Free His Outback Cowgirl (Wildflower Ranch Book 4) by Alissa Callen Page A

How about I tell you a bedtime story? It might help you sleep.”
    “Thanks. I’d like that.”
    “I’d better warn you, it’s not the nicest of bedtime stories but it does have a happy ending.”
    “If it has a happy ending, then it’ll be okay. The world needs more happily-ever-afters.”
    “Well, my mother grew up with an alcoholic and abusive stepfather. One rodeo Henry stopped him from beating her horse and I guess that’s when my mother saw that beneath all his toughness Henry was a good man. A few rodeos later they spent the weekend together and, knowing what her stepfather would do to Henry if he found out, she made sure Henry never saw her again. Needless to say that one weekend led to a pregnancy and then twins.”
    Bridie looked across at him, eyes wide. “Please tell me you and Cordell didn’t grow up living with such a man.”
    Ethan shook his head. “We never lived with him at all. Mom’s pregnancy gave her and my grandmother the strength to leave. We may have then spent our childhood on the run but when Mom married Scott we were finally safe and Rick never bothered us again.”
    “I’m so glad. Did Henry ever know about you and Cordell? I’m guessing not because I can’t see him letting anything happen to you either?”
    “No, he didn’t. We didn’t even know who our father was. All Mom would say was he was a good man that couldn’t be with us. Then right at the ... end she told us Henry’s name.”
    “And then you came to find him?”
    Ethan chuckled through the pain of his grief. “Actually Cordell did. But that’s a whole other bedtime story.”
    “I already know that one has a happy ending.” She stifled a yawn. “So maybe that story had better wait for another time?”
    Silence again settled between them and this time wasn’t interrupted by Bridie tossing and turning. Soon the faint and even sound of her breathing told him she was finally sleep. Ethan gave in to his own tiredness.
    He awoke to darkness and an intense silence. No longer could he hear the gentle rhythm of Bridie’s soft breaths. In the weak glow of the fire embers he could see her empty bedroll. He came to his feet and pulled on his jeans, shirt and boots. The night air carried the fresh scent of the lake but no sound of where Bridie could be.
    Ignoring the cold ball of unease in his belly, he looked at the horses. Cloud and Captain stood sleeping. Molly had her head turned toward the lake, her ears flickering.
    Ethan set off toward the water. Loyal Molly would be keeping an eye on her rider.
    Moonlight cast a pale glow over the lake and reflected off the gentle ripples. To his left he glimpsed the blur of Bridie’s pale shirt. She sat on a rock, her head cradled in her arms.
    A pebble rolled from beneath his boot as he drew near. Bridie’s head lifted and in the gloom he saw the shine of tears. But she didn’t look away.
    “I still can’t sleep.” The misery that underscored her husky words told him that tonight was no different to any other night since her father had died.
    Ethan joined her on the rock and it seemed natural to put his arm around her. She stiffened and then relaxed against his side.
    “You will ... but first, as hard as it is, you need to let go. After all, that’s why you’ve come up here.”
    This time when she stiffened, she didn’t then curve against him. “You know?”
    “Yes. I know. The real reason, a healthy and natural reason, why you wanted to come here was to say farewell to your father.”
    Her sigh emerged more like a sob. “This isn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to have my emotional meltdown when I was here by myself, not ... with you.”
    His arm tightened around her. “Bridie, it’s okay. I’ve been where you are. You have to let your grief out ... even if it’s poor timing.”
    Her only answer was a tremor that shook her. He felt her struggle to retain control in every tense muscle and then the moment when her grief won. With a muffled sound