Lone Rider (26 page)

He realized he'd been standing there staring at his open suitcase ever since Sarah's call.

“You can't be serious!” he'd cried when she'd told him she was going to marry Russell Murdock.

“Buck, I need to move on with my life. You have. Give me that same chance.”

Phone to his ear, he'd paced the room, too worked up to think of what to say, let alone what to do. “I don't know what to say.”

“Say best wishes.”

“When is the wedding?”

“Not right away.”

“Good. Promise me you won't announce your engagement until I get back.”

“Buck—”

“You know I have these fund-raisers and debates coming up. I should have a break at the end of September. If marrying Russell is the right thing, then waiting a couple months isn't asking too much, is it?”

“What would be the point?”

“I need time to get used to this. You've hit me with so much... Promise me you'll wait. Also, I'd like these debates and press conferences to be about what needs to be done in this country—not about my personal life.”

“All right.”

He began to pack, each step weighted with the impact of Sarah's news. Now that Bo was safe and things were taken care of at the foundation, it was time to get on the campaign trail. His constituents were clamoring for him at fund-raisers. He was scheduled for several debates along the way as he made a sweep through the Midwest this coming week.

He would be starting with the early caucus states. Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He needed that early lead if he hoped to lock in the party nomination by next summer.

Feeling light-headed, he sat down a moment on the bed and rubbed a hand over his face. Hadn't he seen this coming? Only a fool couldn't see how Russell Murdock felt about her. But Sarah... He shook his head and got to his feet again. He had to get packed. He had to keep putting one foot in front of the other. He was going to be the next president.

But there was no elation, no sense of adventure, no joy at the prospect. It felt more like a duty that had been handed down to him from his father. He couldn't let anyone see how much pain he was in, especially Angelina.

He'd always traveled a lot, usually with her at his side. While they hadn't discussed it, he knew she was planning to go with him. He thought of Sarah and quickly pushed the image of her away. His earliest dreams had been of Sarah standing next to him when he became president of the United States.

A news anchor's voice droned from the television in the corner of the bedroom. “Our lead story this morning is the disappearance of journalist Chuck Barrow. Barrow, a correspondent for a news media organization, had been covering Senator Buckmaster Hamilton's election. His SUV was found last night in a ravine at the edge of the Crazy Mountains in Montana, but there was no sign of the journalist. A bloody coat found in the car would indicate that he was injured and might have wandered off into the mountains in a confused state. Local search and rescue teams only recently found—”

He snapped off the TV at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. “Are you packed?” Angelina asked from the bedroom doorway.

“Just about.” He turned. “How about you?”

She smiled her campaign trail smile. “All packed. I thought we might go over some of the debate questions on the way to the airport.”

He nodded although he thought he had the issues down cold. Nor was public speaking a problem for him, especially when he was talking about something he felt so strongly about. For a while, he'd forgotten what was important. Doing what he could to help his country at this critical juncture—that was where he needed to turn his attention.

Thanks to Angelina, he had a good support system in place. With her brother, Lane, gone, she'd taken over, hiring the people who would make his campaign run like a well-oiled machine. That was her strong point—that and standing by her man.

“What was that on the news just then?” She frowned toward the television.

Buckmaster shook his head. “I wasn't listening,” he said, realizing it was true. He'd been lost in his own thoughts.

She studied him for a moment. “We're going to do this. We've come too far to let anything or anyone stop us,” she said as she moved to him. She kissed his cheek and stepped back to meet his gaze. “Everything we've been through, it's all going to be worth it. You'll go down in history as one of the great presidents.”

He tried to smile. “I hope you're right,” he said, thinking of Sarah, his daughters and the choices he'd made to reach this point. The price had been high, but he suspected it would get higher before the election next year.

EPILOGUE

J
ACE
FOUND
HIMSELF
almost sorry when it was time for the cast to come off his leg. He'd loved Bo's visits. They'd gotten to know each other again, could joke or not have to talk at all. Some nights Brody would join them. Jace could tell that he liked Bo and approved.

“Well?” Emily demanded now as she drove him to the doctor to get the cast taken off.

“Well, what?” he asked even though he knew exactly what she was asking.

“You and Bo. Well?”

“Not sure what you want me to say, little sister.”

“You know darned well. I've seen the way you light up when she's around, and I've never seen Bo this happy. She's always smiling at work. I actually heard her singing to herself the other day as she was sending a fax.”

“That must have been terrifying. I've heard her sing.” He mugged a face.

“Bo sings nice,” Jodie said from her car seat behind him.

He laughed and smiled back at his niece. “I was just kidding. She has a beautiful voice.”

“Don't blow this,” Emily said. “You have to...do something.”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw as he looked out at the mountains in the distance and remembered how close he'd come to losing Bo. The Crazies were beautiful this morning in the sun, the peaks still snowcapped, the sky above them a breathtaking cloudless blue. And yet he felt a chill at the memory of what she'd been through up there. He'd wanted to give her some time to get over the ordeal. He had also wanted to give her time to change her mind, he realized.

“I've been doing some thinking about it,” he admitted.

Emily pulled into the doctor's office parking lot. “I couldn't believe you never told her why you stood her up that night. I wish she could have seen you in your tux. I know the two of you would have a houseful of kids by now.”

“Now there is a frightening thought.”

Emily turned him. He saw the girl she'd been and the woman she'd become since having her daughter. “I've never thanked you or told you how sorry I am for all the grief I've put you through over the years, Jace.”

He looked at his sister and realized she really was growing up. He hugged her, thinking about the struggles they'd been through. Maybe it was time to look toward the future instead of back.

“How are things with Alex?” he asked as he reached for his crutches.

His sister beamed. “Good. Really good.”

* * *

“J
ACE
,
WHAT
'
S
GOING
ON
?”
Bo asked as Jace tied the blindfold into place and then took her hand and led her out the back door of his house. She'd come out to his house at his request. It had been weeks since he'd gotten his cast off, but they had made a tradition of pizza night and a movie at his house.

What she hadn't expected was to find him waiting with a blindfold.

“I know we promised to look to the future and have no regrets about the past, but there is one thing I wish I could change in the past.”

“Okay, you're scaring me.”

He laughed. “No, I'm not,” he said close to her ear. “I've seen your courage, remember? Nothing scares you.”

“Right.” She put her free hand out as he led her through the summer night. When he stopped, she felt the rough side of a building. His barn. “Jace?”

A door creaked. He pulled her in, and the door closed behind her. She caught the faint smell of hay and something sweeter.

“Stand right here. Don't move and don't peek.”

She stood perfectly still. She heard a rustle, then soft music. Smiling, she recognized the song. It was the one the committee had chosen as the theme song for their senior prom. Her eyes burned with tears.

Jace touched her arm. “Ready?”

She nodded, her heart lodged in her throat as he untied the blindfold. Bo blinked. The barn was decorated with tiny lights, crepe paper streamers and silver cardboard stars—just as she had helped decorate the school gym the day before the senior prom she never attended.

“Oh, Jace.” He'd built a small dance floor at the center of it all. She turned to him. “You didn't have to do this.”

“I've hated it all these years that I took away your senior prom,” Jace said. “I know it's not the same—”

“It's perfect.”

“Not yet.” He motioned to the tack room. “I believe there is something in there for you. I'll be waiting here for you.”

Bo crossed to the tack room. The dress was exactly like the one she'd chosen for their senior prom. She couldn't believe it since she'd discarded that dress after her disappointment. Her sisters, bless them, must have told him about the dress so he could find one like it. Now she fingered the silken fabric, eager to put it on. He'd thought of everything. There were shoes to go with it, a small table with a brush and her makeup along with a mirror.

Her fingers trembled as she slipped out of her shirt and jeans. She was actually breathless, her face flushed as she swooped her long hair up and pinned it into place. How had Jace done all this? He must have gotten her sisters to help, and Brody and of course Emily.

She smiled and fought tears as she realized just what it had taken to do this for her. As she slipped the dress on and let it drop over her body, she felt like Cinderella going to the ball. She slid her feet into the heels and then glanced at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright as emeralds. She almost didn't recognize herself in the happiness on her face.

Pushing open the door, she stepped out and saw Jace standing on the small dance floor, dressed in a tuxedo. Wow. The sight of him took her breath away. Just when she thought he couldn't look any more handsome...

He let out a low whistle. “Bo, you're...so beautiful.”

“So are you.”

She stepped to him, thinking of all those nights they'd sat around watching movies and eating pizza. They'd found their way back to each other. Maybe the third time was the charm. She sure hoped so.

“You said up on the mountain that your only regret was not dancing with me,” he said shyly as he held out his arms.

She felt as if she'd been waiting years for this moment. Her heart soaring, she stepped into Jace's arms.

* * *

J
ACE
DIDN
'
T
BELIEVE
in fairy tales, but this night felt like one. They'd danced as if dancing under real stars. He finally pulled her close and kissed her. Desire and something even stronger coursed through him.
Love.
He'd never wanted anyone the way he wanted her.

But he wanted her for more than just tonight. He wanted her for always. He'd asked her once before to marry him, but she hadn't been ready.

“Jace, this was wonderful,” she said, a little breathless as the kiss ended.

“Yeah?” He brushed his fingers over her cheek and met her gaze. “I made you one other promise up there in the mountains.”

Her green eyes sparkled. “I thought you might have forgotten.”

“Not likely.” He cocked his head at her. “Have you changed your mind?”

She grinned. “Not likely.”

He took her hand. “Then come with me.”

The night air felt warm as a summer rain shower as they walked from the barn back to his house. Once inside, he led her to the bedroom.

“A real bed,” she said, smiling up at him.

“But like I told you up in the Crazies, I don't want to make love with you unless it is for the right reasons,” he said.

“Like the fact that I'm in love with you and you're crazy about me?” she asked.

He chuckled. “That's a good place to start. “I
am
crazy about you. I love you, Bo. See that bed, though? I want you in it, but not just tonight. I'm a long-term commitment kind of cowboy.”

“Is that right? Good thing you found the right cowgirl, then, wouldn't you say?”

Jace swung her up into his arms, carried her into the bedroom and kicked the door shut.

* * ***

Keep reading for an excerpt from
LUCKY SHOT
by B.J. Daniels.