The Cowboy’s Targeted Bride

by Carla Cassidy

  “Please...be careful. I have stitches in my arm and shoulder,” she said and began to cry.

  Dillon quickly related to Jerod a shortened version of what had happened. “I’ll be by tomorrow, but in the meantime, if you think of anything that might be helpful in identifying the person, don’t hesitate to call me.” With these words, he turned and left.

  Jerod walked her through the front door, and she immediately headed down the hallway toward the bedroom. She knew he’d have questions, but she was in pain and exhausted.

  Once they reached the bedroom, she sank down on the edge of the bed. Gingerly Jerod sat next to her. “What can I do to help?” he asked.

  “The doctor gave me some pain pills. Would you mind getting me a glass of water so I can take one?”

  “Of course.” He immediately got up and headed into the kitchen.

  While he was gone, she took off her slacks and then sat down on the bed still wearing the hospital gown. Jerod returned to the room with a glass of water.

  She pulled her purse up next to her, reached inside and retrieved the envelope that contained three pain pills. She took the pill, handed him back the glass and then eased down in the bed.

  Jerod sat down on the edge and gazed at her. In his dark eyes she saw compassion along with a hot burn of anger. He picked up the arm that had the stitches. “Where else are you hurt?” His voice was low and held a controlled outrage.

  “My shoulder and my stomach,” she replied. “Jerod, the attacker tried to kill me. The knife just kept stabbing and stabbing at me.” A shiver raced up her spine.

  “We’re going to find out who did this, Lily.” His voice held an edge of steel. “I swear, we’re going to get this person, and whoever it is better hope that Dillion gets them before I do.”

  “Right now I just want to go to sleep,” she replied. Any lingering adrenaline had left her, and the pill was already taking the edges off her pain. She was absolutely exhausted by the whole ordeal.

  Jerod turned off the light and got into the bed. “I want to hold you, Lily, but I also don’t want to hurt you.”

  “I appreciate the thought, but I’m also afraid you’ll hurt me. I think it’s best if we just go to sleep.” She closed her eyes, and instantly her mind began to take her to dark places. Somebody wanted her dead, which could only mean that somebody wanted her out of Jerod’s life permanently.

  Was Jerod being completely honest about everything? Or did he have a secret lover who wanted Lily out of the picture? Now that Lily and Jerod were married, if anything happened to her, he would be her beneficiary and would get the ranch. Had that been his scheme the whole time?

  Was he in on a plot to have her murdered?

  Dear God, who could she really trust?

  Chapter 8

  Lily awoke to the sun shining in her bedroom window. She was alone in the bed with only pain as her bedmate. Her stab wounds hurt, but the hurt didn’t stop there. Every muscle in her body ached as if she’d been beaten up in her sleep by night demons.

  Looking at the clock on the nightstand, she was vaguely surprised to see it was almost ten o’clock. She had no idea what time she had gotten home the night before—all she knew was that it had been late.

  She hoped somebody had contacted the school to let them know she wouldn’t be in today. She assumed Jerod had seen to it that Caleb had had breakfast and had gotten to school earlier.

  Jerod.

  As she stared up at the ceiling, all her dark thoughts about her husband rushed back to her mind. She didn’t want to believe that Jerod had had anything to do with the attack on her. She definitely didn’t want to believe he’d had such a terrible ulterior motive for marrying her. But it was so difficult to know whom to trust.

  She finally pulled herself out of bed and into the bathroom. She took off the hospital gown and tossed it into the laundry basket and then stared at herself in the mirror.

  The stitches looked huge against her pale skin, and as she remembered the attack, a cold chill shivered up her spine. If she hadn’t managed to get inside her truck, she would have been killed. There was no doubt about it in her mind. Somebody would have found her cold, dead body next to her truck.

  She took a warm washcloth and washed herself off and then pulled on a fresh pair of pink and white polka-dotted flannel pajama pants and matching top. There was no point in getting dressed. She had absolutely no intention of leaving the house today.

  When she was finished dressing, she headed for the kitchen, where she found Jerod seated at the table and what looked and smelled like fresh coffee in the pot.

  He jumped out of his chair at the sight of her. “Lily...sit and I’ll get you a cup of coffee.” She sank down at the table. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Like I got run over by a huge truck that had very sharp teeth,” she replied. He set her coffee cup before her, and she wrapped her fingers around its warmth. However, she had an icy chill deep inside her that no amount of external heat would be able to reach.

  “What can I do to help you?” He returned to the table and looked at her in concern. Was he concerned because she’d been attacked or was he sorry that she’d survived the attack?

  She broke eye contact with him and instead stared down into her coffee. “If you wouldn’t mind, maybe you could go into town later and pick up my prescriptions. I think I have two...for pain and an antibiotic.”

  “Of course I’ll take care of that,” he replied. “I called Mr. Cook early this morning to let him know you wouldn’t be in for work.” John Cook was the principal at the school. “And I also arranged for Krista to take Caleb to and from school today.”

  “Thank you for all of that.” She took a sip of coffee and then looked at him again. “Did you say anything about all this to Caleb this morning?” Dear God, she wanted to protect her son from this evil, but she wasn’t sure she could considering her current physical condition.

  “I told him that somebody attacked you last night, but I also told him we think the person was trying to rob you,” he replied. “I hope I didn’t overstep.”

  “No...we had to tell him something,” she replied. “I suppose that was as good as anything. And you got him to school this morning?”

  “Actually, Krista came and got him as a favor. She was very worried about you after she found out what happened.”

  “That’s right, you already told me she took Caleb to school.” Lily rubbed the center of her forehead as if she could unscramble her mind. “Did you tell her it was a robbery attempt?” she asked.

  “No, I only told her that you’d been attacked. You and I both know this wasn’t a robbery attempt. Lily, I’m so angry that somebody did this to you. I’m especially ticked off that I wasn’t there to protect you.” His eyes were dark with anger, and she desperately wanted to believe him, but all her doubts rushed to the forefront and she couldn’t ignore them anymore.

  She drew in a deep breath and held his gaze. “Jerod, did you marry me to get my ranch?” she asked. “And am I now in your way?”

  His eyes sparked with a new anger and disbelief. He jerked back in his chair as if she’d physically slapped him. “What are you talking about? Lily, what in the hell is going on in that pretty head of yours?” His gaze searched her features.

  She should have never said anything. She really didn’t want and didn’t feel strong enough to open up this particular can of worms, but she hadn’t been able to help herself.

  Tears burned at her eyes, and once again she stared down into her coffee cup. “I just... I’ve just been trying to figure out why this is happening to me.”

  “And you’re somehow figuring out that I had something to do with the attack on you?” His voice held incredulity. “In what world would that happen? Lily, please look at me and tell me what’s going on in your head.”

  She released another deep breath and the
n looked back up at him. “Last night when I was in bed, my mind struggled to make sense of everything. One of the things I thought about was that maybe...uh...maybe you secretly have a girlfriend...” Her voice trailed off as he leaned forward.

  “And?”

  Her heart beat with anxiety, and her wounds on her arm and shoulder burned. “And I thought maybe you married me and then if I die you’d get the ranch because we’re married and then you and your girlfriend could live here together.” The words blurted out of her on a rush.

  He stared at her and his mouth opened...then closed, as if he had no words. He finally opened his mouth once again. “Jeez, Lily, how could you even have that thought in your brain?”

  He searched her features as if somehow trying to see inside her brain. “If I wanted a ranch, it would have been much easier to just go buy one. I have the money to get my own place. If you would feel better about things, then let’s get a lawyer to draw up an agreement that no matter what happens between us, this ranch belongs to you, and after your death it will go to whoever you want it to.”

  He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “Lily, I married you because I admired the kind of woman you are. You are the kind of woman I’d like to have a family with. I married you because I thought we could help each other achieve what each of us most wanted in life.”

  He got up out of the chair and knelt next to hers. “Lily, have you ever heard anything about me that would make you believe I’m a potential murderer? Have you ever heard that I’m dishonest or have dishonored any woman, that I’m in any way the kind of monster you’re talking about?”

  He pulled her hand into his. “Believe me, Lily, you are my wife, and I care about you, not this ranch. We’re on notice now that somebody is after you. From this day on, I will defend you against anyone who tries to harm you with my very life. My number-one goal is to keep you safe.” He squeezed her hand as if to emphasize his words.

  His gaze now telegraphed to her a grave concern, along with a grim determination, and all she felt was utter confusion. She had never, ever heard a bad word about Jerod Steen in town or anywhere else.

  He was definitely right that there was an easier way for him to get a ranch rather than to come up with a complex plot to kill her and take her land by some kind of a sick default.

  “As far as getting your medication from the pharmacy, I can do a drive-through, but I really don’t want to leave you here alone. Can you ride with me?”

  She nodded as a new chill swept through her. She hadn’t thought about being in danger here in her home. But somebody could break in, knowing she was here alone and banged up. She’d make an easy victim right now because, at the moment, physically she didn’t think she’d be able to fight off a butterfly.

  Jerod got up from the table. “Now, what would you like for breakfast?”

  “I’m really not hungry.”

  He frowned. “You should eat a little something with the pills you’re taking. How about a piece of buttered toast?”

  Even though she wasn’t a bit hungry, she knew he was right about getting a little something in her stomach. “Okay.”

  She watched as he got out the bread and butter. Logically, she knew Jerod was a good man. Her brain rejected the idea that he was a liar, a cheater and had planned to conspire to murder her. She was just so frightened. And she had no idea who had been the attacker the night before.

  He set the toast in front of her and then once again sat at the table. “Thanks. At least before the attack it had been a wonderful night,” she said, desperate to change the subject.

  Jerod smiled. “I practically had to hog-tie Caleb to get him into bed last night because he was so excited from their win.”

  She couldn’t help but smile as she thought of her son. “Even if he hadn’t won, I was so proud of him and the way he interacted with everyone who came to their table.”

  “I was, too. He introduced me to his teacher as his new dad.”

  “I guess I’m not surprised by that. I’ve seen how close he’s gotten to you. I’ve also noticed that the anger inside him seems to have subsided.”

  She paused and took a drink of her coffee. “I... I just hope he doesn’t get hurt...that the two of us don’t somehow disappoint him.”

  “I was so honored, so touched when he said that to his teacher. Caleb wants what I’ve wanted all my life—a real family with a mother and a father to love and support him. And we need to stay together and remain strong so we don’t ever disappoint him.” Once again his eyes darkened. “I thought that’s what we were doing until you told me what you’d been thinking about me.”

  Her cheeks flushed with warmth. “I can’t help where my thoughts took me last night. Jerod, I’m really scared.”

  His hand reached out and covered one of hers. “Lily, I can’t imagine what you went through last night. When I think about it, it makes me sick. It chills my blood and it makes me angry as hell.”

  “If you hadn’t brought me my winter coat and if I hadn’t had it on, I’d probably be dead. At least the thickness of the coat deflected some of the worst of the damage.”

  “Thank God for that. All I want you to know, Lily, is that I’m on your side,” he said. He drew his hand back. “Now eat your toast so you don’t get a stomachache from your medication.”

  He got up from the table and left the kitchen. By the time Lily had eaten the toast and put the small plate in the dishwasher, Jerod had returned to the kitchen, this time with a holster and gun around his waist.

  “I thought maybe we could go ahead and get your medicine this morning so you can get back and just rest,” he said. “I know you probably don’t feel like getting out, but you really need to take the ride with me. I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

  She nodded. “I’m not getting dressed. If we’re doing the drive-through at the pharmacy, I don’t intend to get out and have anyone see me.”

  “That’s fine with me,” he replied and then offered her a grin. “Although you look very cute and cuddly in those pink polka dots.”

  To her surprise a laugh escaped her. “Well, that is something,” she replied.

  Fifteen minutes later they were in Jerod’s truck and headed into town. Lily was surprised by the edge of fear that rose up in her in being outside the safety of her home.

  Jerod shot her a quick glance. “Doing okay?”

  “Just a little bit nervous,” she replied.

  “Nobody is going to hurt you, Lily, not while I’m with you.”

  “Rationally I believe that, but emotionally I’m still all over the place.”

  “I’m sure that’s normal considering what you went through last night,” he replied. “You went through a terrible ordeal, and it’s going to take some time for you to process all of it. You know whenever you need to talk about what’s happened or what is happening, you can always talk to me.”

  He looked at her again, and in his eyes she saw a wealth of caring. How was it possible to entertain suspicions about a man she was falling in love with? Her brain had obviously been scrambled from the attack. She still felt like she was in a bit of shock over what had happened to her.

  They got her prescriptions, and when they got home she took her medicine and decided to stretch out on the sofa and rest. “Shouldn’t you be working on things outside?” she asked Jerod as he sat in the chair across from the sofa.

  “I called Rod, and he’s got a handle on everything that needs to be done for the next couple of days. When you get back to work, then I’ll get back to work outside. Don’t worry about anything, Lily. I’ve got it all covered.”

  She closed her eyes as a deep exhaustion tugged at her. She felt so tired, and the pain gnawed at her. Jerod covered her with a light, fuzzy blanket from the closet, and she snuggled beneath it, still trying to fight off the icy chill inside her.

  She fell asleep
and into a nightmare where she was being chased down a dark street. She ran as fast as she could, her breath coming in deep pants as she tried to outrun whoever was chasing her. She could hear the footsteps echoing behind her, getting closer and closer. In her heart she knew who was chasing her.

  It was death.

  * * *

  “I just can’t believe this happened to you,” Krista said to Lily. She’d brought Caleb home from school and now sat in the living room with Lily. Henry and Caleb were in Caleb’s room while Jerod was in the kitchen getting ready to cook dinner.

  As he formed hamburger into patties, he could hear the two women talking. “Carol is going to bring you a casserole tomorrow,” Krista said. “I’d offer to bring you one, but you know I don’t cook.”

  “I’d be afraid to eat any casserole you made,” Lily replied with a laugh.

  It was good to hear her laugh with her friend. His and her morning conversation had been pretty grim. She’d made him angry. The fact that she had doubted him and his intentions had definitely ticked him off, and if he was honest with himself, he’d been hurt.

  But he believed it wasn’t so much about him as much as it was about her terror. And that terror was what had her mistrusting everyone around her, including him. All he could do was prove with every action he took that he was on her side.

  He’d had to wake her from a nightmare earlier. She’d fallen asleep on the sofa, and the next thing he knew, she was screaming and thrashing about. He’d gently touched her to awaken her, and she had come up and into his arms sobbing and shaking.

  He knew what a strong woman Lily was, and it broke his heart to see her so frightened and fragile.

  He now placed the patties in a skillet and then went to the refrigerator to pull out ingredients for a salad. He didn’t know how to cook much, but he could fry up some burgers, and he knew how much Lily liked salad.

  He’d thought they’d been on such a good path before all this had happened. They had been enjoying each other’s company, and their intimacy had seemed natural and good. He’d been excited about his relationship with Caleb and what he’d believed he’d been building with Lily.