People—so many people—began pouring out onto the porch and lawn.
“My family.”
Amy recognized them, at least she thought she did: Porter, tall and commanding; Colt, broad-shouldered and grinning; Blaze, slightly shorter but just as imposing; Chance, with the confident bearing of a lawman; and Cheyenne, graceful and pretty. With them were women and children—a veritable parade of Cross family members.
“What on earth?” Amy whispered, suddenly very conscious of her borrowed dress and the state of her hair.
Nash looked equally stunned. “I have no idea.”
They climbed out of the truck, and Porter strode forward, his hand extended to Nash. “You think you get to figure this out all by yourself?” he demanded, though the hint of a smile softened his stern expression. “You don’t. In fact, let’s pack up. The Stones are meeting us in Park City at a house they rented.”
Nash shook his head, clearly caught off guard. “Porter, what are you?—”
“Cheyenne decided we needed to have a family summit,” Colt interrupted, stepping forward with a grin. “And when the princess speaks, we all listen.”
“I am not a princess,” Cheyenne protested, though she was smiling. Her gaze settled on Amy, curious but kind. “And you must be Amanda—or wait, Sadie?”
Amy felt herself freeze, her breath catching in her throat. How much had Nash told them? How much did they know?
Nash moved to her side immediately, his hand resting protectively at the small of her back. “Everyone, this is Sadie Blair,” he said firmly, the subtle emphasis on her witness protection name not lost on Amy. “Sadie, this is my family. All of them. Apparently.”
The women approached first, forming a kind of welcoming committee. Sadie—Porter’s wife—stepped forward with a warm smile. “Don’t let them overwhelm you,” she said, shooting a pointed look at her husband. “They mean well, but subtlety isn’t exactly a Cross family trait.”
Another woman stepped forward. “I’m Sierra, Colt’s wife. The doctor who’s constantly patching up these reckless cowboys.”
“And I’m Eden,” another woman said, moving to stand beside Blaze. “The newest addition.”
“And I’m Kelly,” said a petite woman with a warm smile. “Chance’s wife. Don’t worry, we’re not as intimidating as we look.”
Cheyenne stepped forward, her expression apologetic. “Sorry about the ambush. It was my idea to show up unannounced.” She leaned in. “Plus, with the Ferrantes and everything, there was no stopping them.”
Amy felt a surge of panic, looking to Nash for guidance. How much did they know?
Nash seemed to read her thoughts, his arm slipping around her waist in a gesture that was both comforting and protective. “Brooks called them,” he explained quietly. “After I told himabout the connection to your father’s case. I’m sorry—I should have warned you.”
“We’re a package deal,” Porter said, his voice firm but not unkind. “When one Cross is in trouble, we all are.”
“And when one Cross is hunting for gold,” Colt added with a grin, “the rest of us want in on the action.”
Amy looked around at all these faces—these people who had dropped everything to come help Nash, to protect him, to join in his quest. Something tightened in her chest, a mixture of longing and fear and something else she couldn’t quite name.
“I …” she began, not sure what to say.
Nash squeezed her waist gently. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “This is a lot, I know.”
She looked up at him, saw the genuine concern in his eyes, and made a decision. These people were Nash’s family. They had faced down gold hunters before. They had resources, connections, experience. And most importantly, they loved Nash. “Don’t be sorry. Now this is a real gold hunt.”
“There we go,” Porter said, grinning.
The others laughed.
The tension in Nash’s shoulders seemed to ease. “Are you sure? We can tell them to go back home …”
Amy laughed, surprising herself with how genuine it felt. “I’ve been hunting this gold alone for too long,” she admitted. “Maybe it’s time I had some backup.”
Nash turned to his family, who had been watching their exchange with poorly disguised curiosity. “Alright, everyone,” he announced. “Park City it is. But first—” He checked his watch. “—Sadie and I have an appointment with her department chair at three. And I think you’re all going to be very interested in what we learn.”
As the family dispersed to start packing and planning, Nash kept Amy close, his arm still around her waist. “Thank you,”he whispered. “For understanding. They’re a lot, but they’re the best people I know.”
