Chapter 6
Megan wasn't surprisedthat she found Julianne huddled beneath Brady's sheet with him, a flashlight shared between the two ofthem.
Tonight's riding lesson had been the highlight of their entiresummer.
"Rules," she remindedthem.
Brady only mocked her a little, and both kidscomplied.
Megan kissed both kids a final time and sent the girl back to her room. She confiscated the flashlight for goodmeasure.
But when she settled into her own bed, neither the book on her bedside table nor the late-night TV show could hold herattention.
She'd showered, washed away the scents of the ranch. But not the memory of thecowboy.
I'm an ex-con.
She'd flinched away from Dan's words and the message they carried. She'd been shocked. Hadn’t known what to say, what todo.
He didn't seem like a criminal. Didn't act sleazy orsecretive.
Wouldn't someone who intended to continue in criminal pursuits keep it a secret instead of telling heroutright?
Some of the things that had puzzled her had clicked into place. How he'd flinched from her touch. That his tetanus vaccination was current, though it hadn't been on his chart. The shadows in hiseyes.
You'd better stay away fromme.
But the barn light had been shining on his face from one side, and his expression had been almost...desperate.
There was a part of her that did want to protect the children. But she didn't think Dan wasdangerous.
She was sure there were folks in town who’d be happy to gossip about him. She could find out whatever she wanted to know if she asked around. But that madeherfeelsleazy.
And anyway, whatever he’d done, he’d paid for. And it seemed as if the man needed afriend.
Which was ridiculous, wasn't it? He was a grown man. He had a steady job on the ranch. He was surrounded bycowboys.
But when she’d stitched him up for the second time there’d been plenty of tension between him andNate.
He'd been kind to Brady andJulianne.
Challenged Megan toride.
Had them laughing and comfortable in the saddle in anhour.
And he was an ex-con.
Aknockon Dan's door rousedhim.
It was darkoutside.
He'd just been dropping off to sleep, but now his heart was pounding as if one of the prison guards had come to drag him from hiscell.
Light from his nightstand clock glared in his eyes. He rubbed his face, trying to clear away thecobwebs.
Someone knockedagain.
"Yeah?" His voice emergedrough.
