Sheltered by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 5)

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  “It is pretty good.”

  “We don’t want to forget the salad. Out here on the ranch we need vegetables to stay strong.” He first spooned her out some onto her plate, then he helped himself.

  She slid her finger through the condensation of her tea glass. “There’s not a whole lot to do around here as far as cleaning so I was wondering do you think there’s something I could do to help on the land? I believe I’m a fast learner and I’m not afraid of hard work.”

  He hesitated for three seconds before giving a little shrug. This was an opportunity to get to know her better…but only to pick her brain to figure out who wanted her dead of course. “Have you ever milked a cow? Mucked stalls? Brushed a horse?” When she lowered her eyes, he said, “You probably don’t remember.”

  “No, I don’t, but honestly I don’t think I’ve ever done any of those things.”

  “Good news is, those chores are easy to learn. You just need someone to show you the ropes.” He munched on a cherry tomato.

  “I’ve already asked enough—”

  “You haven’t asked anything. We’ve offered. Just like I’m offering to show you around the ranch.”

  Her chin popped up and her eyes widened. “I couldn’t—I mean, you’re busy. I wouldn’t want you to take more time out of your schedule. Maybe a hand could show me.”

  “I make my own schedule.” He couldn’t tell her that since he’d brought her to the ranch he hadn’t taken on any more jobs. “I wouldn’t mind showing you what it’s like to work a ranch, but I’ll warn you, it can be a messy job. You’ll find out why a cowboy is always dirty.”

  Her smile lit her eyes. “I’d love to learn.”

  “Then it’s a date.” Realizing what he said, he cleared his throat. “Life on a ranch starts early. Sunrise. Are you sure you want to take this on?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Her eyes crinkled when she smiled. He’d pay about anything to see that smile more often. His heart kicked up and his body tightened. He’d also pay about anything to bend her over right here at the dinner table and release some of his pent-up energy. He dragged his attention back to his plate and chomped on more lasagna. This wasn’t just any guest, but a woman who was wanted for questioning in a man’s murder. Although Deke knew that Cull brought Monica to the ranch, what Deke didn’t know was that she had memory loss. Cull had simply told him that she was hurt from the incident and needed some time to recoup before she was released in Deke’s custody. Deke had agreed to give Cull some leeway, even offered to pick her up from the ranch, but Cull wasn’t ready yet. Once a man was shot at, even if the bullet wasn’t meant for him, he had to find out who the shooter was, and Deke understood that all too well.

  “Any more flashbacks?” he asked. What happened if she suddenly got her memory back? How would that switch things up? Rightly so, he would have to hand her over…wouldn’t he? He wasn’t the judge and jury, so he couldn’t decide whether she was guilty or innocent. His role was to take her in so she could plead her case. Answer important questions. Deke would take care of her, see that she was handled fairly.

  “Some, but nothing that makes sense.” She rolled her finger around the rim of her glass. “It’s like watching ten seconds of a movie and hoping to understand the plot. There are times I feel something familiar, like déjà vu, but the feelings and images never develop into anything, at least nothing helpful. They could even be false memories. For instance, the poker you used on the fire in the woodstove. It flashed in my head, and I wondered if that’s what I had been hit with, but then I realized my mind had taken me down a wrong path.”

  “It’s only been a few days. Give it some time. How are the headaches?”

  “I’ve battled a few, but your mom gave me a magical salve that I rub on my temples and it works. She said it was made with tea tree oil and a few other natural ingredients. It could have been made with pig’s fat and I still would have lathered it on because it worked so well.” She chuckled.

  “I hated when she’d use that stuff on my wounds when I was a kid. Nothing like going to school smelling like a walking essential oil. Let me take a look at it your head to see if the stitches are dissolving.” She seemed like she was ready to deny him, but he smiled. “If it helps, my brothers and I have all been trained in medical.”

  “I trust you,” she said softly.

  Those three little words could have easily been a lengthy speech on what she liked about him. However, what followed was a stab of guilt. If she knew his goal she’d probably feel violated—betrayed. Cull’s intentions weren’t to take advantage of her, but to do what was right. What was the right thing? He wasn’t sure. Instinct warned him there was more to the story than met the eye and without her memory intact, she couldn’t help him understand what was missing.

  Stepping around to stand behind her chair, he pulled her hair back to see her forehead. Her hair felt like strands of silk in his palm and a tingle ran up his arm. “You’re healing great.” He looked down and that’s when he saw the fading finger bruises on her collarbone. It was the color of a ripe blueberry and about the size of a grape. The hair on his arms lifted and anger shot through him. This had to be leftovers from her attacker. If only fingerprints could be lifted off skin. Cull had hit a rock wall in finding the attacker. All the evidence in the apartment had been destroyed in the fire. There were no witnesses, no one who saw anyone suspicious coming and going.

  Cull thought he had shot the attacker, but if he’d gone to any hospital or doctor’s office they would have reported the bullet wound and no reports had come in.

  He’d spoken with some of the staff from the motel where Yates was murdered and still nothing. The staff member who found Yates dead had quit and Cull couldn’t find her.

  “What’s wrong?” She looked up at him, curiosity lighting her green eyes.

  “The bruise on your neck. I’m guessing it wasn’t there before the fire.”

  She touched that spot on her skin. Her nails were short and neat and her fingers slender, exceptionally slender next to the large one imprinted in her skin. “I have several cuts and bruises.”

  “The cut on your head is better. You have a good-sized bump left, but it’s healing.” He allowed her hair to fall back onto her forehead.

  “What can I do to help find someone who knows me, someone who can possibly fill in the blanks of my life? Put up flyers? Speak to the police? There must be something I can do.”

  He heard the unsteadiness in her voice. Drawing attention to her could have the attacker swarming the Cade ranch. “I know it’s difficult to sit back and wait, but we have to be careful. If we put your face out there, the man who did this could find you.” He sat back down in his chair.

  Her shoulders slumped “You’re right. I understand. I’ve been thinking, if you can tell me everything you know about the fire maybe something will click in my head.”

  “I’ve told you a few things already. The intruder used gasoline to start the fire. That’s why the apartment went up so fast and hot. I’d guess he was waiting for you inside the apartment when you walked in. The apartment manager said you hadn’t been home for a few days and hadn’t paid rent for the month.”

  “I did have the backpack.”

  “It’s possible you were on vacation.” He emptied his glass of tea, monitoring what he said. If he told her too much would she run? Could it disrupt the possibility of her getting her memory back?

  “Is it possible I walked in and caught the burglar in the act?”

  “Statistically, when homeowners catch a burglary in progress the thief doesn’t respond with a thought-out plan. They act impulsively which usually means running or taking care of any witnesses. This was a premeditative plan. The intruder had the gas and used it to get rid of evidence. I know this is hard to absorb, especially because you have no clue about the circumstances, but I still believe you’re in danger.” He blew out a long breath. “This person, he wants you dead, enough that he shot at us outside of the a
partment. Me saving you wasn’t part of the plan.”

  “So what you’re saying is that I had evidence of something in my apartment?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Do you think the intruder knew you? That he recognized you?” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  She brought up a good point and he’d thought about that possibility. “It was dark enough that I don’t think he could make out my face. We were sitting ducks out there. Instinct tells me he was trying to hit you and I was in the way.”

  Her face paled some. “I’m trying to be brave, but this is all so much…”

  He knelt at her side and laid his hand on her shaking fingers. “This is a lot, I know, but right now you’re where you should be. Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it. I promise.” Yet, was he making promises he couldn’t keep? Even if they didn’t have a gunman on the loose, she was still a suspect in the death of a man she was having an affair with. His stomach clenched. That opened a whole new can of worms. Had she been in love with the dead man? Or was he just a bank account? What if Deke had her all wrong?

  Was Cull grasping at straws now?

  She nodded as if he made perfectly good sense. “I guess I need to stay patient and hopeful that everything will come back to me. It’s just…well…”

  “You want to help find the guy.”

  “I do, but I truly want to know what my life was like.”

  “Hey, I understand. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just like the doc said, try to allow the memories to come back on their own. The prognosis is good.” He pulled his hand away and stood.

  “Thank you. You’re right.” She stood too. “I better get these dishes washed and get back to the apartment. The crack of dawn will come bright and early.”

  “I’ll help,” he offered and started stacking the dirty dishes. He watched her fill the sink with hot water and squirt in several drops of a detergent. “I’ll dry.” He hoped he could handle standing so close to her.

  She had nice hands and he envied the china. Her hand moved the dishcloth across the plate with such ease and carefulness and an image broke through him, one of her touching him with the same tender care. He cursed under his breath. How ridiculous was he being? He envied a plate? He was turned inside out over a woman who didn’t even have a clue who she was. Fact was, he knew more about her than she did and what he did know wasn’t very good. “I want a cup of coffee. How about you?”

  There was a slight hesitation. “No, I better not. I don’t want to be kept up half the night. My days of drowning in coffee to stay awake to cram for finals are over.” He stopped just as she looked over her shoulder at him. “I don’t know where that came from. I must have been taking classes. But what kind of classes?”

  Seeing her smile at the small memory kicked him in the gut. He wanted to see her as a possible criminal, but when he looked at her, all he could see was a beautiful woman with bright eyes and a smile. She just didn’t fit the profile of…what? A woman who got caught up in a risky lifestyle? Good people found themselves making mistakes. But murder wasn’t just a mistake. If she had anything to do with a man’s death, her life would change drastically.

  He had to be careful though because he was searching for the positive in her, trying to prove that she couldn’t do any wrong. He couldn’t deny that he liked her, even found her attractive, but in other circumstances—way other circumstances—he would have acted upon those feelings, but things were black and white when it came to the legal system. She was, at least, a witness to a crime and wanted for questioning.

  Point blank.

  He took an oath to uphold the law and he believed in the system.

  Cull also believed in innocence until proven guilty.

  Chapter 8

  ALONE IN THE apartment, Monica undressed and crawled into bed. She stared up at the dark ceiling, tired but sleep was evasive. Although the sheets were clean she could still smell Cull in the space. His robust scent of leather, soap and sandalwood teased her senses. She liked the smell and found it comforting, and a turn on at the same time. Knowing that he’d slept right here in the same bed, his head resting on the same pillow, wrapped her in a desire that left her yearning for more from him.

  Did he sleep in boxers? Or in the nude?

  Her nipples tingled and the warm sensation traveled to her pink parts. Her inner thighs moistened and she needed relief from the overwhelming desire threading through her veins.

  Slipping her hand inside of the hem of her panties, she touched the warm, throbbing mound covered by soft hair. The heat radiating from her center warmed her knuckles. Dragging the lace material down her hips she didn’t remove them all the way, only enough that she could part her legs.

  Monica touched the moist slit and found her swollen clit, swirling the bead under the pad of her finger. She moved slowly at first, adjusting to the touch, then she built up the rhythm as her body ached for more. Her hips naturally bucked, and soon warm tingly sensations ambushed her lower body and curled her toes. Her juices turned thicker, coating her fingers and the scent of pleasure reached her nostrils. Her mind drifted to Cull—beautiful, large, commanding Cull—imagining that his hands were on her most sensitive parts, coaxing her toward a release she needed. Slipping a finger inside her channel, she felt her vaginal walls clench. Butterflies fluttered in her belly and her heart skipped a beat.

  A vision of him kissing her neck, her chest, and suckling her erect nipples bombarded her. His tongue would roll along the puffy pillows, following the line of her body to where his fingers would be buried in her. Her inner thighs quivered, her back arched and she spread her legs wider, sipping sweet oxygen. Her narrow passage spasmed. Pressing two fingers into her wet body, she pressed the heel of her hand against her clit. “Cull,” she cried out. She was so close…so, so close.

  His whiskered jaw would scrape nicely against her sensitive flesh while his tongue would work magic between her legs, lapping up her flowing juices, relishing in her taste. The fantasy seemed so real that she swore she could feel his warmth, the heaviness of his body pressing against her as he prepared to enter her.

  Tremors took hold of her body as she bucked her hips. Her cries echoed off the walls as release came like a crashing of waves. Breathless and spent, she removed her hand and sucked in deep breaths until the shudders faded and her release calmed. Adjusting her panties, she dragged the blanket up to her chin.

  Tomorrow she would be better. She would keep her hands, and thoughts, to herself.

  ****

  Cull couldn’t sleep so he reached for the book on the nightstand. His feet were pressed against the footboard of the too short bed, but he guessed it was better than sleeping on the couch. The words on the page started to swirl. He couldn’t concentrate. Since Monica had gone back to her apartment he hadn’t thought of anything but her beautiful smile. Her amazing eyes. And that she wasn’t the sweet, innocent woman he saw her as. He was a smart man who’d been in law long enough to know he couldn’t trust everyone. So then, why did he keep allowing Monica to coax him down a road where he didn’t belong? He knew women well enough to know when they used their bodies to snag a man, or manipulate, and he didn’t see that in her. In fact, she seemed almost shy.

  Shy? An escort shy?

  He chuckled. He was losing his mind and his instincts.

  The door opened and Cull darted a glance up. Could it be Monica? His sister, Kiersten, peeked in and his heart dropped. “For goodness sakes, Cull. What the hell are you doing?”

  “What does it look like I’m doing? Don’t you knock?” He dragged the comforter over his boxers.

  “Don’t you live in the garage apartment now? I saw the light on so I just assumed you were over there.”

  “Long story,” he grumbled. Did he really want to get into it with his sister at midnight?

  “Good thing I have all the time in the world.” She crossed his bedroom.

  “Whoa! Where are you going?”

  “T
o use your bathroom. My toilet isn’t working. I’ve had to pee a hundred miles ago.” She hurried inside the bathroom and closed the door. “Ma and Pa are asleep and I didn’t want to disturb them. How are they doing?” He heard the toilet flush and the water in the sink.

  “They’re good. Why?”

  The door to the bathroom came open. “Because Ma said she needed to speak to all of us kids.” She wiped her wet hands down the thighs of her jeans. His sister was the feminine version of the Cade boys. She was fairly tall, slender, and always had a dozen men or so vying for her attention. Growing up, he and his brothers were all the time fighting boys who disrespected her or thought they’d take advantage. When she got older and started complaining that they were inhibiting her chances of ever settling down, they’d backed off some and had to start vetting the male population more subtly. As far as Cull knew, she wasn’t ready to settle down, but he wondered if men were intimidated because growing up with five brothers Kiersten had learned to be as tough as nails.

  “Mom didn’t say a word to me.”

  Kiersten plopped down on the end of the bed and propped her chin on her clasped hands. “Ma did mention something about a guest. I guess I assumed she was already gone.”

  “She’ll be here a bit longer.” He closed his book and set it on the nightstand.

  “Oh…one of those guests, huh? So then why are you here in bed with your Ninja Turtle friends and not sharing the bed over at your place?”

  He looked down at the twin sheets with the popular characters that he loved when he was a kid. Not so much now. “I didn’t put these sheets on the bed. These must have been the only ones Ma could find.”

  “Yeah, right.” She pointed a short, black polished nail at him.

  “And don’t start that stuff,” he warned.

  “What stuff?” The area between her brows scrunched.

  “Playing cupid. It’s not like that.”

  “Trust me, I don’t plan to ever play fix-up with you. After you broke Renee’s heart I learned a valuable lesson to never try and find a date for any of you Cade boys. I lost a good friendship over your shenanigans.” Her mouth twisted into a frown.