“And an injured wife and a new baby, but none of that is what’s bothering you. Out with it.”
Waving a hand, Duncan blew out a breath and sat back again. “Watching the fire, I was mad as hell. I couldn’t think about anything except all the furniture we worked so hard on being destroyed. Thinking about how we’d have to rebuild the store and all the money we’d lose.”
Waving a hand again, he got to his feet. “I know. I know. The money’s not the issue, but I was thinking about Erin and William. With the money we got from the oil found on the property, we don’t have to worry about money, but I still do. I want to give them the security they need. I want to set up a college fund. I want to spoil them a little.”
“I understand that.” Jared turned in his seat to face his brother. “I want that, too. The insurance and a little elbow grease should cover most of the cost of rebuilding and restocking.” Jared paused, crossing his arms over his chest. “None of this has anything to do with what’s bothering you.”
Shaking his head, Duncan blew out a breath. “You’re right. None of it mattered. When I saw that maniac holding a gun to Erin—”
He stopped abruptly, swallowing heavily and taking several deep breaths. “I love that woman.”
Understanding his brother, Jared smiled. “Of course, you do. We all do. You’ve loved her almost since we met her, but it suddenly hit you hard, didn’t it?”
Duncan appeared poleaxed.
Scraping a hand through his hair, Duncan met Jared’s gaze, his lips twitching. “When faced head-on with the possibility of losing her—hell. Christ, if Erin realizes what she is to me, I’m toast.”
Amused, Jared got to his feet. “She knows. Believe me. That woman knows damned well that she can wrap us around her finger whenever she wants to. But she’s smart enough to know that we can wrap her around ours. It intimidates her at times because, like you, she’s more comfortable having the upper hand.”
Duncan moved back to the table, reaching for his mug as he dropped into his seat again. “She usually does have the upper hand.”
Jared smiled. “And it makes her more comfortable, but knowing that we have the upper hand when it comes to her safety and well-being gives her the security she needs. She never had that and sometimes has a hard time accepting it. Little by little, she’s learning to trust it, though.”
Duncan wrapped his hand around his mug again, his expression hardening. “We didn’t keep her safe yesterday, did we?”
Jared’s stomach clenched. “No. We didn’t.” Too restless to sit, Jared shot to his feet. “And it can’t happen again. I can’t live through another day like yesterday.” Turning, he leaned back against the counter. “She knows now that keeping secrets from us won’t be allowed, and she sure as hell understands why. I don’t think it’ll be an issue anymore, but we slipped up with her. We’re gonna have to do what we can to make sure it never happens again. She needs to feel secure, and I need to know that she’s safe.”
Duncan’s jaw firmed. “It won’t happen again. It can’t. Christ, Jared. I’d be lost without her.”
“I know.” Jared nodded. “Kind of makes you understand what the founders of Desire were thinking. They had to deal with outlaws, wild animals, and all sorts of dangers.”
Imagining trying to keep Erin safe in such an environment, Jared grimaced. “I sure as hell don’t know how they did it, but I’m glad that we live in a town where protecting our women is our biggest priority.”
“Amen.” Duncan took another deep breath, blowing it out in a rush. “Still, keeping her safe is our job.”
Jared cursed when the phone rang, grabbing it before it woke Erin. “And it’s a job we’re gonna do.” He lifted the receiver. “Preston.”
“Jared, it’s Ace. They got Cramer. They waited until he dug up the money and then arrested him.”
Jared braced a hand on the counter and slumped in relief. “Good.”
“I’m gonna keep an eye on the case and make sure I get a call when he gets free.”
“Thanks, Ace. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. How’s Erin?”
“Sleeping.”
“Good. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks again.”
Jared disconnected and straightened, turning to Duncan. “They caught him.”
For the first time in over twenty-four hours, the knots in Jared’s stomach started to loosen.
Chapter Thirteen
Erin woke slowly, a pleasant grogginess making it impossible to move.