Seth reached her as she hit the bottom step. Wrapping his arms around her he picked her up and held her close against him, savoring the feel of her in his arms and her musky yet feminine scent.
Leaning back, he scowled. “What were you thinking coming here alone?”
She looked away and squirmed to be out of his arms. Seth set her on her feet and let her go.
“Is Rachel okay?”
“She’s stable. They’re transferring her to a burn clinic in Billings.”
Breeze bit at her lip and finally muttered, “I’m so sorry I brought this on your family.”
“You …” He paused. “You think this is your fault? That’s why you ran here? Trying to come after Flint on your own?”
She jutted out her chin. “I had Ridge.”
Seth gestured toward the front door where Joshua and Luke were watching them, and he assumed Caleb was out there talking to Ridge. “That scrawny kid?Thatwas your protection. Sheesh Breeze! Did I not prove this morning that I can and will protect you?”
Breeze planted her hands on her hips. “I’ve been taking care of myself since I was five. When my brother was born I assumed responsibility of him.”
Seth took a calming breath. “Your independence and dedication to Ridge are impressive, Breeze, but please … let me help you.”
Her dark eyes softened, but he could see her spine stiffen. “I appreciate you coming for me this morning. We will somehow pay you back for the money you wasted on us. I’m terribly sorry for the trouble I brought on your family.” With that, she rushed around him and pushed through Joshua and Luke. He could hear her pound across the patio and down the stairs.
His brothers watched him for a couple of beats as Seth debated going after her or not.
“I’d vote on the giving her space,” Joshua said as if he could read his thoughts. “For some reason they don’t take it well when we tell them they’ve been stupid.”
“I didn’t say she’d been stupid,” Seth fired back.
Luke lifted his hands. “Eh.”
Isaac chose that moment to fling open one of the rear patio doors and drag a man in. “Hey bros,” he said. “My friend Al here claims everybody cleared out after Seth beat up Flint this morning.”
“Yeah.” The guy looked bleary like he’d been sleeping, or maybe drugged out. “Flint waspissed,” he drew out the word, “like the mad kind, not the drunk kind, after you thumped him, especially because most of the guys were cheering for you.” He gave Seth an overexaggerated wink. “He ordered everybody out and they all left and quick.”
“Where’d you go?” Luke asked.
He smiled and put a finger to his lips. “I went and took a nap in the woods. Planned on coming back tonight and seeing what my friends left behind.” He tilted his head to Isaac. “Your bro just woke me up.”
Sirens peeled through the night and Al yelped and tried to break free of Isaac’s grip. “Let me go!”
“I don’t think so. I’m sure the police will have more questions than I did.” Isaac smiled calmly and held the flailing man’s arm in a death grip.
The next few hours were filled with a lot of questions from the police but no answers or reassurances. Seth kept sneaking glances at Breeze, but it was impressive how studiously she avoided looking at him.
The police of course agreed that it looked suspicious that Seth had confronted and humiliated Flint that morning and then Seth’s parents’ home had exploded later that same day. They were pretty certain that the explosion was caused by dynamite planted on the front porch, which ripped through the front of the garage as well, throwing and burning Rachel. They also had a report of a farmer over in Aspen claiming that his dogs went crazy earlier today, and the only thing he found missing was the dynamite he used to “slosh up his slurry pit”.
After the police finished their questioning, they let the brothers go and promised to get in touch when they found and questioned Flint Brooks. The brothers walked dejectedly out of the front of the police station. The police had brought their Navigator and the beat-up Mazda.
Ridge was talking quietly to Caleb, but Breeze had made a beeline for the car. Seth wanted to try and reason with her, to insist that this wasn’t her fault and demand she let him protect her. He doubted either would go over well. Would Flint come after her again? Seth didn’t know and didn’t like the thought of her and Ridge simply going home. He wasn’t sure if he was more worried about their safety or at the possibility that he wasn’t going to see them again. Both had his stomach churning. Her independence was ultra-appealing and maddeningly frustrating.
Ridge walked away from Caleb and up to Seth. Joshua, Luke, and Isaac were already loading into the Navigator, probably itching to get to their wives and check on Rachel.
Ridge looked him in the eye, and it appeared to cost him a lot of courage to do so. “I am so sorry about what happened. I know this is all my fault, but please know I would never have done this to your family. I’ve never met nicer folks. I’ll pay you back the money. I wish I could fix the rest. I’ll pray for Rachel.”
Seth’s throat was thick. He clapped Ridge on the shoulder. “Nobody is blaming you.” He cleared his throat. “Nobody.”
Ridge’s dark eyes were shiny. “I appreciate that but it’s not true …I’mblaming me.” With that he turned and ran for the rusted-out car.