by Leah Brooke
Carson shook his head as Sam rummaged through the small bag and turned away. “You and Lil’ bit can come with me. We’ll get you settled in the truck while Sam gets your prescription.”
Remembering her uncle’s words and trusting her own instincts, Deanna nodded again and reached for Casey’s hand. “Thank you, but I don’t understand why you’re here.”
Carson shot her an angry look as he crouched in front of Casey. “We came for you. After Sam called, we waited for you to call or show up. When you didn’t, we got worried and decided to come get you ourselves.”
Almost on eye level with Casey, Carson gave her another affectionate smile. “Would it be all right if I carry you?”
Prepared for her daughter’s rejection and fear, Deanna placed a hand on Casey’s shoulder. “I don’t think—”
To Deanna stunned amazement, Casey nodded and stepped toward him. “Pookey Bear, too?”
Carson’s smile widened. “Pookey Bear, too.”
Casey lifted one arm, holding on to her stuffed bear with the other. “You won’t drop me?”
Carson picked her up, holding her securely with one arm while placing the other against Deanna’s back, silently urging her forward. “Not a chance. You’re safe with me.”
As they walked out and crossed the parking lot, Deanna leaned closer, keeping her voice low. “You handled her perfectly. If you’d reached out to pick her up, you would have scared her. How did you know not to do that?”
Carson scanned the parking lot as they crossed it. “I know skittish when I see it. You’re both skittish, but after what I’ve seen and heard, I understand why.”
Remembering suddenly, Deanna paused. “Everything’s in Jimmy’s car.”
“Where is it?”
By the time they got their things from Jimmy’s car, along with Casey’s car seat, Sam had rejoined them.
Once they’d settled in the truck, Sam turned from the driver’s seat. “Before you take a pain pill, they want you to eat something. Where’s a good place to eat around here?”
Chapter Two
Sam had driven a little over an hour and once again checked to see that both females in the back slept soundly before glancing at Carson.
“I looked at her release papers while I was waiting for her prescription to be filled.”
Carson sat up from where he’d been dozing. “And?”
“And, besides the broken wrist and bruises on her face, she has bruised ribs. Also checked over the police report. Not easy reading.”
Still furious at the description of what appeared to be the last in a long line of beatings, Sam blew out a breath. “It appears that when he got news that the divorce was final, he went crazy.”
Carson’s expression hardened. “Something tells me that he’s the type who doesn’t need an excuse. I’m glad we came. The thought of her travelling on a bus—hurt and scared—and with a little girl makes me sick to my stomach.”
He turned to look at them over his shoulder. “They’re both so damned vulnerable.”
Turning back, he looked out the windshield. “It also makes me sick to think how a man as big as Jimmy would use his strength against someone so small and fragile. Jesus, I wanted to hit him.”
Sam blew out a breath, consciously easing the fists he’d tightened his hands into on the steering wheel. “Yeah.” He glanced in the mirror again, making sure their charges still slept soundly. “Especially when the cops told us where to find her.” He glanced at Carson again. “It was a shame he was in cuffs and staggering drunk. I would have loved to have shown him what it feels like to tangle with someone bigger than he is.”
Carson scraped a hand through his hair and glanced back again. “Don was right, but I have a feeling it was worse than even he suspected. That pain pill seems to be doing the trick. The entire time we were eating, I could see the pain in her eyes.”
Sam glanced in the rearview mirror again, grimacing when the light they drove under illuminated the dark red spot high on Deanna’s cheek. “The physical damage is bad enough, but they’re both scared. Scared of being touched. Scared to trust.”
Carson sighed. “Yeah. I noticed. I thought Don was crazy when he told us he’d talked to her about trusting us when the time came.”
“Yeah.” Sam paused as he passed a slower car and glanced at Carson again. “I offered to go get her, but he refused. Told me that he didn’t want to bring any more trouble on her and that she’d been sounding much better lately.”
Carson scowled and gestured toward the back seat. “If that’s better, I don’t even want to imagine when it was worse.”
Sam tightened his hands on the steering wheel again. “Let’s just be grateful that Don convinced her to trust us and that we managed to get both of them the hell out of there. They’re safe now, and once we get them settled at the ranch, they’ll begin to realize that they don’t have to worry about someone hurting them ever again.”
He glanced at Carson again, needing some quiet time to sort things out in his head and try to figure out what it was about Deanna that lured him so much. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you in a couple of hours to take over.”
Carson scooted down again, adjusting his hat over his forehead. “Sounds good. With us taking turns, we can drive straight through.”
Navigating the dark roads, Sam enjoyed the silence and a chance to be alone with his thoughts.
He understood his protectiveness toward Deanna.
He’d always been a sucker for a damsel in distress but knew himself well enough to know it to be a fleeting thing.
Don had entrusted his only living relatives to both Sam and Carson, so he understood how his sense of responsibility toward her would intensify the sense of possessiveness.
He felt sorry for her.
He was furious that she’d been abused.
He was angry at himself for not listening to his instincts and coming for her sooner.
None of that, however, explained the sharp jolt to his system the first time their eyes met.
And nothing explained why he would be thinking about a future with a woman he’d just met.
It had been a long day, and since they’d driven through the night the night before, Carson knew he had to get some sleep, but thoughts of Deanna made it impossible.
He wanted her.
He’d known it as soon as their gazes had met and it left him feeling irritable and more than a little unsettled.
He had no business wanting her.
She’d been abused and traumatized.
He and Sam were supposed to be taking care of her, and if Carson read his friend correctly, it appeared that both might be a little—a lot—more interest in Deanna than the situation warranted.
He wanted her.
The first time he’d laid eyes on her, he hadn’t noticed her bruised face.
He hadn’t noticed her soft curves or short blonde hair.
The only thing he’d seen had been her eyes.
Striking blue eyes and long dark lashes—dark with pain and fear.
She’d held on to her daughter and tried to smile to hide her fear and pain, but he’d seen it.
At that moment, he knew he would have slayed dragons for her.
He wanted to keep her safe and hold her through the night to make sure she knew she was safe.
As they made their way to the car, she’d stumbled and caught his arm, briefly leaning into him before straightening, her cheeks flushed.
“Sorry.”
He’d tightened his arm around her, surprised to find that she trembled. “There’s nothing to be sorry for, darlin’. You can lean on me anytime you need to.”
She’d smiled up at him in thanks, a shy smile filled with embarrassment—and tinged with pain.
He felt like he’d been kicked in the gut, and the image of her, fully healed and laughing as he tumbled her onto his bed, nearly brought him to his knees.
He shouldn’t want her, but he did.
She was skittish, and he
knew it would take time and patience in order to earn the kind of trust he wanted from her, but something told him his patience would be rewarded with something incredible.
Sam’s obvious interest in her would make things a little more difficult, but they had experience with sharing a woman.
It had never been anything long term, something that would add complications, but nothing they couldn’t overcome.
Hopefully, having two men in her life would make her feel even safer.
Or she could feel even more threatened.
Letting her know that she and her daughter were safe and getting them back to the ranch were their main priorities.
The rest could wait.
Even with that knowledge, it took several more minutes before Carson finally dozed.
* * * *
The sound of her daughter’s voice woke Deanna.
“I hungry.”
Opening her eyes just in time to see Carson turn in the driver’s seat and smile, Deanna reached for her daughter. “Okay, sweetie.”
Carson spoke over her. “There’s a place just up the road here.”
Sitting up straighter, Deanna blinked against the bright morning light, wincing when she inadvertently put weight on her wrist. “It’s morning.”
Sam sat up from where he’d obviously been dozing in the passenger seat. “It is. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Pushing her hair back, Deanna held her wrist, looking around to see that they were on a main road. “Where are we?”
“We’re making good time. Almost at the Kansas state line. There’s a restaurant up ahead where we can get off the road until the morning rush is over.” Carson glanced up, smiling at Deanna in the mirror. “Do you have any warm clothes in that bag?”
Shaking her head, Deanna grimaced. “Not really. There’s a pair of sweatpants for each of us and jackets. I packed in a hurry. I was going to grab heavier coats on the way out the door, but…” She held up her wrist.
Carson’s smile fell. “Got it.” He glanced at Sam. “We’ll have to stop and get some warm clothes for them.”
Shaking her head, Deanna adjusted the blanket Sam had pulled over them. “I’d rather not. I don’t have a lot of money, and I’d rather just get to the ranch as soon as possible.”
The ranch spelled freedom for her.
Safety.
Even though she knew her uncle wouldn’t be there, the ranch had always been a safe haven for her.
Her visits to the ranch had been filled with a peace she’d never been able to find anywhere.
Sam turned in his seat. “Agreed. Once we’re back home, we’ll be able to get the warmer clothes you and Lil’ bit need.”
Casey kicked her feet. “My name’s not Yil’ bit.”
Sam smiled. “You look like a Lil’ bit to me.”
Casey seemed to glow under his attention. Giggling, she kicked her feet again. “What’s a Yil’ bit yook yike.”
Sam and Carson both smiled and exchanged a look, apparently finding Casey’s frequent inability to say the letter l as amusing as Deanna did.
Sam tapped Casey’s pink sneaker. “A Lil’ bit looks just like you.”
Casey giggled again, surprisingly at ease with both men. “I’m Casey!”
Carson reached back to tickle her leg. “I thought you said you were hungry.”
“I am!”
Deanna’s eyes burned with tears at the sound of Casey’s giggles, stunned at how comfortably her daughter interacted with Sam and Carson.
Carson turned slightly, his smile falling when he met Deanna’s gaze. “Something wrong?”
With her wrist, side, and eye aching, Deanna leaned back in the seat, adjusting her seatbelt to a less painful position. “I forgot about it last night, but I was going to stop at the attorney’s office. He said that he might have more paperwork to sign, and I wanted to let him know where I was going.” She glanced at Casey. “Custody.”
Sam turned in his seat, his eyes sharpening as he scanned her features. “You can use my cell phone to call him, or I can call him for you.”
When she hesitated, shifting to a more comfortable position, Sam’s eyes hardened. “If you give me the number, I’ll call him. I’ll give him our cell numbers and the number of Len Miller, the attorney in town who’s taking care of your uncle’s estate. If there’s anything that has to be taken care of at this end, he’ll handle it from there.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” With shaking hands, she dug her attorney’s card from her purse. “I would appreciate it if you’d also give him my uncle’s number.”
Sam and Carson both stiffened, sharing a look before Sam met her gaze again. “I think it would be better if the two of you stay at the main house. Our house.”
Deanna’s stomach knotted. “I thought Uncle Don’s house was the main house.”
“No.” Sam’s lips twitched. “When we took over running the ranch, we built our own house next door to your uncle’s. His health was failing and he didn’t feel up to a lot of the paperwork and we needed an office. We also needed a place to meet with buyers and deal with ranch hands stopping by without bothering your uncle. So our house has become the main house. I think it would be more comfortable—and safer—for you and Casey to live there.”
“Hey!” Casey kicked her feet. “I’m Yil’ bit!”
“Yes, you are.” Sam gave her daughter a tender smile, but his attention remained on Deanna. “I think it’s better.”
“No.” Unsettled at the awareness of their strong masculinity, Deanna shook her head and sat back, looking out the window. “No. Thank you, but I want to live in my uncle’s house.”
At least until I figure out what to do next.
She loved the ranch but hadn’t been there since she was in her teens—almost ten years ago—and had no idea how to run it.
Carson frowned but blew out a breath when Sam shot him a look. “Fine. If that’s what you want, you can stay at Don’s house.”
The arrogance in the way he agreed set her teeth on edge, and although she greatly appreciated that they’d come to get her and she’d done what they asked, she wanted to make it clear that she had no intention of allowing them to order her around.
Lifting her chin, she stiffened, immediately regretting it when her sore muscles protested. “I don’t need your permission to live in my uncle’s house.”
Sam’s lips twitched as he turned back to look out the window again and started punching numbers into his cell phone. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Look, I appreciate that you came to get me. If you set up an appointment with the attorney you’re calling, I’ll see what needs to be done to pay you back.”
Carson took an exit from the main road and turned slightly to frown at her. “You don’t have to pay us back for anything.”
Deanna shook her head before he’d finished. “Yes. I do. I’m not sure how much money is in the ranch account, but if it’s not enough, I’ll get a job in town.”
“Oh?” Carson pulled into the parking lot of a chain restaurant. “How do you plan to work with a broken wrist, bruised ribs, and a four-year-old to take care of?”
Fighting back a wave of panic, Deanna shrugged, once again regretting her movement. “I don’t know, but I’ll figure out something.”
Carson pulled into a parking space, glancing at Sam as he got out of the car to continue his phone conversation. “Did you have a job back in Mississippi?”
“No. Jimmy wouldn’t let me get a job.”
Turning in his seat, he sighed. “Did he also forbid you from having a cell phone?”
“Yes.” Deanna flushed and reached to release Casey from the car seat. “It didn’t matter. There was no one to call anyway.”
“I want pancakes.”
Carson chuckled and opened his door. “Okay, Lil’ bit.” He opened Casey’s door and lifted her out, the ease with which her daughter went with him once again stunning Deanna. “Let’s go find you some pancakes.”
Sam opened Deanna’s door before she could open it herself, but instead of stepping aside or offering a hand to help her out, he slid a hand behind her back and one under her knees to lift her out.
Feeling safe in his arms, Deanna gulped, stunned at the sudden awareness that rippled through her, a sexual awareness she had no business feeling.
Instead of setting her down, he held her against his chest for several long seconds, staring into her eyes before glancing at her lips. “You feel it, too.”
Gulping again, Deanna looked away, tightening her grip on her purse with her good hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His lips twitched. “Of course you do. Your divorce is final, isn’t it?”
Deanna nodded. “Yes. How did you know?”
Sam’s lips twitched. “I asked you after you took your pain medication and you were almost asleep.”
“That wasn’t very nice.”
Sam smiled, making her pulse trip. “But I got my answer.”
Being in his arms felt too good for her peace of mind. “Please put me down.”
“It feels too good to hold you.” He frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on her bruised cheeks and eye. “You’re still in pain. As soon as you eat something, you need another pain pill.”
Deanna sucked in a breath when he lowered his head and lightly touched his lips to hers, her heart beating even faster. “They put me to sleep.”
Sam smiled and slowly lowered her to her feet. “You got something else to do?”
Deanna moved aside to allow him to close the door, unsettled at the warm rush that went through her when he guided her around the truck with a hand at her lower back. “I have to keep an eye on Casey.”
She looked up at her daughter, who appeared more comfortable with Carson than she ever had with Jimmy. “She’s a handful.”
Carson turned, walking beside her toward the front entrance of the restaurant while Sam closed in on her other side. “It’s Sam’s turn to drive. You can sit up front with him, and I’ll sit in the back with Lil’ bit.”
“I can’t ask you—”
“You didn’t ask.” Carson handed Casey to Sam. “Give us a minute, will you?”
