Page 80 of A Cowboy's Trust
“Jake?”
Of course, that’s when she finally clued in that it was only five o’clock in the morning.
“What’s wrong?” Jake’s question came out of the dark far more alert than she expected for having woken him.
“No emergency,” Tansy assured him. “But we need to talk.”
He clicked on the light beside the bed, blinking at her groggily. “Okay?”
She dropped onto the mattress beside his hip. “When I was five, my mom and dad died, and there was an aunt and uncle who took me in. I hadn’t known them before, and I was still really little. So suddenly, I didn’t have the people who loved me, but I had people whosaidthey did, and that’s where it started. Life got really confusing.”
She had to give him credit. Jake went from bleary-eyed to fully awake and alert in the time it took to hear that brief confession. “Tansy? You don’t need to tell me this. I mean, unless you need to tell me this, but?—”
“This isn’t about sharing my past in a way that’s bad for me. It’s about telling you for a good reason. Trust me?” she asked quietly.
He caught her fingers in his. “Absolutely.”
The truth in that word made it infinitely easier to go on. “Long story short, my aunt and uncle were part of a ring of thieves. They didn’t have children of their own, thank God, and they didn’t really want any. But after I arrived, one of them suddenly realized how perfectly distracting a child can be. And how if you train them right, a five-year-old is small enough to fit into tiny places that offer access to big payouts.”
Jake swore softly. “They made you steal?”
Tansy shrugged. “Love was conditional. So was food. They didn’t often physically abuse me, but the only time I got any sort of affection was when I wasbeing good. Which usually meant I had found a way to lift some item of value and get it back to them.”
He pulled her close, settling her against his body, innocently cradling her tightly as if giving comfort to the child she had been. “That’s all sorts of fucked up.”
“I know that now, but they were very good at what they did, and it turns out so was I. It took almost five years before anyone figured it out, which meant they landed in prison and I ended up in the foster system at nine years old.”
The sharp ache in her chest hit again.Unworthy. Dirty thief.
Tansy pushed past it. She had to. “The foster system has some issues, but overall, they try their best. The biggest problem struck because Iwasa thief. The only way I knew how to get affection was to steal. Trust me, that’s not a way to endear yourself to a new family, so I got transferred a lot before the Fields adopted me.”
Jake held her for a moment, stroking his fingers through her hair. “I don’t want to rush past your trauma, but why are you telling me this? What’s your good reason?”
“I think Melissa is doing the same thing with Jeffrey. The stealing part.”
He went very still. “Christ.”
“I have no solid proof, but the signs are there. Plus, there’s this sense I have—I know what he’s thinking because I used to do the same thing.” She pushed back and met Jake’s eyes. “Looking around the room, spotting purses that are accessible. Trinkets that fit into a child’s pocket.”
Jake paused as he considered then nodded slowly. “I know what you’re saying. I can see it.” Anger had replaced his initial shock.
“He trusts us,” Tansy said slowly. “Maybe we can do something?”
“He really trustsyou,” Jake offered softly. “So, what do you suggest?”
There was no good route forward. “I’m not about to set Jeffrey up so we can catch him in the act.”
“God, of course not. That poor kid.” Jake tucked his fingers under her chin. “We’ll meet with my brothers and come up with a plan, but for now, I need to hold you.”
Tansy swallowed around the knot in her throat. “I’m okay, really I am.”
Jake shook his head and man-handled her until she was under the covers, little spoon to his big spoon. “I’m pretty sure this is what needs to happen, even if you’re okay.” His lips brushed her ear. “You were very brave right now, Tansy.”
“And it’s not even time to wake up,” she joked. Instinct again, no matter how wrong.
“Shhh.” He nuzzled her. “We’ll find a way, okay? We’ll make a difference.”
“We will,” Tansy repeated, flipping over to bury her face against his chest. Because the nightmares didn’t have a chance of hitting with his arms holding her close.
