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In hindsight, she was lucky he’d come out when he had. Because she realized now, if she’d taken his car, he would’ve reported it stolen. Then where would she and Noah be? If I’d been arrested, and Noah returned to Robert’s custody… She shuddered at the thought. Desperation really did make people do stupid things without thinking through the consequences.
She turned her thoughts back to the Colton Lawe man. As it was now, he’d get his wallet back as soon as she could repay the money. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long. A month at the very most—if she managed to elude Robert until her birthday.
“Wow, Ken, look at them all!” Noah’s exclamation jolted the silence.
Kendra hadn’t been aware they’d turned off the highway, but looking around now, she saw horses—lots of horses. She knew Joel Morgan owned a ranch, but she’d pictured cows. Or was it cattle? Was there a difference?
The entire picture of majestic mountains, bright white fences, and a shimmering river winding through the spring-green valley brought her a feeling of peace that was as surprising as her reaction to the naked man.
The peace, however, only lasted as long as it took for the driver to deposit them at the steps of the large house and leave with the last of their borrowed money.
Her stomach twisted uneasily, and she was thankful she hadn’t eaten much. They stood with their two bags at their feet, staring at the house. Kendra took a fortifying breath. With an arm around Noah’s shoulders, she marched them to the front door and rang the bell. Her hold on Noah tightened. As he looked up at her with concern, the door swung open.
Kendra stared at a tall, stunningly beautiful woman with a wealth of curly blonde hair. She was dressed casually, yet having grown up in New York with money, Kendra knew quality clothes when she saw them.
“Hi.” The woman’s voice held a note of polite curiosity. When Kendra just stood there, she added, “May I help you?”
Noah fidgeted, and Kendra instinctively held him closer.
“I’m looking for Jo-el.” Her voice broke and she took another deep breath. Straightening to her full five-feet-three inches—thanks in part to her three inch boot heels—Kendra cleared her throat and forced some backbone into her voice. “Is Joel Morgan here?”
The woman’s gaze swept over them before dropping to their bags. Kendra couldn’t blame her hesitation; she knew they looked ragged. But this ranch, and Joel Morgan, was their final hope. If he didn’t help them now…
Her gaze met the blonde’s. Compassion glimmered in the green eyes that studied her. Kendra guessed she missed little.
Finally, the woman said, “He’ll be home soon.” She extended a hand. “I’m Britt, Joel’s wife.”
Kendra discreetly wiped her damp hand on her thigh before grasping the woman’s slender fingers. “I’m Kendra, and this is my brother, Noah.”
“Nice to meet you both. You’re welcome to wait,” Britt offered.
They didn’t have much choice, so Kendra nodded and began to turn toward the bench on the porch. When the woman opened the door and motioned for them to enter the house, Kendra hid her surprise. The well-to-do people she knew—herself included—didn’t invite unkempt strangers into their homes.
“Come into the kitchen while I finish putting dinner together for later.”
Kendra accepted Britt’s offer of coffee, and Noah shyly beamed at the milk and chocolate chip cookies set down in front of him. After taking one, he slid the plate closer to Kendra in silent offering. The rumble of her stomach reminded her she was still hungry. She’d just raised one to her mouth when Britt spoke over her shoulder from the counter where she put a roast in a slow cooker.
“How do you know Joel?”
Kendra lowered the cookie, then set it on the table. Should she tell his wife or wait for Joel? Maybe this woman’s reaction would give her an idea of how he might react.
“My mother was Vivian Zelner…used to be Vivian Morgan.”
Britt fumbled the lid of the slow cooker. It clanked against the sink in the sudden quiet. Only after she righted the cover and wiped the counter did she face Kendra.
“So that would make you…”
“Joel’s sister—well, half. Noah too, half-brother, that is, not sister.” Kendra snapped her mouth shut to stop babbling stupid things that were obvious. This was harder than she’d ever imagined, and Britt wasn’t even the one she’d worried about.
Britt sat down at the table, staring at them both, looking dazed. “Joel doesn’t have a sister or a brother. We’ve been married eight years—I’d know.”
Kendra’s face grew warm as her defenses rose. “I only found out about him when my mother died.”
“His mother is dead?”
Kendra reached for Noah’s hand under the table. It had been a very hard time for both of them, but especially for Noah. “She had cancer.”
“I’m so sorry,” Britt said softly.
