Joel rescued her. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have brought it up in front of him. Just let us know what you decide.”
“You could still come to town with me,” Britt said. “I can show you around, and if there’s anything you need…?”
Kendra turned to Colton with a challenging smile. “Depends if my boss minds.”
His gaze remained hard even though he smiled. “Not a problem with me.”
A few minutes later, the director of the teen center said her goodbyes for the group and rounded everyone up onto the bus.
No sooner had the yellow caterpillar rumbled down the driveway, three shrieking boys ran around from the back of the house. Kendra noted each carried a bottle full of water. Good for you, Dustin. For being the youngest, he also proved to be the fastest. Cody couldn’t catch him before he squeezed between Joel and Britt.
“Don’t you dare,” Britt warned when Cody approached. Kendra went on alert, not wanting to get wet any more than Britt.
Cody doused Joel, who shot up from the table. “Hey! That’s cold!”
Kendra lifted her hand to wipe the chilled drops that’d splashed her face. Cody giggled and darted away when his father grabbed for him.
Dustin took advantage of the distraction to aim a stream of water at Noah. Kendra laughed at her brother’s shocked gasp as water dripped from his nose and chin. Dustin didn’t wait around for payback—he made his escape around the table and catapulted himself into Colton’s lap.
Jostled from the unexpected assault, Colton’s hand tipped his soda can on its side. Kendra grabbed a napkin to soak up the fizzing liquid before it reached the table’s edge, and her lap.
Noah came around to their side of the table, retaliation evident in his determined expression. Dustin squirmed to get free, but Colton lifted him as a human shield.
Not about to get caught between Dustin and Noah’s weapon, Kendra leaned back out of the line of fire. She saw Dustin’s knee connect with Colton’s groin a split second before Colton jerked with a low groan and dropped Dustin on the ground. Oblivious to Colton’s pain, Noah proceeded to empty his bottle in Colton’s face, down his chest, in his crotch, then back up again for a final squirt in his ear.
Colton sputtered, wiped his face, and glared at Noah.
“Sorry.” Noah grinned. “I was aiming for Dustin.”
Kendra covered her mouth to hide a smile. Noah’s satisfied smirk notwithstanding, anyone could see he’d soaked Colton on purpose. My little hero. He obviously hadn’t bought her hurt foot explanation at all.
Before Colton could respond, Joel carried Cody back to the table, upside down. When they caught sight of Colton’s dripping wet shirt and pants, Cody gave a fresh peel of laughter. Dustin giggled as he picked himself up off the ground while his father’s deep chuckle joined the rest of them.
The mood relaxed with all around laughter, and Kendra let her guard down. Until Colton made a quick grab and nabbed Dustin’s water bottle. An even faster move squirted Joel in the face. Joel set Cody upright at the same time he snatched his son’s bottle, and Colton leapt up from the table to even out the battle. The boys jumped and screamed around them.
Kendra preventatively raised her arms to protect from stray streams of water. Out of the corner of her eye she caught Britt’s frantic hand motions. “Let’s get inside. Besides being outnumbered, we have no ammo.”
She needed no further persuasion. Once inside the house, they shared a breathless laugh. When they settled down, Britt lifted the full coffee pot in her direction, and Kendra accepted the offer with a grateful smile. Britt poured two mugs of the robust smelling brew and they sat at the table.
Kendra stirred a teaspoon of sugar into her mug. “What’s the story with the teens?”
“They’re emancipated minors from the teen center in Boulder. Kristi is a former resident that we met about six or seven years ago. When she graduated college, she approached us about after school help, and now the kids come Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. It works out great both ways. We don’t have to hire full time employees, and they earn money for their living expenses. Saturdays they clean stalls and then get the rest of the day to ride. Not that all of them work when they come out here. Some just like to get away. They hang out, do their homework, or read.”
“I did notice how quiet it is around here compared to the city,” Kendra admitted. “No cars, horns or subways.”
Britt nodded, sitting back in her chair with her mug cradled in her palms. “I know what you mean, I grew up in downtown Chicago.”
“Really? And you don’t mind living here now?”
“God no. I love the mountains.” She sipped her coffee. “I spent a couple of summers working on a ranch about forty-five minutes from here and met Joel my last summer, when he was working a case.”
Kendra gingerly lifted her mug by its thick handle, careful to avoid the heated ceramic body with her blistered hands. “Working a case?”
“He was a criminal investigator for the National Parks System.”
Kendra’s heart thumped. Her hand shook. She quickly set her mug down before her lap looked like Colton’s. Her brother used to work in law enforcement? A tiny bud of hope blossomed, but just as quickly, the memory of the NYPD’s response to her allegations against Jeremy and Robert crushed it dead. She might not have a choice right now but to indirectly trust Joel with their lives, but she did not trust the law.
“Was?” she clarified hopefully. “He doesn’t do it anymore?” Bad enough he had the background, worse if he was still an active officer of the institution that had let her down more than once.
“No, he quit right after that summer we met and bought the ranch,” Britt confirmed. Kendra gave a silent sigh of relief while Britt smiled with obvious pride. “He was great at that job. Enjoyed it, too. But he loves the ranch more.”
She took another drink, and Kendra finally managed to get her mug to her lips.
“Speaking of the ranch, Colton said you did a good job today.”
Kendra gulped instead of sipped and almost choked. “He did?”
“You sound surprised.”
She deposited her mug back on the table and flattened both palms against her thighs in a self-conscious move to conceal the blisters. She was shocked Colton hadn’t pressed home the advantage he’d gained after the disaster in the barn.
With a guilty sigh, she decided to fess up before he exposed her outright. “The thing is, I, ah...lied about having worked with horses.” She lifted her gaze at the end, determined to face her deception head on.
Britt gave her a gentle smile. “We already guessed as much.”
“You did?” Her sister-in-law’s compassionate understanding made her feel even worse.
“Last night you didn’t touch any of the horses,” Britt explained. “And your boots this morning pretty much cinched it.”
“That obvious, huh?” She ran a fingertip over one of the broken blisters on her left palm as mortification burned in her cheeks. She must’ve looked like a total fool. No wonder Colton had been laughing at her all day.
“If it’s any consolation, Colton wouldn’t say you did a good job unless he meant it. He can’t lie to save his soul.” Britt laughed. “He’d have given some lame answer, and we’d have known he was lying.”
Couldn’t lie? The man had known she didn’t have experience with horses and then he sicced that black giant on her. Of course he could lie—
Suddenly, it hit her. He’d purposely scared her in the barn with Paelo. Her back went ramrod straight in her chair. Talk about a son of a bitch!
She tried to smile, but all she could think about was how she’d screamed as the huge animal loomed over her. “I bet you all shared a laugh over my panic attack when I came nose to nose with your black horse,” she muttered.
“You mean Paelo?” Britt’s voice held a frown. “He never said a word—what happened?”
Kendra waved off the question. “Nothing, forget it.”
Britt reac
hed a hand to cover hers. “Kendra, if you’re not comfortable with the horses, you don’t have to work. We only agreed to the job because it seemed important to you.”
She swallowed her chagrin to meet Britt’s gaze without flinching. “I don’t want a handout.”
“It’s not like that at all. You’re family,” Britt insisted. “Or, if you really feel that strongly about it, you can look for something in town and pay us back when you get established.”
Kendra rose to rinse her mug. It would be easier. She could get a job in town doing something. Anything was better than shoveling shit, wasn’t it? Colton’s mocking green eyes flashed in her mind as his voice echoed. Go home, Kendra.
Why in the world would she give him the satisfaction?
She faced Britt with resolve. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m a fast learner. I can do the job if you’ll let me.”
Britt grinned and sat back in her chair. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say. In which case, we’ll have to get you some work clothes tomorrow. Some jeans and gloves, and new boots for sure.”
Kendra cast her gaze down to the tips of her stained suede boots peeking from beneath the hem of her jeans. She sank against the sink with a grimace. “I literally don’t have a penny until my first paycheck.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll give you an advance. Besides I’m not giving up the chance to go shopping with a woman for once.”
A low groan came from the doorway. Kendra swung her gaze around to see Joel toss Colton a towel.
“What would you rather do?” Joel asked. “Go shopping or shoot yourself in the foot?”
Colton chose the latter, tousling his hair before draping the towel around his neck. Man, he was good-looking. The way his hair fell over his forehead, just above his sexy—
Kendra straightened fast. “I’m going back to the guest house—it’s been a long day.”
She’d almost reached the door when she heard Britt ask, “Joel, what did you do with the spare keys for the truck after Todd left?”
“They’re in the office.”
“Great,” Britt said. “We’ll take the truck tomorrow, Kendra. You can learn your way around town. That way you can use it whenever you want.”
She cringed and slowly turned, waiting for Colton to pounce on the opportunity Britt had served up on a silver platter.
“Do you have a license?” Joel asked into the silence.
“I do, but…really, there’s no need.”
Don’t look at Colton. Don’t look.
Britt waved the objection aside. “We’re starting into our busy season, and lots of times we’re tied up for the whole day. With the truck, you can leave whenever you want.”
Her resolve faltered with Britt’s choice of words and her gaze slid to Colton’s. The mocking twist of his lips was just what she’d expected. Scared he’d reveal her attempt to steal his car the other morning, and unable to face Britt in another lie so soon, she managed an appropriate thank you and did her best not to run for the guest house.
All the way across the yard, she worried how long it would be before Joel knocked on the door to demand her and Noah leave?
Chapter Five
Darkness pricked her skin. Cold seeped into her bones. A stumble in the malice-drenched shadows shoved her heart into her throat. Something hard and unyielding barred the way and she fumbled her way past, one desperate objective consuming her entire being.
Escape.
Footsteps rose up behind her.
Run.
The steps echoed with unsettling uniformity. Not hurried, never hurried, but always one stride behind.
Faster!
Lungs screaming, burning to the point of bursting, she strove to obey the strident demand. Lurking in the dark, unseen evil clawed at her feet, thwarting her frantic flight. A cry ripped from her lips when she pitched headlong into the unknown.
Blackness stretched forever as her hands instinctively thrust out to break the fall. She sucked huge gulps of air through her constricted throat, preparing for the brutal impact of unyielding earth. And still, the mantra pulsed in her veins.
Escape. Survive.
Landing jarred her bones, yet a soft surface cradled her with unexpected comfort. Eerie silence weighted the air; suspended time. He was always only one step behind… Fear robbed her lungs of necessary oxygen as she twisted one way, then the other.
Nothing.
Had she escaped? This time, finally, would she be free of the terror?
A piercing radiance cut through the darkness so suddenly she threw up her arm for protection. The fuzzy, faceless figure of a man sharpened on the edge of her vision. Loomed over her. A moan of despair trembled from her constricted lungs until light reflected off a badge of trust.
“Help me,” she begged. “Please. He’ll kill me.” She reached for the officer; desperate…hopeful.
The brilliance of the badge became a knife. Blinding light stabbed her eyes. She squeezed them shut as cruel hands pulled at her clothes and forced her down.
A rough voice commanded she open her eyes.
Kendra jerked awake, her chest heaving, pulse roaring in her ears. It took a moment—as always—for her to realize she lay unharmed, safe on the king bed in her brother’s guest house. She concentrated on her breathing, methodically drawing in air, holding it. One, two, let it out slow. And again.
Heart rate close to normal, she consciously unclenched her fists from the balled up comforter. Her breath hissed through her teeth as the dried, raw skin expanded painfully. Drawing another couple deep breaths, she opened and closed her fingers to stretch the tissue and ease the discomfort.
She twisted her head to the side and moaned in frustration when she saw the clock. Bad enough she hadn’t been able to fall asleep until after midnight, worried about what Colton had told Joel and Britt, now she was awake before sunrise. Any attempt to return to sleep would be useless; she never slept after the nightmare. Resigned, she wearily untangled her legs from the bed sheets.
In the kitchen, she set a pot of coffee to brew then started another list. With a sad smile, she remembered how her mother used to joke that she should keep a list of her lists. Kendra always laughed, never revealing the fact that she indeed had one on her laptop.
Currently, this handwritten list was a variation of the one from the previous morning, only now, at the very top she’d written down the thirty-five dollars she’d ‘borrowed’ from Colton, and another thirty for the groceries he’d left the morning before.
After much internal debate, she’d decided a few weeks of school would be okay, so clothes and a second pair of shoes for Noah came next, along with minimal supplies. For herself, the list was short: boots, gloves and jeans; in that order, if there was money left over. Plus, she had to stretch her money until the following payday because they’d need more groceries than what Colton had brought. So far Britt had been great about feeding them, but Kendra certainly wouldn’t expect her to continue.
When the sun began its climb over the mountain peak to the east of the ranch, Kendra was ready for work. Today though, she braided her hair and substituted her boots with her only pair of tennis shoes, wishing she’d considered them yesterday instead of just the stupid added vanity inches against Colton’s height.
Restless by about six a.m., she looked out the back door toward the barns. She’d rather have something to do than sit here, but everything was still dark so she returned to the living room and turned on the TV to watch the morning news.
During the weather forecast, she realized she didn’t need to wait for anyone to start feeding the horses. She knew what she was doing now.
After writing a note for Noah, she went out to begin her day.
****
Colton shifted his old Chevy into low gear for the winding climb up the mountain roads to the ranch. He was itching to see if Kendra showed up for a couple hours work before leaving with Britt at ten to go shopping. He actually hoped she didn’t, the extra ammunition to combat his ir
ritating attraction would be welcome.
His gaze flicked to the small pair of butter-soft, tan leather gloves lying on the passenger seat. Even they annoyed him. He never should’ve bought them, and he’d changed his mind a dozen times about giving them to her.
He rationalized that the gloves were simply a way to apologize for working her so hard yesterday and then scaring her with Paelo. A split second later he wondered why even bother? Hadn’t he already told her he didn’t plan to be nice?
Besides, he knew Britt planned to get her a pair today while they were shopping—while she spent money that the Morgans naively advanced to her. The scheming woman had been on the property less than two days and by the third she’d have cash and keys. His plan to make sure she didn’t worm her way into his friends’ lives too quickly was too slow for her pedal-to-the-metal action.
Last night he’d almost told Joel the truth. Still wasn’t entirely sure why he hadn’t, which only contributed to his foul mood.
A sudden thought occurred to him, but he pushed it away immediately. Refused to entertain it the moment it solidified in his brain. His decision not to speak to Joel had nothing to do with his attraction to the thief.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Another quote his father used to love to spout.
He took a deep breath and flexed his fingers on the wheel. As if he didn’t have enough to deal with, the tangent thought of his father distracted him with new worries. The bills had come in from his father’s most recent hospitalization and were much higher than he’d expected. He hadn’t shown them to his mom because she already carried enough guilt about him having to scrap his college plans. If only she knew where the guilt really lay—not that he’d ever tell her. It was his burden to carry. His penance.
And now, if she knew he planned to use his personal savings for the bills, she’d have a fit. Especially since she’d insisted from day one that he put something away for himself—for when things got easier and he could attend college.
College. He hadn’t told her about that, either. Yale was his dream of the past. Now he wanted what Joel and Britt had. He’d learned from them. What they couldn’t teach him, he’d learned on his own, any way he could. He figured he knew pretty darn near everything Yale would’ve taught him and more, evidenced by the fact that his small investment portfolio had been growing ever since he’d fired his broker and started to manage it himself.
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