He aimed the camera at the barn door and adjusted the settings. He settled in and waited for her to reappear.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The saddle creaked as Beth trotted Lucy down the forest trail. A thick layer of pine needles blanketed the path, cushioning the horse’s footfalls. Settling into a steady two-beat rhythm, a sense of peace washed over her. A half hour on horseback was the best possible therapy. Guilt nagged at her for slipping out alone, but she pushed it away. The kids were content baking cookies with Mrs. Harris. Besides, she needed to recharge. And she really needed to think.
There was no question that she had to get her shit together after this morning’s back-to-back debacles with Jack. The next time she woke up before dawn, she’d stay the hell in bed and stare at the ceiling.
He’d scared the shit out of her and—worse—he’d known it. Then she’d gone and spilled the beans about Brian. Strike two. Then there’d been Katie’s freak-out in the kitchen. Strike three. Beth’s chest still hurt when she thought of how Jack had calmed her terrified daughter. For a bachelor, he was surprisingly good with children. He hadn’t pressed Beth for answers, but he’d wanted to. She’d seen the questions in his eyes, cop eyes that saw so much more than she wanted him to know. For instance, he probably noticed she hadn’t exactly recoiled at his touch. No, she’d barely resisted the urge to wrap her body around his. From now on she’d keep her distance. She couldn’t afford to have any personal attachment beyond her children.
Jack wasn’t the type of man to let something go. On a positive note, she was fairly sure he wasn’t the kind of man to take orders from a dirty politician either. She also couldn’t picture Jack raising his hand to a woman—although she no longer trusted her own character assessments. After all, she’d picked Richard. No, Jack would have to be kept at arms’ length. If he was developing any personal interest in her, she needed to put a damper on that immediately. Although she doubted flying under his radar was possible at this point, she could at least keep their relationship professional and appropriately formal.
She was sure of only one thing right now. One more screw-up and they’d have to leave. She couldn’t afford to have Jack discover her true identity. Richard had too many connections in the police and FBI. If anyone started asking questions, even with the best of intentions, Richard would be sure to get wind of it. He couldn’t afford to let her live, not now that she knew his secret.
Breaking Katie’s heart—again—would be better than getting them all killed.
A tug on the reins and the sound of rushing water brought Beth back the moment. Anticipating a good splash, Lucy snorted and picked up the pace as they approached a shallow stream. As the mare pranced, Beth’s body flowed with the movement. She stretched her legs farther down Lucy’s sides, heels down, seat snug in the small English saddle.
At the water’s edge, Beth loosened the reins so the mare could paw the water and gave her elegant neck a pat. She allowed the horse a few minutes to play before turning back. Quiet time was almost up. A hay delivery was scheduled for this morning.
Beth let out some rein, and Lucy lengthened her stride. When they broke free of the woods into the meadow that sat below the barn, she let Lucy have her head. The horse responded with a surge of speed, galloping up the hill. Beth savored the feel of the muscles smoothly shifting beneath her, the mare’s long strides eating up the ground. The wind pushed against her face, and her eyes teared. When Lucy headed for the fallen tree, Beth let her go. Together they sailed through the air and landed lightly on the ground on the other side.
Halfway up the slope, the barnyard came into view, and Beth pulled Lucy back down to a trot. A large white truck labeled “Martin’s Feed” was backed up to the double doors. She eased Lucy into a walk to cool her down. The mare stretched out her neck as they climbed the slight incline to the barn.
The driver leaned against the fence. His forearms sat on the top rail, and one booted foot rested on the lowest plank. As Beth watched, Jack’s golf cart emerged from the trees and stopped next to the barn. Jack got out, using his cane to hobble over to the deliveryman. They shook hands.
Lucy eyeballed the truck and danced sideways as they entered the barnyard. Beth took up the slack in the reins as she steered the horse toward the two men. The visitor was in his late twenties and a few inches shorter than Jack, maybe six-foot, but instead of Jack’s tall, rangy body, this man was built like a gorilla, with oversized biceps and no neck. Dark steely tufts of body hair poked out from the V-shaped neck opening of his tight T-shirt. He wore dark sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled over his short black hair.
“Good morning,” Gorilla-man called out. His voice was too smooth, his posture too arrogant.
“Morning,” Beth responded but steered Lucy away from him. Instinctively, she wanted as little contact with this slimy guy as possible.
“Hey, Beth.” Jack’s cell phone rang as he greeted her. He excused himself and took a few steps toward the barn to answer the call.
Gorilla-man glanced at Jack and lowered his voice. “You have a great seat.”
Beth paused. Had that comment been laced with sexual innuendo? Or was her imagination getting the best of her?
Dismounting, she loosened the saddle’s girth before leading the horse toward the men. Perspiration dripped into her eyes, and she wiped a hand across her brow. Though it had been cool when she’d set out on her ride, the humidity had risen with the sun. She glanced down at her soaked T-shirt, which had molded to her breasts. Thank God she’d worn a padded bra. Although the way this man stared at her, she might as well be topless.
Gorilla-man held out a thick hand. “Will Martin from Martin’s Feed Store. Nice to meet you.”
Beth gritted her teeth and extended her hand. Just as their palms touched, Lucy snaked her head over Beth’s shoulder and pulled her away, cutting the handshake off abruptly.
Beth made a mental note to bring the mare some extra carrots that evening.
“Lucy was Danny’s favorite. He didn’t ride, but he liked her because she’s feisty,” Martin commented as he walked around the horse, his eyes traveling over the animal’s body, then back to Beth. He gave the mare’s shoulder a hard pat. Lucy stomped her foot and swished her tail, pinning her ears back in warning when Martin slapped her rump.
“Nothing like a sassy female.” Martin stepped back with a laugh. “Nice lines. Looks like fun to ride.” With his face turned away from Jack, Martin leered at Beth.
Her skin crawled.
“If you ever want to sell her, I’ve got a stud that’d love to service this girl.”
Beth’s empty stomach rolled. She tied the animal to the fence and took a deep breath. She straightened her shoulders. The sooner she got this over with the better.
“Let’s get that stuff unloaded. I’m sure you have other deliveries today.” Not waiting for Martin, she strode toward the barn. His stare burned her ass as she climbed up the ladder into the loft. She could hear the murmur of Jack’s voice from where he stood near the barn door.
Walking to the edge, she looked down into the aisle. Martin had backed the truck into the barn. He climbed into the back and began tossing hay up into the loft.
Beth dragged the bales to the rear of the space and stacked them neatly against the wall. Martin finished unloading the truck bed and moved up the ladder to help her stack the remaining bales.
“You’re pretty strong for such a little thing.” His voice was low enough that Jack wouldn’t hear him down below. Martin’s smile was a sly, teeth-baring smirk.
All the better to eat you with, my dear.
A chill slithered up Beth’s spine, and she kept several feet of empty space between her and Gorilla-man. With his help, the remaining hay was stacked in minutes.
“I’m sure you want to finish your deliveries before it gets any hotter.” Beth stepped toward the ladder, but Martin maneuvered himself between her body and the exit. She moved to the side, intending to go around him, but he mirrored her ste
ps, blocking the way.
“You’re the one that’s looking hot.” His eyes roamed her body from head to toe. She felt exposed and threatened, like he was mentally stripping her right there in the loft. All the moisture evaporated from her throat.
“Excuse me.” She ignored his comment and smoothed her shaky voice. Jack was just outside the door. Surely Martin wouldn’t try anything with someone else so close.
“Anytime, sugar.” He stepped closely around her, rubbing his hips against hers as he passed. Beth froze at the forced contact with his thick body. Her stomach turned over as his hardened groin brushed her belly, but she refused to back down.
Cowering gave bullies a rush and fueled their cruelty. This she knew from personal experience.
He smelled of sweat and testosterone. Lightheaded, Beth inhaled through her mouth. The hot, stale air in the loft was stifling, suffocating. Exhaling slowly, she willed her heart to slow its frantic beating. As she held her ground, she concentrated on the dust motes floating in the sunbeams streaming through the window.
“I’ll get back to you. Thanks.” Jack’s voice, followed by the sound of his cell snapping shut, floated up to the loft.
Martin nodded. “After you. Ladies first.” He stepped aside, but his eyes traveled over her body again, lingering on her breasts. He licked his lips and bared his teeth in another feral grin. Beth broke from her trance and covered the distance to the ladder in a few long strides. She descended rapidly, missing the last rung and landing hard on her heels in the aisle. Her teeth snapped together. Pain ricocheted through her jaw. She felt a hand on her back, steadying her. She glanced over her shoulder at Jack standing behind her. Heat spread from his hand all the way up her spine.
Jack raised his eyebrow in a silent question as she regained her balance. Then he looked up at the big man following her down and narrowed his eyes. Clearly he suspected something had happened up in the loft because he used the large hand still splayed on her back to steer her away from the base of the ladder, behind him. Beth didn’t fight it. She backed away, stuck her shaking hands into her front pockets, and focused on calming her frayed nerves. She felt Jack’s gaze on her face, but she refused to look at him.
Will whistled a tune as he descended the ladder. “That’s it.” He grinned at Beth and raised an eyebrow, as if they shared a secret.
Bile rose into her throat, and her heart raced on.
“Nice to meet you, O’Malley. See you next time, Miss Markham.” Martin strode out of the barn, got into his truck, and pulled away without waiting for a reply.
Leaning on his cane, Jack followed Martin out into the yard.
Jack didn’t say anything for a few moments. He stared down the road at the retreating truck, his mouth a grim, tight line.
Walking out of the barn to finish untacking Lucy, Beth avoided his gaze when he looked back at her. Her body tensed as Jack approached.
“You all right?”
“I’m fine.” As if to dispute her statement, her hands shook as she unbuckled the saddle’s girth and lifted it off the horse’s back.
“What happened up there?”
“Nothing, really. I’m overreacting. Probably the heat.” She turned away and set the saddle on the fence rail. Returning to Lucy, she began to brush the mare’s back, removing the outline of caked sweat and dirt where the saddle had been.
To Beth’s surprise, Jack picked up a brush and stepped closer to the horse—closer to Beth—close enough that she could feel the warmth from his body. If she moved three inches to her left, their arms would touch. The warm spot on her back reminded her how strong and solid his was.
Beth retreated to brush splatters of mud from the mare’s hind legs, putting a few feet of space between herself and Jack. His shadow enveloped her. She caught a whiff of his scent on the breeze, coaxing her to turn toward him instead of away. Not far enough. She moved to clean the horse’s other side.
Jack was talking to the horse as he ran the brush down her face, his voice deep and soothing. Though directed at the mare, Jack’s voice calmed Beth, too. As she worked and Jack talked, her hands gradually stopped shaking. He moved to stand in front of the horse and brush dried sweat from behind the mare’s ears. Lucy leaned against him, rubbing her big head up and down his side. Beth envied the horse. She wanted to lean into Jack and let him wrap his arms around her. But that wasn’t possible.
Jack scratched under the mare’s thick mane. “Once you get past the size, horses are OK. They’re like really big, extra-smelly dogs.”
Unable to respond, Beth concentrated on a spot of dried mud on Lucy’s foreleg. Her children’s lives depended on keeping their identities a secret. She couldn’t afford to trust anyone.
“Beth.”
She stood and turned to face him. Especially not an ex-cop who still had strong ties to the police force.
“Listen, next time Martin comes, let me handle the delivery. Or we can look into getting another supplier.”
“No. It’s OK. I can handle it.” Beth raised her chin and met his gaze head-on. If she started giving into her fears, she’d be overwhelmed in no time. She’d never be able to get up each morning.
“Some guys are assholes, Beth. You can’t change them, but you don’t have to be alone with them either. There’s no sense in making yourself an easy target. Martin’s a big guy. If I’m not here, make sure someone else is around.” Jack stroked Lucy’s nose. “Maybe I’m paranoid, but I’m a cop. Was a cop,” he corrected with a brief tightening of his mouth that he quickly smoothed over. “There are some nasty people out there, and I have a feeling Martin’s one of them.”
No kidding.
“Thanks, I’ll be careful.” Beth knew all about nasty people.
Jack nodded. “I trust my instincts about people. You should do the same.”
Yeah, right.
Her instincts were the last things she could rely on. Her instincts wanted to turn to Jack for comfort. Her instincts wanted Jack’s hands all over her naked body. Those same instincts had gotten her into this mess.
Jack tossed his magazine onto the table and glanced outside at the setting sun. Over the mountains, the cloudless sky had faded to pale pink. He turned back to the kitchen to watch his housekeeper pull a stick of butter and a carton of eggs from the fridge. A wild Friday night on the O’Malley estate.
“I wonder where Beth and the children are?” Mrs. Harris glanced up at the clock before turning her attention back to assembling ingredients on the counter. “I told them I was baking cookies, and it doesn’t usually take them this long to feed the horses.”
Jack followed her eyes to the clock. It was nearly eight. Since they’d arrived, Beth and the kids had been back from their evening barn chores by seven thirty. Jack’s gut clenched as a sudden spark of suspicion coursed through him.
Had they run away?
Martin had done something to frighten Beth this morning. Had that asshole scared her so much that she’d bolted? She was already so tense. It wouldn’t take much to set her off.
“Maybe I should go see what’s keeping them.” As he hauled his butt out of the chair, the kids and dog emerged from the patch of trees between the house and the barn. No Beth, but they were still here. Suspicion gave way to curiosity. What was keeping her? It’d be dark soon, and he didn’t like the idea of her being alone in the barn.
Ben stepped inside. Katie slipped through the open door behind him, trying to keep one eye on Jack while checking out what Mrs. Harris was doing at the counter. Henry ran to his bowl to check for food, although he’d already been fed. Always the optimist.
Ben cleared his throat. “Mom wants you to call the vet.”
That can’t be good.
Jack turned to Mrs. Harris. “Any idea where I’d get that number?”
“Check your uncle’s Rolodex. The vet’s name is Dr. White. If it’s not there, you can call Jeff Stevens. He’ll have it.”
Jack faced Ben again. “What should I tell him?”
“L
ucy’s colicking.”
“He’ll know what that means?”
Ben nodded.
“OK.” Dr. White’s number was not in Danny’s Rolodex, so Jack called his neighbor, then the vet. When Jack returned to the kitchen, Mrs. Harris had enlisted the children’s help with her baking. Katie was perched on a stool, stirring batter with a wooden spoon. Ben was rooting through the pantry. Henry stretched out on the floor behind the kids, waiting for someone to drop something.
Katie froze for a second as Jack passed through the room. Then she went right back to stirring. Jack fought a smile. Progress.
“Vet’s on his way.”
Ben set a bag of chocolate chips onto the counter and moved toward the door. “I’ll go tell Mom.”
Outside the sun had dipped behind the treetops, casting long shadows across the yard. Children shouldn’t be running around in the dark either.
Jack brushed past him. “It’s OK, Ben. I’ve got it. They’re my horses. Time I learned something about them.” He hobbled down to the garage, stowed his cane in the golf cart, and drove to the barn. The stable was quiet as he entered. Some hay rustled and an animal snorted. Beth leaned on Lucy’s half door, resting her chin on her crossed arms. Jack checked the stalls as he walked through. The other horses had been turned out into the pasture for the night.
“How is she?” He stepped up beside Beth and looked over the stall door. His arm rested against her shoulder. Beth, too absorbed in watching and worrying about the horse, didn’t move away from him.
A ridiculous sense of satisfaction bubbled up in Jack’s chest.
The mare stood in the center of the dim stall. An unhealthy sheen covered her copper flanks, and her sides heaved. She turned her head around and nipped at her belly, then paced a nervous circle.
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