“You ready?” he asked, holding out his hand.
She nodded, and he helped her down from the table.
* * * *
Stacy remained straight-faced during the ride back to the ranch.
Anna wrung her hands together on her lap and stared out the window.
“Stacy?”
“Yeah?”
“I…I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I had
no place to go, and when everything happened, I got on a plane and
just headed here.”
Stacy reached over and patted Anna’s hands.
“I’m glad you did, honey. I’m so happy you’re here and that
you’re safe.”
“Um…I know you’re worried, and I just want you to know that
I’ll be okay. I survived, and I’ll get through this.”
Stacy was silent a moment and had been patient, not pushing
questions on her, and she loved her for that.
“I know you want to know what happened and all, but I need time.
Especially since I told Doc Jones everything, I feel kind of spent right
now and really tired. I just think you need to know that…that they
didn’t rape me,” Anna stated with her lips quivering, and Stacy
caressed Anna’s hands as she kept her eyes on the road.
“They?” Stacy asked, sounding angry.
Anna nodded.
Stacy clenched the steering wheel.
“Give me some time, and I promise to explain.”
For the Love of Anna
51
“You got it, honey. Let’s head home so you can rest. I can’t
believe you have broken ribs.”
“Me, either.”
Anna smiled at the thought of having a home. But this wasn’t her
home, it was Stacy’s and the handsome Cantrell men’s home. She
never really had a home, and the thought of ever having one seemed
impossible at the moment.
She wiped the tears with the back of her hand and stared out the
window at the stunning countryside.
She would love to live here. The town was quaint and lovely. The
people were friendly, and the land was open and clean. There weren’t
horns honking, garbage on every corner. It was like something from a
movie. Especially Dr. Jones, who was so kind and easy to talk to.
People wished for doctors like him and towns like Pearl.
Granted, there were nice parts of New York City, but she lived in
the shittiest. It was all she could afford. There was always trash by the
entranceway, trash on every floor, and an elevator that never worked
properly. She was shocked that the fire escape hadn’t broken on her
way down it.
Anna felt nervous at the memory. It was the scariest thing she had
ever been through. She figured after that she would be afraid of
heights for the rest of her life.
The closer they got to the ranch, the calmer she seemed to get.
Talking to Dr. Jones seemed to make her feel a bit better.
52
Dixie Lynn Dwyer
Chapter 6
Stacy let the men know that Anna was all right. She eased their
minds when she informed them that Anna hadn’t been sexually
assaulted. They had questions, especially Charlie, Ben, and Wyatt.
Stacy couldn’t help but think that the three Cantrells were attracted to
Anna. They expressed concern for her every day, and any time they
had free, they came by to check on her.
Anna seemed surprised that she had two broken ribs and five
badly bruised ones. No wonder she was sick with fever and in such
bad pain. They were amazed at her strength for baring it so long and
flying in a plane, traveling to get to Texas with such injuries.
As the weeks passed, the injuries on Anna’s face began to heal.
With a little cover-up, they were barely noticeable anymore.
The sound of someone entering the kitchen pulled Stacy from her
thoughts.
“Good morning,” Anna stated as she walked over to the coffee pot
and poured herself a cup.
“Good morning. How do the ribs feel today?” Stacy asked with a
smile as she took a sip of coffee from her mug.
“Sore, but I guess considering it’s not quite three weeks, it’s going
to take a while.”
Stacy watched as Anna slowly sat down in a chair at the kitchen
table.
Anna appeared deep in thought then spoke. “How about that walk
today, so you can show me the river?” Anna asked.
Stacy swallowed hard. She had a feeling Anna was ready to tell
her what happened back in New York. She had been very patient
For the Love of Anna
53
despite the men’s push for her to get more information. She wouldn’t
do that to Anna. It was her story, her life, and she wanted Anna to
always trust her.
“If you think you’re up to it, I can pack a lunch, and we can picnic
there.”
“That sounds lovely, but I’m not sure if I can sit on a blanket and
then get back up again. The thought of the pain makes me cringe.”
Anna chuckled as she scrunched her upper lip and nose.
Stacy smiled. “No worries, we have a table set up down there. We
often picnic down by the water during the summertime. You’ll see, in
a few more weeks, the temperature will really change and be so hot.
The spring is still a bit on the cool side.”
“It’s so nice and quiet here. You’re lucky to have this place as a
home.”
Stacy joined Anna by the table, sat down, and took her hand into
her own.
“This is your home, too, now.”
Anna dropped her gaze to the table.
“I don’t want to impose and outstay my visit. As soon as I’m
healed, I think I’ll move on.”
Anna lifted her eyes, and Stacy was certain she could see the
sadness in her eyes. Stacy quickly gained control of her emotions.
Stacy patted her hand. “There’s plenty of time to discuss this, no need
to make any rash decisions now.”
She rose from the chair and placed her coffee mug in the sink. She
washed it and placed it on the drying rack.
* * * *
Anna felt sad. She didn’t want to insult Stacy or push her away,
but that was exactly what she was doing.
“I’m sorry,” Anna whispered as Stacy remained facing away from
her and toward the window.
54
Dixie Lynn Dwyer
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I do, Stacy.” Anna released a long sigh, and the tears filled her
eyes.
“I feel so…numb,” Anna admitted.
Stacy immediately turned toward her.
“I hurt…so much inside.” Anna covered her face and began to
cry. She hated every ounce of herself. She hated feeling defeated and
worthless. Her own father didn’t even want her.
Stacy pulled Anna into her arms.
“It will get easier, Anna. I promise, the longer you stay here and
begin your new life, the better things will get. I love you.”
Stacy and Anna looked up as she heard the floor creak. Charlie
stood in the doorway, his eyes crinkled and a look of concern on his
face.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, and immediately, Anna pulled
away from Stacy as she wiped her eyes.
“Just some girl talk,” Stacy replied, rising from the seat and
heading back to the sink.
“You need a drink, Charlie?”
“No, Stacy, that’s all right. I came by to check on my girl Anna.”
He smiled wide, and Anna felt that funny feeling in her gut again. He
was a good-looking man, a cowboy, and would have his share of
women pining over him. The thought made her jealous. What a
moron. She was clinging to an imaginary attraction because he had
helped to bandage her up while she was wounded. She needed to put a
stop to it now.
“I’m fine, Charlie, and I appreciate you helping me out with my
injuries. But, I don’t…need looking after. You have important work
to do on the ranch and…I’m not your girl. I’m not a girl…I’m…”
She paused, her words and what she wanted to say was all twisted
inside.
The phone rang, and Stacy answered it, then left the room talking.
Immediately, Charlie took the seat next to her and scooted closer.
For the Love of Anna
55
He placed the Stetson he held in his hand down on the table then
looked her in the eye.
Slowly, he reached toward her face, brushing a loose strand of
hair away from her eye.
His thumb caressed her lower lip as he smiled at her.
“I like calling you my girl.”
She turned away and lowered her face, looking down into her lap.
“Look at me, Anna,” he whispered, helping her by cupping her
chin and tilting it up toward his face.
Charlie had long, hard fingertips but a gentle touch. She looked
into his eyes, and her heart pounded in her chest from being so close
to him.
“I like looking after you, and yes, I have responsibilities, but I can
also check in on you whenever I want. I know that Wyatt and Ben
will as well. We’re gonna take care of you, so you best get used to it
quick.”
She shook her head. “I’m not staying here. As soon as I’m able to
travel, I’m going to leave.”
“No, you’re not. You’re staying right here on this ranch in Pearl.”
“You don’t understand. I don’t want to intrude, and I don’t belong
here. I don’t know if they’ll come…” She quickly closed her mouth
and tried to pull away. Charlie wouldn’t let her.
“You don’t know if who will come?” The sound of Wyatt’s deep
voice filled the room.
Anna immediately saw the uniform, and the tears filled her eyes.
She pulled away from Charlie and stood up. Charlie stood up as well
and immediately pulled her into his arms.
Anna swallowed hard.
The last thing she needed to do was inform a sheriff about the men
from New York. That would be like attaching a homing device to her
forehead along with a bull’s-eye. No. She had to keep their identities
a secret.
“Well?” Wyatt asked again as he eyed her from head to toe.
56
Dixie Lynn Dwyer
He wasn’t as handsome as Charlie and Ben. He had a meaner
looking expression. His facial structure was strong and defined. He
had character but looked untamed. Even his nose wasn’t perfect and
showed it had been broken at least once. Yet, she was attracted to him
as well. Any woman would look at him with the desire to tame him if
she could. She wasn’t that kind of woman. She had always been weak
and powerless when it came to men just like these cowboys. It was
how her father defeated her, broke her down with his name-calling
and physical abuse. Wyatt was firm and persistent, and it intimidated
Anna big time.
“I asked you a question, Anna.”
She jumped at his tone, which didn’t go unnoticed.
“Wyatt, you’re scaring her.” Charlie tried to intervene as he held
her closer against his chest.
Wyatt moved closer to them. She swallowed hard at the sight of
his massive chest beneath the fancy sheriff’s uniform. His gun and
holster sat on his hip just daring someone to make him draw. She had
a feeling he was quick and good with a gun. The thought made her
belly warm. His badge, his whole alpha male demeanor was filled
with testosterone. He was a badass, and he knew it.
She was forced to look straight up at his six foot four body until
she reached his eyes.
God, he was handsome in his own unique way.
He reached out to her, and she flinched before hiding her face
against Charlie’s chest.
She heard him swear under his breath, then place a gentle hand on
her shoulder.
“I would never strike a woman, and I sure as hell would never
strike you.” His voice was firm and deep. He was so close to her she
felt the warmth against her hair.
As Anna peeked up at him, turning her head across her shoulder,
her lips hit his hand, and her insides quivered. It was like an electric
shock against her skin.
For the Love of Anna
57
He brushed a thumb across her cheek and stepped closer to her.
Holding her gaze, he asked her again.
“You’re afraid who is going to come here looking for you?”
She found herself answering his question.
“The men…the men who hurt me.”
His thumb paused a moment at her lips, and she wished they
hadn’t. It felt so good to feel his touch. She noticed his jaw tighten,
and nervously, she licked her lips. Both men seemed to shift.
“Why would they come here? What more do they want?” he asked
as he held her chin in place.
She hesitated a moment and took an uneasy breath. The dark look
in his eyes told her he always got the bad guy to confess. She was no
match for his interrogation.
“Me,” she whispered, and her voice cracked.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Aww, honey,” Wyatt whispered. He brushed the tear away with
his thumb then held her cheek in his hand. She leaned toward his
warm touch, closing her eyes, letting the tears flow.
“We won’t let them hurt you, Anna. I swear, my brothers, cousins,
and I won’t ever let them near you again.”
Charlie pulled Anna into an embrace, and Wyatt placed a kiss on
the top of her head.
She felt safe in their arms, and she felt an attraction to both of
them. She was definitely one screwed up individual.
* * * *
Anna looked out across the small river to the fields of wildflowers
in full bloom. It was peaceful there and private. Anna and Stacy sat