No Strings Attached (Last Hope Ranch Book 1) (16 page)

Sally searched his face, seeing in his eyes the moment relived. “How awful, Clay. I’m sorry seems too trite of a word.”

He blinked as though pulling himself back to the present. He looked directly at her. “Aside from doctors, I’ve never told anyone what happened that day.”

She wrapped her arms around him, wanting nothing more than to be close, to let him take comfort in her embrace, to know that it mattered to her what he’d been through, even though she’d never fully understand.

***

Sweat poured down his face. Desert heat consumed him. Dust filled his lungs. He swiped the grit from his eyes, hoping to stave off the incessant stinging from the sweat droplets trickling into his eyes.  Keep your eyes moving. He searched the low clay walls, pockmarked by mortar rounds. The village appeared deserted, but you never knew what might be hiding behind the blown-out building that once housed a family. A movement caught his eye. He called to the driver, leaning forward to point out the small boy darting down a narrow path. He held his hand up to caution the team behind when a flash blinded him. He felt himself propelled off the vehicle, saw the cloudless blue sky whiz past him. There was no feeling. No pain. His body slammed against the hard, clay ground like a rag doll tossed away by an angry child. All around him were small fires. His team, four men and a woman, lay motionless, many no longer recognizable, mangled pieces scattered across the sand. He looked down and in a haze saw another soldier working frantically on him, trying to tie off what was left of his leg. He had no right to live. No right.

Clay heard the sound of his own screams as he woke from the nightmare. It was dark, he couldn’t see. He felt the someone’s hands, shaking him and he lashed out to push them away.

“Clay, wake up! Wake up! It’s Sally. You’re safe, Clay. You’re safe at home.”

A soft light switched on. He blinked, his brain slowly realizing where he was. His body ached. His muscles were tense. He rubbed the heels of hands over his eyes, hoping to dissipate the images floating in his brain.

“Here.” Sally, dressed in a pale pink bathrobe with cartoon kittens all over it, handed him a glass of water and a hand towel.

“Jesus, Sally, I’m sorry.” He pushed upright, the sheets pooled around his hips, and surveyed the tangle of sheets. “Did I do that?” He looked at her, fear gripping his chest, realizing how much he must have thrashed around. “Did I hurt you?”

She sat on the bed, her legs curled under her. She shook her head. “I’m fine. I’m more concerned about you.”

He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, willing his heart back to a normal pace. “I’m good.” He sighed. “I’m good.” He glanced at her. “I haven’t had one of those in a while.”

“A nightmare?”

He nodded.

“You seemed to be trying to tell someone something. I couldn’t tell what you were saying.”

Clay knew. And it didn’t matter now.

“I’m sorry, Clay, for all you’ve been through, for all that you’ve sacrificed.”

His gaze snapped to hers. “Yeah, I’m the lucky bastard who got to come home, Sally.”

She pressed her lips and said nothing. Just squeezed his hand.

“I’m sorry, this isn’t your fault.”

“I know. Maybe there is a reason you were spared.”

“Yeah, maybe. I keep telling myself that. But I haven’t figured out a good enough reason yet.” His throat parched, he drank the water in one long swallow, then ran the towel over his head and neck. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.” He glanced around, realizing it was getting lighter outside. “What time is it?”

Sally smiled softly. “I’m not sorry, Clay. I want to be there for you when things get hard. You’ve been there for me more times than I can count.” She reached over and slanted the blinds so that the sun’s early rays peeked through. “It’s past seven on a beautiful Saturday morning. And by now, everyone who has driven by has seen your truck parked on the street and has put two and two together. So, today,” she said, crawling over to kiss him lightly, “I’m making you breakfast. How’s that for defying the rumor mill?”

The view from his vantage point had him thinking to hell with the rumor mill. He tugged her close, kissing that lovely mouth as he loosened the robe tie. The nightmares of his past might surface now and again, but having the sanctuary of Sally’s arms, her honesty and compassion, brought him a peace he’d never known. He pressed his hand against her cheek. “Maybe you should let me cook,” he murmured, searching those entrancing eyes. Her robe slipped off one shoulder as she pushed him back on the bed and straddled him. “We’ll see who can get downstairs faster when we’re through.”

He raised a brow and turned her beneath him. “Challenge accepted.”

***

Clay hadn’t been able to stop grinning for three days straight. Michael just shook his head when Clay would occasionally break into a whistle while doing chores. He and Rein had gone back to work on the remodel project in his basement. Life was good. Their relationship—what it had been elevated to—was no longer a secret in town. And the Kinnison clan couldn’t have been any happier.

He drew his pencil from behind his ear to mark the spot where he’d measured twice for the island countertop that Liberty had requested for the downstairs.

“I want everyone to be able to gather here,” she had told him and Rein before she went to meet Angelique. The two were going shopping for Angelique’s and Dalton’s baby, due in early summer.

Clay had seen all types of courage in his day, but Liberty’s selfless gesture to help her sister-in-law ranked right up there with the best. “She is one strong woman,” Clay told Rein after she’d left.

Rein glanced at him and nodded. “She’s been through a lot. Guess maybe she’s seems strong because of it. It hasn’t been easy on either of us, but she’s been a rock for me throughout this whole ordeal.” He offered a dim smile to Clay. “I’ll be glad when we can try again. Doc says give it a couple of months.” Rein sighed. “I just want to be able to give her everything she deserves. The woman is selfless, loving, and she’ll make a great mom. You should see how her face lights up around Gracie.”

For the first time Clay understood what Rein was talking about. Though they hadn’t yet had the chance to talk much about the future, he felt sure and strong about what he and Sally felt for each other.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket and, digging it out, he saw it was Julie’s number. “Stepping outside to take this,” he said to Rein. “Hey Jules, what’s up?” It had only been a few days since he’d sent the boys back home. “Did one of the boys leave something here? I tried to make sure all their game gear was gathered up.”

“No, Clay,” her voice sounded grim. “I need your help.” He heard a sniff.

“Jules, are you okay? Are the boys okay?” He stood searching the tree line that separated Rein’s backyard from the foothills. His instinct prickled.

“It’s Louis,” she said quietly, almost too calm. “I thought if we had some time alone that we could work things out.”

A cold dread formed in Clay’s gut. He took a deep breath, needing to ask the unthinkable. “Jules, has he hurt you or the boys?”

“Never the boys.”

Shit. “That bastard. Jules, you’ve got to get out of there. The guy needs help. This isn’t normal.”

“I used to think it was the stress of his work. That eventually as he achieved his goals it would get better, but it seems to have only gotten worse.” There was a pause. “I know I should leave him, Clay. Part of me wants to, but the other part is terrified. I don’t know what to do, where to go.”

The answer seemed clear. “Jules, I’m going to fly out and help you. Where is Louis now? Is he home?”

“N-no. He’s away on business. I don’t expect him home until Friday.”

“Okay, honey, here’s what you do. You call and reserve a truck. I’ll pick it up when I get in. You get your things together. Have the boys help.”

“They don’t know anything about this, Clay.”

He thought for a moment how astute his nephews seemed. “Chances are they know things aren’t good, Jules. You need to be straight with them and ask for their help. They can handle it.”

“Where will we go? We sold the farm in Texas when mom moved. Granddad is gone now.”

“You’ll come here and stay at the ranch until we figure things out.”

“That’s kind of you, Clay, but I doubt the Kinnisons had this in mind when they built this place, much less that I could afford it.”

“It’s exactly why they built it, Jules. Trust me. I’ll take care of things on my end. You get things pulled together on yours. If he comes back, if he tries to stop you, call the police. You understand?”

There was another pause.

“Jules?”

“Yes, I understand,” she said.

“I know this can’t be easy, but how long have you been dealing with this?”

“Longer than I should have.”

“That’s what I thought. I wish you’d come to me sooner.”

“You had your own issues to contend with, Clay. You didn’t need some whiny sister adding to your troubles while you were trying to get your life back.”

Clay shook his head. Had he been that self-absorbed? “Jules, you and the boys are all the family I have left. You are my life.”

Another sniff signaled she was crying.

“Listen, you need to pull it together right now—for you, for the kids. Understand?”

“Y-yes.”

“Good. Call if you need anything. I’ll see you soon.”

“Thank you, Clay.”

“Love you, Jules. Be careful.”

Clay took a deep breath, forcing himself to not imagine wringing the life out of Louis with both hands. He stormed inside. “Rein, that was my sister. Problems at home. She needs my help. Long story short—I’d like to bring her and the boys back to the ranch until we figure out what’s best.”

Rein frowned. “Not a problem, I’ll talk to Wyatt. Is there something you need me to do?”

Clay shook his head. “I’m going to go out there and drive them back. It should only take a couple of days.”

Rein nodded. “Okay, I’ll go down and make sure the two-bedroom cabin is ready for them.”

“Thanks, man.” Rein stepped forward and gave his friend a brief hug. “As long as I know she and the boys are safe out here, I’m good.”

“Is Louis home?” Rein asked.

Clay set to gathering his tools. “Out of town on business until Friday. So, she’s got a good window. She’ll have to pull the boys from school, of course.” He hesitated at the thought.

“Talk to Sally. She might be able to get them enrolled if necessary to finish out the school year, anyway.”

“Good idea, thanks.” He drove straight to the little two-story clapboard with the wraparound porch. As he pulled in the gravel drive, he noted the lights glowing warm in the dusky hue of the evening. He saw Sally moving around the kitchen and the rest of that wall around his heart crumbled to ash. He’d lay down his life for her. “You are one lucky bastard,” he said as he turned off the ignition.

Clay showered as Sally finished the biscuits she’d made to go with the crock-pot stew.

“Stolen from Betty,” she admitted, stirring the pot and releasing an amazing aroma. “She said even I couldn’t mess this up.”

They sat at the kitchen island and ate as he explained the situation with his sister.

“Of course, you need to be there for her. I understand completely. How long do you think it should take?”

Clay shrugged. “It’s roughly a couple of days’ drive, I suspect. I’m driving a small moving truck. She and the kids can drive the rental, if she’s not comfortable taking the other car. Louis liked to keep things tight. Both cars are registered in his name. The less we have to deal with him, the better.”

“Miss Ellie might be able to offer her some legal advice,” Sally offered. “Why don’t you use my laptop and book your flight while I clean this up.”

Clay checked every airline out of Billings. There was nothing available until tomorrow afternoon. He dialed Julie to check on her.

“Hello?” The pensive sound in her voice twisted Clay’s heart.

“Jules. There aren’t any flights until tomorrow afternoon. But I’m going to head down to the airport in the morning and see if I can get on stand-by. You doing okay?”

She sighed. “I think so. This is such a nightmare. I’m sorry to drag you into it.”

“Ok, I don’t want to hear you say that again.” That part of Julie that once pitied him was one of his anger triggers. He took a deep breath, refocusing his thoughts. “How are the boys?”

“I told them. They didn’t seem all that surprised.” She chuckled softly. “I don’t think I gave them enough credit for noticing things. They always seem to be glued to their video games.”

“Different ways of dealing, Jules,” Clay responded.

“I suppose. They did, however, seem more than okay with the idea of going back to visit their uncle.”

“I wouldn’t have said this a year ago, but life here in this little town is good.” He looked up and caught Sally’s smile from across the room. “Really good. I’ll let you know when I get a flight.”

“Thanks, Clay.”

“Jules, I haven’t done anything yet.”

“You’ve been there. You’ve been a great uncle, a great brother… thank you, for everything.”