Chapter Seven
Jenny sat next to him, clenching his hand so tight he thought she might break bones. Through the one-way mirror, they watched Ashley talk to the detective, her words vindictive. He might not feel much sympathy for the guy, but Jon was getting his ass thrown under the bus and there was nothing anyone would be doing to stop it.
“…came up with the idea to use Jenny’s cows. She had so many, he’d said, if they staged a few cattle mutilations she could turn it into her insurance and we’d get big promo for our event,” Ashley told the detective, who had a “been there and saw everything” expression on his face. He took notes, once again asking if she wanted an attorney there. No, without the event she couldn’t afford one. The county public defender stood in one corner, his arms crossed over his chest. Apparently he’d presented quite the plea deal to Ashley and she took it. Guilty and financial restitution along with some public service, and she wouldn’t see the inside of a jail cell. Jon, on the other hand, was wanted in Yellowstone county on fraud and bad check charges, and these would just be icing on that crap cake.
“You doing okay,” he whispered to her.
“I need to hear this.”
Damn she was strong, and this was why he loved her. When she’d heard that Jon had been arrested outside of town and witnesses placed him on her property that night, she’d pressed trespassing and criminal mischief charges. The crazy theory they’d been crafting about how Ashley wanted the publicity for money had been spot on, sickeningly so. Turns out Jon and Ashley both had been running scam rings, partially through her UFOP - UFO Productions - where she fleeced those who believed in UFOs out of money, and partially through various cons they had going on. The longer he listened, the more he was convinced that both of them deserved years behind bars. Too bad Ashley wouldn’t see any, though it appeared getting caught like this rattled her. Or at least that’s the facade she had.
“I want to go,” Jenny whispered in his ear, after more of the story became clear.
He nodded, not wanting to say anything since they were warned conversation could leech through the one-way mirror to be heard by those on the other side. Anything he said wouldn’t be fit for lady’s ears anyway. He stood, and she went with him, nearly glued to his side as they walked through the precinct.
“Leaving? We haven’t finished,” one of the officers said.
“We’ve heard enough,” Jenny replied.
“We’ll call you if we need anything,” he said, seeming to understand.
“I’m sure you will.” With that, they left, meeting Bull on the way out. He was giving his statement on the events of that night and had requested that assault charges be pressed against the hired men. They hadn’t fared as well as the woman who’d hired them, also having rap sheets and definitely ending up with some jail time. Isn’t that the way it usually worked out. Those lower down on the food chain took the fall for those higher up.
“Give you a ride back to the ranch?” Caid asked Bull.
“Yeah. Then Hank asked me to check into something, so I’ll be packing up and heading out. I appreciate the hospitality of your pasture.” He tipped his head to her.
“Maybe next time, the hospitality can be well, more hospitable. I’ll have to make a big barbecue or something to thank you guys.” She patted him on the arm.
They rode back to Jenny’s ranch with her snuggled next to him. He wrapped his arm around her, fingers just barely beneath her breast. Each breath moved them closer, and it was only because he’d never hear the end of it from his buddy that he was groping his girlfriend in the truck.
Girlfriend. He hoped for more. In fact, he planned on asking her tonight. The rest of the drive passed in a blur, and as soon as they parked, Bull jumped out of the cab and headed for the utility vehicle to pick up his gear. That left them alone. He exited the truck and held open the door for her, noticing how tired she looked. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a good time to ask.
She touched his chest as she passed, giving him a soft smile, and then walked to the house. He followed, watching her unlock the door and open it. Once inside, she kicked off her shoes, went to the kitchen for a bottle of water, and sat down on the couch—hard.
~* * *~
Jenny looked up at Caid who sat on the couch next to her, his arm casually draped across the back of the couch. How she wanted to lean into his broad chest, let his arms enfold her and keep her safe from all the crazies out there. And listening to Ashley at the police station showed there were some pretty crazy crazies. Not to mention her horrid taste in men as the full extent of Jon’s actions, and his past actions, came to light.
“I suppose you’ll be leaving now,” she said, trying to stay strong. The last time he’d been here on leave and she’d known when he and her brother was deploying. Now, she wasn’t sure her heart could handle it, but her case was solved. She figured Hank would send him trotting off to somewhere else to protect someone else. She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“What? Why do you say that?” Shock filled his voice.
“You saved me. My cattle are safe. Ashley and Jon are in the hands of the law.” She shrugged. “I don’t know where Hank works or how, but I suspect he has another case for you.”
“You know if he does it’ll be right here.” He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, his touch so soft she thought she might cry.
“What? Really?” For the first time since the case had come to a head last night, she felt hope. Real hope. Not just hope that her livestock would be safe. Worst case scenario a few nights in the pasture with her rifle would protect them from any predators. But hope that perhaps, he’d stay and they could build a life together. “I thought…”
“I know what you thought, and I don’t care if Hank sends me to the ends of the earth. I’ll always come back home to you.”
Her lips parted in shock.
Caid swooped in and kissed her, bringing heat to her body as soon as his lips touched hers. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her to his chest, his other hand skimming her sides. He tasted her, a quick caress of his tongue along her lower lip, then deeper, until his tongue entered her mouth and he groaned. When he pulled back, they both were breathing hard.
“Did that feel like a man who wanted to go anywhere except to your bed?”
She shivered at the image his words conjured, of both of them ascending the stairs to her bedroom, him laying her down on the bed, then stripping before making passionate love to her. She shook her head no.
“Honey, I’m not going anywhere that you’re not. I love you. I know I loved you the last time I was here, but I was deployed and I jumped into war zones to rescue men. It wasn’t exactly a desk job and you made it clear you worried enough over your brother. I didn’t want you worrying over me.”
“I did,” she admitted. “Worry over you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for every moment of hell I put you through. I’ve served my country. I’m done with that life. Now, I want to settle down with you and the cattle, and even Bubba. I know a bit about roping and working cattle, or at least those trophies I got in high school said I did. I’d like to rope myself to you and this ranch and have you all to myself. Will you marry me, Jenny Ryder? Will you make it official and become my wife?”
Her eyes filled with tears of the happy variety and she blinked them away. “Yes, Caid. Or would you rather I call you Domino in bed?” This time, she closed the space between them and initiated the kiss. Of all the outcomes, she’d never imagined this. In all the ways she’d thought that she might see Caid again, might even get to make love to him again, never had marriage entered into the equation. But now that he’d asked, she knew it had been all she’d wanted from the beginning. “I love you, Caid Janda, and you can rope me any time you want.”
He chuckled low in his chest and tugged at the hem of her shirt. “How about we start right now?”
She tried to think of a witty comeback, something that had to do with being roped, and then decided the heck with it. She wanted him now and every day in their future. Taking off her shirt, she stood and hurried to the stairs. “Anywhere, anytime, Domino.”
He moved off the couch like a shot, catching her when she was halfway up the stairs. With one strong arm around her waist, he pulled her against his chest and nibbled along her neck. Somehow, they made it to her bedroom and when she turned to face him, the heat and love in his gaze took her breath away. Wiggling out of the rest of her clothes, she lay back on the bed and watched the man she loved come to her. He might have roped her, but as she watched his gaze sweep over her naked body, she wondered if somehow, perhaps they hadn’t rescued each other.