Had Pip just been collateral? Had someone been trying to get even with Perci for some perceived slight? It was possible; but it didn't sound likely to him .
It was the stuffed animal that worried him the most. The horse looked remarkably like Wind Lover, right down to the sweet face .
What did that tell them? That someone had been close enough to Pip to see that horse, to go to a store somewhere and buy the stuffed version. Or order it off the internet and wait for it to be shipped—how long had that person been watching her ?
Maybe it was Pip, and Perci was the collateral ?
To get that particular horse, someone had to have been close enough to Pip to know she was the one connected to that horse and not Perci. To know that Perci’s room was the pink one and Pip’s the blue .
It was Pip's underwear that was missing, after all. Pip's that the sonofabitch had taken with him. No, Matt knew it in his gut .
It was Pip that the sonofabitch wanted .
54
M att walked out with Joel hours later. Joel had called in a crime scene tech from eighty miles away and the young guy had dusted for prints and DNA on the knife and on the toilet. On Pip and Perci’s dressers. It would take a while, but they might get an answer that way .
Matt discussed his theories and concerns with his brother, as Joel grabbed a duffle bag with extra clothes out of the back of his SUV and tossed it at him .
“It’s possible. The horse says someone’s been close to her.” Joel’s concern was in the green eyes he’d inherited from their father like all of Matt’s brothers. “But the rage was definitely directed at Perci .”
“Find him, Joel. Before I do. Hell, before Nate does .”
“I suggest we let Nate find him. Little brother is pissed. And I understand it.” Joel looked back up at the house, now alight with warmth. Matt knew what his brother saw. It had been painted, but it was still an older house. The people inside were good people, and didn’t deserve this terror .
“You think it’s John Rutherford ?”
“It makes the most sense. Either him or that idiot Jay Gunderson. Though rumor has it, he’s just spending his time out on his ranch fixing it up. Seems determined. And they let him out on good behavior, Matt. It’s most likely Rutherford. He’s been seen in the area .”
“Find him, damn it . ”
“I’m doing the best I damned well can. You just watch your back. And hers .”
“Better believe I will. If I have my way she’ll be moving with me to the Hodsen homestead as soon as the floors are replaced.” He hadn’t put his wishes into place in his head until that moment, but it was what he wanted .
Pip. In his future, indefinitely. Forever .
“Knew the wind blew that way .”
“What can I say? I’ve practically loved her since the moment I fished her out of a river in time to save your sorry ass .”
“Yeah. Tyler women are like that. All it takes is one look for them to get under your skin and stick forever. Levi and Nate don’t stand a chance .”
55
J ay had found himself a good place to hide and he cursed himself for being stupid. He’d come back. He’d regretted what he’d done less than an hour after he’d done it. He’d decided to go see for himself that she was alright .
He’d known that was stupid. He’d seen her come home .
He had stuck around and watched as she and her sister had come outside, rifles in hand .
They’d been so scared, because of what he had done. He shouldn’t have scared them like that—he remembered what it was like to be that frightened of things .
Jay had hidden and watched as those damned Mastersons had shown up .
As they’d held her and her sisters. As those Mastersons had held their girls, as those Mastersons had had women who mattered to them. Who they mattered to .
Rage and envy had boiled in him until he’d totally lost control of himself .
He’d retreated to the second barn and planned. Planned exactly what he was going to do. He was going to have to get a distraction going, and then he was going to get his girl. Once and for all .
After that he was going to take her to his hunting cabin for a while. It was where he was staying until he could get his ranch remodeled. The floor needed to be completely replaced—it wasn’t safe for his girl just yet. He could have stayed with his daddy, but things had changed when Jay had asked his daddy what he’d said to Pip that night. When Clint had told Jay quietly what rumors were going around, about how Pip’s Mama had died .
Poor girl; his daddy had had no business doing that to her. To her. Jay’s girl .
His father also hadn’t liked Jay questioning him. That had been obvious .
He hadn’t realized his daddy had a beef with Phil Tyler, either. But the older man did .
Jay didn’t have time to wonder, though. He had another five gallons of gasoline to deal with .
56
M att walked back to the front door of the Tyler Ranch with determination, Joel’s words fresh in his mind .
If he wanted that woman safe, keep her that way. He’d heard the frustration at the lack of answers in Joel’s words. And he’d understood. His brother wanted Pip safe. Period. But there were rules that Joel had to follow .
Rules Matt didn’t .
Matt walked into the house and kept walking until he found Perci and Nate in the kitchen. Perci looked so pale, so frightened .
Matt knelt down in front of this woman with Pip’s face .
“I’m here to stay. I’m staying until Joel catches the guy. I’m not leaving Pip—or you—until we have him .”
“And what does my sister think of this?” Perci looked at him, questions in those eyes of hers. It was like looking at Pip, but it wasn’t. A rush of emotion for this sister of the woman he loved shot right through him .
“I haven’t told her yet. I’m just here. And I’m staying here until I’m sure the two of you are safe .”
He might have been mistaken, but he was certain he saw the relief in her eyes. But Perci would never admit to being afraid, would she? “ I see .”
“Where is she?” She should have been right there. But wasn’t .
“Barn, where else? She took her rifle, though.” Nate said, pointing out the window. “She’s more stubborn than the rest, your girl. I argued for five minutes and she never budged, just insisted with the deputy out there she was fine—and I should stay with her sister .”
“It isn’t enough. You should have called me back in.” He’d called after speaking with Joel and arranged things with his head vet tech. Derrick would handle any appointments or calls that he could, and direct the rest to Matt out at the Tyler Ranch. If he had to go to town on a call, he’d be bringing Pip into town with him. It wouldn’t be ideal for her, but it was solution he was more comfortable with .
“Didn’t think it was; it’s why I’m still here, watching. I need to head back into town. I left the hospital in a real lurch. I need to get back. Deputy just went behind the far barn .”
“Go. I have things covered. And thanks , Nate .”
He was keeping her safe. Period .
57
J ay heard the barn door open and he jerked behind the corner of the nearby shed just as the buckskin mare and her foal were released into the paddock. He got a glimpse of the woman he was after before she was cut off from his view by that damned vet Masterson .
Jay pushed back the immediate rage. Matt Masterson’s time was coming. Jay had promised himself that .
No man would touch his Pip and live .
He waited to give them time to get out of the barn. He hadn’t planned on Masterson being there. It would take him a while to figure out how to deal with the guy .
Masterson wasn’t a punk kid like Phoenix Tyler. Masterson was actually bigger .
That hadn’t kept Jay from fighting before. He’d taken care of the deputy wondering the place with a simple knock to the head with a damned rock he’d found. Gu
y had gone down without a sound—or a fight. Pitiful .
Jay moved faster .
He dumped the rest of the gas around the bottom of the back of the barn. He hadn’t dumped any inside yet. He was hoping the breeze would take the smell downwind, until he got things into place like he wanted .
It wasn’t the biggest barn on the Tyler Ranch, but it would be one hell of a distraction .
Masterson would probably rush right out there to fight the fire .
And Masterson would make sure Pip stayed back .
Jay had waited long enough—he slipped in the back door of the barn .
He had his cigarettes and lighter in his pocket. As soon as he found the right moment, the barn was as good as gone .
And Pip was going to be his .
58
M att found her in the barn, seconds after she sent Wind Lover and the foal into the pasture. She had the rifle leaning against the stall. The foal was scampering around trying to get Pip’s attention. She was a spirited little buckskin that was surprisingly healthy considering all that she had been through before she was born .
When Matt walked in, Pip paused, and looked over at him. "Matt, I needed to see to the horses ."
"You should have waited for me. Joel and I discussed it, and I need to stay here until we find out who's responsible. He’s putting a deputy in a car outside your house for tonight once he gets here, but I need to stay here with you. I can't not be here.” He knew better than to force her to do anything. And he would never do that to her. Never take her choices away from her. He understood that that was an important component of who she was. Of who they were going to be together. He hadn't explained himself very well, had he? "I can't not be here, baby, any more than Joel could ever leave Phoebe ."
"Why?" Her lips trembled as she spoke. He followed her out of the stall. Forcing himself not to just reach out and touch her. Once they were clear of the stall, she turned to him. He watched her swallow. Watched her wrap her arms over her stomach, and looked at him directly. Tension twisted his gut .
Now wasn’t exactly how he wanted to have this conversation with her, was it? No, Matt had half thought it would be with them cuddled together after loving each other .
"Why do you think?" It was confrontation time, wasn’t it? It was time he laid himself bare, put it all out there, for her to understand .
"I don't know. I don't understand you. I think I'm starting to, but I can't be for certain. How do you feel about me, Matt? I need to know the truth right now. There has to be honesty. What do you want from me? Are you just here because of what happened to my underwear? Or do you feel what I am starting to ?"
Matt said to hell with it, and he wrapped his hands around her waist. His trembling hands. When had that happened? When had this woman gotten so deeply under his skin that this very moment would matter so much? He didn't know the exact moment, he just knew that it had. "I want everything from you, Philippa Marie Tyler. Everything you are willing to give. But I am an impatient man, and I'm struggling with it. I know you need soft and quiet and gentle and easy… And slow, but I'm not sure I can do that. You burn me, and it takes everything I've got to hold back the flames. Do you understand what I'm saying ?"
She was silent for the longest moment, and Matt knew he’d blown it. He'd find her away completely. She was going to tell him he was crazy and to stay far away from her. That was going to be the end of it for both of them .
And then she shocked the hell out of him when she reached out. One small hand slid up his chest and rested on the back of his neck .
And then Pip leaned closer .
59
I t had been the nerves, the vulnerability on his face and in his words that had made up her mind for her .
No more being a coward. Pip was done being afraid of everything. Being afraid of him. Matt would never hurt her .
For the first time, she realized that she could be the one hurting him. And that was the last thing she ever would've wanted. "Kiss me again, Matt. Just kiss me again, right here ."
He did. Exactly like she wanted. His hands tightened around her waist, and he lifted her off of her feet. Pip knew exactly what he wanted her to do. And she did it. She wrapped her legs around his waist until she could feel him pressed up against her. Until he was holding her pressed up against him .
One of his hands slipped up and knocked the hat off of her head. It fell to the barn floor practically unnoticed. And then his hand was tangled in her hair, and he was holding her still, as his mouth fused to hers. And as she kissed him back just as hungrily .
It was her that slipped open that first button. Her that slipped his shirt off of his broad shoulders. He didn't wear anything underneath it. No undershirt for him. It was just too damned hot outside for that. She spread her fingers wide over the most perfect male chest she had ever seen .
His heart pounded beneath her hand. Telling her exactly how much the man wanted her .
Her, Philippa Tyler. No one else. She was not second best for him. He hadn't seen Perci first, and decided to settle on second best .
He'd seen her, and he'd wanted her .
But it was more than that. It was in his kindness, his loyalty, his bravery, his gentleness, the love he had for his family; it was in the way she trusted him. And it was in the way he looked at her. "Pip? How far are you wanting us to go? Because, baby, I'm a man holding the woman I want. You have to know that there is nothing I wouldn't give to just lay you down there on that hay where we've slept together before. Show you exactly how much I do want you. But it's got to be your choice, Pip. Yours. So if you want me to stop, now's the time to say it. You just tell me what you want , baby .”
Pip pulled in a deep breath, and stared at him. He let go of her hip, and she slid her legs back to the ground. She stepped away from him, but not too far .
His breath caught .
She knew what he was thinking in that very moment. Pip swallowed and looked at him. Knew that what she was about to do was going to change everything between them. Forever .
Her hands went to the bottom of her shirt and she lifted, pulling it over her head. And tossing it to the hay next to them. "I don't want you to stop, Matt. I don't want you to ever stop looking at me, or touching me the way you do ."
He reached for her and scooped her into his arms. Pip caught her breath as a soft laugh slipped out. It was easy to forget what had happened inside when she was with him. Matt made her forget the fear. And she suspected he always would .
"That saddle blanket still around here ?"
"Right where you left it the last time you were here. It's just been waiting." Just like she had been, and that was more than clear to her now. Pip leaned forward and pressed her lips to his .
60
J ay stood in the stall and listened to the sounds of that bastard Matt Masterson holding and cuddling Pip. It was obvious what they’d just finished doing—in the damned barn, of all places. With a deputy walking around and her sister inside the house .
Had she no shame ?
His Pip had given herself to that Masterson without hesitation. Because she wanted him. She was no better than those sisters of hers, was she? That little slut had wanted a Masterson. Instead of him .
All these years he had waited for her, had been confident in the fact that she was waiting for him .
But she hadn't been .
She'd been screwing around with the first sonofabitch that had looked at her. How long had she been with Masterson? How long had she been whoring herself for him? Was she only after what Masterson could give her ?
This place, this damned Tyler ranch, was obviously a shit hole. Not fit for rats to live in, let alone humans. But here she was. Her and that twin of hers, and those younger brothers. It was filthy, run down, poor and disgusting .
Was that what this was about ?
Was she, like her oldest sister, whoring h
erself to a Masterson to pay her way through life? Was she that desperate ?
What was it Masterson could give her that Jay couldn't ?
Jay fought the rage that continued to build and build. Until he had completely lost the battle .
He grabbed the shovel by the handle and waited. Waited until the damned sonofabitch had pulled his jeans back up, waited until Pip had redressed herself. Waited until they were cuddled there on the hay, Masterson whispering soothing words as he stroked her side. As they spoke quietly .
As Pip thanked Masterson. Thanked him for screwing her. Was she that hard up ?
And then he heard his own name. Heard her talking about how he had terrified her for so long. How she was afraid she would never heal after what that monster had done to her .
What had he done to her ?
Except get a little too carried away? But surely she understood that he was angry that day, that he was drunk, and young, and immature? That it wouldn't be like that between them now .
Jay dropped his lit cigarette to the hay. Then the rest of the damned pack right on top of it. He waited, just long enough for the flames to grow a bit .
He had to make her see. Make her see that he was the better man than that damned vet. He had to make her see. He pushed open the stall door and stepped up behind where that damned Masterson knelt over her .
Pip saw him, and her hands tightened on Masterson's chest. She screamed .
Jay acted. He brought the shovel down on Masterson's head quickly, but the sonofabitch turned at the last second .
Masterson went down, out cold on the blanket they’d just screwed on. Jay tossed the shovel aside, though he wanted to pick it up and just pound the shit out of Masterson. Crack his head open. But he didn’t have time for that .
Discovering the Doctor (Masterson County Book 2) Page 12