Cowboy in the Extreme. Rita Herron

       A heartbeat of silence passed, riddled with anxiety. “I don’t know, but sooner or later he’ll show up at your place, or mine or Brandon’s. And he’ll want to see Lucy.”

       “So he knows about her?”

       “He had the newspaper with the photos of the rodeo the last time we talked.” Johnny paused. “He probably thinks you’ll be more willing to help him than Brandon or me.”

       “I don’t know,” Kim said. “He was furious with me the last time we talked.”

       “I don’t believe he’d hurt you, but he’s in a bad way. We don’t know what happened at the jail.” He hesitated. “Still, I sure as hell don’t want you to stay there tonight or to be alone until he’s caught. Pack Lucy up and drive to my place. Or if you’re too shaken up, I’ll drive over and pick you up.”

       Kim shivered at the thought of staying in the cabin the rest of the night. But she’d vowed to let Johnny have his own life now. He had Rachel and Kenny, and she had to stop leaning on him.

       “No, Johnny. I’ll be fine here,” she said instead.

       “Kim—”

       “Listen, big brother, I appreciate the fact that you care, but I’m a big girl now. I’m not going to horn in on you and Rachel every time some little problem occurs.”

       “Carter is not a little problem, Kim. He could be dangerous.” Johnny paused, then lowered his voice. “There is another option, you know.”

       Kim leaned against the porch rail. She had a bad feeling he was going to want to post some goon on her. “I don’t want a stranger in my house—”

       “I’m not talking about hiring a bodyguard, Kim, although I can do that.” He paused. “I think it’s time you talk to Brandon.”

       A chill of foreboding rippled through her. “No, Johnny, I can’t—”

       “He’ll protect you and Lucy, Kim, and you know it.”

       Her throat clogged. Yes, he probably would. But all the hurt and pain of the past would resurface. Just looking at him now, remembering how deeply she’d loved him and how heartbroken she’d been when he’d left her, robbed her breath.

       She had dreamed of marrying him from the time she was fifteen years old.

       But he’d taken another bride.

       “Listen, sis, I understand this is difficult, and I know you were hurt and had your reasons for avoiding Brandon and for keeping secrets. But he’s been divorced almost a year now, and he deserves to know the truth. So does Lucy—”

       The sheriff walked out then, Brandon behind him, and she pressed her hand over the mouthpiece. “Hold on, Johnny.”

       “I’m taking off now, Ms. Long,” Sheriff McRae said. “I’ll let you know if we get any hits on the prints.”

       Kim thanked him, then looked up to see Brandon watching her.

       “Is that Johnny?” Brandon asked.

       Kim nodded, and Brandon reached for the phone. “Let me speak to him.”

       She moved her hand and spoke to her brother. “Brandon wants to talk to you, but Johnny—”

       “Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell him anything. That’s up to you, Kim.” Frustration laced her brother’s voice. “But like I said, it’s time you two talked. You owe it to Lucy.”

       Kim swallowed a retort and handed Brandon the phone, then inched closer to the doorway to check on Lucy again. Thankfully, she was still sleeping.

       Was Johnny right? Was it time for her to confess to Brandon?

       But what if she told him and he tried to take Lucy from her? He had money now....

       “Johnny…yeah…” Brandon cut his gaze toward her, a dozen emotions flitting across his rugged face. The scar on his forehead he’d gleaned from one of his daddy’s beatings puckered as he frowned. “Don’t worry. I’ll be ready if he shows up.”

       He disconnected the call, then handed Kim the phone. The simple brush of his fingers across hers sent a bolt of desire through her.

       She jerked the phone to her and closed her hand around it, praying he hadn’t seen her reaction as she stepped into the den.

       “Pack a bag for you and Lucy,” Brandon said, following her inside. “You’re going to my place for the night.”

       Panic streaked through Kim. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Brandon.”

       His jaw hardened, the vein at the base of his neck throbbing the way it always had when he was trying to control his anger. “This is not up for debate. I told Johnny I’d take you two to my ranch so you’d be safe for the night, and I intend to keep my word.”

       Their gazes locked, and she remembered other promises he’d made to her. One in particular. The night they’d first made love, he’d promised to love her and take care of her forever.

       A promise he hadn’t kept.

       Was he remembering that, too?

       “I’ll talk to Johnny—”

       “I’m not arguing.” He jerked his thumb toward the house. “You either pack a bag, or I’ll do it for you.”

       Kim had forgotten how bullheaded Brandon could be. That when he set his mind to something he charged after it and refused to let anything or anybody stand in his way.

       Just like he had when he’d decided to better himself and buy his own ranch. Not that that had been a hard choice. Ranching was in his blood just as it was her brother’s and in hers. But with his awful childhood, he hadn’t had it easy. In fact the cards had been stacked against him.

       Old hurts stabbed at her. She’d wanted them to work together to build a home and a ranch. But he’d chosen Marty to do those things with.

       No. There was no way she could spend the night in Brandon’s house, not in the place he’d shared with his wife.

       “I appreciate the offer, Brandon, but you can’t tell me what to do anymore. Lucy and I will be fine here.”

       Anger flashed in his eyes. “You’d rather face Carter alone if he returns?”

       At this point, she didn’t know if she was more afraid of Carter or Brandon. Carter had a temper, and if he was coming for Lucy and she opposed him, he might hurt her. After all, he’d had five long years for his anger to fester.

       But he didn’t have the power over her that Brandon had.

       Then again, she didn’t know how Brandon would react when he finally learned the truth about Lucy.

       He had a bad temper, too. And now he had money and power....

       “Please, just go, Brandon. I’ve taken care of Lucy all these years by myself. I can do it now.”

       He twisted his mouth sideways the way he used to do when he was working his thoughts to make a point. “Really? Then you and Lucy have visited Carter?”

       She shook her head. “No.” Carter hadn’t wanted to see her. And jail was no place for a little girl.

       Brandon gripped her arms. “Then he’s not going to be happy with you when he arrives, is he?” Brandon’s gruff voice rose a notch, and Lucy suddenly stirred.

       “Mommy?” Lucy rolled over and looked at them. Her eyes widened with fear at the sight of Brandon gripping her arms. “Don’t hurt my mommy!”

       She jumped off the sofa and threw herself at Brandon, slamming her fists into Brandon’s legs. “Stop it, don’t hurt my mommy!”

      BRANDON’S HEART CLENCHED at the terror