Worth the Price

by Delilah Hunt

  Danika paused to scope Brandon’s reaction. She was unsure of the limits to his sympathy.

  “Are you…” He placed his hand in hers before she could finish the question.

  “Thank you, Brandon.” She blotted away the tears on her cheek.

  He issued her a comforting smile. “He’s your father, Danika. I don’t want him taken away from you.” She bit her lip to keep from reminding Brandon that he did indeed want exactly that.

  Inside the recovery room, her father was lying on the bed, eyes closed with an oxygen tube attached to his nostrils. She tried not to focus her attention on the machine monitoring his vital signs. It was too much of a reminder that he was still in a fragile state and a heartbeat away from touch and go.

  She took a seat beside the restrictive bed, making a lukewarm attempt at humor. “See, Daddy. I bet Mama is having a blast enjoying her peace and quiet. She wasn’t ready to see you just yet.” She turned to Brandon, who was standing by the wall observing her. Danika hoped he felt some form of sympathy even a bit of guilt for bringing the stress on her father.

  “Look at him, Brandon. I swear to you, he had nothing to do with the theft. Please tell me you’re going to give up this vendetta. He won’t survive if you go after him.”

  His jaw tautened. “Is this really the best time to mount a defense with your old man lying on that bed?”

  She blinked. “Why not? This is what it boils down to. He’s lying on that bed because of the toll your accusation is taking on him. Don’t you get it Brandon? Dad knew he would be arrested. That’s what caused all of this. Last night his lawyer called to warn him that a warrant for his arrest was going to be issued. Because of you my father will soon be sitting in a jail cell if he doesn’t die. If you keep pushing, he won’t live much longer. Then I’ll be without both of my parents. Will his death make you satisfied?”

  “Are you implying it will be my fault if Prescott doesn’t make it through? Think hard on your answer, wife.”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. All I’m saying is if you…” She paused to catch her breath. “If you care about me at all, you’ll promise to back off and leave my father out of the investigation.”

  A harsh sound grated from his throat. “Would that also include me ignoring the fact that you sneaked onto the ranch without stopping to see your dear husband? I didn’t go to college like you or have some fancy education, but I’m not simple. I know when someone’s been inside my office.”

  Brandon hadn’t planned on mentioning her deceit. They were inside her father’s hospital room for God’s sakes. When her eyelids lowered in shame, he knew without a shadow of doubt she had been the one inside his office. In spite of his bravado of being all-knowing, if Danika hadn’t forgotten to close out of the security program, he would have been none the wiser of her escapade onto the ranch and inside the house.

  “You surprise me,” he said. “I never expected you of all people to trick me. Stupid Brandon, eh?”

  She gave her father’s limp hand a squeeze then rose quietly from the chair. Ever considerate of Prescott, Brandon thought in disgust. “You’re right. This isn’t the place to talk about it. We shouldn’t have this discussion full stop,” he added, holding the door open. “I’m going back to the ranch.”

  Her eyes were glossy with unshed teardrops. “I don’t think you’re stupid at all. Stubborn, never stupid. Is it so wrong of me to try to spare my father the heartache of being branded a criminal when I know he’s far from it?”

  In a way, he respected her loyalty, but why couldn’t she reserve that ironclad loyalty for him alone? Envy slithered through his blood, causing him to lash out. “Because Prescott is lying on that bed, he’s suddenly a martyr in your eyes. I see you’ve quickly forgotten how easy it was for him to give you the boot. He didn’t care if you had a place to sleep at nights. But that’s all right, ’cause he’s dear old daddy, right? For two and a half years your da tried to scheme his way into taking my land. He has half the town believing I’m squatting on property that’s not rightfully mine. That I fucked with his car and caused him to miss the auction. Where’s the righteous anger for your husband, Danika?”

  “I didn’t know.” Her hand shot out to flatten against the wall as if she needed the support. “I mean, I knew about some of it, that he believed you cheated him out of the bid. I swear to you, Brandon he never told me the details. I didn’t know about any of the tales or whatever it was my father concocted about you, for people to think you were anything but a hardworking rancher.” She stared at him and shook her head. “I…I just thought most of them were afraid or leery of you because of…because of the way you look. There were always crazy stories going around of how—” She stopped in midsentence and hung her head a fraction lower. “I’m sorry. I suppose I should have known, seeing as how my father continued to blame you well after our marriage.”

  Brandon folded his arms, unperturbed by the sight of her distress. “You can cut the act and save the tears for when your da wakes up.”

  “It’s not an act. Since we’ve been together I’ve never lied or been dishonest with you, and it’s all because of how I feel about you. I love you, Brandon. I only wish I’d had the courage to say it sooner.”

  Brandon froze in his spot. Danika had just said the words he had waited his entire life to hear from another living person. Something was wrong, though. It was all too… perfect. His brows furrowed. Why now, when he had lost trust in her? He refused to fall for the trap she was setting.

  “You want to know if I love you too?” he asked. She nodded as a single tear rolled past her cheek

  “What happens if I say I love you?” She stared at him in confusion. “You’re a female. I hadn’t given you enough credit for how your mind works. Black, white, American, Irish, it doesn’t matter does it, Cailín? I can’t win, can I? So I’ll ask you this‌—‌what’s your price? What price would I have to pay to prove my love to you? Stop the sheriff from placing those cuffs on him and while I’m at it, should I take the shirt off my back and give it to you both? Anything else I missed?”

  The hospital room went silent, save for a random beep of the cardiac monitor. Brandon closed his eyes and let out a strained breath. The minute he had said those final words, he’d regretted them.

  Harrowing as it was, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Another teardrop fell from Danika’s lashes. He watched her brush it away with a curled knuckle. Brandon waited for her to speak to him. Maybe she would say something equally nasty in retaliation. Remind him of how hideous he was with a mangled face. That no one else in the world would ever want or desire him. Not that he would ever want to be with anyone but her. Whatever she’d spit out, he would deserve it and a hundred times more for shaming her.

  “I’ll stop by the ranch tomorrow to get the rest of my belongings,” she said, lips trembling. “It’s too bad we didn’t have this conversation sooner. I would have known where I stood with you and what you essentially thought of me.” She looked down at her stomach. “Might have been able to save myself some trouble.”

  “Danika…”

  “Go home, Brandon.” She held the door open. Her back was ramrod straight against it with an arm outstretched pointing him the way out.

  Worth the Price

  True to her word, the next morning bright and early Danika returned to the Bar S. On the way to the house, she passed a surprised Clint who offered her a tentative hug. The weathered ranch hand congratulated her on the pregnancy and even sent his well wishes for her father.

  “Is Brandon out on the range?”

  The mirth vanished from his eyes. She hoped Brandon wasn’t taking out his anger at her on the workers. “Bran’s in the barn with Doc Cranston. Sonnet, you pro’lly remember her, one of the Quarter horses, just had her foal.”

  She remembered the chestnut colored horse that enjoyed licking sugar cubes from her hands, whenever she and Brandon went into the stable to saddle Acer. “Oh wow. I guess congratulations sh
ould be in order for the mama. Her baby must be adorable.”

  “Little bugger was breeched. Took almost two hours to birth.”

  She was glad the mare and foal were healthy, but thinking of Brandon being in the barn with the horse, made her wonder if he would be by her side when it came to their own baby. Would he be there to witness the birth or play a role in the child’s life?

  The possibility saddened her. She managed to feign a smile. “It was nice talking to you again, Clint. I should hurry up. Your boss won’t be too happy if he comes out of the barn and sees me here.”

  “Well, Miss Danika, it’s a mite better than sneaking ’round on the ranch.”

  Her face heated. Damn, even Clint knew about her misstep. Thankfully, he let out a laugh and grinned at her. “Bran didn’t tell me, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was on my way back from town and saw your car parked over by the lake. When Bran didn’t say a lick about seeing you, I figured I’d keep my mouth shut. Now that don’t mean I don’t have Bran’s back in this, but it ain’t hard to understand you just wanting to help out your pop.”

  Danika looked at Clint in earnest. She was glad he hadn’t passed judgment on her. “I wanted to be a good wife and friend for Brandon. I really did. For the most part, I had myself convinced that I was doing a wonderful job. I loved him. I’ll always love him, but it’s clear now why he resents me and wasn’t able to fall in love with me. I don’t blame him. Also I’m surprised you’re being so nice to me. I assume you know the problems between us.”

  “The only thing I know is if I don’t get back to work, Bran will have my hide.” He tipped his hat to her, well into mid-stride and called out, “See you ’round.”

  Confused, she nodded and waved. Maybe she had been wrong and Clint hadn’t wanted to spend much time talking to her. Why else would he have been in such a hurry to get away from her? As she pivoted in the direction of the house, Danika understood the reason for the foreman’s fast getaway.

  “I actually get to see you this time.”

  Brandon. His voice sounded hard, yet there was a notable lack of anger on his face. Unlike yesterday.

  She hastened to the doorway. “I won’t take too long to get my things. I also have the keys to return to you. They’re the original ones you gave me. I never had any copies made, so you won’t have to change the locks or anything. I’m not going to sneak back inside and raid the place.”

  She was met with silence as she rambled on. Braving a glance upward, Danika was met with the solid wall of Brandon’s chest.

  “I don’t want the damn key. It’s yours to keep. The Bar S is still your home.”

  “It isn’t. This is your home. Yours alone. Everything you’ve worked so hard for. This is it right here. This is the home you should share with a woman you love. I’ve imposed myself on you enough as it is. I can’t keep doing that. I see now how ridiculous my request was to put away your animosity and accusations against my father.”

  Perhaps if there was a woman Brandon truly loved, he would have been able to set aside his feelings, but for her it was impossible. She didn’t evoke such strong emotions in him.

  He stared at her and planted a hand against the door. “Have you forgotten you’re carrying my child? Do you think I’m going to give both of you up so easily?”

  The mention of the baby came as no surprise. A man like Brandon, who had grown up without the love of his parents and with virtually nothing to his name would want to ensure his offspring didn’t suffer the same fate. “It’s hard to forget.” She faced him with as much confidence as she could call upon. “Regardless of what you think of me, I’m going to take good care of our child. And that doesn’t include me preventing you from playing an active role in his or her life.”

  “The only role I want, have ever wanted with you is the one I’m in right now. Your husband.”

  “I don’t want a husband in name only, Brandon. Plus, you deserve a wife who you’ll love and treasure. Not someone you consider a leech.”

  “I never called you that.”

  “You implied it. I should have tried harder to secure a bank loan. I gave up too quickly and now it seems too many people are paying the price for my stupidity.” She was rambling again, unable to think of anything but Brandon when her first priority should be helping her dad.

  He edged closer, so much that she could smell the hint of hay and the citrus scented soap he must have used on his hands. Before she had a chance to retreat, she felt his lips descending on hers. “You talk too much.”

  Somehow, Danika gathered the strength to raise her head and find her runaway voice. “Please don’t try to stop me from leaving. It’s painful enough already.”

  “Then don’t go.”

  “We both know you don’t want that. I’m not going to stay here and have you look at me with disdain every day. No thanks,” she told him.

  She watched his gaze trek upward to the window that overlooked the entryway. Their bedroom window. When Brandon returned his focus to her, his eyes pinned hers with such intensity it made her ache to look away. She couldn’t.

  “Don’t ever forget you belong to me.” His large hand closed over her stomach. “Both of you. I’ll give you your time, but hear me well, Danika. My son or daughter will know the Bar S as home.”

  She sucked in a breath. He just didn’t get it. Did he expect her to abandon her father to rot inside jail, forget all the hurtful things he had said to make his true feelings for her known? She turned the key in the lock and said, “I don’t belong to you, Brandon. Not anymore. I’m going inside to get my things and I’d like to be alone while I do so.”

  He opened his mouth to protest then closed it when she shook her head.

  She watched the conflicting emotions play across his features before finally, he stomped off in the direction of the barn.

  Danika raced inside the house and grabbed up all her belongings. She flung every stitch of clothes in an empty suitcase, vowing not to fall to her knees in a puddle of teardrops when her fingers caressed the wine colored dress she had worn on the day of her mountainside wedding.

  Reluctantly, Brandon did as she ordered and allowed her the privacy she demanded. He’d sought out his foreman and instructed the worker to assist Danika with her bags since she was dead set on leaving. God knew it would only make matters worse if he dared to offer his help with the load.

  Instead of returning to work, Brandon stood behind a nearby tree and watched her, all the while cursing himself for a fool. His body tautened with the effort not to snatch the suitcase Clint carried, seize Danika in his arms and toss her on the bed upstairs. But that would solve nothing in the long run. He tipped the back of his head against the tree. His stomach clenched as her Civic cruised out the driveway.

  “She’s gone.” Clint appeared from around the brush. “How long you been lurking behind that cedar tree?”

  “You don’t have to tell me. I saw her leave,” Brandon said, leaving his hiding spot.

  The ranch hand stared at the ground before speaking again, his tone low and worrisome. “I think your li’l gal’s made up her mind for good. Said she ain’t coming back. Even gave me a kiss on the cheek, too.”

  Brandon glowered. “Is that supposed to make me feel like less of an ass for having my wife walk out on me? I didn’t come this far to lose the two things I value the most in this world. My ranch and my wife. I’ll give Danika her time to come to grips with the fact that her da is a good-for-nothing thief. After that, I’m bringing my wife home. For good.”

  A sympathetic look came over his foreman’s face. “Hate to break it to you, Bran, but what if she ain’t itching to get back with you? I don’t know how you boys do it over in Ireland. In America when a woman hollas no, you better take her word for it, if you ain’t canning for a heap of trouble.”

  “She loves me,” he said with conviction he didn’t feel. “Sooner or later, she’ll come home. She has to.” He hoped. Would start praying tonight.

  Worth the
Price

  Danika closed the binder she’d just spent the past hour rifling through and clicked out of the security footage of the stolen cattle on her computer. It felt like a happy dance was in order, but she knew the celebration would be premature.

  “Dad!”

  Frank Prescott had been released from the hospital a week ago. He was up and walking, although his movement around the house was more sluggish than before. She didn’t mind. He was alive and that was paramount.

  “I know who stole Brandon’s cattle. Well, I think I do,” she amended. “I always figure it had to be someone you already knew. How else would they have access to take a receipt from you?”

  His expression remained unfazed. “Maybe they found it in the garbage when I dumped paperwork from the office. Stuff like that happens all the time.”

  “Yes. But that doesn’t explain the pliers and the fact that your credit card was used.”

  Her father sighed and slumped onto the sofa. “I already told you, the marshal, my lawyer and everyone who’s been breathing down my back, the card could have been stolen. I’ve reported cards stolen before, sweetheart. You know that.”

  “I remember but that’s beside the point. Wasn’t this one a business card? The one you use to buy supplies with. Did you ever let any of your workers use it?”

  “Now and then. Why?”

  She sat down next to him. “That’s exactly what I thought. I went through most of your employee applications. Many of them had pictures attached.” She flipped open the binder. “When I watched it for the first time with Brandon, I was so upset I wasn’t able to pick up on much. Once I kept looking at it, I was sure there was something familiar about them. Well, the chunky one, at least. He’s so thick, he looks like he barely has a neck.” She turned to her father and pointed at a photo. “Lo and behold, look what I found. This guy has the exact same build and he worked for you. Isn’t that a tad suspicious that his body type matches the thief on the footage and he might have had access to your card? Do you remember this guy?”