by Leah Brooke
Minutes later, Deanna rose and gave him a forced smile. “We’re ready.”
Carson took his jacket from the coat rack and wrapped it around Deanna while Sam once again covered Casey with his.
Frowning, Deanna shook her head. “You need your coats. I’ll be fine with the heat on in the truck, and I can find a blanket for Casey.”
Carson opened the door and stepped outside, pausing and looking from Sam to Deanna and back again. “Around here, men take care of women. We protect them, even from the weather. You can wear my coat until we get to town. Our first stop will be to get you a coat and some boots.”
Carson shook his head, clearly furious. “And some warm socks, hat, gloves—the works. If Lil’ bit eats all of her dinner, we’ll get cookies.”
“Yots of cookies!”
Sam’s breath caught at the loving smile Deanna gave Casey. “It appears we’ve found a weakness.”
Carson wrapped an arm around Deanna and started across the porch. “Soon we’ll know all of their weaknesses.” Chuckling, he lifted Deanna, holding her high against his chest. “No more wet feet. Stop wiggling. I like holding you. Besides, you hardly weigh anything at all.”
Once Deanna and Casey had been securely settled in the back seat of the truck, Sam stepped slightly away from the truck and spoke to Carson. “I understand Don’s reasoning now. About everything.”
“Yeah.” Carson watched Deanna and Casey through the truck window, the possessiveness in his eyes something Sam suspected could be seen in his own. “He made sure she came here, but he couldn’t be sure if her husband would come or not. He left the trust to us so that we’d watch over her. I guess turning over the money the way we’d planned isn’t gonna happen. It’s up to us to make sure she stays here where she’s safe.”
Sam inclined his head, agreeing wholeheartedly. “She’s not leaving. She’s safer here.”
Carson raised a brow. “If we can earn her trust and make sure she knows that she has our protection.”
Sam scrubbed a hand over his jaw, his stomach knotting once again. “We should have gotten there sooner.”
“I know.” Carson cursed under his breath. “It’s going to give me nightmares. I’m just glad we got her the hell out of there.”
Sam sighed, but he still blamed himself for the injuries she’d sustained because they hadn’t arrived in time. “Now we just have to find a way to keep them here.”
Chapter Four
Despite the fact that she wore Sam’s coat, still warm from his body, Deanna still trembled from the cold.
They’d turned the heat up, but her thin jeans and cold feet made it impossible to stop shivering.
She looked over at Casey, pleased to see that her daughter was warm and happy, playful and glowing under Sam’s and Carson’s attention.
Lifting her gaze, she met Sam’s in the rearview mirror. “I really appreciate this. I just need a few things.”
Turning to face her, Carson nodded. “We can get whatever you want. You’re welcome to eat at the house with us anytime you want to.” He smiled. “Don did. He loved Mary’s cooking.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She stared out the window at the darkening sky, another chill going through her when she saw it had begun to snow harder. “Thank you, though, for the offer.”
She met Sam’s gaze again. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, but you’re not.” Sam scraped a hand through his hair. “It won’t take long to get you some warm clothes. I know you’re tired, and both you and Lil’ bit are still a little uneasy with us, but we’ll have you back before you know it.”
Deanna glanced at Casey to see that her daughter watched both men, her usual chatter absent. “It’s not that.”
“What is it, exactly?”
Deanna glanced meaningfully at Casey. “It took a while to save what I needed to esc—leave. It’s not much.”
Carson’s jaw clenched. “How much do you have?”
“I don’t think—”
Carson turned in his seat, eyeing the purse she held on her lap. “I can find out myself, but neither one of us wants to upset anyone, do we? So you can either tell me, or I—”
Not knowing him well enough to know if he would grab her purse and check for himself, which would scare Casey, Deanna shook her head. “Eighty-two dollars. I’m not hungry, but I’d like to get something for Casey to eat.”
Carson grinned. “We stopped earlier to eat lunch and couldn’t wake you up. We had take-out burgers in the car.”
She looked away from Sam’s glare and focused on her daughter, her stomach clenching when Carson turned farther in his seat to smile at Casey.
“Hey, Lil’ bit. Are you hungry?”
“I want a cookie.”
Carson grinned at that. “I think we can arrange that, as long as you eat all your dinner.”
“I wanna make a snowman.”
Deanna inwardly sighed, the whine in Casey’s voice and her pout a sign that she was getting tired. “I think we’d better just get to the grocery store. Casey’s getting a little tired.”
Carson turned to smile at Casey again. “It’s getting too dark to make one tonight, Lil’ bit, but it’s supposed to snow all night. How about if I come over tomorrow and help you make one?”
Casey tucked her chin into Sam’s coat. “I want Mommy to help me.”
Sam glanced at Casey with another smile. “Mommy’s got a hurt wrist, so she can’t help you, but if you don’t want to make one with Carson and me, we can come over and make one for you and you can watch from the window.”
Casey watched out the window as they drove into town, unusually silent, the strange circumstances appearing to finally get to her.
She held on to Deanna’s good hand tightly as they made their way into a large general store that seemed to sell everything from candy to guns.
Deanna smiled in apology at Casey’s mood, understanding that her daughter was tired and irritable after being in the truck all day and that being in a new place, although exciting, obviously had become too much for her.
Sam led the way to the counter, where he was greeted by an older man. “Hello, Ed.” Wrapping an arm around Deanna’s shoulder, he urged her forward. “Deanna, this is Ed Goodwin. He owns this store. Ed, this is Deanna. Don’s niece.”
Ed’s smile fell, his gaze touching the bruises on her face before he turned to look at Sam, the question in his eyes clear. “Oh. We’re all so sorry about Don. He was a good man. Thought that he’d improve after selling—”
Carson interrupted him before he could finish, not wanting Deanna to learn the truth from the store owner. He gestured toward Casey, who clung to Deanna’s leg. “And this is Casey. Deanna’s daughter. As you can see, Deanna needs a warm coat, boots.” Waving a hand, he smiled at Deanna. “The whole works.”
Her cheeks reddened. “I really don’t need—”
Sam turned her toward the back of the store. “The coats are in the back, aren’t they?”
“Yes, I’ll be right with you.” Ed watched them, waiting until they moved away before leaning toward Carson. “What the hell happened to her?”
Carson’s gaze narrowed. “I don’t want any gossip about her. She’s under our protection, and if I hear anything about her, I’ll take it personally. Put her stuff on the ranch account. That goes for any time she comes in here.”
Ed smiled and inclined his head. “Understood. I also understand about the gossip. Seeing men all busted up all the time is normal around here. Between workin’, rodeoin’ and bar fights, it’s not unusual to see, but when it’s a woman…”
“I know what you mean.” Carson watched Deanna, amused at her obvious attempt to talk Sam out of buying her a new coat. “Scarves and hats back there, too?”
“They are.” Ed chuckled. “You think the little one would be interested in some licorice?”
“Don’t know, but don’t get too close to her. She doesn’t like strangers.”
Leaving Ed sta
ring after him, Carson started toward the back to join the others, determined to win the trust of both females who’d managed to turn his life upside down in a surprisingly short time.
Sam wore his own coat again and was in the process of helping Deanna try on a thick down jacket that would keep her warm in even the worse weather.
Her sneakers and socks sat on a bench, and she wore a pair of thick, thermal socks from the stack that Sam had obviously started on a bench beside her sneakers.
“Sam, a coat can wait. I have to see the attorney first. I have no idea if Uncle Don had enough for me to pay for this. I don’t know the debts at the ranch.”
“Don’t worry about it. A warm coat isn’t an option. Do you like this one?”
Deanna smiled down at Casey, who still clung to her leg. “What do you think, Casey?”
“It’s pretty. Mommy, but it’s not pink. It’s boo.”
“I like blue.” Carson crouched several feet from Casey, not wanting to alarm her in her present mood. “It matches your mommy’s eyes. I wondered if you can help me with something.”
Casey eased her hold on Deanna. “What?”
Adopting a serious expression, Carson shrugged. “Well, if we’re gonna make a snowman tomorrow, I think he needs a scarf and a hat. I was hopin’ you could help me figure out which ones to get. Your mommy needs a hat and a scarf, too.”
Straightening, he pointed to a nearby display. “They’re right there. We won’t be far from your mommy.”
Releasing her mother’s leg, Casey moved closer to him, looking up at Deanna. “Is it okay, Mommy? I wanna get a scarf for my snowman.”
Deanna nodded, her brilliant eyes meeting Carson’s, the concern in them making his stomach flip. “Yes, sweetie. Thank you, Carson.”
“You’re welcome. Take your time and get a nice warm pair of boots.”
Offering his hand to Casey, Carson smiled. “Come on, Lil’ bit. Let’s get a scarf and hat for your snowman.”
After a brief hesitation and an encouraging smile from Deanna, Casey stepped forward, putting her tiny hand in Carson’s.
Swallowing heavily, Carson closed his hand around hers, feeling ten feet tall. Lifting his gaze, he met Sam’s. Seeing his friend hovering protectively over Deanna, Carson smiled. “We’re done, aren’t we?”
Casey frowned up at him, her bottom lip stuck out in an adorable pout. “We not done. I wanna scarf for my snowman. You pwomised.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “Gotta feeling you’re right. Come on, Deanna. Let’s get you some warm boots.”
* * * *
By the time they got back to her uncle’s house, darkness had fallen and Deanna could barely keep her eyes open.
They’d eaten a quick meal in the diner, and although Casey continued to eye both men warily as she picked at chicken fingers and fries, she seemed to be more comfortable around them, but the newness of their surroundings had her sticking close to Deanna.
Wearing her new boots, dry socks, and a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, Deanna stumbled out of the back seat of their truck, all but falling into Carson’s arms. “Sorry.”
His smile tripped her pulse, his dark eyes shimmering beneath the brim of his black cowboy hat. “Nothin’ to be sorry about. Snow’s getting’ deeper, and you’re dead on your feet.”
Conscious of the hand at her back, she made her way around to the other door to get Casey, surprised to find that Sam had already opened the door. “I’ll pay for everything as soon as I figure out Uncle Don’s finances.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“It’s my debt, and I’ll pay it.” When Sam reached in to get Casey, Deanna held her breath and started to rush forward. “Wait. I’ll get her.”
Sam sent her a look before smiling at her daughter. “Okay, Lil’ bit. Are you ready to get out of this contraption?”
“Mommy do it!”
When Deanna started forward again, Carson wrapped an arm around her from behind, his lips warm against her neck. “We need to earn her trust, Deanna. Is she afraid of all men?”
She was stunned at both the sound of her daughter’s giggle and the shivers of delight that Carson’s embrace sent through her. “Yes, especially big ones, and both you and Sam are even taller and bigger than Jimmy. Stronger.” Tears burned her eyes. “This has taken a toll on her. I hate that I didn’t get away sooner. Now that we’re here and she’s away from everything familiar, she’s afraid.”
Casey giggled. “You have to push that.”
Sam frowned playfully. “Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Sam held out a large finger. “You take my finger and show me where you want me to push.”
More tears burned Deanna’s eyes. “You two have been so good with her. Thank you.”
“We want her to trust us.” Carson turned her toward him. “It’s getting to you, too. You’re afraid of how things are changing and the unknown.”
Deanna stiffened, realizing that she’d said too much. “I really don’t want to talk about it. Let me get Casey out and get the groceries. I need to give her a bath.”
Approaching Casey, Deanna stopped in stunned amazement when Casey wrapped her little fingers around Sam’s much larger one and pulled it toward the button that had to be pushed to release her from her seat.
“There. Push it.”
“Like this?” Sam pushed the button as if he hadn’t already released her from her car seat several times, allowing Casey to lift the padded bar in front of her out of the way. “Look at you! Now what?”
“Now Mommy gets me.”
Carson firmed his hold to prevent Deanna from moving closer, inadvertently pressing against her bruised ribs.
Deanna couldn’t hold back a gasp, ignoring Sam’s sharp look as she pushed at Carson’s arm. “She’s tired. Let me get her.”
Sam’s icy blue gaze glanced down at her waist, promising to ask questions even as Carson eased his hold. “You have a broken wrist. I’ve got her.”
Switching his gaze to Casey’s, Sam bent lower. “Your mommy’s tired. Would it be okay if I help you?”
“Otay.”
Sam smiled, looking as happy as if he’d just won an award. “Good girl. Thank you.” He held out his hands to her, lifting her with ease from the seat and, with one arm, cradled her against his side. “Hang on to Pookey. You don’t want to drop him in the snow.”
With an arm around her waist, Carson helped Deanna forward. “I’m sorry. Your ribs must be pretty sore. The rest of you must be stiffening up from sitting in the truck for so long.”
“I’m fine. I need to get the groceries.” She mentally ticked off the list of things she had to do before she could go to bed and found the list daunting in her present state.
“Don’t worry about the groceries. We’ll get the damned groceries.” Carson took her hand in his and started toward the door again. “Christ, I don’t even know where I can touch you.”
Deanna pulled her hand from his and, despite wearing her new gloves, missed his warmth almost immediately. “You don’t need to touch me at all.”
When she would have followed Sam and Casey, Carson pulled her aside. “You go deal with Casey while Sam and I take care of bringing in the groceries.” Catching her arm when she would have walked away, Carson stared into her eyes, keeping his voice low. “You think your husband’s gonna come lookin’ for you, don’t you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does he know about this ranch?”
Deanna swallowed the lump in her throat, wishing she could just lean into him and let go for a minute or two, but she didn’t dare. “Yes. I spoke to my uncle often, and he sent me letters. Jimmy read a few.”
Carson lifted her chin. “Your uncle knew about Jimmy, but he knew he was too weak to come after you and was afraid of what Jimmy would do if he asked us to. We didn’t know the whole truth until he was on his death bed. He made us promise to go get you.”
“Uncle Don suspected that things between Jimmy and me w
ere…strained.”
“He suspected that Jimmy was beating you. He told Sam and me. He made sure we knew and that if something happened to him, you would come here.”
“He shouldn’t have worried. I hate to think that worrying about me had anything to do with his heart attack.”
Carson ran his thumb over her bottom lip, making it tingle with warmth despite the cold. “He wanted to protect you and Casey. He told you to trust us. He arranged everything for you. Did Don mention his suspicions in the letters Jimmy read?”
“Yes.” Deanna bit her lip to ease the tingling. “I need to get inside to Casey.”
Carson nodded, a muscle working in his jaw. “It would have broken your uncle’s heart to find out that something he said in a letter brought you pain.”
“I know. It wasn’t his fault.”
“Go inside. I’ll get the groceries.”
Deanna nodded and turned away, turning back when he called her name. She paused, not turning. “Yes?”
“You’re safe here. Every man on the ranch knows you’re here. The house is being watched. No one can get to you or Casey here.”
Nodding, she started forward again, her movements sluggish. As she reached the bottom step, she paused again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She made her way inside, relieved that the house had warmed during her absence.
Sam finished helping Casey out of her coat and boots and rose.
He lifted her coat with two fingers, holding her boots up between his fingers and thumb of his other hand. “So damned tiny. When I think of what—”
“I protected her.” Deanna stiffened, afraid of what he might say in front of Casey. “You know nothing. Come on, Casey. Let’s go take your bath.”
Sam hung up Deanna’s coat, letting his gaze rake over her to settle on her cast. “Are you sure you can do that with the cast?”
“It’s not the first time. It takes longer, but I can manage.”
“Jesus!” Sam set Casey’s things aside with a slow carefulness that told her that he barely held his temper in check.
