Page 49 of Daybreak

“Just stay alive. That’s all I ask, and after I get back, feel free to sneak over to my place if you get too lonely.”

“Giving it my best shot,” Gunner said. “Text me when you get back to Dallas; just let me know you made the drive okay. I’ll see if I can figure out a way to visit.”

“I will,” she said, and then the call ended.

She dropped the phone on the bed and sat staring out the window, shocked by what he’d told her.

* * *

After talking to Holly, Gunner was more determined than ever to end this, and using himself as bait seemed to be his only option. As much as he was dreading it, it was time to resurrect himself. He was hoping for some information from Asher before he walked back into the hornets’ nest, but time was not on his side.

* * *

Dixon had opted to work from home today and was in his office. As usual, Whistler was nearby, but when he noticed the boss opening the safe and taking out the big black ledger, he frowned. The only thing in that book were names. Names of people Dixon used for different tasks. But it wasn’t until Dixon walked over to the door and shut it in Whistler’s face that he knew this job needed to end before Dixon ended it for him.

Unaware that he’d completely pissed Whistler off, Dixon was at his desk making calls, checking availabilities of the men he had in mind. He expected some of the numbers to have changed, but he was surprised by how many of them were deceased or imprisoned. His sources were dwindling with every phone call, and he finally decided this had been a stupid move. He tore page after page out of the book to remove the names that were no longer of value, then locked what was left of the ledger back in the safe and carried the pages to the fireplace and burned them.

Whistler smelled smoke, hoped the bastard had just set himself on fire, and walked out of the hall and downstairs.

Moments later, Dixon was standing on the second-floor landing, roaring out Whistler’s name. “Damn it, Whistler! Where the hell are you?”

Whistler appeared in the foyer below the staircase.

“Where have you been?” Dixon shouted.

“When you shut the door in my face, I assumed you wanted me gone. Is there something you need?”

Dixon blinked. That man had never talked back to him before, and he didn’t quite know what to make of it. “No! But you’re my damn bodyguard, so guard me,” Dixon shouted.

“I am, sir. Unless you’re afraid of the staff, I always stand between you and the entrance to this house. Do you want me upstairs in the hall, or down here where I can see who’s coming?”

The two men stared at each other in deadly silence, neither moving, neither speaking, until Dixon finally walked away.

Whistler’s eyes narrowed at the sound of the office door slamming shut, then walked away, muttering. “Some days it just sucks to be you, doesn’t it, Boss?”

* * *

This was the last night at the ranch for Holly, and she was watching and listening to the chatter at the table, storing up new memories for the nights when she was back in Dallas eating her meals alone, and no visits or dates with Gunner until he got the all clear.

Trudy noticed the pensive expression on Holly’s face but said nothing. Parting was never easy, and this visit had not been one of joy.

“Holly, you said you were leaving early?” Garrett said.

“Yes. Tomorrow is Monday. Back-to-work traffic will suck. I’m shooting for an arrival between one and three. The noon traffic will be over, and the end-of-day traffic doesn’t get bad until five. I’ll plan on leaving before you guys get up for the ranch work. Granny can see that we’re all out and go back to bed for a while.”

They laughed and then called out “Good night, sleep tight,” as she walked away.

She set her alarm for 6:00 a.m. and fell asleep.

The next thing she knew, the alarm was going off. She groaned, thinking of that long drive, then got up, dressed, and carried her luggage down the hall so as not to wake the house, then loaded it in her car.

She made herself coffee to go and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, wrote I LOVE YOU ALL on the pad they kept for making grocery lists, and left it on the counter.

It was easier to leave without more hugs and tears. Maybe even a little cowardly, but it was all she could manage.

She sent Gunner a brief message.

I just left the ranch. I’ll let you know when I get home.