by Karen Anders
“Smart-mouthed kid. Smart-mouthed mother,” Jay drawled. “The two of you are peas in a pod.”
“I think you’ve got it wrong, Butler. You’re the one with the smart mouth. Too bad those smarts don’t extend to your brain.”
Corey’s unnerving turquoise gaze captured Stuart’s attention. “Don’t touch the boy again, cowboy.”
Jennifer caught her breath and her eyes went immediately to the source of that deep, compelling voice. He stood with his hip thrown out in mock relaxation, one thumb hooked in the loop of his jeans, and the other lying against the smooth leather of the saddlebags draped over his shoulder. His hat was pulled low over his remarkable eyes, his smile was lazy, but edged with cold steel. His stance did nothing to alleviate the threat radiating off him like shock waves moving soundlessly through the still air. He looked as if he was chastising four children instead of facing down four hostile men who had already beaten him once.
Jay stiffened, then turned around to face Corey. “You still in town, chief? I thought you would be long gone by now,” he mocked snidely.
Corey heard the gloating tone in the man’s voice, saw the smug smile crawl across his florid beefy face. Bullies. He hated them and he knew why. His father had been one, and Jay wasn’t any different. Jay was afraid of him. He could see it in his eyes. And from experience, he knew that bullies were afraid of the people who could defend themselves and cruel to the ones who couldn’t.
“No, I’m stuck here for a while at least. My motorcycle was vandalized and I was mugged.”
“Well, now, ain’t that a crying shame.” Jay smiled and his brothers all laughed. “Yeah, a crying shame, indeed. Me and my brothers were out honky-tonking a couple nights ago and we were real near the motel, but we didn’t see no one.”
“No, I reckon you didn’t. You were too busy beating the hell out of me.” Corey’s eyes narrowed and a thin smile appeared on his lips when Jay stepped back involuntarily.
“You’ve got two good legs...still,” Jay said threateningly, but with less heat. “Why don’t you walk out of town?”
“Well, I’d like to oblige you, Butler, but I’ve got myself a commitment.” The grim warning in Corey’s tone made Jay pale.
“What commitment?” he sneered with an insinuating tone. “The lovely Jennifer’s bodyguard?”
Corey’s anger rose when he heard the snickering. Jay and his brothers circled him like coyotes surrounding a sleek black panther.
“No. Her foreman. She hired me. We had a bargain, Jay, but you didn’t keep up your end, so I’ll be sticking around.”
He heard Jennifer’s quick intake of breath, but didn’t dare take his eyes off Jay and his brothers. Jennifer had pointed out each one, by name, on one of their trips into town. Now he noticed that Jay was the smallest of the four. The others were bigger, and they certainly outnumbered him.
Well, he’d been in tougher fixes. He was in one now with a gorgeous redhead.
When he’d been rodeoing he learned a good offense was better than a good defense. Corey charged before they even realized what he intended. He caught Clovis in the chin and the man sunk like a ton of bricks. He whirled, taking a hard punch to the chin that rocked him back, but he deftly ducked the next swing coming up with a punch to the soft flesh of Jackson’s underarm. The man sucked in his breath sharply, the pain etched on his face.
Emmett grabbed him around the neck, his forearm cutting off his wind while Jay hit him in the stomach. Corey’s ribs protested violently, but he ignored the excruciating pain. Suddenly the pressure on his throat loosened and Corey was able to block the next punch.
He looked over to see Jennifer still holding the napkin dispenser that she’d used to hit Emmett. Her face showed her surprise and a sudden wild look sprang to her eyes, followed by a smile. Corey returned her grin, then looked over at Ellie who was covering her mouth in surprise after she’d deliberately tripped Stuart. He laughed out loud, suddenly feeling very light and airy.
Jay helped his brothers up and they regrouped, arguing with one another. The bell on the door jingled and the sheriff strode in. “Problem, boys?” He touched his hand to his holster and gave them all a penetrating gaze.
Jay responded in the negative and all four Butlers exited the diner.
Corey wiped the blood off his lip. The throbbing ache in his ribs traveled in slow waves all through his body.
Suddenly a burst of clapping started in the corner of the room until the whole diner joined in. Still feeling as light as a cloud, he ignored the clapping, smiling people. He was annoyed at them for not stepping in and helping two children and a beautiful woman, so that he could have gotten on that bus and already been away from here. Away from these painful wants and needs. Hell, who was he kidding? These painful wants and needs would have just followed him.
Corey walked painfully over to the boy and helped him up, giving Ellie a smile of encouragement. “You okay, kid?”
Tucker flushed and nodded then brushed past Corey and exited the diner.
Ellie ran after Tucker. She caught him by the arm, and when he refused to turn around, she walked around him. “Are you okay?”
“No. I have a mean-spirited bastard for a father who likes to pick on women and children because that’s all he can intimidate. God, they’re like a pack of rabid wolves.”
“Tucker, you came to help me. I appreciate that.”
He flushed. “Fat lot of good I was.”
“You were wonderful.” She took the bloody napkin out of his hand and dabbed at his split lip. “Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Ellie didn’t know where the words had come from, but suddenly she felt awkward as Tucker stepped back, obviously uncomfortable, as well.
He flushed again and jammed his hands into his pockets. “Um, so are you going with me tonight to dig night crawlers, or what?” he said testily.
Ellie was so relieved to have the topic changed that she quickly nodded. “For sure. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great,” Tucker mumbled and brushed past her, calling out gruffly, “See you around, kid.”
Corey had Jennifer by the arm and was leading her out of the diner when Ellie entered. “Ellie, who was he?” Corey asked.
“People say that Jay fathered him, but I heard he raped Tucker’s mother.”
“What do you know about rape, Ellie? You’re only thirteen years old.”
“Yeah, but I know about sex, Corey.”
He looked over at Jennifer who only shrugged her shoulders. “She would have found out about it from less reliable sources. I just thought she should hear it from her mother.”
Corey shook his head in resignation and his attention shifted back to Ellie. Gravely, he said, “Rape is not about sex, Ellie.”
Ellie slowly nodded her head as if she’d known all along.
“Corey...” Jennifer started but never got to finish.
“Don’t say a word. Just get in the truck.” He moved through the booths as people reached out to clasp his hand and give him the thumbs-up.
With Jennifer on one arm, he grabbed Ellie by the hand, then dipped down quickly to pick up the saddlebags he’d dropped just before attacking the Butlers.
Ellie looked up at him with deep respect in her eyes. “You don’t even fight dirty.”
He looked down at her. “How would you know about that?”
“Hey, I watch Clint Eastwood movies,” Ellie said indignantly.
When they reached the truck, Corey swung Ellie up into the seat and gently pulled on one of her braids. “You, little darlin’, are watching too many movies. I oniy fight when I’m provoked. Violence never solves anything.”
“Yeah, I know, but you sure didn’t like Mr. Butler saying those mean things about Mom.”
Corey looked at Jennifer over the high seat, with a wry look on his face.
“Don’t look at me. It isn’t my fault she’s so intuitive,” Jennifer defended herself.
His eyes shifted back to Ellie who gave him an angelic smile.
He tweaked her nose. “Little darlin’, I’m feeling real sorry for the man who’s gonna have to tame you.”
“Tame me? I don’t reckon anyone will tame me.” She matched his drawl perfectly.
He laughed, shaking his head. “Lord help us all.”
When he didn’t immediately get in the truck, Jennifer asked, “Did you mean what you said in there? Have you accepted my offer of becoming my foreman?” She couldn’t keep the hope from her voice as she watched him. Watched his face tighten in remembered pain.
“Yeah, I guess I did. I said it, didn’t I?” He growled his answer, angry for being a fool and not getting on that bus.
“Good then, Mr. Rainwater, get your backside in this truck. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” she ordered solemnly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied. Another smile spread across his face, and he settled himself next to Ellie on the passenger side. The apprehension was gone, replaced by the unexpected feeling of going home.
They rode in silence for a few miles, over terrain that was dusty and dull brown.
“Jennifer?” Corey broke the silence.
“Yes.”
“What’s with that mare you have corralled? I never see her doing anything but lounge around. Are you going to breed her?” he asked casually, not looking at Ellie.
“No. I hadn’t planned on it. I was at an auction and the man who was auctioning her was beating her. Had been for a while. I bought her on the spot. I can’t abide the beating of animals. It’s too bad she’s wild. She looks like she would be a sensitive little thing.”
“Would you mind if I try to gentle her?” He felt Ellie stiffen next to him. She lifted her face to him, and he would have gladly pulled down the moon, the sun and the stars to get her to look at him like that again. Hero worship, pure and simple.
“Why?” Jennifer asked, interrupting his thoughts.
He cleared his throat and gave Ellie a conspiratorial wink that brought the foxy look back to her face, a shrewd gleam to her eye. He chuckled a little and Jennifer gave him a sidelong glance.
“Well, I think she’d make a champion barrel racer.”
“Oh, you do?” Jennifer said knowingly, glancing at Ellie, who was staring out the windshield as if she wasn’t hanging on every word.
“Yeah. I’m really good with horses. At least you’ll have a working animal instead of one not pulling its weight. The mare has potential, Jennifer. A lot of potential,” he said softly.
The softness of his words was like a gentle caress against her body. God, the man didn’t even have to raise his voice to make a point. She couldn’t seem to refuse him anything. “I guess it couldn’t hurt. But, Miss Eleanor Jean Horn, before you try to get on her back, I want Corey’s word that it’s safe.”
Ellie seemed to burst at the seams. “I promise, Mom. I’ll wait until Corey says so.” She looked at Corey and smiled and Corey was lost.
“That brings up another problem. I’ll need a horse,” Corey said.
“Take your pick in the stables.”
When the truck pulled up to the house, Corey let Ellie out. To Jennifer, he said quietly, “Can I talk with you for a minute?”
“Sure.” She turned to her daughter. “Ellie, go ahead up. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Corey came around to the driver’s side and leaned his forearms on the edge of her door. Glancing down, he scuffed his boot on the ground. Then he looked up and pinned her with a look that could freeze fire.
“I think it would be best if we...if we weren’t intimate again.”
Jennifer’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Oh. It was that bad?”
He reacted on instinct, jerking open the truck door and pinning Jennifer between his body and the rigid steel of the truck. When his face was inches from hers, he said, “I’m going to say this just once. You were amazing. Responsive, hot, wonderful.” He couldn’t resist, his mouth brushed hers. “I just can’t give you false hope that I’ll stay on very long, and to be frank, Jennifer, the thought of making love with you, then walking away makes my stomach knot up.”
“Then—”
He never let her finish. “No, Jennifer, I can’t stay. I can’t be what you want me to be, ever. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“Corey, are you running because of the goring? Are you ashamed?”
He stiffened, then met her eyes squarely. “That doesn’t even begin to touch how I feel. I don’t want to discuss this with you, Jennifer.”
“But what if I want you? What if I don’t care about what’s going to happen in the future?”
“I care, darlin’.” He caressed her face with the tips of his fingers. “I care very much. You aren’t a one-night stand woman, and you broke a rule for me, didn’t you?”
She looked down. “Yes.”
“I rest my case.” He turned then and walked away from her.
Chapter 8
Jennifer felt the anger build within her with every loose-hipped step he took. What the hell was going on with this guy? She took a monumental risk in sleeping with him and he acted as though he’d taken advantage of her. Well, she didn’t sleep with just anyone. She’d chosen to make love to him. Hell, she’d waited thirteen years. Thirteen years!
It had been worth the wait.
She stomped after him and grabbed his arm, turning him to face her. She saw the pain in his eyes and the distressed look on his face. A man on the edge, she thought again. She wanted so much to pull him back from the chasm. “That wasn’t a one-night stand and you know it!”
His eyes pinned her with their intensity. She saw his fear, need and, God help her, his vulnerability.
“Okay. How about a orice-in-a-lifetime encounter?” he quipped, his emotional distance obviously back in place.
She took a deep fortifying breath at his shuttered expression. The vulnerability disappeared as if it had never been. But she’d seen it. It had been real. Her heart spasmed because of it. “Corey, you weren’t the only consenting adult in that bed last night.”
He looked down and toed a rock with the tip of his dusty boot. “You’re right!” He ground the rock beneath his boot as if he were trying to crush something inside himself. “I was just as consenting as you. I let you seduce me, because like I said last night I’m a bastard.”
“You let me!” Her voice rose with each word.
“Jennifer, keep your voice down.”
“Keep my voice down? I will not! I’m not ashamed of anything. Corey, what’s so wrong with what we did? It was beautiful and I won’t have you making it into some kind of shameful act on your behalf. I wanted you, so stop with this nonsense about being a bastard.” She swallowed convulsively so that she could get the next words out of her mouth without stumbling over them. “It was wonderful, but I know the score. I’m a big girl. You walk away in the end. I know that. There’s no reason we can’t—”
“No!” he said vehemently. With an exasperated flick of his thumb, he pushed the hat off his head.
“Corey, look—”
“No, Jennifer, you look. I made a mistake last night that I don’t intend to make again. I’ll turn around right now and walk off this ranch if you push me on this, I swear it.” He turned away, his body rigid.
“What are you afraid of?”
“You,” he said harshly. He looked toward the house where Ellie had disappeared. “And her.”
“Why?”
“You make me want to stay.” The anguished words burst from his mouth as he grabbed her upper arms and shook her. “I can’t. I can’t be what you want me to be. And she... God, she makes me want to be a father in the worst way, but that’s another impossibility. I won’t have kids.”
He shifted uncomfortably, shying away from the hand she lifted to touch his face. “And you deserve kids, lots and lots of kids. She deserves a normal father.” He faced her, his turquoise eyes tortured and shielded at the same time. He raked his hands through his long hair. “I’m a drifter who’s wasted his years on the circuit. I have no f
uture, Jen. Accept that. It was true what I said last night. I have nothing to give you except maybe heartache.” Abruptly he turned to go.
Again she stopped him. “It isn’t easy for me to ask.”
“It isn’t easy for me to say no.”
She watched him saunter toward the bunkhouse with his saddlebags draped over his shoulder, and her emptiness and sorrow was almost too much for her to bear. Too late, she thought. The heartache was already there.
How could she get through that thick skull of his that he was all she needed, all she wanted? She’d been waiting for him all her life. She hadn’t realized it until now. He’d set her free, yet he didn’t know how to set himself free.
She wanted to know about those shadows in his eyes and she wanted the knowledge she needed to banish them back into the darkness. He hadn’t said he couldn’t have children, he said wouldn’t. Why? What could he possibly fear? The need to know ate at her.
She’d let him inside her heart too deep to dig him out. This man who was tortured, yet protected her as if he was her own appointed guardian angel. This man who was obviously running from something painful and deep, yet had stopped for her. He’d fought for her, been beaten senseless, his personal property ruined. Didn’t he know that he had himself to give? All the passion she’d experienced last night couldn’t have been just show.
She had taken greedily and she wanted more. “The fight has only begun. You’re going to lose and you’re damn well going to like it!” she murmured under her breath as she watched him disappear into the foreman’s cottage. She kicked at the dirt determinedly before she turned and walked into the house.
The next morning she found the first slashed canvas. The frame was broken and splintered with jagged pieces of wood sticking up like bleached broken bones. The tattered canvas had held some kind of painting, but it was unrecognizable now. An undercurrent of uneasiness spread through her as she fingered the ruined edge of the material. She’d asked Corey to dinner last night and he had refused right through the cottage door. He wouldn’t even open it to talk to her face-to-face. She had been so angry she’d told him to go ahead and starve.
