“Ellie!”a voice shouted.
Becket?But it couldn’t be him, he’d left to buy steaks.She had to be dreaming.
She turned her head and saw Rose sitting on Marcus’s back, pinning him down while he was swearing and cursing a blue streak.
“Ellie, sweetheart,” the voice that sounded very much like her Becket’s said again and firm hands lifted her up.“What the hell happened?Who is this guy?”
“It’s Marcus…” she got out before he rushed over to help Rose.
Arlene came up to them.“I’ve phoned Dawson, he’s…”
Before she’d finished speaking, the sound of sirens had them all turning toward the street.
The sheriff’s car pulled up, lights flashing, and Dawson O’Dell got out of the car.
“What have we got here?”
As the sheriff hauled Marcus up, Becket pulled Ellie close.With a sigh, she put her arms around him and breathed in his scent.Safe.With Becket there would always be excitement, but she’d never felt as safe as she did in his arms.
*
Becket was shakingwith rage.Ellie was tiny and this big bully could’ve seriously harmed her.His first instinct was to punch the idiot in the face, but the last thing Ellie needed right now was more violence.Gently he cupped her face.His eyes roamed over her.“You okay?Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head.“I ran away.”
Pulling her close again, he kissed her.“Of course you did.You don’t ever have to worry about him again, okay?I’m here for you, so is my brother…”
“So is our whole family,” his mom said as she put her arms around both of them.“Willow phoned about ten minutes ago.She knew something was wrong at Ellie’s house.As I ran outside, I met Rose.She’d been for a run.That was when we heard Ellie screaming.”
“Coop called me,” Becket said, his eyes on Marcus.“He also knew there was a problem.Just a moment.”He walked over to where Dawson was helping Rose up.
“Thank you, Miss…?”Dawson said, looking at Rose.
Arlene approached and put an arm around Rose’s shoulders.
“This is Rose Dalton, she’s been staying in Laura’s house,” Arlene said.“I don’t think you’ve met her.She’s the main reason that man is on the ground.Rose, I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Miss Rose Dalton,” Dawson said, tipping his hat.“That’s a name I’ve heard recently.You and I need to talk, don’t you think?”Grabbing Marcus by the arm he pulled him up.“Why don’t you and I have a nice long chat at my office?”he asked him.
“I came to see my fiancée,” Marcus began, but Becket took a step closer.
“She’s not your fiancée, is she?”
Marcus was still defiant.“It was all a misunderstanding.”Glaring in Ellie’s direction, he cussed.“Besides, who else would want that fat co—”
Becket grabbed his shirt before he could finish.“You don’t want to finish that sentence.Ellie is gorgeous and beautiful and funny and warm.”Pushing him away, he stepped back.“She’s family now, a part of Marietta and we look after our own.Don’t you ever come back here again, you hear?”
“You want to lay a complaint?”Dawson asked Ellie.
It was clear laying a complaint was the last thing Ellie wanted to do, but squaring her shoulders, she nodded.
“Yes,” she said.“That’s exactly what I want to do.I should’ve done it the first time he shoved me around.”
Becket walked back to her.“I’ll go with you.You’re not alone.”
Marcus was still cursing as Dawson put him in his car.“Thanks for phoning me, Arlene.I’ll be ready for you, Ellie.Miss Dalton, anytime that suits you.”
As Dawson left, Becket pulled Ellie close again.His hands, stroking her back, still weren’t very steady.He’d had such a fright, thinking something could’ve happened to Ellie.
