by Rose, Amelia
But sorry for what? she thought to herself sadly. Sorry for last night, or for bringing me here in the first place? She looked down at the diamond ring on her finger and thought back to Casey’s romantic proposal and their intimacy shortly afterward. Was it all for nothing, and did he want to go back on his proposal?
Miranda didn’t have to wait long for an answer. She turned to lie on her back for a while and nearly came out of her skin when she saw Casey sitting on the foot of her bed, waiting for her to wake up. She looked at him for what seemed like an eternity, trying to read the expression on his face, but couldn’t. Finally, he spoke,
“Miranda, I thought about what you said last night, and I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice raw. She could see the dark circles under his eyes, which told her he hadn’t slept well either, if he’d gone to bed last night at all. “You told me you were telling the truth, and I didn’t listen. You haven’t done anything to make me think that you came out here for any reason except the reason you’ve said all along. But as soon as it even looked like there was a problem, I started to question your motives and practically accused you of being a shameless gold digger. You didn’t deserve that.” He looked down at his hands where they fidgeted with the hem of his untucked shirt. Miranda noticed for the first time that he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, answering her question about how much sleep he must have had. “When I didn’t see you come down for breakfast, I was so scared that you’d left, not that I could blame you if you did. Then, I finally saw Gracie out at the barn and this feeling of complete relief that I felt from knowing you had to still be here was…I just don’t even have the words to say how glad I was.”
Casey stood up and came closer to the head of the bed, kneeling down beside it like a man who was praying for what he desperately wanted. He took Miranda’s hands in his and leaned closer. “I screwed up, and I know I hurt you. But I love you and I’m begging you to forgive me. You don’t have to answer me right now…”
Miranda silenced his pleas with a powerful kiss, pulling him to her by the front of his shirt. He returned her kiss ravenously, gathering her in his arms and holding her so tightly, she almost couldn’t breathe. She didn’t care. It didn’t matter if this was the last breath she’d ever take, as long as she did so with his arms around her.
Until that moment, their kisses had been tender and timid, romantic, as the two of them tried to overcome their lingering feelings of uncertainty. This was different. This was pure need for each other as Casey gathered her hair in his hands and broke free of her mouth to leave heated bites over her neck, working his way to her shoulder. Miranda moved back and pulled Casey with her until the two of them were tangled together on her bed, facing each other. He slid a hand down her bare thigh and pulled her knee up to his waist, pressing his hand against the small of her back, holding her against him as if he couldn’t stand even air to come between them. She could feel how much he wanted her at that moment and hoped he knew she felt the same way.
Miranda pulled away long enough to pull her nightgown over her head and whisper against Casey’s lip with a sexy smirk, “Lock the door.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
They got dressed a long time later, having passed the time exploring each other’s bodies, making up for lost kisses last night, and talking in between. Casey asked Miranda if she wanted him to go downstairs first for propriety’s sake but she pressed a finger to his lips then put her arms around him, kissing him once.
“I don’t care who knows that we’re finally together,” she answered. “But if you want to keep things quiet for a while, I understand.”
“Um, I think ‘quiet’ just went out the window,” he laughed scandalously, jerking his head to the open window in her room. “We weren’t exactly all that quiet a little while ago.” Miranda blushed slightly and made a face, but eventually shrugged.
“I don’t know, with all the racket the cows make, it’s a wonder anyone can hear anything here. That’s what I’m going to tell myself, anyway!” Casey laughed and kissed her forehead before pulling open the bedroom door and stopping suddenly when Joseph was there, one hand lifted to knock.
“Oh! Sorry, guys. Miranda, Dad said there’s someone on the phone to talk to you. He’s in his office and sent me to get you.” Joseph looked from Casey to Miranda several times, piecing their relationship together.
“That must be the detectives,” Miranda said, turning to Casey. “Do you want to come listen? I didn’t know if that would relieve any doubts.”
“No,” he answered firmly, smiling at her. “I don’t need to be there. I believe you, whatever it is you have to say. If you need me there, I’ll be there. But otherwise, I’m going to head back to my work and just trust you.” He pulled her closer in his hug before letting her go, swatting her playfully on the rear as she went ahead of him.
They kissed goodbye quickly at the bottom of the stairs, Casey returning to the pasture and Miranda stepping into Bernard’s office after rapping on the door frame. He smiled broadly and pointed to the phone, getting up from his leather chair so she could have a seat. She picked up the phone but pressed a hand over the mouthpiece.
“Bernard…sorry, I mean, Dad…I offered to let Casey listen and he said he didn’t need to. But I would feel better if you stayed. I want everyone to know I have nothing to hide, and that I don’t have any secrets to keep.” He started to argue but she put a hand up to stop him. “I know you can say you trust me, but you would be a little crazy not to have some kind of doubt. I would feel better if there was someone who had heard me answer their questions.”
Bernard smiled and sat down across from her, pressing the speaker phone button and introducing her to the detective. He sat silently as Miranda answered every question, surprised like she was that it had nothing to do with her ex like she’d assumed but instead, was about her old job. As it turned out, one of the partners had engaged in some shady business dealings, and Miranda’s disappearance only added to the appearance of guilt and collaboration. Once she convinced the detective what her limited job responsibilities had been and that the trip had been purely a coincidence, he hung up with a promise to keep her posted if there was any news, thanking her for her willingness to tell him what little she knew.
She hung up the phone and turned to Bernard, who looked at her fondly. “I am very sorry we put you through this, Miranda. I know you were very upset last night, and no one can blame you.”
She nodded thoughtfully, and said, “I appreciate that, but I can also see how it looks from the other side of the desk. You have your ranch to protect, and then something comes up that raises questions. It doesn’t feel good to not be believed, but I can at least understand that you were just concerned, for your son and for your family.”
Bernard came around the desk and took Miranda’s hands, standing her up before hugging her. “Thank you for understanding, and for forgiving. You are a very special person, and I’m so happy you’re going to be a part of my family! Speaking of which, I noticed you have on a new accessory today, and I must say, it suits you!”
Miranda laughed, hugging Bernard again and telling him goodbye, eager to grab something to eat and visit with Gracie now that she was in a better mood, her spirits lifted and her heart light again. There was an upcoming cattle drive to get ready for, and hopefully after that, a wedding to plan.
“We’re going camping?” Gracie shrieked sometime later when Miranda shared the plans as they rode in the corner pasture, getting the calves used to being around saddled horses. “Why? What did I ever do to you? I’ve never hurt a soul, I’m a good kid who eats her vegetables and doesn’t back talk. And you’re making me go camping?!”
“What’s wrong? I thought you’d love the chance to go on the drive, to be outside with the cows and your horse all day, doing cowgirl stuff. What’s not to like?”
“Oh, I don’t know, how about bugs, snakes, sleeping on the ground, eating cold food next to a puny campfire, not getting to shower, peeing behind a bus
h…the list goes on!” Gracie whined before putting on a full-on pout.
“I think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised,” Miranda explained. “I thought it was going to be like the old western movies, too. But there’s actually a fully-modernized kitchen truck that meets us at all the stopping points for meals, there’s a bathroom and shower truck, and stuff like that. You and I have been assigned the job of helping the new people who come out here just to take part in the drive. You know, people who actually pay good money to get to go ‘camping’!”
“Oh, goody, I get to spend the whole trip next to you, listening to these people complain about how their chuck wagon food isn’t a four course meal!” She slumped her shoulders and frowned while still making wide circles around the calves.
“Well, smarty pants, I didn’t tell you the best part. Every other day, Casey will be riding and he said you could switch off and come up front to help him with the herd! So there! You’ll only be stuck with me and the newbies on the other days,” Miranda said, teasing her sister.
Gracie brightened a little bit at the news, as much as any disgruntled teenager who isn’t getting her way can. They rode some more before Gracie changed the subject. “So, I can’t help but notice you have some new jewelry…have you guys set a date?”
“Well, considering I got the new jewelry yesterday and we almost broke up last night, uh…no.” Gracie stared at her sister and begged for the details, but Miranda didn’t want to talk about her initial fears that Casey simply didn’t trust her, and she certainly wasn’t going to talk about how they made up this morning. They spent another hour circling closer and closer to the tiny herd of calves until they could get fairly close without the little guys getting too skittish. They stayed out long enough to let all the ranch hands make their way through the lunch waves then headed up to the house, stopping at the barn to put up their horses.
As Miranda and Gracie approached the front steps of the house, two women who had huddled together on the step stood up suddenly, looking around before the younger looking one spoke. “Is your name Miranda?” she asked quietly, almost like she was afraid someone would hear.
“Yes, I’m Miranda. And you are?”
“Don’t worry about that. We had to come out here and talk to you for just a minute, then I promise we’ll leave.” The girl who was speaking wrung her hands, and Miranda noticed the other woman kept her arm linked through hers, her eyes darting around as though she was afraid of being spotted.
“You don’t have to leave. Come over here and sit down.” She led the girls to the rocking chairs after telling Gracie to go inside and wash up. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
Dee and Emma looked at each other nervously before Emma spoke up. “I don’t know if you know this, but we work for Mack. He owns the bar in Hale.” She looked away for a second, and Miranda had a sudden flash of where she’d seen these two girls. Luckily, they were clothed this time. Emma continued, saying, “We overheard a drunk guy in Mack’s one night talking tough, saying real ugly things about his girlfriend. Some of the guys were giving him a hard time about letting his woman run all over him, and he started yelling that no woman ever treats him that way, that he’s beaten her before and that he’ll do it again. Then he starts talking about how he knows she’s ‘around here somewhere,’ how he’s got her credit card and he knows she’s here. Right about then, he just up and starts accusing Mack of stealing his girlfriend, and he rushes at him like he’s gonna punch Mack. ‘Course, the man’s completely plastered so he didn’t make it far, but that didn’t stop Mack and a couple of the other guys from hauling him out behind the bar and beating him to a pulp.”
Miranda swallowed nervously, instinctively knowing what was wrong. Just then, Casey ran up on the porch and stopped short, looking over the two girls with a little bit of disgust.
“What are you two doing here?” Casey demanded, staring them down. The girls looked to Miranda and didn’t say anything. Miranda turned back to the girls, ignoring Casey’s question.
“And why did you think of me?” she asked, worried about their answer. They nodded for a second, then Dee explained.
“Well, he talks like an out of town person, and we heard rumors that there was a girl on the Carson place who was new. We just put two and two together and figured you’d run away, like we did, you know?”
“If you’re the same girl he was talking about,” Emma interrupted, “that man’s gonna kill you. He said so. He said no one gets away with running out on him.”
“And just like that, the two of you drove all the way out here?” Casey asked, narrowing his eyes a little bit.
“No, sir,” the younger girl said. “We walked. It took us all night because we had to wait ‘til Mack passed out.”
“You walked? All the way from Hale?” Miranda asked, suddenly worried for the two girls. “Casey, go tell Cook they need something to eat. Quick!” Casey looked from Miranda to the girls and shook his head, but went inside anyway to do as he was asked. “How did you possibly make it all this way?”
“We just had to let you know, and there wasn’t any other way to tell you.”
“Well, you won’t have to walk back to Hale. I’ll make sure someone gives you a ride.”
“We can’t go back there,” Emma said quietly. “If Mack found out we left, he’d…” She stopped midsentence when Dee grabbed her arm roughly. Miranda just looked at them, gratitude for what they’d done and what they’d risked mixing with the need to help them.
“What can we do? How can we help you two?” she asked, nearly begging them to let her do something.
“If you can find out when the bus is arriving and put us on it, that would be more than enough. It would get us out of here for good,” Emma said. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but there’s just no way we can go back there.”
“Absolutely. Consider it done. I’ll look it up and get the tickets, and make sure you are delivered directly to the bus by as many cowboys as it takes to make sure you get out of there safely!” Miranda promised them, putting aside her own worries that Mike had found her and thinking more of the two girls—barely older than Gracie, judging by their looks—who had risked their own lives to protect hers. “Come on inside and we’ll find out when that bus is arriving. We’ll see what’s taking Casey so long with some food, too!”
They stood up and walked into the foyer just as Casey appeared with two plates, obviously intending for them to eat on the porch. Miranda looked from the plates to Casey’s face and waited, crossing her arms over her chest and daring him to say something rude.
“I was just coming out to see where our guests would like to sit,” Casey said with a forced smile, melting Miranda’s heart.
“We need to use the computer, so can they eat in your dad’s office?” she asked, smirking when he swallowed loudly before answering.
“I’m sure they can,” he replied in a pinched voice, turning and leading the way. The office, full of a handful of men with various jobs on the ranch, grew instantly silent when the small pack appeared in the doorway. Casey spoke, keeping his forced smile in place as a warning to everyone else to just go with it. “Hi, Dad, we were just wondering if we could look up something on your computer. It’ll only take a minute, then we’ll be out of your hair.”
Bernard looked thoroughly confused, but silently got up from his seat as the men quickly fled the now very crowded office, some of them looking down as they passed to avoid anyone noticing that they already knew Dee and Emma very well. He took a seat and leaned back on one of the sofas as Miranda went to work at the computer, Dee and Emma sitting perched on the office chairs as though they were afraid of getting them dirty. After asking them for the information on their destinations, she typed and clicked the mouse for a long time, the frown on her face increasing as she worked, the frightened expressions on the girls’ faces growing more pronounced.
“I’m afraid we have some bad news,” Miranda finally announced. “The only tickets that will get you where you
want to go are going to end up costing more than if you took a plane, what with all the bus changes you’ll have to make.” The girls’ faces fell, and Emma began to breathe very rapidly. “But…but…let me do some more digging and I’ll see what we can come up with, okay? Don’t worry. For now, I know you guys walked all the way and the only reason you did it was to protect me. I feel like I owe you for that, so how about we trade? You can clean up, have something more to eat, we’ll get you some fresh clothes, and you can stay over tonight as my guests.” The girls looked surprised and thrilled, while Casey and Bernard looked surprised and alarmed.
“Come on, Gracie will take you upstairs and help you find everything you need.” Miranda came out from behind the desk and hugged the girls tightly, not caring about the slight smell coming off their clothes or the open sores on their skin that signaled recent heavy, repeated drug use. These were two human beings in need, and they had done the impossible to warn her. She took them upstairs, telling Gracie to take care of them. Bernard and Casey were waiting for her when she came out of the bedroom, looking none too pleased.
“I know,” Miranda began, putting her hands up in defeat. “I know what you’re thinking, but we have to do something.”
“Miranda, I love your compassion but those two are nothing but trouble. They’re drug addicts and prostitutes and even worse, if word got out that they’re here, Mack is going to raise all kinds of commotion trying to get them to come back. Plus the fact that probably half the guys on this ranch have had some ‘business’ with them…we don’t want to open our own brothel on the ranch,” Casey explained, trying not to raise Miranda’s ire over his judgment of the girls, but still trying to get her to see that having them on the property for even a minute was dangerous.