Brokenhearted Beauty(Divine Creek Ranch 19)(63)

She was on the verge of snapping out a warning that both men belonged to her but stopped. Her decision hadn’t been made yet and she had no right to claim them if she wasn’t sure she’d stay. It stung to listen to Pamela rhapsodizing about Vincent’s and James’s muscles, and eyes, and facial hair.

Hank talked to the women about being safe in and around their vehicles, including ways that attackers could trick them into getting out of their vehicles and into harm’s way and then allowed them free time to practice some of the basic steps they’d learned that evening.

Presley Ann had sat like a bump on a log the whole time, watching but not interacting. Leah hated that she actually felt guilty about it. Presley Ann was certainly a lot quieter than she had been and Leah had rejoiced because it meant less yapping and bitching, but she also recognized signs of depression in her sister.

Not my problem. She got herself knocked up and now she has to deal with it. Dad will wind up pulling her ass out of the fire again anyway.

More guilt set in, mixed with fear, because she could very well be pregnant herself.

When she’d called Emma about being tested, she’d told her that she could draw blood for the test the following week but the results would take time and she might just be better off waiting to take a urine test.

Leah hated not knowing and was impatient but she’d decided to just wait to see if her period was late. And really, she was a woman of the new millennium. She could have a baby and run a huge store in Abilene. No problem. Other women did it. So could she…if that was what she decided to do. She had two days left to make her choice.

Vincent and James joined them and James offered to walk Presley Ann through some of the basics if she had time, and her sister looked at her for approval, since they were riding together. Presley Ann had taken her aside earlier and asked if that would be okay since she was taking every opportunity to save on fuel costs. Leah hadn’t minded because she planned to go home after the class anyway.

While James and Presley Ann talked, Vincent said, “How’s your sister doing?”

“Fine,” she muttered and then looked over at him when he lifted an eyebrow but remained silent, which irritated her a little. “I won’t pretend that we’re close, okay? You don’t know her as well as I do. You know what she told me today?”

“What?”

“That Emma told her there’s a possibility she has Attention Deficit Disorder.” To her ears, her laugh sounded anything but amused. “I could’ve told her that and saved her the doctor bill. She’ll have this baby, realize how hard it is to make it without any sort of training, beyond ‘Advanced Man-Catching 101,’ and she’ll wind up moving back in with my dad.”

Vincent lifted a shoulder in a shrug as the two of them watched James gently instruct Presley Ann. “You never know. Babies have a way of changing people for the good sometimes.”

“People don’t change, not that much,” she said, feeling defensive. Vincent had no idea what Presley Ann had been like to grow up with or live with, until her “miraculous” change back in March.

Vincent turned his gaze on her but there was little warmth in his eyes. “I never figured you for a hard-hearted person, Leah. Why is it that way with her?”

Folding her arms over her chest, her heart constricting at the censure in his tone, she shrugged. “This is the first true test of her character but her track record demonstrates that Dad and I will have to be there to catch her when she fails.”

The warmth of his callused hand relaxed her as he gently stroked her neck and rubbed at the knots in her shoulders. “That does sound like the woman I love,” he murmured as he moved behind her and began rubbing her shoulders in earnest, nearly drawing a moan from her, because it felt so good. “Either way, doll, you’re a caring person. The fact that she’s grown up spoiled isn’t on you, but if this is her big wake-up call, then it seems to me that you’d want to cheer her on to increase her chances of succeeding. You’d be the bigger person by being there for her.”

She made a noncommittal sound. “At the store, she’s been working increased hours, dressing more practically, and going after commissioned sales.”

“She works on commissions?”

“Partially, yes.”

“Good to know.”

Leah chuckled. “You’re going to go see her at the store now?”

“Yup. It’s the right thing to do. Maybe it’s good I don’t know her as well as you. I’d like to see your sister succeed.”

“You’re a good man, Vincent Elder.”