something wrong?”
She lay back against the seat, breathing deeply. “No, I just need to…stay calm.”
“Just how far along are you?”
“About eight months.”
That brought John up short. He sure didn’t want to talk her into early labor. He agreed—calm was just what they needed.
“Look, we’ll probably see someone fairly soon. Until then, tell me what you’re doing on this road.”
“I’m just driving.”
“Toward what destination? There’s not much on this road except Rawhide.”
She jerked away from him.
“What did I say?”
“Nothing!”
“Okay, well, I’m from Rawhide, a small town that most of my family lives in. I’m John Randall. I run my family ranch about fifteen miles outside of town. But I have cousins all over town and on three other ranches in the area. We joke all the time because you can’t go anywhere without running into one of us.”
“Is it a nice town?”
“Absolutely. Both doctors, the sheriff, the only lawyer, the two accountants, all are kin to us. My sister is a jewelry designer. The drama teacher is kin to us, too. She used to be a movie star.”
“M-my brother is a deputy.”
John frowned. “In Rawhide?”
“Yes.”
“Who is he? I bet I know him.”
“I don’t think I should say.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not…not staying in town. I just needed to ask him s-something.”
“You couldn’t just call him?”
“I tried several times but—but he didn’t answer his phone.”
“Maybe he’s on vacation. No, that couldn’t be it. The only one on vacation is Harry and—-”
She jerked again.
He stared at her. “Your brother is Harry? Harry Gowan?”
“Please, I didn’t say that.”
“Harry is my brother-in-law.”
“Oh!”
“Stay calm. It’s all right. Harry would want me to help you. What’s wrong?”
Saying nothing, she shook her head and folded her arms over her protruding stomach, as if she were cold.
He took her by her shoulders. “Look, Harry is on—”
He broke off because she was wincing in pain. “Are you in labor?”
She shook her head.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“I—I have some bruises.”
He turned on the inside lights. “Take your coat off.”
“I don’t want to. It’s cold.”
“I think you need to.”
“You can’t see anything.”
“What do you mean?”
“He didn’t hit me where it could be seen.”
“He who?”
“M-my husband.”
“Are you saying your husband beat you?”
She nodded her head, her gaze lowered.
“Had he hit you before now?”
“Once,” she whispered. “I thought he wouldn’t do it again. He—he said he was sorry.”
“So what happened this time?”
“He—he decided he didn’t want the baby.” She sobbed, then, tears streaking down her cheeks.
He scooted across the seat and wrapped his arms around her. “He’s a fool!”
She buried her face against him and wept.
After a minute, she collected herself and, in spite of sniffles, said, “When he got up this morning and left for work at six, I grabbed what I could and went to the bank when it opened. I took all our money and I drove to Rawhide. At least I tried to drive to Rawhide. I hoped Harry could help me.”
“He’s out of town for about six weeks.”
“Oh.” She sniffed several times, trying to control herself.
“Look—I don’t even know your name. But I can promise you I’ll do what I can to help you. Remember I said the sheriff was kin to us?”
She nodded her head as it rested against his chest.
“Well, that means he’s kin to you, too. Harry is his favorite deputy. He’d help you even if Harry wasn’t part of the family.”
“How is Harry part of your family?”
“You didn’t know? Harry married my sister.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize—Then I can’t bother Harry.”
“Then what will you do?”
“Can my car be fixed?”
“Yeah, if Larry can get the parts. That could take a week. Then he’ll take about a week to fix it.”
“How do you know?”
“I’m guessing you knocked a hole in your radiator.”
“Oh.”
“Hey, you can stay at our house while they work on your car.”
“No.” That was all she said.
“What’s your name?” he asked, which seemed a silly question since he was holding her in his arms.
“Lucy.”
“Well, Lucy, take off your coat.”
“Why?” She pulled back and fear lit her eyes when she looked at him.
“I’m going to wrap us up in a comforter I have so we can stay warm until morning.”
She
