Chapter 10

Ty had gone outside with Lucky to sit on the front porch while Leah was getting Gracie ready for bed. She found him still sitting in the old wicker rocker, softly strumming his guitar and humming a little. Softly, he sang an old John Denver ballad, his voice deep and rich. Lucky raised his snout to the darkened sky and let out a mournful howl. Ty laughed and stroked Lucky’s head. “Good boy. Sing along with me.”

Then he sang another song, one she wasn’t familiar with, but she loved the lyrics as much as the sound of Ty’s voice.

She had turned off the lights inside except for one, and the house looked like it was resting. Standing just inside the screen, she listened to him sing, his voice embracing her as surely as did his strong arms. She leaned her head against the doorframe, filled with a mixture of longing and anticipation. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind her.

Ty stood at her approach. He placed the guitar on the chair and silently wrapped his arms around her.

Somehow, being held in this manner made her feel weak. All the problems of the past few days seemed to crash in on her. She clung to him, letting her fears ease away.

He said the words she knew would be forthcoming. “Don’t worry, Leah. Everything’s going to be okay.”

When he said it, she could almost believe it.

He turned back to get the guitar but kept an arm around her. “Let’s go.”

She knew what he meant. “Yes,” she whispered softly and fell into step as they made their way arm in arm to the bunkhouse and to the bed where they would make love again.

Ty led her inside and secured the door behind them.

Lucky curled up on a pillow in the corner. Somehow, this all seemed normal.

Only a small lamp illuminated the space with a soft glow. “Don’t be nervous.”

“I’m not,” she insisted.

He grinned and drew her into an embrace. “Liar.” He kissed her and skimmed his hands down her sides. He slid the zipper open on her pants and let them fall down to her ankles.

“Oh!” She started and then laughed. “Anxious?”

“I just want to see you. I want to touch you.” He unclasped her bra and pulled her shirt off, letting it fall to the floor.

She felt a wave of shyness standing before him wearing only her panties, and she was divested of those quickly.

Ty’s gaze roamed hungrily over her body, sending a rush of warmth swirling low in her belly. She felt light, almost airborne.

“Would you unbutton my shirt?” His murmured request jarred her back to earth.

“Sure.” She concentrated on working the buttons through his cuffs and then made her way down his shirtfront. Running her fingers over his skin, she drew the shirt over his shoulders and pulled it all the way off. Smiling, she held it against her breasts. The smooth fabric still held the warmth of his flesh. Her gaze traveled over the muscular contours of his arms and chest, a total work of art.

He smiled encouragingly. “I sure could use some help with my Wranglers.”

A grin spread across her face. “I guess I could help you out.” She hung the shirt over one of the straight-back chairs and turned to face him. Hooking her fingers in his belt, she unclasped it and then the button at the waistband. The zipper came next, but the dense denim material resisted her efforts.

Ty put his hands over hers to guide the zipper down. The sound caused a whisper of gooseflesh to kiss the back of her neck.

She glanced up into his eyes and was rocked by the heat of passion. For a moment, Ty looked like a sleek jungle cat, holding himself in check, waiting for her to catch up. Her fingers fumbled, stalling at his unzipped Wranglers.

A smile played around his mouth. He took both of her hands and kissed her palms, drew her against him, held her soft body against his hard maleness. Bending to kiss her lips, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He lowered her gently and then stepped back to shed the rest of his clothing. He pulled off his boots and the Wranglers, displaying his amazing form with no pretense.

Without further preamble, he climbed onto the bed and onto Leah, devouring her with ravenous kisses. A flash of panic seized her when he pressed her back onto the pillow but just as quickly evaporated as a wave of desire roiled up from her belly.

Ty’s hands were stroking her skin, creating a raging need inside her, a need only he could satisfy.

She whispered his name, and that seemed to kick him into overdrive. Where he had been slow and languorous, he was now on fire, and he was igniting her from the inside out.

“Oh, hurry,” Leah whispered. Without any conscious effort, her legs parted, willing him to find her need and fill it. And just like that, his fingers pressed into her wetness, massaging to the point where she could hardly breathe. She gripped him with both arms, pulling him closer, willing him to enter, to take possession of her body, to remove her fear and satisfy her longing.

He opened the condom and applied it quickly.

The fact that he was in a hurry pleased her. She wanted to think his haste had something to do with the fact that he desired her. That she had the power to seduce him. This made her smile, because she had never considered herself to be powerful in any way.

When he turned back to her, his shaft properly clad, he began again to touch and kiss her.

Impatient, Leah pulled him closer, wrapped her legs around him.

He chortled. “Who’s anxious now?”

“Me,” she ground out.

“Well, all right, then.” He grinned and set to the task of bringing her pleasure.

This…this is the best…the closest…the best. Her mind and her body were filled with Ty, with how he moved inside her, with how he managed to touch all her nerve endings at once.

Leah felt electrified, as though she might explode at any moment. She rose to meet his strokes, writhing against him to wrest the savage pleasure emanating from their joining. With every stroke, she was lifted higher and higher until he finally brought her to the peak of pleasure. Wave after wave pounded her with ecstasy until she lay spent, still holding him in a viselike grip.

“Oh, Ty,” she whispered. “I love you so much.” She froze. Oh no! I said it.

Ty stroked the side of her face tenderly, then kissed her lips. “I know. I love you more.”

Leah giggled. “Impossible.”

* * *

In the morning, Ty woke up early. He was glad to still have his arms around Leah. It was Sunday, and he thought he should set a good example for Gracie. “C’mon, sleepyhead. Let’s get a move on and go to church.”

She jerked awake and stared at him groggily. “Whut?”

“Church. You know, Sunday-go-to-meeting? It’s the thing to do in a small town. I’m pretty sure your grandmother would like to go, and we should take Gracie.”

She nodded. “Okay. We haven’t been going. I usually had to work late Saturday night and sometimes worked Sunday too.”

“Well, that was then, and this is now.” He set his feet on the floor and stretched. “I’m going to walk you back to the house, and then I’ll get cleaned up. C’mon.” He extended a hand to her.

She put her hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet, grinning. “Okay, okay. I’m up.”

After he walked her to the house and made her lock the door, he hurried back to shower and shave. He found his last starched jeans and shirt, slipped into those, and combed his still-damp hair. He gazed at his face in the bathroom mirror. “This will have to do.”

He drove the three females into Langston and pulled up to the church he had attended since boyhood. They were early, but all the better to introduce Leah and Gracie to the preacher. He had a sneaking suspicion this day would get way more complicated, but he thought he should face it head-on.

Once inside, he ushered Gran to a pew, and she waved to some of her lady friends. He took Leah and Gracie by the hand and led them to the parson’s office at the back of the church. When he introduced Leah and her daughter, Leah seemed ill at ease, but Gracie was smiling and appeared to be comfortable. The minister told Gracie about the Sunday school for her age group, which would take place after the early service and before the late one. Ty led them back to the church and seated them beside Gran.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he whispered to Leah.

She shook her head, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “No, it was okay. I guess I have to be respectable if I’m going to hang around with you.”

He stretched his arm along the back of the pew, just encircling her and extending his hand to shield Gracie. He felt a sense of satisfaction, as though things were playing out as they should be.

* * *

Big Jim Garrett arrived at the church a few minutes before the services were to start. The organist was playing hymns when he and his two sons hustled in the back of the church. He glanced around, looking for a seat for the three of them. He saw Breckenridge T. Ryan, his attorney, sitting with his pretty wife. He met Breck’s gaze, and he raised a hand in silent greeting as he slid onto the pew beside them. Beau and Colton slid in on the outside.

The organist came to a rousing crescendo and then segued right into another hymn as the choir began singing. This one was a hymn that had been a favorite of his wife, Elizabeth. In spite of the time elapsed since her passing, the music brought the sting of tears to his eyes. It wouldn’t do at all for the boys to see him break down like a sissy, so he took out a handkerchief and blew his nose, managing to wipe his eyes in the process. Whew!

He settled back in the seat to listen as the minister began with announcements.

Beau was straining his neck, peering at someone sitting up front and across the aisle. Probably some girl he was infatuated with. But he jabbed Colton in the ribs and whispered something Big Jim couldn’t hear. Both of them were straining and gawking now.

“Settle down,” he hissed.

“But, Dad,” Beau began, gesturing in the direction he’d been gaping. “It’s Ty.”

Big Jim felt his chest tighten up. He couldn’t seem to suck in a breath as his gaze traveled to where Beau was pointing. Sure enough, right there two rows back from the very front, his rebellious middle son, Tyler Garrett, sat with his arm around that pretty little blonde thing who worked for Breck. He forced himself to take a breath as the sound of his own thunderous heart drowned out anything the preacher might have to say.

He kept his gaze fastened on Ty throughout the service and noted that he looked good. He appeared to be happy. But what was he doing here? He was supposed to be in Dallas, or maybe Nashville. Someplace where singing was supposed to make you famous. Someplace where the responsibilities of owning a working ranch were secondary to the joy of having people clap while you were singing. He felt his jaw tighten.

The preacher called out the number of a song in the hymnal, and there was a scramble as everyone struggled to their feet and to shuffle through the pages, searching for the right one.

When the organist started again, Big Jim could hear his son’s voice above all the others. The voice his wife had been so very proud of. He straightened his shoulders, admitting to himself that Ty’s voice was good. But is this the right thing for my boy? Shouldn’t he be on the ranch with me and his brothers?

He blew out a breath and tried to sing along with the others, not able to tear his attention from the tall, dark-haired young man and his party. He spotted Fern Davis sitting on the other side of Tyler, next to a young girl with blonde hair. This could be the daughter the woman mentioned. Leah! That was her name.

Beau was grinning ear to ear, and Colton looked amused. Big Jim didn’t ever remember Tyler being girl crazy, but he seemed to be crazy about that one. Ty kept exchanging glances with her, and they looked all lovey-dovey. Dang! How did that happen?

After the service, Fern led the little girl off, perhaps to the Sunday school classes, but Ty and his girlfriend stood and looked around. Beau stood and waved.

The look that crossed Ty’s face wasn’t exactly cordial. But he nodded and put his hand on his girlfriend’s back to urge her toward where they were sitting.

She smiled when she spotted Breck and waved. “Hi, Breck.”

He stood and introduced her to his wife, the doctor. They began conversing as though the Garretts were not right there in front of them.

Beau jumped on Ty, enveloping him in a big bear hug, and Colton followed suit.

Ty greeted Breck and then gazed at his father. “Hello, Dad.”

“Son,” Big Jim acknowledged.

Ty put his arm around Leah’s shoulder and drew her closer. “This is my girlfriend, Leah Benson.”

Big Jim reached over the back of the pew in front of him to take her hand.

“Mr. Garrett,” she said. “I’ve met your father, Ty. At Mr. Ryan’s office.”

Ty turned back to face him, a wariness in his gaze. “That sounds about right.” He heaved a sigh. “And these are my brothers, Colton and Beau.” Both reached to shake her hand.

“Man, Ty. How did you find someone so pretty?” Beau asked, staring at Leah with open admiration.

She blushed prettily, and Big Jim had to like that. Not the stuck-up sort.

Ty grinned at Beau. “I grabbed my angel when she flew too close to the earth.”

Beau rolled his eyes, grinning.

“Don’t let go,” Colton said.

“Don’t plan to.” Ty slipped his arm around her waist.

Breck cleared his throat. “Why don’t we go to have some refreshments? I know I need a little coffee after that stirring sermon.”

Big Jim nodded. He didn’t want to let Ty slip away too soon. He followed the procession and wound up in the activity center where the ladies were dispensing coffee and doughnuts. He hung back, watching Ty interact with his girlfriend. The look of caring on their faces when they looked at each other told Big Jim everything he needed to know.

Big Jim stood beside Breck and munched a doughnut, using it as an excuse not to chat.

“Tyler is really looking good,” Breck commented. “He seems to have found a really sweet girl too.”

Big Jim grunted. “Seems so.”

Breck took a sip of his coffee. “Leah sure is doing a good job for me.”

“Say, Breck,” Big Jim said. “I’d like it if you could just tear up that last will I had you draw up. I think I may have…been a complete jackass.”

“I can’t destroy it,” Breck said. “But if you come to my office, I can remove said document and place it in your hands. What you do with it is up to you.”

Big Jim nodded. “Sounds like the best thing to do.”

In a few minutes, the Sunday school classes let out, and Fern entered the activity center with the little blonde girl beside her.

“Mommy!” The girl gave a gleeful cry. She presented her mother with something she had drawn or colored. It looked like it had pieces of construction paper glued on top.

Big Jim remembered when his sons used to come out of Sunday school with Bible verses and bits of paper glued together for his wife to ooh and aah over.

Ty was admiring the girl’s artwork. Damned if he didn’t look like a father just now. Big Jim swallowed hard. My boy has grown up. He wanted to heal the chasm between them. He wanted to pull Ty close and tell him he was proud of the man he had become. But he stood apart, sipping his coffee and watching as his family and friends interacted. A lonely man, wrapped too tight in his own grief.

* * *

As unlikely as it seemed at the time, Big Jim invited them all to lunch after church. He insisted Leah’s grandmother and Gracie ride with him, and the two brothers climbed in the back seat of Ty’s truck.

Leah could see the reluctance in Ty’s face, but he went along with it. He followed his dad’s truck, a grim set to his mouth. She squeezed his forearm, trying to lighten the tension. “Well, that was nice of your dad to take Gran and Gracie with him.”

Ty snorted under his breath. “He’s holding them hostage to make sure I follow.”

His brothers gave a laugh but apparently agreed with him.

“Trust me,” Ty said. “He’s pumping them for information right now.”

The small entourage turned in at Tio’s Mexican Restaurant and drew to a halt. Before Ty could make it around the truck, his brother Beau had jumped out to open Leah’s door and offer a hand to assist her down.

“Thank you,” she murmured, casting a glance at Ty.

Tight-lipped, Ty ducked around his father’s truck and helped Gran alight and then Gracie. When all the helpless females were ushered to the restaurant, Leah received an effusive greeting from Milita Rios. Milita took charge of Gracie and seated her in a booth with her niece, Tina.

Leah saw how pleased Gracie was to be sitting with her new friend.

Milita showed the adult party to a table near enough to keep an eye on the girls but not close enough to intrude. She passed out menus and took the drink order before departing.

There was an uncomfortable silence while everyone perused their menus, no one offering to open the conversation.

After they ordered, Milita returned with their drinks and later to serve the table. Everyone dug into the delicious food.

Big Jim kept casting furtive glances at Ty as though wanting to speak but unwilling to make the first move.

Ty, for his part, kept up a conversation with his brothers, reaching to take Leah’s hand every now and again.

Big Jim chose to strike up a conversation with Leah. “That sure is a pretty little girl you got there, Mrs. Benson.”

Leah felt her color rising. “Oh, I’m not married,” she hurried to say.

Ty shot his father a frown that all too clearly said shut up.

“Hey, Ty,” Colton interrupted. “How did the audition go? Did you make it to Texas Country Star?”

Ty heaved a huge breath and switched his focus to his brother. “I don’t know. My friend Will is submitting my audition tape.”

“So you’re just waiting?” Colton asked. “You could come home and help out around the ranch. We could sure use an extra hand.”

A complete silence followed.

Leah focused on dragging a crispy tortilla chip through the bowl of salsa Milita had set on the table. She poked it into her mouth, quickly washing it down with iced tea.

“I’m going to help Leah and her grandmother for a while.” Ty’s voice was dead calm. No one else spoke. Maybe no one else breathed.

Milita returned to the table and refilled the iced tea glasses at that moment. “How is everything? Do you need more warm tortillas?”

About that time, the front door clanked open, and three men came in.

Leah glanced up in time to recognize the two Carter brothers with a scrawny older man. She almost choked on the food in her mouth. Swallowing hurriedly, she reached for her tea. She shrank down beside Ty, hoping to avoid their notice.

“Well, don’t that beat all?” Gran exclaimed. “It’s them low-life Carters. You’d think they would stay away from the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ folks.” She eyed them scornfully.

Ty’s head whipped around to stare at the newcomers. He wiped his mouth on his napkin and slapped it down on the table. “Stay here,” he said in a low voice. He pushed back from the table and strode purposefully across the restaurant to where they stood by the front door. In a single move, he grabbed both of the Carter brothers by the arms and steered them out to the parking lot.

Every head in the restaurant turned, and people moved to the front windows to watch.

“’Bout time those Carter boys got their asses kicked,” one of the diners said. Murmurs of assent resounded.

“Oh no!” Leah cried and pushed her chair back, but before she could rise, Beau grinned at Colton, and both of them sprinted for the front door.

Big Jim heaved a sigh and threw his napkin down beside his plate. “Be right back, ladies.”

By the time Leah had gotten close enough to a window to see what was going on, she saw Beau laying into the one named Dean while Ray Carter was on the ground, getting his face pounded by Ty. Colton and Big Jim restrained the older Carter.

Leah’s stomach was tied in knots. The recent heavy meal threatened to be tossed right there.

The scream of a siren split the air, and the sheriff’s car pulled into the parking lot. The sheriff himself got out, along with one of his deputies. They ran to break up the fight.

Ty landed one last punch before being lifted off his target by Big Jim himself. Voices were raised, and a lot of finger-pointing was going on.

Leah realized her grandmother was peering out the big plateglass window right beside her.

“That Ty’s got a helluva right cross,” she observed pleasantly.

* * *

Ty felt a pair of powerful arms lift him like he weighed nothing. He was deposited on his feet, and his first reaction was to draw back his fist and round on whoever it was who had interrupted him in the midst of teaching Ray Carter not to mess with Leah or Gran.

He heaved a sigh and dropped his fist when he saw it was his father. Big Jim stood with his hands fisted at his waist, his gaze cool, but there was something else there. Could it be pride?

The tense muscles in Ty’s shoulders relaxed a bit, and he turned back to the scene from which he had just been removed. Ray Carter was still stretched out on the ground, but he was moving. Dean Carter was yelling and being restrained by the deputy. He had a cut lip, and blood was streaming from his nose and down onto his shirt. Good for you, Little Brother.

Old Man Carter was jumping around in front of the sheriff, yelling and pointing, while the sheriff was red-faced and looked like he was about to deck him. Another deputy pulled up and got out of his car. The sheriff called him over and gave him some kind of order, which could not be heard over Old Man Carter’s tirade. The sheriff turned and marched straight over to where Ty and Big Jim were standing.

The sheriff extended a hand and Big Jim clasped it. “What happened here? Mr. Carter claims your boys jumped his sons out of the blue. Is this true?”

Big Jim looked at Ty and cocked his head.

Ty sucked in a breath and blew it out. “Yesterday, the Carters attacked Fern Davis at Walmart and injured her. They threatened her and her granddaughter. I was in the process of explaining to them how they should stay away from the ladies, and Ray threw a punch at me.”

Big Jim cracked a smile. “Whoo! Big mistake.”

The sheriff looked amused but stifled his grin. “And then what happened?”

“I…uh…I hit him back and kept hitting him.” Ty shrugged. “Then Dean Carter tried to jump on me, but my little brother, Beau, pulled him off.”

The sheriff’s mouth twitched. “Fern Davis, huh? She probably don’t weigh ninety pounds. Those assholes attacked her?”

“Yessir,” Ty asserted. “Knocked her down, and she has a big, bloody bandage on her elbow.”

The sheriff’s brows drew together. “I’ll need her to make a statement.”

Ty looked around and saw Leah and Gran inside the restaurant. He waved for them to come out, and they pushed their way through the crowd of onlookers.

“Oh, Ty!” Leah rushed to his side and he drew her close. “You’re hurt.” She gazed up at him, a stricken expression on her face. Gently, she placed her finger near his eye, and he winced.

“Yeah, he got me a good one.”

The sheriff gave her a knowing look. “You’re the little gal who works for Breck Ryan. I took a report on these guys harassing you.”

She nodded. “And yesterday, they knocked my grandmother down.”

“I think we can sort this all out at my office.” The sheriff turned to his deputies and told one to transport the two Carters to his office and the other to interview the witnesses. “Big Jim, if you and your family will follow me to my office, I can take your statements there.”

Leah appeared to be frozen in place. “Oh no! What does that mean?”

Ty turned to put his arm around her. “We need to tell the sheriff everything that happened. He can decide what to do.”

Concern etched her face as she gazed up at him. “Are you in trouble?”

“Probably.” Ty grinned and only then realized he had a split lip. “But it won’t be the first time.”

Big Jim leaned closer. “Why don’t you take your brothers in your truck, and I’ll bring the ladies? I don’t think that little girl needs to be in the middle of this.”

Ty nodded. “Thanks, Dad.” To Leah, he said, “Go with my father. You and your grandmother can file a report on the attack at the store yesterday.”

Leah nodded wordlessly, her hand on his forearm. “I want Gracie to stay here at the restaurant with her friend. Milita will watch her until we’re done. Please be careful.”

He gave her a kiss, which made his lip hurt, but he didn’t care. “Don’t worry. Everything will be okay.”

* * *

Leah gathered Gran and shepherded her back to where Big Jim Garrett stood waiting for them. He assisted Gran into the front seat and closed the door, then reached to take Leah’s hand and assisted her into the back seat. “Thank you,” she whispered.

She noted that he didn’t appear as fearsome as when they had first met. The thread that united them was their mutual concern for Ty.

Gran’s face clouded. “Is Ty going to be all right? I feel bad that your boy got in trouble while fightin’ them Carters for me.”

Leah was surprised when Big Jim turned to pat Gran’s hand. “Of course he’ll be fine, Miz Fern. Don’t you worry.”

When they arrived at the sheriff’s office, Ty’s truck was parked and empty. She presumed the three brothers had trooped inside.

As Big Jim was turning off the motor, Breck and his wife pulled alongside. He got out but left the truck idling, and his wife remained inside. When they met up in front of the office, Breck said, “I thought I better come along in case I’m needed.”

Big Jim pounded him on the shoulder. “Glad we can count on you, Breck. No telling what my sons might say.”

Breck made a motion toward the door and swung it wide for Leah and Gran to pass. The outer office seemed to be filled with people. Both the Carters were inside, with the deputies standing between them. Ty, Beau, and Colton leaned up against the opposite wall. If looks could kill, they would have all been goners.

Breck and Big Jim hailed the sheriff as he emerged from the back of the building.

“Breckenridge T. Ryan, Esquire, are you representing the Garrett boys?” the sheriff asked.

“I am,” Breck assured him.

The Carters exchanged a baleful glance and then resumed their hate-filled glares across the room.

The sheriff directed his deputies to escort the Carter brothers to two separate offices to take their statements. Ray dragged himself to his feet, and Leah noted he was limping as he made his way down the hall. Dean followed behind him, but she saw the deputy pull him into a different room.

Leah wanted all this to be over with so she could take her small family back to Gran’s farm and keep them safe. Now that Ty was with them, everything would be better.

The sheriff gestured for Leah and her grandmother to be seated in the outer office and then motioned for Ty and Breck to follow him and led them down the hall.

She drew a shaky breath and pressed her lips together.

“Don’t worry, Leah,” Beau said. “We didn’t throw the first punch. I’m sure the witnesses will bear that out.”

Leah noted the bloodied knuckles on both his hands. He looked relatively unscathed otherwise.

“Those Carters have been devilin’ me ever since my Albert passed on.” Gran shook her head. “It sure done my heart good to see ’em take a poundin’.”

Leah put her hand on Gran’s arm. “Don’t say anything like that to the sheriff. That might make it worse.”

Gran nodded wisely.

Leah felt like she was under intense scrutiny as Big Jim and Ty’s brothers kept glancing at her. She didn’t know what they were expecting of her. What had Ty’s previous girlfriends looked like? For certain they didn’t have a child. They didn’t have the baggage Leah brought with her.

She remained still, trying not to call attention to herself. Beau and Colton exchanged a few words, mostly light banter, but she sensed Big Jim was as concerned as she was. Leah stood up and went outside for a breath of fresh air. She made a conscious effort to smooth out her furrowed brow. Pacing back and forth, she tried to release the tension in her neck and shoulders. When Leah turned, she ran smack into Big Jim Garrett. “Oh, sorry!”

He steadied her with a hand on her arm. “Easy. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I just had to step outside. I thought I might explode in there…and I’m concerned about Gracie. We’ve been through so much together. She’s not used to being separated from me for very long.”

Big Jim released her. “Don’t worry about your daughter. I’m sure she’s doing okay with Milita Rios. She’s a fine young woman.” He fumbled for his cell phone. “Why don’t you call and check on her? She’s probably worried about you too.”

Leah smiled. “That won’t be necessary. She’s with her friend. I’m just being overprotective.”

Big Jim’s craggy face split into a grin. “You must be very proud of your little girl.”

She released a sigh. “That I am. I just want to make sure she’s safe. And my gran too. I’m worried these men might come by the ranch when I’m at work.”

Big Jim gave her an odd look. “Let’s see what we can do about that.” He held the door open for her to return to the waiting area.

After a while, Ty came out and thumped Beau on the arm. “Your turn.” He took the seat beside Leah that Beau had vacated. He held out his hand to Leah, and when she slipped her hand into his, he kissed her fingers. She noted that his knuckles also looked as if he had shredded them against a rasp.

After Beau, the sheriff questioned Colton and then asked Miz Fern Davis to step into his office. Leah started to rise, but the sheriff waved her back to her seat. It appeared he wanted to question Gran by herself.

“Don’t worry,” Colton said. “Breck Ryan is there, and he won’t let her say anything she shouldn’t.”

Leah swallowed, hoping he was right. She didn’t know where she would get the money to pay Mr. Ryan, but perhaps he would just take it out of her paycheck…maybe a little at a time.

After Gran came out, looking somewhat smug, the sheriff motioned for Leah to follow him. She stood and took in a deep breath. Just stick to what happened with the Carters.

As she was being escorted to the sheriff’s office, she noted that the rooms where the Carters had been taken were now empty. She imagined they had finished their statements when she was outside. But how had they gone? She hadn’t seen them make an exit. Maybe there was a side door? When she entered the sheriff’s office, she saw Breck leaning against the far wall. Just the sight of him strengthened her resolve.

“Sit down, Leah. This won’t take long,” he assured her. “Tell the sheriff what happened at Walmart yesterday when your grandmother was assaulted by Ray Carter.”

“Assaulted? Oh, I guess she was.” Leah sat in the wooden chair across from the sheriff, who turned on a small recorder.

He asked her to state her name and her relationship to Fern Davis. Then he asked her to relate the events of the morning when she and Fern Davis had encountered Ray and Dean Carter at the local Walmart.

Leah responded as well as she could, recounting the incident in question and the threat when Dean Carter had promised to pay them a visit.

The sheriff asked a few more questions and then shut the recorder off. “I think that will do it. Be sure to see the judge first thing Monday morning.” He frowned, the set of his mouth grim. “Tell him to call me ’bout all this trouble.” The sheriff stood and reached out a hand to Breck and then to Leah.

She allowed him to shake hands with her but wondered what she needed to meet with a judge about the next day. She glanced at Breck uncertainly.

He ushered her through the door and down the hall. “Tomorrow,” he said, “we’ll go see the judge about a restraining order.”

* * *

Once outside, Ty arranged Leah and Gran in his truck. Breck and his wife took off for their ranch with a curt nod.

Ty said goodbye to his brothers, and they piled into his dad’s truck. That only left one person to be dealt with. He turned to his father.

“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate everything you’ve done today.” He offered his hand, which seemed oddly formal after the big, back-slapping man hugs he’d been exchanging with his brothers.

Big Jim took the hand and pumped it twice with a firm grip. “I did nothing.”

Ty held his gaze. “Thanks for being so nice to Leah and her family. They mean a lot to me.”

Big Jim nodded. “I can tell. You take care of yourself, boy. Don’t go looking for any more fights.”

“Can’t promise that. I have to protect Leah and her grandmother from the Carters.”

Big Jim snorted out a derisive sound. “No, you don’t. Let the law take care of the Carter boys. You just stay clear.”

Ty shrugged. “I will if they will.”

* * *

After an amorous night of lovemaking, wherein Ty proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had no serious injuries resulting from his encounter with the Carters, Leah drove into Langston the next morning.

She was surprised to find Breck had arrived before her. When she looked in on him, he was lolled back in his chair with his boots propped up on his desk. He grinned at her. “Ready?”

“Um, I guess. What am I ready for?”

He swung his boots off the desk. “We’re going to see the judge.”

Talons of fear clawed their way up her throat. “What? Now?”

He grabbed his Stetson and headed toward the doorway she was blocking. “Sure. We want it in place before the Carters get out of jail.” He settled the hat on his head and gestured for her to precede him.

She was glad she hadn’t bothered to put her purse in her desk yet. “They’re in jail?”

“They started the fight at Tio’s and assaulted your grandmother the previous day.” Breck escorted her out the front, putting the closed sign in place before helping her up into his truck. “If we time this right, we might get to Judge Horton before court.”

Leah buckled her seat belt as Breck started the truck and headed for the highway. They drove in silence to the county seat, where he parked in front of the courthouse. Leah scrambled out, clutching her small handbag under her arm.

After walking down a long corridor, Breck knocked on a door marked Private. A stern voice called out, “Enter.”

Breck leaned into the doorway. “Judge? Got a minute?”

The small man, decked out in cowboy regalia, turned with a grin on his face. “I’ve always got a minute for you, Breck. Who is this pretty little thing?”

Breck introduced Leah and very quickly produced copies of the statements she and Gran had made the previous day.

The judge scanned them over quickly, his brow furrowed. “I know the name Carter.”

“They’ve been in trouble before, but it’s escalating, Your Honor.” Breck outlined the need for what he called a TRO for both brothers on behalf of Leah and her grandmother.

The judge picked up his phone and asked someone to step into his office. Almost immediately, a pleasant-looking woman entered through a different door. The judge outlined what he wished her to prepare, and when she had gone, he slipped into a black robe hanging on a rack. “Daisy will get the documents drawn up right away, and I’ll sign them. You’re welcome to wait right here.” The judge took his leave after effusive thanks from Breck.

Leah was feeling a bit bewildered, having no idea what a TRO was. She sat down in one of the leather chairs and clasped her hands in her lap.

In a few minutes, the aforementioned Daisy returned for Breck to look over the papers she presented. He approved them, and she disappeared again. Breck leaned back in his chair, apparently satisfied that he had accomplished his objective.

The next time Daisy appeared, she presented Breck with a sheaf of papers in a folder. He looked them over and then thanked her. He turned to Leah and she stood, following him out the door. She heard Daisy turn the lock behind them.

“Well, you look mighty pleased with yourself, Breck,” she said. They traced their way back down the long hallway, their shoes sounding loud on the polished granite floors.

He chuckled. “I just got the judge to sign temporary restraining orders against each of the Carters on behalf of you and your grandmother.” He shrugged, setting the hat back on his head. “It’s only a piece of paper, and it won’t protect either of you, but if they violate the order, the consequences will have more teeth.”

She sucked in a breath when they stepped out into the heat. The air was dry, like walking into an oven. Breck tucked her into the truck and went around. For a moment, the feeling of baking in a blast furnace overwhelmed her, but then Breck got in and turned on the air conditioner full force. As they headed back to Langston, Leah hoped the pieces of paper would be enough to keep the Carters from any further contact with her or her grandmother. It didn’t matter to her that the Carters could be punished for violating the restraining order. It did matter that they probably would anyway.