by Becca Van
“He’s out searching with the men,” Harry answered.
“Does he live in one of the cabins or the bunkhouse?” Bruce moved toward the front door.
“A cabin,” David replied as he followed Bruce outside.
The rest of the men followed and before long they were standing outside the cabin, which was the last one in the back of the bunkhouse. Bruce turned the handle and cursed when he found it locked. He glanced over his shoulder at his brothers and then moved back and kicked the door near the lock. The door burst open and bounced against the wall with a loud bang. He caught it with his hand before it swung back and hit him in the face.
Cash was lying on the bed, tethered up by wrists and ankles with the damaged tack. Her eyes were closed and she was wrapped up in a towel, which only just covered her modesty. Bruce hurried over to her and checked her pulse, his knees nearly buckling with relief when he felt the strong beat of her heart and her chest rose and fell as she breathed.
The wall of the cabin was covered with pictures of Cash. Her face had been cut out and put on magazine cut outs of women in wedding gowns. There were also photos of her as she sat on the sofa in her cabin and some of her nude as she came from her bathroom, and also in various states of undress. Rage consumed Bruce and even though he wanted to go and find Arty and beat the crap out of the sick bastard, his woman needed him more.
“Go and arrest his ass, Luke,” Bruce commanded in a hoarse voice.
“You got it,” Luke replied and he left with Damon, as well as Harry and David, on his heels.
“I’ve called the paramedics,” Damon yelled out and Bruce nodded to let him know he’d heard him.
* * * *
Cain was so filled with rage he was shaking. Now that Cash had Brutus to take care of her he lit out of the cabin and followed Luke and Damon. When he heard footsteps beside him he looked up to see Danny was with him step for step.
Cain caught up with the two sheriffs, Harry, and David in the barn, and without a word he and his brother saddled and then mounted up. He kicked his mount into a gallop and heard the thundering hooves of the horse Danny was seated on a half stride behind him. He could hear yelling from Luke but he couldn’t hear what he was saying. Not that Cain cared one whit. He was on a mission and nothing and no one was going to get in his way. His woman was back at the cabin all battered and bruised and there was no way he was letting that fucking asshole get away with what he’d done to the love of his life.
Cain growled when those pictures gracing the wall of Arty’s cabin flashed in his mind again. He didn’t think he’d ever get over seeing her beautiful naked body pinned up on that wall. How many times had that demented fucker jacked off while looking at his girl?
Another snarl tore from his mouth and he took great gulping breaths, trying to calm the rage permeating his body and soul. He was so angry he was literally seeing through a red haze.
When he caught sight of a group of hands heading back from the far north end of the property he scanned the group looking for the little fucker. Cain finally spotted him toward the back of the group, and with a slight nudge of his knee he sent his horse into the middle of the hands.
Arty saw Cain coming and his face paled but not once did the asshole’s expression change. When he was a few feet away from him, Cain kicked one foot free of the stirrups and launched himself off his mount toward Arty. He grabbed hold of the bastard’s shirt and sent them both tumbling to the ground. Cain landed on top of him and heard him gasp and groan as the air was knocked from his lungs.
Cain fisted the prick’s shirt, drew his fist back, and let fly. He pounded on him over and over again, and if it hadn’t been for Danny, Luke, and Damon pulling him off of him, he probably would have ended up killing the bastard. He shook and quivered, pushing against the hold Danny and Damon had on him, until finally his breathing slowed and the red haze left his eyes. When he came back to himself he grunted with satisfaction to see that he had busted Arty’s nose and his face was bruised and swollen. Luke quickly restrained Arty in cuffs and between him and Damon got him back on his horse belly and face down.
“Are you all right now?” Luke asked.
Cain nodded and turned back to his horse.
“You’re lucky you didn’t kill him. I would have hated to arrest your ass.”
Cain shrugged but sighed. He was glad he hadn’t killed Arty either because he needed to spend the rest of his days loving Cash.
Danny clapped him on the shoulder. “I think it was a good thing you got to him first because I don’t know if I would have been able to stop.”
“I wouldn’t have either if it hadn’t been for you and those two damn sheriffs.”
Danny slapped him on the back. “Let’s go be with our woman. She needs us, Cain.”
Cain nodded, mounted up and headed back to Cash.
* * * *
Bruce removed the leather from her wrists while Cain and Danny worked on getting her ankles free. After carefully lowering her arms he pulled his shirt off over his head and with his brothers’ help pulled it over her head and pushed her arms through the sleeves. There was a long cut on the side of her head and she was covered in blood from there down, over the side of her face and down her neck, but she was alive. He checked her over for other injuries and was relieved when he couldn’t find any, but he was getting real worried because she hadn’t woken up.
“Cash, can you hear me? Come on, sweet cheeks, let me see those beautiful eyes.”
Cash sighed and frowned and then mumbled but Bruce couldn’t hear what she said.
“Cashmere, look at me,” Cain demanded and Bruce gripped her hand when her eyelids fluttered open.
“You found me. Arty…”
“Shh, sugar.” Danny sat near her feet and stroked her leg. “You’re safe now, he can’t hurt you anymore.”
“I love you,” Cash whispered. “I never thought I’d see you again. I love you all so much.”
Bruce carefully gathered her into his arms when she began to cry and held her tight. The paramedics came and assessed Cash. She didn’t want to go to the clinic but she needed stitches and probably had a concussion from the hit to the head. He didn’t give in to her nonsense or argue with her, he just picked her up and carried her into the ambulance.
As the doors closed he saw Luke and Damon carting a handcuffed Arty away and hoped the bastard would rot in jail. He held her hand the entire way to the clinic and even while the doc cleaned and stitched her up. Cain and Danny came bursting through the doors and immediately came over to Cash’s side.
“Okay, all done young lady. I’m letting you go home since I know these three will take care of you.” The doctor looked at Bruce and he nodded in affirmation. “Wake her every couple of hours for the first twenty four. If the pain gets worse or she’s sick call me. Day or night. Or if you’re worried about anything. If the headache hasn’t let up by the day after tomorrow bring her back or give me a call, and don’t get those stitches wet. I’ll take them out in seven days. Any questions?”
“No, thanks doc.” Bruce shook his hand and then picked Cash up. She rested her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
When they got back to the ranch Luke was waiting on the porch. He followed them inside and headed for the kitchen. Cain rushed to the bedroom and brought a pillow out from Cash’s bed while Danny went and got a spare quilt. Bruce helped her settle on the sofa and within minutes she was fast asleep. Luke brought out coffee for everyone except Cash and sat in one of the armchairs.
“I finally got the report back on the prints, although we don’t need them now. We were damn lucky to get to Cash when we did. It turns out that Arty is a psychopath and has been in and out of mental institutions his whole life. He killed his mother when he was just in his late teens and was brought in for questioning when other women disappeared while he was in the vicinity, but there was never any evidence found to arrest him.”
“Jesus,” Bruce said and placed his hand on Cash’s leg.
He was sitting on the couch near her feet. Cain was in the corner near her head and Danny was on the floor looking uncomfortable in his twisted position with his hand on her hip.
“I don’t think this case will end up at trial. Arty will be assessed and hopefully shut away in a high-security mental institution for the rest of his life.”
“Thank God,” Cain growled.
“I’m going to need a statement from Cash when she’s up to it. Call me when you think she’s ready.” Luke drained the last of his coffee and then headed out. Bruce didn’t bother to get up because he didn’t want to leave Cash’s side.
At least now they wouldn’t have to worry about Arty making bail in a few years and coming back for their woman. The tension which had been invading his muscles drained away as he stared at her beautiful face. Cash had finally admitted her love for them and now he and his brothers could look forward to spending the rest of their lives living with and loving their woman. All they had to do was pack up their ranch and move to Slick Rock. He couldn’t wait.
“Call our foreman and get the men to start organizing the ranch.” Bruce nodded to Danny. “Make sure you tell him that anyone who wants to move will be covered in our expenses and anyone who doesn’t will get a generous payout. We’ll start searching the net for some land and go from there.”
Chapter Twelve
It had been two weeks since Arty had clocked her on the head and tied her up and she had spent each and every night of the last two weeks sleeping between her three men. She’d had the stitches out a week ago and still none of her men had tried to make love with her. Cash was getting a little frustrated but figured that her men were scared to touch her in case they hurt her, but she was totally healed and had had the all clear from the doctor.
One of them had stayed with her since that frightful day and kept an eye on her and the ranch, but the other two not babysitting her disappeared for hours on end. They were up to something but she had no idea what. When she’d asked the only answer she got was that they had been busy making sure things were running smoothly out on the land, but she knew they were lying. Neither Bruce, Cain, nor Danny looked her in the eye when they replied, and Cash was becoming a little paranoid. Thoughts of them having another woman lodged in her head, and no matter how hard she tried to dispel that notion, it wouldn’t budge.
Clay, Johnny, and Tara were due back sometime today from their vacation and Cash was beginning to feel sick at the thought of her men going back to their own home over four hours away. Were they going to just up and leave without asking her to go with them? Her heart was aching and even though she wanted to come right out and ask them if they still wanted her, she was afraid of the answer, so she kept her mouth shut.
Cash concentrated on running the brush through the horse’s coat, the repetitive action soothing as her mind ran round in circles of turmoil. Truck doors slammed and then she heard her boss’s voices. The roiling in her gut got worse. Her heart was beating so hard she thought it just might jump out of her chest. All three of her men were here today and she figured that was because of their cousins’ return. She wanted to go out and see what everyone was doing but she didn’t want to interrupt the family reunion. After finishing up with the horse she was grooming she gathered up the bucket of supplies and moved toward the next stall. It had been half an hour since the Morten’s had arrived home and she wondered what was going on. Usually the first thing Clay did when he came home from somewhere was check the barn, but this time he didn’t even pop his head in.
Cash hoped that Bruce, Cain and Danny hadn’t told them about what Arty had tried to do to her but she knew that was wishful thinking. Of course the men would have to tell the owners why one of their ranch hands was no longer around. Would they blame her for losing one of their workers?
Stop it, Cash. They won’t blame you. Clay and Johnny would be really angry about what happened. They protect the women of this town. Even she knew that all the men in Slick Rock banded together to keep the women and children safe. God, I’m going out of my mind.
She looked up when she heard someone enter the barn and saw Clay striding toward her. Is he angry? He looks angry. Is he going to fire me? What am I going to do if he does? It looked like her men had been organizing to leave as soon as their cousins got home—she’d seen the packed bags and the boxes they stowed into their truck—and she was worried they were going to leave her behind.
“Cash, are you okay, honey?” Clay asked as he grabbed the bucket from her hand and dropped it on the ground. He gripped her shoulders and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled into his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Cash. We had no idea that Arty was insane. We never would have hired him otherwise.”
“Not your fault.”
“It sure as shit is,” Clay grumbled. “We always do background checks but we didn’t with him, just took his word for it and hired him since we were in desperate need for another hand. I figured that I would look into him if he didn’t work hard or didn’t get along with the other hands. He sure fooled us all.”
Clay released her and took a step back. “You look okay. Are you sure you should be working yet?”
“The doc gave me the all clear.”
“Well, just let me know if you get tired and I’ll get someone to take over your chores.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Clay nodded, looked toward the entrance and then back to her. “I don’t want you working today. In fact I want you to take some time off.”
Cash opened her mouth but closed it again when he held up his hand. “Don’t argue with me Cash, I’m the boss and what I say goes.”
Cash lowered her head so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. It looked like she was right. He didn’t want her working for him anymore. He was probably worried about her being the only female hand and the trouble she’d caused because of her gender. She gave a nod of her head, picked the bucket up and took it to the tack room. After depositing it on the shelf she came back out, but Clay was nowhere to be seen. She shuffled her feet on the dirt floor dejectedly and made her way toward the exit. Quickly wiping the tears from her face she glanced around and noted that no one was close enough to see her crying, thankfully, and headed toward her cabin.
She opened her front door and her shoulders slumped when she saw the suitcase near the door. She didn’t have to open it to know that all her things were in there. It looked like she was being fired after all. Giving one last look around the home she had for the last twelve months, she picked up her case, quietly closed the door and walked toward her car.
She was only halfway to where her car was parked when a large hand covered hers and took the case handle from her. She gave a sideways look and saw Bruce walking beside her. Her heart broke in two and emotion clogged her throat, but she wasn’t about to let him know how hurt she was. Without saying a word or even looking at her Bruce opened the back door to her car and put her case in.
Cash removed her car keys from her pocket and choked back a sob. It was kind of Bruce to carry her bag for her but she longed to see Cain and Danny before she left. It seemed that wasn’t to be. She obviously wasn’t as important to them as they were to her.
She opened the front door and went to get in but Bruce clasped her wrist and took the keys from her hand. He guided her around to the passenger seat and after buckling her in, he skirted the back of her car and then got in the driver’s seat.
Cash stared at him as he released the lever and pushed the seat back as far as it would go. He never once looked at her or spoke and then he started her car and backed it out of the carport.
When he got to the end of the drive he turned left, away from Slick Rock. She couldn’t stand the silence one more minute and even though she was scared of the answer she had to ask the question.
“What’s going on?” She cursed under her breath because even she could hear the pain in the hoarseness of her own voice.
“You’ll know in
a minute,” Bruce replied cryptically.
Cash turned back to stare out the windscreen and then gasped fifteen minutes later when Bruce slowed her car and turned in another long gravel driveway. She glimpsed a new sign hanging on the gate but wasn’t sure she had seen right. Turning her head, trying to see the sign again, she gave up a moment later because trees now obscured the sign. She gave a shake of her head and knew she couldn’t have seen what she thought. It was probably wishful thinking on her behalf.
Bruce slowed her car and pulled it up close to the house. “Are we visiting someone?”
“You could say that.”
Cash reached for the door handle but Bruce stopped her. “Wait for me to get your door, Cash.”
She slumped back against her seat and watched as he got out and walked around the car. When he opened the door and held out his hand, she looked up into his gleaming eyes and gulped. God, I’m going to miss him and his brothers so much. How will I survive never seeing them again?
Cash gulped again and then placed her hand in his. Bruce helped her from the car and led her up the porch steps toward the front door.
“So what do you think of the place?”
“It’s nice,” Cash answered honestly. “I’ve been here before.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ve heard all about how you used your down time to come and help Mr. Bowen with his chores. Did you know that he wanted to sell up so he could move closer to his kids?”
“Yes, he talked about his daughters all the time, but he loves this ranch, even if it was getting too much for him to keep up.”
“So why are we here? Did he invite us over?”
“No.”
Cash dug her heels in but Bruce was so big and strong she didn’t stand a chance of stopping him. Just as they reached the front door it swung open and she was surprised to see Danny and Cain inside the house.
“Did you tell…” Cain began but Bruce interrupted him.
“Nope.”
“So she thinks…” Danny started.