Chapter Nine
Drake hated that Shiloh felt cornered, and he knew she did. He’d seen the look in her eyes every time he’d mentioned them living together. Last night, she’d finally agreed to think about it, but he worried for every two steps forward he might have to take three steps back. He’d read some pregnancy books and learned about nesting. It was his hope that the apartment renovation would trigger Shiloh’s nesting instincts and she’d make the place her own. He’d already hired someone to rip out the carpet and linoleum. The laminate and ceramic tile was already on order. In hindsight, he should have let her pick it, but he hadn’t wanted to wait until she was off work.
With the renovation taken care of, he had too much free time on his hands. Dallas was right. He did need a job. They could live comfortably for quite a while on what he had stashed in his bank account, but he’d be bored out of his mind. It had been rough this past week, staying home while Shiloh went to work. His brother slept all day since he worked all night. But what the hell kind of job could he get? It wasn’t like his skills were required in civilian life. Not that he was sorry he’d joined the Army. He’d learned a lot, and, thank God, he hadn’t come home with PTSD.
He’d retrieved his laptop from the apartment when he’d met with the contractor and opened it to browse his options. It was doubtful there were many jobs open in Gulch Springs. Their tiny town didn’t have much, but it had always been home. Drake remembered having to drive to another town just to grocery shop when he was little. Then more people started moving in, stores started popping up, and before long they were booming. Well, as booming as a small town could get. They’d never be the size of Dallas, and he was glad of it.
While he was right about Gulch Springs not having much, Buffalo Gap was another matter. It was only twenty minutes up the road, so working there wouldn’t be so bad. He’d known several guys in the Army who got out and went to work for their local police departments. He wondered what Shiloh would think about him wearing a gun and a badge. Then he thought about putting his life in danger every time he went to work, and realized he didn’t want to put his family through that. His son or daughter should never have to wonder if Daddy was coming home.
“What the fuck am I supposed to do with my life?”
He snapped the computer shut and leaned back in the chair. He couldn’t be a soldier anymore, and wouldn’t have re-upped if even if he hadn’t been discharged. What kind of safe, respectable job could he possibly get that he would be proud of, that his family could be proud of? The VA hospital was too far away or he’d volunteer until he figured things out. Maybe he could find work doing something with his hands? Painting was out until his lung fully healed. He was passable at carpentry, but he didn’t know if he wanted to do that every day.
He felt completely useless. Most of the jobs nearby didn’t require a college degree, which he didn’t have, but they did require some experience. He didn’t think they would care much that he knew how to take out insurgents. Drake got up and snatched his keys off the dresser and then went out to his truck and drove around town. As a kid, he remembered some of the locals posting job ads on the library bulletin board. At this point, he’d try anything. It wasn’t so much that he needed a job right this minute, but … yeah, he pretty much did need a job right now or he’d go stir crazy sitting on his ass.
The library parking lot was full and he had to park nearly half a block away. When he stepped inside, he saw why. The place was crawling with small kids and their moms. A large, glittery sign announced story time was about to start. He managed to maneuver through the chaos to the bulletin board on the far wall. It was mostly sales flyers and ads for babysitting, but there were a handful of job announcements. One in particular caught his attention.
Part-Time Ranch Hand Wanted. Must be able to rope and ride. Work hours will be 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM Monday through Thursday. $400 per week. May become full-time in the spring.
Drake copied the man’s name and number into his phone and hoped he hadn’t found someone already. He might not have ridden much in the last ten years, but he’d grown up riding and roping. He’d even competed in some rodeos during high school. It might not qualify him to be a ranch hand, but it never hurt to give the man a call and see what he said. Maybe he’d give Drake a chance to prove himself.
When he got back out to his truck, he turned on the air conditioning full blast and gave the guy a call.
“Buckhorn Ranch,” a man said.
“I’m calling about the ad posted at the library for a part-time ranch hand.”
“Do you have any previous experience?”
Drake told him about his rodeo experience and all the summers he’d ridden at his grandparents’ farm. He admitted that he hadn’t ridden in the last ten years and explained why. The man’s tone changed almost immediately.
“Thank you for your service, son. Tell you what. Why don’t you come out here tomorrow for a tryout? Say around nine o’clock? I should be free by then to see what you’ve got. My name’s Hank and you can find me at the front barn most days.”
“I’ll be there, and thank you, sir.”
Drake smiled as he hung up. It wasn’t a done deal, but he planned to wow the man tomorrow. He just hoped like hell he remembered how to rope. Riding wasn’t a problem. Riding a horse was like riding a bike, except his ass was going to be sore the first week on the job. He hadn’t thought to ask if he’d need his own saddle. He could buy one, if he needed to, but no sense spending the money before he was sure.
The clock on his dashboard said it was 12:15 and he cursed. Shiloh was probably starving and wondering where the hell he was. He’d promised to take her to lunch at twelve, and even though he wasn’t overly late, he’d always prided himself on being punctual. Leaving the mother of his child to go hungry was a shit thing to do, even if it had been unintentional. When he pulled into a spot at Latimer Construction, Shiloh was waiting at the edge of the makeshift parking lot. She didn’t look pissed, just tired.
When she climbed into the truck, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry I’m late. I was job hunting and time got away from me.”
“Find anything?”
“Maybe. I have a tryout of sorts at a ranch just outside the town limits. It’s just part-time to start, but the ad said it could become full-time in the spring. Or maybe I’ll like part-time and just stick with those hours if he’ll let me.”
She frowned a little. “Can we make it if you only work part-time? I mean long-term. I only make about three hundred a week after taxes. Less once I start paying for health insurance.”
He liked that she’d said “we.” Maybe she was seriously considering his offer.
“We’ll be fine. Ranch hands make pretty good money, even part-time. I kind of like the idea of having more time with the baby. We’ll still need to figure out childcare for the mornings once you go back to work.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.”
“Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat for lunch? Any special cravings?”
She smiled a little. “I haven’t really had cravings. Even the morning sickness isn’t as bad anymore. I’m hoping the rest of the pregnancy will go smoothly.”
“You’d tell me if you were still having dizzy spells, wouldn’t you?”
“Probably not. You worry enough as it is. As long as I stay upright, that’s all that matters. You heard the EMT, he said that some dizziness was to be expected. I’m eating better, I’m getting plenty of rest, and the doctor at the hospital said the baby was fine.”
He couldn’t help but worry about her. It was obvious she hadn’t been doing a very good job of taking care of herself. She’d had so little that it was hard not to want to spoil her some. The apartment they were sharing was small, and as their son or daughter grew they were definitely going to need more space, but he was going to make it as homey as possible for her. He figured they could stay there at least another year, maybe two, before he’d need to seriously think about getting a house. Kids should have a yard to play in, not a bar parking lot.
Since she didn’t tell him where she wanted to eat, he drove to the diner. He’d noticed she was partial to their apple pie. She didn’t complain when he pulled into a space near the door. They went inside and found a booth near the window. The sunlight played over her hair, making it shine like a sunset. He didn’t understand how she’d been single all the months she’d been in town. Couldn’t everyone see how beautiful she was, not only on the outside but on the inside as well? Sure, she fought with him like a rabid possum when she felt he was overstepping, but he’d seen the kindness she showed everyone on a regular basis—even to him.
“You’re staring,” she said. “Do I have something on my nose?”
“No. Just thinking about how beautiful you are,” he answered honestly.
She blushed and looked down at her menu. The woman didn’t know how to take a compliment and he wondered if maybe there had just been too few of them in her life. Whatever asshole she’d dated before, the one who had dumped her here, should be taken out and flogged to within an inch of his life. How anyone could mistreat her, he didn’t know. Every time he thought about that hateful email he’d sent her, shame burned through him. She had every right to hold it against him, and he didn’t blame her one bit, but he hoped she was learning he wasn’t the asshole she’d professed him to be.
They ordered their food and Shiloh stared out the window, her lips tipped down at the corners as if something heavy weighed on her mind. He wished that she’d talk to him, unload her burdens. He wanted to help her and not just financially. How could he make her see that he wanted to be there for her in every way? To support her emotionally as well. He’d bought her flowers, treated her to nice dinners, even taken her to a movie. And still she kept herself apart from him. Except for when she slept … at night she curled into his arms and seemed content to be with him.
Maybe he wasn’t thinking big enough, or perhaps he’d been thinking too big. Flowers and dinners were great, but they weren’t very personal. If he showed her that he paid attention, that he knew what she loved and hated, perhaps he could convince her he was in this for the long haul. And not just for the baby, but for her too. Christ! If his Army buddies knew the shit going through his head, all over a woman, he’d never hear the end of it. He was supposed to be a battle-hardened warrior and here he was having an internal mope fest because Shiloh was being difficult. Women really did make men stupid.
They ordered their food and he continued to get the silent treatment. She barely even touched her sweet tea, and he knew how much she loved it. She’d been fine when she’d left for work that morning, and he didn’t the news of his possible job would have upset her so much. That only left work…
“Why were you standing at the edge of the parking lot when I pulled up?” he asked. It had been odd and he’d just thought her anxious for lunch, but now he wondered if there was something more to it.
“No reason.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“Shiloh, did something happen at work today?”
“It’s nothing. I’m sure I’m overreacting.”
He reached out and placed a hand over hers, drawing her attention his way. “If something happened, you can tell me.”
Her eyes filled with tears and he immediately felt like a jerk for pushing her. He squeezed her hand but had no idea if he should hold her or stay where he was. She brushed the tears from her cheeks with her free hand and sniffled.
“Charlie is out of town until Monday, and he left orders for me while he was gone. I thought I could handle it, that everything would be fine, but … I hadn’t counted on the construction workers.”
“Didn’t he leave a foreman in charge of them?”
“Yes, but…”
“Sweetheart, whatever it is, just spit it out. Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Sometimes you just need another person’s perspective on something.”
“One of the men came into the trailer before lunch. I was up from my desk and filing something when I felt someone behind me.” Her tear-filled eyes focused on his. “He slammed me against the filing cabinets and tried to pull up my skirt.”
“Shiloh, did he…” Drake swallowed the knot in his throat. “Did he hurt you, baby?”
“He bruised me a little and he tried to tear my panties, but I managed to catch him by surprise and kneed him in the crotch. It gave me enough time to get out of the trailer. I went down to the parking lot, hoping you were there.”
Drake got up and went around to her side. He sat and pulled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. After lunch, I’m going to have a talk with the foreman and then I’m taking you home. And don’t argue. I’d rather know you’re safe than take a chance on something happening to you while Mr. Latimer is away.”
“I didn’t know what to do,” she said as she buried her face in his chest.
“Do you feel up to talking to the police? He shouldn’t get away with it. He was going to rape you, honey, and he’s likely tried with other women.”
“If you’re with me, I’ll talk to them.”
“We’ll stop by on the way home. I don’t want you going back to work until Mr. Latimer returns. If you have his number, you can call him from home to tell him why you aren’t there.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t think he’ll be mad I’m not at the office?”
“No, I don’t. I think he’s going to be pissed at the worker who tried to hurt you.”
Their food arrived and Drake convinced Shiloh to eat. It both infuriated and sickened him that something like that had happened at her work. She should be safe in her workplace, and he was going to make sure nothing like that ever happened again. If Latimer couldn’t guarantee her safety, then he’d convince her to quit. They’d manage somehow.
At the construction site, Shiloh was too scared to get out of the truck. She told Drake the name of the man who had hurt her and he promised to take care of it. Drake went into her office to gather her purse and lock the door then he went in search of the foreman. An older man with a weathered face was barking orders to everyone. Drake waited to get his attention and then asked him to step aside, out of the hearing of the other workers. He doubted Shiloh wanted everyone to know what had almost happened to her, even though it hadn’t been her fault in the least.
“You have a worker here named Richard Martin,” Drake said. “I wanted to give you a heads up that the police will be having a word with him.”
The foreman shook his head. “What’s that hot head done now?”
“He tried to rape Shiloh in the trailer before lunch. She’s in my truck, refusing to step foot on the construction site. I’m taking her to the police station to file a report and then I’m taking her home, where she’ll stay until Mr. Latimer returns.”
“Fuck!” The foreman looked out over his crew. “Tell her I’m real sorry about what happened. Man to man, though, I’ve always thought there was something off about that guy. I’ve kept him on because he’s a good worker, but now I’m wishing I’d let him go and gone with my instincts.”
“So, we aren’t going to have a problem?”
“No, and I don’t blame you one bit for keeping her home. I won’t say or do anything until the police arrive so he’s not tipped off. Once he’s off the grounds, I’ll call Mr. Latimer and let him know what happened. Shiloh going to be okay?”
“She’s shaken up, but she’ll be fine. I don’t know how much she’s going to trust your men after this though.”
“Take care of her. She’s a sweet thing and I hate that this happened.”
Drake shook the man’s hand and went back to Shiloh. She was chewing on her bottom lip as he slid behind the steering wheel. He reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze, before kissing her cheek. If she’d had trouble telling him what happened, he had a feeling things weren’t going to go very smoothly at the police station. He hoped she didn’t change her mind about filing a report. He’d once read an article that said oftentimes when a woman was raped or nearly raped they blamed themselves for the incident. No one should ever go through something so horrific and think it was their fault. Some people were just born wrong.
“I can’t claim to understand what you went through,” Drake said, “but I want you to know that I’m here for you. You don’t have to face it alone.”
“I keep thinking I must have done something to make him think that was okay. Maybe my dresses were too short or shirts too low cut. Did I flirt with him and not realize it?”
“Honey, no. This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Tears started slipping down her cheeks again. “Then why did he do that to me? What made him think that was okay?”
“Baby, he didn’t care if it was okay or not. He’s a sick man who likes to hurt other people. It didn’t have anything to do with the way you dressed or how you talked to him. Something isn’t right in his mind.”
She nodded and held his hand tightly.
“Come on. Let’s go talk to the police so I can get you home. I’ll run you a bath and you can relax the rest of the day. You can either lounge in bed and read, or if you want to go do something I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“A bath sounds nice.”
“Everything is going to be okay, Shiloh. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She gripped his hand tight and nodded as she stared out the window. He didn’t know how long it would take for her to feel safe again, but he was going to do whatever it took to see that man brought to justice. He hoped it would be enough to at least give her closure. No one deserved to go through what Shiloh had been through, but he thanked God the man hadn’t gotten any further. If anything had happened to her … well, anything worse. Thankfully, she was just frightened and had gotten away. But if she hadn’t … he might have been going to jail tonight because he would have beaten the hell out of that guy.