Rancher's Creed (Ciaran O'Connor Book 2)

by Alyssa Bailey

  "I have to ask Liam and she should really call Ciarán."

  Hearing Ciarán's name seemed to ignite movement in Katie and she said, "Oh, yes, I need to call Ciarán." She began to reach for her phone, but Stuart put his hand over her searching hand, making her drop the phone back in her bag.

  "We can call him when you are on your way home, sweetie." Katie openly cringed at the endearment.

  "Or, I can call him now and let him know we are coming and you have run into a classmate from college. But you know how Ciarán is, protective."

  "No. I… where is Ciarán? I have to go." Stuart was tugging in the opposite direction.

  Jocelyn began frantically looking around for her husband who should have come up with Padraig already. Then she heard her little one's giggle and knew they were close. She waved her husband over and he quickly closed the distance. Jocelyn gave him a look and he looked at Katie.

  He watched her start to tremble and seemed not to be taking in the entire situation, which was a major concern. And who the hell was this guy with his hand on his brother's wife, hell, on his sister? He knew of no relatives that close to her and she did not look happy.

  Liam handed Paddy over to his mom and stood between Jocelyn and this intrusive person. Liam watched in amazement and disbelief as his wife, holding his son, left the place he explicitly put her for safety and began to walk around him to make introductions. He was going to have a discussion with her when he got her home. She had no sense of safety sometimes and she had Paddy.

  "Liam, this is a friend of Katie's, Stuart. Sorry Stuart, I didn't get your last name."

  "Stuart is fine. Hey, nice to meet you but Katie and I want to catch up like I told your sister."

  "Wife, Katie is my sister." Turning to Katherine, he said in a confident voice, "We are going now."

  He wanted to show absolute ownership in both women, to comfort a frightened Katie, and to send a message of possession and obedience to his wife. She needed to return to the safe spot he put her. Finally, to tell this cretan that Liam had familial rights of ownership to Katie so fuck off. Moreover, his word superseded that jerk's.

  "Yeah, all right, your wife. Like I told your wife, we haven't seen each other since college and we want to catch up. I'll take her home." Stuart began to pull Katie away from Liam and Katie resisted slightly.

  Incredulously, Jocelyn tried to give Liam the baby and step in. Liam gave her hard, blazing eyes, and a stare that would have stopped a stampede before she hesitated. His look was so intense that Jocelyn colored and dropped her head down so as not to experience it directly any longer. Liam stepped decisively in between Stuart and Jocelyn again. His anger and message of let me handle this was palpable in the air. This woman was going to eat standing up when he got her home.

  He gave Jocelyn one last look of command to stay back and when he was satisfied she was going to heed him, he turned his attention to Katie. He could see her fast, shallow breaths, her damp face, and her tremors. He could see the tightly restraining hand on her arm. The attempt to dominate was clearly felt and her fear was equally transparent and she exuded its scent. This man was not a protector or even a dominant like Quinn.

  Liam knew from his brother every dominant ensured his woman or sub was agreeable, secure and safe worded as well as the man would be in the protective stance allowing only himself and Liam to face each other. This man was a coward, holding himself beside Katie to confront Liam. He was a bully that forced his attentions, had no idea of safe or consensual, and most definitely harmed his women in more than physical ways. This man was a danger.

  In a muted voice that held all of his intensity and dangerousness as a pack leader being challenged, he said, "I am sure Katherine told you she was married and how protective and commanding her husband can get. He is waiting on us as we have an engagement tonight and we are already late to get home and prepare for it. I am sure she will see you later," thereby dismissing the man standing in front of him in word, manner, and deed.

  Turning to Katie, he said very firmly, "Katherine."

  Using the name that Ciarán used when he was demanding her attention, he repeated it and then went on into the Gaelic. He knew that Katie was not as attuned to the actual words as Jocelyn, but she knew the familiar endearments used often. He used them to get her attention off this Stuart guy and onto him. Another great advantage, this person would have no idea what he was saying, even better, it would put him off his game.

  "Chroí lómhara, tá sé in am dul bhaile. á tú réidh chun dul bhaile?" Jocelyn tried to translate in her head. Precious heart. It is time to go home, are you ready to go home? Liam used precious, heart, and go home because he knew she recognized those words.

  As Katie began to reach out to Liam's outstretched hand, Stuart pulled her back and said, "No, Katie, you know you want to spend time with me. And what the hell was that gibberish? Are you brainwashed or in some cult or something?"

  "Katherine, look at me." When she was looking at him, he said, "Anois." Liam's voice was the O'Connor voice and tone that reiterated his words, do it now.

  "Katherine. Come. To. Me. Anois, Mo milis."

  Katie jerked her arm free and fell into Liam's arms with a sob of fear. Liam grabbed her and hugged her tight to his chest for a moment to give her strength, kissed the top of her head and handed the keys to Jocelyn, pushing Katie towards her.

  "Take her to the car and lock the door," he growled. When he felt they were not moving quickly enough he added, "Anois," using that same harsh tone he had used to call her name. The O'Connor protective tone was evident and had Stuart known any of the O'Connor men, he would have left in the wake of the warning. However, he didn't know so he didn't leave but stood with his own brand of male dominance that would have made the women laugh if they weren't so intent on leaving.

  Jocelyn chanced a look back as they were leaving from the exit nearest the car and she saw Liam, a few inches taller and much more muscular than Stuart, standing incredibly close to Stuart and was having a serious talk with him. Jocelyn shivered.

  When they arrived at the car, Jocelyn pushed Katie into the back seat and climbed in the front with Paddy in her arms, locking the door. Katie had broken down and was crying profusely. Her sobs wracked her body.

  Liam stomped to the truck, and Jocelyn had barely unlocked the door before he grabbed the handle, jerked the door open and slamming it shut before turning to look at Jocelyn and Katie. He put his hand on Paddy's sleeping face and seemed to be trying to calm his anger. He turned on the truck. When Liam had calmed down enough not to feel like killing that Stuart character, he asked Katie how she was. Katie was silent and didn't respond.

  "Katie, you need to answer me." Still no response, but a few hiccups and sobs from her jarring cry earlier.

  "Muirnín, you need to talk to me. We will call Ciarán when we get close but I am expecting some answers and the first one is, are you okay?"

  Katie, not wanting to talk at all decided answering him, at least minimally, would be best. "I will be fine, Liam."

  Liam's jaw set firm. "Then you are not fine now. What I need is for you to rest, little one, and we will get you to your husband. Don't worry, we will figure this out and make it right."

  Liam ground out the words, angry at his inability to get her away from that man sooner.

  "Liam, um, I'm sorry about all of that. I get so panicked when Stuart is around me. I guess I shut down. I didn't mean…"

  Liam quickly cut her off when he understood the direction of her thoughts.

  Mentally softening his voice and trying to create that verbal blanket that soothed both Padraig and Jocelyn when they were upset, he said, "Lómhara, it was not your fault. You were scared because something happened between you and that," and he had to try forcefully to not use profanity or put too much steel in his voice, "that man."

  Katie sniffled more again and it made Liam feel helpless, angry, and extremely protective. This was his family and someone had hurt her. True, it was before the
y had known her, but she was theirs now, and he needed to concentrate on how to present this to Ciarán so he didn't go hunting for this Stuart in Missoula. He needed one more piece of information before turning Katie over to Jocelyn.

  "Katie, mo ghrá, what is Stuart's last name."

  Katie hesitated, not wanting to see him again. Jocelyn seemed to understand the thinking. This man was the man that she had alluded to earlier who had hurt her. Katie didn't want him back in her life just as she did not want to disclose his name. It would bring trouble back into her life. She could pretend he was out of her life again without naming him. Naming him would make him even more real.

  "Katie, listen to me, Liam and Ciarán and everyone else is going to want to keep that Stuart guy away from the ranch and away from you. We need his last name."

  "Landau."

  "Landau. Did you give him your last name? No? Well, that will slow him down a bit, but I promise you that if he cares to find the large Irish family that lives within an afternoon's drive from Missoula with our names, it won't be hard. Liam, you need to talk to the guys."

  Liam nodded tight-lipped and Katie sobbed again, and Paddy slept on oblivious, just as babies should.

  The car fell silent and Jocelyn began texting Ciarán. As they got closer, Jocelyn spoke again.

  "Katie, when we are almost home, I want to call Ciarán to let him know, but I want you to know that none of this incident today was your fault. It is not your fault for knowing him, running into him, fearing him, or that Liam was demanding with you to break through your fear. We love you and you know the O'Connor men and their womenfolk. We have talked about that ad nauseam so nothing new there. Security and protection and you know that unless safety is an issue, they never force their women to do anything they don't honestly want to do."

  Katie just sat silent with a bit of sniffling starting up.

  "Katie, if you were forced to do anything that you did not want to do, even if it started out consensual, if it ended anyway without consent, you are not at fault."

  Then quietly Jocelyn asked, "Is that something that happened to you with Stuart? Did you start out consensual and it changed to you wanting to stop but he did not?"

  Katie released her breath with a great sob and she nodded her head, unable to speak.

  "Aw hell." It was all Liam said, but his restraint was apparent. He did not want to release his anger and still drive so he clamped his thoughts down and hoped that was all the disclosure until they were home safely. With that goal in mind, he glanced over at his wife, who had unbuckled her seatbelt and was leaning over the seat to try to comfort Katie.

  Now that is a sight he had been longing to see and make contact with, his wife's upturned derrière. Since he could not release his emotions right now, he surely could make a satisfying connection with that part of her anatomy to give him some relief. He reached over and soundly landed a hand on her primed and prominent bottom.

  "Ow! What the heck are you doing?" exclaimed Jocelyn in a semi-subdued angry whisper, hoping not to wake up her napping child and frantically rubbing her offended anatomy.

  "Sit down and buckle up. Now." Katherine saw the look Liam sent his wife as Jocelyn glared at him. Its message was unmistakeable.Katie translated it into a 'to be continued' message. If her sister didn't sit down quickly, her next hour could be hell. Obviously, the message had been received for Jocelyn patted Katie's hand, gave her a comforting smile, and turned to sit in her seat.

  *****

  "Call Ciarán; we are about ten minutes out if nothing gets in our way," instructed Liam.

  Jocelyn responded, "Oh yes, great white master." To which she received a pop on her thigh and a giggle from Katie. Good, she was at least feeling better, he thought. His wife, on the other hand…

  Ciarán met them coming in the drive. He had been at the door as Liam pulled up to the front of the house. Katie seemed almost unable to open her door fast enough and Ciarán was standing right outside of it the moment it opened. He gently but swiftly lifted her into his arms, waved at Liam and carried his wife into the house. Jocelyn made to get out but Liam stopped her.

  "This is theirs to deal with now, Jocelyn. You were incredible, but Ciarán needs to take care of his wife."

  "I texted him about what happened, you know."

  "I know. I saw, so I hope that you did not give him ranting and raving but just the facts and information he would need to deal with the situation well."

  "I did."

  "Good, now let's go home, wife. You and I have a date with a discussion on your compliance level with your husband. Safety is…"

  "I know," Jocelyn finished his sentence, "is a deal breaker." Always the optimist, she quickly tried to begin forming her defense so that maybe she could get out of the expected end to their discussion.

  Chapter Nine

  Ciarán carried Katie into the house and carefully sat down in their large double recliner and leaned her back onto his hard but comforting chest. After having settled her in and holding her for a moment, he sighed. He just needed to feel her, breathe in her scent, and share his warmth with her before any conversation started. God how he loved this woman.

  "Mo chroí, are you okay? What happened today?"

  "Ciarán, I am afraid to tell you but afraid not to," she replied in a small voice.

  "I can understand that. Would it help if I told you Jocelyn gave me the basics of what happened with you at the mall this afternoon?"

  "She did? The little sneak, but I love her for it. Okay, so you heard what happened." Secretly hoping that it would be all that he needed to know and the questions would not be asked that she did not want to answer.

  He nodded. "But I want to know from you."

  "You want to know what made it happen, the story behind the story, right?"

  Ciarán nodded agreement. He was very settled and showed no signs of needing to go anywhere. He was comfortable, but he could see she was suddenly very uncomfortable. He waited for her, as she seemed to gather her thoughts and most likely her courage. He was quite sure the love of his life was trying to tell her story without finding herself in a position parallel to the floor after it was all said and done. He was sure there was a story behind the one she had told him earlier. He waited.

  Finally she spoke.

  "Well, it is hard for me to say, so I guess I will just spit it out. Get to it. I'll try to tease out the words…"

  "Katherine."

  Big sigh. "You have to promise me that you will not think badly of me after I tell you. You won't leave me or take off for overnight and you'll still, um, love me, maybe even want me still."

  Ciarán's hand went through his hair in the characteristic way that signaled frustration. "Really, Katherine, do we need to go there again? Mo Chroí, you, and I are going to have some serious work sessions on this trust and faith problem you have. Do you remember when I told you at the halfway cabin that my love for you did not bend or decrease it only increased? That you had to trust me on that point? You needed to believe I would love you no matter what happened, always?"

  Katie nodded her head.

  "Then why are you asking me if I will stay, love you, keep you? Are you still that insecure in our life together that you have those fears? Haven't we gone through enough to make this a non-issue?"

  "Usually, Ciarán, I do, but I have heard it before and it wasn't true. I guess I am waiting for things to change. Even if you don't think they will, they could. Even if you don't want them to change, it might happen. I mean you can't know if something is too much."

  "Katherine O'Connor, that is your name now, it will always be your name, and I will always love you. I will not always be happy with you or myself. I will not always be considerate and thoughtful, but I will always love, honor, protect, and cherish you. We will work on this, intently, after today, but right now I need you to tell me you trust I will stay."

  "I want to believe it. I think I must know it, deep down, but I do need to hear it sometimes. I suppose that i
sn't total trust, huh? I am working on it. And I know you love me, and I love you so much it hurts."

  Ciarán smiled before he nodded acceptance and waited for her to continue. Taking a deep breath, she did.

  "I didn't date much in high school or college until my junior year so I was pretty inexperienced. In fact, I had a few boyfriends but I had not lost my virginity until my junior year. I wasn't very social. In my junior year, I met Stuart. He was well liked, exciting, a little of the bad boy reputation but not much, at least that I heard of. He asked me out and soon we were dating. It was fun for the first semester because we tried things I liked. After my spring semester had started, he began to make, um, demands on me."

  Katie could feel Ciarán tense up and his comforting arm had become more vise-like. She whispered Ciarán's name and touched his arm and he immediately relaxed, rubbing her offended part in mute apology.

  "See, what just happened here would not have happened with Stuart. He would not have let go. He would not have attended to my needs. He would not have even understood what the rest of my unspoken request was. That is what changed with us. He had, um, needs in the bedroom that he began to force into everyday life." She paused again and it seemed Ciarán was listening but careful not to respond physically except for the facial tick that had begun to tap dance on his jaw.

  "So, what that turned into was, him not taking no for an answer; inside or outside of the bedroom, which we rarely got busy in anymore. I often found myself trying to meet his fantasy needs or what he thought were his needs. At first, in the, um, when we were intimate, he would ask me what I wanted, and while that became annoying, it was better than what it evolved into."

  Katie stopped for a moment and resettled in Ciarán's lap before continuing. She avoided his eyes and he was okay with that for now. She continued.

  "He experimented with erotic spanking, but never quite got it down, so then he just would hit me without the erotic anything attached, which can get painful. Same with tying me up, for he didn't properly restrain me he just tied me. It was like that for anything really. It became not just exploring, but it was as though he could not get it right so he forced it and became abusive.