Chapter 13
Rae drove back to Marlee’s home after enjoying breakfast with Bear. She pulled up to the cute cottage-style house at the same time her cousin came jogging around the corner. By the time Rae was out of her car, Marlee stood on the sidewalk, waiting.
“I’d hug you, but I’m too sweaty after my run.” Perspiration rolled down the side of Marlee’s face.
“I take it your tennis date with Cherie fell through,” Rae said.
Marlee nodded. “So, a jog it was instead.” She propped her hands on her hips as she smiled. “Well?”
Rae couldn’t help a smile of her own. “Let’s get out of the heat and get something to drink.”
“Smart girl.” Marlee glanced up at the crystal-blue sky. “No rain in the forecast, but maybe we’ll get lucky this afternoon, anyway.”
Rae opened the white picket fence gate then walked with Marlee up the short sidewalk to the porch. Marlee slipped a key out of a hidden pocket in the waistband of her jogging shorts and opened the door.
Cool air flowed over them as they walked into the bright interior. Marlee loved sunshine and opened up all the drapes in the morning to fill the house with sunlight. In the kitchen, Marlee pulled a jug of water out of the fridge, poured two glasses, and handed one to Rae.
They clinked glasses. “Cheers,” they said before downing their drinks.
After drinking a considerable amount of water, Marlee inclined her head toward the hallway. “I’ll take a quick shower, then we’ll sit down and have girl-talk.”
Rae opened the fridge and pulled out a cold jar. “I’ll pour the iced coffee.”
Marlee took off, leaving Rae to her thoughts. Her belly flip-flopped at the memory of her night with Bear.
So much emotion had been wrapped up in a matter of hours. She had loved her time with him throughout the day and their lovemaking had been wonderful. Unfortunately, she had fallen apart, but still, Bear had accepted her explanation and stated he would be with her throughout the rest of the ordeal.
But was that fair to him?
When Marlee returned, her long hair was still damp from the shower, wetting the shoulders of her T-shirt. She pulled up a chair at the whimsically painted table that she had picked up at a consignment shop.
Rae handed Marlee a glass of iced coffee and sat across the table from her cousin with her own drink.
Marlee took a sip then planted her elbows on the table, her face in her hands. “Well, start already.”
Rae folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “Bear is an amazing man.” She couldn’t help a smile. “He’s sweet, sexy, thoughtful, kind, caring—”
“And the list goes on.” Marlee laughed. “I grew up with the man and his brothers, so you’re not telling me anything new.” Her smile turned to a wicked grin. “What I don’t know, is how the hot vet is in bed.”
Heat rushed to Rae’s cheeks. “Pretty amazing.”
Marlee made a move forward motion with her hand. “Go on.”
Rae thought about what to tell her cousin. “He’s sweet and attentive but can be incredibly passionate and intense.”
“Ooooh.” Marlee’s eyes sparkled. “I’m liking this story.”
Rae couldn’t help a laugh. “Beneath that lab coat, you’d never dream he could have such an incredibly hot body. He looks great in anything, like a T-shirt and jeans, but naked—O.M.G.”
Marlee sighed. “Total envy over here. Absolutely green with it.”
Rae tipped her head to the side. “You are the light shade of new grass.”
“I’m surprised I’m not the color of a pine tree.” Marlee braced her chin on just one hand. “What else?”
Rae thought about the night, all the good parts. “He’s got this power about him. Strong, able to do anything.”
Marlee nodded. “Like leaping tall buildings in a single bound.”
Rae grinned. “That too.”
“What’s he like in the, um…” Marlee looked like she was thinking of how to say it best. “He’s got big hands and feet, so does that translate to other parts?”
Rae figured she was probably bright red by now. “Uh-huh.”
Marlee sighed again. “One of these days, maybe I’ll get so lucky.”
“Bear does have two unmarried brothers,” Rae said.
Marlee rolled her eyes. “Brady is a year older than Bear, but he’s still too young, ’cause I like men older than me. Colt—let’s just say he and I have never gotten along.”
“Why not?” Rae asked. “He seems nice enough.”
Marlee waved away the question. “A story for another day.” She braced her forearms on the table and leaned forward. “I want to hear more about Bear.”
“He’s a nice package all the way around.” Rae pulled her braid over her shoulder and played with the end. “I sort of fell apart at one point, though.”
Marlee frowned. “Why?”
Rae drew in a deep breath. “After the world’s greatest sex, and realizing what an amazing man he is, I felt like I was unworthy.”
“What?” Marlee straightened. “Why in the world would you feel like that?”
“The whole shooting and killing someone thing.” Rae gripped the end of her braid. “I felt like I was tainting Bear and he didn’t deserve that.”
“That’s bull, Rae.” Marlee’s frown deepened. “So, what happened?”
“He saw I was upset,” Rae said quietly. “And he wouldn’t let me go until I explained why.” She paused a moment. “I told him everything.”
Marlee studied Rae. “How did that go?”
“Like you’d expect when it comes to Bear McLeod.” Rae gave a little smile. “He listened, believed me, and was supportive. He said I’m not going to go through this alone, that he’s going to be with me through it all.”
Marlee smiled. “I’d expect nothing less from Bear.”
“Don’t you think it’s too soon for Bear to promise to go through this with me?” Rae asked. “I haven’t known him very long.”
“For some people, you feel like you’ve known them forever.” Marlee looked thoughtful. “From what I know of Bear, he doesn’t do anything lightly. And he’s got pretty good judgment. Except when it came to Jennifer Mayfair.”
“Who’s that?” Rae cocked her head to the side.
“His ex-girlfriend.” Marlee made a face. “She hadn’t lived here long when they started dating, and I guess she did a good job of pulling the wool over his eyes.”
Rae was afraid to ask, but did anyway, “What happened?”
“Bear wouldn’t talk about it,” Marlee said. “But word had it that she cheated on him with a cowboy who couldn’t keep his mouth shut if you paid him half the gold in Fort Knox.”
“I can’t imagine what he went through.” Rae’s heart hurt for Bear, even though she was grateful he wasn’t with that woman now. “He didn’t deserve that.”
“No, he didn’t.” Marlee shook her head. “Jennifer has been getting around since Bear broke it off with her. Guess we all know now the kind of woman she is.”
“What do you think I should do?” Rae asked. “About Bear promising me he’s going through this ordeal with me?”
“Bear is a smart man,” Marlee said. “When he’s serious about something—or someone—he’s all in. From what I can see, he’s all in when it comes to you. I think you should consider what he’s offering. You can’t get a better man on your side than Bear.”
Rae slowly nodded. “I believe that’s true, and it would be wonderful to have him there, on my side. I just don’t know that it’s fair to him.”
“Let him decide that for himself,” Marlee said. “You’ve given him the facts, which is good. Now he’ll have to figure out how far that support goes. He might just give you emotional support when he’s with you, or he might want to do something more. You’ll just have to see.”
Rae drummed her fingers on the tabletop for a moment as she thought about the week ahead. “Bear asked me last week to go to the Fourth of July celebration with him.”
Marlee perked up. “I’m going with some girlfriends. I’d planned to invite you but looks like you’ll be having more fun than we will.”
“It does sound great,” Rae said. “He told me a little about it.”
Marlee took a long sip of her iced coffee before setting it down. “Fourth of July is a big deal around here.”
Rae sobered drastically and she slumped in her seat. “I can’t help but be afraid that after next week, this could be the last fun I’ll have if I’m convicted.”
“No.” Marlee narrowed her brows. “No way will you be going to prison.”
Rae tried to turn her thoughts to a positive outcome. “It’s hard, Marlee. I know that I’m in the right, even though I didn’t mean to kill him. But I’m still scared.”
Marlee put her hand over Rae’s. “I refuse to believe anything but the fact you’ll be coming back home after the trial. No other outcome is possible.”
Rae gave her cousin a weak smile. “Thanks for believing in me.”
Marlee gripped her hand tighter. “Always.”
“I have a week’s worth of laundry to do.” Rae straightened in her seat. “Are you working today?”
“I feel like I’m always working.” Marlee blew out a puff of air that raised the now dry bangs that were long enough to flop into her eyes. “The joys of working from home.”
“Got a big project?” Rae asked.
Marlee nodded. “A huge edit for a guy who thinks a thousand-page book is what readers want.”
Rae held up her fingers in the warding-off sign. “Better you than me.”
“Hmph.” Marlee stretched her arms above her head. “Speaking of the tragedy I’m about to edit, it’s time to get into my office.”
Rae scooted back her chair as Marlee did the same. Rae picked up her iced coffee and downed it. “I’m not going anywhere today that I know of, so holler if you need me for anything.”
“Will do.” Marlee hugged Rae. “I’m here for you, Rae. Hang in there and it will all be over soon, and you can marry Bear McLeod and live in King Creek.”
Rae sputtered with laughter. “You are too much.”
Marlee gave her a cheeky grin. “Just sayin’.”
Rae shook her head as her cousin left the room. Marlee was just teasing, but the thought would have been a nice one if she didn’t think she’d end up having to leave the state.
Colt’s ranch was Bear’s last stop of the day. Colt had a mare with an infection on her foreleg and Bear gave his brother an ointment to treat the wound. He watched as Colt applied the ointment to the mare in her stall.
Bear had done his best to avoid being distracted during the day while he made his rounds of the ranches on his schedule, but frequently his thoughts turned to Rae. The passion they had shared had been amazing in ways he never dreamed of, and images from their night filled his head more often than not.
However, he couldn’t help but think about what she’d told him about the break-in and her trial. He couldn’t believe she’d end up going to prison—the thought was inconceivable. What she must have been going through all these months would be more than most could take.
“What’s going on in that brain of yours?” Colt asked, jarring Bear out of his thoughts. “Not like you to be daydreaming.”
Bear rubbed his temples. “Just got some things on my mind.”
Colt came out of the mare’s stall and latched the gate. He hitched his shoulder up against a post and folded his arms across his chest. “What’s eating you?”
Bear frowned, not sure he wanted to explain everything to Colt. But the way his brother was looking at him, he knew he was going to have to say something.
“Got a cold one in the fridge?” Bear asked.
Colt pushed away from the post. “You bet.”
They headed to the house and Colt didn’t press Bear to talk until they had their beers and were sitting on the back patio, overlooking the pool. It was still hotter than hell, so Colt turned on the misters he’d had installed a couple of years ago that were common in the Valley of the Sun. Bear had something similar on his own back porch.
They kicked back on the patio furniture. For a long moment, neither man said a word, Colt clearly waiting for Bear to get it out.
“Rae stayed the night.” Bear couldn’t help a smile at the memory.
“Hot damn.” Colt slugged Bear’s shoulder. “Way to go little brother.”
Bear rubbed his arm. Colt had a hell of a punch. “I care for Rae a lot, Colt. She’s going through some things that most men couldn’t handle.”
“Like what?” Colt took a pull on his beer bottle.
“She’s on trial for murder.” The words came out before Bear even knew he was going to say them.
Colt’s stunned features said it all. “What the hell?”
Bear braced his forearms on his thighs, his beer in one hand, and he stared at the tiled patio floor. He bypassed the part about their making love and went straight to everything Rae had told him about the bastard who’d verbally assaulted her and later broke into her home.
When he finished, he looked at Colt. “She goes on trial next week.”
Colt blew out his breath. “Hell of a thing to spring on a man.”
Bear stared at his bottle. “She’s pretty torn up about it. Can you imagine wondering if you’re spending your last days as a free man before you go into the courthouse?”
“No, I can’t.” Colt spoke in a sober tone. “Where are you going from this point?”
Bear looked at his brother. “I’m going to see her through this. I know she’s going to beat the charges. She just needs the support of family and friends.”
“Do you count yourself as a friend?” Colt asked.
“More than a friend.” Bear stared out at the pool, the crystal-clear water still as glass.
“Of course, she’d have Marlee on her side,” Colt said. “Anyone else?”
Bear lowered the bottle he held and faced Colt. “One sister. Rest of her family has passed on.”
“Friends?” Colt asked.
“I’m not sure.” Bear thought about Rae’s face as she told him everything, and the memory tore at his gut. “But one thing I do know is that I’m going to be there.”
Colt turned his gaze toward the pool. “From what I know of her, which isn’t a lot, I tend to agree with you that she’s going to come out of this standing. My gut says the same thing.” He looked back at Bear. “For what it’s worth, she has my support.”
“That’s worth a hell of a lot.” Bear killed his beer with another swallow. “Are you going to the Fourth of July celebration with anyone?”
Colt shrugged. “Tex Arnold asked me over to a barbeque with him and the family and a few friends. Knowing him, that means half of King Creek.”
Bear grinned. “I got an invite from his wife.”
“You going?” Colt asked.
“Might,” Bear said. “I’m taking Rae to the celebration, so we might go to Tex’s for dinner and then off to see the fireworks.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Colt finished off his beer and raised the empty. “Ready for another?”
Bear thought about having to get up early for work in the morning but figured another beer with his brother wouldn’t be a bad idea. “Sure.” Bear smiled at Colt. “One more and then I’ve got to get home.”
“And call your woman,” Colt replied with a grin.
Bear liked the thought of Rae being “his woman,” then wondered what she’d think about that term. It worked both ways—he’d be her man. “Yeah.” He smiled. “And call my woman.”
When Bear got back to his ranch, and after he took care of the animals, he went into his home office and powered up his laptop. He started to do an Internet search on Rae, then hesitated.
He trusted Rae, but was he being blinded by what he felt for her? Would researching what had happened be a sign he didn’t trust her?
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea to look into what had happened. Not that he didn’t trust her, but he needed more information to support her, information she might not have thought to tell him.
He put her name in the search bar, along with “Coyote Lake City” and got immediate hits. He studied images that popped up with the results, and his chest hurt for her when he saw her mug shot. She looked tired and afraid. She wasn’t redheaded in the photo, but blonde. When he’d met her, it had been easy to see that the red wasn’t her natural color, but it still jarred him to see her as a blonde.
A professional photo was on the image of a business card, stating she was a real estate agent. Bartending was a long way from her old career, but he imagined it would be difficult to keep clients when one was charged with murder.
He turned his attention to articles dating back to when the story first broke. The anger he felt was so strong it surprised him when he read about what the man had done to Rae and how resulting actions had changed her life. It worsened as he scanned over social media attacks and several news articles slanted against her.
Bear continued on. He didn’t see much more than she’d already told him, just more details. When he finished reading what he’d found, he sat back in his chair, his elbow on the armrest as he stroked his chin.
Rae had been through a hell of a lot, and now her freedom was at stake. He told her he’d be at her side, and that’s exactly where he intended to be when she walked into the courtroom.