by Donna Grant
Everyone went silent when Whitney came running around the ambulance and stood between Jace and Cooper. She stared at Naomi with wide eyes, her chest heaving from the exertion. “I just heard. Are you okay? Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?” Whitney turned her gaze to Marina. “Why isn’t she at the hospital?”
“Because, miraculously, she’s unhurt,” Marina replied.
Whitney shook her head of long, blond hair, curled and sprayed. “Naomi, how did you fall over?”
“I was pushed.”
Brice watched Whitney’s face after Naomi’s statement. The rodeo queen blinked and shook her head, but there was no denying the flicker of dread that she hadn’t been able to hide.
“Pushed?” Whitney repeated. “How? Why?”
“You know why,” Brice said.
Whitney’s blue eyes swung to him. She opened her mouth to say something before her gaze lowered to his injured hand. “Did you save her?”
“I did,” Caleb replied. “After Brice was found lying on the ground because someone knocked him on the head and stomped on his hand.”
Whitney swallowed and looked at Cooper and Jace before sliding her gaze to Naomi. “I was the one who found your Jeep. I was coming to look for you when I heard about the accident in the arena.”
Caleb got to his feet and shimmied past Brice and Karl as he climbed out of the ambulance. He stood before Whitney, staring at her a long minute. “You have no idea how close Naomi came to being trampled by the horses and wagons. Whatever you’re hiding, it’s time you tell us.”
“I can’t,” Whitney said in a hoarse whisper. Then buried her face in her hands.
Brice cut his eyes to Naomi and found her dropping the blanket and rising from the gurney. Caleb moved out of the way while Cooper helped Naomi out of the ambulance. Naomi wrapped her arms around Whitney as her friend’s shoulders shook with her tears.
“Y’all, anyone could be watching this,” Jace said as he looked around.
Brice braced his elbow on his knee and slowly lowered his forehead to his good hand. He could barely think straight with the pounding in his head.
And he still had his event to do.
He’d ridden with a headache before, but nothing had ever hurt as badly as this one. His scalp was sore and throbbing from being bashed and split open.
Not to mention the agony of his hand. Thankfully, he could rope with both hands. It was a skill learned from Clayton, who’d warned both Brice and Caleb that anything could happen on a ranch and that a man needed to be able to do every job with either hand.
Brice had never roped with his left arm at a rodeo, so no one other than Caleb, Jace, and Cooper knew he had the ability. If the man who’d hit him wanted to take him out of the event, the bastard would be in for a surprise.
“Do you need something for the pain?” Karl leaned close and whispered.
Brice lifted his head and shot him a quick grin. “Aspirin only.”
“I can do that.”
Brice gladly accepted the two pills and water and downed them. They would hopefully take the edge off the throbbing. While he was thinking about what to do with Naomi and Whitney, Marina handed Karl an elastic bandage that he wrapped around Brice’s hand. Brice didn’t even complain because it actually felt good, like the bandage was snuggly holding everything together.
“What do you want to do?” Cooper asked Naomi.
Brice watched as she lifted her tear-streaked face and sniffed. “That depends on Whitney.”
The rodeo queen accepted a tissue from Marina and dabbed at her face. “I swear, I never thought it would come to this.”
“Just tell us who it is,” Caleb urged.
Whitney looked at Naomi. “I can’t.”
Naomi rubbed her hands up and down Whitney’s upper arms. “Then tell us what you can.”
“If I do, he’ll know.”
Brice shrugged. “Chances are, he thinks you’ve already told us.”
Whitney shook her head and snorted. “I doubt that.”
“How can you be sure?” Cooper asked.
Whitney looked down at her hands and turned the tissue around in her fingers. “Because you’ll start asking other questions.”
“This is about the pageant, isn’t it?” Naomi asked.
Whitney briefly met Naomi’s gaze. “Yeah.”
Naomi turned and looked at Brice. He rubbed his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand. “We can’t help you if you don’t tell us.”
“That’s just it,” Whitney said as she lifted her face. “If I tell you, these accidents will increase.”
Caleb’s forehead furrowed in a frown. “What will happen to you?”
Whitney shrugged, but the fear on her face said it all.
Brice climbed out of the ambulance to stand beside Naomi. “If you want to keep living like this, Whitney, none of us can stop you. But this has gone beyond you. This now involves me and Naomi.”
“I know,” she replied irritably.
“You have people here willing to protect you,” Brice continued. “We’ll put ourselves out there for this bastard to come at us. That is if you’re keen on telling us whatever it is you’re hiding.”
Whitney sniffed and shook her head. “I would’ve kept my mouth shut. I would’ve continued to ignore all of it.” She then wrapped an arm around Naomi. “But my best friend was hurt. I can’t lose another.”
Naomi gave her a watery smile and hugged Whitney.
“This is nice and all,” Caleb said, “but I’m not comfortable standing out here where anyone can see us.”
Cooper glanced at the arena. “It won’t be long before my calf roping event. Team roping is right after.”
“I’m finished for the day,” Jace said.
Brice nodded to Jace. “Take my truck and bring the girls to the ranch.”
“I can’t leave,” Whitney said. “Besides, if I leave now, whoever it is will think I’ve told you.”
Naomi lifted her chin. “If she isn’t going, neither am I.”
“No,” Whitney said. “I’ll feel better if you’re safe.”
Brice was glad that Whitney agreed with him. “As soon as our event finishes, we’ll be on our way.”
“You can trust me, Naomi,” Jace said with a grin.
From inside the ambulance, Marina said, “We’ll keep watch for anything unusual.”
Karl nodded. “You bet.”
“Jace will keep you safe until you get to the ranch and the rest of us arrive,” Cooper said. “I’ll bring Whitney.”
Naomi turned her head to Brice. “Looks like I’m leaving.”
“I’ll be along shortly. Promise.”
She moved to him and gently held his injured hand between hers. Then she looked into his eyes. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
Chapter 9
Clayton East paused in mounting his horse and pulled out his cell phone when it buzzed. The short text from Brice saying that the ranch was about to have special company had him frowning.
He dropped the reins and gave the horse a pat before he pivoted and walked from the barn to the house. He stepped inside and almost expected to hear his mother’s shout from the kitchen.
When his dad died two years ago of a stroke, his mother soon lost the will to live. She joined her beloved Ben eight months later. Clayton missed them terribly, and he always would. But his parents had been deliriously happy with the addition of Abby and her brothers into the family.
And then came their grandchildren. Clayton didn’t think there were grandkids more spoiled than his two. He just wished his parents were there to see the arrival of his next child.
He closed the door behind him and listened, trying to discern where Abby was in the house. After she’d come downstairs in the mornings, she rarely went back up until it was time for bed. Before the pregnancy, she would go into the office and keep up with the books and taxes after the kids had headed off to school.
Clayton walked through the
kitchen, noting that Abby had gotten into the cookies as well as eaten an orange. He grinned. His wife was an amazing woman. He’d realized it from their first meeting at the police station when Brice was arrested for cattle rustling.
Abby had drive, and it hadn’t taken her long to get her degree and pass the state exam to be a CPA. Clayton urged her to open her own business, but she wanted to focus on the ranch. Still, she insisted that they hire a large accounting firm in Fort Worth to oversee her.
He found his wife asleep on the couch, her laptop open as pictures of their kids scrolled on the screensaver. He quietly walked to her and moved her hands before lifting the computer.
The screensaver vanished, showing a browser screen with news on their area’s rodeo pageants. Except Abby had searched for any scandals or negative news. Of course, there were always adverse articles about everything, so he wasn’t surprised about those. But he did frown at a story headline toward the bottom of the page.
He knelt next to the sofa and set the laptop on the coffee table. Just as he clicked the link, Abby touched his shoulder.
He turned his head to her and smiled. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. The baby did,” she replied with a yawn before pushing herself up farther on the couch. “Feel.”
He put his hand on her stomach and laughed at the tiny feet that pummeled his palm. “Goodness.”
“Just wait.” She then moved his hand to another part of her stomach.
Clayton laughed when he felt the little hands shoving against Abby’s stomach.
“It’s a boy. I know it,” she muttered.
Each time she had been pregnant, they’d decided not to find out the sex of the baby until the birth. They made bets with each other. So far, they had both won.
He rubbed her belly softly before planting a kiss on it then another on her lips.
“I’m appalled at how much I sleep during the day, and yet I’m wide-awake at night. Neither of the other two pregnancies seemed to drain me like this one.”
“Sleep as long as you need.”
She leaned her head back and sighed. “Believe me, I am.” Her gaze then landed on the computer screen. “Have you read that?”
“I just pulled it up.”
Her lips flattened in distaste. “You need to read it.”
“I will. I came in to tell you that Brice texted to say we’re going to have a special guest.”
Abby frowned as she shifted to sit up straight. “Is that all he said?”
“Yep.”
“Did you reply to him?”
Clayton moved to sit next to her when she tucked her legs against her. “Not yet.”
She stared at him with raised brows.
He shook his head and pulled out his phone from his pocket. “There,” he said after he’d texted to see if everything was all right.
No sooner had the message gone through than Abby’s phone rang. She reached for it where it lay on the back of the couch. “It’s Caleb,” she told Clayton before answering it.
There was a pause before Abby’s blue eyes met his and she said, “Oh. Okay. Hang on.”
Clayton watched as she lowered the phone between them and put it on speaker.
“He’s here,” Abby said.
The sounds of the rodeo could be heard in the background before Caleb said, “Jace is headed to the ranch with Naomi Pierce.”
“The woman Brice helped last night?” Clayton asked.
“The very one,” Caleb replied. He blew out a breath and lowered his voice to make sure no one else could hear him. “The shit has hit the fan here. Brice wants to wait until he gets home to tell you, but you’ll see Naomi, and Jace will probably tell you anyway.”
Abby’s face tightened. “Caleb, you’re worrying me. Just tell us.”
“There was an accident. Two actually. Well, you could say three.”
“Caleb,” Clayton said when he saw Abby’s face go white. “Is everyone all right?”
The sounds of the rodeo faded, then Caleb said, “Barely. Someone pushed Naomi into the arena during the wagon races.”
“Dear God,” Abby murmured.
Caleb grunted. “Moments before that, someone hit Brice on the head with something, stomped on his hand, and took the pictures Naomi developed of the guy following her and Whitney.”
Clayton blew out a breath and ran his hand down his face. “Do I need to come there?”
“No,” Caleb hurried to reply. “Karl and Marina were here and checked both Brice and Naomi out. I always said Brice had a hard head, and now this proves it because he didn’t even have a concussion. He bled a lot, but the wound didn’t need stitches.”
“And his hand?” Abby asked, her gaze meeting Clayton’s.
“Not broken, but it’s swollen. Karl said Brice won’t be able to use it for a few days.”
Clayton put his hand atop Abby’s. “Sounds like whoever this guy is, he wanted to make sure Brice couldn’t compete.”
“Won’t the bastard be in for a surprise?” Caleb said, a smile in his voice. “We all agreed that Naomi needed to get away from the rodeo. Whitney is also coming later.”
Abby glanced at the computer screen and the article. “So, she does know something?”
“It looks that way. She didn’t want to tell us now since she said we’d all react, but she plans on giving us the details later tonight,” Caleb explained.
Clayton checked his watch. “Jace and Naomi should arrive in about twenty minutes. I’ll send both you and Brice a text when she gets here, and I expect both of you to keep us updated. Otherwise, your sister might decide to make her way there.”
Caleb barked in laughter. “I promise to stay in touch. And Abby, keep your ass on the sofa. I’m anxious to meet my new niece or nephew, but not before it’s time. And if you leave, then Clayton will kick my ass.”
“You got that right,” Clayton said with a wink to Abby.
But she didn’t respond with a smile. Worry filled her gaze. “How much longer until your event? I want you and Brice home.”
“We’ll be there as quick as we can, sis. Promise.”
“Caleb,” she said before he could hang up. “You and Brice need to stick together.”
Caleb grunted loudly. “Yeah, I know. If anyone gets to hit my brother, it should be me. Whoever this guy is, he’s messed with the wrong family.”
“Damn straight,” Clayton said. “Just be smart about it.”
“That won’t be a problem. By the way, I think there might be something developing between Brice and Naomi. I’ve never seen him so protective,” Caleb said.
Abby looked thoughtful for a moment. “Not even with Jill?”
“Not even close,” Caleb answered.
Clayton nodded. “Jace will get Naomi here, and we’ll take care of her. I’ll alert Shane so he and the other hands can be on the lookout. The security system will take care of the rest.”
“Thanks. I’ve got to go,” Caleb said.
The call ended, and Abby drew in a deep breath. “What did Brice get mixed up in?”
“He was coming to the defense of someone else. I don’t think either he or Naomi realized what this might become.” Clayton’s gaze looked out the window to the driveway.
“Caleb only told us the highlights of what happened. And I hate that. He knows I need every detail.”
Clayton swung his head to her and brought her hand to his lips to kiss it. “We’ll get all the nitty-gritty details when Naomi and Jace arrive.”
“Brice could have been seriously injured. And Naomi could have died,” Abby said as she started to get agitated.
“But they didn’t,” he reminded her. “They’re okay.”
Blue eyes met his as she gazed at him in exasperation. “This time.”
Clayton grinned as he shook his head. “And that is the mistake this person made. They had one chance to get Brice out of the way, and they didn’t take it. Not only did they then go after Naomi, but they also brought our
family into the mix.”
“Either they don’t know us, or they think they can get away with it.”
Neither made Clayton feel any better. He had a sick feeling that it was the latter, that whoever this assailant was thought they could do whatever they wanted, though he kept that information to himself.
It was already bad enough that Abby’s anxiety was up about her brothers’ involvement. Clayton wasn’t going to make things worse and risk upsetting Abby—and possibly causing harm to her or the baby.
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “I’m going to find Shane.”
“Don’t leave me out of this,” she said, giving his hand a yank when he tried to get to his feet.
“Sweetheart, these are your brothers. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She shot him a flat look. “I call bullshit. I know you, Clayton East. You’ll do whatever it takes to keep our children and me from harm. And that means keeping me out of this situation. But I’ll tell you right now that if you do that, you’ll be sleeping by yourself for the next year.”
He smiled as he got to his feet. “Yes, ma’am. I hear you loud and clear.”
“Good. Now, get moving,” she ordered sternly.
Then ruined it with a wink.
His grin lasted until he left the house and spotted Shane in one of the pastures. The ranch manager had been around since Clayton was a small boy. Now that Shane was advancing in years, Clayton worried his old friend would want to retire. Not that he could blame Shane. The man had given his life to the East Ranch.
Clayton rested his arms on the fence and waited for Shane to ride up on his horse. “We have a situation.”
“How bad?”
“Get the boys ready. Everyone needs to be on high alert. Anything, and I do mean anything, that trips the sensors around the ranch needs to be checked out by at least two men. With guns.”
Shane rested both hands on the pommel of his saddle. “Well, hell.”
The sound of an engine caused Clayton to turn his head. He spotted the black pickup driving toward him. “You better join me so you can hear everything.”
“I’ll put everyone on alert before joining you in the house,” Shane said and turned his horse around before setting into a run.