by J. M. Madden
Before Chad could reach for her, she slid off the saddle to the ground.
“My legs feel funny.”
She danced around until she got her land legs again and raced into the barn to grab the brush to use on the pony.
After they settled Taco, they headed to the swing set.
“Have you thought any more about dinner?”
Lora frowned. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” She made a vague motion toward her face.
Chad surveyed her face. “I don’t think it’s as bad as you think. The swelling is completely gone and the purple around your eye is fading.” Before she could pull away, he brushed a fingertip over her lower lip. “And the split is gone.”
She frowned. It had only been a few days. She doubted she looked as good as he said. Maybe makeup could cover some of it.
Sighing, she squinted into the late morning sun, knowing that she was about to cave. “What time do we need to go down?”
“Mama always serves dinner at six.”
Lora glanced at him, reluctant. “I guess we can go.”
Chad grinned and she forced her eyes away from the sight. He was too tempting as it was without him gushing over her.
But she had to remember that this was his family as well, and if he hadn’t seen his parents for months, he probably hadn’t seen his sister and her kids either.
“I’ll be ready then,” she sighed. “And Mercy will, too.”
* * *
CHAD LEFT BEFORE he did something else to spook her. She hadn’t recoiled when he’d stroked her lip, but he wasn’t going to push his luck. He wanted to take her in his arms and try to ease the tension he could literally see in every line of her body. Even without the bruises, her face tended to be tense. Nobody should live like that. It wasn’t healthy.
Heading back into the barn, he grabbed a bridle for one of the geldings and saddled him up. The horse seemed eager to go so he turned him up the hill at a good canter. Within just a few minutes though, he had to slow him down. Rocks on the trail were treacherous, and he’d never hear the end of it if he damaged one of his dad’s prized Quarter horses. Toward the top of the hill, he slowed even further. Harper was camped out up here somewhere.
The other man found him, stepping out onto the trail in front of him. Chad gathered the reins as the horse reared, almost unseating him. He shook his head at the big guard.
“You bastard,” he laughed. “You almost put me on my ass on the ground!”
Harper smiled slightly. “You make too much noise.”
Chad slid to his feet, shaking his head. Looping the reins over the horse’s head, he tied them to the branch of a tree before following the other man onto the overgrown path. Harper had managed to find a slight game trail, just barely big enough for his huge body to squeeze through the brush. Chad angled his body and followed.
When they reached the plateau where Harper had set up his lookout, Chad was impressed. “I didn’t realize you had this kind of range up here.”
As he stood at the top of the hill, he was overcome by a sense of history, in the land and his family. Hell, even in Texas. Though he’d gotten used to being stationed in many different places for the Marines, this would always be his touchstone.
LNF was his career now, but he wished he had the freedom to come home more often.
Harper had created a hollow to lay in at the top of the knoll, well shaded but far enough out on a promontory that he could see for miles in several different directions. To the south were more long sloping sweeps up to jagged hills. To the east, the main road onto the ranch. There was a long-range spotting scope pointed in that direction and Chad knew for a fact Harper already recognized every truck on the place. It’s what he did. Settled in, took stock and picked off the bad guys.
“Been quiet?”
Harper nodded, eyes hidden behind the wraparound sunglasses. “Your brother does a lot of running.”
“Yeah.” Chad dug the toe of his boot into the rock. “Used to be Dad running everywhere all day, but Brock’s starting to take on more responsibility. He’s built for being in charge.”
They didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Chad tipped his face up to the breeze blowing up the incline. “I love this place.”
Harper sighed beside him. “It does have its appeal. Reminds me of Iraq.”
Chad looked at him, surprised. “No way.”
The big man nodded once. “Inhospitable. Unforgiving. The heat hasn’t kicked in yet, but I think it’ll boil your brain in the summer.”
Chad laughed out right. “Oh, you are so right. I grew up here though. I guess it kind of resembles Iraq, but I can see the differences.” He pointed into the distance. “You’ve never seen meat on the hoof that good looking anywhere but Texas.”
Harper gave him a wide grin and tipped his head in agreement. “I will agree with you there.”
“We’re heading down to the house for dinner. You up for a visit?”
Harper turned to him, but Chad still couldn’t see his eyes through the shades. “I think I’ll hang up here.”
“Okay. Maybe we’ll bring you some leftovers.”
Harper gave him a lazy nod and Chad headed back down the slope. The horse waited patiently and when mounted took off at a steady clip toward the barn.
Chapter Nine
LORA WATCHED THE clock tick over another minute and her anxiety mounted. A few more minutes and they would have to leave for dinner. She tucked her hair behind her ears, then moved it forward again. She’d left it down in the hopes that it would hide some of the bruising she’d been unable to cover with makeup. Even with that, it was obvious she’d been beaten.
Disgust coated her tongue. She’d left that life behind. Derek didn’t have any right to mess with her anymore.
She walked out to the kitchen with her chin up. Chad looked up from his phone and frowned, then his lips spread in a broad smile. “You look like you’re ready to kick ass.”
Lora tilted her head. “I kind of feel like that,” she admitted.
“My family isn’t going to attack you.”
She shook her head, stepping closer. “It’s not your family. I’m just…tired of worrying. Tired of Derek monopolizing my life, even when he’s not around.”
Chad pushed to his feet and Lora realized he had cleaned up as well. He wore a fresh t-shirt and jeans and the ball cap was missing. He’d spiked his short hair with gel and shaved his lean jaw. The scent of a tangy body wash reached her and she wanted to inhale more.
Maybe if she walked toward him he would just open his arms…
Lora cringed and Chad immediately stopped moving. She huffed out a breath and waved her hand. “It wasn’t you. I just…had a thought that I shouldn’t have.”
He raised a dark brow at her but she refused to elaborate.
“Do I look okay?”
She ran her hands over the pale blue blouse and jeans she wore, worried that it was too informal. When she’d shoved things in her bag, she hadn’t thought about dinner like this.
Chad’s bright blue eyes drifted over her slowly and Lora forced herself to stand still, though his appreciative survey was making her prickle. His gaze slowed at her hands on her hips, drifted down to her socked feet, then back up to meet her eyes. “I think you look perfect.”
Lora had to look away then because the sincerity in his expression was enough to make her tear up. She grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair where she’d draped it and slipped her shoes on at the door. Stepping outside, she called for Mercy.
The little girl leapt off the swing several feet in the air and raced to her, followed closely by Rachel. “You better be careful doing that, you little imp,” the guard called to her.
Mercy giggled and climbed into the open truck door Lora held open, then Lora slid in beside her daughter.
They rattled down the hill in silence. Flynn had agreed to go for exterior coverage and Rachel would stay inside, though Chad had told her he doubted there was need insid
e the house.
When they arrived, Flynn headed toward the barn, probably to secure an outlook from the second floor. He made an odd motion with his hand at his side before he disappeared inside.
Before she could wonder further, Chad slid out of the truck and moved to open their rear door. He held out his broad hand and she stared at it for several long seconds, before sliding her own inside and allowing him to help her down. As soon as was polite, she released him, though her body resonated with the touch. Mercy parked herself on the step and fell into his arms with a giggle.
Growling at the little girl and tickling her, he set her on the ground, then turned to grin at Lora. “I think you raised a daredevil.”
The daredevil clammed up and hid at Lora’s side when they entered the house. It seemed like there were kids everywhere, but Lora realized it was just three moving very fast.
A little girl with some of the brightest red hair Lora had ever seen skidded to a stop and held her hand out to Mercy. “Wanna go see the big cow in Grampa’s office?”
With a glance up at her mother, Mercy took the little girl’s hand and they raced off.
“Hello, Grace,” Chad called down the hallway. “It was nice seeing you Grace.”
A faint voice called back “Hello, Uncle Chad”.
Chad looked at her with an odd expression on his face. “You may want to check on her soon. It’s hard to tell what Grace will get her into.”
Two taller girls, their hair almost matching strawberry blond, slammed into him with yells of “Uncle Chad”. Lora moved out of the way of the melee until their greetings were done. Chad stood up and made a motion to Lora. “Girls, this is Lora O’Neil. Say hello. Lora, this is Carolyn.” He held his hand over the taller girl. “She’s ten and thinks she knows everything. And this is Savannah.” He brushed his hand over the other girl’s head. “She’s eight and she does know everything.”
Savannah nodded her head, arms crossed over her narrow chest and grinned. A tall woman stepped up behind them. “Girls, go help Grandma with dinner.”
They did as they were told, though not without putting up a fuss.
The woman that had sent them on their way held out her hand. “Cheyenne. Very nice to meet you, Lora.”
Lora shook her hand reluctantly. If there was ever a woman to make her feel inadequate, it was this one. As good-looking as Chad was, this woman had him beat by a mile. Striking bone structure, piercing blue eyes with deep auburn hair. But she had a smile as fun and good-natured as Chad’s, and when she wrapped her arms around her little brother, she could see the love between them.
Lora stepped back and turned as Francine came through the room to meet them. She allowed the older woman to wrap her in an easy hug, and for the briefest second allowed her to body to relax. Then she forced herself to pull away. It wouldn’t do to get attached to this family.
She tried to remind herself of that several times over the course of the night, but it got harder and harder as the night went along. Chad was a real stand-up guy and his family loved him desperately. Well, everybody except the brother. Brock was another beautiful Lowell sibling, but his personality definitely veered to the more serious. While the rest of the family joked and played around and the kids ran around being kids, he sat in one of the chairs in front of the fire and dozed, a glass of whiskey balanced precariously on his knee.
“Don’t worry about him,” Cheyenne told her as she plopped down onto the couch beside her.
In spite of herself, Lora truly enjoyed the woman. She was strong and opinionated and had made a life for herself and her girls when she’d walked out on her cheating, abusive husband.
“Is he the oldest?”
Cheyenne cocked a brow at her. “He is, but he never used to be this serious. It was only after Chad got injured in Iraq when he turned downright sour. Then it was like everything suddenly got real for him. I don’t know.” She shook her head slowly. “He used to be this great guy, willing to do anything for you. He still is, but now he’s going to bitch at you while he helps you.”
Lora grinned with her. “You guys have another sister too, right?”
“Mm, Emily. She’s down around Houston settin’ the business world on fire. I’m not even sure what exactly she does. She makes a lot of money, I know that.”
“And you’re a teacher, right?”
Cheyenne grinned. “Third grade. Old enough I don’t have to wipe their noses but not old enough to be snots yet.”
Lora laughed out right, because it was so true. She worked in the high school at home and the kids had so much attitude about everything.
“Chad said you were getting away from your ex. What is it about small-minded men that make them feel like they need to be brutal?”
“I don’t know,” Lora sighed.
“Your face doesn’t look bad. My ex broke my jaw once. Had to be wired shut for two months. Not a very fashionable look but man, what a great diet plan.” She glanced at Lora out of the corner of her eyes. “We came here to stay for several months while I took his ass to the cleaners. This is a good place to be.”
“I hate to put your family in this position. If he does find us I would feel terrible.”
Cheyenne shrugged. “I don’t think little brother is concerned. And we’ve got good men working at the ranch, so if anything looks out of the ordinary they’ll let him know.”
“Are you here in town?”
The other woman nodded. “You know you always end up back home. Makes it easy for the grands to see the animals, and vice versa. My parents still believe they’re getting the better end of the deal.”
Lora laughed out loud and then caught herself, tamping down the laughter, fear suddenly clutching at her throat.
Cheyenne turned toward her and grabbed her clenched hands. “Don’t you dare curb your enjoyment of anything. Don’t let him ruin you like that.”
Tears flooded Lora’s eyes at the other woman’s understanding, and when she wrapped her in a massive hug Lora let her. For several long seconds she let Cheyenne comfort her, unbelievably touched that this stranger could relate to her on such a basic level.
She pulled away and wiped her face. Cheyenne wiped her own eyes with the backs of her hands. “I know where you’re coming from,” she whispered, “but you have to be strong enough for that little girl to come out strong on the other side. You use any resource you can to achieve that end. Do you hear me?”
Lora nodded, knowing every word Cheyenne spoke was the truth.
“I will. It hit me this morning that I was tired of hiding from life,” Lora admitted softly. “I was so scared to come down here and meet all of you and it was because he taught me to be that way. If I didn’t perform the way I was supposed to, I would know it later that night. I’m tired of living in fear of every situation.”
Cheyenne nodded. “Yep. You reach the point that you just say fuck it. And what better time than right now, supported by more people than you ever have been before?”
She was completely right.
“Where were you years ago when I met Derek? I really could have used your input then.”
Laughing, the other woman gave her a one-armed hug before pushing up from the couch. “I was probably dealing with my own Derek. I’m gonna go see what the girls are into.”
Lora watched her go and sagged into the couch.
That’s where Chad found her a few minutes later. He was carrying two bowls of ice cream. “May I join you? I bring treats,” he sing-songed in his deep voice.
Lora scooted over but she needn’t have worried. Chad sat on the other side of the couch with a couple feet of space between then. He handed her one of the bowls. Their fingers brushed for the barest second before he pulled away. Lora looked down at the bowl and the triangular piece sticking out of it. “What is this?”
“Taste it,” he told her, shoving a huge spoonful into his own mouth.
Lora took a small bite of the cream, delighted when she realized it was cinnamon. “Oh, this i
s good.”
“Mama made the sopapillas. They’re just tortillas baked with cinnamon and sugar, but she’s made them all my life.”
“I’m beginning to see where you get your sweet tooth.”
He grinned at her. “A meal is not complete without some kind of dessert.”
Before long he was scraping his bowl clean and setting it aside. “I hope Cheyenne didn’t make a nuisance of herself.”
Lora shook her head. “No, she didn’t. Actually, she told me some really insightful things. Things that I knew, but needed reaffirmed, you know?”
Chad turned on the cushion a bit, resting his left arm along the back. “She’s not always had an easy time of it. We didn’t like her ex when we met him. Brock and I had known him years ago and he was an ass back then. But we couldn’t tell Cheyenne. She thought she was in love and that she could change him. It didn’t work that way. By the time I came back from overseas, she was dealing with some serious shit. I wasn’t much help to her back then.”
Lora gave him a look. “I think you had your own issues to deal with then.”
He nodded, his eyes glazing over as he stared off into the distance. Lora’s hand twitched and she wanted to offer him comfort. Twisting in the seat, she reached her left hand out to rest on top of his.
Chad jerked in surprise at her touch on his scarred skin, then stilled. His eyes met hers and if Lora had been any other woman, she would have leaned forward to press a kiss to his lips. They were close enough and the gently shaded room encouraged the intimacy. But she wasn’t that woman, no matter how much she told herself she wanted to be. Stroking him softly, she pulled away.
The sudden, sharp clink of glass rang through the room. They both turned to look at Brock. He’d moved to the small liquor table a few feet away and was pouring himself another drink, sloshing it over the edge. He must have felt their scrutiny because he looked up. “Oh, sorry, did I interrupt you? I was refilling so that I could watch the rest of the show. Have to say, bro, Cheyenne’s first half was more exciting.”
Chad cocked his head at his brother’s words and Lora thought she saw a hint of anger in the tightening of his expression. She was embarrassed. Brock had been sitting several yards away on the far end of the room, head tipped back on the chair. She’d thought he’d been asleep.
