Family Ever After

Adam shook his head. “I’ll get Kalvin to drive me.”

“Okay. How about tomorrow to the police station?”

“No, I can take the bus. What time should I be there?”

“Nine.”

Adam rose. “I’ll go help Kalvin close up.”

“Thanks again,” Cara said as the teen hurried from the office.

“Are you ready to leave?” Noah asked.

She pushed herself to her feet, tension in every line of her body. “I have my car here.”

“Since we need to go to the police station in the morning to give a statement, I’ll pick you up and then bring you here so you can get your car. I’ll find someone to take your shift tomorrow.”

“I can come in to work tomorrow. I need the money.” Anger slashed across her face. “I’m not gonna let those guys do any more to me than they already have.”

Noah sensed the fear beneath the declaration. Any moment he expected her to fall apart. “I don’t think you should drive yourself home. Your hands are shaking.”

The urge to draw her against him and hold her until her fear subsided set off alarms in Noah’s mind. He would take her home and to the police tomorrow because he was her employer. Even a temporary employee deserved his support. But after that, he would go his way and she hers. He made it a practice never to get involved with a single mother, and he intended to keep his life uncomplicated.

“Let’s go. It’s been a long day.” Noah withdrew his car keys from his pocket. When she started to protest, he cut her off. “Humor me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I sent you to Laura’s by yourself.”

Cara took a deep breath, then released it slowly. “Fine, but I’m coming into work tomorrow.” Her shoulders sagged as though suddenly she couldn’t keep the exhaustion at bay.

“If that’s the way you want it.” Maybe nothing would come of charging the star baseball players. Although he hadn’t known what the three guys looked like, he’d heard their names. For the first time in years, the team had a chance to win big because of these players. Who was he kidding? It was going to be a mess. This town was sports crazy when it came to supporting the University of Cimarron City Tigers. And Cara would be in the middle of it. He needed to warn her.

They settled in his Corvette, and for ten minutes, Noah negotiated the streets in silence. He didn’t know how to tell her who the young men were and just how popular they were in town.

Hesitant to make matters worse, he settled on something he remembered Laura saying about Cara. “Why does Laura call you a free spirit?”

Her laughter was forced. “She was being sarcastic. I’m anything but that.”

“But you left St. Louis on the spur of the moment?”

“Yeah, that was out of character. I normally plan everything down to the tiniest detail.”

“We all do things out of character from time to time.” Like what I’m doing now. I don’t get involved with women like Cara, women who want commitment. Ever .

“I guess it really wasn’t on the spur of the moment. Laura had been working on getting me here for the last eighteen months. So when Timothy said he missed Matthew and Joshua and playing with them, I decided it was time to move.” She leaned her head back on the soft leather cushion and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to return to St. Louis.”

Her comment out of the blue took him by surprise. “Why not?” he asked, before his internal censor could stop him from delving into her personal life.

“There’s nothing there for me. It was never my home.”

“How long did you live there?”

“Four years. Almost two after my husband died.”

“Where did you live before that?” He increased his speed once they left the city. Only five more minutes to the farm. Obviously his censor was defective this evening.

“I grew up in Flagstaff.” She straightened as he turned onto the road that led to Peter and Laura’s. “I was actually thinking of going there when I got in the car, but came here instead.”

“Why did you change your mind?” One minute away. He never got this personal with a woman, even the superficial ones he usually dated who never threatened his marital status. Too risky.

“I didn’t want to admit I couldn’t make it on my own. When Tim died, my parents wanted me to come home so they could take care of me. I haven’t even told them yet I’m in Cimarron City.”

He pulled to a stop in front of Peter’s house. A sigh escaped his lips. “I’ll pick you up a little before nine. It shouldn’t take too long at the police station.”

“I hope not. I don’t want to spend any more time than I have to on those three.”

The urge to drive away quickly assailed him. But he couldn’t leave yet. He had to tell her who those three were. When she opened the door and the light came on, Noah twisted to face her. Fatigue dulled the green in her eyes while her forehead wrinkled in question.

“You should know who Jake, Jeremy and Brent are before we go down to the station tomorrow.”

Her mouth pinched into a frown. “I know they’re boys parading around as men. They need to be held accountable for their actions.”

“I agree. But they’re the three star baseball players at the university here. Many of the townspeople have lived vicariously through their accomplishments.”

She smoothed a wisp of blond hair back from her plain-looking face. “Are you saying they should get special treatment?” Fury invaded her voice.

“No, I’m saying that the press may be all over this, and I want you to be prepared.”

She slid from the front seat and leaned down to look at him. “Consider me prepared. Thanks for the ride and the help tonight.”

The stiff way she carried herself toward the house spoke of her aggravation, some of it probably directed at him. He was afraid the justice she wanted wouldn’t happen, that she was going to be hurt further.

He waited while she slipped inside the house, wishing he could take care of the situation without involving her. His hands tightened on the steering wheel as he pictured Cara, vulnerable, trying to act brave. Most of his adult life he had avoided commitment. What was it about Cara Winters that made him think twice about his decision years ago to go it alone in this world?

Saturday afternoon after reconciling his receipts from the night before, Noah came to the conclusion one of his employees was stealing from him—to the tune of forty dollars for the second time this week. That knowledge made his stomach clench. He had thought it was an honest mistake. After all, he treated his employees fairly. Now it was obvious that was wishful thinking on his part.

In his youth he’d been tempted to steal in order to have money to eat. Instead, he’d gotten a job and, when that wasn’t enough, he’d gone out for a second one. When he got his hands on the thief, he would bring charges against that person.

He made his way to the dining room, trying to decide what to do to catch the thief. His gaze lit upon Cara near the waitress station. The circles under her eyes stood out against her pale cheeks. For a split second he had an urge to smooth them away. Instead he walked over and took two of her drinks. “Isn’t it time for your break?”

“As soon as I take care of table twenty.”

He held up the water. “I’ll help you. Are these for them?”

Her mouth formed a hard line. “I can do it.”

“I know you can.” He grinned. “Indulge me. I’d feel better if I helped.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s been a long day, especially with having to go to the police station this morning. You shouldn’t be here at work and I let you come anyway.”