Page 26 of River Justice

She’d heard what some of the girls at school did with boys. Yuck. She hadn’t even kissed a boy and didn’t really want to do that either. At least, not with any boy she knew.

If he’d taken her to make her work, she didn’t know what kind of work it would be. Since most everyone found fault with the way she made her bed, cleaned her room and tried to help with the dishes, she really didn’t think she would be good at very many jobs.

“I brought you food.” His voice was deep, raspy behind the mask. He put down a paper bag and looked in the empty bucket. “You know what to use the bucket for, right?” She didn’t answer, doubted she could find her voice as badly as her throat hurt. “I’m leaving you more juice, but if you drink it all, you’ll go thirsty before I come back.” He stood there just looking at her as if he didn’t know what more to say.

“I want to go home.” The words sounded scratchy, her voice too high. She was trying hard not to cry. “Please, just let me go home.”

“That’s not happening yet. Be good and you’ll get to go home soon.”

With that, he turned and quickly left, locking the door behind him. The smell of the food made her stomach growl. She’d always been a picky eater. She especially hated meat, beef in particular. HH had made her at least try McKenna beef, reminding her that she lived on a cattle ranch. She still didn’t like it very much, but had learned to keep that to herself.

She waited, listening to make sure he’d really gone before she crawled over to the bag. No matter what it was, she knew she would eat it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THECLOSERCHARLOTTEgot to the turnoff to the McKenna Ranch, the more she began to question what she was doing. Did she dare just show up at Holden’s door? With Holly Jo missing, there would be law enforcement officers there. She hadn’t thought of that. He was waiting for word on the girl. She would be the last person he wanted to see.

She desperately wanted to talk to him, to explain. Maybe if she called and asked him to meet her at the creek... Immediately she rejected that idea. That place was too intimate, and after what had happened last time—not to mention what had happened there thirty-two years ago when they’d both been married to someone else—she didn’t dare.

This had been a fool’s errand. Holden had more important things on his mind than her or their son. Holly Jo was missing, believed kidnapped. What had she been thinking? Her timing couldn’t have been worse. This wasn’t the time to talk about the past—and Brand.

She had no idea what his reaction would be when he finally saw her. All the sheriff had said was that Holden had been surprised. He hadn’t known. He apparently hadn’t even suspected. Would he believe that she hadn’t known?

Charlotte slowed on the county road, looking for a wide spot to turn around. Eventually she would have to talk to Holden about Brand, but now wasn’t the right time to bring up old history, let alone old wounds.

And yet if he thought their son was the one who’d taken Holly Jo, didn’t she need to assure him that it wasn’t true?

Why would he believe her? She shook her head at her own foolishness. Ian was right. This had been a bad decision made by emotion instead of common sense.

She started to do a U-turn, but saw that she would have to wait for a pickup coming too fast up the county road. The truck was almost to her when she noticed that it was a McKenna Ranch truck, the logo on the side. Her heart jumped, her breath catching as the driver suddenly hit his brakes and swung in where she’d stopped.

Dust boiled up in a cloud as the pickup came to a stop, blocking her SUV from going anywhere. The cloud of dirt hadn’t had time to settle before the driver threw open his door, leaped out and stalked toward her.

Heart in her throat, she watched Holden McKenna storm in her direction. One look at his expression and she felt sick. She’d never seen him this angry in all the years she’d known him. Hurt, disappointed, heartbroken, happy, sated and hopeful, but never looking like this. Nor did she have any doubt who had caused his fury.

A wiser woman might have locked her door. Or called the sheriff. She’d never been wise, she thought as she opened her door and stepped out, standing firm as he closed the distance between them. He came to an abrupt stop within feet of her as if worried what he would do if he got any closer.

“Charlotte.” He said only the one word, but it conveyed everything. NotLottie, the name he’d called her since they were kids. JustCharlottein a tone that told her exactly how he felt even if she hadn’t noticed his big hands balled into fists at his sides, his face a mask of pain and rage. “Where is Holly Jo? If I find out you—”

“No,” she cried, meeting his gaze. What she saw made her flinch. Contempt, yes, buthatred? “Of course I didn’t take the girl. You can’t believe that I would.”

He didn’t look convinced, but the blazing look in his eyes dimmed a little. “Why should I believe anything you say?”

She knew that they were now talking about their son’s conception. “I didn’t know. Not at first, and even when I suspected...I never did a paternity test.” Because she’d known in her heart. She could admit that at least to herself now.

“But you knew that Brand had.”

“No. I was shocked when I heard. He hadn’t said a word to me. Still hasn’t.” Holden McKenna was a gentle, loving man who couldn’t carry a grudge long, especially against her, she told herself. She felt some of his anger dissipate. “You remember what it was like back then.” She said it like a plea. He unfisted one hand to reach up to rub the back of his neck.

She couldn’t bear the pain she saw replace some of his anger. She took a step toward him as if her love for him outweighed everything else right now. “Holden—”

He stepped back, holding up his hands, warding her off.

She felt the pain of his rejection as if he’d slapped her. With a wave of shame, she knew how he’d felt all these years when she’d repeatedly pushed him away, unforgiving, angry and hurt. Vengeful.

He shook his head, his expression now one of sorrow. “Charlotte.”

Their gazes locked again. She found herself desperately searching for his love for her, terrified she’d finally killed it with her bitterness.

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