“You want me to make you?” He scowled.
“Would you like for me to bring Sheriff Conley in on this?” Grace said bravely. “One little call and I’m sure he could arrange for you to sober up in jail.”
“Well, you are fucking, little piece of—”
“I’ll drive,” Priscilla interjected nervously. She pushed Sam toward the passenger seat then she scurried around the back to the driver’s side. “Get in the car, Sammy. Come on, Gam. We’re leaving. Now!”
Grace darted a glance toward Priscilla who averted her gaze.
“You’re lucky, bitch,” he growled. With a few grumbled curses, Gam painstakingly made his way back and opened the passenger door. He looked back at Grace, smiling. “We’re not done. Mark my words, baby. We’re far from being done.” He slid inside, slammed the door, and Priscilla quickly drove the car down the lane.
Grace fought back tears as she watched the car pull onto the road. She had a cocktail of emotions burning through her. Ruger was right, Gam couldn’t be trusted.
On the porch, she picked up the cup Priscilla had dropped, grabbed her own and started for the screen door when she heard another set of tires coming toward the house, Relief came over her when she saw that it was Ruger’s truck.
He was barely out of the truck when she approached him. “How’s Hannah?”
“She’s fine. I took her home to rest.”
“What’s wrong? Does she need to come here and stay?”
“She has diabetes. She’s scheduled for some testing and the doctor prescribed her medicine.”
“I’m sorry. I had no clue that she wasn’t feeling well. I shouldn’t have asked her to help today.”
“This isn’t your fault. She’s been feeling bad for some time and has kept it secret. Now she’ll feel better with the doctor’s help.”
“Would you like coffee? Are you hungry? I packed up the extra food.”
“I’d love some coffee. The generic brew at the hospital didn’t settle well on my stomach.”
“You take a seat on the porch and I’ll bring cups out. I could use one myself.”
She made a pot and took two cups out onto the porch where she found him with his elbows on his knees, staring into the distance. She could see that he was worried.
“Hannah will be okay. Now that she knows what’s wrong she can get the help she needs.” She handed him his cup, sat down in the rocker next to him and sipped her coffee, feeling uneasy after her run-in with Gam. She wanted to talk to Ruger about the incident, but he didn’t need the extra worry.
“You want to tell me why I passed Gam’s car out this way? Priscilla was driving so he was here? I feel like I’m going to want to rip the head off that sum’bitch before this is all said and done.” Ruger eased back into the rocker.
She set her cup on the table, hiding her shaking hands in the folds of her sundress. “Gam came to pick her up.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you hiding?”
“He was drunk. There was a bit of an altercation—"
His growl made her stop. “Do I need to go hunt him down?”
“You didn’t let me finish. I handled it. You’re right, he’s not to be trusted. I’m worried about Priscilla and Sam’s safety. I think we should call Sheriff Conely and have him do a well check.”
Ruger nodded. “Okay, but then I want to hear what happened.” He dragged his phone out of his pocket and walked across the yard looking for the best service area. The ranch was hit or miss when they could use their phones. He finally managed to make the call and when he came back his teeth were clenched.
He sat down and with a swipe of his hand down his cheek, he sniffed. “What happened?”
Choosing her words carefully, she explained, “He was drunk. Obnoxious, but I’m okay.”
“I found out through a buddy that Gam isn’t working like Priscilla said he is. The ass has been keeping a stool warm over at Pelican Hawk. He was thrown out last night because he grabbed a woman inappropriately.”
“After everyone left Priscilla and I talked. She told me that protective services visited and has given her until the end of the month to find a more stable place for her and Sam to live. There’s a chance she could lose him.”
“Who can blame them? A tent at a campsite with a man like Gam Hill isn’t a place for any kid.”
“I agree, but she does want to do better. Yet with no job and prospects, no place to go, that can be hard for a single mother. I think Gam is explosive.”
“He is. There’s no thinking about it. I should have been here,” he growled. “Damn, Grace. I’m sorry.”
“No, you needed to be with your mother.”
He stretched his long legs. “I feel for Sam’s mother, but now that she knows how Gam is she needs to leave.”
“I agree and why I offered a place for Priscilla and Sam to stay.”
His breath came out in a hiss. “Here?”
“Actually, I offered her a job to help with cooking, cleaning, and painting.”
“Wow. That’s a lot.”
“I know, but we can’t let Sam be taken away. He needs us. There’s plenty of space here and I did tell you I would hire someone. It’s the least we can do.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re right. We need to help if we can. Did she agree?”
“I think I could have convinced her if Gam hadn’t shown up, drunk and belligerent.”
“That’s him.” His teeth gritted again.
“What does she see in him?” “Grace, keep in mind, he’s extremely dangerous. He won’t take Priscilla and Sam moving here lightly if that’s what she decides to do. What you saw today, the drunk Gam is treacherous, but not like the cornered Gam. We don’t have a clue what he’s capable of.”
“We’ll be safe here.” She rubbed her palms down her thighs, feeling overcome with emotion.
“Is there more?”
“I have to tell you something. Please promise to listen and let me finish before you ask any questions. Okay?” It was now or never to tell him the truth. The longer she waited the harder it would get, and before she could allow herself to take the next step, she needed to have everything out on the table. He deserved the complete truth.
“Okay.”
“My name isn’t—”
“GraceAnn Lutz?” He held up his hands. “Sorry. I wasn’t supposed to interrupt.”
She blinked. “You knew?”
“It was hard not to know.”
“You didn’t mention it. Why?”
He shrugged, stretching the knit of the shirt across broad chest. “Although I don’t know the whole story, I didn’t feel like you wanted to hurt anyone. Hopefully, I’m right.” He cocked a brow.
“You’re right,” she blurted. “I met GraceAnn at a bus station. She was supposed to be coming here to work, but her boyfriend showed up. I saw the letter you’d written her and one thing led to another. I tried to call you to let you know she wasn’t coming, but I lost service. I really don’t know why I came here, but it felt right.” Her words trailed off.
“So, what is your real name?”
“Grace Everly.”
He swirled the coffee around his cup. “Grace Everly, huh?”
“I didn’t mean to deceive you. I wanted to tell you the truth, but when I got here, I wanted to stay. I thought …well, I don’t know what I thought. Maybe that you’d send me away if you knew.”
“Why were you at the bus station?”
“I needed to get away but had no destination in mind. It was almost like this place fell into my lap.”
He set his cup down and took her hands into his. “Grace, I’m glad that’s your real name because I like it. And I like you. I’m glad you wound up here even if it wasn’t a straight and narrow path.”
Joy bubbled up in her chest. “I know what I want.”
“Do you?”
Standing, she glanced at him through unshed tears. A look was exchanged be
tween them that carried more meaning than words ever could.
“Are you sure?”
“More than I’ve ever been sure about anything. That is if you’ll have me.”
He stood and cupped her cheek. “If I’ll have you? Every second of the day.” He scooped her up into his arms, carried her inside and up the stairs. He laid her on the bed and looked at her through the shadows of the setting sun. “My God, you’re so beautiful, Grace.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth, reveling in how he said her name like he was serving it up with a scoop of sugar. “How lucky am I that I met you?”
He grinned and reached for the hem of his shirt, dragging it up his torso and over his head, then he toed off his boots and socks. She watched him move his wide fingers to his belt buckle.
“Wait. I want to do that.” She eagerly moved to her knees and helped loosen the leather. Her fingers shook as she undid the button of his jeans. Together they pushed them down his hips and he kicked them off. His erection was large and she marveled at the sight of him naked. Strong, powerful, and soon to be hers.
He pressed her back against the soft blanket, holding himself above her as he stared down at her, a smile creasing his lips. “How did I get so lucky that you landed here at Wilder Ranch?”
“Can we call it luck though? I believe all paths led me here.”
He pressed his arousal against the most sensitive part of her.
They kissed and the act took on an energy that spoke of his need. His tongue performed an erotic dance with her mouth as she dug her fingers into his back, clinging to him.
He fisted the top of the sundress and pulled it downward over her bare breasts, sucking in a ragged breath as he roved her with his demanding gaze. He kissed each pale mound, swirled his tongue around each erect nipple, and traveled his fingers from her neck along the cleft between her breasts. Her stomach quivered as the tips of his fingers brushed her skin and she bucked her hips wildly when he slid two fingers along her moist slit.
“You’re so ready,” he said on an exhale of breath.
Opening her knees, she welcomed him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“WE CAN DO THIS,” Ruger urged as the S&R team raced up the flight of wide stairs of the park entrance.
Jady stood at the top of the landing looking like a force to be reckoned with. “Come on, boys. Is that all you got?” She looked down at her stopwatch. “I want to see you give me all you got!”
To receive their swift water, rappelling and forest fire training certificates Hank, Boone, Mug, and Ruger had to prove they not only had the endurance but were in good physical shape.
Ruger was more than ten steps ahead of the group.
“What the hell, man? You suck on an electrical current this morning?” Boone said on a pant of breath.
The one thing they had going for them was their competitive nature. They fed off each other and that motivated the team to pick up their speed.
It didn’t hurt that they wanted to impress Jady too.
“No, I bet he was sucking on a ripe peach,” Hank said low enough that Jady couldn’t hear.
“If you still got some teasing left in you that means you’re not working hard enough,” Ruger said as he reached the top of the stairs and started back down, passing the other men as they raced to the top.
“See what I mean. That’s an affirmative answer if I ever did hear one,” Hank was right behind him. “I hope you have this much energy during the events at the festival.” For forty, Hank was fit and toned and about as bad ass as any man Ruger had met. The thick gray beard made him look a little on the warrior side, which was fitting. Ruger knew he was stronger than any man on the team, even his brothers Boone and Creed, who were also bad asses in their own rights.
Sweat poured off their brows, but they were proving they had what it took to save a life. This was only one drill of a long list they had to complete.
“Don’t you worry about me. I think you sound jealous,” Ruger ribbed his buddy.
“Fuck, I don’t know about Hank but I’m freaking jealous,” Boone said in a winded tone. He was also coming up fast behind Ruger.
Mug laughed. “I’m going to kick all your asses.” At thirty, just coming home from serving a contract in the SEALs, he could shoot a bottle off a rock two hundred feet away. Ruger had watched him do it. He was one of the best damn firefighters Cooper’s Hawk had ever known.
“Is that all you boys do? Chit chat? Put that energy into making these last few steps.” Jady clapped her hands.
They fought hard and it was a close race between the men, but Mug pulled it out at the very end by finishing two steps ahead.
All the men gasped for air then poured water down their throats.
“Don’t get too comfy, y'. You have a thirty-minute break before I want to see you back at Hawke Landing for more drills,” Jady said then left them alone.
“She hates us,” Boone said as he poured the remaining water from a bottle over his head.
“She’s just trying to make sure we can handle the job,” Mug said in her defense. All sets of eyes turned on him. He held up his hands and chuckled. “Just sayin’.”
Ruger was glad things weren’t awkward between him and Mug after he took Grace to dinner.
“We’re heading out.” Boone and Mug left Ruger and Hank. “So, how’s the living situation going?” Hank sat on the concrete step and stretched his legs.
“Great.” Ruger reached his arms above his head, giving his muscles a stretch then he joined Hank on the step. He uncapped a second water and sipped, looking up at the bright sky. “How do you know when it’s right, man?”
Hank chuckled. “You got it bad, huh? Well, you’ve been in love before.”
“No, not like this. What Bren and I had didn’t come close to what’s going on inside me now.”
“My suggestion is to roll with it, buddy. You’re not getting any younger. There’s always a risk of getting hurt, but there’s also the chance that you’ll find happiness.”
“You sound like Ma.” He trusted Hank. Respected his opinion. “How about you, man? How are you doing?”
Hank smoothed his beard and looked out into the distance. “Peachy.”
“Yeah? I heard you were coaching baseball.” Ruger downed the bottle, crushed it and tossed it basketball style into the trash can ten feet away. He scored.
“Johnson split and they needed someone. They got a great team and can make it far with some good guidance.”
“Boone told me you’ve been spending some time with Poppy.” Ruger didn’t know the whole story between Hank and Poppy, but they’d been an item back in high school and everyone had expected them to get married but she left for college and a few years later she came back married to some rich kid.
“Boone should keep his mouth shut.” Although Hank said the words on the tail end of a frustrated growl, Ruger knew the brothers were close.
“We’re all friends here. Simply curious.” Ruger knew what lines not to cross and he could tell by the new creases around Hank’s mouth that this was one of those times when not prying was best.
“Just helping her out with the kids. Nothing more.” He pushed up from the step. “We better get to Hawke Landing or Jady might have us running these steps again.”
Laughing, Ruger drained his bottle and tossed it. “Don’t talk too soon. The day isn’t over.”
~~~~~
“I’m glad you came,” Grace said after she’d helped Priscilla place the two trash bags of belongings that she’d brought from the campsite into one of the extra rooms. They sat at the table while Sam took a nap on the couch. The boy had been wiped out.
“I can never repay you for letting Sam and me stay here.” The woman’s thick hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her eyes were red and surrounded by dark circles. Her cheeks were sunken in and she looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
“What happened after you and Sam left here yesterday?”
“Gam slep
t off his drunk and I told him if he went off drinking again Sammy and I wouldn’t be there when he came back. He didn’t take me seriously because guess where he’s at tonight?”
Grace poured coffee from the carafe into a cup and slid it toward Priscilla across the table. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“No. I think you and Sam are better off away from Gam,” she admitted.
“Gam is always so angry these days.” She blew out a long breath. “The drinking and high make it worse.”
“You’ll be safe here. You’ve made the right decision.”
“I love him though. I do. If he’d just get his shit together.” She frowned. “I know people must wonder how I can love a man like him. He does have a soft spot.”
“It’s for no one to judge your heart, Priscilla. It’s very brave of you to take this step. I’m sure you want the best for Sam.”
“I do. He’s such a good kid.” Her gaze wandered toward the living room.
“I’m sure you’re tired and would like to rest before dinner at six. I want you and Sam to join us,” Grace invited.
“I’m helping. Remember, I work here now.”
“So you want the job?”
“I do. I’ve worked in the kitchen at the diner for a while and although I’m not one to brag, I made a darn good short order cook.” Some of the twinkle returned in her eyes.
“I’m glad you decided to do this.”
Her gaze narrowed. “You understand what I’m going through, don’t you? You’ve lost someone close, right?”
Grace blinked. Apparently, she didn’t hide her past well. “I was married once upon a time. It didn’t work and the divorce was hard. We all have demons and I have my fair share.” She forced a smile to her lips and stood. “Anyway, if you’d like to help, we should start. I better get to peeling the potatoes. We’ll have some hungry men coming at six.”
“I’ll go and change and be back down.” Priscilla stood and politely pushed her chair under the table.
Grace grabbed potatoes from the pantry and stood at the counter peeling them. Wrapped up in her thoughts she didn’t realize she was no longer alone until arms wrapped around her waist and she was pulled against a broad chest. She jumped but instantly relaxed when she inhaled the familiar scent. “Hi, Ruger. You’re early.”
Cowboy Wilde (Cooper's Hawke Landing Book 2) Page 18