“You must have been terrified when you found those men waiting for you,” Justine said.
Sara nodded, suppressing a shudder. “Stephen I recognized, but the other one I didn’t. I’m lucky Mur-Jon was there to save me.” She looked at Justine. “Was everything okay at your house?”
Justine smiled in reassurance. “Everything was fine. Don’t worry, she had a great time.”
“I know, it’s just that I worry about what I’ve brought into your lives. I don’t want to see any of you hurt.” Her voice hitched on the last sentence.
Both Alice and Justine moved to her side. Alice sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Sara leaned into her and accepted the comfort she offered. It made her miss her own mother and that only made matters worse.
“We can take care of ourselves. It’s you we worry about. This is a bad man after you and Abby. The important thing is that you let Jon and the boys deal with him. They have experience in dealing with this kind of thing and will protect all of us.”
Sara nodded. It was true. Murphy was the best man for the job, and as long as she followed his instructions he would keep her safe. Last night she’d dropped the ball and she regretted it. She shouldn’t have gone to the house without telling him. It was pure luck Gabe had been there to let Murphy know she had gone to bed. If he hadn’t walked her up, no one would have known she was in the house, and Stephen would have gotten the information he wanted.
“I’m sorry for all of this,” she said.
“Don’t be. You brought my son home and have given him a reason to join the world again. Do you believe in fate, dear?”
Sara lifted her head. “I never really thought about it. Why?”
“Well, I believe you ended up on that mountain for a reason, and fate brought you and Jon together. You’ve helped each other and things like that don’t happen every day.”
Tears filled Sara’s eyes. Murphy’s mother was a very special woman. She would miss her when she left.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I owe him so much. He saved my daughter’s life and now he’s saved mine.”
“It’s what he does best, just like his father.”
“Where is Jon?”
“Out in the corral with Abby, giving her first riding lesson.”
“Abby is on a horse?”
“And doing a fine job. Why don’t you take them a couple sandwiches and see how she’s doing, if you feel up to it.”
Sara rose from her chair. “I’m definitely up to it. Abby is so much braver than I ever was.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Sara, you’re stronger than you think. You protected your daughter from those people and you’ve kept her safe. That takes a strong woman.”
Sara hugged Alice and cherished the kind words. She had never considered herself to be strong. She may have made a lifetime of mistakes, but she was quickly making them right. And she would start by telling Murphy how she felt about him. No matter what happened between them, she owed it to him to let him know.
“You know, Sara,” Alice said, handing her a sack full of sandwiches. “You and Abby are welcome to stay here as long as you want. Even after this is all over. Until you decide what you’re going to do next.”
That stopped her dead in her tracks. She couldn’t imagine staying here if things didn’t work out between her and Murphy. The offer was so generous, she couldn’t think of a thing to say. No one had ever offered her their home. It touched a deep part of her. This was a safe haven for her and Abby, and she could easily see them spending more time here. They both loved the wide open space and big blue skies, not to mention Murphy’s family. They had all been so kind, leaving would hurt.
She may as well face it. She didn’t want to leave. She wanted the fairy tale. Like she had when Kent walked into her life and swept her off her feet. She had fallen for the fairy tale then, and she would be a fool to do it again. No matter how tempting the prince this time, scars and gruff attitude included.
One thing was for sure: Murphy hadn’t swept her off her feet. Not in a romantic way. He would have thrown her over his shoulder and stomped away if possible. The thought made her smile.
“Thanks, Alice, I’ll keep that in mind. Abby and I have enjoyed being here, we aren’t in any hurry to leave. I’ll just take these sandwiches down.”
* * * *
Sara found Murphy holding the end of a long rope in the corral with a small, tan colored horse on the opposite end and Abby beaming from the saddle. Relieved to see Abby safe and happy, she stopped for a minute just to watch her. When Abby saw her, she waved before refocusing her attention on her task.
Murphy glanced over his shoulder as she approached. She set the bag on the ground beside the railing and leaned over it.
“How’s she doing?” she asked, a little self-conscious with last night’s events hanging between them.
“She’s a natural. She’ll be riding alone in no time.”
“Really? Well she must have a good teacher, because she doesn’t get it from me.”
Murphy pivoted as Abby and her horse circled between them. Abby looked ready to burst with joy as she followed Murphy’s instructions.
When they’d passed, Sara said, “About last night…”
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
Heat crept into her cheeks. “I…acted a little out of character with you. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Sara.”
“What?”
“I wasn’t complaining.”
Her blush deepened. “Oh. Good. Um, did you find Stephen?”
“No.”
“Did you get anything out of his partner?”
“No.”
She nodded and smiled at Abby as she passed. “What happens next?”
“We wait.”
Letting it drop, she motioned to the bag on the ground. “I brought you some lunch. Is the lesson almost over?”
“Yeah, I have work to do. I want you and Abby to stay close to home today and don’t go anywhere alone.”
Home. What a beautiful word. She wondered if Murphy knew he had said it.
“We won’t.”
Murphy met her eyes as he reined in Abby’s horse.
Unable to read his thoughts, she shifted her weight on the rail. “I learned my lesson.”
He looked away and lifted Abby out of the saddle. She hugged his legs before running over to Sara and ducking under the fence. Sara swung her into her arms and hugged her tight. Murphy approached the fence and braced an arm over. He looked like he was going to say something, but instead gathered the reins and led the horse away. Sara watched him go, wondering what he’d been about to say.
She followed his long strides as they carried him out of the corral, envying his ease with animals. She had grown up with a cat or two, but nothing like this. He handled horses and cattle with ease and looked good doing it. She couldn’t help scanning his broad shoulders and nice backside. The man was built, she couldn’t deny that, and she couldn’t wait to get her hands on him again. She wanted to feel that muscled body sliding over hers.
Murphy glanced over his shoulder and quirked a brow at her. The corner of his lips lifted as if he could read her thoughts. She had to turn away. He’d probably read her thoughts, and judging by the look in his eyes he didn’t mind. How embarrassing to be caught ogling his behind.
She smiled at Murphy and picked up the sandwiches. He may have work to do, but they were going to have lunch first. All three of them. And she was going to ogle him the entire time.
Chapter 17
Sara couldn’t remember the last time she had been sick, but this morning she woke up with a circus tumbling inside her stomach. She sat up in bed and immediately lay down when the room spun. Wonderful. She’d caught a flu bug and would probably have the rest of the house sick in days.
Groaning, she closed her eyes and breathed through the nausea. Minutes later she ran across the hall and slammed the door behind her. She barely ma
de it to the toilet before the circus tumbled right on out of her stomach.
Afterward, she collapsed on the rim and took deep, cleansing breaths. Her stomach felt better, but she didn’t.
The door opened behind her and Alice bustled in. Sara cracked an eye open when a hand clamped on her forehead.
“Oh, dear, you don’t look well at all. You’re white as a sheet. Come on, back to bed.”
Sara didn’t have the strength to argue, so she let Alice help her back into bed. She didn’t protest when a cool washcloth pressed to her forehead and the covers were pulled up to her chin.
A thermometer was stuck in her mouth and Sara sighed. Her mother had been too busy working to pamper her when she was sick. It felt good to be taken care of.
“No fever,” Alice said, setting the thermometer aside. “Is your stomach still upset?”
Sara shook her head.
“Aches?”
“No, I’m feeling better now.”
“Well, you’re staying in bed until you’re feeling one hundred percent. You probably picked up a bug. It’ll pass soon, I’m sure. I’ll tell Jon to take Abby over to Justine’s after their lesson so you can rest. She’s been begging to go back over. He can pick her up later.”
Sara opened her mouth to protest, but Alice waved her off and closed the curtains so she could rest, then went downstairs to fix her some broth and toast. Sara didn’t realize she was so tired until her eyes drifted shut. She didn’t worry about Abby. Murphy had been sticking close to her daughter the past few days, making her wish things could be different. He would make a good father for Abby, but she knew he wasn’t ready to settle down.
She woke up feeling great. Alice wouldn’t let her out of bed, so she stayed put and ate the broth served to her for lunch, then worked on her drawings. By dinnertime she paced the room. When she heard everyone downstairs she hurried down before Alice could stop her.
The same bug affected her the next three days, and by the fourth she was drained. Alice ordered her to slow down and stop worrying, insisting the aftershocks of the stress she had endured recently were the cause. Sara had to agree. Thinking about Stephen and what had happened got her worked up every time. It must have taken its toll on her.
Abby didn’t leave her side except for her riding lessons, which Sara insisted she go to, and Alice fussed over her like a mother hen. Justine and MaryAnn brought her books and magazines, told her not to worry, things were going to work out. Sara insisted they not tell Murphy she wasn’t feeling well. She didn’t need him to see her like this.
On the evening of the fourth day, he burst into her room and glared down at her. She lay in bed, reading one of Justine’s romance novels, and jumped when the door flew open. One look at the scowl on his face and she laid the book in her lap. When she met his eyes, she saw the concern he tried to hide with a frown, and smiled. He might not want to admit it, but he was worried about her. It made her go all soft and gooey on the inside.
“You’ve been sick four days,” he said. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I think I let Stephen get the better of me.”
Murphy stiffened.
“I mean, I’m letting my past get me down and it’s taking its toll. I didn’t let Stephen win for six years and I can’t let him win now. It has nothing to do with you, Murphy, you’ve taken good care of us here. It’s me. I tend to let things get to me.”
“To the point you make yourself sick?”
He sounded angry and she bit back another smile. “I guess so, but I promised your mom and sisters I would quit, so you can stop worrying.”
Murphy’s scowl darkened. “I’m not worrying,” he muttered and backed up a couple steps until he stood in the doorway. “Do as my mother says, she knows about these things.”
Sara nodded, wishing he wasn’t leaving so soon. “I will.”
He met her eyes for a moment and she thought he would come back in, but he said good night and walked out instead. Sara sighed and picked up her book. She’d have to settle for dreaming of him.
* * * *
Her nerves didn’t really settle, and as the days passed Sara tried to ignore the truth. It was time to leave. She couldn’t handle the stress of knowing Stephen could take her daughter at any time. She loved and respected Murphy’s family too much to stay. Her morning bouts of nausea were proof of that. They were on borrowed time, so it was no surprise the stress made her sick. Stephen was a master at this game; she couldn’t stay here another day. Living with the stress of knowing he could hurt Murphy’s family was worse than being on the run and hiding out. At least then she only had her and Abby to worry about.
There was only one thing left to do.
Quietly and with a heavy heart, Sara packed their things and tucked them away until they could slip away. She’d already arranged a ride into town with the wife of one of the hired hands. All she had to do was tell Abby. She hated to tear her daughter away from the family she had grown to love--again. But, what choice did she have?
She had finished her drawings while bedridden and would leave them behind as a thank-you for Murphy’s family after she left. She wrote a three-page letter to all of them and then sat down and wrote a lengthy one to Murphy. Putting her feelings on paper was harder than she had imagined, but she forced the words. She owed Murphy that much.
By time she finished, she was crying so hard she simply turned out the lamp and crawled into bed, her heart breaking in two.
* * * *
Feasting her eyes on the man striding across the lawn toward her, Sara committed the image to memory. It would be one of the last she had of Murphy and her daughter together. Abby sat on Murphy’s shoulders, giggling.
Sadness filled her. Tonight they were leaving. They would never see Murphy or his family again. She could only hope Abby forgave her and with the grace of God, maybe she’d see her daughter this happy again.
Schooling her features, Sara forced a smile and waved to the two as they headed for the tire swing. They had just come from Abby’s riding lesson, a daily ritual, and were ending with a swing on the tire. Sara’s heart twisted at the sight of her daughter sitting tall on Murphy’s broad shoulders. Abby adored Murphy. Her daughter had become very close to the scarred hero and it broke her heart to think Murphy would never have children of his own. He would make a wonderful father. Patient and protective, with a soft heart hidden behind brawn and a scowl.
Abby waved back and Murphy swung her off his shoulders onto the ground. It shouldn’t be sexy, but seeing Murphy with her daughter made her want a happily ever after with him even more. Strong, virile and handsome. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. She’d been caught staring more times than she could count.
Looking away, she took a deep breath and willed her heart to stop racing.
When she looked up, she found Murphy watching her as he pushed Abby gently on the tire swing. She couldn’t read his expression and hoped he couldn’t read hers. He would see right through her if she wasn’t careful, so she smiled and returned her attention to the sketchpad in her lap. Still feeling Murphy’s eyes on her, she willed him to look away.
Of course he didn’t.
When she looked up again, he stood in front of her with Abby in his arms. He signed to Abby, who nodded and ran into the house as soon as he put her down. Sara felt a moment’s panic, but pushed it down. During her stay with the Benchleys she’d learned to hide her feelings. Where were those skills now, when she needed them most?
“Are you feeling sick again?” he asked gruffly.
Latching on to the chance to distract him, Sara nodded. “A little. I think I’ll turn in with Abby.”
Knowing this was her last chance to see Murphy, she stood and put her sketchpad on the chair. With sadness in her heart she leaned up and kissed him, but she didn’t linger. She let herself have this last indulgence, if only for a moment. It would be the last chance she had to feel Murphy’s lips, to breathe in his masculine scent. Before Murphy could reach for her, she pulle
d away.
“Good night, Murphy,” she murmured and without a second glance disappeared inside the house. He didn’t call her back and he didn’t follow her. Thank goodness, because she wouldn’t have been able to explain the tears streaming down her cheeks.
* * * *
Murphy woke up feeling restless and edgy. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew why. He’d had a long talk with his mom and sisters last night and told them everything. He told them about his mission and the woman he had risked his life for. They had listened silently as he told them what he’d gone through in that cage and how he had betrayed country and self in the end. Like Sara, they had cried for him and told him he was a hero for saving the lives of so many girls. He hadn’t given anything but his name and rank, so he didn’t betray his country, and they insisted the what-might-have-been didn’t matter. His mother had wrapped him in a warm embrace and told him his father would have been proud of him. At that moment Murphy felt the last of his burdens lift off his shoulders. For the first time since his return, the past wasn’t hanging between him and his family. He owed it all to Sara.
If she hadn’t barged into his life and forced him to come home, he might still be living in the mountains pretending he didn’t belong. She’d freed him from the past, and he owed her a great debt of gratitude. Without her, he wouldn’t be here, where he belonged.
Before retiring for the night, his mother had decided it was time he knew what his father had wanted for the ranch. She explained his father had asked her to wait until Murphy retired from the Army to tell him, and she felt he was ready to take on the responsibility. His dad had left the ranch to him. His mother hadn’t come right out and said it, but she’d hinted that she really enjoyed having Sara and Abby on the ranch, and fate had brought Sara to his doorstep.
Murphy had never believed in fate. When he went up to bed and passed Sara’s closed door he had paused, his hand on the door handle before he knew what he was doing. But he hadn’t gone in. He had continued on to his room and quietly closed the door behind him. The rest of the night he’d tossed and turned, thinking about what his mother had said. Was he ready to be a father to Abby?
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