Page 40 of Beat of Love
Finally, the man loosened his grip enough for Amelia to jerk her arm away. “You’ve done enough damage for one day, Dad. Just go,” she spat, turning away.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me, Amelia.” Richard made a move to go after his daughter.
Rafferty placed a none-too-gentle hand on his shoulder.
The man flinched from under his touch. “Hands off me, convict,” he snarled. But he refrained from walking after his daughter. Instead, he shouted, “Dammit, Amelia. I’m your father. And I came here totalkto you.”
She called over her shoulder, “Got nothing to say to you,” and continued across the uneven ground, her gait unsteady as she favored her injured leg.
Rafferty’s heart went out to her. “Way to go, man.”
Without replying, Richard stalked away, muttering something about a savage beast.
Rafferty snorted.You have no idea.
In a déjà vu moment, Rafferty looked at the young girl and horse.
Walk away. She is not your concern.
But fuck, she wascrying. He scooped up the brush Amelia had dropped and set out across the paddock. By the time he reached the two, he had his annoyance at the man under control. No need to unsettle the horse (and girl) even further.
She lifted a tearstained face to him. “I’m sorry he was such a dick to you.”
He shrugged. “Not your fault, darlin’,” he murmured, scratching Elsa under her chin. The mare lifted her head, giving him better access.
“But to call you a c-convict … That’s just mean, Mr. Lawson.Everyoneknows you were undercover.”
“Your father’s actions are not on you.”
She closed her eyes, leaned her head against Elsa, and wrapped her arms around the horse. Her body shuddered as she took a deep breath. “Still …”
“Prison, no matter the reason, leaves a mark on a person. Your dad was just looking out for you.”
Her eyes popped open, and her body snapped straight. “If he was looking out for me, or Pres or Liv, or Mom even, he’dneverhave done what he did. We had to move here because hesoldour horse farm so he could shack up with his mistress andtheirbaby in a fancy house in Austin. And he blamed Mom for the divorce. He called her horrible and mean names, Mr. Lawson, but Mom is the kindest and nicest person, and the bestest momever.”
Elsa whinnied, baring her teeth.
“Aw, darn it.” Amelia deflated. “So sorry, Elsa,” she whispered, patting the mare’s neck. “I’m not upset with you.”
Rafferty noticed Amelia wince when she shifted her bodyweight. “You need to get your leg looked at. Maybe rub in some arnica to help with the bruising.”
“But I haven’t finished Elsa’s morning rub.”
Rafferty held up the brush. “I’ll take care of Elsa for you.”
She held his stare for a moment, then nodded with a hearty sigh. “Guess I can’t hide here forever,” she murmured, and placed a kiss on the side of Elsa’s nose before stepping back. “Thanks for letting me vent, Mr. Lawson.”
“Anytime. But how about you drop the mister and call me Rafferty? Or Raff, if you prefer.”
She cocked her head and gave him a small smile. “I’d like that, Raff. My friends and family call me Mimi.”
He returned her smile. “It’s an honor to be your friend, Mimi.”
*
Against his better judgement, Rafferty climbed the steps leading to Brandy-Lyn’s front door that evening and knocked.
He’d never been inside the log cabin, originally built for his grandmother after his grandfather passed. After Aidan’s first marriage ended, Mammy moved into the Main House, while Aidan and Caitlin lived in the cabin. Later, when Aidan married Cecelia, they built their own home. The cabin sat empty for a time until Josephine returned. When she and Kurt became a couple, Sullivan moved in. Now the woman who haunted his mind lived there.
