The struggle on the kid's face was clear to see. He wanted to believe, but reality was too harsh. A kid like him would be a prime candidate for the youth program that Fran and Dylan wanted to start on the ranch. Plans on that program had stalled after the edict that everyone get hitched in order to stay. No time like the present to get it moving again.
"Look," Fran fished in his pocket for a card, "I want you to come out to this ranch. We're starting a program that I think you might be interested in."
The kid shook his head and stepped back from the card. "My family doesn't believe in charity. We work for what we get."
"It's not charity. It's work."
He perked up at that. "Paid work?"
Fran considered that for two seconds. They had the funds between Dylan's inheritance, government grants, and their own monthly pensions. Why not? If Carlos was old enough for a work permit. "Yeah, but there's training you have to go through first. You'll be working with animals. Interested?"
The kid shrugged and lowered his head, but not before Fran saw a light of interest in his eyes. Carlos pocketed the card and headed down the hall in the same direction the little gang had headed.
But Fran was undaunted. Minds didn't change in a matter of minutes. It took time. He'd gotten some of the kids interested in the military. One he was sure he'd corralled. He wanted to get more. He even considered going after the motley crew. He wanted to see the light burn in their eyes as well.
As soon as the thought took root, he dug it up. His leadership days were done. He wouldn't want to have anyone else's life in his hands for the rest of his life.
"It's a great deal of responsibility to have someone else's life in your hands. That's why you have to have a plan."
The voice came as though from an angel over his shoulder. It was soft, but strong and resonant at the same time. It stirred the hairs at the nape of his neck, urging him to turn and find it.
Fran turned, and there she was …
Chapter Six
"It's a great deal of responsibility to have someone else's life in your hands. That's why you have to have a plan. Education is one of the best paths to a good life."
The words tasted bitter as they came out of Eva's mouth. It wasn't the first time she'd given that speech. It was part of her valedictorian speech back in high school, just three years ago.
And here she was giving it again. In the same slacks and blouse, no less. Nothing had changed about her life. Except for her living situation. That was the only thing that kept changing in her life. Since she was fourteen, there had been no stability in her home life. The only thing she clung to, the only thing that ever gave her anything in return, were her grades.
"Excelling in school, getting a good education, will open doors for you."
A's had opened doors. They got her sent on trips. They got her special privileges. They got her scholarships and awards. They got her recognition. But they couldn't get her family the stability they all required.
An A could get her invited to a fancy dinner, but it wouldn't put food on the table every night. An A could get her a fancy, all-expenses-paid trip, that she couldn't go on without her brother and sister.
"Education can lessen the challenges you'll face in life."
When Eva was a high school senior on the stage, the speech hadn't included qualifying words like can and might. She'd gone into her speech making full, declarative statements. Not any longer.
"Knowledge can lead to more opportunities that might enhance your personal life and could enhance your career."
She looked out at the book-smart girls, wondering how many would end up in dead-end jobs. How many would have to take out loans for their education, and then work to pay it back for the rest of their lives? Because that's the life she was looking at now. And that was only if she could get a loan.
She had no collateral. She didn't have bad credit. It was worse. She had no credit. It was unlikely anyone would loan her some advice. And she could only get half her money back from the college with classes starting in a couple of days.
She was screwed. But she didn't know what else to tell these kids. Go into a life of crime? No, that would end their lives sooner. Get married and depend on your spouse? And take a big step back in the women's movement.
She took a step back from the lectern in the small classroom. When she did, she spied someone in the doorway who wasn't a kid. He was definitely all man. And he was staring at her, gazing at her. Could he see she was a fraud?
Despite everything, she'd been through, and all of her setbacks, Eva knew that what she was telling these kids was the only solution, the only chance these kids had. And so she went on.
"Life doesn't always work out the way you plan," she said. "But what does? You can't give up because you will get knocked down. That's just one more check off the list of the wrong way to go. You'll get there eventually. If you just don't give up."
She’d told herself right then and there that she wouldn't give up. No matter how long it took, she'd get her degree. She'd get her family into a good financial and living situation. It was just going to take even longer than she'd planned. But it was her plan.
The end of her speech was met with polite applause. The kids got up and filed out of the room in haste. Eva preferred to think it was due to the snacks being served in the hall and not her lackluster speech. She pinched the bridge between her nose and forehead, then gathered her belongings, and made for the door. A broad chest blocked her path.
Eva looked up into the eyes of the man who'd been standing at the door. He gazed down at her with a smile. She felt that he saw right through her.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"What for?"
"What I said. I must've sounded like an idiot."
"I loved what you said."
"You loved it?"
"Yeah, your words. I agree with you. Education, having a plan, those are the keys to success."
"It didn't work for me," she admitted. "I got all A's. I got a full scholarship. But I wasn't able to go to school."
She had no idea why she was spilling her soul to this guy. Something about his face made her trust him, let her know that she was safe. Her gaze slid back down to his chest. She wondered what kind of hugs he gave. She bet they were strong and secure.
"What's holding you back?"
"Pardon?" She felt her cheeks flaming. Had he heard her thoughts?
"Why haven't you gone to college?"
"My parents died. My dad died in an accident. My mom died of cancer."
"I'm sorry."
"I have two younger siblings. I've had to take care of them. Couldn't do that while going to college at the same time. I know some people do it. But I had to work to pay the bills and put food on the table."
"There was no one else in your family to help?"
She took a deep breath, trying to determine how to keep this story short. She didn't want to go into it. He seemed to sense that. Something in his eyes, in his wry smile, told her that she didn't have to tell him anything. Which made her want to tell him everything.
"I didn't give up," she said. "I made a new plan. It was going to work. I was so close. But it fell apart."
"What's happened?"
"I have to drop out. Again. I had to give up my scholarship the first time because the relative I trusted to take care of my siblings didn't. I came home to work and care for them. I saved every penny I could over the last three years. I was ready to go back. But now the new relative we're staying with has let us down again. I already paid for the semester, and I can't get all of my money back. It's a mess."
The words all came out in a blubbering mush. Tears streamed down Eva's cheeks.
And then she was enveloped in a hug. A strong heartbeat next to her ear. It was the best hug of the century. Warm, fluffy in the center. Firm at the edges. And did she mention warm? She wanted to stay forever.
But she couldn't. This guy was a stranger, and she was blubbering all over him. Eva pulled
herself together and away from him.
"It's okay." She was soothing him, more than she was soothing herself. "I have a new plan. Or at least I will. I just have to get my family straight first."
"You mean, Carlos."
"You know my brother."
He nodded, gazing directly into her eyes. Her breath caught as he held her there with only his eyes. He wasn't touching her any longer. Just looking at her without pity, only compassion and certainty.
"I want to help," he said. "There's a ranch for troubled kids—"
"My brother's not troubled."
"Not yet. He wants to do good, I see it in him. But he's eyeing the wrong path. This could help set him on the right path. I …"
His words trailed away. His—she didn't even know his name. Whoever he was, his gaze was beyond her. Out the window.
Eva turned and saw a group of boys. She recognized them as members of the neighborhood gang. And standing in the midst of them, being shoved around, was her brother.
Chapter Seven
The scene out the window came slowly into focus. The group of boys encircling one didn't hold Fran's full attention at first. The woman encircled in his arms did.
She smelled of a gentle summer breeze mixed with a hint of soap and the spicy noodles he used to eat in college. He had the urge to put his nose just behind her ear and inhale. It had been so long since he'd held someone.
She was all soft curves and warm heat. She was small and vulnerable, but there was still a strength in the way her back didn't bend as she leaned into him.
When her head came to rest against his heart, it didn't skip a beat. It stopped. One second it thumped rhythmically. In the next, it stood still, as though sensing something big, something important. Not danger, but something life-altering just the same.
When it started up again, it went from zero to sixty. The pounding made Fran's breath catch, which in turn brought more of her scent into his nose.
Down her scent went, over his tongue, down his throat, past his heart, and into his gut. It rocked him back onto his heels. Her fingers clenched where they rested on his lower back. It brought her chest into his, which made his heart beat even faster.
This was not good for his wounded heart. He had to let this girl go. But how could he when she was in distress. If this hug helped her, it was the least he could do. Right?
He couldn't do anything about her unreliable family, or the tragic death of her parents. But he could do something about her brother. Which brought his attention back to the window where Carlos was being surrounded by the group of boys from the talk.
Fran went to tell Carlos's sister only to look down and find that she was no longer in his arms. She was already headed for the exit. Fran kicked himself into gear to go after her.
He caught up to her just as she pushed the church doors open and stepped outside.
"Oh, look, here comes your sister."
"Get away from him," she said.
The boys were all younger than her, but they all had at least a foot on her. Didn't appear to deter the little scholar. She marched right up to them with her head thrown back and her hands on her hips. It would've cowed Fran. Unfortunately, these boys weren't as smart as he was.
"Or what?" said the kid with the unlaced shoes. "This has nothing to do with you." The boy raised his hand and shoved the woman's shoulder.
But before the kid could make contact, or Fran could rip his arm off, Carlos was there, shoving the boy’s hand aside. "Don't you dare put your hands on my sister."
"Or what? You ain't got nobody but women to protect you. You should've joined us when you had the chance."
Behind the boys, someone cleared their throat. They all looked over to Fran. Fran towered over everyone before him.
"What are you gonna do, soldier boy?" But there was a tremor in the kid's voice.
"I'm going to ask real nice and hope that you have the brains to listen."
The kid snorted, showing he had no brains. "There's four of us and one of you."
"Yeah, pretty unfair odds."
Fran reached out and grabbed the boy’s hand, the one that had almost touched the woman. With a flick of his wrist, Fran tweaked the boy's joint. The kid dropped like a sack to his knees. His eyes teared up.
Fran caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned to face the other three boys. They'd been moving in. They hesitated now. With the glare Fran gave them, they each took a step back.
"Apologize to the lady." Fran's voice was a low growl. His heartbeat was steady now. These punks he could handle. He would not countenance any of them harming a woman, especially this woman who'd felt like a sunbeam caught in his arms.
"What? Fu-ahhhhhh!"
Fran tweaked the kid's arm more, sending his chest into the ground while his arm stuck out at an unnatural angle behind his back. His boys made to move. Fran lifted a brow at them. That was all it took for them to back down.
"Sorry, sorry, Eva. Sorry," the boy sang like a canary.
Fran loosened his grip, not gently so that the pain would ebb. No, he let the joints crack. The kid crab walked his way to his friends. His eyes glowed with fear, but his chest rose and fell with sore pride. His gaze jerked from Fran and found Carlos.
"Watch your back, you little punk," the kid said as he scrambled to his feet.
Eva stepped in front of her brother, a menacing look on her pretty face. Fran's heart skipped at the sight of her fierceness.
"Why did you step in?" said Carlos, turning on his sister once they were gone. "Now everyone will think I'm a mama's boy."
"Would you have rather I let them push you around and beat you up?" Eva demanded.
"At least that would prove that I'm a man."
"No," said Fran. "That wouldn't prove you're a man. Standing up for your sister when that punk came at her proved it. The fact that they came at you in numbers proved they're not men at all."
"But you have a unit," said Carlos.
Fran nodded. "My brothers would have my back. But they'd stay at my back and keep out of it if the fight was fair. That was not a fair fight. There was no honor in those boys. You did good."
"Come on, Carlos, let's get home," said Eva. "The bus will be here soon."
"I can take you," said Fran. "My truck is just out front."
Eva looked him up and down. Just a moment ago he'd held her in his arms while she let her guard down. Now her shields were up.
"Please," he said. "I'd like to make sure you two got home safe. Those kids might still be lying in wait."
"They'll be lying in wait tomorrow," said Carlos. "Or the next day."
Eva's face contorted. Fran wanted to wipe the look away and soothe her worries. For now, he could offer them a ride home and offer to take Carlos under his wing at the ranch.
Eva went inside to get her things. Then they all piled into his truck. Carlos in the passenger seat, Eva in the back seat. Fran didn't like her so far out of his reach. But it was for the best.
He drove them about two miles down the road into a part of the town he hadn't been before. There was trash on the sidewalks. It was run down with men hanging on the street corners. The way their eyes followed his car reminded him of the locals in the war zone, hungry and desperate for a way out.
Eva remained quiet in the back seat. He could see the wheels turning over in her head. He wondered what plan she was making. He wanted to hear it out loud so that he could be a part of it.
When Fran pulled up to the building, Carlos hesitated in unlocking the door to let them out. The building looked worse for wear. Yet it was the best looking place on the block, and that wasn't saying much.
Carlos hopped out first. Fran went to the back door to hand Eva out. When he opened the door, she seemed surprised to see him there. Even more surprised at the offer of his hand.
"Thank you for the ride," she said.
"Name's Fran."
"I'm Eva. Thank you again, Fran. For your help back there. It was really nice to meet yo
u, even under the circumstances."
"This isn't it." They both blinked at the vehemence in his voice. "I mean, I'd still love to have Carlos come out to the ranch for the program I was telling you about."
"We'll have to discuss it and—"
"Eva!"
They both turned to the sound of the high-pitched voice. A young girl who was the spitting image of Eva ran out of the glass doors.
"I'm so glad your home," said the girl through her trembling cries. "Someone was at the door. They knocked and knocked and wouldn't go away. They said they wanted Carlos to come out. Eva, I don't want to stay here anymore."
Eva looked around, helpless. Fran could see the crack in her countenance. His resolve was firm. It had taken the car ride for her to put herself back together, but this seemed the final straw.
"Go get your things," he said. "You're coming home with me."
Chapter Eight
There were times in her life when Eva planned every detail to the last dotted I and crossed T. She'd study the situation, make notes about all the possible answers, and then come to the best conclusion.
This was the first time she'd made a split second decision.
Eva raced up the three flights of stairs to the apartment with her siblings. They pulled out bags—trash bags, because they never could afford suitcases—and packed all of their belongings in under thirty minutes. There wasn't much to pack.
Over the years, they'd grown so accustomed to being shuffled around by their relatives that they had resorted to living out of garbage and duffel bags. They grabbed those bags now and shoved the few things they had in the small room they shared into the bellies of the bags.
A creak on the floorboards had Eva looking up. She grabbed the first weapon she could, which unfortunately happened to be a hairbrush. A gush of relief left her chest when she saw that it was Fran.
The sight of him made her feel safe and protected. She'd known the man for less than an hour. But already, he'd given her more comfort and offered to do more for her than her entire family. First, with his protection of her and her brother back at the church. Then the ride just a few miles that they could've walked or caught the bus. And now he was offering them a place to stay the night.
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