“You can see for yourself when we get to the ranch.”
The stiffness in Zach’s small shoulders eased. “Okay.”
Carly made sure the boy put his seat belt back on; then Linc pulledthe truck out of the Burger King parking lot and headed back toward the ranch.
Luckily the protestors had decided to take Sunday off. The guards stood at the gate and the men on ATVs were patrolling the grounds. Carly felt a rush of relief when Linc continued past the big stone mansion to the sprawling redbrick house down the dirt road.
She’d been afraid Linc would want to leave Zach with the housekeeper. That he was bringing the boy into his own home sent a wave of gratitude through her.
Linc parked the GMC out front and they went inside. Carly gave Zach a quick tour of the ranch house, then settled him in the empty bedroom and showed him the bathroom he could use at the end of the hall.
“Why don’t you take a nice hot shower, Zach? You’ve been on the road for a while.”
“You sure it’s okay with Linc?” Zach asked. “He’s real big. I wouldn’t want to make him mad.”
Carly thought of the welts on the boy’s back and her heart squeezed. She tried for a reassuring smile. “I know Linc’s big, but he’d never hurt you. He’s going to help you, Zach. Both of us are.”
Zach seemed relieved. While the shower was running, Carly took one of Linc’s XXL T-shirts into the bathroom, and grabbed Zach’s dirty clothes. Carrying them into the laundry room, she tossed them into the washer. A spare pair of holey jeans and a second faded shirt were all he’d taken with him when he’d left his house. She washed those, too. At least now his clothes would be clean.
Linc was waiting for her in the kitchen when she walked out of the laundry room. When he saw her, he opened his arms and Carly walked straight into them.
She rested her head against his chest. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
Linc’s hold tightened. “We’ll figure it out.”
We. It was a word she rarely used herself. Except for Joe, there had never been awein her life. Guilt slid through her. Zach wasn’t Linc’s problem; he was hers.
“I can’t ask you for any more help, Linc. It isn’t fair.”
He kissed the top of her head and eased her a little away. “You aren’t asking me for anything. Even if Zach wasn’t Joe’s grandson, I’d do what I could to help him. I know what it is to have a father like Archer. I know what it’s like to have the hell beat out of you for no reason at all. No kid deserves that.”
Carly turned away and walked over to the window, wrapped her arms around herself as if she felt a chill. The horses were visible in the fields behind the house but she barely noticed them.
She couldn’t take more help from Linc. She didn’t want to be more indebted to him than she was already, couldn’t allow herself to continue to rely on him. It was only going to hurt more when they parted.
And she knew they would. All men left, sooner or later. Joe’s first wife had died before he had time to get tired of her, but he had divorced his second wife and left her with a baby girl. Joe had provided for them financially, of course, but what about the heartbreak his wife had suffered when he had thrown his family away?
Linc walked up behind her, slid his arms around her waist, and eased her back against his chest. She wanted to turn around and just hang on, let him take all her problems away.
She knew better. Joe had made sure she understood the only person she could depend on was herself.
Linc turned her around to face him. “Ever ything’s going to be okay, all right?”
She just nodded. She could hardly remember the last time everything was okay.
“While you were getting Zach settled,” Linc said, “Townsend called. He had info on Archer, including the fact he has a son. The police are looking for the boy. We’ll have to call them, tell them Zach’s safe.”
She jerked as if he’d hit her. “We can’t do that. They’ll call child protective services. They’ll put Zach in the system. I know what that feels like. I know how scared he’ll be.”
“Carly . . .”
“I was Zach’s age when my mother died. I remember the police comingto the house and taking me away. I remember how scared I was, how alone I felt. I don’t want that to happen to Zach.”
Pity flashed in Linc’s eyes. “It isn’t the same, Carly. You didn’t have anyone. Zach has us. He might have to go in for a while, but”
“He’s just a kid, Linc—he’s already suffered enough.”
Linc tipped up her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Listen to me, honey. It won’t be for long. Just a few days until I can get him out. I’ll have my attorney do whatever’s necessary to see you get temporary custody. I’ll take custody myself if that’s what needs to be done.”
