Courted by the Cowboy (The Boones of Texas 3)

“I tried to get Jesse to sell it for me, but he wouldn’t—said it was my problem.” Shawn frowned.

Fisher’s blood ran cold. Shawn had talked to Jesse. No wonder Kylee was panicking. “You talked to Jesse? When?”

“Last week.” Shawn’s eyes filled with tears. “Kylee found the stuff and made me take it all back but she’s still upset.”

He could understand why Kylee would be upset. It was a small town and people talked. But that wasn’t a solid reason for them to go. But Jesse was—or so Kylee would think. He was the only thing that still scared Kylee. And when she was scared, she ran.

“I’ve always helped out. I know it was wrong and I feel bad about it but... Kylee’s working two jobs and I’m...just drawing and riding horses. It’s not fair to her.” Shawn’s voice broke. “I don’t want to go, Fisher.”

“Shawn,” Kylee said firmly.

He turned, taking in her drawn expression. She looked pale—remote.

“You’re the kid. I’m the adult.” She brushed past Fisher.

“We don’t have to go,” Shawn argued.

“We do.” Kylee sounded exhausted.

“Why?” Fisher’s impatience got the better of him. He hadn’t meant to be so loud or gruff, but dammit, there was no way he was going to let them go if he could stop it. “Where are you going and why?”

“Here.” She handed him his truck keys, still avoiding his gaze.

He gently took hold of her wrist. “Kylee, look at me. Look at me and tell me what you’re thinking. Please.”

She shook her head.

Shawn spoke up. “Jesse knows where we are.”

“I figured as much.” Fisher nodded. “So?”

That made Kylee look at him. “So?”

“Let him come.” Fisher slid his hand up her arm and beneath her hair to her neck. “He’s not going to hurt you. Not here. I won’t let him.”

She stared at him, her blue eyes full of pain. She shrugged away from his touch. “I can’t do that to you, Fisher. I can’t do...this. Any of this...”

Her words hung in the silence. She was upset. So he needed to calm her down. “Shawn said he talked to Jesse a week ago.” He stood, fighting the urge to reach for her. “He’s not going to come after you. He has no power here. It doesn’t make sense. You two weren’t the only ones working for him, were you? Why come all this way for you two?”

Part of him wished he was wrong—that Jesse would show up. It’d feel good to beat the man senseless...but it wouldn’t change the way Shawn or Kylee felt. Or Kylee’s urge to run. And, right now, that’s what mattered.

She shook her head. “Jesse doesn’t do things that make sense. He’s unpredictable. And dangerous. If we’re gone, he won’t stay...”

“Kylee,” he whispered. The sound of her name was rough, full of the pain tearing through him.

“I don’t want your family—or you—hurt because of my mistakes.” She glanced at her brother. “Shawn and I can take care of ourselves.”

“Can’t we stay, Kylee?” Shawn’s voice broke. “I’m sorry. I thought he’d help me.” Shawn added, “But he said I wasn’t his problem anymore.”

“You’re not a problem.” Kylee hugged Shawn. “You’re an amazing young man with a big heart. You’re a good person. He’s... He is not. Please don’t listen to him.”

“Kylee’s right,” Fisher agreed, his mind racing. He looked at Kylee, waiting for her to look at him. When she did, he wasn’t expecting to see tears. He reached up, wiping them away. “Don’t go.” It was a plea and an order. He couldn’t make her stay, no matter how much he wanted to. His only choice was to lay it all out there. “You are my family. You and Shawn. I love you both. I’m not going to let you go without a fight.”

She shook her head again. “This isn’t your fight.”

“Maybe I want it to be,” he said softly, hoping she’d let him in. Where he belonged.

“You don’t unde