Page 40 of Jake

Jake glanced at Heather to see how she was taking the news. Her eyes had gone wide, and she blinked several times but other than that, she seemed unphased. Jake knew that wasn’t true, rather that she wasn’t ready to let them see what she was feeling.

“A reward? To do what? Kill me?”

“No. Word is that if you’re hurt, they won’t pay.”

Iceman’s expression had gone soft, almost kind as he watched Heather struggle with the news. He hadn’t given her the whole truth when it came to the reward and the conditions, but Jake didn’t blame him for not telling her all of it. Who wanted to hear that she was wanted, and the only restriction was no permanent physical harm?

Hell, he didn’t know if he could tell her that part.

“What was your call, the one that wasn’t good?” She was watching him, waiting. He didn’t know if she sensed it was the same news or if she was looking to distract herself while she processed the news.

“It was Hex, telling me the same thing.” Jake tilted the top of his head toward Iceman, telling her that Hex had told him what her cousin had just told her.

“Huh, and with a truck you didn’t know headed into the ranch. Is your horse all right?”

Jake didn’t bother to try to stop the way one corner of his mouth quirked up. “Yeah. I rode him a little hard coming back, but I wasn’t that far out, and I gave him to Talon to take care of as I arrived. By now he’s probably brushed and in his stall with fresh feed and plenty of water. But I had to make sure you were okay.”

“As if anyone here would let someone take me away.” She reached over and picked up his hand, weaving her fingers with his before giving them a squeeze. “I don’t think there’s anywhere I would be safer.”

“I would like to think so, but they let him in here.” He tilted the top of his head toward Iceman again.

“But he’s not someone who would hurt me,” she said in his defense.

Jake turned to look at Iceman. “Did anyone even challenge you?”

“No. I got directions from Cowboy, and came down once I found out. I needed to see her and wanted to tell her about the reward face to face. But once I got here, I recognized the trailer and came straight here.”

Jake scowled. “That’s why I had to make sure you’re safe. That should never have happened. Someone should have stopped him before he made it in here, if only to find out who he was or what he wanted.” He’d have to talk to Lurch and let him know about it. He didn’t like that Iceman hadn’t been stopped and questioned. It left too many possibilities open for others to make it in and get to her. Perhaps hurt or take her.

It made him want to hurt someone. Preferably whoever was supposed to be watching the gate.

30

Heatherdidn’tknowhowto feel. It was clear from the way Aaron had come in searching for her, that he was worried. And Matt wouldn’t have driven all the way down if he didn’t feel the same. But for some reason, despite their obvious concern and that she knew she should be worried, she felt safe.

It hadn’t even occurred to her that Mitch or the idiots he was mixed up with would put out a reward for her, and she felt like it should have, but now that they had, she felt like at least they wouldn’t be coming looking for her themselves. And they’d added the stipulation that she couldn’t be hurt. So even if someone managed to take her, a long shot in her mind, they wouldn’t hurt her or they wouldn’t get paid.

“I’m fine. I told you I wouldn’t go anywhere without letting you know,” she said to Aaron. “And I meant it. I would eventually like to reach out to vets in the area, see if they’re looking for a tech, but I’m not ready for that quite yet. Though I should do it sooner rather than later.” She didn’t mention that it was partly because she was running low on money. If she did, either or both would tell her not to worry about it, they had her covered. But she couldn’t let them to do that. She needed to stand on her own two feet.

“It’s a little more now, Lynnie. With this news, I don’t want you off the ranch alone.”

She started to protest, to say she was a big girl and could handle herself, but Jake placed a finger against her lips.

“Hear me out first, please.”

She glared at him but nodded. He removed his finger and continued to talk.

“I’m not trying to keep you from doing what you want or going anywhere, I just want to make sure you’re safe. I want to go with you if I can or send someone if I can’t. With this reward, there will be plenty of less than ethical people looking for you, looking to make some fast cash. As much as I love your fire and spunk, please don’t fight me on this.”

The desperation in his voice, combined with the pleading in his eyes, stole all of the fight she’d been building toward. She didn’t want to fight with him, especially when all he wanted was to take care of her. His words the day before echoed through her mind. ‘If you let me, I’d set the world on fire to take care of you.’

Heather closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said what might have been the hardest thing she’d ever said. “Okay. I won’t go anywhere alone, at least for now.”

While it wasn’t the words themselves that were hard, letting go of her freedom, even temporarily, was. She only did it because she knew, deep in her heart, that as soon as it was safe, he would give it back. She trusted him to give it back. Because if he didn’t, then she’d be forced to take it and if she had to do that, then she’d never trust him again. She could only hope she wasn’t wrong in trusting him like she had been when she’d trusted Mitch.

“Thank you, Lynnie.” Aaron’s voice had gone soft. She kept her eyes closed, as he used one finger to lift her chin, then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Are you sticking around?” The way his voice changed told her he wasn’t talking to her, but to Matt.

“I may stay for a day or two, but I can’t stay more than that. I have to get back to work. I’d say I can just stay in here, but from the way you came in, I’m not sure I want to. Even out here.”

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