I’m about to tell her no, just as the woman in question jumps up. “I can’t... I can’t go to his ranch.”
I watch her closely. She really is scared. I clench my fists at my side, wondering who in the world has hurt her and where the asshole may be right now. “What’s wrong with my ranch?”
The woman blushes prettily. “Nothing. I’m sure it’s a fine ranch.”
I snort. “It’s not. It’s falling down around me. But you’d have food and shelter. You would just have to cook for me and two other guys. Maybe clean a little bit. I won’t be able to pay you a lot, but you’ll get room and board too. And you’ll be safe. No one will bother you there.”
The woman was shaking her head, ready to say no the whole time I was talking—until I said the word safe. It’s then she stopped shaking her head.
“But I don’t know you,” she half whispers.
Violet jumps in, and it’s almost like I forgot she was even standing there. “I can vouch for him. He’s sort of grumpy, but he’s a good guy. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
She seems to be weighing her options. She pulls her shoulders back and lifts her chin. “I don’t know how else to say it, but I have to ask. Have you ever hit a woman?”
I jerk back, this time fully offended. “Fuck no. I’d never raise my hand to a woman, and I’d never let it happen around me either. I promise if you come work for me, you won’t have to worry about that.”
Eddie the cook walks up beside Violet and hands her a to-go bag and a Styrofoam cup. She hands them both to Heather. “Here you go, honey. Have Brett bring you to come see me the next time he’s in town.”
The woman looks at the food in her hands, up at me, and then at Violet. “How’d you know I’d need it to go?”
Violet just shrugs her shoulders, but I catch her knowing look. “I wasn’t positive, but I was pretty sure.”
She thinks she’s matchmaking again. She’s been known around these parts to set a couple up before, but she’s definitely lost on this one. I’ll help the woman out and give her a job, but that’s it.
“All right, you ready... I don’t even know your name.”
She looks up at me. “My name is Emma... Uh, Heather.”
I’m confused, but I just nod. “All right, let’s go grab your stuff. See you, Violet.”
“Thanks, Violet,” Heather says.
“Is your car here?” I ask her as I open the door for her to walk through.
She doesn’t even have to duck to fit under my arm. “No, I don’t have a car.”
I’m sure there’s a story here, but the way she’s clammed up since we left Violet, I don’t think I’ll get it tonight. I point to my truck and follow behind her. When we get to the passenger door, I open it for her and offer to hold her things while she climbs in. She struggles a little bit, but once she’s seated, I hand her her food and drink. “Go ahead and eat.”
“I don’t want to eat in your truck,” she says, as she eyes the bag in her hand.
“You’re fine. I do it all the time. I’m going to put your bag in the back.”
I walk around to the driver’s side and put the bag in the backseat as I climb in. Already, she has the bag open and is eating her food. I don’t comment, because I don’t want her to stop. She’s obviously hungry.
Chapter3
Heather
Idon’t know what I’m thinking. I can’t believe I went off with some strange man in his truck. And I’m going to his house. Of all the stupid things, this one takes the cake. “So who all lives at your ranch?” I ask him.
“Me, Raymond and Peter. Raymond and Peter live in the bunkhouse.”
“So it’s just you in your house?”
He pauses for just a second. “Yes – well, you and me now.”
I suck in a deep breath and start to panic. “Let me out. Please, let me out,” I beg him. I need to go, I need out. I start to jerk on the car door, and he pulls to the side of the road in a fast stop that no doubt leaves skid marks on the road. I open the door and jump out, my hands over my head, pacing back and forth. No doubt he thinks I’m a lunatic, but I don’t care. How could I be so stupid?