Page 75 of A Rancher's Vow
By the time he got off the phone, Charity had got her head on straight enough to check for details. Nothing was stolen—her electronics remained on the wall and on the bookshelf.
Broken items were limited to the kitchen area where her cupboards were now bare. The mess in her bathroom involved upended open bottles of expensive shampoo and body wash—dammit, her only luxury literally down the drain.
Her bedroom—there was no other descriptor than gross. Everything in her drawers and closet had been tossed on the floor. Then the contents of her fridge had been dumped on her clothes and bed, and while at first glance, everything looked soaked with blood, it was mostly ketchup and salsa.
The place was a mess, but that seemed to be the extent of it. When the RCMP arrived, she told them that. “Nothing’s missing as far as I can see.”
“Lock wasn’t forced, so it had to be someone with a key. There’re no security cameras in the building.” The officer in charge shook his head “We’ll do what we can, but for now I suggest a change of locks. Plus, start a list of anyone from your past who might have access.”
Which was a very short list of absolutely trustworthy people. Charity didn’t bother to point that out before the RCMP left.
She glanced around at the mess and debated the best way to start cleaning up. Maybe a garbage bag? Maybe her laundry basket? She couldn’t concentrate. Her gaze kept flitting from one item on the floor to the next.
The next minute, Dustin placed her travel bag on the table in front of her. “Pack what you need for a few days.”
That didn’t make sense. How would that clean up anything? “What?”
Dustin shook his head then curled his arms around her and tucked her against his chest again. “Tee. Trust me?”
“Yes.” Instant and pure. God, it felt good to be in his arms. Being there was the only thing that made sense. She rested her cheek against his chest, the warmth soaking away some of her fear and edging away the ice on her limbs. “Why?”
“You’re in shock, baby. Come on. Let’s pack a bag and then we’re getting out of here.”
“But I need to clean up.” Didn’t she?
He tugged her toward the bedroom, “Clothes. What you need for work on Monday. Something to ride in. Sleep stuff. Can you do that?”
“Sure.” She eyed the stuff on the floor. The open empty drawers. The spray of ketchup across her bed. “Maybe.”
Dustin swore, wrapping his fingers around hers and tugging her from the room. “Change of plans. Come with me.”
The next minute she was back in his truck, and he was headed down the road, chatting quietly with someone. All she saw was her things—ruined and messed up for no reason.
She leaned back on the headrest and closed her eyes. “I trust you.”
It seemed like a good thing to reaffirm.
Fingers linked with hers. “I know, Tee. It’ll be okay.”
A small moment of curiosity managed to break through the haze in her brain. “Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to Silver Stone.”
Oh. That was a good idea, she supposed. There should be places to sleep that weren’t covered in fridge contents. Maybe Tamara and Caleb had a spare room. Caleb might intimidate her on one level, but he also made her feel safe.
So does Dustin…in an entirely different way.
“Okay.”
Dustin chuckled, and it was such a nice normal sound that she opened her eyes and looked him over.
The crease between his brows wasn’t something she’d seen often. Concern—for her, she realized in her fuzzy state. He looked older, as well. Spine straight, shoulders back, and determined.
“It’s going to be okay,” she offered, tightening the fingers tangled with his.
Another soft laugh. “You’re unbelievable. Yes, everything will be okay. Now hold on. I need to make another call.”
Charity leaned her head against the cool glass of the window and watched as the streets of Heart Falls changed to the rolling fields of the countryside. Cattle grazed on one on the hillsides. Men on horseback crested a trail, ranch dogs darting at the horses’ heels.
