Escaping the Past

“What makes you think I’m going to speak to you now?” she asked childishly.

He took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. “Because you know I did my best and got her back. I would do it again—for you as much as for her.”

Lou confessed, “I was so scared when Elizabeth called. All could think of was that you had let someone steal my baby.” Lou sobbed into his shirt, great heaving sobs that rocked them both.

He held her until the sobs subsided and she wiped her nose with the back of her hand. He held out his towel to her, “Do you want my towel?”

“Oh, God. Your eye.” She reached up and touched the cut above his eye. He flinched.

“What is it with you women who have to touch us while we’re hurting?” he groaned.

“Does it hurt a lot?” She took the damp towel and rubbed his face gently, washing away the blood. “You might need a stitch or two. You definitely need some ice.”

“I’ll settle for a kiss.” He bent slightly, and she stood on tiptoe and kissed his temple softly.

“Are you still mad at me for almost losing Sarah?”

“No. I’m thankful you saved her life.” She snorted indelicately. “You also gave her a fine evening of dancing,” she said sarcastically. “Are you mad at me for acting like a shrew?”

“Nope. I probably would have felt the same way. Hell, I do feel the same way. I wanted to kill the son of a bitch.”

Lou and Brody both turned when they heard Sarah call, “Mommy?”

Lou pulled herself out of Brody’s embrace and turned toward the door. He pulled her close one more time and whispered to her, “Can we finish this conversation later?” He nuzzled her hair, breathing in the scent of her.

“The only person sleeping in my bed tonight will be my daughter, Brody. I’m sure you understand.” She went through the door and closed it tightly in his face. He heard the bolt shoot home as she locked it.

“Guess I’ll go and lick my wounds all by myself,” Brody mumbled as he went back downstairs. Sadie and Jeb were still sitting at the kitchen table. Brody sat down heavily in a chair and groaned, grasping his side, remembering the punch he had taken to the middle.

Sadie rose as quickly as her ample girth would allow, got an ice pack from the freezer, and held it to the bruised skin over his eye. He flinched.

“Geez, Sadie. That’s cold,” he said but he took it and held it over the area that was already swollen and tender. “But thanks.”

“How are you doing, boy?” Jeb asked, his dark eyes full of concern.

Brody sighed heavily. “I’m fine.” He gratefully accepted the cup of coffee Sadie sat before him and smiled gently at her. “He came out of nowhere, Jeb. I’m glad you’re leaving tomorrow with Sarah.”

“I just wish we could talk her mama into going with us, too,” Jeb replied.

“If she went with you, you would all just have to deal with this again when you get back. Those people are not going to go away until they get what they want, whatever that may be.”

“You’ll take care of Lou while we’re gone?” Sadie questioned him.

“To the best of my ability,” Brody said truthfully.

“Guess that’s all we can ask you for,” Sadie added. “Just don’t let her try to tackle this herself.”

“I promise. I’ll be with her as much as she’ll let me,” Brody assured her even though he had no idea what he was up against.

Jeb rose from his chair. “We had better get to bed. We have an early start and a long ride tomorrow.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“As long as it takes,” Jeb responded. He reached over to the kitchen counter and pulled out a thick envelope. “That lawyer of your mother’s came by today and dropped this off. He said he needs to meet with you next week but he wanted you to look this over before then.”

Brody accepted the envelope and placed it before him on the table. Sadie leaned over and kissed his forehead. He winced again.

“It pains me to see you so beaten up.” She whispered to him. “It would have broken my heart if anything happened to either of you tonight.”