Saving amanda, p.19
Saving Amanda, page 19
She climbed into the SUV, looking forward to seeing Carter, yet depressed that it might be the last time they’d be together.
* * *
Carter broke every speed limit from Casper to Fort Washakie, Wyoming, just to get back to Amanda and see for himself that she was alive and well.
The hours he’d spent waiting for the battle to begin, waiting for Hank to arrive, and waiting to find out if Amanda was alive or dead had nearly killed him. He wanted to be with Amanda every day and night for the rest of his life, and he couldn’t wait to tell her.
If she wasn’t as like-minded, he’d spend however long it took to convince her to feel the same.
Hank had let him know they were staying at the hotel in Fort Washakie. Carter rented a car at the Casper airport and drove without stopping all the way back, pulling into the parking lot in the early hours of the morning. As soon as he stepped through the doors into the lobby, Amanda fell into his arms and hugged him around the waist so tightly he could barely breathe.
And he loved it.
He loved her.
He hugged her back, lifted her and spun her around before setting her back on her feet. Then he kissed her long and hard, only coming up when they both needed to catch their breath.
“I was so worried about you,” he whispered. “I had one job. To keep you safe. And I failed.”
“You didn’t fail. You had to get Keme out of that hotel.”
“That hotel didn’t burn.”
“It might have.” She brushed her lips across his. “The point is, we survived, and now your job is done.” She looked up into his eyes. “You can go back to West Yellowstone.”
Carter frowned. “Do you want me to go back?”
She laughed. “Hell, no. I want you to stay with me forever. But I would never ask you to give up your job to stay here where there are so few places to work, rampant poverty and substance abuse.”
He grinned. “Sounds like heaven—as long as I’m with you.” He brushed a strand of her silky black hair back behind her ear. “I never thought I’d say this again… I’m in love.”
She stared up into his eyes, her brow wrinkling. “I thought you never wanted to love again.”
“I didn’t want to,” he said. “You came along with all of your passion for helping others and those beautiful blue eyes. I didn’t have a choice. My heart chose you.” He cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes. “And I don’t have to give up my job. I might have to be away from time to time, but I’ll always come home to you.”
She smiled up into his eyes. “I’ve never heard sweeter words. I love you, Carter Manning.”
“I love you, Amanda Small.”
Epilogue
Two months later…
* * *
“Thank you for coming all the way over to Eagle Rock for this celebration.” Sadie McClain Patterson took the insulated casserole dish from Amanda’s hands and smiled at her and Carter. “Hank was glad to hear you two would make it. He’s so proud of all the good work his team of Brotherhood Protectors has accomplished. This little celebration is just a small way to thank you all.”
“Brotherhood Protectors wouldn’t exist if not for the brave men who chose to join us.” Hank joined Sadie on the front porch. “Come in. The others are out back, waiting for Bear to finish grilling the steaks.”
“I could smell them as soon as we got out of the car,” Carter said.
Amanda’s stomach rumbled and she laughed. “Me, too.”
“The steaks are from our own grass-fed Angus, raised on the ranch.” Hank held the door open. “Come meet some of the guys who came down for operation Wind River Reclamation.”
Amanda smiled. “Is that what you called it?”
Hank shrugged. “Not really, but it sounded good. Hopefully, catching the gangs in the act of receiving drugs and shooting each other will help to keep them behind bars.”
“The tribal council is asking for assistance from the federal government to help rehabilitate and reskill the less violent young people to make them more productive contributors to the community,” Amanda said. “We know we can’t eradicate drug and alcohol abuse, but if we keep them busy and gainfully employed, we won’t have as big a problem.”
“Treating the root of the problem, not the symptoms.” Hank nodded. “Good thinking.”
He led them through the massive living room with a stone fireplace that stretched from the floor to the ceiling.
Out on the back porch and lawn was a crowd of people. A couple of guys threw a football. Some of the men and women were hitting a volleyball back and forth across a net.
Laughter and conversation filled the air.
Hank took Carter and Amanda around, introducing them to men named Swede, Bear, Duke, Kujo, Taz, Boomer, Viper, Chuck, Gavin, Maddog and so many more. Not to mention each of the men had a fiancée or wife.
Amanda lost track of who was who, but they all made her feel welcome and at home.
“How’s working from Fort Washakie working out for you?” Swede asked.
“I’m away from home a lot, but when I’m back, it’s great being with Amanda.” He touched a hand to her back and smiled down at her.
Stone and Kyla joined them on the porch. “Did you tell Hank the good news?” Kyla asked.
Hank’s brow wrinkled. “Good news?”
Carter frowned and shook his head. “No, not yet.”
Amanda looked at Carter as color rose up his neck. “What good news?”
Kyla touched a hand to her mouth. “Oops. Sorry. I thought you’d already… Sorry.”
Her frown deepening, Amanda looked from Kyla to Stone and back to Carter. “What news?”
“It’s not actually news yet,” Carter said. “Not until this.” He held up the diamond ring Amanda had borrowed from Kyla for their fake engagement.
He dropped to one knee and held out the ring. “I bought this ring from Kyla because I believe it brought you and me together from the moment we slid it onto your finger.”
He held it out to her. “Amanda Small, would you do me the honor of being my real fiancée? And, please, marry me at your earliest convenience because I don’t think I can live another day without you in my life.”
Tears welled in Amanda’s eyes and slipped down her cheeks. “Oh, Carter.”
He frowned. “The question requires a yes or no answer. Not an ‘Oh-Carter.’” He shook his head. “You’re killing me, Small.”
She laughed and nodded. “Yes. A million times, yes!”
He rose, slipped the beautiful ring on her finger and crushed her into his arms.
Amanda’s heart filled with joy as she held the man of her dreams in her arms, with the ring she’d grown to love on her finger. She couldn’t wait to get back to Wind River to tell Joe. He already loved Carter like a son.
“Oh,” Carter said. “I already cleared it with Joe. He gave me permission to ask for your hand. He also told me to tell you to say yes.”
Amanda flung her arms around his neck and held on tightly. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I have you.”
“I’m the luckiest man in the world to have you in my life.” He hugged her once more and then set her at arm’s length. “We might have gotten it backwards by putting the ring on your finger before falling in love, but it worked out.”
She smiled down at the ring that had brought them together. “Yes, it did. And I wouldn’t change a thing about the way you and I came to be us.”
THE END
Thank you for reading Saving Amanda. The Brotherhood Protectors Yellowstone Series continues with Saving Liliana. Keep reading for the 1st Chapter.
* * *
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Saving Liliana
Brotherhood Protectors Yellowstone Book #4
New York Times & USA Today
Bestselling Author
* * *
ELLE JAMES
Chapter 1
“I’m not here to make empty promises. I’m here because I care what happens to our country, our great state of Wyoming and the people who live here. You are why I’m campaigning for U.S. Congress. I promise to represent you and what you want for our country, state and people of all races. I’m Liliana Lightfeather, born and raised here in Wyoming, one hundred percent American and one hundred percent Shoshone. I will represent you. Please, get out and vote for the one person who will have your best interests at heart.” Liliana stood tall, her shoulders back, chin held high, projecting the confidence needed to win the election.
Back when she’d been a struggling high school student, if anyone had asked her whether she’d ever run for a political office, she would have said no way in hell. Yet here she was a dozen years later, doing just that. If the polls were right, she had a real chance at winning the election. She just had to keep up the momentum until election day, which meant traveling all over the state, connecting with her constituents, and thus, putting a face to the name on the ballot.
She smiled, answered questions and finally held up her hand. “Thank you for coming out to greet me. Please, vote. If not for me, then for the candidate of your choice. It’s important for every voice to be heard.”
She turned and started down the steps of the outdoor stage, waving with one hand and holding the handrail with the other.
When Liliana was only halfway down the steps, the stage behind her exploded. The force of the blast sent her flying down the remainder of the wooden steps, where she landed on the pavement and skidded on her hands and knees before coming to a full stop, face-down on the asphalt.
Women screamed, and people ran past her.
Liliana lay still, trying to make sense out of what had tossed her to the ground. When she lifted her head, blood trickled down her forehead into her eye. She pushed to a sitting position and brushed the blood away, touching her fingers to its source. Her hands and knees burned, and her new black suit jacket was torn at the elbow.
“Liliana!” Amanda Small ran toward her and dropped down to her knees. “Are you all right? Oh, sweetie, you’re bleeding. Her friend and fellow tribeswoman fumbled in her handbag, pulled out her cell phone and punched in three numbers. “Yes, this is Amanda Small. I’m at the Riverton town square. There’s been an explosion. Please, send an ambulance. ASAP!”
Liliana laid her scraped hand on her friend’s arm. “I don’t need an ambulance. I’m okay.”
Amanda frowned, her phone still at her ear. “Good. The sooner they get here, the better.” She ended the call and looked at Liliana. “First responders are on their way.” She dug in her purse again, pulled out a small package of tissues, tore it open and pressed one to the wound on Liliana’s forehead.
Liliana winced. “Ouch.”
Amanda grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to cause you more pain. Just trying to stop the bleeding.” She gripped Liliana’s hand and lifted it to the tissue over the wound. “Apply steady pressure. The bleeding should stop soon. And we need to get you somewhere safe.”
Liliana pressed gently on the tissue as she glanced around at the thinning crowd. “Is anyone else hurt? We should get everyone away from the stage. We don’t know if that was the only explosion.”
A man was helping one of the members of the tribal council up from the ground. The councilman appeared dazed but able to stand on his own.
After a quick inventory and test of all her limbs, Liliana lurched to her feet.
“Normally, I’d say you shouldn’t get up, but I don’t want to stand around and wait for something else to go explode,” Amanda said. “I worry, that you hit your head. What if you’ve suffered an injury to your spinal cord?”
“I’m okay,” Liliana said, stepping past Amanda and heading for the injured older man she recognized as Bill Running Bear.
“Bill, are you okay?” she asked.
He nodded and winced, touching a hand to his head. “What happened?”
A member of the tribal police force hurried forward. “Someone set off explosives beneath the stage.” He nodded toward the platform Liliana had been standing on moments before. “Everyone needs to move away from the stage.”
“Wow,” Amanda said, her eyes wide as they moved away from the blast zone. “If you’d talked a few minutes longer, that could’ve been you.” She lifted her chin toward the rubble that was left of the wooden stage that had been erected for Liliana’s campaign speech.
The blood rushed from Liliana’s head, and her knees wobbled.
“Thank you for being brief and to the point,” Amanda whispered.
The tribal police officer nodded. “A long-winded candidate wouldn’t have survived that. Or, at the very least, would’ve been terribly hurt.”
Liliana shook her head and regretted it immediately. She raised a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Who would do such a thing?”
A siren sounded, increasing in volume as it neared the center of town where they’d set up amid the craft show that always accompanied the annual county fair at the edge of town.
Liliana’s vision blurred, and she swayed.
Amanda brought her arm up around her waist. “Steady. You are definitely going to see a doctor. You were one of the closest to the explosion.”
“I’m okay,” Liliana insisted, though her voice didn’t hold as much conviction as she’d have liked. “I’m just sick.”
Amanda turned her head left and right. “Let’s find you a place to sit.”
“Not that kind of sick.” Liliana sighed. “I’m sick that because someone decided to sabotage my stage, others have been injured.”
“You didn’t set off the explosion. Sweetie, this wasn’t your fault,” Amanda said.
“I know that, but the people injured were gathered to see me. I feel responsible, even if I didn’t set those charges. Because I was here, I endangered the lives of those good people who came to hear me talk.”
Amanda’s lips pressed into a thin line. “This isn’t the first time someone has tried to sabotage your campaign.”
Liliana sighed. “I know. I gave the curtain collapse in that theater in Casper the benefit of the doubt.”
“Then the sprinkler system going off in the conference center in Laramie…” Amanda reminded her.
Her fist tightened. “That could’ve been faulty sensors or something.” Liliana shook her head. “But this—”
“Was a downright deadly attack that could’ve gotten someone killed,” Amanda finished, her frown deepening. She lifted her cell phone and scrolled through her contacts.
“Who are you calling now?” Liliana wanted to know.
“I’m calling in the big guns,” she said, her voice steely, her expression resolute.
Liliana shook her head, the motion causing her to sway dizzily. “What big guns?”
“The Brotherhood Protectors.”
Liliana’s eyes narrowed. “The group of mercenaries Carter works with?”
Amanda’s tight countenance softened.
A stab of envy hit Liliana square in the gut. Her friend, Amanda, had fallen for Carter Manning, a former Navy SEAL, working with a group of mercenaries out of West Yellowstone, Montana, the Brotherhood Protectors.
“They were mercenaries,” Amanda corrected. “Now they’re protectors, bodyguards, extraction specialists. Whatever it takes to help people in tight places.”
“Like you?” Liliana smiled weakly at her friend.
Amanda’s lips turned up on the corners. “Like me.” She pointed a finger at Liliana. “And you. Based on what’s occurred on your campaign trail, it appears you need protection.”
Liliana shook her head. “I just can’t believe someone would go to all this trouble to eliminate me as competition.”
“Sweetie, believe it.” Amanda tipped her head toward the destroyed stage. “Your campaign was five feet away from ending today.” Her eyes narrowed as her focus shifted to her cell phone. “Carter, we could use some help here in Riverton.” She turned away as she filled in her fiancé on what was going on.
Liliana strained to eavesdrop but was distracted by the arrival of the ambulance as it pulled into the town square. Emergency Medical Technicians leaped out, grabbed their gear and headed toward her.
As the EMTs approached, Liliana pointed to Bill. “He needs help.”
Over the next hour, Liliana and Amanda moved around the square, helping identify those needing medical assistance. She, Amanda and others spoke with law enforcement about the explosion, giving what details they could.
Once all injured parties were evaluated, Amanda led an EMT to Liliana. “She needs you to look at her. Don’t let her tell you differently. She’s stubborn to a fault.” Amanda’s eyes narrowed at Liliana. “Don’t give them any trouble, or you’ll have to answer to me.”
Liliana chuckled and gave Amanda a salute. “I think you missed your calling. You should’ve been a drill sergeant or a prison matron.”
Amanda lifted her chin. “I’m a teen counselor. A much more difficult calling.”
“Right.” Liliana laughed. “You meet the criteria of all the above.”
Amanda propped her fists on her hips. “Damn right.”
The medical technician performed a quick evaluation, shining a light into Liliana’s eyes and checking her vital signs. “I recommend you see a doctor. We can transport you in the ambulance if you like.”
Liliana was shaking her head even before the man finished his sentence. “I feel fine.”
