The No. 1 Sheriff in Texas. Patricia Thayer

“We didn’t live too far away. Just down the road at the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park.”

      Brandon took out his notepad. He couldn’t look at her as he recalled the shambles of the small trailer. He had no doubt Carlson had taken out more of his anger on the place. “We’ve checked out your home. There’s no sign of your husband. Does he have any other family around?”

      “His brother lives in Dallas.” Karen gave him the name and address. “They don’t get along. He has a friend, Max. He lives at the trailer park also.” Karen’s gaze met Brandon’s. “The sheriff already asked me these questions.”

      “Nora was attacked outside the hospital a few nights ago.”

      Karen gasped, and glanced over at Nora’s face, her eyes widened as she spotted the faint bruises. “Who would do that to you?”

      “We wondered if it could possibly be Pete,” Brandon said. “Maybe he knew she helped you when they brought you to the hospital.”

      A tear rolled down Karen’s cheek. “This is my fault.” Her chin trembled. “If I’d just stayed…”

      “No!” Nora interrupted her. “You can’t go back to a man who beat you. He could have killed you, Karen.”

      “If I hadn’t made him so angry.”

      Brandon touched her hand and felt her tense. He cursed to himself, but checked his own anger at the jerk who did this to her.

      “You’re not to blame for this, Karen. There’s never a reason for a man to strike a woman. Ever,” he stressed. “So from this minute on you think about yourself and your kids. Haven House will help you start that new life—without a man like Pete. But first you have to believe in yourself.”

      She blinked at her tears and gave him a nod. “Okay.”

      He smiled. “Good. Now, we’re going to find Pete, but you have to press charges this time.” He stood, took out his wallet and pulled out two business cards. “Here’s a lawyer who’s a friend of mind, Brad Ashton. He does pro bono work for the center. He can help you. And here’s my card. If you need anything call me.”

      Karen took the cards. “Thank you.” She stood. “If I remember anywhere else Pete could be, I’ll let you know.” Nora hugged her and they watched as Karen walked out.

      The room grew silent as Brandon sat on the edge of the desk. So many emotions surfaced as memories of his own childhood flashed in his head. The years of fear, the fights and his mother’s muffled cries in the night. He’d been too young and couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

      “Brandon?”

      He jerked out of his reverie. “What?”

      “Do you really think Pete was my attacker?”

      “He seems to be the best lead we have. The most logical explanation.” His gaze met hers and his breath caught. “Unless you have another idea who it could have been?”

      She glanced away. “No, I don’t.”

      He’d bet his new promotion that she was keeping something from him. He checked his watch. “We should head back.”

      Nora was more than ready to leave. She nodded and started across the room just as the door swung open and a mature woman walked in. Beautiful couldn’t describe her. Her auburn colored hair was styled in a blunt cut just below her ears. Her fair skin was as flawless as her trim figure.

      Her rich green eyes softened as she looked at Brandon. “Well, I heard rumors that you were here.”

      “More likely Bess tracked you down.” He embraced her and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Hello, Mom.”

      “So you do remember who I am.” She stepped back from their embrace, then looked in Nora’s direction. “Hello, I’m Abby Randell.”

      “Sorry, Mom. This is Nora Donnelly. She’s helping me with a case I’m working on.”

      Nora put on a smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Randell.”

      The older woman took her hand. “Please, call me Abby.”

      “And I’m Nora.”

      “Oh, what a lovely old-fashioned name.” She looked thoughtful. “I don’t know any Donnellys. Are you new in the area?”

      She nodded. “A few months.”

      “Nora is a nurse at West Hills,” Brandon answered.

      Abby Randell glanced between the two of them and smiled. “You probably don’t know many people around here.”

      “I know a lot of people at the hospital.”

      “Maybe you and your husband would like to come out to the ranch?”

      Brandon sent her a stern look. “Mother.”

      “I’m a widow. It’s just me and my son, Zach.”

      “I’m sorry. That has to be difficult, especially for your son. How old is he?”

      “Zach is seven.”

      Abby smiled. “I have an idea. It’s tradition that the family has a barbecue on Sundays while the weather is warm. There are dozens of cousins, and kids whose parents work on the ranch. This weekend we’re hosting it at our place.” She gave her son a pointed look. “Actually, it’s Brandon’s ranch.”

      “It belongs to the family,” he corrected.

      Abby smiled. “I bet Zach would love to spend a day on a working ranch.”

      Nora was caught, knowing her son would love to have some kids to play with. “I’m sure he would.”

      “Then that settles it. Brandon will bring you out this coming Sunday.” Abby Randell then turned and walked out before Nora could change her mind.

      Brandon sank onto the edge of the desk. “Welcome to the world of the Randells.”

      CHAPTER THREE

      “FOLLOW through, Zach.”

      With a nod, the seven-year-old threw the baseball and Brandon managed to field the errant toss. “That’s pretty good,” he told the boy, and was rewarded with a shy smile.

      Brandon knew he should be at the office, following up leads on Carlson’s family. Yet, thirty minutes ago when he brought Nora back to her apartment, he hadn’t wanted to leave. Not after he saw young Zach Donnelly in the yard, tossing a baseball up in the air trying to catch it. The kid looked lost.

      “A little practice and you’ll get better in no time.”

      “I don’t have anyone to play with,” Zach said, giving his mother a look. “Except Mom.”

      Nora straightened at her spot on the step. “Hey, I didn’t think I was so bad.”

      “I know.” The boy looked embarrassed as he murmured, “But you’re a girl.”

      Brandon had noticed that. A pretty one, too. He bit back a smile. “What about at school?”

      The boy glanced away. “I’m new and the kids around here don’t want me to play with them.”

      Brandon felt a tightness in his chest. Zach was small for his age, and on the thin side. Worse, he was the new kid in town.

      “Sometimes it just takes a little time to get to know everyone.” Brandon tossed the ball back, and the boy managed to get the new oversize glove under it. “Good job.”

      Zach’s smile quickly faded. “Nobody picks me because all the other kids are better than me.”

      Brandon doubted that, but the new kid often got picked on. He glanced to Nora, watching the interaction closely. “Maybe I could help you.”

      The