Chapter 2
Stunning. It was the only word that came to Clayton’s mind when Abby Harper walked into the room at the sheriff’s station.
He was glad he’d been in the corner so he could take his time looking her over.
She was of medium height, but there was nothing ordinary about her.
Her big blue eyes seemed to suck his very soul away.
Her lips were supple and generous with a pale pink shade of lip gloss that gave them shine.
He had a ridiculous urge to wipe away the color—not with his fingers, but with his mouth.
Her brunette hair was pulled back in a ponytail to fall in a queue of deep brown with the occasional caramel lock in the mix. It had him wondering just how long her hair was. And how the length might feel if he ran his fingers through it.
The fawn-colored coat she wore hung past her hips. It was frayed at the hem in several places, and there were buttons missing at the cuffs and one at her waist, which kept it hanging open. That allowed him to glimpse the cotton candy pink sweater beneath.
His need to see more of her was what brought him from his position in the corner of the room to stand opposite her at the table.
And when he saw the ample breasts that not even her sweater could hide, his cock went hard.
Her long, black pencil skirt and tall boots hid her legs, but the material of the skirt molded to her amazing curves like a second skin.
He hadn’t reacted like this toward a woman since . . . well, since high school. Clayton hadn’t cared to listen to the things Danny tried to explain to him about the Harpers. Until she walked in. Then, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. And he wanted to know every detail.
Abby had a delightful mix of strength and vulnerability that made him instantly want to protect her.
Not that he would carry through with that thought. He had his hands full at the ranch trying to find the CPA who had stolen their money, as well as the missing cattle.
Clayton had intended to press charges against Brice. Yet, the longer he stared at Abby, the less that mattered. Especially when she declared that she would pay back everything.
Her eyes had gone wide, and her already pale complexion had whitened further when he’d told her the final price. She hadn’t cried or begged. Her shoulders had slumped, but she’d lifted her chin, the steel in her spine keeping her focused on her family.
Clayton had watched her demand to see her brother before walking out of the room. But he didn’t move. He couldn’t. He was too mixed up about the entire meeting.
“I tried to warn you,” Danny said when he returned a few minutes later. “Abby is a good person who is doing her best with Brice.”
Clayton dropped his arms and hooked a thumb in his belt loop. “The boy needs a male in his life.”
“I agree.”
“Is she’s dating anyone?” But why did the thought of that anger him so?
Danny flattened his lips as he shook his head slowly. “I’ve several friends who asked her out. Hell, I was even interested, but ever since their mom left when Abby was just eighteen, she’s put her entire focus on her brothers.”
“Why didn’t you ask her out?” Clayton didn’t know why his mind stuck on the fact that Danny was interested in her.
“Because she needs a friend,” Danny replied. “And if I ask her out, she’ll no longer consider me a friend.”
She’d think of him as someone who wanted in her pants. As pretty as Abby was, Clayton thought for sure she’d have someone steady or even be married. But there hadn’t been a ring on her finger. In fact, the only jewelry she wore was a pair of gold star studs in her ears.
Clayton didn’t want to admire Abby Harper. And he certainly didn’t want to like her, but he found himself doing both against his better judgment.
“Are you going to press charges?” Danny asked.
Clayton walked to the door and looked in the direction Abby had disappeared.
There was no sign of her, but it wasn’t difficult to imagine how the reunion with her brother was going.
He rubbed his jaw and listened as Danny continued to sing her praises.
It was during Danny’s speech about how Abby always carried through with her promises that he had an idea.
“She won’t have the money to bail Brice out, will she?”
“No,” Danny said.
With his decision made, Clayton turned his head to Danny. “I want to talk to Brice.”
“What do you plan?”
“I’m going to make him work off his debt at the ranch. If he won’t tell me who the other rustlers are, perhaps I can convince him to take me to the cattle before they’re sold or slaughtered.”
Danny rocked back on his heels. “That’s a good idea. Besides, everyone around here knows the East brand. No one in their right mind would buy any of your cattle without your family being there, but especially not now that the word has spread about the theft.”
“That’s what I’m hoping.”
It was a long shot, but Clayton knew he’d get nothing if Brice were prosecuted. And, for some odd reason, he wanted to help the boy. Or perhaps he wanted to help Abby.
Danny motioned for him to follow as they left the room and moved through the hallways, turning left and right several times “Brice will agree. He’s thoughtless and rash, but deep down, he’s a good kid. He adores Abby. The three of them are tight, leaning on each other to get through each day.”
“Then Brice should stay out of trouble.” Clayton winced as he heard his father in his words.
Danny glanced at him over his shoulder, as if he too were shocked at what he’d said.
Of all the people Clayton had encountered since his return to Texas three days ago, Danny had been the only one who hadn’t pressed to know about the years he had been away. And Clayton was thankful for that. It had begun to get difficult dodging the questions or changing the subject.
They came to stand in front of a jail cell. It was the first time Clayton had seen Brice, but the moment he laid eyes on the teenager, he could see the resemblance to Abby in the teen’s blue eyes and dark hair.
The fear in the boy’s gaze reminded Clayton of himself when he’d had that rowdy period in his life after his brother died. Someone had given him a second chance. Maybe that’s why he was feeling generous with Brice.
The youth’s mouth went slack as he recognized Clayton. Brice slowly got to his feet while nervous energy had him picking at the hem of his shirt.
“Mr. East,” Brice said.
Clayton bowed his head. “Mr. Harper.”
The boy seemed stunned at the response for a moment, but Clayton decided to treat him like an adult and see how things went.
“Abby said you’re pressing charges,” Brice continued.
Clayton inhaled deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. Beside him, Danny remained silent and still. “Your sister offered to pay back what the ranch is losing because of the stolen cattle and the bull.”
“Really?” Brice asked with a grin forming.
“It’s $275,000.”
The magnitude of it seemed to hit Brice as he collapsed onto the bench.
His gaze dropped to the floor. “Abby can do a lot. She manages to pay our bills and put food on the table while seeing that we always have clothes. But she goes without. The only thing she does for herself is take a night class from the university every now and again if she can scrape together the money. There’s no way she can repay that. ”
While he spoke, something occurred to Clayton. “Why did you steal the cattle?”
There was a slight hesitation as Brice looked up at him. “The money I was promised would’ve helped Abby so she didn’t have to work or worry so much. I wanted her to buy something for herself just once.”
After hearing that, Clayton knew he’d made the right decision about Brice. What the kid had done was wrong, but he’d been doing it to help his sister, not just for the thrill of breaking the law.
“Will you tell me who is behind the theft?”
Brice’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he shook his head.
Clayton let that go. For now. “I have a proposition for you, Brice. It’s quite a tidy sum the ranch is out. You’re the only one who got caught, so it all falls on your shoulders.”
“I know,” Brice said, lifting his chin in much the same manner as Abby had not so long ago.
Clayton was impressed that the teen hadn’t tried to shake off the responsibility. He was shouldering it like a man, which was proof that Abby had done a good job raising him. “I won’t press charges, and you can walk out of this cell today.”
“What’s the catch?”
“You’ll work it off at the ranch. During the week, you’ll arrive straight from school and do your homework.
Once that’s done, you’ll work until dinner.
Then I’ll drive you home. On the weekends and any time you’re not in school, you’ll arrive at six a.m. and work the entire day, returning home at dinner.
If you miss one day for anything other than an illness—that I’ll have to confirm—I’ll have Danny pick you up and bring you right back to this cell. ”
“Deal,” Brice said as he stood and walked to Clayton, sticking his hand through the bars.
Clayton hesitated. “Don’t you want to talk to Abby first?”
“It’s my mess. I’m going to fix this myself for once.”
There was hope for the boy yet. Clayton clasped his hand, and they shook. As soon as they stepped apart, Danny opened the jail cell, and Brice walked out.
The teen was tall, nearly as tall as Clayton. He had a good head on his shoulders, but he needed guidance. Clayton didn’t exactly want the job. Yet, somehow, he found that it was his—and it felt right.
As they walked from the station, Clayton motioned to the black Chevrolet truck parked in front of the building. “Get in. I’ll take you home.”
Once they were on the road, Clayton noticed how Brice tried to look around at the interior of the vehicle without making it obvious.
“Do you drive?”
Bryon shook his head. “We only have the one car. Abby taught me, and I have my permit, but I haven’t gotten my license yet. It’s fine. I don’t need to drive.”
“Sure you do. You could share the car and help her out by getting groceries and the like.”
“I didn’t think of that,” he murmured.
Clayton glanced at Brice, who ran his hand through his cropped hair. “You seem like a good kid. Don’t make me regret giving you a second chance.”
“I won’t,” he said as he turned his head to Clayton. “I may act stupid sometimes, but I’m not a fool. I know what you’re doing for me, Mr. East.”
“My father is Mr. East. Call me Clayton.”
“Thank you, Clayton,” Brice said. “I won’t let you down.”
Clayton nodded as they turned onto a road. “You should have that same dedication to your family.”
“I know,” Brice murmured and looked out the windshield. “I was angry for so long, and I took it out on Abby. She didn’t complain. Not once. She doesn’t deserve to be stuck with us.”
“Son, I don’t know your family, but I can guarantee that your sister doesn’t feel stuck with you.”
That brought a hint of a smile to Brice’s lips. The silence of the rest of the ride was only broken by the teen telling him how to get to the house.
When Clayton pulled into the driveway, he saw the age of the small residence in its peeling paint and the sway of the roof. But everything was clean, and the small yard mowed.
“Abby says just because we’re poor doesn’t mean we have to live in filth.”
“She has a point,” Clayton said as he noticed there was no other car in the drive. “I’d hoped to talk to her.”
Brice unbuckled his seatbelt and shrugged. “Knowing her, she went back to the office and tried to work a little longer to make up for the hour she missed. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, Mr . . . Clayton.”
“Tomorrow,” he replied.
He watched as Brice walked to the door and was greeted by a younger brother. Once they were inside, Clayton drove off, wondering at the regret he felt for not getting a chance to talk to Abby once more.