But when she spoke, a glimmer of hurt flashed in her eyes. “I guess I should be as concerned about Father, but I haven’t seen Father hurt people as much as I have Jedidiah. Only one time, and that was so long ago.” She gave a slight shrug. “It’s easy to forget about that and just think of him as my father.”
From what he’d seen, she still feared McPharland far more than a daughter should her father, but he didn’t need to point that out. If the man had raised her so separate from the rest of the world, he could make her believe the most heinous actions were perfectly normal.
Yet, somehow, she’d developed a sweet and loving spirit.
Jess’s gaze turned distant. Was she remembering when she’d seen her father hurt someone? Or some other awful action she’d been forced to watch? Had her father or Jedidiah forced her to watch the men’s punishments? Or had she seen accidentally? Or sneaked in and peeked from a hidden position?
Knowing Jess, that seemed likely.
“When I was seven, there was a man who worked for my father.” Her volume was low, her words coming slowly as if she chose each with care. “I never knew his name. He was kind to me, though, always had a smile and a treat for me when I saw him."
Her throat working. "One day, I accidentally knocked over a lantern where the men were working. It shattered, and an ax handle caught fire. Father was furious. He thought the man had been careless."
Tears welled in her eyes again. "I tried to tell him it was my fault, but he wouldn't listen. He dragged the man outside and..." Her voice cracked and she pressed a hand to her mouth.
Gil held her to his chest, his heart aching for the traumatized girl she’d been. "You don't have to say more," he murmured against her hair.
But she shook her head and pulled back to meet his gaze, a fierce light in her blue eyes despite the tears. "No, I need to tell you. You need to understand what he's capable of." She drew in a breath that lifted her shoulders.
"Father called Jedidiah, and together they beat that man. Beat him until he was barely recognizable. And Father made me watch, saying it was my punishment for lying. That I needed to see what happened when people were careless in their words and deeds or didn’t do what they were told."
Fury warred within Gil's spirit. What kind of monster would do that to a child? To anyone? He fought to keep his voice steady, to not let his anger show. "Oh, Jess. I’m so sorry. No one should ever have to see something like that, especially not a little girl."
She gave a jerky nod. "I know that now. But back then, I didn't understand. I thought it was my fault." Her shoulders slumped. "I still do sometimes. If I hadn't been in that room, if I’d pushed harder for Father to believeI’dbroken the lamp?—"
"No." Gil cupped her face, holding her gaze. "None of that was your fault. Your father is the only one to blame. He's a cruel man. You were an innocent child."
A single tear escaped down her cheek, wrenching his heart. "Sometimes, I can still hear that man's screams. I can still see the blood..."
She closed her eyes, squeezing them shut, and Gil gathered her close again. If only he could wipe away those memories.
She buried her face against his chest, and he stroked her hair, wishing he could wipe away every hurt she’d ever experienced.
"I've got you," he whispered. "You're safe now. I won't let him hurt you ever again. I won’t let Jedidiah hurt you either. I promise.”
If only Gil could stop the men from their cruelty to others.
Once he had Jess to safety, maybe he and his brothers could come back and stop Mick McPharland for good.
He held Jess for a long time, her slight frame wracked with silent sobs as he murmured soothing words. His mind raced with this new insight into the hell she had endured. The strength it must have taken for her to survive. Where had her mother been during that awful scene?
The few times Jess had spoken of her mother, they sounded like fond memories. But what kind of woman would marry a man like Mick McPharland? Maybe she’d been forced into the arrangement and never found a way out.
He pushed out a tight breath. He wouldn’t let that happen to Jess, no matter what.
CHAPTER 14
Gil had no idea how much time had passed when Jess straightened from against his chest. Her red-rimmed eyes showed just how hard this afternoon had been for her. “I told you that so you would know how dangerous they are. Jedidiah and my father.” Though no fresh tears tracked down her cheeks, grief and sadness filled her tone. “We can’t make a wrong step, Gil, or they’ll hurt you. I thought…” Her voice faded, but then it gained strength. “I’d thought if you were married to me, you’d be protected. But if he stole from you… Father’s greed more than trumps whatever affection he has for me.”
Gil had to take the weight of this worry off her shoulders. All these years, it must have smothered her.
He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger, a touch that hopefully came across as playful. “Don’t worry about me, Jess. I can handle them. I promise.”
The apprehension didn’t leave her eyes, but that tap on her nose brought his focus a little lower. To her lips.
He jerked his eyes back up. She neededcomfortright now. To know she was safe. Not amorous advances.
But her expression had shifted to something more…aware. Her gaze flicked down to his mouth and hovered there. Sherolled her lips in, her tongue peeking out between them like she was moistening them.
