spent the night in a small, family owned, mountain chalet and drove
straight here today.”
    “I’m going to call my buddy in
Vancouver
and put the wheels in motion to have
Kendall
under twenty-four hour surveillance. If he leaves town for any reason, he’ll
notify me, and we’ll go from there. Are you all right with that?”
    “Yes, but make sure no one enters the grounds at
his estate. He allows his dogs to run loose after dark, unless he’s expecting
company. There’s also a back entrance to the property, but it’s difficult to
find unless you know where to look. It’s only a footpath, although the gate
does open wide enough for a vehicle.”
    “Luke, you okay with all this?”
    “Sounds like a plan.”
    “Good. Then I’ll see you in the morning. And,
Leah?”
    “Yes?” she answered. This was it. The axe would surely fall on her head now that her
story was out in the open.
    “Let me know when your packages arrive.”
    She breathed a sigh of relief. “Will do,
Michael, but what’s going to happen to me?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “For withholding evidence.” Her hands shook so
bad she set her cup down, afraid she might drop it; such was her dread.
    “There were never any charges laid, so it’s not
a matter of withholding evidence. It’s more in line with failure to report a
crime, but it is my belief that you acted in your own best interests in order
to survive. No one can blame you for that.”
    “Thank you, Michael.” She rose on tiptoe to
place a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to sleep
tonight.”
    “You do that. Good night all.”
    A chorus of “good nights” followed him out the
door, and Luke locked up behind him.
    “Are you all right, Leah?”
    “I am now,” she said. “Thanks for not turning me
away, Luke.”
    “Never. You’re family.”
    “Even though I’ve screwed up so badly?”
    “Even though. I’ve missed you, sis. The ranch hasn’t
been the same with you gone.”
    “I’ve missed you, too, and Dad. Michael told me
about his heart attack when I called a few weeks back, but I never had a chance
to call again. How is he?”
    “As ornery as ever. He pulled through just
fine.”
    “Good. I was so worried. I wanted to leave as
soon as I heard, but I dared not chance it.”
    “Now that I know what you’ve been going through,
I can understand that, but for a while there I thought it pretty selfish of you
not to leave a number in case of emergency.”
    “I couldn’t have anyone calling from here. I
didn’t want to remind Roddy of the ranch. It would’ve spoiled my plans to leave
or cancelled them altogether.”
    “Well, you’re home where you belong. You’re safe
here, Leah. I hope you know that.”
    “Yes, I do and I’m so thankful to be home.”
    She cried then, tears she’d held in check since
her arrival. Luke gathered her into his strong arms, letting her cry out all
the guilt and misery she’d suffered; the front of his shirt totally drenched
when the tears ceased. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t ever be sorry for needing someone. That’s
what life is all about.”
    “Right now, what I need is rest. Is my old room
still furnished and fit for habitation?”
    “Sure is, although we put a double bed in there
and sent your old single to the dustbin.”
    “Great! More room to stretch out.”
    “Go on up. I’ll grab your cases and be right
behind you.”
    “Thanks.” She headed upstairs, only barely
noticing the changes made over the years. She was so tired, physically
exhausted from the drive and emotionally wrung out to dry. A nap would do her
good.
    Noise erupted from behind one of the doors, and
she figured it was the twins’ room, but she