Rewarding Redemption (The Redemption Series Book 5)

by Bonnie R. Paulson

  Big Red was dead – killed by her father.

  She gathered that much. Sadness tore through her. What else would her father destroy? Even from the grave, Devlyn Caracus tormented her.

  But why was Thomas blaming her and Jason? They didn’t kill anyone.

  He’d cursed them. Sent her away.

  Sent her away from the one sure thing in her life. The people she counted on to be a foundation should she need to rest from running.

  Suddenly Thomas was there, pushing out of the front door again. Hope sprang anew in Jenny’s chest. He hadn’t turned his back on her. The normally stoic man had developed a sense of humor and was teasing her or something.

  Or something.

  But even before she saw the box, a pit of dread ate up her heart, devouring her hope like a rattlesnake eating a mouse.

  Resolute, Thomas stepped to her level, thrusting the box into her arms. “I kept this out of respect for the girl we once knew. But I rid my house of it and her by giving it into your arms. You are no longer welcome on Redbird land or in the Salish community. Leave or we will remove you.”

  Jenny couldn’t look him in the face as shame filled her. While she ran from her father and his gang as well as being alone, since she changed her last name, she had been able to avoid the glaring embarrassment and hatred for her father and his gang that Montana communities dumped on anyone related to them.

  She ignored the pain she dodged, town to town, tried changing who she was, her blood. In a span of minutes, Thomas Redbird II relegated her to nothing more than a Caracus girl, less than the dirt on his shoes. He reminded her of who she was and what she would never be free from.

  She could run from the truth for only so long.

  Time was up.

  In seconds, Thomas returned inside his home.

  Jenny clenched her fingers on the edge of the box, glancing up into the sky to blink back suddenly biting tears. Holy crap, if the burn of rejection from a man she had once considered a replacement-father wasn’t enough, she had to endure it all while under the watchful gaze of Jason Mendez.

  With gentle hands, Jason turned her and guided her down the stairs. “It’s okay. Come on. Let me take you to Rosie’s place. You’ll be welcome there and you can meet your sisters.”

  “On what? We can’t ride that horse clear to Colby. Not both of us. And not only do I have my backpack, but I now have this…” Jenny narrowed her eyes at the top of the cardboard box. Pride kept her from falling apart. “My car’s back at the rest stop.” She didn’t suggest asking for help from anyone on the reservation. She could guarantee rumors had already spread across the community about the incident.

  Dark would come soon and she wanted to be long gone before they had a chance to get her. Now that her safety was trampled, she wanted to hurry of town.

  If she and Jason weren’t careful, security would probably arrive and escort them from the reservation land. Adding insult to shameful injury.

  Unable to deal with the emotional turmoil ripping through her at the bitter rejection from the last people she counted on, Jenny focused on Jason and nothing else.

  A protruding edge of concrete in the cement path caught her foot and before she could right herself, she fell to the ground. The box tumbled from her grasp, books spilling onto the cement. Sharp bursts of pain catapulted through her knee and up from her elbow. She rolled to sit, drawing her knees toward her chest and putting her hands over her face.

  Would it be okay if she died right about then?

  Sharp pain seared up her knee. How many times would she have to endure the injustices of being a Caracus? Like the cement hated her for who she was, too. Ignoring the bright red scrape on her knee through the newly ripped hole in her last pair of jeans, Jenny breathed in and out as deep as she could. Was that going to be the final thing that broke her?

  She wasn’t going to cry. She couldn’t.

  Not in front of Jason.

  Not right there.

  If she started, she might never stop.

  Chapter 8

  Jason

  Watching Jenny for any sign that she might lose her control, Jason bent and retrieved the fallen items from the box. He didn’t even pay attention to what the books were, just placed them back into the cardboard container then offered Jenny his hand.

  She accepted, pulling herself to a standing position. The bright red scrape on her knee looked superficial but still painful.

  Jason bent a bit, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  With a self-deprecating laugh Jenny pushed from his touch and grabbed up her box, the backpack swinging from her shoulders and then clunking back to rest against her spine. “Of course. I’m usually klutzy. You would think I’d be used to constantly falling by now.”

  Unsure where to put his hands or how much help she would take from him, Jason tucked his thumbs into the tops of his jean pockets. “Well, would you like me to call the Colby deputy to come pick us up? It’ll be dark soon and we should really get that cleaned up.”

  Jenny blew out of the side of her mouth toward the hair hanging over her eye.

  Unable to help himself, Jason reached up and softly tucked the blonde strands behind her ear. A bright pink flushed her cheeks at his touch.

  At least he had proof she wasn’t immune to him, like he feared.

  She cleared her throat and adjusted the box in her arms. “I thought you weren’t going to be the law today?”

  He didn’t even ask before taking the box from her arms. “What is it with you and the law? I’m on vacation. That doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of my position.”

  She didn’t fight him for the box. Instead she seemed relieved to have her hands free to move the backpack straps higher on her shoulders. “I’m just…” She raised her eyebrows at him, screwing her lips to the side.

  “Well, we’re stuck here on the reservation.” He waited for her to choose. If he had his way, they’d catch a ride with a deputy and get back to Rosie’s. Get the whole mess taken care of. But it wasn’t his way and he didn’t want to scare Jenny off.

  “I don’t think Mr. Redbird left it unclear what would happen, if we don’t leave.” Her murmur barely reached him, but the tender pain behind the soft tone brought his protective side out.

  He lifted his chest. “I hate to break it to you, but I’m taking the day off from the law with you, not Ol’ Man Redbird. I don’t really care what he orders. He’s not my boss and this place isn’t a hundred percent protected from the federal law.” Her car would’ve already been towed from the rest stop by then. Not that it mattered, Jason wasn’t going to ask her to walk all that way – by foot or on the back of that horse again. They’d be walking until midnight at that point.

  Jason’s car would still be sitting there. He’d have to get it delivered.

  Jenny bit her lip, her eyebrows drawn low. “We could call a cab.”

  “Yeah, we could.” Jason jostled the box to one arm and dug the cellphone from his pocket. He ordered a taxi from Colby for their location and hung up. He texted the dispatcher at the Colby sheriff’s office for someone to retrieve his car and slid the phone back in his pocket. “Okay, cab called. If you want to find this treasure, and I’m sure you do, we need to get you and your sisters together. Let’s make that our first stop. I’m sure they’d be glad to see you.” The sooner the Caracus daughters got together the faster they could get over the uncomfortable part and move on to finding the treasure.

  Jenny shook her head. “I’m not ready to meet them. Plus, I’m really tired.”

  “Well, ready or not, the time has come.” Sighing, Jason glanced around, running his hands through his hair. “I don’t have anywhere else to take you. I’m not going to be able to get your car out of impound until tomorrow or the next day.” He finally looked her in the eyes. “You can come with me to my place, but the apartment is temporary. You and I would both benefit from you meeting with those women soon.”

  She watched him, bi
ting her lip. “Okay, we can go to your place. I need some time before I meet them, you know? I’m not ready. I need… I need a breather.”

  Jason couldn’t decide if he agreed with her or not. Time with Jenny was his number one priority. While sending her to Rosie’s would help him get the treasure and resolve some of his goals, not sending her right that minute gave him even more important time with the woman he hadn’t stopped thinking about for most of his life.

  But he could see she was close to breaking. Maybe a good night’s rest and some food would shore up her reserves.

  If he couldn’t get through to Jenny before finding the treasure or reuniting her with her sisters, he would only have a short couple of days before returning to work and losing her for good.

  And he would lose her. His job… man, he had less stability than Jenny did as she drove all over the state. Running was her choice and she could choose where to go and when. Taking orders and assignments weren’t an option in his job, he had to do what his boss said – no questions.

  If Jason could get Jenny to his place, maybe he could at least keep her near him for a second chance to connect. She had to want to be with him. He needed her to want it.

  Picturing her at his apartment sent a rush of heat to his toes and back. Could he really have her close enough to invite her to his place? Was it possible that he’d found her?

  Would she reject him when she found out how much he always cared? And if she didn’t? What if she could love him as much as he loved her? Had always loved her.

  If she didn’t care? What if she was too determined to be alone?

  Jason couldn’t think too hard about that possibility. The constant back-and-forth with his emotions made him sick.

  Jenny was an independent person. She more than proved her self-reliant streak. If she had any residual effects from being partially raised by Devlyn and the gang, she would want a family and to settle more than anything else in the state.

  If Jason could offer her what he craved as well, maybe she would stay with him.

  Or maybe his delusions would one day consume him.

  Chapter 9

  Jenny

  Trailing her fingers up the polished stair railing, Jenny followed Jason to a loft-style apartment over a barn. “Wow, what a great space. Do you have a lease or something?” The charming atmosphere was open without feeling unsafe.

  He set her box down on a table to the side of the stairs. “No, the apartment is a temporary thing. The local doctor owns this place. I guess she remodeled the space to use for guests and stuff. I contacted the local police when I headed back here and they shuttled my inquiries this way. Nice place, comfortable enough.”

  A futon set against the side wall, hand-knit Afghans draped artfully over dark blue wingback chairs set beside the window. Handfuls of rag-strip rugs decorated the hardwood floor and two long, short dressers manned the entrance. A television mounted on the far wall didn’t take away from the homey feel of the place. A small space heater was tucked into the corner.

  For the first time in years, Jenny was in someone’s home. The alien sensation overwhelmed her already exhausted state and she sighed shakily. What was she doing with him? He was familiar and sweet. He didn’t push her to do anything or be anyone. All he wanted her to do was meet her sisters.

  Not to mention the strong familiarity she had with him. There wasn’t much effort needed to pretend the years had never passed and they were still friends. The friendship made the cop thing easy to ignore.

  True, he wanted the treasure, but who didn’t? At that point in her life, she would take just about any act of kindness. At least in those next few hours. The disappointment on the reservation stung too much, bit too deep, for her to cope with much more heartlessness from anyone else.

  She stepped onto the landing, edging deeper into the welcoming atmosphere, sponging up the security of not running, even for a short time. With everything else on the wayside, Jenny trusted Jason to protect her from anyone who tried getting her.

  Switching on a light, he turned, crossing his arms and watching her. “You’re welcome to change. Get comfortable.”

  She didn’t answer, turning her back to him so she could set down her bag on a chair, but really to hide her suddenly present tears. Don’t spill over, don’t spill over.

  Shaking her head, she forced a smile into her struggling voice. “Thank you, I’m not sure exactly what to do, to be honest.” When her tears faded under the guise of control, Jenny turned, further forcing the pretend smile to her lips.

  Where would she go and how would she get there? “Do you think I can get my car back?”

  “It’s been impounded. I can’t get it for a couple days. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking when I had it towed this morning.” His dark brown eyes didn’t flicker as he watched her, his gaze warmer than the sun streaming through the glass panes. “If I could do it over, I would have them leave it. I would have us taken the horse back to the rest stop.”

  “Oh.” Her voice was so small. She wasn’t on the run, not at the moment, but that didn’t mean she was stable. That didn’t mean she had a sturdy grasp of what to do or where to go. Maybe she should turn herself in to the police, get a good night’s sleep in jail with some solid food. “I don’t have the money to get it out.” She didn’t have money for anything, not even a new blanket or pillow.

  “I know.” Jason motioned for her to take a chair and he strode to the other, stretching his legs out as he sat. “Jenny, we need to talk about why I was following you. I don’t think you’ve been honest with me. You’re skittish and I’m not sure why.”

  “You seem to know an awful lot about me for only having just found me.” Jenny picked at the edge of her thumbnail, trying not to look directly at him, hiding her guilt from his gaze. She didn’t want to lose the only person in the world she had. What if he thought less of her? What if he didn’t feel the alarming comfort around her that she did around him?

  He drew his long legs up and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Jenny, what are you hiding from me? Tell me so I can help you. I promise, you’re going to be fine.”

  Jenny drew in a long breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She couldn’t just tell him. She needed something in exchange. If he really followed her, maybe he already knew about her past and he would be put off by dishonesty. If he pushed her away after she told him, she didn’t have a way to leave. She finally pierced him with her gaze. “Look, if I come clean, will you get my car back?” She didn’t want to wait a couple days, but if she didn’t have him get the vehicle for her, she would never be able to get it.

  “I’m already planning on doing that.” He smiled at her. “Why don’t you ‘come clean’ so I can help you? I’m sure whatever it is, it’s not as bad as you think.”

  Would he be able to help her? He wasn’t a judge. Plus, he didn’t seem to have changed much from the boy she’d grown up with. Jenny sighed. “You promised you’re not law enforcement today, so you can’t use this information tomorrow or whatever, okay?”

  She kind of relished the idea of telling someone. “Police are after me because I steal things – have stolen things.” His expressionless face didn’t tell her if she shocked him or not. Guilt twisted in her stomach. She rushed on. “I don’t want to take people’s stuff and I try really hard to avoid it. I don’t take personal items or even really valuable stuff, just things like, well, I stole a pillow once and I took this woman’s water bottle at the laundromat, but I…” She couldn’t keep talking as she realized how terrible she sounded.

  She had never confessed before, to anything, and Jason, sitting there with no judgement on his face and his kind brown eyes watching her… the difficulty of the moment welled in her eyes and pushed the tears over the brink.

  Jenny collapsed into her hands to escape any chance at seeing reproach. “I’m sorry. I’m sure that’s why you’ve been following me, too. I’ve stolen in every county and even some stuff while I was in Wyoming and then onc
e in North Dakota.” She wasn’t sobbing, but she gasped for air between her words.

  Soft hands wrapped around her forearms and she looked up to find Jason on his knees in front of her. His eyes were on level with hers. Warm light cast a honey glow over his black hair and deep chocolate eyes. Even his lips were on level with hers.

  Why was she thinking about his lips? She didn’t mean to let her thoughts run that direction. To be fair though, there was only so much kindness a woman could take from a man whose masculinity couldn’t be more blatant when he was tender.

  “Look, I didn’t follow you because of something so minor. I knew about it, but you didn’t take anything worth fighting for. Come on, Jenny, be easier on yourself. You stole food and some money, nothing people can’t replace.” He tilted her chin up, his eyes accepting. “Don’t be afraid of me. I don’t want you for that.”