Her first thought was to run. “Oh, God,” she whispered to Jake, her footsteps faltering again.
He gave her a sharp look then snaked out a hand to grab her arm. Even through the sleeve of her jacket, she could feel the steely strength of his fingers. “Rodney?” he asked.
Molly nodded stupidly, shudders racking her body as she reached to dislodge his grip. He tightened his hold. She cast a frantic glance around her.
“Please, Jake? You have no idea what he’ll do!”
“Don’t,” he whispered when she tried to jerk away. “He can’t hurt you, honey. Not here. There’s no reason to be afraid.”
There was every reason, Molly thought wildly. She knotted her hands into fists. Had Rodney enlisted the help of law enforcement agencies to find her? Or had he coerced Keith Sandusky into telling him her whereabouts? Mingled with the jumble of questions in Molly’s mind was one clear thought, that she hated Rodney Wells with a virulence to last a lifetime.
Recalling the blood in Jake’s bathroom, she quaked with trepidation. Always before, there had been a dual purpose behind Rodney’s pranks, the primary one being to frighten her and make her doubt her own sanity, while at the same time convincing others she was crazy. Now he’d shifted his focus, his chief purpose to cast her in as bad a light as possible. The bastard. He’d staged that bathroom mess entirely for Jake’s benefit, trying to make her look crazier than a loon.
Pain lanced behind her eyes. The truth would come out now. She had hoped to tell Jake herself. Now he would hear Rodney’s version of the story instead.
An awful feeling of resignation settled in her chest. The taste of defeat was as bitter as gall at the back of her throat. Rodney was a silver-tongued liar, and nothing she said or did was going to stop him from talking. He would tell Jake everything, putting his own wicked spin on the story. Jake would hand her over into his care, and she would soon be staring at bare white walls again. It was as simple as that.
Rodney flashed an oily smile as he neared them. His spit-shined Italian loafers glinted in the morning sunlight. “Molly,” he said softly. “I’ve been worried about you, darling. What a relief it is to see that you’re all right.”
It was all Molly could do not to fly at him with her claws bared. Oh, how she detested him. Her eyes dry and burning, she stared at him. She was effectively trapped, and there was nothing she could do. Nothing. Even worse, he knew it. She didn’t miss the mocking gleam in his eyes as he turned his smile on Jake.
Sheriff Dexter avoided looking at Molly as he stepped forward. “Good morning, Jake,” he said softly, as if he hoped Molly wouldn’t overhear if he kept his voice pitched low. “I’ve got bad news, I’m afraid.”
“What’s that?” Jake asked. He shot a glittering glance at Rodney before shifting his gaze back to the lawman.
The sheriff darted a glance at Molly. “You’re not going to like it.”
Molly felt Jake’s hand stiffen on her arm.
The sheriff cleared his throat. “This young woman hasn’t been up front with you, I’m afraid. Are you aware that she was only recently released from a mental hospital?”
Jake glanced at Molly, then back at the sheriff. “There’s very little about Molly that I don’t know.”
“I see. Can I take that to mean you’re also aware that she left Portland in defiance of a court order mandating that she see her therapist twice a week?” The lawman narrowed his eyes. “Be careful how you answer that.” He hooked a thumb toward Sunset’s pen. “Not only have you been harboring an emotionally disturbed young woman who needs treatment, but you’ve aided and abetted her in grand theft.”
A muscle in Jake’s cheek started to tic. “Grand theft?” he said softly. “Call it what you like, Dexter, but in my opinion, it was a grand rescue. I’ve every confidence the Humane Society will agree with me.”
“Don’t draw a line in the dirt, son,” the sheriff advised. “I’ve got no real quarrel with you, and I’d like to keep it that way.” He inclined his head at Molly, no longer bothering to keep his voice down. “This woman is an emotional powder keg with a documented history of committing violent acts while sleepwalking. I’m convinced now that she has been responsible for all the vandalism out here—not juveniles, like we thought.” The sheriff gestured toward Rodney. “The lady’s husband has come to collect her and take her back home so she can get the treatment she needs.”
Silence. Molly died a little with each passing second. There was nothing she could do but stand there while her fate was decided. Jake would undoubtedly hand her over to Rodney now. Why wouldn’t he? He was probably absolutely furious with her. And who could blame him?
Jake bent his head, his expression thoughtful. When he finally lifted his gaze back to the sheriff, he was frowning. “I’m sorry. You say this man’s her husband? You’ve got it all wrong.” Jake glanced at Rodney. “Molly is divorced from Mr. Wells. He no longer has any control over her.”
Rodney stepped forward. Just as Molly had imagined he might, he gave Jake a charming smile. “You’re right. We are divorced, but that doesn’t mean I no longer care about what happens to her—or that I’m completely cut out of the picture. Things aren’t quite that cut and dry with a woman in Molly’s condition. She never should have been granted a divorce in the first place. She wasn’t thinking clearly when she made that decision. By court order, I’m also, to all intents and purposes, her legal guardian. And we still have strong family ties as well.” He glanced over his shoulder and crooked a finger, beckoning to someone in his car. “Her adoptive mother, Claudia, is now my dad’s wife.”
Molly glanced over just as the rear doors of the Lexus opened. Out stepped Jared Wells on one side, Claudia on the other. Jared looked just as he always had, an older version of his handsome son with a touch of steel gray in his blond hair. But the same couldn’t be said for Claudia. Always impeccably dressed, she looked uncharacteristically rumpled in her expensive beige suit. As she picked her way closer on wobbly high heels, Molly saw that she had tears in her blue eyes, which were underscored with dark circles.
Being a Judas was obviously interfering with her sleep.
Molly knew then that she was lost. Only a miracle could help her now. Her ex-husband, her mom, and her new stepfather were all in cahoots against her. Poor little Molly. It’s time to lock her away. It was the only kind and responsible thing to do.
When Claudia drew abreast of Rodney, she fixed an aching gaze on Molly. Her mouth trembled into a tearful smile. “You changed your hair,” she said in a squeaky voice. Her face twisted, and she pressed her fingers to her mouth, looking at Molly through swimming tears. “My little girl. You’re so beautiful. I love it done that way.”
Rodney curled a comforting arm around Claudia’s shoulders and drew her close to his body. He sent a commiserating look at his dad. To Jake, he said, “Have a heart, Mr. Coulter. By resisting the inevitable, you’re only putting innocent people through a lot of unnecessary pain. As you can see, Molly is deeply loved. We’re only trying to get her home to Portland so we can get her some help. She hasn’t been herself for a very long while, I’m afraid.” He turned his smile on Molly and reached to take her arm. “Come along, darling. Let us get you in the car.”
Before Rodney could touch her, Jake shot out a hand and grabbed his wrist. “Keep your hands to yourself, buddy.”
Molly threw an incredulous look at Jake. She’d never seen him truly angry until now, and the sight was frightening. His blue eyes glittered like chipped ice, and a ruddy flush had darkened his burnished features. “The lady isn’t going anywhere she doesn’t choose to go. Got it?”
Hank, who’d moved up onto the porch, descended the steps to stand behind his brother. From the corner of her eye, Molly saw the hired hands gathering around as well. Their message was clear. She had more than one man to defend her. Even Tex, with his bad shoulder, had joined the ranks.
She stared up at Jake’s dark face through a blur of tears. Trust. She had vowed never to give h
ers easily again, but she hadn’t known Jake Coulter then. Was he real, this man? She didn’t deserve this kind of loyalty, not from him or his men. From the very start, she’d lied to him and kept things from him. Now, instead of abandoning her, he was protecting her. She could scarcely believe it.
Rodney looked imploringly at Molly. “Don’t involve these nice people in this, Molly. Haven’t you caused them enough grief?”
Molly couldn’t have spoken if she tried.
“You need treatment,” Rodney went on gently. “Let us take you home to see the doctor.” He gave her a cajoling smile. “I know you blame me for everything. But, Molly, think. Is that really reasonable? Surely you can’t believe that I set you up this time.” He shook his head slightly. “You’ve been cut off from Sam Banks for only three weeks, and just look what you’ve done. You don’t want to stay here and do anything more. What will it be next time, the house?”
Molly knew that she had caused Jake more than enough trouble. Even though she no longer believed she’d been directly responsible, she’d set him up as Rodney’s target by staying here.
“One way or another, we have to take you back,” Rodney went on. “Like it or not, you’ve been deemed legally incompetent, and we’re responsible for you.”
Claudia sent Molly an imploring look. “It’s true, sweetie.” She swung her hand toward the burned stable. “Until a judge reverses that decision, we’re both responsible for you, which makes us liable. If you won’t think of us, think of the firm and all that your father worked for. Do you really want to jeopardize that?” A single tear slid down Claudia’s cheek. “If I were sick, wouldn’t you do everything you could to make sure I got help? That’s all we want to do, darling, just get you some help. Soon, you’ll be well, and then you can come home. Won’t that be nice?”
“You know we love you, Molly,” Jared inserted. “Trust us to do what’s best for you.”
They spoke as if they were addressing a very small child. Molly’s head hurt. Their voices bounced around inside her mind. She wanted to scream at them to go away, to just leave her alone. With relatives like these, who needed enemies?
“We can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way,” Rodney injected. “It’s your choice, Molly. Just bear in mind that your friends may get in a lot of Dutch if they run afoul of the law, trying to help you.”
“Don’t listen to him, Molly,” Jake interrupted.
Molly threw him an agonized look. “I’ve caused you enough grief, Jake.”
“And you’ll cause me even more if you listen to this bullshit and go with them,” Jake retorted. “You’re no crazier than I am.”
Molly cupped a hand over her eyes. “Oh, God. I don’t know anymore. I just don’t know.”
Jake’s grip firmed over her arm. “You’re just upset right now. Fortunately, I’m thinking quite clearly.”
“Stay out of this, Mr. Coulter,” Rodney warned.
Claudia drew away from Rodney and stepped closer. She fixed Jake with an imploring look. “I’m her mother. I sat up with her when she was sick. I was the one who put money under her pillow for the tooth fairy. Do you really believe I have anything but her best interests at heart?”
“No, I don’t think that,” Jake replied softly. “I’m sure you believe you’re doing the right thing. Nevertheless, you’re not taking her anywhere, not without a court order, which you obviously don’t have. If you did, you’d be waving it under my nose.”
Bright spots of angry red flagged Rodney’s cheeks. “You’re making a grave mistake, buster.”
Sheriff Dexter scratched his jaw. “There’s no point in this, Jake. Why is a court order necessary? We all have the same aim in mind, to do what’s best for the lady. She’s ill, and she needs help. You aren’t doing her any favors by preventing her family from taking her back where she belongs.”
“You’re right about one thing,” Jake agreed. “I have only Molly’s best interests at heart, and the way I see it, she’s best off remaining here on the Lazy J with people who truly care about her.”
“Just one moment,” Rodney interrupted coolly. “Are you suggesting that her own mother doesn’t care about her? Or that I don’t? She’s my wife, damn it.”
“Ex-wife,” Jake reminded him. “And your feelings for her don’t count for squat. She doesn’t care about you. That’s the bottom line.”
Rodney’s eyes sparked with fury. “Only because she’s hopelessly confused right now. Stop and think. She needs hospital care, which can be very expensive. We can afford to give her that care. Can you?” Rodney shook his head. “We know Molly’s history. We understand her as no one else does, and we’ll take excellent care of her. You needn’t worry on that score. She’ll be in good hands.”
“I know she’ll be in good hands,” Jake replied, “because she’ll be staying here with me, end of discussion.” He shot a look at the sheriff. “I don’t believe she’s sick. What’s more, I know for a fact she wasn’t responsible for the vandalism here.” He glanced apologetically at Molly. “I’ve never been one to kiss and tell, but in this instance, I’ll make an exception. Molly has been sharing my bed since shortly after she came here. I sleep with one eye open, and I know for a fact that she never left my side on the nights the vandalism occurred.”
Molly’s heart caught. She gaped at Jake, scarcely able to believe he would tell such a bald-faced lie to protect her.
The sheriff shifted his weight, angled Molly an appalled glance, and said, “Begging your pardon, ma’am. I never meant to falsely accuse you. I was told that—” He broke off and shot an accusing look at Rodney. “Well, never mind that. If you weren’t responsible for the trouble, I apologize.”
Molly swallowed to steady her voice. “That’s all right, Sheriff. I know you’re only trying to do your job.”
“That’s right.” The lawman rubbed beside his nose and coughed. “Well, Mr. Wells? It would appear that you’ll need a court order to remove the lady from the premises. Until you’ve obtained one, our business here is finished.”
Rodney jabbed a finger at Jake. “I’ll be back. Count on it. Not just for my wife, but my horse as well.”
If Jake was intimidated by Rodney’s threatening manner, he didn’t reveal it by so much as a flicker of an eyelid. Instead he smiled. “You don’t even want to open that can of worms, Wells. The horse stays right where he is.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Jake’s grin broadened. “My brother and I had the foresight to take dated photographs of that stallion when it first arrived to document his deplorable condition. He was one big, bloody lash mark, as you very well know, and the snapshots developed out in sharp detail. We also had the good sense to call out a vet who’s willing to testify that it took a man’s strength to cut the animal that deeply with a whip. You want to take it to court, Mr. Wells? Fine by me. In fact, it would do my heart good. I’m of the opinion that no man should be able to abuse an animal like that without paying the price. There are laws against that sort of thing, you know, and you’ll find yourself in more trouble than you can handle if you make any for me.”
“You have no proof whatsoever that I’ve ever lifted a hand to that stallion.”
“There’s where you’re wrong.” Jake glanced toward Sunset’s pen. “In this instance, the proof will come straight from the horse’s mouth. Walk over and climb in that corral.”
Rodney followed Jake’s gaze and paled visibly. “What kind of game is this?”
“Go on,” Jake said sharply. “Say hello to your horse, Mr. Wells. If you never lifted a hand to him, he should be glad to see you.”
Rodney bit out a curse. He leveled a long, hot glare at Molly before he spun on his heel and stalked back to his car, brushing past Claudia and Jared as if they weren’t there. “You haven’t seen the last of me!” he vowed. “Get your bags packed, Molly. I’ll have that court order when you see me next. Don’t think I won’t. Your big, tough cowboy will find himself on the wrong side of the law if he
interferes then!”
Claudia wrung her hands, her tearful gaze clinging to Molly’s accusing one. “I know you question my love for your father now, Molly. That’s a discussion for another day. But surely you have no doubt that I love you.”
Molly ached to throw herself in her mom’s arms. But this woman had remarried only a few months after her father’s suspicious death and then abandoned her when she needed her the most. How could she be sure Claudia wasn’t part of the plot to rob her of her inheritance? Any right-thinking person would seriously question her sincerity.
Rodney climbed inside the Lexus and slammed the door with such force that the side mirror vibrated. “Come on, Dad! We’re wasting our time. We’ll have to get the damned court order before we can do anything more.”
Jared stepped over to take Claudia’s arm. “Sweetheart?” he said gently.
Claudia nodded and curled a hand over Jared’s, but her pleading gaze remained fixed on Molly. After a long moment, she shifted her attention to Jake. “If anything happens to her, Mr. Coulter, I will hold you personally responsible,” she said shakily. “Do you understand me? If a single hair on her head has been hurt when we return, you’ll rue the day you met me.”
“I’ll guard her with my life,” Jake assured her.
“Come on, honey,” Jared murmured.
Claudia allowed herself to be drawn away. Looking back over her shoulder as they drew near the Lexus, she called, “I love you, sweetie. Never doubt it.”
Molly watched stonily as her adoptive mother and new stepfather disappeared into the back of the vehicle. The doors slammed simultaneously with a punctuation of finality. An instant later, the car engine roared to life. Tromping on the gas pedal, Rodney threw gravel with the tires as he backed up to turn around.
The sheriff sighed and shook his head as the Lexus disappeared over the rise. “Wells is right, you know,” he told Jake. “You’ll be on the wrong side of the law if you interfere when they show up with a court order.”