McBride explained that Texas would have Arlie extradited so that he could face trial there. “I’m betting he’ll get the death penalty. He was already serving a life sentence, so until then, he’ll spend his days in maximum security. The state of Colorado will have to wait for a long time to prosecute him for the crimes he committed here.”
Naomi didn’t care about that as long as Arlie was behind bars. Then it hit her. “It’s over.”
“Yes, it’s really over.” McBride got to his feet, reached for Naomi’s hand, shook it. “You deserve the lion’s share of the credit, Ms. Archer. Because you fought back, because you got away from them, we learned they were in Colorado and were able to bring them down. You’re a brave woman.”
Naomi stood, balancing on one foot, and gave McBride a hug. “Thank you. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for catching them.”
He hugged her back, his body armor rock hard. “You’re welcome.”
Chaska walked McBride to the door, leaving Naomi to sort through the maelstrom of her emotions.
Chaska tooka shower to wash off the mud and sweat. He dried himself and slipped into a pair of jeans and a clean T-shirt. He found Winona alone in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea. They had argued this morning about her meddling in his relationship with Naomi, and it had gnawed at him all day.
Winona spoke first. “She showed me her photos of the bears. It sounds like you two had a great afternoon. I think she’s in the shower now.”
Chaska walked over to his sister, rested his hand on her shoulder, and switched to Lakota. “I’m sorry about this morning. I was wrong to be angry with you.”
“No, you weren’t. Sometimes I push too hard. I like her, and I can’t stop feeling that this is meant to be—the two of you together.”
He weighed his words carefully. “I believe we were meant to find her. Whether she and I have a future ahead of us—who can say? But you were right to think we need to see where this leads.”
Chaska had no real choice at this point anyway. He was drawn to Naomi in a way that was more than physical, more than sexual. He wouldn’t get her out of his system by sleeping with her. He knew that already. Somehow, his emotions had gotten tangled up in her. He couldn’t let go of whatever there was between them—not yet.
He sat with his sister, listening while she told him about her day. Then he heard Naomi make her way from the bathroom to his bedroom. “I’m going up to her. Please, don’t come into my room.”
“Not even if I hear screaming?” Win gave him her best innocent look.
Chaska glared at her. “Especially not then.”
He wished his sister a good night, then took the stairs two at a time, and knocked on his bedroom door. “Naomi? Can I come in?”
He heard her gasp, heard a crutch hit the floor.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Come in.”
He opened the door, felt a jolt of raw lust.
She sat on the edge of the bed holding her bathrobe shut with both hands, her comb on the floor beside her fallen crutch, wet hair hanging over one bare shoulder. It was obvious that she’d rushed to put on the bathrobe because it was inside out, and her left arm wasn’t entirely in the sleeve.
“You got big news tonight.” He closed the door behind him, walked over to her, and drew the sleeve up to her shoulder, letting his fingers brush against her skin. “How are you feeling?”
“Relieved. Some part of me can’t seem to grasp that it’s over.”
“I bet.” He bent down, picked up her comb, then sat beside her and started working the tangles from her hair. “Sometimes it takes the mind a while to catch up.”
“I suppose I should start making plans to go home.” She tilted her head toward him, wet strands passing through the comb like silk, the feminine scent of her shampoo teasing him. “I don’t have to worry about him tracking me down in South Dakota now.”
He hadn’t realized she’d been afraid they would do that.
He moved to sit behind her, drawing her hair together so that it hung down her back, combing through it with his fingers. “How long had you originally planned to stay in Colorado?”
“Just one week.” Her eyes drifted shut as his fingers curled against her nape. “I would have driven back today.”
Damn.
He wasn’t ready to let her go.