by Becca Van
He jogged the ten yards to the person and jumped the fence with ease, before squatting down next the woman, who looked as if she was fast asleep on the ground. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle shake, but she didn’t react at all.
“Miss, are you all right?” he asked but again she remained still. So he tried again, but this time louder. “Ma’am, are you hurt?” Again, no reaction. “Shit!” Hank brushed the dark hair from her cheek and cursed under his breath when he felt how hot she was. The poor woman was sick. He had no idea what she was doing out here all alone, but he would ask her later when she was awake. Right now, he needed to get her back to the house and call a doctor.
Her face was flushed, and she was way too hot. Hank was worried that if she got any hotter she would start convulsing or end up with brain damage. Being careful not to jostle her, he lifted her into his arms and then rose and turned toward his truck. He eyed the fence he’d just fixed and realized if he wanted to get her over to the other side, he was going to have to bend over the barbed wire at the top and or cut the damn fence.
Hank was thankful she didn’t weigh much and used his strong arm muscles to gently lower her to the ground again over the wire, being careful that none of her body touched the sharp barbs. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her when she was already sick. Once she was on the ground, he moved a few steps away from her, placed his hand on the top a wooden post, and vaulted over the wire, before scooping her back up into his arms. He hesitated over putting her in the back or the front passenger seats but decided on the front. He needed to keep an eye on her in case she got sicker.
When he had her half sitting and half lying across the bench seat, he jumped into the truck, turned the key, and started toward the ranch house. The moment he was heading in the right direction he hit speed dial two on his phone and called Barry.
“What’s up?” Barry asked in way of greeting.
“Can you call the doc and get him to come out to the house ASAP?”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Then why…”
“If you’d let me finish, I’ll explain.”
“Sorry,” Barry muttered.
“I found an unconscious woman just outside the northernmost fence.”
“Are you serious?”
“Would I joke about something like that?” Hank snapped.
“I’m on it.”
Hank glanced toward the woman when she moaned, and one of her arms flailed, but she still didn’t wake up.
When he was through the open pasture gate and on the gravel track, he pressed his accelerator foot harder to the floor. He didn’t need to worry about closing the gate since there were no cattle in the paddock, but he would send Barry or David out to do so later and to search the surrounding area in case the woman had dropped a purse or something.
When he glanced her way, he took in her state. Although her clothes looked clean and brand new, her hair was a little straggly as if she hadn’t had the time to brush it. Her cheeks were bright pink, but the rest of her face was as pale as milk. There were dark smudges beneath her eyes as if she’d been having trouble sleeping, but it was her curves that drew his gaze again and again. She was slim with shapely hips, and the shirt she wore molded to her lush breasts. Her hair was dark brown, almost black, and he was curious about the color of her eyes, but his curiosity would have to wait. He was almost home and from the dust lifting into the air from the opposite direction, he guessed the doctor would be arriving at the house almost the same time as he did.
Sure enough, just as he stopped the truck close to the steps the doc pulled up, too. Barry, David, and the doc all rushed toward his truck, but Hank was out and at the front passenger door before they were, and he lifted the woman into his arms and hurried up the steps.
“Do you have any idea who she is?” David asked as he rushed around him, opened the front door, and stepped aside so that Hank could carry the woman into the house.
“No.” He carried her down the hallway and hesitated over his decision to put her in the master bedroom. There were only three other bedrooms at this end of the house, which he and his brothers occupied, but he didn’t think the woman would appreciate sharing a room with strangers, so with a sigh, he nudged open the partially open door and gently deposited her onto the bed. He didn’t want her in the guestrooms at the other end of the house in case she called out and they didn’t hear her. He and his brothers would need to keep an eye on her while she recovered from her illness.
“Do you know what happened?” the doc asked as he hurried into the room with his bag in hand.
“No. I found her on the ground just outside the northern pasture.”
“You need to leave so I can examine her.”
Hank turned to find both of his brothers crowded in the doorway and nodded to them to leave, before following them out toward the kitchen. He wished he’d found her purse and knew who she was, but he was going to have to wait, and hopefully when she was awake, she could answer his questions.
He was just contemplating on calling the sheriff when the doc yelled for him. “Hank, I need some help.”
Hank spun on his heel and rushed back down the hall. He gulped when he saw that the doc had removed the woman’s shirt, jeans, and shoes. He gasped when he saw the state of her feet and blood on the thin strip of cotton she had wrapped around her upper arm. “Fuck!”
“Yeah.” Doc met his gaze. “Can you get me a bowl of water with some antiseptic in it? I’m going to have to soak this bandage off her arm. It’s stuck on with dried blood.”
Hank nodded before rushing to the adjoining bathroom.
“Can we do anything?” Barry asked.
“I’ll let you know.”
Hank came back to find Barry and David leaning against the wall, watching the doc as he examined his patient. “She’s got a fever, which I suspect is caused by an infection. Hand me that cloth.”
Hank wrung the most of the excess moisture from the cloth before handing it to the doc, who then squeezed whatever moisture was left on the cotton wrapped around the woman’s arm. “Hopefully that’s wet enough.”
Hank sank on the edge of the bed and watched as the doc carefully pulled the cotton away from the woman’s arm. When it got stuck, he dunked the cloth back into the bowl of water, wrung out most the excess again, and gave it back to Doc.
A few moments later, Doc removed the cotton bandage, and he sucked in a noisy breath. There was a deep inch-long gouge halfway down the woman’s upper left arm. “What the hell… Is that what I think it is?”
Doc glanced at him, his lips pulled tight before he replied. “Looks like a bullet graze.”
“Shit!” Barry pushed off the wall.
“Are you sure?” David asked.
“Take a look,” Hank said.
David and Barry moved closer, both of them inhaling deeply when they saw the wound.
“I’m going to need more light,” Doc said as he pulled a needle from his bag.
“On it.” David spun on his heel and headed out. He was back a few minutes later with the reading lamp from the living room, which he plugged into the electrical socket and turned on before angling the light where Doc was working.
“Thanks,” Doc mumbled absently as he inserted the needle and plunged the liquid into the woman’s arm near the wound. “Just injected some Novocain to deaden the area. Don’t want to cause her any more pain.” He met Hank’s gaze. “Why don’t you search her pockets? She may have some ID. Barry, go and call the sheriff. We need him in case she’s a missing person. In fact, why don’t one of you take a photo of the injury before I fix it, just in case she’s in trouble and it can be used as evidence?”
He picked up the jeans from the floor and dug into the pockets. He was astonished at the wad of cash he pulled from one pocket. The money was wrinkled and looked like it had been dumped into a bowl of water before being removed and left to dry. The other pocket revealed a driver’s licens
“Her name is Catalina Ball. She’s twenty-three years old. The address says she’s from Lake Hayden, Idaho.”
Doc let out a low whistle. “That’s quite a ways away. What the hell is she doing traveling so far alone?”
Hank shook his head when Doc glanced his way. He wished he knew the answer to that question, too. He turned and placed the money and license on the dresser before remembering the doc’s request for photos to be taken. He dug his phone from his pocket, aimed the lens, and snapped off a couple of photos, being careful he didn’t get her bra-clad breasts in the shot, just her face and arm. “Got the photos.” There were bruises on her arms and legs. Some of them were small and some of them were as big as his fist. He hated to think how she’d gotten them. He wondered if she’d been beaten as well as shot. Rage tautened his muscles, and when he heard his phone crack, he looked down to see he was gripping it hard. He was surprised he hadn’t broken it.
Doc removed a plastic-wrapped scalpel from his bag after pulling on some gloves and dug the tip into the infection, draining it from her wound, and then he cleaned the injury with alcohol swabs. When he was satisfied the graze had no more contamination, he threaded a sterile needle and began to sew up the gash. By the time he’d finished suturing the woman’s skin back together, there were at least fifteen stitches in her arm. Doc applied antibiotic ointment and covered the injury with a waterproof bandage before pulling the soiled gloves off and heading for the bathroom to wash up. He entered the room five minutes later, pulled on more gloves, and prepared another shot. “This is an antibiotic. Hopefully it will stave off the infection, but I’ll leave a course of pills to be taken orally three times a day starting tomorrow.
“She needs food. Regular small meals four to six times a day because she’s malnourished and lots to drink since she’s slightly dehydrated. Don’t worry if she sleeps a lot because she’s beyond exhausted, but keep a close eye on her and if she doesn’t wake up or her fever spikes, call me.” Doc pulled the covers up on her nearly naked body.
Hank nodded and held his hand out to the doc. “Thanks, Doc.”
“You’re welcome.” The doc moved toward the door and Hank followed him out.
“Drive carefully.”
“I always do,” Doc said, lifting his hand in a brief wave before getting into his vehicle and driving away.
Hank went back inside and straight back to the master bedroom. He wasn’t at all surprised to find both of his brothers staring at the sleeping woman, nor was he surprised to see the longing in their gazes as they perused her beautiful face.
He knew exactly how they felt. Just like they’d been punched in the gut, but in a good way. He and his brothers were very attracted to Catalina. “We should let her sleep in peace.”
Barry nodded, sighed, and turned before leading the way from the bedroom. David and Hank followed him. Barry had just finished making a pot of coffee when another vehicle drove up the drive.
“May as well pour two more.” Hank grabbed another two mugs from the cupboard for Barry to fill. “That’ll be the sheriffs.”
“I’ll go let them in.” David walked from the room and was back moments later with Sheriffs Luke Sun-Walker and Damon Osborn in tow.
“Sorry we took so long to get here. We were attending an accident,” Luke said as he sat in a chair at the kitchen table and wrapped his hands around the mug when Barry placed it in front of him.
“Anyone hurt?”
“Minor injuries. They were lucky.” Damon sipped his coffee.
“That’s a relief.” David took his seat.
Barry and Hank grabbed their own cups of coffee and sat.
“So what’s up?” Luke asked.
Hank cleared his throat and began to explain about finding Catalina outside the northern pasture.
“Can we see the license?” Damon asked.
Hank went to get up, but Barry placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him. “I’ll get it.”
He rushed off and was back about a minute later. Hank knew his brother had probably been staring at their guest again. He couldn’t seem to help himself where she was concerned either, because he asked the question that had been rolling around in his head before he knew he was going to. “She still asleep?”
“Yeah,” Barry replied as he handed the photo ID to Luke who then handed it to Damon after he’d studied it.
“You said you took pictures of her injuries?” Damon asked.
Hank nodded, withdrew his phone from his pocket, brought the picture up onto the screen, and handed the device over.
“Fuck!” Luke growled angrily.
“How many fucking stitches did she need?” Damon was still scowling at the photos.
“At least fifteen.”
“Shit!” Luke removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “I really should run her, but I don’t want to bring attention to her whereabouts if she’s in trouble. I made that mistake with Sabrina.”
Damon nodded as if in agreement. “We’ll have to wait until she wakes up to ask what’s going on.”
“What’s your gut feeling?” Hank took his phone when Luke handed it back.
“I think she’s in trouble.”
David shifted in his seat, drawing his gaze. “I agree.”
“Me, too,” Barry said.
“The question is whether she’s the instigator or the victim,” Damon stated in a quiet voice.
“Victim,” Hank, Barry, and David answered simultaneously without any hesitation.
Luke and Damon glanced from them to each other and back to Hank and his brothers before they both smiled.
Hank didn’t need to ask about their humor. It was as obvious as the nose on his face.
He and his brothers were already feeling possessive because of their strong attraction to Catalina Ball.
The sheriffs rose after shaking their hands and walked toward the door. “We’ll leave her in your capable hands. Call us when she wakes. If we haven’t heard from you by morning, we’ll drop in.”
Hank nodded and waved as the two lawmen got into their car and drove away. He turned to Barry and David. “I want you both to go the north pasture and search the area. She may have dropped a purse or bag.”
David and Barry nodded, hurrying toward the machinery shed. Seconds later, the sound of two dirt bike engines rumbled just before they rolled from the shed.
Hank watched as his brothers disappeared and sighed as he went back inside. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
Chapter Two
Cat groaned as soon as she surfaced from sleep. Her whole body was stiff and sore. Her left arm was aching but nowhere near as bad as it had earlier. She blinked and bolted upright when she remembered being shot, her long swim, even longer journey by train and bus and then her walk.
She glanced about the room and looked down at the bed she’d been sleeping in. She had no idea where she was or whose house she was in, but the need to get up and leave was too strong to ignore. She pushed the covers aside and looked down at her panties and bra-clad body with a sigh. She hated that someone had seen her nearly naked, but she couldn’t work up the energy to be embarrassed about it. Especially since it was because her wounds had been treated. There was a waterproof patch over her arm where she’d been grazed by a bullet, and she had Band-Aids on her toes where she’d had blisters.
Her bladder was making its needs known so she shifted until her legs were hanging over the side of the mattress and stood. The moment she pushed to her feet she swayed as dizziness assailed her. She took a couple of deep breaths and was glad when the light-headedness dissipated and walked slowly to the slightly ajar door, pushed it open, and sighed with relief when she found a large opulent bathroom.
After taking care of business and washing her hands and face, she searched the cupboard under the sink, found a toothbrush still in its packaging and some toothpaste, and brushed her teeth.
She glanced at the mirror and spa bath in the reflection with longing, but she didn’t want to take advantage of whoever had taken her into their home. Plus, she didn’t want them coming in search of her if they heard water running and catching her naked. So with another sigh, this one of resignation, she left the bathroom and searched for her clothes. The ones she’d been wearing were nowhere to be seen, but the plastic bag with the other new outfit she’d bought was on top of a large dresser.
Thank you, God.
She pulled them from the bag and quickly dressed. Just as she tugged the T-shirt down, there was a knock on the door.
Cat shuffled away from the entrance with trepidation and then around the bed so that she would have the large piece of furniture between her and whoever wanted entry to the room. Plus, she was near the window, which was an avenue of escape if she needed to get out quick.
“Catalina?”
The man’s voice was so deep she had a feeling he was big. She held her breath when she saw the door move and hedged closer to the window. Her heart stuttered when he entered the room. She’d been wrong. He wasn’t big—he was huge, and so good-looking she had to blink to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.
“My name is Hank Heritage. You’re on the Triple H Ranch just outside of Slick Rock, Colorado.” He stopped just inside the doorway, staring at her. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” she answered and cleared her throat when her voice cracked.
“You must be hungry and thirsty.” Hank lifted his hands as if to show her he was harmless. “Why don’t you come on out to the kitchen?”
Cat shook her head and bit her lip when her stomach growled loudly, but she was used to being hungry. Her appetite had suffered over the last three months and she’d lost weight. Why did her appetite have to come back now? “I should go.”
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