“I’ve never been around a horse before.”
That didn’t surprise him at all.
“But I’ve always wanted to be around animals or have a pet,” she continued, her voice getting softer, eyes drooping.“But we never could.”
“Who never could, Freckles?”He felt a little bad for fishing for info while her defenses were down and she was so exhausted.But there was one thing he was sure of: he had to solve the puzzle of Bree Daniels in order to be able to protect her.
“Me and Mom.We couldn’t have pets because they would hamper us every time we had to leave suddenly.”
“And how often was that?”
Bree let out a yawn.“Three or four times.”
That wasn’t as bad as he thought.“It must have been hard moving around three or four times in your life.Maybe a pet would’ve helped with your transition.”
“No.”
“No, it wouldn’t have helped?”
Another yawn.“No, we moved three or four times a year.I never knew when.That’s why I could never have a pet or friends.It was better that way for when we had to leave.”
He gripped the steering wheel tighter.“Why would you need to leave so suddenly that many times?”
“If they found us, or sometimes if Mom even thought they might be close, we had to leave.”
“If who found you?”
“Them.The Organization.”
He glanced at her again, and her eyes were still closed.“Who is the Organization, sweetie?”
“They’re the people who are going to kill us all.”
He waited for her to say more, gritting his teeth when she didn’t.He was about to probe her for more info when he realized she was asleep.
“Aw, hell, sweetheart.”
He let her sleep.She needed rest.
A little over forty-five minutes later, sure no one was following them, Tanner pulled off onto the long driveway leading up to his house on the ranch.
He carried the twins inside.They would need a bottle soon, but hopefully he could at least move Bree inside first.Leaving the babies in his office with the door closed in case they started crying, he went back out to get Bree.The fact that she had fallen asleep at all was surprising.
The fact that she kept sleeping as he slipped his arms around her and picked her up was a testament to her exhaustion.
He’d just gotten in the door when she stirred.
“Tanner?”
“Shh,” he said, easing the door closed behind him with his foot.
“The kids...”she murmured before a huge yawn overtook her.
“How about just for today you let someone take care of you.I can handle Christian and Beth.”
He halfway expected an argument.But instead she snuggled into him.
Tanner pulled her closer, willing to accept her trust as what it was: a treasure.
