Page 77 of A Rancher's Vow
Numbness slipped in as Charity fell into the mindless task.
Both Tamaraand Caleb had been giving him the eye since he’d walked into the house. Since he wasn’t about to make his announcement where Charity could hear, Dustin tipped his head toward the door. “Caleb, give me a hand?”
His oldest brother exchanged a wordless conversation with his wife before his gaze landed on Charity. Everything in his expression tightened, which Dustin got on a core-deep level.
“Back in a bit. Message if you need us,” Caleb said quietly.
“I’ve got her.” Tamara’s voice held more than a hint of fire.
The instant the door closed, Caleb laid a hand on Dustin’s shoulder. “Tamara’s trained. She can deal with Charity if she goes into shock after the break-in. How are you doing?”
“Pissed off to high heaven and ready to knock heads, but there’s no clear signs of who did it. So I’m going to focus on what I can do, which is ensure Charity is safe.”
“Good plan.” Caleb stepped back, one brow raised. “Why are we out here and not getting the guest room set up?”
“I’m moving her into the cottage.”
His brother frowned. “You think being alone in a new place is what she needs right now?”
“She won’t be alone.” Dustin turned and marched toward the cottage, confident Caleb wouldn’t leave the conversation at that.
Sure enough, his brother was at his side as they crossed the space to where the other homesteading family of Silver Stone had lived. Since the Hayeses had died, the small, two-bedroom building had become home to a changing list of occupants. First, and for the longest time, it had been Dare’s private space, then Dustin’s for a brief period before he’d given it up for Ginny, then Ginny and Tucker. Now it would be a safe spot for Charity.
With him.
Of course, that final addition, and why it was exactly what was needed, would require a little extra explaining before things settled properly.
As expected, Caleb took the bait. “Fern coming to stay with her?”
Two quick steps put Dustin at the top of the porch. He took a deep breath as he turned to face his brother. “I’m staying with her.”
Caleb folded his arms over his chest. “She’s yourfakegirlfriend, Dustin.”
“Nothing fake about it. Not to me.” Dustin shook his head, a chuckle escaping in spite of it all. “Damn, your face right now is hysterical.”
“I’m trying to keep up, but you’re going a little fast for me.” Caleb raised a brow. “Don’t you think you’re going a little fast, period?”
Not that he wanted to tell tales, but Caleb being solidly on his side was important. Dustin stood a little straighter. “We got close while we were at Crooked Creek. I want more.”
His brother had his poker face on. Stone-like, blank. No sign whether approval or a reprimand was about to arrive. “You’re talking sex. I’m talking—”
Dustin held up a hand. “Sex is part of it, yeah. But since Charity and I are both adults, consenting and able to make decisions about who we want to be with, that’s not the part I’m talking about.” He pressed a hand to his gut. “Talking with her, spending time with her—it hits me here. Makes me want to rip apart the ass who scared her by messing with her stuff. Makes me want to curl myself around her and protect her from anyone who’d fuck with her on any level. So, yeah, I want more sex, but I want more ofher. In my life, and in our family.
“And if it seems fast, it’s not, though I still don’t know how the hellshefeels. But right now, I need to do what I can to protect her. No matter how fast it seems.Period.”
He met Caleb’s gaze straight on. Held it.
His brother nodded slowly. Then he caught Dustin by the shoulders and dragged him in for a back-pounding, rib-creaking hug.
“You always did have a heart bigger than you knew what to do with.” Caleb backed off slightly, his expression still thoughtful. “Let’s take this slowly, or at least as slowly as you can. If Charity agrees, I’ll back your play. Tamara is probably already planning how to redo the guest room. I’ll run interference with her.”
“Appreciate it.”
The next fifteen minutes were spent doing the most boring domestic tasks Dustin could imagine. He and Caleb made up the bed, pulled out towels and put them in the bathroom, checked the heat and lights, and basically prepped the cabin so Charity and he could walk in after dinner and have no unwelcome surprises.
But even the mundane tasks were somehow special with Caleb’s clear support.
They were headed back to the main house, Patchwork Annie bouncing at Dustin’s heels, when Caleb cleared his throat. “Not that I want to go there…”
