Prologue

Bolting upright in bed, a cold sweat forming on her brow, Katherine breathed deeply, willing the air back into her lungs. She had been in the middle of one of those gut-wrenching dreams, where she was falling—free falling—desperately grasping for something to get a handhold on, as her heart soared and her stomach flip-flopped. Though terrifying, she’d had a sense of freedom in those brief terrifying seconds right before realizing that she wouldn’t survive the fall and she couldn’t get a scream to build to leave her throat.

The green illumination from her bedside clock read 1:31 A.M.

Heaving a sigh, she leaned back against the headboard only to spring away from it seconds later when the pounding started downstairs.

What in the world? Who could it possibly be in the middle of the night? I wonder why Dad hasn’t started yelling yet. He is going to lose it if those kids from town are knocking on doors and running away again. Why isn’t he at the door yet? Or at the very least moving around downstairs? It is as quiet as a tomb.

Throwing the covers aside, she rushed to the door as her thoughts raced. When she was almost down the stairs, the deep bellowing voice repeated her name from the other side of the door, and as her feet touched the bottom stair, her heart dropped and her pulse ratcheted up because throwing an eerie strobe light pattern through the windows was something everyone dreads to see at one in the morning.

Flashing lights.

Red, Blue, Red, and Blue.

She sprinted the last couple of feet, struggling to keep her balance as her socks were slipping and sliding against the recently oiled hardwood floor, the lemon scent still clinging to the air as she slammed to a stop at the front door. Fingers desperately fumbled with the doorknob before she finally unlocked and yanked it open. Her speeding heart faltered and slammed to her toes as she saw Sheriff Wilbur Pike on the stoop, fist poised to resume its battery of the thick wooden door.

No. Oh God, no. Whatever this is, it can’t be good. Sheriff hasn’t turned up this late at night since Sean’s daddy. Oh God.

Before she had a chance to start drilling him, he stepped through the door and herded her into the living room.

Katherine, let's have a seat for just a minute, please?

Jerking back a step, she gave life to the questions racing through her mind.

What's wrong? What happened? What’s going on? Please, please don’t tell me someone is hurt, or worse. Please, please, please.

He gave her no immediate answer, drawing out the torture, and reached out and wrapped her in his arms for a tight hug, briefly, before leading her in the direction of the sofa.

Reaching out, he flipped the switch to illuminate the room, then pulled off his hat and tossed it onto the coffee table, the way he had a million times before.

Sheriff Pike, her godfather, had come in and done exactly that her whole life, yet there was not a single thing comforting in the action now.

Sinking into the sofa, he nestled her under his arm, in a tight embrace, and laid his cheek against the top of her head. He held her snug in his grip for a moment before pressing a kiss to her forehead and drawing in a ragged breath.

Katherine gulped in air, seeing spots in her panic.

Katy, honey, I have some bad news. I was called to the scene of an accident tonight. A drunk driver crossed several lanes of traffic and hit a couple head on; they didn’t survive. Darlin’ girl, I’m sorry to say this, but your parents are gone. There was nothing we could do; they were gone by the time my first cruiser pulled up on the scene.

Reaching up, he rubbed at his eye and ran his hand over a weathered cheek, which was covered in at least a days’ worth of scruff. I can’t believe I am saying this, but they're gone. Katy, we've lost them.

The words battered her brain as she struggled to deny his claim. She jumped up and, ripping from his embrace, ran to their room without another word.

It is not possible. It isn’t! They were going out for their anniversary dinner. This isn’t possible.

After a brief moment, he got up to follow her. He leaned against the doorjamb, his hand wrapped around the back of his neck as he waited for her to say something.

Sheriff. He had been the sheriff so long everyone simply called him that, including his dedicated wife of forty-five years, Thelma. Are you telling me that my parents are dead? That they went out on a date, their first in ages, to celebrate their anniversary, and now they are just… dead?

Her tone came across as indignant, but underneath it hid shades of shock and desperate fear and the beginnings of grief.

She didn’t dare move as she waited in terror for his answer.

He hung his head in utter defeat, allowing the sadness to wash over him, and when he looked up at her, he simply nodded.

Sheriff Pike, the man who had sneaked her candy as a child and given her piggy back rides at picnics, the very same man who had, in her later years, let her slide on a speeding ticket or two with merely a stern warning and a laughing shake of his head, looked up at her with such heart-wrenching pain blatant on his face that she had no choice but to believe him, and she forgot to take a breath as the pain suffocated her. The beeping and static talking coming over the mic attached to the shoulder of his uniform was drifting into an unpleasant buzzing noise as she felt dizziness wash over her.

Swaying, she reached out to steady herself against the dresser before everything went black. She had fainted before her head cracked against the dresser with a sharp thud, causing Sheriff to call out in panic and request an ambulance to transport her to the hospital while he cradled her gently in his arms and a tear slipped down his cheek.

Chapter 1

Awareness crept in as the sunlight began its assault on her eyes, sensitive from being closed so long. Her head was pounding like the bass drum in a marching band. Katherine raised her hand to block the bright rays only to be yanked back by a sharp, equally painful tug on her arm.

Why am I hooked up to an IV?

The door opened and she looked up, fully expecting her mother to come walking in with an explanation.

Instead of on her mother, her eyes landed on a kind-looking older nurse.

Her heart gave a quick jump, made animated by the heart monitor attached to her body.

Even without knowing who she was, Katy would have known the nurse was generally a happy woman; her face was a roadmap of smile lines and wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

Katherine’s confusion must have been evident on her face, but it was overlooked as she made her way across the room in a no-nonsense stride.

Leaning down, Thelma kissed Katy on the forehead and pressed the red call button before glancing at her vitals, waiting for the nurses’ station response.

Yes?

Jeanie, could you let Doc know our girl is awake, please?

Of course.

Oppressive, overpowering silence filled the room as Thelma sat down beside her and took her hand, gently stroking her fingers. Katy attempted a smile, but she knew something was seriously wrong. Puzzled at everything, she finally gave in and broke the silence. She had that feeling, the one when you have something on the tip of your tongue and someone else speaks up first, making you forget it instantly.

What is it? What is it? Think, Katherine. What am I missing?

Thelma?

Yes, love?

What's going on?

Shh, baby girl, you don't worry about anything right now. Doc’ll be in, in just a sec, to take a look at you. You just lie right here and rest.

Sitting in the visitors chair, she held Katy's' hand as they waited in silence.

Come on, Katy, what is going on? Her thoughts were slow and sluggish as her brain battled to get through the cloud of medications and an agonizing ache that was causing her to struggle with memory, but slowly she started to feel something, a recognition of some sort of internal pain, an excruciating, breath-stealing, life-altering pain. Vaguely, the light tap-tap at the door penetrated her thoughts, signaling the doctor’s entrance, but by the time he reached her bedside, she was in full-on hyperventilation mode, waiting, just waiting for her incoherent thoughts to catch up to her body’s reactions. The look on the doctor’s face, one of pity and concern, made her think harder, forcing her thoughts forward until it was literally a physical strain.

She remembered. And she immediately wished that she hadn’t, because they were gone.

Chapter 2

Slowly waking up, she lay there with her eyes closed and listened to her surroundings. The television was on but turned down low to an almost inaudible volume. People walked down the hall, murmuring with the occasional burst of quickly silenced laughter. Listening intently to the TV, trying to make out what was being said, she was utterly still and quiet.

Randy, that was one heck of a ride. Yes, sir, that cowboy scored a whopping ninety-two points. Folks, that was Sean Everett out of a little town in Texas called Wolfe Springs. He is at the top and holding on real tight to a world championship title he won five years ago and hasn't let go of since.

Hey, Wes, you ever been out to Wolfe Springs? Beautiful place to be, and I bet they're just real proud of their home town boy today.

Oh, Randy, without a doubt. He showed up on the rodeo scene about ten years ago and now, not even a decade later, his name is synonymous with the sport. He has never had any serious injuries, which is almost unheard of, and has made one darn pretty penny with all those advertisement deals.

The broadcasters continued with their backstory, but she no longer paid any attention.

Her entire being trembled at his name being mentioned.

Oh, Sean. I wish you were here now. I have no idea how I’m going to make it all alone.

Sean Everett was indeed a hometown boy. He was only two years older than her, and his father was her daddy’s ranch foreman, so they had brown up in close proximity. He had been everything from her first friend and her first kiss to first and only love for her.

They had been so close that even their parents had been sure that they would be together forever.

With that thought, a tidal wave of emotion hit as it all came flooding back. The machine monitoring her pulse began to pick up its pace and her breathing hitched before she once again started to lose control. Somehow, heavy footfalls and a sliding chair registered, but only minutely, so caught up was she in her total loss of control. A rough, large, and warm hand covered her forehead and, Hey, was whispered into her hear, so softly chill bumps rose all over her body. She gulped down deep, calming breaths, while the hand continued to stroke her, and as the calm set in, she started to take note of her surroundings.

The heavy scent of musky cologne, the peppermint-flavored breath, the muted television, the once again steady beep-beep of the heart monitor, and occasional voices in the hallway.

Sean. Oh crap. No! I know I asked for this earlier, but I’ve changed my mind. Please don’t be who I think it is.

She cracked open first one eye and then couldn’t help but open both and gape as she looked into brown eyes she had loved for as long as she could remember.

Eyes she would know in her sleep.

Eyes that had haunted her day and night for years.

Laughing softly, he said, That’s better, Peach. If you don't watch out, they're going to have to sedate you again.

Without a thought to the embarrassment of her generic hospital gown and the way it was sure to be gaping open in the back or the IV and the way it would tug painfully at her hand where the needle had entered her vein, she flung her arms around his neck and held on.

This was Sean, her cowboy, and she knew he would make it better. He could chase away the horrors. He could save her.

Sean pulled back from her embarrassingly exuberant embrace. Her arms tightened, unwilling to release him. His laughter muffled as he kissed her hair, and she knew she was beat red and her heart was pounding, as the monitor was very vocal.

Well, hello, gorgeous. Now, that is what I’m talking about. There’s a greeting.

Suddenly, she realized just how awkward this whole thing was and pulled away to lie back against the pillows. She busied herself straightening the covers on her lap, desperate to avoid making eye contact with him. Reaching over, he snatched her hand, bringing it to his lips—what?—briefly while taking in a deep breath as he closed his eyes and released the breath he held, then gave her hand a squeeze and leaned over her. She thought her heart had been pounding before, but holy