Nope!
Lucky me.
I’m smoothing out the last picture Avery drew for me, the one she said I could take. It’s almost identical to the drawing hanging on the fridge with the four of us and Bruce.
I tuck the lovely memento away in a notebook, close my bag, and zip it shut.
Yes, I’ve already put the letters I wrote to each girl in their bedrooms.
The one I’ve penned for Grady is resting on my pillow, together with my tiger-striped bracelet in gold and onyx.
The bracelet is decently valuable, and once I’m able to access my bank account, I’ll send him cash instead. Faulk advised me not to use my credit or debit cards until they’re cleared for use by the FBI.
Call it collateral because that’s better than what it really is.
A splintered, sad fragment of my heart that will always belong to him. The bracelet just gives it substance.
“Weston’s here.”
At the sound of Grady’s voice, I draw in a deep breath to ease the erratic pounding of my heart, then pick up my bag and turn around.
“Okay. I’m ready.”
It’s early, dawn is barely breaking, and the number of vehicles in the driveway is a bit overwhelming. I still can’t get over how many willing and able-bodied people turned out.
No, not just willing.
Actual heroes.
“How should we get Bruce in the trailer?” Grady asks. “The new ride’s too tall to back into the barn.”
His gaze is like a sweet brown honey I’ll never taste again.
I thought about the move this morning while feeding Bruce, and decided the easiest way would be for me to just lead him. “I’ll use a leash.”
“A leash?” His eyebrows shoot up. “You’re shitting me, right?”
“Well, I’m sure you country boys call it a lasso. You have one, don’t you? It’s only a short distance into the trailer once it’s pulled up, and I’ll just walk him inside.”
“Yes, but—”
“It’ll work.” I walk down the steps and see Weston standing near a truck with a huge trailer hitched to it, his eyes sharp and focused.
“Hey, Weston. Go ahead and back up to the barn door,” I tell him.
“Yes, ma’am.” He snaps off a crisp salute and sets to work.
Once he does that, I put my bag on the back seat of his pickup. Grady is at my side when I close the door, holding a rope in one hand.
“Thanks.”
He holds the coil out of my reach. “At least let me rope him.”
“Okay. We’ll need to do that before opening the door.”
Faulk, Drake, and Hank are all here, too, along with their wives. Grady gets them all in position before we enter the barn.
Bruce is snoring near the concrete block wall, his whiskers twitching in his slumber. The sight makes me smile, and also feel a little sad.
He’s gotten used to this big old barn. I hope he’ll tolerate Let’s Roar just as well.
“Looks like you aren’t gonna need to lasso him after all. I can just drop the rope around his neck,” Grady tells me.
I don’t argue. We make our way around the brick wall to where Bruce is sleeping and climb up on the concrete base blocks.
“He’s going to lift his head when I say his name,” I whisper. “Just make it quick. Drop the rope around his neck, but don’t pull it too tight. We don’t want to startle him.”
“Will do,” he whispers, positioning the rope in his hands.
“Hey, big guy,” I say to Bruce. “Wakey-wakey. We’re going on a road trip. Hope you’re well rested...”
Just as predicted, Bruce lifts his head, letting out a mighty yawn.
Grady releases the rope over his head—a perfect catch—and thankfully it doesn’t faze Bruce at all in his groggy state.
We hear the door unlock. Grady steps out and tells whoever he’s positioned there to open it, just wide enough to expose the open end of Weston’s trailer.
I walk along the top edge of the concrete wall, then jump down and stand next to the ramp leading into the trailer, waving at Bruce.
If he wasn’t so tame, so content, so gentle, he could bowl me over and be on the loose in a flash, even with Grady holding the rope.
Luckily, Bruce is a gentle behemoth, and after standing, stretching, and yawning for what seems like forever, he comes plodding over to me and walks onto the ramp.
Just a few more steps. Come on.
I don’t release the breath I’m holding in until he’s safe inside.
Boom.
“Let’s roll!” I hear Grady yell out.
The men are quick to lift the ramp and Grady slides the loose rope off Bruce’s neck in one quick jerk. It tugs up over the cat’s smacking lips before the men close the trailer.
“Got everything you need?” Grady asks me after he double-checks the latches on the door.
I have the cash from Ridge for the donation, cash and a pre-paid debit card from Grady, all my belongings, and one big sleepy tiger.
Yep, I guess I’m good.
Never mind the fact that I’m leaving half of myself behind.
“Willow,” Grady says, laying a hand on my shoulder.
I shake my head, then slowly nod before pulling away from him. His touch ignites my skin and I can’t walk out of here on fire.
“I have everything, and for what it’s worth...thanks for all you’ve done. Have a nice life, Mr. McKnight.” I step away briskly, because if I don’t...
Disaster. I’d throw myself into those big arms wider than the sky and never let go.
Knowing I don’t dare look back, I walk to the passenger side of Weston’s truck and climb in.
“Time to fall out, people!” Faulk shouts.
I know the plan.
At precisely seven a.m. on the dot, every decoy truck not already on the road will hit the highways, giving the goons Priscilla and Niles sent into town, plus any incoming Federal agents, ample prospects to follow.
The truck and trailer I stole from Minot will also be leaving.
Weston drove it here last night, and it’ll soon be hooked up to the empty trailer parked next to the barn. Grady will drive it to the airstrip later, followed by Faulk.
Fear fills me at the danger they’re putting themselves in by driving that truck and showing up at the airstrip.
Then again, anyone helping me today is in deep doodoo.
I’ll just have to pray no one gets hurt.
Jacob Cook from Wyoming responded to my texts last night, confirming he can accept Bruce today.
I try to focus on that, on Bruce and his happy new home, as Weston pulls away from the barn and we start winding down the long driveway.
We’re part of the tactical line of vehicles leaving the yard.
I’m already numb when we reach the highway.
“So, Grady said I’m your company as long as you need me,” Weston says, an awkward note in his voice as he tries to make conversation. “Any clue how long that’ll be?”
Staring out the passenger window, I turn and say, “You can go as soon as we unload Bruce. I don’t think I’ll be needing anything beyond that.”
“You sure? Uncle Grady said you’d have to make sure he’s settled.”
“Oh, I will,” I answer. “But you don’t have to wait around for that. You’re going above and beyond just by chauffeuring us there.”