Silence.
Becca frowned. Who could be in there? Why would her attacker go in the bedroom and shut the door?
The mental light went on. “Wait a minute,” she whispered. “I know who’s in there.”
“Who?”
“Brody MacDougal. We call him Brody Mac.”
“Who’s that?”
“One of my lesson students turned volunteer turned part-time worker.” She moved around Nathan and reached for the knob. “Brody Mac? Is that you in there? Come on out, hon, this is Becca.”
Shuffling sounded from inside. Slow, soft footsteps made their way to the door. The knob turned slowly and she moved back. Nathan caught her by the upper arms and she paused, waiting.
The door opened and Becca tensed. “Brody Mac?”
“Becca?” He had a deep but gentle voice.
Her muscles relaxed and she stepped into the doorway. She looked up. At six foot three, he had the build of a linebacker, the heart of a marshmallow and the mind of a ten-year-old. Brody Mac’s head hung low and he peered at her through his lashes. “Hi, Becca.”
“Brody Mac, what are you doing coming in here at midnight and scaring everyone?”
He stuffed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and shuffled his feet. “I didn’t have nowhere else to go.”
“Anywhere,” she corrected automatically.
“Yes, ma’am, that’s what I meant.”
“Come out here and sit down for a minute, will you? I need to get my pulse back under control.”
Brody Mac stepped into the hall and spotted Nathan. He gasped and ducked back into the room, ready to shut the door. Becca followed him before he could. “Brody Mac, this is my friend, Nathan. Get back out here and meet him, will you?”
“Is he going to shoot me? I saw his gun.”
“No, of course he’s not. I have my rifle, too, but no one is going to do any shooting, okay?” She noticed Nathan had the weapon out of sight and was walking toward the seating area in the large room.
Brody Mac exited the bedroom, his tentative footsteps snagging her heart. She held out a hand and he took it, his palm dwarfing hers. She led him to the sofa where he sat down and released her hand, keeping his gaze on Nathan. Jack bounded over to him and licked his wrist. Brody Mac laughed and scratched the dog’s ears. “Hi, Jack.”
Becca patted his arm, pulling his attention from the animal. “This is Nathan Williams. Say hi.”
“Hi,” Brody Mac said. He extended his arm but then pulled it back. Nathan held his hand out and waited. After a brief hesitation, Brody Mac gave a small smile and shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Brody Mac,” Nathan said. “I didn’t mean to scare you with the gun. I’m a cop.”
Brody’s almond-shaped eyes went wide. “A cop? For real?”
“For real.”
“That’s super cool. I like cops. They keep me safe.”
“Yeah,” Nathan said, his voice soft. “We sure do try to do that.”
“Now,” Becca said, “tell me what you’re doing here.”
“I had to leave home.”
“Why?” she asked, but had a feeling she already knew the answer.
“This afternoon, Daddy came home and started yelling ’cause the tractor wouldn’t start. Mama told me to go find someplace to stay. I was at the library for a long time then I walked here. I got lost a couple of times so I had to go home and find the way through the woods. That’s why I got here so late.”
Becca rubbed her eyes and glanced at Nathan. “There’s a shortcut between his land and mine.” To Brody Mac, she said, “Are your things still in the bedroom?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay. You know you can stay here.”
Nathan lifted a brow at her and she shrugged. “His daddy’s not such a nice person, but Brody Mac here is a great guy.”
Brody Mac shuffled and rubbed the palms of his hands up and down the sides of his legs. “But my daddy doesn’t like me. He says I’m stupid.” His lower lip quivered. “I’m not stupid, am I, Becca?”
Rage at the man’s careless and needless shaming of Brody Mac burned in her heart, and her tongue wanted to blast the man. With effort, she controlled both and forced a smile. “Of course, you’re not stupid. I know he’s your daddy, but sometimes daddies are wrong,” she said. “About a lot of things.” She looked at Nathan. “Brody Mac’s a hard worker and helps out around the ranch when school’s not in session. He lives here in the bunkhouse during winter break and the summer.” She bit her lip and studied her friend. “Looks like you might need to move in a little early?”
“Can I, Becca?”
“May I.”
“Okay. May I? I’m almost done with school this year. I graduate in—” Brody Mac screwed his face up, then shrugged “—three weeks, I think. Just in time for Christmas.”
“Something like that,” Becca agreed.
“They have graduation in December?” Nathan asked.
Becca smiled. “This school does.”
“I would have graduated in May, but they let me stay until Christmas. I’m twenty-one.” He clapped his hands and grinned. “I’m all legal now.”
“Congratulations,” Nathan said.
“Thanks.” Brody Mac grinned.
Becca stood. “All right, big guy, you’ve got three more weeks of school so that means getting up and getting there on time if you spend the night here. Can you do that?”
“I can. I can do it. I have my alarm clock by my bed. I can set it and everything. I’ll show you.”
“I believe you.” She settled a hand on his massive shoulder. “All right, be sure to tell your mother what you’re doing. She can choose whether or not to fill your father in. As for getting you to school, you can use the moped to get to the bus stop. You know where it is.”
“Thank you, Becca.”
“Sure, and just remember—”
“Roll the moped outta the barn so I don’t scare the horses when I turn it on. I promise.”
“Right. You’ll do great.”
He looked at Nathan. “I learned that last summer.”
Becca couldn’t help the slow curl of her lips. “The hard way.”
Brody’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Yeah. The hard way.” He rubbed his nose. “I don’t think that horse likes me anymore.”
“He likes you. Be sure to take the lock so you can chain up the moped.”
“I will. Becca says some people have sticky fingers,” he told Nathan. Then looked at his hands. “My fingers aren’t sticky.” He wrinkled his nose. “They only get sticky when I eat pancakes and ice cream.”
Becca could see Nathan fighting a grin and something inside her shifted. He’d been her best friend growing up, the brother she’d never had and always wanted. Only right at that moment, she saw him in a different light.
And it wasn’t as a brother.
She cleared her throat. “It’s been a long day, guys. I’m heading to bed. Brody Mac, Nathan is staying here, too, so please don’t use all of the hot water in the morning, understood?”
“Understood.” He nodded then frowned. “You think my mama’s going to be all right?”
“She always has been.” Why the woman put up with her husband who took off for weeks on end then came home to drink and verbally abuse her and Brody Mac, Becca would never understand. But she could give Brody Mac a safe place to stay and make sure he had a full belly every day until his father decided to leave again. She ushered Brody Mac back to the bedroom. “Get some sleep, all right?”
“Thank you, Becca.” The gentle giant hugged her, and Becca felt her throat grow tight as tears threatened. How anyone could be mean to this man-child was beyond her understanding. He shuffled into the room and shut the door.
/>
“I’ll get Clay to send someone out to his house tonight to check on his mother,” Nathan said softly when she walked back into the den area.
“That’d be good,” Becca agreed. “I can call her, too, and let her know where he is for tonight. Brody Mac’s father isn’t violent—not in the sense that he uses his fists on anyone. At least I don’t think so. But he’s sure got a mouth on him. Last time he was home, he came looking for Brody Mac and he and I got into it. He threatened to see me ‘get mine’ if I kept interfering in his family business.”
Nathan stiffened. “What did he mean by that?”
“I have no idea and I didn’t ask. I just wanted him off my property ASAP.”
“I see. So why does he care where Brody Mac is if he just wants to belittle him?”
“I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it’s because Brody Mac is his. His to boss around, his to be mean to. He wants to control him and make him feel stupid while making himself feel powerful. It’s how he gets his kicks.”
“Sad.”
“I know. And it’s the same way with his wife. She’s not exactly a mouse, but I think she’s afraid of him—and he leaves her alone for extended periods of time so I think she just puts up with it when he’s home and sighs in relief when he’s gone.”
Nathan shook his head. “I don’t understand people like that. Even though I’ve worked with them and arrested a few, I just don’t understand them.” He paused. “Do you think that could have been him in the barn? The one who attacked you?”
She thought about it and shivered. “Maybe. But, like I said, as mouthy as he can be, I’ve never heard of him hitting or hurting anyone. I guess there could always be a first time, but I couldn’t say for sure it was him in the barn.”
“I’ll get Clay to check into the man’s whereabouts during the time of the attack. What’s his name?”
“Jeff MacDougal.” She gave a slow nod and picked up her rifle. “Checking his whereabouts during the attack might be a good idea.” She frowned and looked at him.
“What is it?”
“I’m glad you’re here, Nathan.”
He blinked and his jaw tightened. “Why’s that?”
“Mostly because it’s good to see you, but I can’t deny that having you here will let me rest easier.” She walked to the door. “But I’ll warn you. If Brody Mac’s dad knows he’s staying here—and he’ll probably guess he is—he’s likely to show up.”
Nathan narrowed his eyes. “Then we’ll be ready.”
THREE
Early the next morning, Nathan stood in the door of the bunkhouse and watched Brody Mac leave on the moped. He liked the guy and was grateful that he hadn’t used all the hot water just as he’d promised. He’d even cleaned up the sink and set out clean towels for Nathan. A roommate Nathan could appreciate. Unlike the guy he’d shared a dorm room with in his sophomore year at Vanderbilt. Nathan grimaced at the memory.
Turning slightly, he could see Becca out in the pasture filling up water troughs for the horses. She moved slow and a little stiff and he figured her back was bothering her. Nathan slipped on a pair of work gloves and headed out to help her.
As he walked down the dirt path that led to the pasture, a truck rumbled up the drive and pulled to a stop at the barn. Jack barked twice, then went to greet the newcomer.
Becca looked up, then set her bucket on the ground and pressed a hand to her back. “That’s Zeb,” she called. “Tell him I’ll be there in a second, will you? I have two more troughs to fill.”
“I’ll do it for you.”
She waved a hand. “I’ve got it.”
“Becca—”
“I’ve got it. Thanks.” She picked the bucket up and headed for the next trough.
“Stubborn woman,” Nathan muttered as he headed toward the truck. A man in his early thirties climbed from the driver’s seat. His stylishly-cut sandy brown hair dipped into his eyes.
Nathan nodded to the stranger. “Hi, there. I’m Nathan Williams.”
Dark brown eyes met his and the man held out his right hand. “I’m Zeb Culbreth, Becca’s vet. You’re new around here, aren’t you?”
“Just to the barn, but I was born and raised in Wrangler’s Corner.”
Zeb nodded. “I haven’t lived here long myself. I moved here a few months ago when Aaron Starke hired me to work with his veterinarian practice. It’s a friendly place and I’ve been making friends ever since, but I knew I hadn’t met you before. Where’ve you been?” He smiled and Nathan couldn’t help but like the guy.
“Nashville. I moved back here about a week ago,” Nathan said.
“What was in Nashville?”
“Work, mostly. I decided I needed a break so came home while I try to figure out my next step. Becca hired me to help her out around here.” It was true enough.
“Good for her. It’s about time she hired some help. She’s needed it ever since her accident and hasn’t had enough of it. Her neighbors to the left are the MacDougals and they have their issues.”
“Yeah, I’ve met Brody Mac.”
“He’s a good kid.”
“Actually, he’s a man.”
Zeb blinked. “Yeah, I guess so. Seems more like a kid, though. Anyway, her neighbors to the right are the Staffords. Jean and Hank pitched in quite a bit right after her accident and still check in on her.”
“The Staffords? Are they new to town? I thought the Howards lived there.”
“The Howards moved a little over a year ago, and the Staffords moved in about six months ago. Nice people. Jean used to do some pro equestrian work. Was in shows and everything. So she and Becca hit it off famously.”
Nathan shot a glance and a scowl toward the MacDougal farm, then turned his attention back to the vet. “It’s nice to know Becca’s got at least one good neighbor.”
“Yep. Of course, her cousins pitched in almost immediately after her accident—and they’d still be right over if she asked, but they’ve got their own businesses and whatnot and had to get back to them once Becca was on her feet again.”
“And I feel sure Becca’s not going to ask.”
Zeb’s eyes narrowed. “You know her well?”
“We were in high school together and were good friends before she moved to Nashville.”
But this guy had only known her a few months and he sure had a lot of information on her. Had the man done his own research or had Becca shared it all with him?
A surge of jealousy flickered through Nathan and he shoved it away. He didn’t have any right to feel jealous. She had moved on with her life and that was the way it was supposed to be. It was a small town and people talked. A lot. It wouldn’t take Zeb long to get the scoop on Becca if he asked all the right questions. And besides, Nathan didn’t have any interest in resurrecting feelings she didn’t return.
Better to keep a protective barrier erected around his heart this time. Once she found out what he was up to, she’d hate him forever anyway. He did find it interesting that there’d been no mention of her parents helping or even visiting.
He couldn’t help wondering where they’d been during such a hard time for her and what kind of severe falling-out would keep them from putting their anger aside to come to their daughter’s aide. Surely her leaving the medical profession wasn’t justification for cutting her out of their lives, was it?
He wanted an answer to that, but he wasn’t going to ask Zeb. “What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to check on Pete, the horse that threw Becca.”
“What caused him to do that, anyway? Becca’s been on horses her entire life. I can’t see her getting thrown—especially by a horse she knows very well.”
“Even the most experienced riders can get thrown, but I know what you’re saying. It does seem strange. Everyone s
till talks about her awards and everything. She’s made the town proud. Well, until the drug rumors started.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors.” And he didn’t want to discuss that either, but if he was here to investigate...“What do you think about those rumors? Any truth to them?”
“That Becca’s involved?”
“Yeah.”
The man scowled. “Absolutely not, so don’t go saying she is or asking questions, understand? No need to get that all stirred up again. Not that it’s exactly died down yet, but still...”
Nathan raised a brow at Zeb’s quick defense and lifted his hands in surrender. “I promise I won’t stir that up.” Interesting. The man’s instant defense of Becca sparked his curiosity. But he’d think about that later. “So what about Pete?”
“From what I can tell, poor Pete had an abscess up under his hoof and was in major pain. When she tried to jump him, he balked.”
Nathan nodded. “Makes sense. Just a freak accident, then.”
Zeb shot him a funny look. “Yes, why? Is there some reason you think it wasn’t?”
Nathan shrugged. “Nope. Guess not.”
“Hi, Zeb, glad to see you here,” Becca said as she joined them.
“No problem. I heard you had some commotion out here yesterday. Are you okay?”
Her smile flipped. “I’m doing fine. People in town are talking, huh?”
“Of course. When anyone mentioned it to me, I told them to get the facts before they opened their mouths.” He shrugged. “Some will, and sorry to say it, but some won’t.”
“I know. The fact is, I was attacked in my barn and Nathan here scared him off. Probably some junkie looking for something to sell.”
“You need security out here,” Zeb said. “It’s not safe. Especially since your two helpers had to quit.”
Becca frowned.
“What are you talking about?” Nathan asked.
She sighed. “I had two teenagers working for me, but...”
“But what?”
“But Clay came out to search my ranch for drugs because he found my cell phone number on a dead man’s phone.” Her jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed. “That’s not exactly confidence inducing for the parents who were allowing their kids to work for me, so they made them quit.”
Christmas Ranch Rescue Page 3
