“Not your fault, darlin’. And I’m here now, trying to heal. It’s been . . . rough.”
She bet that was an understatement.
“Now, let’s talk about why you’re running from my brothers.”
She groaned and placed her hands over her face. Horse lay across her feet with a sigh as if he’d just realized he was going to be here for a while.
“I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t understand what’s going on. I mean, I don’t trust men.”
“Why not? Did someone hurt you? Your father?”
He sounded so stern that she glanced up at him in surprise. There was anger on his face.
“Who was it? Tell me.”
Arabella shook her head. “Don’t worry. Like I said, my father is dead and the other is living a truly miserable life.”
“You tell me if anyone else messes with you. Including my brothers.”
“You think they’d hurt me?” she asked in surprise.
“No, not physically. And they wouldn’t do anything on purpose. They’re good men.”
She nodded. “They seem like they are.”
“Then why are we hiding from them in here?”
“Because I’m a fool?”
Shaw snorted. “Yeah, you are.”
Rude.
She gasped, placing her hand on her chest. “Now, I’m hurt.”
He just grinned. “Stop procrastinating. What’s going on?”
“I just find it hard to trust my judgment when it comes to . . . well, to anyone. I trusted the wrong person once and he hurt me badly. Don’t worry, he’s truly miserable now.”
“Good.”
“It was the only decent thing that my father ever did for me. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what’s going on with your brothers, because at the end of the day, they don’t want me.”
“No?” Shaw asked.
“No. Kellan only talks to me when absolutely necessary. And Eli . . .”
“Eli what?”
“I don’t know. He’s just really bossy. And protective. I don’t want a bossy man. I don’t want any man. I just want to find a place to belong. To maybe make friends and be happy.”
“Fair enough, darlin’,” Shaw said gently. “I hope we can be friends. I could really use one.”
“Who is going to be friends?” the woman asked as she walked out the back.
Arabella stared at the door in worry.
“Don’t worry, they’re gone,” the other woman said with a smile. “I’m Laken Jones by the way. I’m married to Duncan.”
