The Heart of Texas by R J Scott

Author:R J Scott [Scott, R J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781920468972
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

She was sobbing so loudly it must have hurt.

"I saw some guy, real tall, talking to her, and then

he left, and she just kinda collapsed," the attendant said

quickly. "You want I should phone 911?"

"No!" Beth cried desperately, clawing at Steve's

arms as he tried to soothe the tears. "Take me home." Steve

didn't hesitate. He scooped her into his arms and hurried to

his SUV. He helped her into the passenger seat, buckling

her in as she clutched at him to stay. "Don't let him take

her."

Steve shook his head. "Who, Beth? Who?" "The baby, he wants her and says he's coming for

what is his." Steve suddenly understood exactly what she

was trying to say. She hadn't told him who the father of her

daughter was, saying he was nothing, saying he was

meaningless to her and her daughter, but Steve needed to

know. He couldn't fight a ghost.

"Who, Beth? Tell me."

"I can't. He said he would— I can't. Don't hate me,

Steve, please." She looked so lost, small, so convinced he

would want nothing to do with her, want not to touch her. "Beth, I could never hate you, I love you," he said

simply, filing away the hate and the need to kill for much

later. Jack barreled into the station, jumping out of the

truck before the engine really died, and was at Beth and

Steve's side in seconds.

"Is it the baby? Beth, is it your heart?"

"It was him," Steve said, "the father of the baby." Jack looked confused, reaching in past Steve to

touch his sister, making sure she was okay. She just looked

at him blankly.

"Beth?"

She couldn't speak at first, couldn't even look her

brother in his eyes. She lowered her eyes, clutching at

Steve's hand. "He says he wants my baby, says he's gonna

come for her."

"Who, Beth? Who?"

"He said I couldn't tell; he said he'd hurt me." "He can't hurt you, Beth, because we'll keep you

safe. Talk to me." This came from Jack, her big brother,

half of the big brother team that looked after her. Steve

knew Jack kept her wrapped in safety, and she could tell

him everything.

"I didn't want it, Jack." She clutched at his hand,

looked up at the brother she adored. "You gotta believe me,

I didn't want to. He wouldn't listen. I said no." Jack rocked

back as he clearly recognized the implications of what she

was saying.

"It's okay, Beth, it's okay. Tell me."

"Jeff— Jeff Hayes."

Jack staggered back, anguish distorting his features. He looked at Steve, and they exchanged heated

looks, and Steve gathered a weeping Beth in his arms. Leaning into the car, Jack reached out and touched

his baby sister on her cheek.

"I love you, Beth, it will be fine. Everything will be

fine. Don't worry, he can't touch you. I won't let him. We

won't let him."

Steve said he was taking Beth back to the ranch to

Donna, shut the car door, and turned to Jack. Steve knew

where Jack was going now that he was sure Beth was going

to be safe with his mom and Steve.

"Should you get Josh as well?" Steve asked. "No, not today," was all Jack said in reply, his voice

even. Dangerous.

Steve wanted to stop him, not out of fear for Jeff,

but out of fear for how much trouble Jack could get into.

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