Eva was sure this whole thing with the street thugs would cool down. Maybe? In a couple of days? Hopefully?
God, who was she kidding? This had been brewing since they'd moved in. She knew there was no way the streets would let Carlos go unscathed. She knew her sister would continue to retreat deeper into herself beyond just staying inside four walls. And she was supposed to work her fingers to the bone to afford it all? They couldn't stay there a second longer.
"You all stayed here?" asked Fran. "In this one bedroom?"
His face was part disbelief, part disgust, shaded with a whole lot of anger.
Eva became self-conscious. Had she been selfish all these years? Should she have put all of her money into getting them a better place to live instead of trying to save for college to make her dreams come true? Maybe she was no better than her aunt?
"Take everything," said Fran. "You're not coming back here. I have plenty of room at my place."
"Just for a night or two," Eva insisted.
He didn't answer. He took her bag from her, and then Rosalee's. Eva noted that Rosalee hadn't shied away from Fran like she had most people. What was it about this guy?
Fran preceded her family down the three flights and into his truck. He loaded up the back with their things, hopped inside, and pulled away from the apartment. In the rearview mirror, Eva saw the little thugs watching their retreat.
No, they couldn't go back there. She'd figure out a new plan.
They drove for what seemed like hours, but she knew was more like thirty minutes. Buildings gave way to mountains. Concrete gave way to rolling fields. The smell of industry and fast food gave way to brisk wind and cut grass.
Peering into the back seat, she saw Carlos staring out in wonder. Rosalee had rolled down the window and was leaning her head out. Eva looked at the man beside her.
Fran's face had relaxed somewhat. His shoulders were still tense. He pumped the brakes as they pulled into a gate with a purple flower on the front. The gate opened and gave them access to a world out of a western movie.
"I've never done anything like this before," Eva confessed.
Fran turned to her, taking his eyes off the road for a moment. The second his gaze hit hers Eva felt something spark in her chest. She wondered if he felt it too? Was that the reason he jerked his gaze back to the road?
"Anything like what?" he asked.
"Hopping in a car with a strange man and spending the night with him."
"I'm not a strange man. I was invited to your church by Dr. Patel."
"Pastor Patel?"
Fran nodded.
"He's a psychologist."
"Hmmm."
Eva hesitated to ask her next questions.
"Yes, I am his patient." She noted the smile in Fran's voice. But the smile slipped away with his next words. "My entire squad is. We were all wounded in the service. Dr. Patel works on the ranch to help us."
"You have PTSD?" She tried to make her voice nonchalant and was certain she failed.
"In a manner of speaking."
"I'm so sorry if I'm offending you."
"You're not. You're a smart woman, and you're asking smart questions of the man you just ran off with to spend the night."
Eva gasped.
Fran chuckled as he made a turn.
His laugh was nice. She liked how it crinkled his face. She waited for any sign that she should run. None came. She knew she was entirely safe with this man.
"I have my demons," he said. "But they only come after me. I have never lashed out at an innocent before in my life. You're safe with me, Eva. I won't let anything happen to you or your brother and sister. You have my word."
With those words, she relaxed back into the seat of his truck.
If Eva had thought the drive up was lovely, the ranch that sprawled out before her was something out of a dream. There was green as far as the eye could see. Beyond that were mountains. What pavement there was was clean and clear.
Fran parked the truck in front of a small ranch house. Eva had never lived in a house, not even when her parents were alive. They'd always lived in apartments, up off the ground floor, sharing rooms. She'd never had a yard. Across the way, a couple of dogs yipped in a neighboring yard.
The kids hopped out and greeted the dogs. No one was more surprised than Eva when Rosalee bent down to scratch at a little Chihuahua's head.
"They're all friendly," Fran assured her.
Eva hadn't thought the dogs posed a threat, especially the one in a wheelchair. She hadn't even fretted as the Rottweiler, a breed notoriously deemed vicious, trotted over to Fran. Its head was down as it made its way over followed by another dog, a Golden Retriever.
"Hey, Sugar,” Fran bent over and patted the Retriever's head.
Eva had learned that dogs were the best judges of character, and each of these dogs vied for Fran's attention alongside yipping for pats on the head from her siblings. Yes, hopping in this stranger's truck, this was a good decision.
"I'm sorry my horde of beasts got let loose. They're all harmless."
Eva looked up to see a pretty brunette closing the door of the home next to Fran's. She had a wide smile. Eva hadn't had many girlfriends because she moved around so much, and she rarely wanted to bring anyone over for sleepovers or study group or tea. She didn't even drink tea. But this woman looked like she had people over for tea.
"Maggie, this is Eva," said Fran. "She and her siblings are coming to stay with me for a while."
Maggie took Eva's hand in hers. Her palm was warm and welcoming. She covered Eva's hand with her second palm. It was like a hug for her hands.
"I'm so happy to meet you. You'll come over for dinner tonight with me and my husband. It's just hot dogs and chicken tenders—"
"Hot dogs?" said Carlos.
"Chicken tenders?" said Rosalee.
"Eva, please?" They chimed in together.
"I don't want to impose," said Eva.
"No imposition at all," said Maggie. "I'd love to get to know you better, and I could use some help feeding the dogs if your brother and sister don't mind."
"We don't mind," said Rosalee.
Eva stared at her sister. Rosalee never invited herself over to others' houses. But there she was volunteering.
"Okay," said Eva.
Chapter Nine
This was a bad decision. What had he been thinking? The sight of Eva in his living room, amongst his things, had his heart going double time. This was not good for his health. Not just because the effect it was having on his heart. It was because of his heart that she couldn't stay.
He'd offered her a place to stay when this place wouldn't be his for much longer. Fran was living on borrowed time. He had no business promising any of that time to anyone, let alone someone like this family who had been abandoned and disappointed by so many in their lives.
"There are four bedrooms," said Rosalee.
Fran looked up into her bright eyes. When he'd first met the little girl, her eyes had been filled with fear. But now they sparkled with excitement, gratitude, and hope.
"Would I be allowed to sleep in one on my own?" she asked.
"Of course," Fran heard himself saying.
"Fran, that's too much," said Eva. "We don't want to put any of your roommates out."
"I don't have any roommates. It's just me. You each can stay in your own room. For as long as you like."
His tongue darted away from his teeth inside his mouth, escaping from being bitten and hushed. Maybe he could get his foot in there instead. But his feet were planted firmly on the ground as he watched Carlos and Rosalee disappear into separate bedrooms. The smiles on their faces were so big they trailed behind them.
"We won't be a bother," said Eva. "It'll just be for a couple of days. While I figure out what to do next."
"You can stay as long as you like. I want you to be safe."
He wanted to pull her back into his arms and hold her again. But she wasn't crying. She wasn't distraught. H
e'd made it all better just by opening his door to her.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Xavier and Sean headed toward his front door. An idea started forming in Fran's head. Perhaps he could make this stay forever for Eva and her siblings.
"Why don't you go and get settled?" he told her.
Eva nodded. Her sigh of relief visibly shook weight from her petite frame. She took her bag from him and headed for one of the two remaining bedrooms.
"That's my bedroom," said Fran.
"Oh," she blushed. "I'm so sorry." She side-stepped and disappeared into the last bedroom. The one next to his.
Fran's heartbeat had settled, but there was still a fluttering in his chest. He felt light-headed and hungry. Instead of going to the kitchen, Fran turned to the door as Xavier and Sean came up the steps. He shut the door behind him and faced his friends.
"Heard you brought a woman home," said Xavier. He was the playboy of the bunch. X went out to the bars every weekend and spent the night with a different girl.
Fran put his back to the man and turned to Sean.
"So, you changed your mind about a wife?” asked Sean
"No, no,” said Fran. “She's not for me."
Xavier and Sean looked at each other.
"You know I can't …" Fran waved his hand in front of his heart which was still beating the same rhythm as when he'd held Eva in his arms. "But one of you could."
Sean took a step down off the porch. His eyes went wide like a steed about to be neutered. Sean hadn't lost a limb, only skin from his face that had hardened into tough scars. Because there was nothing wrong with his legs, Sean could easily outrun Fran with his heart condition.
The moment the words were out of Fran's mouth his heart did a funny little flip. It was a bit painful and he winced. "Eva and her family need a place to stay, and those kids need strong male figures in their lives."
"I told you," said Xavier. "I'm not getting married. I'll take this to court. We need to challenge this."
Sean remained quiet. He turned his scarred face away from them both.
"Eva's amazing," said Fran. "She's beautiful and smart—"
"So why don't you marry her?" said Xavier.
"I already told you—"
"Yeah-yeah, you think you're gonna die. We're all gonna die someday. If you really think marriage would help this girl and her family, you should do it. That way, if you really die, which I doubt you'll do anytime soon, she won't have to put up with you for long."
Fran's heart stopped that flipping and settled like it liked the idea.
The door to the house opened and Carlos poked his head out. He saw Rosalee hang back in the living room. Fran wanted her to know that she was safe there. He wanted to take the girl to see the baby chickens. He wanted to teach Carlos to ride and to shoot. To show Rosalee that the world wasn't dangerous everywhere. To show Carlos what it meant to be a real man.
And he could help Eva make her plan. He could help her implement it and be there to help her correct course if something veered her off. Fran thought about the closed door of the bedroom next to his. Once again his heart did a flip.
Chapter Ten
Eva ran her hand over the comforter on the bed. It looked as though it had never been slept in. The whole room looked unused but somehow cozy. She could sense Fran's presence there even though he said his room was next door. She placed her hand on the wall and was positive she felt it hum with his easy smile.
Eva jerked her hand away. What was she doing? What was she thinking?
She was staying in a stranger's house. In the bedroom right next to his. She was thinking she could feel his presence in the room, in the walls. Was she developing feelings for this guy?
She could not be developing feelings for this guy. She had two kids to take care of. An education to get. And a living situation to figure out.
The living situation might just be figured out. Fran had said they could stay as long as they'd like, which would help both the education situation and the kid care situation.
But no. The only kindness she’d ever depended on was that of her family.
And look where that had gotten her.
They would stay here a couple of nights. Two weeks tops. That would give her time to figure things out. Or at least to get a new job. They couldn't take advantage of Fran beyond that.
Eva reached for the door to her bedroom—his bedroom. The borrowed, temporary room. She turned the knob, pulled open the door, and walked right into a wall of chest.
Fran caught her when she stumbled. His arms came around her, embracing her and holding her steady.
"I was coming to check on you," he said.
"I was coming to …" She didn't know what she was going to say. She just didn't want to move out of his stronghold. But it was not her place. Fran let her go.
"Can we talk for a moment?" he asked.
Something in his tone made the goosebumps on her arms stand up. Had he changed his mind? Had the kids gotten into trouble?
She spied her siblings out the window in the driveway. Carlos played basketball with two men. Rosalee sat watching the game as she petted two dogs.
Eva trailed Fran into the living room. His movements were jerky. His hand rubbed at the back of his neck, lifting the short tendrils of hair at his nape until they stood up. He took the seat opposite from her. He was nervous. She could tell.
"Eva, there's a slight problem with you staying here."
She knew it. She knew it was all too good to be true. Nausea sent basketballs around in her belly that constantly missed the hoop.
"It was impulsive of me to ask you to stay."
"It's okay. We can go."
"No," he said, raising his hands up in a stop motion. "That's not what I'm saying. I want you here."
Relief flooded her. The balls in her belly stopped bouncing. But they didn't hold still. Something told her the game wasn't over.
"I want you all here. There's just a condition that I should've told you about before bringing you here."
"What condition?"
He wouldn't meet her gaze. He also stumbled over his words. She'd only known him a couple of hours, but she knew instinctively that this was uncharacteristic behavior for him.
"The ranch was purchased as a rehabilitation facility for wounded veterans."
"I see. And I'm not a vet."
"That's not it. You don't have to be a vet to stay here. You have to be …"
He took a deep breath. He lifted his head and met her gaze. But his words stalled as he bit at his lip and scratched at the fabric covering his chest.
"We've been here for a year, but the paperwork was slow to go through. We found a hiccup with the zoning."
Eva nodded encouragingly as he hesitated to get to the point.
"The zoning is for families only. You have to be a family to live here."
"I have a family," she said, certain she was missing something.
"Technically, you're single. And so am I. So are most of the guys living here, except Dylan. He and Maggie just got married."
"So, I'd have to be a married woman to live here?"
Fran nodded. "So do I. Be a married man, I mean. Otherwise, I'll have to leave soon."
"So, you're getting married?"
"Getting married would solve the problem. It would solve both our problems."
"Marriage?"
Fran nodded.
She was still missing something … Wait? "You're asking me to marry you."
"It would solve the problem," he repeated.
Eva checked her pulse. It wasn't racing. Just like it hadn't raced when she'd hopped in the truck with Fran and let him drive her away. He'd just asked her to marry him, and she was calm. A life with Fran didn't scare her in the least.
"So you want to get married now and get divorced later?" The thought of marriage hadn't kicked up her heartbeat. It sounded like the most natural thing in the world. The thought of divorcing Fran, however, made her stomach burn and left a bi
tter taste in her mouth.
"No, no need to get divorced."
So, he wanted to be with her forever? Now her heart did flip and flop. She had never been one for fairy tales or knights and castles. But Fran had just whisked her off in storybook fashion. Now he was throwing in a happily-ever-after.
"I won't be here long," he said.
"You're leaving?"
He hesitated. "Yes, in a manner of speaking. I'm dying."
He held his tongue, waiting for her to digest that pronouncement. She had to have heard him wrong. He couldn't have said what she thought he'd said.
"Dying?"
Fran slipped a button of his shirt open. Eva's emotions were already all over the place with his kindness in providing her family a safe haven, then with his proposal of marriage, and now he was showing her the goods so to speak. But the goods were a series of scars on his chest where his heart would rest.
"I have shrapnel in my chest," he said. "It's inoperable. The metal fragments could shift at any moment in the wrong direction and kill me."
Eva stared at him, at those eyes that hid nothing from her and made her feel safe. He was telling her that someday soon she wouldn't be able to look into those eyes. She'd rested her head on his chest. But someday soon she wouldn't be able to come into his arms and feel safe, because he'd be gone.
"The zoning of this land requires that only families live on the ranch. I have until next month, and then I'll need to leave. If we married, I could spend the rest of my days here with my squad, and you and your family could live here indefinitely."
Eva ran his words through her head again and then again.
"You could go to school and not worry about finding a place to stay. Your brother and sister would be safe and surrounded by people who would look out for them, especially Carlos. He'd have half a dozen male role models that would lead him down the straight path. Rosalee would feel safe coming outside. And you, you could finally have your dream of going to college and finishing that plan you started."
The Brides 0f Purple Heart Ranch Boxset, Bks 1-3 Page 12
