by Sable Hunter
Harper shook her head. “I don’t know about his mother.”
“Well, let me explain. Noah found out that he doesn’t share a mother with the rest of the brothers, a father ‘yes’, but his mother was someone Sebastian met on the rodeo circuit.”
Harper’s mouth dropped. “Poor Noah.” She knew him well enough to realize a surprise like that would have knocked him for a loop.
“Yes, and the family is in the process of trying to find her. I know there have been some leads, but so far they haven’t located her.” Skye pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s very anxious.”
“I’m sure he is. And Noah isn’t the most patient of men.” Both women shared a laugh over that truth.
Down the hall…Noah and Revel sat at a small table in a waiting area. “I’m glad you’re here, Jones. She needs you.”
“Not as much as I need her.” Revel folded and refolded a napkin under Noah’s watchful eye.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Revel looked up at Noah. “What? Are you a mind reader now?” He wanted to be civil. He owed this man. He’d even fought alongside Noah in Mexico. If only this white hot jealousy wasn’t eating him alive. Noah McCoy had made love to his Harper!
“You’re afraid she’s back in the club scene. You think she got beat up again by someone she invited to do it.” Noah’s Texas drawl was a little magnified by his attempt to talk quietly and his intent to convince the Cajun that what he was saying was true. “Am I right?”
“Yes!” Revel threw down the napkin in disgust. “I have to convince her to let me take her back to Wildwood, give me time to show her that I can take care of her.”
“Good luck.” Noah snorted. “She’s the most hard-headed person I know.”
Revel laughed with him. “Have you looked in the mirror?”
“Touché.” Noah raised his coffee cup. “You have to be pretty determined yourself, this isn’t your first attempt to rescue Harper.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Rescuing someone is hard to do when they’re happy where they are.” Noah said what he was thinking, damn the circumstances.
“She’s not happy,” Revel stated flatly. “Did she look happy to you?”
“No, she didn’t,” Noah agreed. “But she’s very protective of you.”
“What?” Revel didn’t understand.
“She’s protecting you from herself.” He explained, rubbing a microscopic spot on the table with a napkin. “Look, I owe you for what you did for Aron. I owe you for taking a bullet to help my family.”
“No, you don’t. You paid my hospital bills, that was thanks enough. Besides, I may call upon you one day.” Revel didn’t want bad blood between him and the McCoys.
“That’s fine, but I want you to know this.” Noah looked Revel in the eye. “She’s always loved you. Even when we were together, we weren’t really together, if you know what I mean. I didn’t really know the difference till I met Skye. She never let her guard down with me. I was someone she was with…because she couldn’t be with you.”
Revel sat there, silently, digesting what McCoy had said. “Maybe, but it was her choice not to be with me.”
“I don’t think she saw it that way.” Noah explained. “And for what it’s worth, I think she was mugged. I don’t think this was part of the BDSM scene.”
“Why do you say that?” Revel had to ask.
“Her attitude. She’s angry about this, not ashamed.”
Revel sighed. “Well, either way, no one should ever hurt her.” He got up and poured them both a second cup. “So, what’s up with your family?”
Noah pushed his ever-present Stetson back on his head. “Too much. I’ve got a lead on my real mother.” At Revel’s surprised look, Noah took time to catch him up. “So, my father wasn’t perfect. I’m a McCoy and God knows what else. But I have to know. The word is that she’s in Tampico, Mexico and I’ll be heading down there soon.”
Revel nodded. He knew about Tampico. “If you need me, I’m there,” he assured Noah.
“I appreciate it. Other than that, everyone is doing well. Nathan’s doing so well with his grades, he won some type of scholarship to spend a semester at a school in London.”
“Is he going?” Revel asked. Knowing how completely Texan these men were made him laugh at the idea of one of them barreling into English society like a bull in a china shop.
“Yea, he wants to. I told him he better not get over there and fall for royalty. They’re not going to let a Texas good ole boy in Buckingham palace.”
“True, can you imagine a princess at Tebow? Why…the world would come to an end.”
Both of them laughed, looking up when Skye walked to their table. “I think we need to go. The sheriff’s with Harper, Revel. I think you should be in there.”
Revel jumped up. “I agree.” He hugged Skye and thanked Noah. “I appreciate you two coming by more than you’ll ever know.”
They left and he went immediately to Harper’s room, walking in as Kane questioned Harper. “Can you give me a description of the man who attacked you?”
“Very thin, blond, not too much taller than me, early thirties maybe, and bad teeth.” Her voice was even, but Revel could tell from the strain around her mouth what this was costing her.
“Eye color?”
“Blue, or light green, I think.”
Kane was writing in a notebook. “So, you were heading to a convenience store.”
“Yes, for something to eat.” She stared at a point over Kane’s shoulder, ignoring Revel’s return. Harper just wanted this to be over.
“And why weren’t you in your car? Why put yourself at risk…walking the streets?”
He framed the remark as a question and Harper realized he didn’t believe her either. “I wasn’t at a club. I haven’t been back to a club in…I only went back twice after Ajax. It just wasn’t right anymore.” She told more than she wanted to tell.
“Okay, and why were you walking?” he asked the question again, just in case she missed it before.
Harper cast her gaze down, humiliated. “Because I didn’t have enough money for food and gas. I had to choose.”
Revel felt his stomach wrench. The idea that she was doing without just made him sick. She didn’t have to do without, she didn’t have to want for anything—ever!
“So, he came up behind you?” Kane urged her to complete the story.
“Yes, he grabbed me from behind, twisted my arm, he ended up choking me. I passed out.”
“So, she wasn’t…?” Revel couldn’t get the words out.
“No, I wasn’t raped,” Harper answered shortly. “I would know.”
Revel groaned out loud. Harper and Kane both looked uneasy. The sheriff stood. “I can’t promise we’ll find the guy. But we’ll look. Where’s your car parked?”
Harper acted like she didn’t want to tell him.
“It’s in the report,” he began.
She sighed. “Down close to the park, by the river.”
Kane looked from one to the other. “I don’t have to tell you how dangerous that type of thing is, especially if you’re living…”
“I know. I know.” Harper had to stop him before he said too much. “I’ll be more careful.”
“All right, you do that.” He tipped his hat, giving Revel a hard look. “She doesn’t need to be on the streets.”
Harper watched the two leave, probably conspiring against her. What was she going to do? Revel was going to fight her walking out of here with every breath in his body. But she knew what she had to do…she just had to find the time to do it.
* * *
Revel had walked Kane out to his car while Kane told him all he could about where Harper was found and what the circumstances were. “I think she’s living in her car.”
With a curse, Revel looked off in the distance. “Why would she do this? She’s smart, educated, her grandmother left her money. All she has to do is go claim it.”
Kane slapped his hat against his leg, then ran his finger along the brim. “I’m no damn psychologist, but I think she feels disconnected, unworthy maybe.”
What the other man was saying didn’t sound unreasonable, although it did make Revel want to punch his fist through any available wall. “I’m going to try and change her mind.”
Once Kane was gone, he went back to the room. A nurse was exiting. “I gave her something to make her rest. Why don’t you do the same, you look like you could use something to eat.”
“Yea, I will.” Revel knew he needed to eat, but he wasn’t leaving the hospital. “I’ll go down to the cafeteria. I don’t want to leave her alone very long.”
Going into the room, he walked to the bed, bending to kiss Harper’s cheek. “I love you, Bright Eyes. You’re always on my mind.” The words were their mantra, their bond. “I’ll be back.”
As soon as he left, Harper’s eyes popped open. She reached up to her mouth and removed the pill, laying it on the bedside table. Wincing, she pulled out the needle and then removed the tape. On wobbly legs, she stood until the circulation returned to her feet. Then she began methodically searching through the drawers until she found her clothes. Glancing back at the door to make sure she was still alone, Harper yanked on her underwear, pants and a top. Holding on to the edge of the bed, she stepped into her shoes. Her mind was rushing her, but her heart was begging her to reconsider. “It’s for the best,” she chided herself. “He doesn’t need you ruining his life. He’ll thank me someday.” She couldn’t accept his charity, couldn’t invade his home. Clotille was gone and Revel would be better off without her.
“I love you,” she spoke to the empty room. “Don’t ever doubt it, I love you enough to leave.”
Then she was gone, easing down the corridor, through the exit and into the night. Weak as a kitten, she had to force one foot ahead of the other, but she did, disappearing into the shadows.
When Revel returned, he stood in the door, trying to make sense of the empty bed he was seeing. This time though, he didn’t hesitate, he knew exactly where she was going—thanks to the good Sheriff, and he intended to meet her there. With a few cursory words to the attending nurse, he gave them his card. “Send me the bill. I may get her back here and I may take her home to Louisiana with me.”
Sprinting to his car, he plugged the address into the GPS. He wasn’t too familiar with Kerrville. Hopefully, she’d take the same route. If she didn’t, he’d be waiting.
Harper hugged the shadows. She didn’t know if she was more afraid to be seen by drivers as they passed or risk bumping into someone in the dark. Neither was appealing. But she didn’t have money for a cab. Hell, after checking her pockets, she realized she didn’t have money for anything. The rat bastard that choked her took everything she had, including her car keys. So, if all her doors were locked…she was up a creek without a paddle.
With every step she took, Harper questioned her own sanity. She was walking away from the grandest man on earth—again! This time he’d have had enough. Stopping at a red light, Harper waited till it was clear before crossing. When a horn blew, she jumped about two feet, wondering if someone would leap out and accost her.
Meanwhile…Revel was driving slow and staring out the window—first one side and then the other. He was so afraid he’d miss her. According to Kane, her car wasn’t but about a mile and a half from the hospital. Kerrville just wasn’t that big of a place. What if she fainted? What if she ran into trouble? He didn’t know how much of a head start he had, but what if she drove off before he got there?
Finally, he saw the car dead ahead. The same powder blue mustang that Clotille had given her all those years ago, back when things had been right between them. Whipping over to one side, he parked, jumping out. Only to find she wasn’t there. He looked up one side of the street and the other—nothing. Glancing in her car, what he saw broke his heart. Everything she owned, he supposed, was stacked in neat little piles. And the amount was pitifully small. Revel leaned on the car, his arms stiff and wiped his brow on his sleeve. He didn’t allow himself but a small respite, before he was up and staring down the sidewalk again in the direction of the hospital. A small figure caught his eye, he strained to see. Was it her?
When Harper recognized that the big man she saw leaning on her car was Revel, her first instinct was to run. But where? She had nowhere to go and nobody to run to—but him. Feeling defeated, she kept going, not surprised when he started toward her. She kept a steady pace, dashing a few tears from her eyes and she couldn’t even say she was surprised when he picked up his pace and ran the last few feet, catching her up in his arms.
She didn’t resist, she didn’t have the willpower or the strength.
“When are you going to quit running from me?”
Harper wove her fingers in his hair.
Revel kissed her face. “Let’s go home.”
“I don’t have a home,” she whispered wearily.
He wanted to say that ‘yes’ she did, wherever he was, that was her home. But he didn’t. He had another strategy in mind. Asking God to forgive him for lying, he made his case. “Yes, you do. Clotille left you Wildwood and I’ve spent the last year getting it ready for you.”
Harper pushed against his shoulder. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Wildwood is yours.” And it was, the deed was in her name. She just didn’t need to know that he was paying for it. “Of course, I hate to tell you this, but you have a roommate.”
“Who?” There was something she wasn’t getting. Of course, being near to him like this always stole her reason.
“Me?” Revel tried to smile. “I live there. I’ve been renovating it for you. You wouldn’t toss me out, make me homeless, would you?”
Staring at her car, where she’d been living for months, Harper knew she wouldn’t wish that on her worst enemy, much less someone she loved. “I guess not.” Tightening her fingers in the dark silk at his neck, she looked Revel hard in the face. “You’re telling me the truth? You’re not just saying this to get me to go home with you?”
Revel laughed, she knew him well. “I’ll show you the deed, it’s got your name all over it. But yes, I’d say whatever it took to get you to come to Wildwood. I need you home.” He kissed her. “I need you safe.”
Harper wiggled until he put her down. “If I come…” she paused like she had bargaining power. “If I come, this doesn’t mean we’re back together. That can’t happen.”
Knife in the gut. “Okay, well, I’m not going to agree to that. You know I can’t live without you.”
“No, Revel, you have to give me time.” Time to make sense of this. Time for him to realize what a mistake that would be.
“Time I can give you,” Revel agreed, pulling her closer. “I’ll make it my personal mission in life to show you how perfect we can be.”
Harper allowed herself to be enfolded in his arms. “Okay.” She wiped her face on his shirt. “I don’t have anything, I can’t even get into the car to get my stuff.”
“I’ll give you what you need, Harper. You don’t have to worry.” He smiled to himself. He felt a tremendous weight being lifted from his soul. This was the beginning. His chance. Their chance. “I promise you, I’ll prove to you that I can give you everything you need.”
CHAPTER SIX
Revel drove from Kerrville back to Louisiana. With all of Harper’s things locked in her car, she had no identification. He planned on talking to her about how dangerous it was to go out with money just stuffed into her pockets. Taking Noah at his word that he wanted to help, Revel called him to see if he would have Harper’s car towed and someone pack her things and ship them to Wildwood. Noah said he’d be glad to do it. He even offered to have a ranch hand drive the car to Loreauville. Revel had gladly accepted.
Driving all night, he was glad Harper was able to sleep. She was obviously exhausted. Before they’d set out, he’d pulled into a Sonic drive-in and bought her a jalapeno burger an
d a large coke. It had done his heart good to see her smile and it worried the crap out of him that she’d be so grateful for food. Yes, they had a lot to discus, a lot of things to get straight. No woman he worshipped was going to live her life hungry and homeless, not as long as he had breath in his body.
So, he’d driven as she slept curled up on the seat next to him. He’d driven carefully, after all, he had precious cargo. But as much as possible, he kept one eye on her—he couldn’t help it. Harper was safe, she was with him, and they were on their way home. Did they have a long way to go before things were perfect? Yes, they did. But this was a start. He didn’t know if he could lay the credit at the church door, Nana’s spell or happenstance—either way, he was grateful.
As the rental car ate up the miles, the shadowed scenery changed from the hill country of central Texas to the piney woods of East Texas to the mysterious bayous of South Louisiana. A few times Harper would shift in her seat and once she reached out her hand toward him and he’d gladly taken it, cradling it in his own. When they drew near to Wildwood, he’d spoken to her gently. “Hey, baby, wake up. We’re home.” He couldn’t help but smile as he said the words. They were momentous to him.
His voice broke through Harper’s dreams and a few seconds passed as she came to, opening her eyes and realizing where she was and who she was with. Flashes of emotion cascaded over her. Was this the smartest move she’d ever made or the most selfish? Harper didn’t know. But one thing was certain, this was a distinct improvement over living in her car or being on the street. Plus, she was with the man she loved. No matter what the future held, she’d try to cherish this time until it was over.
And it would end. She didn’t doubt that. A happy ending wasn’t in her future.
But for now, she’d enjoy the moment. Stretching, she turned to meet Revel’s eyes and she smiled. “We’re home?”
Her smile was so beautiful that Revel felt as if a warm light had been lit in a darkened room. “Almost. I left the porch light on. When we turn the curve, you’ll see. I’ve done a lot of work on the place this past year.” He held his breath, watching her as she kept her eyes straight ahead. When the house came into view, he saw her reaction, a tremulous smile and tears shining on her cheeks in the moonlight.