Staking His Claim (Ranchers of Chatum County 1)

Elaina did as he said and collapsed against him. Her eyes shut and she let out a sigh of relief. It had been a long few hours.

He walked around to the passenger side of his truck and deposited her there, shutting the door. She was immediately closed in again and felt much as she had the day before when he had locked her in with him.

He started the truck, executed a reverse maneuver and headed down the road, back the way he came.

“Brian and Janie home yet?” he asked.

“No. Probably tomorrow.”

“Right. I’m taking you to my house.” It was a statement of intent.

CHAPTER FOUR

“No. I d-don’t want to go to—”

“Tough shit, Miss Ruiz.”

Her eyes welled with tears again as she swiveled her head in his direction and impaled him with a vicious glare. “See? That’s why I wanted someone else to find me.”

Guilt and irritation trickled down his spine. Shit. She was young, she was alone and she was hurt. Couldn’t he fucking rein it in with her and not act like a wad of shit? It wasn’t her fault his body was screaming for her. He needed to remember that.

He kept driving and the silence in the truck was deafening.

Minutes later, he pulled into the circular driveway that fronted his house. He climbed out of the truck and walked around and opened the passenger door. He reached in to get her and was amazed she didn’t put up more of a verbal fight about him carrying her.

He found out why seconds later as he climbed the steps to the front door with her in his arms and pushed it open.

“I have to pee.”

He didn’t answer her, just strode to the nearest bathroom. He flipped the light on, and carried her to the commode.

“Can you stand?”

“Yes.”

He slid her down carefully and she put her weight on her good foot and balanced on the vanity next to the commode. “Thanks. I’ll just be a minute.”

“Call me. I’ll hear you.”

“Okay.” She waited for him to turn and shut the door and then she sat down with a massive sigh of relief.

Five minutes later, she was sitting on the closed lid of the commode and he was kneeling in front of her, carefully taking her shoes and socks off.

“Damn, little girl, those are some badass skinned knees.”

“Mr. Vega—”

He cut her off. “My name’s Raul.”

She lifted her eyes from her torn up knees and her gaze tangled with his.

His eyes were deep, unfathomable. “Say it.”

“Raul.”

“That’s right, little girl.”

She cleared her throat minutely. “You could start calling me Elaina.”