Maude shook her head. “Who is going to run the ranch if you are with me at the hotel?”
“Grant and I can take turns. One of us needs to keep an eye on you, it seems.”
Danielle loved seeing how caring Maude’s men were with her. Before Maude could continue with her story, in ran the rest of the Strong family, her other sons and Charly’s other husbands—Tobias, Nate, Dax, and Drake.
Maude’s entire family was by her side, surrounding her with love and concern.
r /> Danielle had never felt that kind of selfless love from her own family. Lance put his arm around Danielle’s shoulder and Chuck squeezed her hand.
“You won’t be staying here tonight,” Lance said. “It’s not safe.”
“We’re taking you to Michael’s place. Gather up what you want and we’ll get you settled in.”
She’d been on her own for so long, her whole life…until they walked into the diner the other day. Ever since, she felt like someone gave a damn about her, someone cared for her. Lance and Chuck were taking hold of her heart.
“Okay, let me finish.” Maude was clearly determined to get her story out. “Please. Danielle’s safety depends on me telling the sheriff everything.”
It wasn’t just Lance and Chuck who cared for her. It was Maude. The sheriff. Carlotta. I must call her as soon as possible. The whole town. No wonder Pauline had loved Wilde so much. It was the greatest place in the world. It was home to Danielle now.
Maude continued giving her statement. “Average height. I’d guess him to be five-ten or eleven. Lean build. Tattoos on his arms and neck. Dark hair. Dark eyes. Mexican. Late forties. He wore jeans and a blue T-shirt with a Harley-Davidson logo. Leather boots. I heard him drive off on the motorcycle. I saw it when I came up to the house. So as I told you before, I knew something was up, so I wrote down the plate’s number. The bike was painted with flames.” Maude pointed to her gun on the table. “Be sure to add that he was hit in the shoulder. The left side.”
“No one gives that good of a description, much less after being shot.” The sheriff smiled. “Maude, you are amazing.”
“Yes, she is.” After hearing Maude’s description of her attacker, an image of Miguel Soto floated in Danielle’s mind. “That sounds a lot like my stepfather, Sheriff.”
“I’ve only seen his arrest record photo, but yes, it does.” Sheriff Champion got out his phone. “I’ll call the state authorities with this description. Justin, you call around to the surrounding clinics and hospitals and see if the guy has showed up at their facilities.”
“The cartel has their own doctors on their payroll.” Austin, a man who was normally hard to read, was obviously frustrated. “I doubt we’ll find him at some public place.”
“That’s if he can make it to them.” Sheriff Champion sounded determined to keep her and the rest of the citizens of the county safe. “Maude is an excellent shot. I doubt the bastard will get far. Austin, talk to your contacts. We need a name. I want to get this guy before he slips back into the cartel’s hole. Danielle, is anything missing? The place looks undisturbed. I think Maude must’ve arrived right after the man broke in.”
“Nothing looks out of place here. Let me check the living room.” She walked over to the coffee table and picked up the book Pauline gave her. “Same here. Maude saved the day.” She walked back into the kitchen and stood in front of the fearless woman. “Thank you. I am so glad you are okay.”
“I am, young lady, but I still need to fix your faucet.”
She laughed. “It can wait.”
* * * *
Miguel’s shoulder burned like lava. The bullet that bitch had fired at him had gone clean through. The female doctor had cleaned up his wound. After she’d left his room, he’d slipped out before anyone saw him.
That fucking bitch back in Wilde kept me from getting my book, but it’s mine. I won’t stop until it’s back in my hands, even if I have to kill a dozen people.
Miguel hadn’t had a chance to check out Danielle’s house for the treasure, only having made it into the kitchen. He had no clue who the woman was. She definitely wasn’t Danielle. But he’d fired a shot into her. He hoped it hurt like hell.
Miguel jumped on his motorcycle. He’d stashed his ace-in-the-hole that Soliz had brought him in an abandoned cabin a few miles from town. Poor Soliz. The guy was dead now.
Miguel would bring Merle back to Danielle’s place. That way, his fucking stepdaughter would be forced to give him the book. Even though those two hadn’t seen each other in years, like before, with them, blood was always thicker than water.
Merle was a weak slut and Danielle was a stupid cunt. He’d been able to control them back then, and he would again one last time. Then he would put the two worthless bitches out of their misery for good.
He smiled and headed down the highway, his plan swirling in his head.
* * * *
Lance walked around the outside of Michael’s house, checking every bush, every tree, every dark spot.
Every protective fiber in his body had remained tight and on alert since leaving Danielle’s house.