Colters Woman (Colters Legacy 1)

“I’m proud of you,” he whispered.

Tears streaked down her face as relief poured out of her system. So many weeks of constant fear had eaten away at her. Now she was free.

She snuggled deeper into Ryan’s arms, curling herself as close into him as she could.

The next thing she knew the engine had stopped and cold air brushed over her as a door opened. Had she fallen asleep? All she really knew was that she had no desire to move from Ryan’s arms. Reluctantly she picked her head up. They were back at the cabin.

She slid over as Adam opened the door for her then she climbed out of the Land Rover. She pulled her coat tighter around her and hurried for the front door, anxious to be inside where it was warm.

They all entered the house, stamping the snow off their feet inside the door.

“I’m hungry,” she announced, realizing she hadn’t eaten a thing since the day before.

“Go warm up in front of the fire, and I’ll start on lunch,” Ethan said, pushing her toward the living room.

Adam and Ryan followed her and Adam went to add more logs to the dying embers.

“So what happened in there?” Ryan asked.

Adam paused in his task and turned to look at Holly, obviously wanting to hear as well.

“Mason was there when we got to the sheriff’s office,” Holly began.

Adam swore. “Lacey must have known he was there all along. ”

“He tried to leave immediately, but I refused to go with him. I thought he was going to force the issue, but Lacey wouldn’t let him. I asked Lacey to leave us alone for a few minutes. ”

“You did what?” Ryan demanded, his expression darkening.

“It was the only way,” she said. “I told him that I knew what he’d done on our wedding day, that I’d seen him kill that man. Then I told him I wanted a divorce, and he was going to agree to that divorce or I’d make sure the whole world knew what he’d done. ”

“Fuck,” Ryan said.

“Yeah, fuck is right,” Adam said, rubbing the back of his neck.

She looked at them in surprise. “But I thought you wanted me to get a divorce. ”

“Baby, we do,” Adam said, pulling her into his arms. “But we want you safe, and you’ve just told us that the bastard now knows you can put him away for life. ”

“It was the only way to get him to agree to the divorce,” she said defensively.

Adam rubbed her shoulders soothingly. “Don’t worry about it, baby. You’ll get your divorce, but more importantly, you won’t ever have to face that bastard again. ”

Ethan called to them from the doorway. “I threw together some sandwiches. Come eat. ”

Holly turned and walked toward the kitchen. Had she made a mistake by threatening Mason? She frowned, worry inserting itself back into her mind.

She sat down at the bar and Ethan shoved a plate in front of her. The brothers took their places, and they began to eat.

“What now?” she asked, unable to keep the question back any longer.

“What do you mean?” Adam asked.

She hesitated a moment, feeling unsure about the entire situation. “I mean us. ”

“We go to Denver to see Cal so he can fast-track your divorce. And then we get on with our lives. Together. ”

She looked down at her plate and fiddled with the sandwich. A thousand questions crowded her mind, and she didn’t know where to start.

“Want to go riding after lunch?” Ryan interrupted.

She looked at him in relief. Fresh air and a break sounded very inviting. She nodded then caught herself.

“I assume you mean horseback riding? I haven’t ridden in a long while. ”

Ryan shrugged. “I’ll make sure you have a good mount. ”

“Don’t go too far,” Adam warned. “We’re in for a storm. ”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Ryan said darkly.

Holly shoved her plate aside, no longer hungry. Maybe getting out of the house for a while would help. She wanted to relax and not worry about looking over her shoulder for once.

Ryan pushed away from the table. “You ready?”

She nodded and stood up. “Let me go get something warmer on. ”

“I’ll be in the barn. Head on out when you’re done. ”

“They’re a lot alike you know. ”

Adam turned his head to Ethan after watching Holly leave the room. “What do you mean?”

“Ryan and Holly,” Ethan replied. “They both know pain. You can see it in their eyes. ”

Adam’s lips tightened. He didn’t like to think of either of them in pain, but he knew Ethan was right. Holly and his younger brother fought their demons. He just hoped they won.

“What do you suppose happened over there?” Adam muttered.

Ethan shook his head, sorrow washing into his eyes. “I wish to hell I knew. I wish he’d talk about it. Maybe then the poison would leave his system. I never wanted him to join the damn military anyway. ”

Adam nodded in agreement. But Ryan was stubborn, and once he’d made the decision, no one had been able to sway him. He’d left a cocky, arrogant young man and come back a brooding, tortured soul.

“Maybe she’s what he needs,” Ethan murmured. “Maybe she’s what we all need. ”

“And maybe she needs us just as badly,” Adam added.

* * *

Holly stepped into the snow, shivering as a wash of cold air blew over her. She crunched her way down the slight incline to the barn. Ahead of her the terrain sloped upward, a testament to the mountain they were nestled on. Snow-capped peaks jutted skyward on the horizon. Around her the world was ablaze with white.

Her breath came out in a cloud in front of her as she mounted the last few steps to the barn door. Then she slipped inside, enjoying the warmth that greeted her.

Eight stalls lined either side of the barn. In the back, there was a large open area where stacks of hay bails stood. Ryan stepped out of one of the stalls leading a horse by the reins.

He glanced in her direction. “I’ve got her saddled for you. Come hold the reins while I ready my mount then we’ll head out. ”

Holly hurried forward and took the leather reins from Ryan.