Page 107 of Legacy of Danger
With effort, Vaughn tamped down the urge to push the entire world away from Mariah. "Sorry."
Ruth backed up another few steps, Odie holding her hand.
"Oh no, Ruth, you're not getting away without explaining what you know," Garrison said.
The woman pressed her lips together. Finally, she said, "What I shared with you is based on things I've seen before and conjecture from past research."
Garrison shook his head. "Research? Who the hell researches this kind of stuff? We need more information. Have you seen that thing before?"
"No," she said. "We've just heard about things like this... elsewhere."
A red-faced Garrison took a step toward her.
Odie held up his hand. "Stop, my friend. We don't know anything else, other than whatever's out there is scary."
The Taggarts couldn't strong-arm these two people to spill—they'd simply leave. Then Dad wouldn't have the help he needed.
"Okay, guys. Got it," Vaughn said, studying Mariah's face as her color improved. "Look, we won't take care of that... thing... tonight. In fact, it seems to want all of us together for some reason. It's best if we aren't in the same space. Too much of a temptation for that thing."
"We can't separate, though," Kerr said. "We have to protect the ranch."
Shelby rubbed the bridge of her nose. "How well is that plan working?"
Garrison dropped his fist on the tabletop. "Son of a bitch. He's right. We have to separate."
"Yeah. For now, let's make sure no more than three of us are here at the same time," Vaughn said. "I'm leaving with Mariah and staying with her tonight. You all do what you need to, and we'll caucus tomorrow."
"Got it," Garrison said, scowling over at Ruth.
"Mariah?" Vaughn murmured.
She looked him square in the face. "I'd like to go home," she whispered.
"That's the plan. You okay to walk?" He tugged her to stand, understanding now why Eric hovered next to Shelby. It killed Vaughn to see Mariah hurt and scared, and he'd do anything to prevent that from happening again.
Anything? Yes.
"I'm okay. I'm fine." She pasted a tiny and bland smile on her face as she headed toward the back door, her steps stiff and halting. "Just fine."
Fine? Not even close. He helped pull her coat closed.
If Vaughn had any doubt as to whether Mariah wanted to take on this extra-special bonus pile of crap that accompanied a future with him, no question remained now. She stumbled on the snow-covered gravel, and, prompted by a flare of his ability, he caught her under an elbow before she hit the ground.
She flinched.
In the late afternoon, the sun was setting behind gray clouds. He scanned the ranch property. Nothing out of place now.
But that could change.
If things got worse, Mariah would suffer.
Pausing before he opened the driver's side door of the truck, he centered himself, like he did before a fight. Only he wasn't going into an MMA bout.
What he was going to do tonight would be much harder.
