Dakota Sunrise

by Leah Brooke

  After several seconds, he turned back, forcing a smile. “Don’t worry. I have the ability to control my temper and I certainly wouldn’t take it out on a woman or child.”

  Casey danced around the room, obviously bored with the conversation. “Mommy, I want the bubbles. We buyed them at the store.”

  “We bought the bubble bath at the store.” Taking Casey’s hand, she started down the hallway. “It’s in with the groceries. You can take a bubble bath tomorrow night.”

  By the time she’d finished and helped her daughter from the tub, her side ached unbearably.

  “Does your boo-boo hurt, Mommy?”

  “Just a little, honey.” Dressing her daughter in a warm nightgown, a pair of her new thick socks, and her robe, Deanna ran a hand over her wet hair. “Mommy’s fine.” She got to her feet, hoping Sam and Carson left soon so she could take a hot shower. “Let me comb your hair and we can go out to the kitchen so Mommy can put the groceries away.”

  Holding her wrist against her side, she mentally groaned at the prospect of trying to take another shower while leaving her cast hanging outside the shower curtain.

  “Mommy?”

  “Yes, sweetie?”

  “Where am I ’apposed to hide?”

  Deanna swallowed heavily, fighting back tears. “You don’t need to hide anymore, honey.”

  “I wanna pwace to hide.”

  Fighting not to cry, Deanna nodded and finished combing the tangles from her daughter’s hair. “Okay, honey.”

  They left the bathroom to find Carson standing down the hallway, leaning against the doorway to the kitchen.

  His smile fell. “What’s wrong?”

  Shaking her head, Deanna led Casey in the opposite direction. “Nothing. We have something to do. We’ll be out in a minute.”

  Straightening, Carson started toward them. “Can I help?”

  “No!” Casey turned to him, pointing to the kitchen. “You can’t see.”

  Carson stopped abruptly, sending Deanna a questioning look.

  Shaking her head, Deanna attempted a smile but feared she failed miserably. “We’ll be out in a minute.”

  Nodding, Carson turned back to the kitchen, aware that Sam had gotten to his feet.

  He grabbed two beers from Don’s refrigerator, handing one to Sam. “Don’t ask. You heard them. There’s something that Casey doesn’t want me to see.”

  Sam opened his bottle and took a healthy sip. “I want to wring that motherfucker’s neck—after I beat him to a bloody pulp.”

  Carson sat back, smiling as he imagined how good it would feel to plow his fist into Jimmy’s face. “Yeah. I almost wish he would show up here.”

  Both had removed their boots, hats, and coats, neither one in any hurry to leave.

  Hearing Deanna and Casey scuffle down the hallway, Carson grinned and sat up. “There they are. We brought everything in and put the cold stuff in the refrigerator and freezer but didn’t—what’s wrong?”

  Frowning when they stopped at the doorway and Casey hid behind Deanna’s leg and tugged at her, Carson stilled, not sure what he and Sam had done to scare her.

  Deanna smiled in apology, gesturing toward the bottles. “It’s the beer.”

  Carson glanced at the bottle he held, sharing a look with Sam before getting to his feet. “Look, Casey.”

  When Casey peered around Deanna’s leg, Carson slowly got to his feet, went to the sink, and dumped the contents down the drain. “If it scares you if I drink this, I won’t drink it. How about some milk?”

  Casey waited until Sam dumped his own beer down the drain before making her way timidly into the kitchen, holding tightly to her bear. “Can I have seven cookies, Mommy?”

  Carson helped Casey onto the stack of phone books he’d placed carefully on the chair, moving slowly and keeping a smile on his face. “Seven?”

  “It’s a negotiation.” Deanna retrieved the milk from the refrigerator while Carson got the glasses. Aware of Sam’s questioning stare, she looked down at her daughter. “You may have one cookie.”

  Apparently amused, Carson moved to Casey’s other side and handed Deanna one of the small glasses, smiling at her over Casey’s head.

  Casey accepted the glass and took a sip. “I ate all my chicken finners. Six cookies.”

  Carson took his seat, sharing a smile with Sam. “Tough negotiations.”

  “Fingers.” Deanna poured three more glasses of milk. “You did. Two cookies.”

  Casey grinned. “And I was a good girl today. I should have four cookies.”

  Carson touched Deanna’s arm, sending currents of heat to her nipples. “Learning math, are we?”

  Deanna smiled and moved away with the excuse of getting the package of cookies. “We still have a way to go. Addition is easier than subtraction.”

  Carson held her gaze, silently letting her know that he was aware of what she’d done. “That should change when she realizes she’s cheating herself.”

  Deanna turned her attention back to her daughter, anxious to get the groceries put away. “You may have two cookies or no cookies. Which would you prefer?”

  Sticking her bottom lip out in a play for sympathy, Casey looked from Sam to Carson and back again. “I think I should have three cookies.”

  Both Sam and Carson looked up at Deanna expectantly, clearly willing her to give in.

  Deanna hid a smile. “I might be willing to make it three cookies on one condition. When you finish your cookies and milk, you brush your teeth and go straight to bed. I need you to stay there while I take a shower.”

  Sam opened the cookies. “Sounds like a fair deal to me. What do you say, Lil’ bit?”

  “Otay.”

  Deanna smiled at the telltale sign of her daughter’s weariness, finding the way her daughter’s speech became more babyish when she was over-tired adorable.

  Sam reached into the package and counted out three cookies, setting them on a napkin in front of Casey. “Good girl.” He glanced up at Deanna. “I went over to the house and got one of those things that protects your arm while you shower. Why don’t you go get your shower in peace while Carson and I watch her? That way you won’t have to worry about her getting into trouble while you’re in there.”

  “You have something that protects a cast?”

  Sam chuckled. “We have several. For hands, arms, legs. Broken a few bones over the years, especially in our rodeo days. When you’re ready, I’ll help you put it on.”

  Deanna drank her milk while putting the remaining groceries away, carefully putting the new cans of soup in front of the cans already in the cupboard. “I think I can manage it.”

  Despite her nap, it had been a long day, and Deanna didn’t know how much longer she could stay on her feet. “Are you sure you don’t mind keeping an eye on Casey?”

  Carson’s eyes hardened. “Go take your shower before you fall down. Do you want me to come with you in case you fall?”

  Her pale features flushed. “No. Thank you. I’ll be fine.”

  Sam rose. “I’ll help you put the waterproof cover on. Don’t argue with me about this.” He glanced meaningfully at Casey. “I want to talk to you, and it’s not a conversation for little ears.”

  He smiled coldly when she hesitated. “You don’t want to buck me on this.”

  Carson frowned at the wince she tried to hide while reaching up to put away the cereal Casey had begged for. He glanced at Sam, unsurprised to see that his friend also watched her closely, his narrowed gaze telling Carson that he’d also seen her wince.

  Turning back, Carson watched Casey sip her milk and helped her set her glass back down again. “We need to spend some time with Lil’ bit. She needs to get comfortable with us. Go ahead and get ready for your shower. Lil’ bit and I will be eating cookies and drinking milk.”

  Deanna led the way down the hallway and into the bathroom, stilling when Sam closed the door behind him.

  “Sam, I—”

  “Don’t. Please, don’t
.”

  Deanna stiffened, wincing at the pain the tightening of her muscles caused her. “Don’t what?”

  Sam touched a fingertip to the underside of her chin. “I can’t stand it when you look at me with fear in your eyes. Neither Carson nor I would hurt you or Casey for the world.”

  Deanna forced a smile. “I know.”

  “I doubt that.” Sam sighed. “Look, we understand that it’ll take time for you to learn to trust us. We’re patient.”

  Forcing a smile, she took a step back. “You’re both big men—even bigger than Jimmy.”

  Both men had bodies that spoke of hard physical labor while Jimmy’s had grown flabby from too much drinking and lying on the sofa.

  She wrapped her arms around herself, cradling her injured wrist against her chest. “You’re both a little…intimidating.”

  Sam chuckled at that. “And yet a four-year-old little girl has all but wrapped us around her tiny finger. I’m a hell of a negotiator, but I don’t want to think about what might have happened if she’d pressed about that fourth cookie.”

  “She needs boundaries.” Deanna closed her eyes and dropped her head back in an effort to ease the tension in her neck while holding her aching wrist. “Jimmy either yelled or gave her what she wanted—anything to shut her up.”

  Her eyes burned with tears she didn’t dare shed. “She needs stability. Rules. Structure. Routine.” She opened her eyes, unsurprised to find him staring down at her. “She needs to feel safe.”

  Sam’s eyes flared with something frightening. “You both do. You’re favoring your side. I need to see it, and before you get all worked up, Carson and I need to know about all the injuries on the ranch.”

  Deanna averted her gaze, embarrassed to involve someone else in her personal problems. “I understand that you’re the foreman, but I don’t work for you.”

  Sam stiffened, his hands going to his hips. “The safety of everyone on the ranch is our responsibility, and you’re on the ranch. Your uncle wanted you here and told you that you could trust us. Do you think that was some kind of accident?”

  Deanna shrugged. “No. Uncle Don was a worrier.”

  Scraping a hand through his hair, Sam blew out a breath. “You and Casey aren’t alone anymore, and you know damned well that your uncle would want us to look after you.”

  “Look, I appreciate all that you’ve done. I’ll pay you back for the things that you bought, but—hey!”

  Sam cursed and lifted her arm while gently lifting the hem of her shirt, revealing the dark bruise. “Quiet or you’ll scare Casey. Jesus!”

  Crouching lower, he ran a fingertip lightly over the large bruise. “Did they x-ray your ribs?”

  “Yes.” She pulled away, pulling the hem of her shirt down again. “Just bruised.”

  “Just?” Sam straightened, his expression hard. “Anywhere else?”

  “No.”

  Sam ran his fingers over her short hair. “That’s got to be sore as hell.” He slid a hand through her hair again. “Christ, you were all alone.” Straightening, he reached for the waterproof covering. “You’re not now. Let’s get your shirt off so I can wrap this over your cast.”

  “No. She pulled her sleeve up. “Just put it on like this.”

  “And how in the hell are you going to get your shirt off afterward?”

  Deanna wanted to cry, pain and exhaustion both warring for supremacy. “Please, Sam. Don’t embarrass me this way.”

  Sam lifted her chin, his fingers gentle. “Deanna, I can see that you’re in pain. You’re scared. You’re exhausted. I don’t want to embarrass you. I just want to help you. Let me help you get your shirt off so I can wrap your wrist. You can take a nice hot shower, which will probably go a long way toward easing some of your soreness, and you don’t have to rush because Carson and I will keep an eye on Casey. Please. Let me help you.”

  Touched by his tenderness, Deanna smiled. “I appreciate that, but I’m not wearing a bra. I didn’t put it back on in the hospital.”

  Sam smiled again, somehow combining amusement and tenderness in his smile. “And you think I’m going to be overcome with passion and attack you?”

  “Of course not. Now you’re making me sound silly.”

  “Baby, after what you’ve been through, I don’t blame you for doubting anyone. How about if you hold a towel up to cover yourself?”

  Appreciating his understanding, she nodded. “Thank you.”

  Accepting the towel, she held it over her breasts as he slid one sleeve off and then the other, his touch gentle as he fastened the waterproof covering over her cast.

  “This should work. Take your time in the shower.”

  He rushed to open the door, his tone gruff. “Take your shower. We’ll be waiting.” He shut the door, leaving her staring after him.

  Chapter Five

  Carson desperately wanted to earn Casey’s trust, as well as her mother’s, but he had another motive for spending time with Casey without Deanna nearby.

  It could be considered sneaky—or even underhanded—but he didn’t care.

  He wanted to find out what Deanna wouldn’t tell them.

  He needed to know what she’d been through and the kind of things that he should watch out for—like drinking beer in front of Casey.

  Watching the adorable little girl wrap both hands around the small juice glass he’d found for her, Carson couldn’t help but smile as he picked up the bear she’d placed on the table. “I like your bear. I’m glad you brought him with you so I could meet him.”

  Casey hadn’t let the bear out of her sight since they’d arrived. “Mommy buyed Pookey for me when I was a baby. That was a yong time ago. I’m a big girl now.”

  Careful to hide his smile, Carson nodded soberly. “I can see that. Do you always keep Pookey close?”

  Nodding, she bit into another cookie, setting it aside and reaching for her milk again. “So I don’t be scared.”

  Carson struggled to appear calm, knowing that it was a subject that neither he nor Sam could ever be calm about. He knew, though, that Deanna and Casey needed their strength and the security they could give them. With a smile, he helped her set her glass down again. “What scares you, Lil’ bit?”

  She wrapped an arm tightly around her stuffed bear, holding it close. “Daddy. He yells and hits Mommy.”

  Carson swallowed heavily, struggling for calm at the tears in her almost whispered voice. “Did he ever hit you?”

  “No. Mommy won’t yet him. I hide in my secret pwace. Mommy made it for me. Nobody knows where it is. Just me and Pookey and Mommy. She comes to get me when Daddy faws aseep.”

  Carson couldn’t help but wonder if that was what Deanna had created for Casey after her bath.

  It disturbed him that Casey hadn’t wanted him to know where it was—a testament that she didn’t trust him.

  Reaching out to touch the bear’s foot instead of grabbing her and holding her close the way he wanted to, Carson watched Casey take a small bite of her cookie. “What else did you bring from your house?”

  Casey chewed on her cookie. “I bringed my backpack. It’s pink.”

  Taking another small bite of her cookie, Casey pulled her bear closer. “Mommy has one, too, but it’s not a backpack like mine and hers isn’t pink.”

  “That’s nice.” Carson gulped down his milk and poured himself another glass. “I’ll bet your mommy packed them fast.”

  Shaking her head, Casey kicked her feet. “No. Mommy made them packed before. It was a secret ’cause when Daddy found them before, he hitted Mommy and made her cry.”

  Carson’s hands tightened into fists at the mental image of Deanna being beaten. “I’m sorry that happened, and I’m glad he didn’t find your bags this time.”

  “Mommy hided them under my bed so he couldn’t find them.”

  “Your Mommy’s pretty smart.”

  Casey pressed a tiny finger to her lips, her voice so low that Carson had to sit forward to hear her. “We had to be
quiet so we didn’t wake up Daddy. Wast time I was crying and woke him up. He made my mommy cry.”

  The tears welling in her eyes broke Carson’s heart. “I didn’t cry. I was reawy quiet.”

  Carson reached out and wiped away a tear, realizing in that moment that he would gladly give his life to keep her safe. “You know that you’re safe now, don’t you? Both Sam and I will keep you safe.”

  She reached for her cookie again, stilling when Sam came into the room. “You’re big.”

  Sam inclined his head and refilled her glass of milk, sharing a look with Carson that told him that he’d overheard at least part of their conversation. “We are. We’re big enough to keep both you and your mommy safe.”

  “My daddy’s big. He gives Mommy boo-boos.”

  Sam leaned toward her, holding her brilliant blue gaze—eyes exactly like her mother’s. “We’ll keep you safe. Do you believe me?”

  Instead of answering, Casey set her cookie aside and hugged her bear closer. “Mommy’s boo-boos hurt.”

  Sam inclined his head, a muscle working in his jaw. “We know. Her face has a boo-boo and her wrist.” He sent Carson another look, his eyes dark with fury. “Your mommy showed me her other boo-boo. It hurts her so we’re gonna help her so she feels better.”

  Casey nodded and took another small bite of her cookie. “We went to the big pwace with the ambances.”

  “Ambances?” Carson frowned. “Ambulances? The hospital. We know. That’s where we found you.”

  He took a steadying breath, the thought of Deanna—injured and in pain—driving to the hospital while trying to calm Casey was almost more than he could stand.

  Reminding himself that it couldn’t compare to what Deanna had been through, he glanced at Sam.

  Casey smiled. “The nurse gave me a wowipop.”

  “That’s nice. You were a good girl.” Sam smiled and reached out to tuck a stand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

  Casey finished her cookie, looking from Carson to the package of cookies and back again. “Can I have another cookie?”

  Sam smiled, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s gonna be a test to our willpower to be able to deny either one of them anything.”