Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Reclaim Their Love [Wyoming Warriors 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) (8 page)

“Tempting, but I have a lot of work to do catching up on the finances and some design work to finish. Maybe tomorrow night?”

“It’s a date. Well, your car is right here. I’ll let you go for now.” He gave her a quick kiss and waved.

Cassie slid into the driver’s seat, started the car, and backed up. She watched as Nick pulled out behind her and then drove off in the opposite direction. She felt more alone than usual.

* * * *

Cassie had worked late into the night, but was happy with her creations. She’d felt a spurt of energy from working with the gold and silver. As she’d worked she almost heard Caedmon’s voice,

“Let the design flow from your fingers. Concentrate on the piece of metal in your hands. Close off all disturbing thoughts. When you’re finished you’ll find stress has been worn away like the hard edges of the silver or gold you’re working on.”

She missed her friend. He’d given her his phone number, but suggested, in a gentle tone, that she not call unless it was an emergency. Occasionally he went out into the busy world, but he preferred to stay in his small house at the foot of the mountains in New Mexico. She envied him his peace.

Caedmon reminded her of Lang, who’d always had a solid core in his center. The most emotion she’d ever seen him display had been at the new house the other day.

I have to stop my reminiscing and get up.
Outside her bedroom window the sun was shining. She hurried through her shower and managed to open her shop on time.

A tour bus stopped on their way to the interstate, and she was busy all morning. Cindy came in at noon to relieve her. Cassie went up to her small apartment to get ready for her visitor, Ellen. She mixed a batch of chocolate chip cookies and had just put on the water for tea when there was a knock at the door.

“Ellen, welcome. Please come in.”

“Thank you.” Ellen looked around the room. “I love your place. It’s cozy. You’ve made it a home.” She laughed. “You should have seen my apartment when I met Sahale. Very few pictures, no decorations to make it personal.”

“You weren’t happy?”

“No. I was very alone. My two friends, Sara and Morgan, had married men here at the ranch. I was left behind, so to speak. Thanks to my wonderful husbands, my world has turned upside down in a good way.”

“I haven’t seen Sahale lately, but you and Jack glow.”

“Sahale’s been on an assignment, but he’s due back in a few days.”

“He must have left right after you got back from your honeymoon trip.”

“Yes, Daren asked him to do a special job for him.”

Cassie fixed the tea, while Ellen wandered around the room looking at her pictures, some photos she’d taken in her travels.

Cassie put the fresh-baked cookies on a plate and took Ellen’s tea to her.

“This is wonderful. Cooking chocolate chip cookies always makes the house smell so good.” Ellen sat on the sofa as Cassie went back to get her teacup.

Once they were both seated, Ellen looked across at Cassie and said, “I think you asked me to visit for more than just a friendly chat. Do you have concerns regarding your mother that I might address?” Ellen took a bite of her cookie and a sip of tea while she waited for Cassie’s reply.

“I know we don’t know each other well,” Cassie started out. “But I heard about some of the difficulties you had, from my mother. She admires you immensely.”

Ellen blushed and smiled. “Thank you. I don’t know why. I didn’t do much, if you’re talking about the assignment I went on with Jack and Sahale. They were always close and protected me.”

“To be honest, I wanted to ask you about your first relationship.”

Ellen wrinkled her forehead. “How did you hear about that?”

“The ranch is like a small town. Someone overheard the conversations about how brave you were to face your fears and do what you did in Washington.” Cassie leaned close. “How did you escape him?”

“Ah, you are running from someone?”

“Yes. I thought I’d gotten away.” Cassie stood and paced around the small living room area. “But when I took Mom to the city for her last treatment, I think I might have seen him.” She turned to face Ellen. “Probably not, though. It was a man with blond hair about the same height as him. I was driving away and didn’t get a good look. I’m certain he didn’t follow me back here to Lovettville.”

“So certain that you’re still worried.” Ellen glanced at Cassie wringing her hands.

Cassie sat back down. “I didn’t know him all that long. We were introduced by mutual friends. He seemed nice. He’s well known in his community, handsome, rich.” She laughed. “What more could a girl want, right?”

“How soon did he start being abusive?”

“About a month after we met. Little accidents started to happen. He’d accidentally squeeze my hand too tight or bump me against the wall. Stupid me, I tried to ignore it at first, accept it as not intentional. Then one day I was late meeting him and he blew up. We’d arranged to go from his house to a party.

“When I arrived and went inside, he attacked me. He slapped me, pushed me hard against the wall, but what happened to really frighten me was when he put his hands around my neck.

“He said he expected me to be on time, to do as he said, or it was my fault if he got mad and hit me.”

Cassie took a deep breath. “This is hard to say. I’ve never told anyone. I got angry and frightened. I rammed my knee into his private parts. He wasn’t expecting me to fight back. While he was doubled over, I ran out and got in my car. But it wasn’t over. He followed me around town for days and made threatening phone calls.

“Did you go to the police?”

“Once. They talked to him and believed his denial. Things got worse after that. I’d been thinking about coming home. When I got Mom’s letter that solidified my decision. I quit my job and drove out of town in the dead of night. I traveled a circuitous route to get here and left no forwarding address.”

“And yet you fear he has found out where you are?”

“A tiny fear, probably not grounded in reality.”

“Have you told anyone but me?”

“No. I didn’t want to worry my parents. They have enough to concern them.”

“What about Lang or Nick? Jack said you three were close before you left.”

“That’s something else I want to ask you, Ellen. How have you adjusted to living on the ranch? Do you feel like an outsider?”

Ellen shook her head no. “Not at all. Of course going on the assignment helped me be accepted, I think. And Sahale and Jack are so loving and intent on seeing I’m happy. They make my world go around. Plus, I enjoy my work with the incredibly intelligent scientists and biologists. They’re really the best. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“No, I haven’t told either one of them. This is my problem. I’d never forgive myself if one of them got hurt trying to fix something I started.”

“First”—Ellen reached out her hand—“this isn’t your fault. You had no way of knowing this man was an abuser. My ex-husband didn’t physically abuse me. His father threatened me, and my ex became an abuser to his second wife. They’re clever and were able to hide their deviousness from friends and family. Many abused wives or girlfriends feel helpless or are too frightened to ask for help. So they don’t go to the police. At least not right away. I was happy my ex-husband and his father were stopped.” Ellen took a sip of tea before continuing.

“You surprised this man and hit back and went to the police. But from what you’ve told me, he’s a pillar of society and the authorities are more apt to discount one lone complaint. He’s also dangerous. At least tell Lang and Nick.”

Cassie shook her head. “I can’t, not until I decide if I’m ready to commit myself to them. Otherwise it isn’t right to ask them to be involved.”

“What’s holding you back? Don’t you feel part of the ranch community?”

Cassie got up. “Wait here a moment.” She went in her bedroom and got some pictures she’d unpacked recently. Going back to Ellen, she handed them to her. “This is what I looked like when I lived on the ranch.”

She watched Ellen start to smile, and then laugh. “You are a late bloomer. The original wild child written all over you. From your defiant expression, to the clothes you wore, and the hair blowing wild around you. So you rebelled, so what?”

“Have you noticed the teenagers on the ranch? They might rebel a bit, but there is an innate sense of responsibility and direction, even at that young an age. It was like being in a foreign country and not knowing the language.” Cassie stared at herself in the picture. A gentle sadness filled her heart for the confused teenager looking back at her.

“Lang and Nick were so mature for their age. They were certain I was the one for them, even though they were only twenty. They’d come home from college for the summer.

“The thought of spending the rest of my life here in Wyoming and settling down, before I’d experienced all that attractive world outside of here, was too much. Also, the idea of two husbands didn’t appeal to me at the time. I flew away.”

“But you returned.”

“I couldn’t forget them. So many times I had started to come back. I thought I had to prove myself first.” Cassie picked up their teacups. “I’ll get us some fresh tea.”

Ellen followed her into the tiny kitchen. “You found your talent. You make beautiful jewelry.”

“Thanks. I love doing it. I met a man, a friend, in New Mexico. He lived near a small town I passed through. His home sat at the bottom of a mountain. I admired his work and asked him to make a piece while I watched. He made jewelry, pottery, all kinds of things.

“I stayed in town for six months and worked with him.” She glanced at Ellen. “Now there was a man with talent. Strange, he reminded me of Lang. He urged me to go home, but I thought I’d make a few more stops in my travels first. Three years later, I finally came back. Mom was sick, and if I’m honest, the memory of Lang and Nick called to me.”

They sat down to drink their tea. Ellen faced Cassie. “All right, I’m going to be blunt. I think you have two questions for me. You want to know if it’s really a good idea to marry two men? For me, the answer was that I loved them both and couldn’t imagine my life without them. Your mother chose differently. That’s the good thing about being in this close community on the ranch. Your decision is accepted either way. Whatever works for the couple or threesome is all right. Your second question regards your fear of this other man. I agree you need to be careful and I’d suggest you tell the men who love you. If not, be very vigilant and go to the sheriff if you see him. Don’t try to be a heroine on your own.” Ellen looked at her watch. “I hate to go, but I’m cooking a special dinner for Jack tonight. It’s his birthday.”

“Thanks for coming by. I hope I wasn’t rude or impertinent with my questions.”

“Not at all. I’m glad you asked. But do something now before you get hurt. Bye.” Ellen waved as she hurried down the steps to her car.

Cassie closed the door and locked it. She’d known the answers to her questions before she’d asked. She just hadn’t wanted to admit it. Still, could she do what Ellen suggested?

She wanted more time. Time to work in her shop, time to be sure of her feelings regarding a marriage to Lang and Nick, and time to reconnect with the ranch community. If not for Peter, she’d be able to let things occur naturally.

Peter couldn’t have found her. She’d give herself a little more space before jumping back into the life she’d left behind.

Chapter Six

Nick knocked on her door promptly at five thirty. He’d called earlier and suggested the two of them go out for the evening.