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If he’d thought he’d get a thank you kiss, Doyle was wrong. Instead, Sadie pulled her hands away, sat up, holding the sheet to her chest, and glared at him with so much anger he had the impulse to dive under the bed.

“You! You lying, no good, son of a...”

Then she slapped him.

It was so unexpected, Doyle went flying off his seat and barely caught the edge of the cot to right himself before he hit the ground. His cheek stung, and he gingerly patted it, cringing as she raised a hand to repeat the gesture.

“Please stop hitting me,” he said. “You’re right! I’m a lying, no good, son of a bitch. Okay? Just let me explain everything, and then you can resume beating me if you want to.”

Sadie’s mouth pursed like she’d taken a bite of a lemon and her hand fell to her knee. Surprise lit her face as she flexed her leg.

“Was I really shot?” she asked.

“Yes,” both he and Teddy answered.

“In the leg,” Doyle confirmed. “Good thing he’s a terrible shot.”

“Otto’s a crack shot,” Sadie corrected. “He meant to get me in the leg so he could get all the information out of me about Eli before he killed me.” She swallowed and looked down at her lap.

“Hey, the important thing here is that you’re good as new,” Doyle said, wanting more than anything to pull her into his arms but knowing she’d likely kick his ass.

“No,” Sadie said, looking sharply up at him and then Teddy. “The important thing here is what the hell am I supposed to do about him and Amos and everyone else that wants blood? What am I supposed to do about you using us and dumping us like vermin just ‘cause you’re from the future?” Her voice shook with emotion even as the beeping and flashing lights on the screen above her head danced faster.

The fact she already knew dropped Doyle’s mouth open.

“Knock, knock,” said McGovern from the doorway. Doyle quelled the urge to turn his antigrav boots back on and knock him to the ground. He walked in anyway.

“The boss suggested I take Teddy here on a tour of the TCR and up to the control room for as long as he wants since he’s our special guest.”

“No,” Sadie said immediately.

“Please, Ma?” Teddy’s eyes filled with undeniable thirst.

Sadie’s head drooped, and Doyle knew she’d give in. As tough as she was, Doyle had yet to see her avoid softening when it came to her son and his wishes. Still, he waited, letting her make the decision.

Finally, she spoke. “Fine. Do what you want.”

“Thanks!” Teddy jumped up, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and ran off out the door before McGovern could turn around.

“I never meant to use you or Teddy,” Doyle said after sitting in uncomfortable silence for several minutes.

When Sadie looked at him again, her eyes glistened with tears.

“We were expected at Harriet’s tonight,” she said flatly.

Doyle swept the hat caked with dried mud from his brow and scooted close to her. “I intended to be there, but then something happened. I still came as soon as I could. I was waiting for you at the house. I meant to tell you everything, Sadie. Everything.”

It was the honest to God’s truth, and he’d make it up to her somehow, if she’d let him. “No more secrets. Teddy knows. I told him.” Doyle briefly measured the ratio of helpfulness to trouble if he were to go pry Teddy away from McGovern to back him up.

“Sadie, I’m never going to let that man hurt you again.”

Sadie laughed then. “How you plan on doing that, Wally? You gonna marry me and move onto the ranch? I’m so sick of men making promises they can’t keep just because their pride makes them think they’re indestructible.”

Doyle recoiled. She was right. How could he promise that? This wasn’t one of his virtual cowboy games. This was real life, and he’d upended her entire existence and kept doing it every time he left the damn resort. But he couldn’t help himself. He’d been an idiot.

“I’m sorry,” he said lamely. “Sadie if I could do anything to help… I mean, I know I’ve made a real mess of things, and it was all selfish. I’m a selfish asshole.”

Sadie’s face blanked for a moment, then she started laughing again. But this time, her entire body jiggled with the motion and tears sprung to her eyes. Baffled, Doyle waited for her bout of hysterics to subside. When she gathered herself together, she said, “Asshole.”