Isaac waited outside MacKenzie’s door for ten minutes, but she never reappeared. He didn’t know where he’d gone wrong. There was obviously something going on that she didn’t want anyone to know, but shouldn’t she trust him?

He hung his head as he walked home. She didn’t know him that well and he hadn’t made the best impression since she’d been here. Calling her a gold digger because he hated the thought of her with some rich guy and knew all about the girl’s camp pact. Then instead of improving the situation he’d scared her by punching Brad. He smiled to himself. The punching had felt good. But not nearly as good as kissing MacKenzie. They’d had so much fun at the lake and the kissing had been extraordinary. Why wouldn’t she confide in him?

He spent the next day branding cows with little break. As soon as he was done, he hurried through a shower, dressed in a button down shirt and the fitted jeans Haley had insisted he buy, and rushed in to town. Usually, he’d spend his rare free evenings working on his metal art, but being with MacKenzie was more important. She’d probably be coming back to the ranch sooner or later, but he wanted to take her out to dinner and hopefully get her to trust him and talk to him. Heck, he’d settle for her spending any time with him.

He walked into the store at ten minutes to six. She looked beautiful in a pink and white striped sundress, tidying up the counter. “Hey, Mac.” He grinned at her and prayed she wasn’t still upset with him for prying. He needed to earn her trust slowly and hopefully be the man she’d turn to for help.

Her mouth fell open and her light brown skin seemed to brighten. “Isaac. You look, really nice.”

His smile grew. She seemed to be a lot more calm than last night. “You look beautiful. I was wondering if you had dinner plans.”

“Well, I.” She shook her head and bit at her lip.

Isaac got distracted staring at her lips. Did she say she’d go or not? And how long after dinner before he could kiss her again?

The door whooshed open behind him and Isaac turned to see Brad strutting in. His eyes narrowed.

“You ready to go, pretty lady?” Brad asked, cheesy as ever.

Go? Isaac’s hands tightened into fists. He ignored Brad, looking to MacKenzie for an explanation. Please let her have a good explanation.

“Brad and I are …” She trailed off and looked past him to Brad.

“Going out for a special dinner,” Brad drawled out, looking smug and completely idiotic.

Isaac covered the distance to her side in four long strides. He lowered his voice for her benefit, not his or Brad’s comfort level. “You know what he’s done. What he’s like.”

“We’ll be in a public place.”

He wanted to shake her. She believed him and Haley. Knew what Brad had done, but she didn’t care? She’d go to dinner with the worthless piece of dung just because she was upset at Isaac or for some other reason?

“You being alone with him scares me.” That was as stark of truth as he could manage. The thought of Brad hurting her like he’d hurt Haley had him clenched up tight, ready to do battle. This was about more than him winning the girl over Brad. This was about a beautiful woman he was beginning to care about, willingly going out with a known rapist.

She cleared her throat and looked down, whispering, “I’m not as scared to be alone with him as I am to be with someone who asks too many questions.” She raised her eyes and met his gaze.

Isaac’s jaw dropped at the fear in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid of Brad. She was afraid of Isaac. “I won’t ask anything,” he hastened to reassure her, “You don’t even have to be with me, just please, please stay away from him.”

MacKenzie simply looked at him, not making any promises.

“I think you need to leave, Turnbow,” Brad said over his shoulder.

Isaac turned and glared at him then focused on MacKenzie again. “I’ll leave when MacKenzie tells me to leave.”

Brow furrowed, her eyes darted between the two of them. “Please leave, Isaac,” she said, her voice tired and small, her hands clinging to Haley’s laptop.

Isaac studied her for several long seconds before leaning in and saying in a low tone. “I’ll leave, but I won’t be far away. If you’re too naïve to protect yourself, I’ll protect you.” With that, he turned and stomped from the store, letting the door slam behind him.

* * *

MacKenzie watched Isaac go, immediately feeling the loss. I’ll protect you. I’ll protect you, repeated over and over again in her mind.

What had she done? True, she couldn’t allow herself to get closer to Isaac, to allow him to know the secrets she was hiding, but did she really need to be with Brad to accomplish that? When he’d come to the store a few hours ago and begged her to go to dinner with him, she’d finally acquiesced to get him to stop talking and go away.

She’d planned on ditching early and avoiding Brad completely, but then Isaac had shown up. He’d looked so good, his broad shoulders filling out an off-white button down shirt that offset his dark skin. His hair was still wet and he hadn’t shaved. The desire to touch his stubble alone about took her under. She wanted to fling herself into his arms and then hang on his every word all night long.

“You ready?” Brad came close and offered his arm. It was all MacKenzie could do to not cringe. She didn’t want to be with him, but for some odd reason she had an almost protective feeling toward Brad. Maybe it was seeing Isaac punch him and wanting to help him. Her dad used to say there were three sides to every store—your side, my side, and the truth. She didn’t think Isaac or Haley were lying about Brad, but she did feel bad for him and didn’t want to judge him too harshly because she was falling for Isaac and only wanted to be with him, yet couldn’t because of Isaac’s protective nature and inquiries into what was going on.

“I’m really not feeling great tonight.” She tried to weasel her way out of dinner.

“I understand Isaac can have that effect.” He gave her a broad smile. “How about we grab ice cream for dinner, sit outside on this beautiful summer night, and ease your worries that I’m anything like Isaac claims I am?”

MacKenzie was surprised by him again. She appreciated his understanding and loved that he wasn’t trying to push her to be alone or do some fancy, drawn-out dinner. “That sounds great.”

He grinned and they walked into the bright summer sun. Twenty yards away a man in a white shirt and navy blue dress pants was bent over a man whose legs were twitching. The man on the ground moaned loudly and MacKenzie gasped. All the images from that horrible night came rushing back. Squire bent over that man as the man screamed and writhed in pain.

MacKenzie started toward them when all she wanted to do was run away. Brad grabbed her arm. “Where are you going? Third Bowl is this way.”

“That man. I have to help.”

Brad glanced over at the two. The nicely dressed gentleman had assisted the other man into a seated position.

“That’s nice of you, but Doc Fieldstone is probably the best one to help old Jay. He has seizures and is drunk most of the time so his medication doesn’t work properly.”

MacKenzie drew a long breath and closed her eyes. The town doctor and a man who had seizures. Not a torture scene. When would she react to normal situations without assuming the worst or wanting to squeal and run away?

She relaxed as they walked down the block and into Third Bowl. MacKenzie actually listened to the ice cream worker, Charlie’s, advice tonight and ordered the peanut butter chocolate chip with hot fudge. It melted on her tongue so happily.

They took their ice cream out back by the creek to eat on some picnic tables. She wondered if Brad was truly the monster Haley and Isaac made him out to be. Why was Brad being so kind and non-pushy where Isaac was tense and making her question his motives to make Brad look bad? She noticed Isaac’s truck parked down the street half a block. Was he watching them? The thought was infuriating and comforting.

* * *

Isaac pulled into the ranch yard behind MacKenzie’s beat-up car. He’d kept his promise and gritted his teeth through the painful half an hour of watching them eating ice cream while he sat in his truck down the street a ways. If either of them noticed him, they didn’t give any indication. Then he followed her home. Thank heavens she hadn’t been alone with Brad. He swung open his truck door and forgot every intention of not pushing MacKenzie to talk as she scurried from her car to Haley’s front porch, obviously trying to avoid him.

Isaac caught up to her. He didn’t touch her, but he shadowed her steps. She flung open the screen door and worked the key into the deadbolt with trembling hands. Several seconds passed and her hand was just growing shakier. Isaac took the key from her and turned it, opening the door. MacKenzie hurried through, glancing back at him fearfully.

“Guess you aren’t inviting me in?”

“No, I’m not inviting you in!” Sparks flew from her mahogany brown eyes. “Stop following me, stop questioning me, and stop worrying about me!”

“Mac,” he tried again, his voice low and on the verge of begging. “I can help with any … problems you have.”

She shook her head violently and one tear crested over her thick lashes and rolled down her cheek. That tear about killed him.

“The only problem I have is you. Leave. Me. Alone!” She slammed the door in his face.

Isaac didn’t move. How had their relationship imploded from friends and amazing kisses to her yelling and slamming the door in his face? What had he done? What could he do? He slowly made his way to his shop. When all else failed, there was always work.

* * *

MacKenzie parted the curtain and watched Isaac go, tears rolling down her face. She wanted to race after him, apologize, go on a hike, and kiss him until the sun set and rose again, but she couldn’t. He was far too nosey and caring. He just had it in him, that protective gene, like no woman would ever be in danger if Isaac Turnbow was close by. She wished she could rely on that, but her problems were too huge and spilling them to Isaac would only cause him and his family more trouble.

The tears turned into a torrent then. What was she doing here? Haley had been so kind to give her a house and a job and if Squire found her here, MacKenzie would be putting Haley’s beloved father and brother in danger.

Isaac in danger. Blood dripping down his perfect face. No! She bit her lip, unable to deal with the situation she’d created. She needed to leave, but she had to wait until Saturday. There was no way to escape without money. She nodded to herself and wiped the tears away. No matter how much it hurt to think of ditching Isaac, she was going to leave Saturday as soon as she figured out a way to cash her paycheck without any identification.