Montana Secrets (8 page)

“Seth? Hey, you in there?”

He picked up a cold strip of bacon and began eating it to keep from having to admit he'd forgotten their topic of conversation. Grace raised a brow as seconds ticked by and the silence stretched between them. She didn't press him, though.

No, he could sit there and glare at her and she didn't seem to mind. Because whether they talked or not, he had to answer her questions or else he couldn't go back to his room. And if he tried to before she was ready to let him?

His face heated at the memory of trying to beat her to the door and losing. Badly.

She played dirty and gloated when she won.

No, his mind corrected, secretly relishing the backbone and spunk Grace revealed on a daily basis. She played to win, and like it or not, he admired that about her.

Grace didn't pity him and she gave as good as she got. She wasn't uncomfortable around his wheelchair, which was quite a switch from Maura and Jake falling all over themselves trying to help him. Did he need anything? Was he hungry? Thirsty? Hot? Cold? Did he want something to read?

Grace sat back and told him to do it, get it, fix it himself.

Once upon a time, he'd have done the same, said the same thing to a person sitting back and letting the world pass them by. Had the accident changed him that much?

The thought staggered him.

“Come on, quit brooding. I can see your mind whirling and it can't be good.”

“I'm not brooding,” he shot back automatically, even though they both knew it was a lie. “I was wondering what it's going to be today. How're you going to try to pressure me into therapy this time? You haven't dumped me on the floor and tried to work on me regardless.”

There was a hint of a smile on her lush mouth. “Sounds like you know that tactic from experience. What were the results?”

He grinned in satisfaction. “He had a black eye and bloodied mouth. Not that I'd ever hit a woman,” he corrected when he saw her shoot him a disturbed glance. “You've got nothing to worry about there, Grace, and you know it. With you, I'd just have to think of another way to…distract you.”

Her gaze avoided his as a blush rose into her cheeks. “That, uh, tactic does work at times, but with you? Uh-uh. Not a good idea on the part of whichever therapist tried it. All things considered,
I decided a little while longer without therapy won't hurt if it means you'll come to terms with the fact I'm not leaving. Besides, I get paid either way, so you're the one wasting your money by not taking advantage of my help,” she added, her voice chiding, but throaty and appealing to the man in him.

Throaty? Appealing? He would be crazy to go there again.

“It's a simple strategy but an effective one, I think,” she murmured, her eyes twinkling. “You're worried about the financial burden of my pay on the ranch, so the best way of getting rid of me is to cooperate, get better, and then I can leave. See? Easy.”

She was trying to wear him down again, this time using his strapped-for-cash logic against him, and if he were honest, he'd admit it was working. He'd given her his worst and she still hadn't budged, making him wonder what could it hurt to try her therapy. After a while, when he
still
hadn't made any progress, maybe she'd be like the others, admit he was a lost cause, and leave. But by then he'd be out of cash as well and what good would that do him?

“Does your question mean you're finally ready to bite the bullet and let me help you?” she continued, her tone a tad hopeful.

Seth picked up his coffee cup and raised it to his lips to drink the last of it with one long swallow,
studying her over the rim. “Nope,” he countered, deliberately using her favorite response to him.

At first he'd wondered how she spent the rest of her day when he closed himself off in his room, but then he usually saw her and Maura and Lexi outside his windows. And every now and again he'd crack one of the windows open to eavesdrop on their conversations. Whatever it took to pass the time.

That's how he knew Grace and Maura were plotting. And that it was only a matter of time before Grace broached the subject with him that had Maura so upset with Jake.

“Okay, then, how about that arm wrestling rematch today? Think you're up to beating me yet?”

He pretended to consider it a moment, then shook his head with a slight grin. “Not arm wrestling.”

No, he wasn't going to tip his hand just yet. The good food and healthy appetite had definitely made a difference in him, but until he could challenge Grace at arm wrestling and win the prize teasing the back of his mind, he'd hold out.

Grace wrinkled her nose at him and plucked the napkin from her lap to toss it onto her plate. “Well, fine, if you're not going to cooperate I'll go find Lexi and give Maura a chance to relax.” She hesitated. “Want to join us?”

His smile faded and he glared at her for tempting him with something he wanted so badly. “No.”

His mood darkened even more at the thought of being stuck within the same four walls he'd stared at for the past six months, but he wouldn't accept her invitation. He didn't want to sit back and watch them. He wanted to ride alongside his niece, chase her through the garden to the tree house he'd built for her in back. Show Grace his ranch and talk about all the things he hadn't had a chance to do yet.

Not being able to do any of that emasculated him.

“You've done well today.” She glanced at her watch. “You finished your breakfast over two hours ago and you didn't try to take off like your chair was on fire.”

He grunted in response, frowning when he saw his mug was empty. Maybe he'd have another cup. After all, when he went back to his room it was getting harder and harder to stay there and be satisfied with the television and computer and books.

“If you change your mind about going outside—”

“I won't.”

She looked disappointed. Should he go? He could sit on the porch. Get some fresh air. It'd certainly be good to get out and breathe. Stare at the mountains and dream about better days.

“Have fun, then. I know we will.” Grace got up from the table, stacked their dishes and trays on top
of one another and picked them up to leave. “The jack-o'-lantern Lexi wants me to help her make should last until Halloween, don't you think?”

He nodded reluctantly. Helping Lex carve a jack-o'-lantern had always been his job.

“Well, if you change your mind, we'll be scraping out a pumpkin on the back porch.”

 

S
ETH GLANCED AT THE CLOCK
and scowled. He was going to lose what little sanity he had left if he stayed in his room any longer. He'd watched enough television to last him a lifetime, a fact proved when his favorite western couldn't hold his attention.

Outside the window he saw Hank toss a bridle aside in disgust. Bridles and harnesses, all the tack on the ranch, had to be cleaned and repaired, but with everyone busy, the equipment was in sorry shape—just like its owner.

He leaned forward, his heart pounding. Fixing the tack would break his boredom. Give him something to do and help out at the same time.

He rapped loudly on the window with his knuckles, gained Hank's attention, and then opened the window wide.

Hank jogged the distance as fast as his bowed legs could carry him. “Need help, Seth?”

The only time he and Hank had been face-to-face since he'd returned home from the rehab hospital
had been when he'd fallen out of bed. With Jake gone, and him once again between therapists, Maura had had to go to Hank for help lifting him back into bed. Not exactly the image he'd wanted to give one of his employees. Especially one as tough and long-lasting as Hank.

“Bridle break?” he asked uneasily.

Hank looked back at the corral, took his sweat-stained hat off and scratched his balding head. “Ain't enough time to keep up with it all. Roy's almost ready to head out to work on the fence lining Morton's place. Gonna take him a good three days to get it all repaired.”

Seth shifted in his chair, hesitant to voice his question because of how shamefully he'd behaved. “Bring them here and I'll see what I can do.”

If Hank was surprised, he hid it well. “Sure enough, boss. Be right back.” The old cowboy turned on his booted heel and walked away, then returned five minutes later with an armful of bridles, harnesses and a toolbox from the tack room holding all the necessary equipment for the repairs.

Seth accepted the lot through the window, conscious of the old man's gaze on his. “Thanks, Hank.”

Hank grunted. “Mighty good to see you gettin' back to your old self. Let me know if you need anything else.”

With a nod Seth watched Hank amble away.
Hank had worked the ranch since Seth was born, and he hadn't realized how much of a load had fallen on Hank's battered shoulders until now. The cowboy hadn't let him down, though. Before his accident, times had been hard and he'd had to let several younger men go and take up the extra load himself. Roy helped out there as well.

But now he wasn't out there working alongside Hank and Roy, the men he'd fired hadn't been re-hired, and Jake couldn't lend a hand considering he had to drive to Helena a couple of days a week to keep his own job.

Guilt smacked Seth upside the head. Jake insisted on spending money on him. Equipment, whirlpools, therapists. But none of the expense would be a waste if he'd cooperate and make it worthwhile.
If he tried harder.

Seth swiped a hand over his face and glared down at the bridles, then sorted through the tools. First things first. He'd take care of the tack—then worry about the other things that needed fixing. Himself included.

Maybe since everyone was so determined he would walk again, it was about time he regained some of that faith in himself.

G
RACE HURRIED OUTSIDE
. “Lexi? Lexi, are you out here?”

The little girl hadn't been waiting for her in the living room like usual. Maura was in her bedroom working on a cross-stitched baby blanket with her feet propped up to combat some swelling in her ankles. Jake was at work. Seth once again ensconced in his room. So where was Lexi?

She'd searched the house, listening closely in case the child had begun playing an impromptu game of hide-and-seek and forgotten to tell her. Checked the bathrooms, the closets, the pantry. She wasn't there.

Shielding her eyes, Grace scanned the yard, her gaze settling on the barn. Even though Lexi had brought the kitten into the house to live, that didn't mean the child wasn't out playing with the rest of them in the tack room.
Of course.

Grace hurried toward the structure and pulled on the heavy barn doors—could Lexi have opened
them? The darkened interior gave her pause, but she shook off her unease and stumbled inside the dimly lit barn, running halfway down the aisle until she heard Lexi giggling.

She slowed her pace, then stopped, breathing heavily. Lexi's laughter floated out of the tack room again, and Grace pressed a hand to her racing heart. Lexi was fine. Everything was fine.

“They sure like you.”

Roy Bernard's voice drifted through the air, low and soft. Grace bolted down the length of the large barn to the end where the tack room was located. Inside she found Lexi on the floor surrounded by a half-dozen kittens. Bernard sat on a stool, watching her.

“Lexi,” she rasped. “I've been looking everywhere for you.”

Bernard stood, his smile widening when he saw her. “We've been here waitin' on you. Nice to see you again, Grace.”

She couldn't say the same, not when the man's gaze tried to strip her bare.

“Lexi, your mom made Jell-O. Your favorite. There's a bowl just for you in the fridge already set up with whipped cream.”

“Oh, yay! Come on, Grace!” The kittens forgotten, Lexi ran out of the tack room and down the expanse of the barn, her feet thumping against the hard-packed earth.

Grace glanced back to Bernard. Lust radiated from his eyes, and he licked his thick lips as though in anticipation. “I'm glad you came to see me.”

“I came to find Lexi.”

Bernard stretched out a hand and braced it against the door frame, leaning toward her. “But now she's gone and you're still here. Must mean something.”

It meant she should've had the sense God gave her to not be caught alone with him. Grace took a step back, keeping her gaze on him all the while.

“Where you goin'?” Roy asked, falling into step in front of her, close enough he could reach out and grab her. “You know, Earl always talked about how sweet you were. How he had to watch you real close to keep the boys away. He said you were a tease.”

Fear ate away at her, black and cold and bone-weary deep as the past battled with the present.
He didn't know. He couldn't.

She backed through the door so she wouldn't be trapped inside, casually sliding her hand along the jamb, the wall of the barn, to guide herself. The rough-hewn wood prickled her palm and she flinched when a splinter found its way beneath her skin.

Bernard stalked her. “So what about it? You free this evening? We'll drive into town, eat. Maybe go find us a nice quiet spot?”

“Grace, come on!” Lexi called from the barn's entry.

She wasn't alone. He couldn't do anything with Lexi right there. “Coming!” Grace kept moving. “I've—I've got to go.” She turned and jogged to where Lexi stood waiting impatiently. As soon as Lexi saw her coming, she darted away.

“Grace.”

Bernard's voice came from behind her, within a few feet, and she whirled around, a strangled shriek emerging from her mouth because he was so close when she'd practically run the entire length. How had he moved so quickly? So quietly?

“We going for a drive?”

Come on, Grace. Let's go for a drive and see what we can see.

Shoving her stepfather's voice aside, she squared her shoulders. “I—I don't date anyone involved in my patients' lives. It…isn't good practice. Since I never know how long I'll stay.”

Bernard didn't buy it and the look on his face said so, but Grace didn't care. Seeking only escape, she hurried out of the barn and caught up with Lexi in the foyer of the house as the little girl struggled to remove her boots.

Unable to help herself, Grace grabbed hold of Lexi's shoulders and swung her around. “Did he…what were you and Roy doing in the barn?”

Lexi's eyes widened. “I was playing wiff the kittens.”

Grace pulled Lexi a step closer and dropped to her knees to meet the child at eye level. “Honey, listen to me. Did he—did Roy touch you?
Did he?
”

Lexi's blue eyes filled with tears. “Am I in trouble?”

Oh, God.
Grace bit her tongue to keep from giving in to the fear and rage inside her. The memories. What was she doing? “No, honey, you—you're not in trouble. I'm being silly. That's all.”

She forced what she hoped was a comforting smile to her lips, but her throat burned hot. Nothing had happened and here she was frightening a child.

“Lexi, don't—don't go outside or to the barn without telling someone. Never again, okay? You scared me because I couldn't find you.”

“'Kay.”

Grace shook her head. “I mean it, Lexi. Someone needs to know where you are at all times. I told your mother I'd watch out for you and here I didn't know where you were. You do
not
step outside without telling someone.
Promise me.
”

“I promise,” she repeated dutifully, her little hand lifting and rubbing against Grace's cheek. “What's wrong? Why're you crying?”

Grace smoothed a hand over Lexi's curls, loving the way the silky-soft spirals wrapped around her fingers. She had to get hold of herself.

Nothing had happened.

“Nothing's wrong. I was scared when I couldn't find you, but so long as you always tell someone where you're going I won't worry again, okay?”

Lexi nodded, her cheeks rosy from the cold air outside. “Can I play in my room?”

“That sounds perfect,” Grace murmured, pulling Lexi onto her lap and hugging her quickly before helping the child take off her one remaining boot. “I'll come up in a bit to play with you and we'll work on the pumpkin later.”

“Okay, I'll go make us a tea party!” Lexi ran across the foyer and scrambled up the stairs. “Don't forget the Jell-O!”

Grace watched Jake and Maura's daughter until she rounded the curve of the stairs and disappeared out of sight. Alone, she reached out a shaky hand and grabbed Lexi's coat off the floor. Pretty and pink. It reminded her of her bedroom in Earl's house.

The vise around her chest returned.

In and out. Slow, deep breaths. She would not have a panic attack. In and out. Sniffling, she closed her eyes and shook her head firmly.
Nothing
happened.

Nothing happened, Grace. You always remember that, you hear?
Nothing
happened.

A sob caught her by surprise and Grace clamped
a hand over her mouth to squelch it. In and out. Slow, deep breaths. In through the nose, out the mouth. Concentrate. All she had to do was concentrate. Lexi was fine.

Fine, fine, fine.

You're fine, Gracie-girl. Mighty fine. Too fine a tease for anyone but me.

 

A
FTER SHE PULLED HERSELF
together, Grace took the Jell-O and a handful of cookies to Lexi's room and urged the child to feed her myriad of stuffed guests. While Lexi arranged her miniature tea set, goodies and friends, Grace walked down the hall to Jake and Maura's bedroom.

The door was open and she saw Maura inside still working on the baby blanket, a concentrated frown on her face as she contemplated her stitches. Grace knocked, then entered as Maura looked up with a smile that quickly faded. “Grace? Are you all right? What's wrong?”

“Lexi's in her room preparing for a tea party.” Grace shut the door, leaving a small crack so they could hear if Lexi called. “But…Maura…I don't know how to ask this or even if I should because I know it's none of my business, but—”

“Whatever it is, say it. You won't offend me.”

She inhaled deep, sick to her stomach still. “Have you ever talked to Lexi about…improper touching?”

Maura drew in a sharp breath. “What
happened?
”

Grace explained how she couldn't find Lexi and how Lexi had been alone with Roy Bernard in the barn. She stressed that the child had been playing with the kittens, but she made no effort to disguise her fear that Lexi needed to be watched, that
all
children needed to be watched, and informed, of danger.

“Anyway, the thought struck me and I wondered and I thought, if you haven't spoken with her, maybe over the tea party you could talk to her using the dolls and—”

Maura placed a comforting hand over her bulging stomach and caressed, her expression sad and more than a bit shocked. “It never occurred to me to— I mean in the city where children are abducted, sure, but here—”

“It can happen anywhere.”

Maura looked up, her gaze sharp.

Grace averted her eyes and studiously looked about the room as though fascinated by the decor. “Nothing happened and I certainly don't mean to scare you,” she assured her. “But I had the thought when I saw Lexi there by herself with him and—”

“Of course. She's young, but she needs to be aware of strangers and her surroundings. The tea party is perfect, Grace. Thanks for suggesting it.
And I'll talk to Jake so he can discuss this with her as well. She needs to hear it from both of us.”

“Where is everybody? I'm ready!”

“We're coming, Lexi, hang on!” Maura set the blanket aside and sat up. “Grace, you've listened to me rant and I appreciate it so much, but I want you to know if you ever need to talk—”

Grace laughed, the sound high-pitched and awkward as she grabbed the doorknob and pulled. “Thanks, Maura. L-Like I said, I wondered if you'd ever said anything to Lexi. That's all.”

“Grace—”

“That's all, Maura. I'm, uh, going for a walk now.”

 

S
ETH LOOKED UP FROM
his task as Grace let herself into his room. He tossed the bridle and bit aside and wiped his hands on the towel in his lap. “You're late.”

“I didn't know we had an appointment.”

He indicated the checkerboard he'd set up earlier. “Thought you'd be here sooner and we might play a game.” He put the lid on the tin he'd been using and tossed it into the toolbox on the floor beside his wheelchair.

Grace slowly walked over to the chair still in position across the table from him. “I went for a walk.”

“You came back over an hour ago. Maura had to
bring me my lunch while you were gone.” He wheeled himself closer to the table and waved a hand to indicate she had the first move.

“As much as you grumble about not being hungry, I'm surprised you noticed.” Seating herself, she nudged one of the red pieces with her finger.

He'd noticed, all right. Maura had brought his tray in and scampered right back out the door. She'd barely spoken to him, unlike Grace, who carried on a constant stream of chatter to fill the silence. He'd been surprised to find he missed it. Her.

Then again, maybe not so surprised.

He'd seen her walking along the road back toward the house and she'd looked so lost and alone and sad, her expression touching a place deep within him he'd thought long hardened against her. But her expression—

He knew darkness and pain. Despair. He knew what it was like to hurt in a way indescribable to others, and apparently so did Grace. Instead of her usual sure stride, her gait was stiff and awkward. Hesitant in a way he'd not have associated with his confident physical therapist, but characteristic of the past and belonging to the girl she'd been.

“Your turn.”

He stared at her bent head, then pulled himself away from his thoughts long enough to counter her third move. He slid another checker forward. “Ever
hear of rattlers? Might be cold, but there could still be a few strays out warming themselves in the sun. We've even seen a mountain lion or two. Coyotes on the hunt.”

She didn't comment.

“Heard you with the weights in the gym. You exercise enough for ten people. Makes me wonder what you're trying to outrun.”

She flinched at his comment. Not an obvious movement, but enough to make him realize he'd hit a nerve without trying.

He took in her flushed cheeks and red-rimmed eyes and frowned. “Brent okay?”

“He's fine. And exercise is good for you. A great form of stress relief.”

Seth glanced down at the board and his frown deepened. When they'd dated, Grace had been a mean checker player, but now it was pretty obvious her mind wasn't on the game. He jumped and took two of her pieces. “What're you stressed about?”

Now that he'd taken control of the game, Grace sat up and appeared to pay a bit more attention as she considered her options. “Nothing.”

“Must be something.”

She shrugged. “I already spoke to Maura and—”

“About what?”

Sighing, she lifted her fingers to her temple and
rubbed. “I just— I wondered how safe it was for Lexi to play unsupervised on the ranch. That's all.”

Seth stilled, focusing on her averted gaze. “Something happen?”

“No. But like you said, there's the risk of animals. She's so small they'd think she was prey. Plus the risk of her playing with something she shouldn't play with. Not knowing exactly where she is…I mean…she is still a little girl and—”