When It's Right (29 page)

He hated to handle her so harshly, but he had to grab her now or lose her to the rushing current. His muscles burned, but he ignored the ache.

“Come on, sweetheart. Help me. Try to use your feet to push up.” He kept pulling, but the rushing water threatened to rip her out of his grasp. He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't lose her now. Not when they had their whole lives together ahead of them.

He nearly lost her, but she pushed, and he pulled her up the boulder and into his chest. He held her tight and pressed his face into her freezing hair.

“I've got you, sweetheart. I've got you.” He thanked God he'd gotten her. Water poured out of her mouth. She shook uncontrollably, coughed and spit, trying to get her breath. If he hadn't reached her in time, she would have drowned. That thought stopped his heart and choked off his air.

Justin wasn't any better. He'd curled into a tight ball on the boulder beside them. In bad shape, he hadn't really opened his eyes. His teeth chattered, and his lips and fingers were blue.

Blake had no idea how he was going to get both of them back to the horses and home. He couldn't carry both of them.

“Take Jus-­s-­stin,” Gillian stammered. “T-­take him . . . get him h-­help.”

“I can't leave you here.”

“Yes, you can. You have t-­to. You can't t-­take us b-­both. He's freezing.”

She had no idea she was in just as bad shape as Justin. She loved him so much that she wasn't thinking about herself. No changing her mind. Blake hated to do it, but he picked up Justin. Nothing but pure adrenaline and Justin's condition got Gillian up on her feet. She swayed, but managed to pull herself upright. He admired her strength and determination.

Gillian carefully walked from the boulders to the smaller rocks. She tried desperately not to show Blake how hard it was just to stay on her feet. Each step took all her focus and willpower. She trudged through knee-­deep water to get to the shore. She faltered again and fell to her knees.

Blake held Justin in his arms, but managed to lean down, grip her arm, and haul her back up to her feet. “Wrap your arm around mine and lean on me. I'll get you back to the horses.”

She did what he asked, but no way could she ride. Her body wanted to give out. She shook so bad her bones ached. Her teeth chattered so much she was surprised she didn't chip a tooth.

She hadn't realized how far downriver they'd gone. Once she was warm and had her wits about her, she'd realize just how lucky she and Justin were to be alive. At the moment, her mind wanted to shut off. All she could do was put one foot in front of the other and follow Blake where he led.

Feet from their picnic, unable to hold on any longer, she slid down Blake's arm and body. He couldn't grab her with Justin in his arms. She hit the ground hard and struggled to put her hands down to push herself back up. No use. Energy zapped, she lay in the soft grass, exhausted.

“Grab the blanket. Take Justin's coat and shirt off. Wrap him in the blanket and take him home,” she pleaded.

Blake laid Justin beside her in the sun. “Sweetheart, you're shaking so hard. I need to get you warm.”

“Justin,” she said weakly. “Please, Blake.”

He tore Justin's wet clothes off him, grabbed the blanket, and dragged it out from under their picnic. The basket and food tumbled to the ground in a heaping mess. He wrapped Justin, hoping the little guy woke up.

Justin's eyes fluttered open. “I'm so cold, Blake.”

“I know, buddy.” Blake scooped him up and held him in his arms, rubbing his hands over his back to try to warm him up and get his blood flowing.

“Take him, Blake.”

Blake leaned over with Justin in his arms and kissed Gillian's forehead. “God, sweetheart, I'm sorry. I don't want to leave you.”

“Go.” Her eyelids fell closed.

He considered laying her over the saddle and tying her on, but he couldn't take the chance that she'd fall off and get trampled. He wished he'd brought one of the two-­way radios. His cell phone didn't work out here. Damn. No other options, he took Justin. He'd get him home and rush back to get Gillian. No way he lost her now.

 

Chapter 29

G
illian heard the horse coming, its snort and hooves walking across the meadow from the direction of the trees. Anxious for Blake to rescue her, she opened her eyes, wondering why he'd come from the wrong direction. Her hopes sank to dread when Ken dismounted beside her.

A jolt of adrenaline hit her. Trouble haunted her life and had come calling again. Ken smiled without a hint of kindness, his eyes filled with fury. She'd avoided that something stupid he was bound to do until now.

“I thought those two would never leave, though I thought Blake would be the one to jump in after the kid and they'd both wash away.”

“You pushed Justin in?”

“You got me fired, you fucking bitch. Blake's made sure I can't get a job anywhere. You owe me, and I came to collect.”

“I thought you left.” She tried to get up but fell back to the ground. She scooted away, but he took a menacing step closer. No way she'd get away this time. Ever since he'd left weeks ago, she'd stopped carrying the wrench around. Not that it would do her any good now, when she had the strength of a baby in her condition.

“I followed you out here. A touching moment, really. That's a big-­ass fucking ring. You, on the other hand, look like a drowned cat. That river is colder than a witch's tit. The wind blows any harder, you'll freeze to death before Blake gets Justin back to the ranch. Guess it's up to me to warm you up right.”

The relentless wind felt like razor blades slicing against her skin.

Ken leaned down, grabbed her arms, and pulled her up and over his shoulder. She dangled down his back as he walked to his horse and swung up in the saddle. He had to rein in the dancing mount as it shied from their combined weight and Ken's awkward rise into the saddle. Mostly dead weight, she lay over his shoulder limp as a rag doll. He brought her down in front of him with a grunt, settling her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her to hold the reins and set out across the meadow toward the tree line with the horse going at a fast trot.

“Where are you taking me?”

“My out-­of-­the-­way place. Someplace no one will hear you scream for me.”

Those ominous words sent a chill through her frozen body. So cold, she couldn't even hold onto the saddle pommel to keep herself steady. Her blue fingers refused to move. She tried not to lean into him or scoot her bottom further into his groin. No use, her body wouldn't do what her brain told it to do. She slumped against him, barely able to stay upright at all. It only took a minute to realize exactly what was pressed against her bottom. He rubbed against her backside. He moved in the saddle far more than the horse's gait made necessary.

She cringed and shoved her elbow into his belly. He ignored her. “Stop,” she yelled, panicked this had gone too far.

“You are one fine piece of ass. I'm going to fuck you good. You'll be warm and hot in no time, baby.” He nibbled on her neck and bit hard enough to get her to settle down, making her scream in pain.

“Stop,” she begged. He didn't. Last resort—­if she couldn't stop him, she'd stop the horse. She grabbed the reins and tugged hard, hurting the poor animal. She hated to be aggressive with the horse, but she had to get away from Ken.

The horse skidded to a jarring stop. She swung her leg over the horse's neck, breaking Ken's hold, and fell hard to the ground. Lightning shot up her feet and legs when she landed. She let her shoulder take the brunt of her fall as she tipped over like a felled tree onto the dirt and grass. She tried to keep her face from skidding in the dirt, but it was just no use. She could barely move anymore. The shaking and the cold went down to her bones. She might just shatter into a million pieces. She wondered if she'd ever be warm again.

Ken dismounted a few feet away, closed the distance, rolled her over, and sat on her hips. He ripped open her shirt, buttons popping as he spread it wide.

Blake,
her mind screamed. She didn't have the energy to scream herself.

Ken leaned down and kissed her. She tried to turn away, so he grabbed her jaw and held her in place. “You cost me my job. Time to pay up.” He smashed his mouth to hers again, and then he licked her cheek, her jaw locked tightly in his grasp.

“Yeah, you taste like honey.”

No way she let this asshole defile her.

No way she let another man tear her down when she had a man who wanted to lift her up.

The fury gave her strength. She reached between them and grabbed his balls, squeezing as hard as she could. He bellowed and grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away, but she held on as long as she could. His whole face flushed red with rage.

She threw a right cross and hit him in the eye. He fell back but came forward. She used the last of her energy to rear up and head-­butt him in the cheek. She fell back, exhaustion stealing the last of her energy. Her head hurt like hell. Ken's fist rushed toward her face, until a flash of brown leather crossed her blurry vision and Blake's boot connected with Ken's jaw. The bastard fell off her and landed in the dirt.

Ken rolled to his knees, spit blood, swiped the back of his hand across his mouth, and jumped to his feet to take on Blake.

Blake saw red. A kick in the face was just the beginning. Blake stalked Ken. Not finished with the fight, out for blood, he'd bury the bastard.

In a mindless rage, Blake went after Ken and punched him in the mouth. He ignored the sting in his knuckles, cocked his arm back, and swung again, clipping Ken in the eye Gillian had already made swell. Ken fell back but came out swinging, nailing a shot into Blake's gut. Blake pushed Ken back by the shoulder and returned the favor. Ken stayed on his feet, but Blake swung again and got him in the jaw, sending his head snapping to the side before he caught his balance and swung back at Blake. Blake feinted out of the way and punched Ken in the face again.

Ken stumbled back into Uncle Lumpy's chest. The big man grabbed Ken by the shoulders and spun him around to face him.

“He's gone crazy. Stop him,” Ken pleaded.

“You know what they do to rapists in jail? You're going to find out, asshole.” Uncle Lumpy cracked him in the jaw with a meaty fist.

Ken fell to his knees, swayed, and fell back onto the dirt.

Blake leaned down, grabbed him by the shirt, and hauled him up. “I told you, touch her, and I'll fuck you up.” Blake punched him in his fucking face again.

“Blake. Enough. Stop.”

Gillian's soft voice penetrated his rage-­induced haze. She leaned against his back and slid down. He shoved Ken away, turned, and caught Gillian before she hit the ground again.

“Gillian? Gillian, baby. Can you hear me?”

“Stop,” she said weakly. “Please stop.”

Ken tried to get up. Uncle Lumpy grabbed him by the collar and dragged him ten feet away, then tossed him back to the ground. Ken tried to get up again, and Uncle Lumpy slammed his biker-­booted foot into Ken's chest and held him down.

“Don't move, fucker, or I'll make sure you never move again.”

A ­couple of the other men rode in from the ranch. Blake left them to help Uncle Lumpy get Ken back to the ranch. He touched his fingers to Gillian's too-­pale face, and the rage slid away. His focus shifted from killing Ken to taking care of the woman he loved. He gently picked her up. So cold, her eyelids and lips were purplish blue. She looked like a ghost.

Three guys from the ranch waited beside his horse.

“Jeff, can you help me up.” Jeff and two other guys supported Blake's back. He put his foot in the stirrup, and they helped him into the saddle without him having to let go of Gillian.

“You guys bring Ken back to the ranch. I'll have Bud call the sheriff to arrest his ass for assaulting Gillian.”

Jeff's gaze went to Blake's bloody knuckles. “You okay, man?”

“Fine. Gillian needs the help.”

“We'll see you back at the ranch,” Jeff said.

Marty and Tim dragged Ken toward the waiting horses. Blood ran from Ken's nose, mouth, and the cut on his cheek where Gillian nailed him.

Blake didn't give a shit if the guy's face rotted off in prison.

He settled Gillian in his lap, then pressed his lips softly to her forehead. “I love you, Gillian. I'm so sorry.” He held her limp body close. “I'm taking you home now. You're safe. I'll take care of you.”

When she didn't respond or even blink, he kicked his horse and sent the animal flying over the field. He held onto Gillian and went as fast as his horse could safely carry them. Gillian had been in her cold, wet clothes for far too long. Shock had set in. She wasn't shaking or trembling anymore. A very bad sign.

He held her tighter and rode hard to the house, praying she'd wake up and be okay.

 

Chapter 30

B
ud and Dee met Blake on the porch when he got to the house. Blake swung his leg over the horse's neck, slid off the saddle, and landed hard on his feet with Gillian's lifeless body in his arms.

“Bud, call the sheriff. Ken attacked Gillian.” That's all he could say. If he said anymore, he'd get angrier and do something stupid. Gillian was all that was important right now. Bud would take care of Ken.

Bud beat him to the door and opened it for him. He took Gillian inside. Bud went to the gun cabinet, unlocked it, and pulled out a rifle and bullets. “He's not leaving this ranch until the sheriff arrives. If he tries, he won't leave here alive.”

Bud grabbed the phone, and Blake took the stairs up two at a time.

Dee kept at his heels. “I made a warm bath for her.”

“How's Justin?” he asked over his shoulder and took Gillian into the bathroom.

He laid her out on the floor and cupped her face in his trembling hands. She was everything to him. He couldn't stand thinking about what she'd been through over the last half hour. She deserved so much better. She looked out for everyone else and always put herself last. She'd made him leave her behind for Justin's sake, but it didn't soothe his conscience.

“He's better. He soaked in the tub for about ten minutes. I got some hot broth into him, and we tucked him into bed. He was too tired to keep his eyes open once I got the liquids into him. I'll check on him again in a minute.”

“That's good. He'll get a good night's sleep, and he should be fine.”

Unconcerned with Gillian's modesty, especially with her shirt open and her bra-­covered breasts showing, he stripped off all her clothes. She'd hit her shoulder hard. A large bruise darkened under her milky white skin. The bruise on her forehead looked worse. The lump had swollen to the size of a golf ball. He hoped she didn't have a concussion. He went back and forth asking himself if he should take her to the hospital. At the moment, he didn't want to let her out of his sight or his reach. Touching her and seeing her was the only thing keeping him sane at the moment. And it was a tenuous hold at best. Especially when her hair slipped to the floor, revealing the bite mark on her neck.

Set on his task to get her warm, he undid her jeans and pulled them down her legs. She tried to curl into a ball to stop him. He put his hands on her thighs and held her legs down.

“No more. Stop,” she begged.

“Gillian, sweetheart, it's me.” He leaned over and pressed his forehead to her cheek, then whispered in her ear, “It's me. Blake. You're okay. You're home. I'm going to get you into a warm bath.”

“Blake?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. It's me.”

“I'm tired. So cold.” She tried to curl up again, but he held her, and her strength gave out again.

Blake had to stay close to her to even hear her. He looked up at Dee.

“She'll be okay. Get her in the bath. I'll get some broth. Something warm in her stomach will go a long way to making her feel better.”

“I shouldn't have left her.” He gently laid her in the tub still wearing her bra and panties. She squirmed and moaned in pain, her skin extrasensitive to the warmth of the water. In another minute, the heat would work its way into her body and ease her discomfort.

Once she relaxed into the water's warmth, he sat back on his heels and took off his own wet coat and shirt. He'd get out of the rest of his wet clothes when he settled Gillian in bed.

Dee came back in with a mug of warm broth. He held it to Gillian's lips and coaxed her to drink it down. He got half into her before he let her rest. He turned the hot tap on and warmed up the bath even more. Her pale skin finally warmed to a healthy glow, and her blue lips turned back to a dusky pink.

He took a washcloth and washed her face. He rinsed out her hair. She opened her eyes a slit and watched him. The first tears spilled down her cheeks.

He cupped her face in his palm. “It's okay. You're safe. I swear he'll never touch you again. I'll take care of you.”

“I know you will.” She shuddered with sheer relief. Still, her chin trembled and the tears silently fell. Traumatized, she needed time to settle her emotions. Once he got her out of the tub, he'd hold her close and let her sleep.

“Are you okay? I should take you to the hospital, or at least the clinic and have Dr. Bell check you out.”

“I'm fine. Warmer. Need to stay . . . with you.”

“You're sure? If something happened to you . . .”

“Mmm, I'm fine. Tired . . . that's all.”

“Your grandparents got Justin warm and settled into bed. He's okay. I promise.”

“I knew you'd take care of him.” The words were slurred, but she got them out.

“Ah, sweetheart, I shouldn't have left you behind. I had no idea Ken was still on the property. I never thought he'd try anything with you again. I'm so damn sorry I left you.”

“He just wanted to get back at me. And you.” She took his right hand and the washcloth. As she lay nearly naked in the tub, she gently washed the cuts on his bruised and swollen knuckles. When he hissed in pain, she took his fingers and brought them to her lips and kissed them, one after the other. No one had ever stood up for her. No one had ever come to her rescue. She had no doubt Blake had meant to kill Ken for laying a hand on her. Glad she'd stopped him, she didn't want Blake to suffer any consequences for saving her.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Sweetheart, that was pure selfishness. I just can't live without you. Justin can't live without you.” He pulled his hand from her grasp and touched her face. He just needed to keep touching her to reassure himself that she was alive and safe.

He helped her out of the tub. She stood on wobbly legs. After stripping off her wet panties and bra, he wrapped a towel around her, sat her on the toilet cover, and used another towel to gently dry her. He didn't want to take her to bed with her hair wet, so he snagged the hair dryer and kept working his fingers through the thick, dark mass until the strands were fairly dry and the gold, red, and brown tones changed with each pass of the dryer.

Her head slowly fell forward. Her eyes were closed when he picked her up and carried her into her room, completely tapped out. He set her on her feet just long enough to take the damp towel off her and pull the bedcovers back.

“Get in, sweetheart. You need to sleep.” She slipped into bed, and he tucked her in. She grabbed his hand and held tight.

“Stay with me, Blake. I don't want to be alone.”

He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. “I need to go downstairs and make sure Bud, Uncle Lumpy, and the sheriff took care of Ken.”

“Don't go, please.”

Her nails dug into his hand. He felt, in the tremble that rocked her whole body, her frantic need for him to stay. He brushed his other hand through her hair. He couldn't leave her. Not when she was too scared to let him go.

“Okay, honey. I'll stay with you.” He'd left her once already. He wouldn't do it again. She had never let herself need someone, and he wasn't going to let her think it was a mistake to need and trust him now.

He slipped out of the rest of his wet clothes and boots and into bed beside her. He brushed a soft kiss against the lump on her head and wrapped her in his arms, tight against his chest. She pressed her palm to his heart. He looked down. The diamond ring he'd placed on her finger not more than an hour ago twinkled in the soft light. He sighed and held her closer, so damn happy to have her here with him, safe and sound.

The soft knock drew his attention to the door, and Gillian jumped, even in her sleep. He held her close, tucked under his chin, her head on his chest, to let her know she was okay.

“Yeah,” he called softly.

Dee opened the door. “I see she's got everything she needs.”

“Everything all right downstairs?”

“The sheriff took Ken a few minutes ago. In addition to the charges for hurting Gillian, he's wanted in Texas for sexual assault and battery. Bud is downstairs in the library having a drink with Uncle Lumpy.” Dee rolled her eyes at the man's name. It's all he'd answer to, so they all went with it. “The sheriff wants to talk to Gillian tomorrow. He needs to know what happened to her while she was alone with Ken. He needs to know if . . .”

“He didn't rape her.” Blake hadn't meant to raise his voice. Gillian stirred next to him and wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him to her tighter. He didn't deserve to have her love him so much. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd failed her. He'd promised to protect her, whether he'd spoken the promise or made it in silence. He and Bud had both promised that this was her home, and she'd be safe here. She and Justin. Today, he hadn't kept that promise. They had hired a rapist and put Gillian in harm's way every day that she'd been here with Ken.

Dee read his turmoil. “You couldn't have known. The background check Bud ran was before the charges were filed. She won't blame you for what happened, so don't blame yourself.”

“I promised her she'd be safe here.”

“She is safe here. Ken was a problem waiting to happen. Whatever happened with her and Ken, she handled it. You got to her in time.”

“She shouldn't have had to handle it!” Blake reined in his rage, brushing his hand down Gillian's hair to calm her, too.

“You can't be everywhere. Ken is in jail, where he belongs. He won't be coming back here to cause trouble.”

“I should have fired him the first day, before he had a chance to fixate on her. He was causing trouble from day one.”

“Shoulda. Coulda. Woulda. We could do that all night. The fact of the matter is Gillian is going to be fine. Give her some credit. She'll wake up tomorrow morning, talk to the sheriff, and put this all behind her.”

“I brought this all on her.”

“No. You didn't. Besides, look what she's gotten from being here. She has a family. She has you.” She waited until Blake looked at her. “She's wrapped around you like you're a part of her. She's wearing your ring. You love each other. She's happy. You're going to have a happy life together. You belong together.

“If you want to take credit for the rest, you've got to take some credit for the good things that have happened to her. She's blossomed here. And Justin is a vibrant, happy little boy.”

The words began to sink into Blake's thick skull.

“You'll see tomorrow. Gillian won't blame you. She's a fighter. If I know my girl, had she been able to fight against Ken, she'd have kicked his ass.”

“Amen to that.” He leaned down and kissed the top of Gillian's head as her breath lightly whispered over the skin at his throat as she slept. Even in her weakened condition, she'd gotten in her licks. The door closed softly. Dee was right. Gillian wouldn't blame him for what happened. She loved him.