by Cindy Stark
Most of the lights in the house were off as they passed through, so she didn’t get a good look at where she’d be staying, but Lydia’s reference to cozy seemed accurate. The house wasn’t a large dwelling, but a sense of warmth and happiness greeted her, and that’s all that mattered.
She’d be safe here until she could get on her feet. That was enough.
“I hope you’ll believe me when I say I’d like you to make yourself at home,” Lydia said. “It sounds like you might be staying awhile, and that’s just fine. You’re a friend of my sister’s and that makes you family. If you’re not comfortable, then ain’t none of us going to be, understand?”
Scarlett nodded.
“Help yourself to whatever you need. We have plenty of food in the fridge and cupboards.” She narrowed her gaze. “I’m sure I’m forgetting something, so if you need anything, ask.”
While Lydia turned back the covers, Scarlett sat on the bottom of the bed to remove her shoes. Stiffness and too many aches worked to make the job more difficult, but she persevered. “Your husband seems very nice,” she offered to keep the awkwardness at bay.
Lydia snorted and shot an amused glance in her direction. “Oh, he’s not my husband. Merle’s out of town. He’ll be back tomorrow, and you can meet him then.”
An uncomfortable shiver raced over her. She hadn’t thought to be afraid of the man who’d helped her because she’d thought he was married to Lydia. But he wasn’t. She’d been in close contact with a strange man, which left her disconcerted that she hadn’t been more on guard. “Then who was he?”
A warm smile landed on her lips. “That’s Jesse. He’s our closest neighbor. Just up the road a mile. He and Merle have been good friends forever, and I can always count on him to help me out when my husband isn’t around. He’s divorced and lives alone, so I repay him by inviting him to dinner.”
Lydia made her way toward the door and hovered there. “I was hoping to rouse you from sleep once we got here, but you were completely out. I’m sure your medication had something to do with that. So, I called Jesse.”
One more person she needed to thank then.
Lydia glanced about the room and gave a satisfied nod. “You get some rest. You certainly look like you need it.”
A deep exhale slipped from Scarlett’s chest. She didn’t need anyone to tell her how awful she must look. “I feel every bit of it. Again, thank you so much.”
She waved away her appreciation. “No worries. Besides, it will be nice to have some company. Merle always works long days this time of year, and, as pretty as it is to live here and be away from everyone, it can get lonesome, too.” She winked and left her with a kind smile, closing the door behind her.
Silence filtered in and surrounded her with an odd awareness. The space in her head and in her heart, once occupied by Hank telling her what to do and when, now echoed with eerie quietness. She ached for her kitty. She closed her eyes and whispered to whatever had saved her to watch over Tiger Lily, too.
Another knock brought her sharply to her feet. She cautiously opened the door and found Jesse holding her suitcase. Now that she could see him face-to-face in good lighting and hadn’t woken only moments before, she noticed a lot more.
Like the way he was at least a foot taller than her. Actually, he was a big man all around. Wide shoulders. Massive chest. If she’d met him on the street, she’d probably be scared to death. Part of her wondered if she should fear him now.
She might, except kindness radiated from his warm brown eyes. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t seem cruel, either.
“Can I put this somewhere for you?” he nodded toward the inside of the room.
She opened the door wider. “Anywhere is good.”
Jesse deposited it on a chair near the window. “Is this all you have?”
Her sarcastic snort came from out of nowhere. He’d probably meant if that was all she needed him to carry, but the sad truth stared her in the face. “That’s everything I own.”
He gave her a solemn nod. “Looks like as good a place as any to start rebuilding.”
She tried to smile and failed miserably.
“You have your life?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then that’s all you need. The rest of this is icing on the cake. You have Lydia who’s willing to help and don’t be surprised if most of the folks around here will pitch in to help you, too. Moose Meadows is a good place to rebuild a life.”
She worked until she could swallow past the lump in her throat. “I owe you both so much.”
He nodded in agreement. “Did Lydia tell you I accept food in exchange for services?”
She blinked a couple of times, trying to decide if he was joking or not. “Yes, she did.”
He walked to the doorway and paused to look back at her with a kind smile. “I like chocolate cake.” Then he left.
His response stunned her, and a few moments passed before she moved. He wanted her to bake a cake for him?
Jesse’s and Lydia’s muddled voices echoed in an outer room, but she couldn’t make out any words. She crept closer to her door and cracked it open.
“Tell me you did not ask that poor girl to cook for you.” Lydia’s voice seemed flabbergasted. “She just left an abusive husband. Did you not see the cut on her head and bruises beneath her eyes? No one should be asking her for anything.”
Scarlett lifted her fingertips to the tender skin beneath her eyes, wondering how bad she looked. If Hank’s past abuse was any indication, she looked like hell.
“Of course, I noticed. I’m not an idiot. I also noticed that she’s a woman, not a girl, and that woman is going to need something to get her through the next little while.”
“So you asked her to make you a cake.” Lydia hadn’t given up any of her snarkiness.
“She’s the one who wants to repay us for helping her. I just gave her a suggestion on how to do that.”
Lydia’s incredulous laugh filtered through the room. “Sometimes men are so dense. She needs someone to take care of her, not the other way around.”
“Say what you want, Lydia. I’ve given her something else to focus on. If you’ve ever found yourself awake but still in the middle of a nightmare, you’d understand.”
A long pause ensued. “Well, not one like you have, obviously,” Lydia said.
Scarlett frowned, wondering what had caused his nightmare.
“Trust me. I’m right,” Jesse said. “Are you all settled here then? I need to get home. Daylight is going to come far too fast.”
“Thanks, Jesse. As always, I appreciate you. How about dinner tomorrow night?”
He chuckled. “Only if you let that pretty lady help you cook.”
The house grew silent a moment later, and Scarlett quietly shut her door. She didn’t like that they talked about her, but she supposed she’d probably do the same if she was in their situation. A stranger dumped on their doorstep with nothing to show but bruises. Who wouldn’t wonder and talk?
Chapter Four
The moment Scarlett heard noises coming from the back bedroom, she turned on the stove and added chopped onions and diced red peppers into the skillet. After they’d cooked for a moment, she poured in the scrambled egg mixture. When the eggs were sufficiently done, she turned off the heat and covered them with a lid to keep warm.
Jesse had been right. She’d woken before dawn, and the second she was fully awake memories, fears, and all the nastiness from her life came rushing in. To combat the horrors, she’d taken Jesse’s advice and focused on doing something for someone else. Oh sure, she’d cried a fair bit first and floundered on what to do with every day from then on out. Soon a sense of power she didn’t recognize reared its head and reminded her that she’d done what she needed to take control of her life.
She’d fought back. She’d earned her freedom, and she wasn’t about to cower now.
Instead, she readied two slices of wheat bread for the toaster and hauled butter,
strawberry jam, and a pot of fresh coffee to the table.
Then she waited.
“Oh, my God that smells good.” The sound of Lydia’s voice brought a smile to her face and soon the fresh-faced woman entered the kitchen. She’d tied back her blond hair into a ponytail and still wore an oversized, faded blue sleep shirt. “What kind of heaven have you created here?”
Scarlett had hoped her hostess wouldn’t mind an invasion of her kitchen. Some women could be very protective of their space. “You said to make myself at home, and I wanted to repay your kindness. Even if it’s a small thing.”
“I think it’s an amazing thing.” She took a seat at the table. “My stomach agrees.”
Scarlett followed suit, enjoying the quiet comfortableness that bloomed naturally between the two women. She’d opened a window to let in the lovely morning air and a soft breeze caressed her cheek. The heaven that had been created was this place, not her food.
She gave a soft snort. “This is the first time in such a long time that I’ve been able to eat breakfast in peace. No worries that the coffee is too strong or too weak. Or that I overcooked the eggs.”
A quiet stretch spread between them until Scarlett finally looked up to find Lydia watching her with a horrifically sad expression on her face. “I’m so sorry, Scarlett. Marie didn’t give me any details, and I don’t expect you to talk about what happened, but if you need someone, I’m here for you.”
She worked to swallow the bite of toast that had lodged in her constricted throat. Tears welled to the surface, but she blinked them away. “Thank you. Maybe someday. Right now, I want to focus on the future and not the past.”
“Seems like a wise thing to do.” A gentle smiled curved Lydia’s lips. “By the way, you’re an amazing cook.”
A blush heated her cheeks. “You don’t have to say that.”
“I’m not just saying it.” She pointed to her plate with her fork. “I don’t know what you do differently than me, but this is some seriously good food.”
The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house alarmed her, and she jumped to her feet, her mind racing for an escape plan.
“Scarlett?” Lydia stood and wrapped fingers around her arm. “It’s okay. It’s just Merle, my husband. I recognize the sound of his truck.”
“Okay.” She tried to breathe through her anxiety, but she could tell by the look on Lydia’s face that she sucked at it.
“Come. Sit back down. Take a few moments, and I’ll introduce you when he comes in.”
Scarlett did as she asked, mortified that she’d overreacted. Hank wasn’t here, couldn’t be since he had no idea where on earth she was.
Her gaze flew to Lydia’s as another vehicle approached.
“It’s probably Jesse. You’re safe. I promise.” She covered Scarlett’s hand and leaned closer. “But just know if that motherfucking son-of-a-bitch ever shows his face around here, I keep a loaded revolver behind the oatmeal in the pantry, and I’m not afraid to use it.” She paused for half a second. “Excuse the language.”
Scarlett stared at her open mouthed and then her lips turned into a smile. She liked this feisty lady. “Can I be strong like you when I grow up?”
Lydia shook her head and smiled. “Oh, girl. You’re already so much stronger than me. You couldn’t have survived what you did if you weren’t.”
Their conversation ended with a rush of air as someone opened the front door. Scarlett couldn’t help but tense. Male voices followed, and a few seconds later, a burly man with a thick brown moustache that covered most of his upper lip entered, followed by Jesse, who seemed larger and more intense than he had the previous night.
Lydia stood, and Merle swept her into a big hug, followed by a long kiss. “Missed you,” he said to his wife.
“Missed you, too,” she answered, her voice the slightest bit breathless.
Merle focused on her. “This must be Scarlett.”
All eyes moved in her direction, leaving her extremely self-conscious of the bruises under her eyes and the fact that she hadn’t yet put on a bra. “Thank you for letting me stay with you.”
“Not a problem. It’ll give Lydia someone to fuss over besides me.”
“Oh, hush.” Lydia gave him a playful shove and sat down. “Let me finish my breakfast, and I’ll rustle something up for the two of you.”
Merle shook his head. “I stopped by Justin’s ranch before heading home. Sadie fed me.”
“I’ll take some coffee.” Jesse opened a cupboard and removed a mug without waiting for permission. He obviously felt very at-home, which spoke to the kind of relationship he had with Merle and Lydia. He filled his cup and then turned, leaning against the counter.
His gaze clashed with hers, and she quickly looked away. But not soon enough to keep the sight of him from being seared onto her retinas. The gray Henley he wore outlined his chest, leaving no doubt of his strength. His eyes looked as if he could see right through her.
But mostly, the man himself made her uneasy. Not necessarily in a creepy way. He didn’t seem like the type who’d hurt a woman, but still. Maybe it was the way he watched her.
Of course, who wouldn’t stare at a battered woman. She was a walking train wreck, and people were bound to look.
She dared a second glance and found him still watching. The muscles in her stomach tightened. She shifted her gaze to her food which seemed a much safer option.
“Got another damned letter from the I.R.S.” Jesse spoke, but she refused to look at him.
Merle pulled a chair out from the table and sat. “You gotta get your shit together, man. You don’t mess with the I.R.S. They’ll take your land.”
Jesse swore under his breath. “You’re preaching to the choir, Merle. I don’t need someone to tell me what I need to do. I already know that, but a man can only accomplish so much in twenty-four hours. I got fences falling and cattle that need to be vaccinated. I’ve been meaning to get an accountant, but it’s hard to pay someone a hundred bucks an hour or more when I could use that money to put new tires on my truck or hire someone to help me for a few hours.”
Scarlett picked at her eggs, curiosity getting the better of her. She wanted to know why the government was after him, but she didn’t want to draw attention by asking.
“I know, buddy. I know,” Merle responded. “You’ve got your hands full. I’ll have time this evening to help with fences. I recruited Justin and BJ to help, too. That was part of the reason I stopped by the ranch.”
Jesse shook his head. “I can’t tonight. I’m bringing part of the herd down to run through the chute tomorrow. I won’t be back until after dark.” The desperation in Jesse’s voice drew her gaze to him this time, and the look of stress and anxiety etched deep into his features tugged at her heart. The man obviously struggled. She understood.
“We don’t need you there,” Merle countered. “We’re grown-ass men who can handle fence. Take care of whatever you need to.”
Jesse sighed and then nodded. “I owe ya one.”
Merle laughed. “You owe me twenty, but who’s counting? Seriously though, we’ve got your back.”
“I appreciate it. Speaking of, I’d better get my ass to work. I’ve already burned an hour of daylight stopping here.” He lifted the mug to his lips and his brows shot upward. He glanced into the cup and then to Lydia. “Did you buy a new brand of coffee?”
“No.” She narrowed her gaze and glanced at her own mug. Scarlett tensed as Lydia lifted the coffee to her lips. Had she messed it up? Too strong? Too weak? She’d carefully measured like she always did.
“Damn,” Jesse said. “That’s some fine coffee. Whatever you did different worked.”
“Sounds like I’d better grab me some.” Merle stood and walked toward the counter.
“Scarlett made the coffee.” Lydia turned a smile toward her. “I guess you’ve been assigned your first official job. Hansen house coffee-maker.”
She wilted under the stare of all three of them. “You lik
e it?” They weren’t angry?
“It’s perfect,” Jesse answered. “Twice as good as usual.”
Lydia shot a snarky look at Jesse before she turned to Scarlett. “If I know these two, they’re never going to be happy with anything less from now on.”
Both men agreed, and Scarlett had to wonder why that didn’t make Lydia unhappy with her. After all, the guys had basically told her that her coffee was sub-par, but she didn’t seem to care at all.
Scarlett allowed a small smile to escape. “I accept.”
“Well, shit,” Jesse said. “There goes a half hour of every morning I’ll be losing. That or I’ll have to suffer, dreaming all day of what I’m missing.”
Scarlett couldn’t explain the warmth that flooded her heart and stole her words. She’d been far too long without kindness, and she didn’t know how to handle it now. Swift emotion laid her bare and brought tears.
She dropped her gaze, but the action proved pointless when a small sob escaped her. Mortified, she looked up to find everyone staring. She stood, managed a weak “excuse me” before she fled to her room.
Surprise washed over Jesse as he watched the battered beauty run from the kitchen. “Did I say something wrong?” he asked Lydia. “I thought I was giving her a compliment.”
Lydia stood. “No, you didn’t say anything wrong. She’s pretty fragile right now. Think about it. She fled her home, leaving everything she knew behind. That right there gives us a hint as to how awful things had to be. She mentioned this was the first breakfast she could eat in peace without fear of screwing something up. I suspect she’s not used to compliments.”
Jesse turned to Merle who mirrored the confusion he felt. “Then I’d think she’d appreciate the kind words.” He’d never understand women.
Lydia gave him a kind but condescending smile. “I’m sure she did appreciate them. Don’t worry. Get to work, and I’ll check on her. We all need to give her some time and don’t expect anything from her just yet.”
“All right.” He blew out a breath and shook his head in bewilderment. Worked out fine by him to let Lydia handle matters. “You have a thermos I can take with me?”