Texas Cowboy's Protection, - [books you need to read .TXT] 📗

as beautiful as Gina remembered. A long, whitewashed wood fence bordered the front yard.

Otherwise, the yard was massive, improbably green and had a drive that was at least a mile long. The gate guard waved as Isaac drove onto the main house drive. The home was a cream-painted two-story brick with porches for days and an upstairs balcony that practically ran the length of the house. Windows stacked on top of each other on the façade, six on each side. The house itself was grand and beautiful, welcoming and warm. A contrast to how Isaac had described life there. But then, he had said appearances were important to T.J.

Isaac might not realize it, but his expression changed when he mentioned Marianne. Both Noah and Isaac had spoken about her like she was more mother figure than housekeeper.

It was funny how appearances worked. How a person’s life could be so different than expected once a few layers were peeled back. Her thoughts drifted to Brittany, a life that had ended too soon. Brittany had kept a low profile. Did anyone every really know her? Did she ever let anyone get close enough to? Even in a small town like Gunner, there could be so many secrets.

The first thing Gina wanted to do was hold her daughter. It was crazy how easy it was to appreciate the little things after facing her own mortality. And being with Everly and Isaac was more than she could’ve hoped for.

Crazy, she thought, how life could turn on a dime and in such an unexpected way. If someone had told her six months ago that she’d be with Isaac on his ranch, going home to her daughter she would’ve laughed in their face. Maybe told them they were crazy.

Now? This? It was more than she could fathom.

“What are you thinking about?” Isaac asked as he parked the truck.

“Life in general. How you can think you have it all figured out and then it does an about face in a snap.” And how being with Isaac was the most natural thing. She’d keep that part to herself for now.

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Makes me think of having you in my life again.”

She smiled, not wanting to reveal just how much she’d been thinking the same. Isaac cut off the engine. He was out of the truck and around to her side before she could open the door for herself. Opening her door wasn’t necessary but she appreciated the gesture.

Marianne met them on the porch, Everly on her hip. Gina’s heart nearly burst seeing her daughter so happy and surrounded by so many people who cared about her.

“She’s an angel.” Marianne beamed and she looked reluctant to let go of Everly. The little girl’s arms shot out toward Gina.

“Hello there, angel.” Everly’s smile had a way of washing away whatever cares Gina had.

“Come on in. I’m making supper.”

The house smelled like heaven. Fresh bread baking in the oven. A casserole in the stove. And the scent of cookies filled the air. “Are those chocolate chip?”

“They sure are.” Marianne led them into the kitchen. A massive oven covered one wall. The food prep table alone could’ve filled Gina’s entire kitchen. There was a massive wood table off to one side of the room. A long bench seat tucked underneath on the wall side. Five chairs covered the other side with arm charis on each end. An army of people could fit around that table. With seven boys and five cousins who frequented the ranch, she was pretty damn certain the cook felt like she was cooking for the U.S.O.

Everywhere she looked said big family meals and happy chatter around the table. But then she remembered what Isaac had said about T.J. She’d witnessed the exchange between them, which would best be described as an awkward attempt to extend an olive branch.

What she knew of the head of the Quinn ranch, she doubted there’d been much laughter in these hallways. It was easy to see why the boys had banded together to survive and they were most likely closer for it. And yet, she couldn’t help but think what a shame it was to have so much wasted potential in a family.

If T.J. hadn’t been so stubborn or stuck in his ways, he could’ve had what most people dreamed of; a big, loving and happy family.

Eli strolled in the back door. The eldest Quinn brother had the same good looks and athletic build as the others. Put the seven of them together with their five cousins, and they’d make one helluva calendar.

Noah followed suit and Marianne’s eyes widened. She clutched her chest dramatically before smiling. “Good to see you in my kitchen.”

He smiled and nodded. “Isaac’s home. Plus, I couldn’t stay away from your cooking any longer.”

Isaac and his brothers bear hugged. Two high chairs were lined up against the wall. Isaac pulled one over to the table. “Let’s eat.”

Everly seemed in her element. She smiled through all the chatter and commotion. A baby’s cry filled the room. Gina quickly realized the sound came from the baby monitor on the counter.

“I’ll get ’em.” Marianne darted from the room and came back a couple of minutes later with a baby on her hip and holding a toddler’s hand.

“Meet my niece and nephew. This is Olivia and he’s Oliver.” Isaac grabbed the other high chair and pulled it up to the table. He put the toddler beside Everly who practically beamed. The little angels took one look at each other and started happily babbling.

“They’re beautiful,” Gina said to Eli.

“Thank you.” Eli smiled like a proud papa. “I’m afraid I’m in a little over my head with the two of them.”

“Nonsense,” Marianne interrupted. “You do a fine job with those babies.”

“Calving season has taught me to live on little sleep. Calving season with a teething child has taught me that I need help. Haven’t had time to hire anyone just yet. Marianne has been a saint as much as she’s pitched in.”

“It’s no trouble with easy babies.”

“You have enough on your plate around here.”

She made a harrumph noise and moved back to the stove.

The front door opening and then closing didn’t get anyone’s attention over the easy chatter going on at the table. But everyone looked up when Griff walked into the kitchen.

“Pull up a seat,” Marianne instructed. She already had a full plate in one hand and silverware in the other before he could protest.

“You should sit down and eat. I could’ve gotten that for myself.” The others agreed but Marianne, like a hostess in her true calling, waved them off.

“It’s no trouble.”

Griff thanked her. “Bo Stanley confessed.”

“I never liked him but would never have believed he was capable of…” Noah glanced around, his gaze landing on the babies in the room. He didn’t seem able to shatter such innocence with a word like murder.

“Turns out he propositioned Brittany. He asked her to move to Oklahoma City with him where he had a job lined up. He was put off by how repulsed she’d been at his offer. Said she was going to tell her mother. At which time, he threatened to reveal paternity of her child. She tried to protect Logan, who Bo didn’t think deserved it.”

“Isn’t that a case of the pot calling the kettle black,” Isaac mumbled.

“Bo told Brittany to meet him. He didn’t realize anyone had moved in next door.” Griff looked to Gina. “He knew your family owned the property and your mother rarely went there. He didn’t realize you were moving back so soon.”

“He must’ve thought he had plenty of time to take care of a body.”

“Brittany had decided to move out and he figured she was a loose end that needed tying up. Said he couldn’t live every day with the threat she’d tell on him.”

“Would her mother have believed her?” Isaac’s question was valid.

“After Bo hit on Brittany she did a little investigative work. She uncovered the truth about his background and set out to save her mother. Brittany didn’t want to hurt her mother, so she was trying to find a way to break the news to her without crushing her.”

“That must’ve been when he decided to do it.” The lies and deception hit Gina hard.

“Your neighbors wouldn’t be back to the lake until summer. He would’ve had time to clean the place and dispose of the body. No one would think to look for Brittany at the cabin. She wasn’t a nature girl and no one would’ve been around to notice the smell. But he panicked after you came jogging by. You found her dog that Bo had planned to leave to nature. And he had to act quickly.”

The thought he could’ve gone free if Gina hadn’t moved back when she did and gone jogging that day reminded her how fast life could turn. How one decision could alter life’s course. If Des hadn’t gone back in for the cat. If she hadn’t gone jogging.

Life could be so random.

Another random act came to mind. If Isaac hadn’t been sitting at that light on his way home, she most definitely wouldn’t be here right now.

“What about Brittany’s son?” Gina asked.

“He’ll be in foster care temporarily until custody is settled,” Griff informed.

“I hate the fact he’ll be with strangers. What about Brittany’s mother? Can’t he stay with family?” Gina couldn’t imagine anything like that happening to Everly. The thought of her daughter ending up with strangers was enough to bring Gina to her knees.

“Mrs. Stanley has no interest in caring for the child.”

“There must be something we can do—”

“Ashley Simmons’ father is