Page 7 of Serial Love

“Yeah, just to make sure they really are all right. Send someone back in about an hour. In the meantime, we need to take care of our borders. Get ‘em all on that today.”

Luke nodded and with one last glance at the old cabin, he headed back to the vehicle.

4

Bethany escorted Ann into the cabin and walked past the front desk to the back room. As they moved through the large gathering room, Jack’s gaze quickly took in the space filled with old game tables, a worn sofa, and bookshelves crammed with paperbacks. They walked toward the minuscule bathroom on the first floor.

Seating Ann, she wet a washcloth and turned to wipe her grandmother’s face. Hearing a noise next to her, she was startled seeing Jack standing in the doorway. “What are you still doing here?” she asked, stepping in front of Ann again.

“If I wanted to harm you two, I would have already done so,” he responded.

Licking her lips, she nodded. “Yes, I suppose that’s right.” Wiping Ann’s face with the warm, wet cloth, she glanced back over her shoulder. “I…I should apologize. She hasn’t wandered in a while, and well, I…I lost her.”

Ann patted her hand, “Did I do something wrong,Bethany?”

Her granddaughter looked sharply at her and smiled. “No, Gram.” Turning her head back to Jack, she whispered, “She remembers me now.”

She gifted him with a smile, and this time he was startled. Her blue eyes pierced his, and her beauty astonished him. Not that he was unused to beautiful women, but he had spent so much time building his business that his base needs were met with the occasional consenting woman. But he always made sure they understood the rules—no attachments. His lifestyle and business did not accommodate entanglements. The women he had been with were certainly attractive, but not like this. Her face, bare of makeup, was perfection…only marred by the few scratches from the thorny bushes.

Shaking his head to clear the musing, he stepped back. The last thing he needed was a neighbor getting too nosy. Preferring to keep his life simple, he looked down on her sternly again. “Here, let me help,” he said gruffly, gently pushing by Bethany, taking the antibiotic ointment out of her hands. “How long was she out there?”

Bethany, stinging from the obvious disapproval, snapped, “Only about twenty minutes. Why? Do you think I just let her wander for hours?”

“No, I was wondering if she needed fluids. She may be dehydrated.”

“Oh.” Embarrassed she had not thought of that possibility, she stared at the man who spoke so roughly and yet his hands were so gentle with Gram. Decidingshe could trust him, she left the room, moving to the small refrigerator in the office. Snagging a water bottle, she glanced at the mirror on the wall, its old wooden frame built by her grandfather from barn wood.

Her reflection dismayed her. Long blonde hair, mostly falling out of her braid and tangled around her face. A scratch was on her forehead, dried blood crusting around the edges. Leaning closer, she saw a few twigs nestled in her hair as well.Wow, you’re a real stunner,she said to herself.No wonder he looked at me in disgust.Her mind went back to the other men on his property. Now that the adrenaline rush of finding her Gram was over, she was able to see more clearly what had been in front of her. All seven were tall, well built. Some were huge, others leaner, but all looked more than powerful enough to take on whatever might have come across that fence.Armed for bear and only caught Gram and me.She had to giggle at the thought.

Then there was the man that drove them back…an eighth handsome man.

“So, why did I only fixate on the one holding me? Sighing deeply, she chastised herself as she looked in the mirror again.Whatever. I don’t care what he thinks of me!

She turned and walked back to the bathroom, wondering how a man so large could squat in such a small space with Gram. He was speaking softly to Ann and had her face and arms cleaned and medicated.

“I think you’re going to be fine,” he said as he assisted her up from the seat. Ann looked up and patted his arm.

“You’re a good man, Charlie,” she said with a smile.Seeing Bethany behind him, she walked over and took the water bottle held out for her.

“Come on, Gram, let me get you upstairs. You should have a little rest,” Bethany said, glad when Ann did not protest.

Having to lean back to keep her gaze on Jack’s face, she said, “I should thank you. I know I reacted badly…I was just scared for her?—”

“No need to apologize,” he replied, not able to take his eyes off her.

Licking her lips nervously, she self-consciously ran her hand over her messy braid. “Well, okay then. Thank you…um?”

“Jack. Jack Bryant.”

Nodding, she offered a small smile. “Thank you, Jack. Goodbye then.”

He stepped closer, his feet moving on their own, and peered down into her eyes. She was a head shorter than he was.If she were in my arms, her head would be tucked under my chin and her cheek would be against my heartbeat.

“Make sure you take care of those scratches,” he said, his hand lifting to her forehead brushing the strands of blonde to the side, exposing her own injuries.

Unable to find her voice, she swallowed deeply and nodded. Then, holding Ann’s hand, she led the older woman to the staircase on the side of the room.

A small sign at the bottom of the stairs read Private – no guests allowed upstairs. He shook his head, incredulous that those two defenseless women thought the sign would keep someone from going up to where they lived to possibly harm them if they wanted.

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