Finally Found (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 10)

“Ask them to come to dinner, Carrie. We can have a barbeque. It’ll be another party celebrating your return.”

She smiled, “Mom, how many parties do you plan on throwing on my behalf?”

“Honey, you live in Destiny now. We love parties. You’ll find out.”

They ended their call, and Carrie finished her coffee. What a turn her life had taken. She had found her brother and gained a sister in Jena, another brother in Sean, a mother in Janet, and a niece in Kimmie. She was about to go on a real date with two handsome men. Could life get any better? She was really happy for the first time. The feeling was so foreign to her, but now that she’d experienced it she didn’t want it to end.

She turned off the coffee pot and washed hers and Janet’s cups. It felt so good to be at ease, not having to look over her shoulder all the time.

She walked back to the bedroom, recalling what Matt had said last night.

“This is your room, Carrie. As long as you want it, and I hope that’s from now on.”

The bedroom was light and airy, with soft touches of blue and green and hints of a pale yellow. She’d never stayed in a place long enough to decorate, but somehow her new family had designed this room to her exact taste. She wouldn’t change a thing.

Next to the big comfy bed was her red suitcase. Seeing it made her heart skip several beats and her gut tighten. How was she going to tell all of them what was inside?

She lifted it and placed it on the mattress. She took off the chain around her neck. Dangling from it was the key to the suitcase. She unlocked and opened it, seeing the few clothes she owned on the top.

She removed them and hung them in the walk-in closet, which was luxurious. All her things—three pairs of jeans, five tops, her one dress, and two pairs of shoes—didn’t even take up a tenth of the space. After putting the rest of her personal belongings in the en suite, she remained in complete awe at having such a beautiful bathroom all to herself.

She returned to the red suitcase. It had been her constant companion since escaping Willie. The only thing left inside it was Willie’s leather satchel and its contents. She opened the bag and gazed down at the money and Glock. Counting the stacks of hundred dollar bills, as she always did, she breathed a sigh of relief. There were twenty of them. Ten thousand each. Two million dollars.

Doubt flooded her entire being. Would Matt understand? Jena, Sean and Janet?

Deep down Carrie believed they would, but she needed time to figure out how and when to tell them. They’d just met. A few more days when she got to know them better would make it easier. Once they heard her whole story perhaps they could help her.

She shut the suitcase, locked it, and then placed it in the back of the closet.

Looking at the time on the clock by her bed, she realized that Josh and Jacob would be arriving in an hour. She rushed back to the bathroom to get ready for her date.

Chapter Eight

Josh dismounted his horse, Dusty, in Matt and Sean’s front yard. He glanced over his shoulder at Jacob, who was riding Pecos. Their two horses had actually saved their lives not long ago. After being attacked by Trollinger’s men, he and Jacob had fallen down a cliff. Dusty and Pecos had returned home, alerting the town that they were in trouble.

“You think Carrie will like riding Fancy?” He tied Dusty and the mare’s reins to the fence. Fancy was one of the best horses on Stone Ranch.

Securing Pecos next to the other two horses, Jacob answered, “I’m sure she will. You saw how she was with all the horses yesterday. She loves them and loves riding.”

“Yeah. Why are you rubbing your hands together, Jacob? Are you nervous?”

“Quite frankly, yes. Aren’t you? After all, she is so beautiful. Kind of out of our league, don’t you think?”

“You’re talking about Fancy or Carrie?” He laughed.

“Carrie, of course.”

“Yes, I’m nervous, too. But I’m also excited. I want to get to know Carrie more.”

“Me, too.”

They marched up to the front door side by side and rang the bell.

The door opened, and Carrie stood in front of them, a vision of utter beauty. Seeing her blew him away. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and had on a pale green top and nice-fitting jeans. Her hourglass figure was absolute perfection to him.

“Hi guys.” She smiled and held out a container. “Chocolate-chip cookies for our picnic, thanks to Janet.”

“That will go excellent with what we made you,” Jacob said. “I hope you like fried chicken, Carrie.”