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“Sure thing,” he said and gave her a nod as he passed the other woman. The woman lowered her eyes and looked away and then took a few steps clearly out of his path. He waited outside on the porch.
Strange. Really strange.
* * * *
“We can’t take this place. There are too many men all around us. We don’t t know them or what they’re capable of.”
“Helena wouldn’t place us in danger. This cottage was her recommendation and she said it was beautiful and safe. I believe her. I like this cottage. It’s perfect, and we can have our own rooms.”
“Kenny stays with me, anyway.”
“For now, but eventually he’ll need to sleep in his own bed. We talked about this with the therapists.”
“I know. I don’t want to be alone out here without you, though.”
“You won’t be, too often. I need to work, and that consulting job with the Texas Rangers is perfect. It’s only part-time and three days a week I’ll be home by three o’clock. Come on, Lois. Kenny needs a stable home. This is our new beginning. We can put the past behind us and live a happy life here. I just know it.”
“It’s far from town.”
“It’s twenty minutes to town and fifteen to that gorgeous farm we heard about. It will be really nice to live out here. It will be peaceful. We need some peacefulness, Lois.”
“I like it,” Kenny said and hugged Valentina tighter. She chuckled.
“Okay, if you say so,” Lois said and then crossed her arms and looked around.
“Why don’t you go with Mommy and see which bedroom will be yours?”
“Okay,” he said and reached for his mother. Lois took him into her arms. She was still weak, very depressed, and frightened. Valentina had to make sure her sister ate and stayed positive. Being attacked, sexually assaulted, and seeing Valentina get shot and her son get hurt had been traumatic for Lois. Valentina, on the other hand, put all her own anxieties and fears aside and focused on Lois and Kenny and getting them through this. All they had was one another.
She walked toward the door and the porch as her sister and Kenny walked around the place.
The sight of the big cowboy made her feel kind of funny inside, and she didn’t know why. He turned around to look at her as he leaned against the front porch.
“We’re going to take it. When would you like the first month’s rent, Mr. Brazos?” she asked him.
He held her gaze with a peculiar expression, almost as if he were trying to read her mind or something.
“The name is Ridge, Valentina. How about when you move in I’ll stop by and take a deposit of half, then in a week if you, your sister, and nephew are comfortable and set on staying, I’ll take the rest?”
She stuck out her hand. “Deal,” she stated, and when he shook her hand, he held it a moment longer than necessary and their eyes locked on one another. He released her hand and she turned around to see her sister in the doorway, holding Kenny.
“Ready, kiddo?” she asked Kenny.
He made a sad face. “We not staying here?”
She reached out and caressed his cheek.
“Not tonight, but first thing tomorrow morning we’ll be back and we’ll get the house all cleaned up and ready for us.”
“Yeah!” He cheered and fist-pumped. They all chuckled, even Ridge.
“Cute kid,” he said and then locked up the door as they headed down toward the car. Lois was getting Kenny into the car seat.
“Thank you again,” Valentina said, and he just nodded. He seemed to be a quiet guy, but nice. Hopefully everything worked out just fine around here.
* * * *
“Two women and a kid?” Sparrow asked as he and his brothers gathered around the kitchen table for dinner.
