Home for Good. Jessica Keller

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СКАЧАТЬ not a horse.” She jerked away.

      “Of course you’re not.” He tipped her chin with his finger, and her red-rimmed eyes, tears carving twin paths down either side of her face, made his stomach flip. “Why are you crying?”

      She swiped her face with the back of her hand. “What are you doing here?”

      “Pop.”

      “Oh, I knew that. I’m sorry. It was so sad—he was all alone. They aren’t sure how long he lay there...”

      “You’re avoiding my question.” He gave a smile he hoped exuded safety and reassurance. “Why the tears?”

      She tossed her hands in the air. “Oh, just another invigorating talk with my mother.”

      “She’s here, too?”

      Ali shrugged and gave an unflattering grimace in what looked like an attempt to hold back emotion. “She has lung cancer. I mean, we should have expected it. She smoked three or four packs every day of my life, and only got worse after we lost Dad.”

      “And let me take a guess—she’s still as bitter and mean as ever.”

      Ali met his gaze, and the tears brought out the gold flecks in her eyes. For a moment he couldn’t breathe. “She’s had a hard life.”

      “True, but she doesn’t have to take it out on you. Don’t blame her moods on yourself. It’s fully her choice how she treats people.”

      “You’re one to talk,” she mumbled and he swallowed a growl.

      Could she never forgive him?

      He blocked her path when she moved to walk around him. “Are you going to be all right?”

      She dug her toe into the floor, and in a small voice confessed, “She still blames me for killing Dad.”

      He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and feel her head resting against his chest, trusting his strength as he carried her away from all the people who tried to tie millstones around her neck. Quashing that desire, he settled for cupping her elbow and leading her outside, away from the oppression and doom of the nursing home. Thankfully, she walked right along with him, even leaned into his touch a little bit.

      When they got outside, he led her to her truck then turned her to face him. He rested his hands on her shoulders. His blues met her sparkling hazels as he said in a soft, low voice, “It wasn’t your fault. Your dad made a choice that day to get on that bull. He took a risk, and it turned out to be a disastrous one. But that’s all it was, an accident.”

      She worked that bottom lip between her teeth. “But he would have been trucking. He wouldn’t have been at the rodeo if I hadn’t been so bent on barrel racing.”

      “He loved the rodeo. I’m just sorry we were there to see it that day.”

      Ali nodded in an absent way, then pushed up on his wrists. Jericho let go of her, but as he stepped back he noticed something curious. “Your tires are on their rims.”

      “What? I just drove here. They were fine.” Ali turned around and then slapped her hand over her mouth.

      Jericho bent down to examine the tires. Sure enough, each one bore a deep slash. Intentional. His stomach rolled. “Cut. Know why someone would want to make mincemeat of your tires?”

      She dragged in a ragged breath and clutched her purse close to her chest. “Yes.”

      “Well?”

      Her eyes widened. “I can’t tell you.”

      “What? That’s ridiculous. If you have a problem with someone, tell me and I’ll take care of it for you.”

      Ali’s brows knit together. “Why would you do that?”

      He stepped forward, propping a hand on the truck above her head. He leaned toward her. She was so close. If he dropped his head, he could kiss her. Taste the sweet lips he’d dreamt about for the eight years he’d been gone. He wanted to, badly. Would she meld against him like she used to, or would she slap him and run?

      “Nine years ago, I made a promise to protect you. I went and made a real mess of that, but I’m back. You can call on that promise if you want to. I’ll be here for you. You hear me?”

      “I’ll be fine. I just have to walk to Mahoney and Strong—Tripp’s an associate with the law firm. It’s not that far.” She looked around him toward downtown. Jealousy curled in his chest.

      “I can drive you there.” He hated himself for being any part of bringing her near Tripp, but he’d just made a promise, and he’d stay true to it no matter the personal cost.

      “I’ll walk.”

      “It’s farther than you think, and it’s hot as blazes out here. Let me drive you.”

      She shook her head.

      “Can I pick you up from his office and drive you home?”

      “I’m sure Tripp will drive me home. I’ll see you around.”

      She brushed past him, but the sweet smell of her lingered—something flowery. Jericho walked back to his Jeep. His pop would have to wait another day or two for a reunion.

      He needed to find four new tires and get them on that beastly truck before Tripp could swoop in with some kind of heroic act.

      Chapter Four

      With his legs tossed over the edge of the porch, Chance swung his feet, banging them against the house with the rhythm of an Indian drumbeat.

      Ali leaned an elbow on the armrest of the Adirondack chair, resting her chin on her palm. “Hey, little man, cut that out.”

      “Is that your truck, Mom?” He sprang to his feet and squinted in the direction of the driveway.

      Her green monster of a vehicle rattled over the gravel. “Looks like it. I left my keys with Tripp, and he said he’d have someone fix the tires. That must be him.” She pushed up out of the chair and crossed to the steps.

      The man climbing out from the driver’s side looked about the same size as Tripp, but that’s where the similarities ended. Ali pursed her lips.

      Chance jostled past her. “Jericho!”

      “Hey, bud.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Ali.”

      She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you have my truck?”

      He looped his thumbs in his pockets. “You left it at the nursing home. It’s got new tires. The old ones couldn’t be saved. But these are good ones. You won’t have to put chains on them in the winter.”

      “I’ll go inside and get my purse. How much do I owe you?”

      “Nothing.”

      “Nothing? СКАЧАТЬ