The venom in the woman’s voice caused Cary to take a step back. “I’m not—”
“I know your type. Be warned.”
Chapter Eleven
Usually the calm quiet atmosphere of the barn settled Micah’s mind and gave him the peace to work out his problems. This afternoon, it only gave him time to get angrier. Marlene had stooped to a new low using their daughter to try to wheedle her way back onto the ranch.
Although he’d do anything to keep Willa Wild happy, even if he let Marlene come back, she’d leave again—and break Willa’s heart all over. It was time to take control of the situation and quit letting Marlene call the shots.
He stood and dusted off his jeans. Putting off the confrontation hadn’t accomplished anything so far, and the battle wasn’t over yet. He felt like a child dragging his feet over a chore he didn’t want to do.
As he mounted the back steps, he heard Marlene’s voice, her words just soft enough so he couldn’t make them out. Stepping into the kitchen, he found Cary and Marlene standing face to face.
Marlene turned and when she saw him, she smiled. “Hi, baby. I was just telling Cary our good news.” She hurried over to him and put her arm through his.
“Marlene, come take a walk with me.” He raised his gaze to Cary’s. “Would you keep Willa Wild in here for a while?”
When she nodded, he turned around and put his hand on Marlene’s back, pushing her out the door a little bit harder than he’d intended.
“Micah, watch out.” When Marlene stumbled, he took her arm and hurried her down the stairs.
He didn’t speak as they crossed the barnyard, but Marlene kept up a running commentary of all the things she was going to do now that she was home. He pulled open the heavy barn door and followed his chattering ex-wife into the dim interior.
Light filtered in from the two windows set high in the walls, and dust floated in the air from the horse’s movements in his stall. The sweet scent of hay filled the space.
“It stinks in here. Is there anything we can do to get rid of this odor?” Marlene turned to Micah, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Never mind, I can get used to it. After all, I won’t be spending that much time out here.”
The overwhelming desire to throttle this woman had him grinding his teeth. He took hold of her wrists and removed her hands. “You can’t stay.”
She reached up and stroked her fingers along his cheek. “Sure I can. I promise I won’t leave this time. I’m ready to be your wife and Willa’s mother.” She’d stepped closer, deliberately rubbing her breasts against his chest.
There’d been a time when he couldn’t have resisted her, a time when he’d forgiven her anything, but that time was gone. “Let me be clear. You have three days to find another place to live. After that, I’ll pack your things and drop you off at the bus station.”
Her arms dropped limp to her sides and her eyes filled with tears.
“Crying won’t change my mind. Three days.” It amazed him that he’d ever found this woman alluring.
The pitiful expression on her face morphed into anger. With the speed of a prizefighter, her hand snaked out, and she slapped his cheek. “Willa Wild won’t ever forgive you for forcing me to leave.”
He folded his arms across his chest. His anger faded away as he watched her scramble for a way to win. “That’s between me and Willa. It has nothing to do with you.”
Her jaw set and a mulish look transformed her face. “She’ll believe me when I tell her you forced me to go so you can have your girlfriend.” Her breath came in short spurts and red blotches covered her once lovely face.
He met her angry glare and held it until she looked away. “I don’t believe you will intentionally hurt our daughter, and you know if you tell her that, she’ll be torn between us.”
“Micah, please.”
“Three days.” He walked half way to the door then turned back. “If you need help moving, Clint is available.”
He heard her soft sobs. He’d heard them before, but he’d hardened his heart to her wiles. The sun was brighter and warmer when he stepped through the door. He wasn’t kidding himself for a second that Marlene would give up. He knew they had at least a couple more confrontations before she realized he meant what he’d said.
When he entered the back door, Willa Wild stood on the step stool, the apron Cary had tied around her waist hanging to her toes. A white splash of flour spread down the side of her cheek and across the counter.
“Pa, I’m making cupcakes. Cary teached me.”
Cary, covered with an equal amount of flour, grinned. “She’s a natural.”
The sight of this woman with his child made his chest clench. He knew Marlene loved Willa, just not as much as she loved herself. While Cary had only known Willa for a couple of weeks, she seemed to really treasure the time they spent together.
He took his finger and brushed some of the flour from Willa’s face. “What kind are you making?”
“Fairy cupcakes. They got magic in ‘em.” Excitement colored Willa Wild’s cheeks pink and deepened the blue of her eyes. “I’m making one special for you and Mama.”
And all the happiness he’d found while watching these two hit the floor like a drunk at Mardi Gras. “Willa, I need to talk to you about that.”
She turned her elfin face to his, her expression all knowing. “In a minute, Pa. I have to finish the cupcakes first.”
Cary brushed off her hands then wiped them on one of his grandmother’s embroidered hand towels. “Willa, you keep stirring. I need to talk to your father for just a moment. Okay?”
Willa Wild stirred the thick batter with all the strength her skinny arms could manage. She grinned at Cary then Micah. “I’m gonna be a great cook, just like Cary.”
Cary led him into the living room and out onto the porch. She leaned against the porch rail and raised her rich brown eyes to his. “You know Willa Wild is worried about you and Marlene?”
He sat on the rail next to her. When his arm brushed hers, she moved a few inches away. “Damn! I’d hoped she hadn’t picked up on that. Marlene broke the news in front of her hoping I would give in. Not this time. I gave her three days to find another place to live.”
Cary bit her bottom lip. “What are you going to tell Willa?”
“The truth.” He stood and walked to the other end of the porch and stood looking out over the pasture. With a short nod, he turned back to Cary. “I can’t keep letting Marlene breeze in and out of our lives. She’s promised to stay this time, but I can already see her getting restless.”
“Willa sees more than you know. She’ll understand. She might not like it, but she’ll understand.” Cary lifted up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good man.”
Micah wrapped his hand around her upper arm and pulled her close. Before she could object, he lowered his lips to hers. Fire raced through his body. Lightening raced through his brain. Even when he was enamored with Marlene in the early days of their relationship, he hadn’t felt like this. An overwhelming was a sense of peace was present whenever he was with Cary.
He raised his head and looked into her eyes, trying to convey his feelings. He pulled her close and held her against his body absorbing the warmth she gave him.
Cary was good for him, and she was good for his daughter. As soon as he got things under control with Marlene, he’d tell Cary how he felt about her.
As they stood there, he heard the scrape of a shoe on the stones of the walkway. Then Marlene cleared her throat.
Cary jumped and tried to pull away, but he kept his arms around her. He looked at his ex-wife. “You need something?”
~~~
Cary always thought of herself as pretty strong-minded, but being in the vicinity of Micah West was proving her wrong. No matter how determined she was to stay an arm’s length away from him, when his lips touched hers, she melted into a gooey puddle. The only option, she realized, was to leave sooner rather than later.
With a paych
eck for two weeks work in her pocket, she had enough money to go somewhere where Micah wasn’t. She’d planned on working at least another week, but that was out of the question. Marlene wasn’t leaving soon enough. And Cary couldn’t stay with the woman here.
But then there was Willa Wild. She’d miss the little girl with all her heart. Willa was the daughter she’d probably never have. She pulled two hash brown and egg casseroles out of the oven and placed them on the table, sticking a large spoon into each one. Life with Willa Wild and Micah wasn’t in the cards.
She’d carried most of her things to the car the night before when the house had been asleep, and she was going to make her escape after she’d served breakfast. With a roast in the crockpot and lasagna in the fridge ready to be baked, the men would have food for today.
Cary picked up the puppy and clutched him to her chest. She scratched at the soft fluff behind his ears while he licked her cheek. “I’d love to take you with me, but it wouldn’t be right. There’s no place in the city for a ranch dog. You’ll take good care of Willa Wild for me, won’t you, Goodun.”
“Hey, Miss Cary.” As Clint came through the back door, his customary smile on his face, she straightened. “How’s your day going?”
She’d miss this man, too. He’d become a friend. Silly as it sounded, he’d helped her learn what she needed to survive out here. “Just dandy.”
He put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “It’s lots nicer with you here.” Grabbing the largest plate, he filled it to overflowing then dumped catsup a half-inch thick over everything.
Turning away, she bit her lip to keep the tears from falling. She’d miss all these people. In such a short time, they’d become like family. But she’d lost other people she’d cared about, and she’d survived.
“I’m going into town. You need anything?” Clinton slicked up the last bit of eggs with his toast then put his plate in the sink.
With her emotions under control for now, she turned and gave him a big smile. “I need you to tell Millie how you feel.”
Clint stared into the sink. “Nothin’ to say.”
“Poultry.”
His brows drew together. “What?” He managed the question around a mouthful of food.
“It’s from an old movie. Poultry is another word for chicken.”
His bark of laughter brought a smile to her face. Grinning as he chewed, he nodded in agreement.
Cary patted his shoulder then hurried up the stairs. She was pretty sure she’d packed everything except her purse and phone, but she checked the closet and beneath the bed just to be sure. Hurrying out to the car, she tossed her bag into the back seat. If the good luck gods were on her side today, she’d be gone before anyone noticed.
Climbing into the shabby green Ford, she reached up and adjusted her rearview mirror. A movement in the mirror caught her eye.
Marlene hurried down the steps, both hands waving frantically.
With a sigh of resignation, Cary waited for the redhead to shimmy up to the driver’s side. One good thing. This would be the last time she’d have to fake a pleasant expression for the woman.
“Can you give me a ride into town? Please.”
What the hell was up with Marlene now? There was something definitely wrong when this woman acted nice. Cary wasn’t making the return trip, so if she took Marlene, the woman would be stranded in town. “I’m going to visit a friend, so I won’t be back out here until tomorrow. You won’t have a way back to the ranch.”
“That’s okay. Micah will come get me.” Marlene climbed into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. “Let’s go.”
On a normal day, the drive to town took a little over fifteen minutes. Having Marlene in the car took normal out of the equation. The trip seemed never ending with Marlene’s constant chatter about moving back to the ranch.
Leaving was the right decision. No matter how much the ranch felt like a home, Cary couldn’t stay.
Rounding a curve halfway to town, Cary hit the brakes and narrowly missed the car sitting sideways in the middle of the road.
The man in a white suit stood by the open hood. He turned and rushed to the driver’s side. “Hey, can you help us?” He gestured to the car, and Cary could see another person sitting in the passenger seat.
“What’s wrong?” Cary called to him. She opened her door and started to climb out, but thought better of that. Her Spidey sense had alarm bells clanging in her brain. If these guys had car trouble, why was it sitting crossways, nearly blocking the road? She didn’t recognize the man, but there were many people from this area she hadn’t met yet. “Marlene….”
“Let me do the talking.” Marlene turned and opened her door but didn’t get out. “I can handle these guys.”
A shiver ran down Cary’s back. Was something wrong, or was she being paranoid? Marlene didn’t seem bothered. Cary started to follow Marlene, but stopped when the second man climbed out.
He was even bigger than the first with a triple chin and rolls of fat around his middle. For a man of his size, he reached the front of Cary’s car before either of the women could react. He effortlessly lifted Marlene out of the car and held her by her upper arms high enough so only her toes touched the ground.
Marlene struggled but couldn’t break free.
Cary froze.
“Climb out of the car.” White Suit leaned toward her window his hand on the door handle. “If you don’t want that pretty little girl to disappear, you’ll do as I say.”
Her heartbeats thundered in her ears as adrenaline raced through her veins. Disbelief warred with panic in her brain. They didn’t have Willa Wild. They couldn’t. She’d stayed at her friend’s family in town last night. They had to be bluffing. “I don’t believe you. You don’t have her.”
The thug jerked the door open and took a step back. He held out his hand as if he were Prince Charming bent on helping her out of the car.
Her instincts screamed to get away, but as she didn’t have any choice at the moment, she climbed out.
White Suit leaned closer, and she couldn’t stop herself from leaning away. Were these Mad Dog’s men? They had to be. They’d found her, and she’d endangered Willa Wild by staying too long. Just the thought of Willa Wild being hurt made her head spin.
The smaller man pulled a phone out of his pocket and brought up a picture. There, on screen, was Willa Wild holding a puppy. Triple Chins knelt behind her, his bulk dwarfing her tiny frame. Cary’s legs gave out at the knowledge these men had Willa. As she hit the ground, the gravel dug into her skin, but she didn’t notice.
She grabbed the edge of the car door. It took all her concentration to keep her voice steady. “Let her go. Take me. I’ll do whatever you want.” Cary sucked in a lungful of air then another one. She had to get herself under control if she was to have any chance to help Willa Wild.
The man nearest to her smiled, showing his tobacco stained teeth. “That’s a mighty nice offer, Marlene.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. “I think me and BJ can work with that.”
“Wait. What?” She jerked her arm loose and stepped away. “I’m not Marlene. Did Mad Dog send you?”
Both sets of eyes stared at her then shifted in tandem to Marlene.
“You’ve got the wrong person,” the redhead said, holding her hands up, backing away. The moment the men took a step toward her, she turned and ran.
As the thugs hurried after Marlene, Cary jumped into the Fiesta and turned the key. She shoved it into gear the same moment one of the men jerked the passenger door open. With the gas pedal to the floor, she barely missed the car in front of her. The little Ford fishtailed in the gravel before grabbing onto the asphalt.
Cary swerved the car down the narrow road. The bad guy kicked his feet, trying to gain a foothold while the door hinges shrieked in protest from his weight. Slamming on the brakes, she locked up the wheels before she stomped on the gas again. The door swung shut, pinning the man for a moment before he scre
amed and fell away.
She couldn’t be over five miles from town. Five miles that seemed to take five years. Willa Wild must be so frightened. Who knew where they’d hidden the little girl.
She rounded the last curve, and East Hope came into view. For once, there wasn’t a living soul on Main Street. Panic made her misjudge her stopping distance, and her bumper dented the light post in front of the jail. The car hadn’t come to a complete stop before she bailed out and ran to the door of the sheriff’s office.
“They’ve got Willa,” she cried, but the silence told her no one was in the room. Turning, she ran to the café. That was the most likely place to find help.
She raced down the cracked sidewalk and hit the restaurant door at a full run. It banged against the wall as she threw it open, the bell clanging. “Help, they’ve got Willa Wild.”
The cacophony of voiced silenced. Every head in the room turned toward her. Micah stood from the booth where he sat with Clint and hurried toward her. “Calm down. What’s going on?”
Cary grabbed his shirtsleeves, frantically tugging him toward the door. “The men stopped us. They’ve got Willa. We’ve got to hurry.” The last word came out on a sob.
Micah took her hands and pulled her to him. “No one has Willa Wild. She’s right here with us.” He pointed to the booth. At the sight of the little girl, her bright red hair curling around her face, her brows knit into a frown waving one small hand sent a shock of relief racing down her limbs. She locked her knees and turned to Micah. “But they’ve got—
A child’s wail filled the room. “They’ve got Goodun.”
Chapter Twelve
Micah’s heart had stopped when Cary came through the door, her face ashen and her expression wild. He pulled out a chair and lowered her into it before kneeling down. “Start from the beginning. What happened when you left the ranch?”
Cary gasped and tried to talk but she was shaking so hard, the words were unintelligible.
Gimme Some Sugar Page 10