The Wrangler's Last Chance

by Jessica Keller

  “Got it.” Shannon nodded. “Carter and I will do this straightaway.” She shielded her eyes and squinted to the opposite side, where Rhett, Wade and Piper were working. “And it looks like they’ve got that side managed. If we keep at it without too many breaks, we can have this tackled in a few hours.”

  Easton nodded. “Mr. Rhett said they were about to head for a quick break. They’ve been out here painting for a while already.”

  A few minutes later Carter joined her. He grabbed a paintbrush and they shared a can, bringing them into close proximity. His elbow bumped hers and their shoulders brushed a few times as they worked. The air between them sparked with a tension neither of them had given voice to yet. A part of her wanted him to grab her and kiss her right here in front of everyone and just be done with it already.

  Then again, maybe it was all in her mind. Carter had been at the ranch for a few weeks and he hadn’t asked her out or made any blatantly romantic advances the whole time. She wished he would. Shannon wasn’t sure if she was ready to date yet, but she knew she didn’t want to miss out on getting to know Carter better, either.

  “You know,” Shannon said, her hip bumping his as they painted. “We never got to have that Bing Crosby movie night we talked about. If you’re free tonight, I have plenty of them already at my place.”

  Carter stopped painting. “I thought you said you were going to plan a staff party. Invite everyone and put a screen up in the barn.”

  Shannon shrugged. “That would be better in the summer. We could always watch a few together before then and narrow down the summer choices.”

  “Let’s see how sore we both are tonight before committing to any plans,” Carter said. “Painting has a way of finding all the muscles you forgot you had in your body and wringing them out.”

  He hadn’t taken the bait, so the tension was definitely all in her head.

  She noticed Rhett, Wade and Piper heading toward the barn to take the break Easton had mentioned.

  Shannon ducked away from Carter to work on one of the fence poles.

  “I meant to tell you.” He slathered paint across a top rung. “I caught one of those old movies the other night. It was playing on regular TV.” He squinted over at her. “His Girl Friday, maybe?”

  Shannon sighed. “You’re hopeless, you know that?”

  “What?” He froze. A large glob of white paint dropped onto the grass from his brush. “I thought you’d be happy.”

  Shannon rose from her squat. “That’s Cary Grant—who, I give you, is fabulous and far more crush-worthy than Bing in my opinion—but it’s not a movie based on Wing’s namesake, which was what we were talking out.”

  “Crush-worthy?” He tilted his head and smirked. “Do explain.”

  “Oh, you know. Completely gorgeous and super suave. All the things that turn women into fangirls.” She swatted at him. “Don’t look at me like that. You know what I’m talking about.”

  “How about me? Am I crush-worthy?” He waggled his eyebrows, making Shannon even more flustered.

  “Oh, please. You know you are.” Shannon dipped her brush in the paint again so she wouldn’t have to look at his face right then. “Stop fishing for compliments.”

  A red sports car flew up the driveway, spraying gravel in its wake. It veered off the path, coming onto the grass toward where Shannon and Carter were working. In a heartbeat, Carter dropped his paintbrush, wrapped his hands around Shannon’s waist and tugged her out of the way.

  Shannon knew that sports car.

  It made her sick to remember all the times she had let Cord Anders kiss her in that vehicle or how often he had trapped her in there, hitting the lock button when she had tried to leave. He had filled her head with lies while they drove around at high speeds. He had broken her heart a hundred times over and belittled her in that car, too.

  When Cord flung the door open and stomped out, Shannon’s mouth went dry and her arms shook. Ever since the protective order had expired, she had assumed he would show up at the ranch one day. But she hadn’t fought to have it extended because that would have meant facing him in court all over again. She had hoped she was wrong—that he would move on and never show up here.

  Unfortunately, she hadn’t been.

  Carter’s fingers tightened at her waist and she felt his whole body stiffen behind her. One word from her and she knew Carter could make Cord wish he had never stepped foot on Red Dog Ranch. The knowledge that she had that kind of power behind her, coupled with the two group counseling sessions she had attended, made Shannon stand a little straighter. Cord had made her believe she was without friends, that no one cared and no one would take her side if they knew the real her.

  But Carter proved him wrong.

  As Cord lumbered toward her, hands fisted and the muscles in his neck already straining, she really wanted to hide. She wanted to hand her problem over to Carter to deal with while she ran away. But she knew if she didn’t stand up to her ex at some point, he would keep coming back and she had already learned tools and talking points from her group sessions. She was tired of fearing and looking over her shoulder wherever she went. She was so tired of this man and the control he still wielded over her life nine months after she had left him.

  It stopped today.

  Cord’s lies had deep roots in her heart, but now more than ever, she was committed to yanking them out and watching every single one of the untruths burn in a trash pile. She would not allow him the reins to her heart or mind for even a minute longer.

  Shannon patted Carter’s hands, a silent request for him to let go. He did so right away. She wanted to reclaim any shred of power she could in the situation. So, although a sick feeling crashed through her stomach and her heart jangled in her chest, she lifted her chin and spoke first. “What are you doing here?”

  Cord eased his stance and his lips parted with a slow smile. He had always been good at starting off smooth. “Babe, come on now. Don’t be like that. I miss you. Is it so hard to believe I want to see you?”

  Shannon sensed Carter behind her. He wasn’t breathing down her neck, but he was there. She breathed in, out, in. “I don’t want to see you. I want you to leave.”

  “Can’t we just talk?” He made an obvious gesture to mean Carter. “Alone. I just want to talk, babe. It’s been so hard without you.”

  “If you have something to say, you can say it right here in front of present company.”

  Standing there as Cord made puppy dog eyes made Shannon want to throw up. How had she fallen for this guy? She had to remind herself that he had fooled her a little at a time, not all at once. Abusers never showed their true colors immediately.

  Rhett and Wade must have still been in the barn. The second they came out and spotted Cord, they would sprint over.

  She clasped her hands together. “But I’d rather you go.”

  “We belong together.” He took a step forward, his nostrils flared. “You know what it does to me to see you with this ape?” He pointed firmly at Carter. “Canoodling on park benches and draped all over each other? It’s disgraceful how you let him paw you in public.” Cord worked his jaw back and forth. “You shouldn’t be with nobody but me.”

  Cord had spied on them in the park? Did he follow her around often? Had he stalked her for nine months without her knowing? The thought made gooseflesh rise up her back.

  Shannon was glad she had her hands together, because if they had been at her sides they would have been visibly shaking. “You are not welcome on our property. And you’re not welcome in my life.” She tried her best to keep her voice even. “I don’t want to ever talk to you again, do you understand?”

  “This guy?” He tossed his arm in Carter’s direction. His movements were becoming larger and more erratic. “I give him a few weeks tops before he realizes what a waste of space and energy you are.” Spittle flew with his words. “He’
ll take off. Mark my words. He’ll wake up and see how annoying and pathetic you are. You were blessed I ever looked your way.” Cord thumped his chest. “And you messed that up.”

  His words aren’t true. This was the game of lies he played, but he happened to be really good at the game. Good at sensing what jabs would wound the most. And his shot about Carter not wanting her hit like a blow to the gut. Hadn’t she been thinking the same thing earlier?

  Carter came up beside Shannon, laying a supportive hand on her shoulder. “I think you’ve said enough and Shannon has been far more patient listening to your rubbish than you deserve. She has asked you multiple times to leave.” Carter’s stance widened. “I’m only going to ask you once.”

  “Don’t you—” he shoved Carter in the chest “—order me around.” He went to put a hand on Carter again, but Carter caught the man’s wrist and held it. Cord winced before breaking free.

  Cord made like he was going to head back to his car, but then he whirled around, eyes wide. He let out a guttural roar. “You like my trash? Go ahead and keep it. She’s a weak, worthless piece of—”

  “Leave.” Carter’s voice boomed. “Right now.”

  Blood thrummed loudly in Shannon’s ears. She heard one of her brothers yell from the barn. They would be here in seconds.

  Reflexively, Shannon felt all her pockets for her phone before she remembered that it had been missing for two weeks. She yelled, “Someone call the cops.”

  “Already did,” Easton said from nearby. “I called when he first got here.”

  “You selfish little brat.” Cord fisted his hand and swung for her.

  But Carter was faster. He threw out an arm, sweeping Shannon to the side, and his momentum placed him in her spot. There was a loud smacking sound when Cord’s fist collided with Carter’s jaw. Carter stumbled but held his ground. Rhett and Wade were on Cord a heartbeat later, yanking him away from Carter and holding his arms securely behind his back. Cord bucked and spit, but even winded, her brothers were stronger.

  Carter straightened his spine to his full height. He scrubbed the back of his hand over his busted lip and then spit blood. It landed close to Cord’s feet. In two steps, Carter’s stride ate up the distance to where Cord was being held until police arrived.

  Inches from Cord’s face, he said, “Now, let’s get something straight.” The muscles in Carter’s arms and across his back were bunched and trembling, holding back all the power he could have unleashed. His voice was ice-cold. “Weak is the man who lifts his hands against another person in anger. Pathetic is someone who feels powerful when they’re belittling others.” Carter turned his head and spit another stream of blood. “And worthless is a person who finds a sick sort of enjoyment in breaking down and controlling others.”

  Sirens blared in the distance. The sound finally snapped Shannon into action. She had been frozen since Cord threw the punch.

  Surging forward, she looped her hands around Carter’s forearm and gently tugged. “My brothers have this. Let’s get you some ice.”

  Carter nodded as he slipped his hand into hers and wound their fingers together. Was he holding her hand to anger Cord or because he actually wanted to? At the moment she didn’t care.

  She led him toward her bunkhouse and tossed open the door. First she ushered him toward the single love seat sofa that graced her living room and then she headed to her freezer. “Sometimes when there are big swings in the weather I get a migraine and the only thing that really helps is an ice pack, so I have a hoard of them in all sizes,” she called from her kitchen.

  Carter muttered something she couldn’t make out.

  Shannon stood in front of the open freezer, letting the frigid air roll over her heated face as she tried to wrap her mind around everything that had just occurred.

  Only a week before the spring horse show and her life was spiraling out of control. She bowed her head and sucked in a sharp breath. Please, Lord. I feel like every time I’m moving forward, something jerks me backward. As if I’m not allowed to move on because of the mistakes I’ve made. Help me. Because I don’t know what to do anymore—about Cord, about Carter or even about myself.

  * * *

  Carter touched his aching jaw and winced. His head pounded. That mean dog of a man Shannon used to date threw a pretty good punch. Carter would be feeling that one for a few days.

  Shannon sat down on the couch beside him but sideways, so she could face him. “Let’s put this on your lip. It’s still bleeding some.” She handed him a clean rag. He wadded it up and pressed it against the part that hurt. In his experience any injuries on the head bled a lot, making them look much worse than they actually were. After today his lip probably wouldn’t be all that bad.

  However, Shannon inched closer to get a better look at his jaw. Her warm breath hit his neck and he shivered as her nearness caused his heart rate to spike and his chest to feel tight. She leaned back to a normal distance, only to trace a featherlight finger along his jaw. Carter swallowed hard. He was momentarily afraid his heart was going to pound right through his rib cage. Did she have any idea the effect she had on him? It was a good thing he had a busted lip at the moment because her caress was leaving a trail of fire on his skin and if she had done that when he wasn’t a mess, he wouldn’t have been able to hold himself back any longer.

  He would have been kissing her soundly and thoroughly.

  He would have told her that he would take a million fists for her if it meant he got to spend a few minutes with her this close every time.

  She frowned, her deep brown eyes full of concern. “That’s going to bruise.” She lifted an ice pack to his jaw and held it there. The caramel-and-vanilla scent that always lingered around her was strong and Carter absently thought that it was the warmest, most comforting smell in the world.

  Still facing him, Shannon laid a cheek against the back of the couch. Carter shifted to better look at her, wedging the ice pack between his face and the couch cushion.

  Shannon’s gaze tripped along his face until she met his eyes. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of me,” she whispered.

  Carter tried to smile but doing so tweaked his busted lip so it probably ended up looking more like a grimace instead. “No problem.”

  Shannon licked her lips. “That wasn’t the first time you took a hit meant for a woman, was it?”

  He could have brushed the question off or changed the subject. Nothing said he had to answer her. But his heart revolted against the idea of misleading Shannon in any way. He found that he wanted to tell her the truth—his truth—or at least this part of it.

  A slight breeze rustled papers on her kitchen counter. In their hurry, they had left the front door wide-open. Anyone could walk into her home at any minute and Carter was glad for that thought. It didn’t feel right being alone with Shannon in her house when his mind kept wandering to kissing her.

  Carter swallowed hard.

  “My mom.” His throat felt raw as he began. “My stepdad was a horrible man.” Carter closed his eyes. A thousand awful memories flashed through his mind. A thousand times he had failed the women he loved. “He beat her within a hair of death so many times and yet she stayed, Shannon.” He opened his eyes and met her gaze. “She wasn’t strong like you. She stayed.”

  Shannon placed her hand over his.

  His breath rattled. “I used to hide. Me and Amy. We used to hide from them in my bedroom. I could hear my mom screaming and I hid.” Would she pull away? Now that she knew he had watched someone suffer and done nothing for so long. “I was a coward for so many years.”

  “Carter.” Shannon kept a hand over one of his but lifted her other to cup the uninjured side of his face. “You were a child.” Her thumb brushed along his cheekbone. “It’s never the responsibility of a child to fix something like that. They should have led lives that meant you and Amy could have been playing and innocent
instead of hiding and afraid. They failed at their jobs, not the other way around.” She traced her fingers over the couple of scars along his jaw and chin. “Did he give you these, too?”

  As he leaned into her touch, Carter fought the desire to press kisses to her fingertips. He was telling her the second hardest piece of his past and she hadn’t run off yet. If he hadn’t been willing to admit before that he had lost his heart to Shannon Jarrett, it no longer mattered. He had completely fallen for her and he would do anything for this woman.

  He had never felt this way about anyone in his life.

  His realization loosened his lips. “I used to get made fun of at school because of my last name. The kids thought a boy named Kelly was hilarious.” And he’d been the only Kelly in the family since it was his biological father’s last name. “My stepfather found out and treated it as if the kids had struck gold. He used to force me to stand against the brick wall in our backyard as he and his drunk friends made fun of me. They had this game where they would toss beer bottles to see how close they could get it to shatter by me without hitting me directly and I’d get in trouble if I moved or flinched.” Carter tapped a scar on his chin. “A few of these are from pellet guns.”

  “That’s horrible.” Her tone was a mix of shocked and soothing.

  “I filled out my last few years of high school.” Carter had spent every afternoon his junior and senior years in the school weight room lifting, focused on bulking up. Knowing he needed to get stronger than his monsters.

  Now that he had started, he might as well get to his family’s end. “Started lifting. It got to where I could hit back when kids tried to mock me and that stopped them real quick.” Carter shifted on the couch. He set the ice pack on the armrest. “At about the same time I started standing up to my stepdad. I’d get between him and my mom and he’d take his anger out on me instead. It made my mom so angry, though. She said it was my fault he was hitting us. She said I was getting him worked up.” He shook his head.

  Shannon stroked her thumb back and forth against his hand.