“To keep you safe,” Butch said, as he stared firmly at her older sister. “You didn’t think that there would be no rules, right?”
Oh. These were rules for all of them? That made her feel better.
Dotty huffed. “Well, of course there are rules to keep us safe. We’re not idiots. We will follow those.”
“Good to hear,” Butch said dryly. “Because there’s always consequences if you break the rules.” He and Dotty glared at one another.
Why did it feel like they’d been arguing before she and Cash had come in?
“Everything all right between you two?” Cash asked.
“Yes,” Dotty snapped, right as Butch said, “No.”
There was definitely something going on between the two of them. They were probably butting heads. Not everyone understood Dotty.
“I’m going to go have a shower and then try to get some work done. I need to explain to the partners in my law firm why I’m not back. Why I’m stuck here in a house in Billings, Montana!” Dotty grumbled.
“I’m so sorry, Dotty,” Monroe said, stepping into the room. She had a blanket wrapped around her and came to sit by Addie on the sofa. “This is all my fault. Maybe the two of you could go home. You should be safe. It’s just me they want, right?”
Dotty looked stricken for a moment, and Butch’s eyes narrowed before his face cleared of expression.
“None of this is your fault,” Dotty reassured her. “It’s all due to that asshole man you married.”
“Yeah, but I was the one that married a perfect stranger. And I insisted on coming here to find him.” Monroe looked miserable.
“And we’re not leaving you,” Addie told her, reaching out to wrap her arm around Monroe’s shoulders.
“Stop talking,” Cash said. “Last warning or you’ll find yourself in trouble, little girl.”
“Last warning?” Monroe asked. “What does that mean?”
Dotty put her hands on her hips. “Yes. What does that mean? What kind of trouble? And why are you calling her ‘little girl’?”
Her sisters knew she was a Little. And they might even realize that he was threatening to punish her. Ralen, who had just stepped into the room, gave her a knowing look so she knew he got it.
Why had Cash said that? To embarrass her? They all knew he didn’t want her that way.
Feeling embarrassed and uncertain of her emotions, Addie rushed into the bedroom, ignoring them calling out to her as she shut the door behind her.
30
Crawling onto the bed, Addie pulled all the covers over her and held Snaggles tight.
“Addie? Can I come in?” Cash asked through the door. “Addie?”
Addie closed her eyes as tears threatened. What was wrong with her?
“Addie, it’s us,” Monroe said. “We’re coming in.”
Great. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her sisters out. She felt the bed compress as they both sat.
“Can you come out?” Dotty asked.
Addie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was being silly.
“Come on, babes. This is us. You can tell us anything,” Monroe said. “Whatever is going on, surely can’t be worse than marrying a stranger, having him walk out on you and when you try to find him, you end up landing your sisters in danger.”
Hmm. Once you put it like that . . .
