Page 64 of Moon Blind Hearts
Jules
The next morning, a woman who feels as bright as the sunshine beaming down on us climbs out of a large pick-up truck and waves at me. She’s wearing neon pink bell bottom jeans and a white tank top that only seems to make her pretty blonde hair stand out even more. She’s absolutely beautiful, and so are the three men who climb out of their respective seats around her. One of them, a silver fox, reminds me of those actors in action movies that can kill you with some random item like a stapler. The largest guy wears a permanent frown, but the other man, of average height with skin kissed permanently by the sun, grins as wide as he can and waves.
“Good mornin’, mon chers! I hear we’ve got a problem you might need some help with,” he declares in an accent reminiscent of the Louisiana Bayous.
I’ve never seen a more mismatched group of people.
The woman smiles at him and loops her arm through his as they walk up. “You must be Jules.” When I nod, she reaches out to shake my hand and I go along with it. “I’m Valerie. This here is Gilden, Knox, and Wolf. Cash reached out to us last night and said you’re dealing with a group I know a whole hell of a lot about.”
I nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I start. “I’m unfortunately, unwillingly engaged to Augustus Harrington. His family is pretty heavily involved in the 27 Foundation if rumors are to be believed. He’s already been in town at the carnival.”
She nods. “Which breaks the contract I have.” At my questioning frown, she adds, “the deal I made with them was that the Foundation wouldn’t step foot into Steele again as long as I remained here. While I don’t plan on sticking to it forever, I have so far, which means they’re in breach of contract.” Valerie smiles at me. “I can handle the Foundation and keep them from coming down completely on you. I can’t exactly stop the fiancé if he’s already brazen enough to show up, but we can lend you some of the best security equipment this side of the Wyoming Mountains.” She pauses. “Now, about your daddy?—”
I wince. “Yeah, he’s a different problem.”
“I don’t know much about the Ward family. Y’all keep your secrets so hush hush that even Wolf couldn’t do much diggin’. But I’ve gathered your daddy is a senator, right?”
Nodding, I sigh. “He is. And he’s running for president in the next election.”
Valeria whistles. “I can’t do anything about your family, unfortunately. Best I can do is help with the Foundation, however, if it’s an election year, I imagine your daddy wouldn’t want things to get out too much no matter what goes down. Considering Wolf couldn’t even find reports about you missing, I’d say he wants anything to do with you kept on lock down. He’ll try and keep things quiet for his campaign so maybe things won’t get out of hand, but you won’t be alone.” She reaches out and takes my hand. “You’ll have back up if he shows up.”
I stare at her, wide-eyed. “Just like that?”
She grins. “Just like that. We take care of our own out here, Juliet Ward.” Her eyes flick to the guys around me. “And I get the feeling these three cowboys think the world of you. Udder Nonsense may be a newer addition to the thirteen, but we stick together no matter what.” She looks at her own men fondly. “And besides, we could use a bit of excitement around here anyways.” She winks at me. “I’ll make some calls. We’ll get things set up by tomorrow.”
I just hope that’s soon enough.
Chapter 37
Jules
“I got something for Genie,” Oak mumbles the next morning from the doorway.
I’m standing on the porch of the big house, Genie in my arms as we watch the black and white dairy cows meandering out in the pastures. The cows don’t seem concerned with anything at all, let alone what we’re doing. What a life that must be. To be pampered, catered to, milked, and then set back out to pasture. No stress. No one hunting you down.
No one trying to put you in a cage you don’t belong in.
I turn toward Oak as he appears beside me, a small narrow box in his hands. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say, frowning.
“I don’t have to do anything,” he says, shuffling his weight on his boots. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the man uneasy, and that’s what really makes me pay attention. “But this is something I wanted to do.”
I stare at the box, almost too afraid to touch it. Genie, on the other hand, reaches out for Oak to pick her up. He smiles and hands her the box before taking her in his arms, booping her on the nose as she pries the box opens. When she finally gets it separated, the item inside comes flying out and Oak just barely catches it before it flies away.
When I see what it is, my eyes start to mist. “Oak . . .”
“What?” he asks, holding the small necklace up to Genie. “Every little girl should have a strand of pearls. I’m just lucky I get to give her the first ones.”
Genie takes the pearls and coos, excited. She loves playing dress up and this is just another item to dress up with. I step forward, my throat thick as I unhook the necklace and place it around her neck. The pearls are a soft pink, pretty and exactly the kind of thing she loves. She giggles and wraps her little arms around Oak’s neck, hugging him in thanks.
“Don’t worry,” Oak says, reaching into his back pocket. “I know it’s not your first, and you probably had much nicer ones, but I figured you ain’t ever had one gifted by a cowboy at the very least.”
He holds out another box for more and I stare at it. This time, I can’t stop the tears. They come trickling over my lashes as I take the box and pull it open. Inside is a perfect strand of black pearls.
“They’re beautiful,” I choke out.
He shuffles again. “I got black, because I thought it would go well with your Vanta stuff and wearable all the time outside of that. But I can get you something else if?—”
“No,” I interrupt his nervous words. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”
