Beautifully Broken Spirit

by Catherine Cowles

  “You’ve got sixty seconds.”

  He started pacing. “I need the cash. Jensen has more than she needs. And from what I’ve seen and heard around town, your family does, too. Just get me the money, and I’ll stay gone forever.”

  This guy was a total and complete moron. Did he really think I believed his bullshit? “We give you one penny, and you’ll only come back for more. Not to mention, there isn’t one damned thing you’ve done to earn it.”

  Cody’s face screwed up into an ugly scowl. “And either of you have? The only thing you’ve done is gotten born into a rich family.”

  That muscle in my cheek began to tick. “How about we work for a fucking living? Jensen works herself to the bone almost every day trying to provide a good life for your son. What have you ever done?”

  Cody threw up his hands. “God, that bitch must have developed a golden fucking pussy since I had her—”

  I couldn’t hear the rest of his words because the blood roaring in my ears was too loud. Every ounce of control I had simply snapped. And I lunged.

  Just as my fist met Cody’s jaw, the door burst open, and Walker was there, tearing me off Cody.

  I struggled to break free of Walker’s hold. “Let me go!”

  Walker held firm. “Once you’ve calmed down. When Cain called and said you were going to run Cody out of town, I knew we were in trouble. I know I have a hot head when it comes to my sister, but you’re even worse.”

  I swallowed hard. “I’m okay now.”

  Walker slowly released his hold and slapped me on the back.

  Cody sat up from where he’d been sprawled on the floor. “I’m going to fucking sue your ass.”

  Walker smirked. “I don’t know what you’d be suing him for. I saw the whole thing. Tuck was clearly defending himself. You can’t sue just because you got your ass handed to you in a fight.”

  I grinned at Walker. “Well, thanks, Walk.”

  “Anytime, bud.”

  Cody pushed to his feet. “Get out of my room, you freaks.”

  My face went stony. “You’ve got one hour.”

  Cody flipped us the bird. “I want to get out of this hick town anyway.”

  Walker and I left the room and strode across the parking lot.

  Walker paused for a moment, looking back at the motel. “You wanna wait him out? Make sure he leaves?”

  “Of course.”

  Walker inclined his head. “I’ve got coffee in my truck. I was on my way to the station when Cain called.”

  I followed Walker towards his rig. “What I could really use right now is a whiskey.”

  Walker chuckled. “That I can’t help you with.”

  I climbed into the truck. “Then coffee will have to do.”

  Walker poured some of the beverage into the thermos’s cap and handed it to me. “Thanks for handling Ailes.”

  The muscles between my shoulder blades tightened. “Of course.”

  Walker met my gaze. “Really hear me. It means the fucking world that you care about my sister as much as I do.”

  This was it. The perfect moment to tell him that Jensen and I were more than just friends. I opened my mouth to say just that, but my throat held the words hostage. Why couldn’t I tell him?

  37

  Jensen

  “Arthur, you’re a flirt.” I grinned as I counted out my favorite customer’s change.

  Arthur gave Kennedy a wink. “Well, what do you expect when you keep hiring gorgeous women?”

  Kennedy handed Arthur his muffin. “Anytime you’re ready to propose, I’ll be here waiting.”

  Arthur chuckled. “I’d better go get that ring.”

  We watched as Arthur walked over to join his bridge cronies. Kennedy sighed. “I love that man. They just don’t make them like that anymore. Did you know that he stayed until closing the other day because there was just one other man in here and he didn’t want me to be alone?”

  “He’s a good egg.” I glanced up from the register. “You weren’t uncomfortable working alone, were you?”

  Kennedy waved a hand in front of her face. “Not at all. I can take care of myself, but I thought it was sweet of Arthur to be so protective.”

  I smiled. “He’s always looking out for his girls.”

  The bell over the door sounded, and my smile stretched wider as Tuck entered. My grin fell as I took in his face. He looked ready to commit murder. I motioned to Kennedy. “Can you handle the register for a minute?”

  She straightened from rearranging the bakery case. “Of course.”

  I rounded the counter and gestured for Tuck to follow me into the kitchen. As soon as we were inside, I whirled on him. “What’s wrong?”

  Tuck ran a hand through his golden locks. “I need to fill you in on some Cody developments.” My stomach pitched. “It’s not a quick conversation. Can you take some time?”

  I glanced out into the main room of the shop. The morning rush was over, the bridge crew was settled, and my mom would be in to help out in a couple of hours. “Let me check with Kennedy.” I poked my head around the corner. “Kenz,” I’d given her the nickname a couple days into her job here, Kennedy was just too dang formal. “Are you okay if I head out for a bit? My mom will be here in two hours to help with the lunch rush.”

  “Since all the baking is done for the morning, I’ll be fine.” Poor Kennedy still hadn’t quite gotten the hang of baking.

  She nodded. “I’ll be fine. Take as long as you need.”

  Tuck gave Kennedy a chin jerk and headed for the door. I grabbed my purse and coat and followed. Tuck headed down the street towards where I could see his truck parked, his long strides dwarfing my own.

  “Hey, behemoth, would you slow down?” I called.

  Tuck paused, waiting for me to catch up. “Sorry, Wilder.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I forget you’re such a shrimp.”

  I pinched his side. “I am not a shrimp, you’re just a freaking giant.”

  Tuck chuckled and guided me towards his truck, opening the door and helping me in. I watched as he rounded the hood of the vehicle, his strides purposeful and jaw still clenched. What the hell is he about to tell me? My insides seemed to twist themselves into a knot. I took a deep breath, trying to relax.

  Tuck jumped in and started the rig. “Anywhere specific you want to go?”

  I took a minute to study his face. “My horses.”

  Tuck nodded and headed out of town.

  Our drive was silent. The urge I had to pepper him with questions on the walk to the vehicle vanished as soon as we started driving. Partly out of fear of what was to come. Partly because I just wanted to be with Tuck without bad news clouding the moment.

  Tuck reached over and took my hand, twining his fingers with mine. His skin was rough, and I loved the feel of it against mine. His hands told the story of his life. Finely sandpapered from his work on the ranch and in the forest. A scar on his palm from when he and Walker had both gotten pocket knives for their tenth birthdays and decided that they needed to be blood brothers. Another on his finger from when a horse had kicked him and split it open.

  I knew every story his hands told. And wasn’t that the most precious gift? To know someone so deeply, so thoroughly that every detail of their skin was familiar. I loved this man. It would probably terrify him if I said the words aloud. But that didn’t change a damn thing. I just hoped he could get used to it over time.

  Tuck punched in the gate code and followed the gravel lane through the ranch to my pastures. The mustangs dotted the hillside, and something in me eased. He looked over at me. “Boulder?”

  “Boulder.” I slid out of the truck and took a moment to inhale the peace that flowed through the air up here. I could handle whatever he had to say.

  Lips brushed against my temple, and my eyes flew open. Tuck was right there. Eyes blazing with a war of emotions, they flitted from one to the next so quickly I couldn’t track them. I took his hand and squeezed, sending everything I
felt through that one point of contact, hoping he would feel it even if he wasn’t ready to hear it.

  Tuck tugged me forward. “Come on.”

  We moved through the rails in the fence and headed for the boulder that was my favorite spot to sit. “You ready to tell me what’s going on?”

  Tuck grunted.

  I hoisted myself up onto the rock. “Is that a no? Or is that an ‘I’ve suddenly forgotten the English language that I’ve been speaking for over three decades?’”

  “Stop being such a smartass.”

  I grinned over at him. “Now why would I want to do that?”

  Tuck was silent for a moment. “Cody’s gone.”

  The grin fell from my face. “Gone as in he took a trip? Gone like he went home? Or gone meaning you and Walker chopped him up into little bits and fed him to the pigs?”

  Tuck chuckled and wrapped an arm around me. “Only you could make me laugh when talking about something that makes me fucking murderous.”

  I tipped my head back to study his face. “So, it was option three then. How do I keep you and Walker out of the clink?” I was trying to make light of it all, but in reality, my heart was hammering against my ribs, and my stomach roiled.

  Tuck stared out at the horses below as they ran in formation across the pasture, Phoenix leading the way. “Cody was into some shit. It was bad. The people he is involved with are even worse.”

  I did my best to keep my breathing even. “How’d you find all this out?”

  “Cain.”

  Of course. If my brother or Tuck needed dirt on anyone, that’s who they called.

  Tuck studied the forest surrounding the fields, seeing things that my eyes didn’t pick up. “He got us enough information to force Cody’s hand. He’s gone. And it’s for good.”

  I sucked in a breath. “I guess I should send Cain a muffin basket or something. Do billionaires like muffin baskets?”

  Tuck gave my shoulder a firm squeeze. “Stop. You’re making light of all this, which means inside, you’re freaking out. Talk to me.”

  He knew me so damn well. Traitorous tears began to gather in my eyes. “Are Noah and I safe? Are these people going to come after us?”

  Tuck shook his head and reached his hands up to frame my face. “No, Wilder. They have no idea you exist, and that’s how it’s going to stay.”

  I nodded into Tuck’s hands, and he used his thumbs to wipe away my tears. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  I turned my head so I could press my lips to Tuck’s palm. “For getting him gone. For protecting Noah and me. You’re a good man, Tucker Harris.”

  His body jolted as though the smallest bolt of lightning had hit him. “You deserve better.”

  My eyes bored into his, trying to make him understand. “I want you.”

  38

  Jensen

  There was a tug on the back of my shirt. I looked up from helping my mom slice veggies for our family dinner to see Noah.

  “Mom, where’s Tuck? I need him to help me with The Karate Kid fight.”

  I glanced over at my mom. “He’s still coming, right?”

  She shut the door to the oven. “He called this afternoon. Said he was still coming but that he might be a bit late. That case and all.”

  My stomach twisted. I wanted Tuck to find the person terrorizing the mustangs, but I hated that doing so meant that he was in danger every day until the guy was caught. I ran my hand over Noah’s hair. “You hear that?” Noah nodded. “Maybe you can practice until Tuck gets here.”

  “Good idea.” With that, he took off for the den on the other side of the house.

  Grams, who was perched on a bar stool next to Taylor, took a sip of her wine. “Maybe I should go help him with his moves.”

  Taylor attempted to cover her laugh with a cough. My mom and I just let ours fly.

  Grandma scowled. “What? I was a brown belt in my day.”

  “You were not,” my dad called from the living area. “You took three weeks of classes and then got bored. Just like those hatchet throwing lessons you started a few months back.”

  She let out a huff. “Well, my teacher said I had a lot of promise. Maybe I’ll pick them back up again and go with Noah. We can go for our black belts together.”

  Dad tipped his head back as if searching the heavens. “Lord, save me.”

  “Oh, shut it. Just remember who gave you life.” Grandma’s eyes narrowed on him. “I can just as easily take it away.”

  Walker thumped Dad on the back. “You better watch out, old man.” He chuckled. “Come on, let’s go out to the barn and you can show me that new Paint mare you picked up.”

  The men headed out, and we returned to cooking and sipping wine.

  “Finally, some peace around here,” Grandma muttered.

  My mom dressed the salad and began to toss it. “If you’re around to cause trouble, I’m not sure there’s much hope for peace.”

  Grams threw up a hand. “No respect, I tell you.”

  Mom handed me the salad greens so I could add the veggies. “So, how is Tuck doing?”

  My shoulders tensed. “What do you mean?”

  She started pressing circular cookie cutters into the biscuit dough. “I heard Craig moved out. I’ve wanted to go visit Helen, but I wasn’t sure if she’d be up for visitors quite yet.”

  My muscles eased a bit. “I think she’d like that. Tuck told me she and her lawyer filed the paperwork yesterday.”

  Grandma raised her glass. “Good for her. That man never deserved her.” Her eyes cut to me. “That’s the thing. Sometimes, you’ve got to weed through the bad eggs to find a good one. But once you do, you hold on tight.”

  My cheeks heated, and I became incredibly focused on my salad making.

  Taylor slapped her hands down on the counter. “Okay, I can’t take this anymore. What is going on between you two?!”

  I froze. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Taylor threw up her hands. “Oh, please. I’ve seen the chemistry between you two from day one, but lately, it’s different. Hotter.”

  “Definitely hotter,” Grandma chimed in.

  Taylor kept going. “I swear sparks fly off the two of you when you’re in the same room. I’m pretty sure the only person who hasn’t noticed is Walker. But that’s because he’s got his head in the sand about his baby sister.”

  I reached across the counter and grabbed Taylor’s hand. “Please don’t say anything to him.”

  Her eyes flared. “So, there’s something to say?”

  “Promise.”

  Taylor made a cross over her heart with her free hand. “I swear on my sisterhood membership card.”

  Grandma took another sip of wine. “That’s legit.”

  I eyed Grandma and Mom. Both stared at me intently.

  My mom reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze. “What’s going on?”

  I collapsed onto the stool at the end of the bar. “I don’t know. It started out casual. Just letting off some steam that I really needed an outlet for.”

  Grandma raised her glass in my direction. “You go, girl.”

  I sighed. “But almost immediately, it was more than that. I was an idiot to think that we could do the friends-with-benefits thing.”

  Mom slapped her spatula against the counter. “Don’t you talk about my daughter that way. You are not an idiot.”

  God, I loved my mom. “It’s just that he’s always been my best friend. I mean, I know he and Walker have basically been blood brothers from the womb, but he’s always been something to me, too. I can’t describe it. He’s just always been…more.”

  Mom nodded. “You two have always had a special bond.” She smiled down at her biscuit dough. “When you were a baby and upset, Tuck could always get you to stop crying.”

  I turned to her. “I didn’t know that.”

  She nodded. “When you hit high school and looked so much like a young woman, your father and I
started to worry a bit about all those drives you took together. We kept waiting for him to ask you out. But it never happened.”

  I thought about how much I would’ve killed for a kiss or date during those high school years. When it never came, I’d just made peace with the idea that he didn’t have those kinds of feelings for me. “I don’t trust myself.”

  Grandma leaned towards me. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”

  Hot tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “I’ve made such bad decisions when it comes to men. I’m scared that just me being in love with him is a sign I should run in the opposite direction.”

  Mom wrapped an arm around me. “Those experiences mean you know better than most. You know how you deserve to be treated. If those red flags surface, you’re strong enough to cut the cord.”

  Grandma gestured with her wine glass. “And strong enough to cut his balls.”

  Taylor choked on her wine, and we all dissolved into laughter.

  But a small ball of anxiety rolled around in my gut. I didn’t know if I’d ever be strong enough to walk away from Tuck, even if the tides did turn. And what did that say about me?

  39

  Tuck

  I slammed my truck door. A whole lot of nothing was all I had to show for the wild horse case. I’d spent the day visiting with every single rancher who had leased land around Pine Meadow—and found nothing.

  Rich, the rancher who’d had a few sheep stolen, had already brought the rest of his flock down for the winter and said he’d been avoiding the area like the plague since all the craziness started. David’s brother, Bill, did his best to make introductions to other ranchers, but the group had closed ranks. None of them were wild horse supporters, so they had to assume that they were on a short list of suspects.

  I did my best to be unassuming, to stress that I saw them as potential witnesses and nothing more. None of it helped. Not even Bill vouching for me got the ranchers to open up. I kicked at a piece of gravel.