Thunder Horse Redemption by Elle James

“Show-off.” Her voice caught on a sob.
    Jim’s brow furrowed. “Hey, what’s this? Cowgirls don’t cry.”
    She brushed a tear away, but more followed. “This one does.”
    “Go home, Miss Roxy.” He squeezed her hand.
    “Not without you.”
    “Gonna be there soon enough.”
    She smiled, feeling better at the reminder that he wouldn’t have to be in the hospital for long. “You better.”
    “Now go, cowgirl.” His voice faded.
    For a moment Roxanne thought he’d drifted to sleep. She held on to his hand, afraid that if she let go something bad would happen.
    Jim’s lids twitched open. “Got my eye on one of the nurses. You’re cramping my style.”
    Pierce touched her shoulder. “Come on, the old man needs his rest.”
    “And a good-lookin’ nurse.” Jim glanced up at Roxanne. “I’ll be fine. Just need a little nap.” He closed his eyes again and his breathing grew slow and steady.
    Roxanne laid his hand on the bed and backed away, reluctant to leave.
    Pierce hooked her arm and led her through the door.
    “I should stay,” she said, staring at the closed door.
    “And do what? The nurses are going to keep an eye on him all night. It’s getting late and we need to get back.”
    Roxanne knew he was right, but leaving Jim…
    “Look, Dante went by your place earlier to let them know what was going on and get a look at that spray paint. I’m sure your ranch hands would appreciate an update.”
    Roxanne’s shoulders sagged as her world rushed back in, reminding her of her responsibilities as a ranch owner. With her foreman out and herself here in Bismarck, there was no telling how the cattle roundup was progressing. She couldn’t afford to lose another day or she’d miss the sale and her only opportunity to make enough money to keep the ranch afloat through the winter. At that rate, she’d have to lay off all the hands and she wouldn’t have anything to pay the mortgage, the men, Jim or his medical bills. “You’re right. I need to get back to the ranch.” She spun on her boot heels and headed for the exit.
    Since Maddox had brought the truck to the canyon, Pierce and Roxanne had taken it all the way to Bismarck to check on Jim while Dante and Maddox had taken care of getting the horses home. Pierce would have to take her back to her ranch.
    Roxanne left the hospital and climbed into the truck cab, sinking back against the seat, letting the worry for Jim’s safety roll off her.
    She breathed in the earthy scent of hay and leather gloves, remembering the many times she’d ridden in this old truck, worked alongside Pierce as they loaded hay onto trailers, hauling it back to be stored in the barn. The memories reminded her of hot summer days and cool, lazy nights, sitting on the porch of her ranch house, just the two of them in the swing her grandfather had built for her grandmother. The old couple had been married over seventy years when they’d passed on within months of each other.
    Roxanne had assumed she and Pierce would be like them, sitting on the porch swing, growing old, celebrating their seventieth year together with their grandchildren gathered around.
    She shook her head, sitting up straighter in her seat, her eyes focusing on the road ahead. She had been mistaken. Their union wasn’t meant to be.
    After Pierce pulled onto Interstate 94, he glanced across at her.
    “You should stay at the Thunder Horse Ranch tonight.”
    His words ripped through the silence, startling a response out of her. “What?”
    “You heard me. Someone has made a point of going after you and your people. It’s not safe for you to go back. My brothers and I can protect you better at our place.”
    “And leave my ranch and the hands at the mercy of some lunatic?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
    In her peripheral vision Roxanne could see him staring at her, but she refused to look his way. She’d leaned on him entirely too much that day already. It wasn’t as if