Safe In The Rancher's Arms: Stranded with the Rancher / Sheltered by the Millionaire / Pregnant by the Texan. Catherine Mann
being vulnerable to anyone who chose to intrude. Drew was used to being obeyed. That much was clear. But he would have to get over it. Accepting his help did not mean letting him boss her around.
He climbed behind the wheel of his huge truck, leaving Beth and Jed to enter from the other side. Beth found herself sandwiched between two handsome Farrell males. Both men carried an air of exhaustion. She decided then and there not to deliberately provoke Drew.
He had been out working, while she had enjoyed the luxury of a wonderful nap tucked beneath a fluffy comforter, resting on sheets soft as a whisper. The bed Drew had chosen for her was huge and comfy and decadent. Did he have any thought of sharing it with his guest at some point in the future?
Her focus changed entirely as they traveled the relatively short distance between the two properties. Not a word was spoken in the cab of the truck as they witnessed the storm’s track. It had effectively ripped a trail along the private road, turning abruptly to power over Beth’s property and head toward town.
As they parked in front of her house and got out, the memories of the tornado came rushing back. It’s over, she told herself repeatedly, but still her knees knocked and her stomach pitched.
She touched Drew’s arm, her gaze beseeching. “I’d like to get my computer and pack a few clothes. If I go in through the side that’s not damaged, I’m sure it will be fine.”
He glanced back at Jed. “I’ll stay with her. Do you mind sorting out the supplies? We’ll do the tarps in a few minutes.”
Jed nodded. “No problem.”
Beth’s house was small, but even so, it was almost unbelievable to see what was damaged and what was not. The back of the house was relatively unscathed. One broken window...a few shingles missing. The bedrooms were habitable. At the front of the house, the small living room wasn’t in bad shape except where a piece of lumber had punctured the vinyl siding. But the kitchen was a mess. The tornado had ripped apart one quarter of the house, shattering crockery and literally plucking off the roof and twisting it into an unrecognizable mess.
Standing in what used to be the doorway to her kitchen, Beth lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “Well,” she said, forcing words from a tight throat. “I needed new appliances anyway.”
Drew took her hand and tugged her backward to a safer part of the house. “Don’t go in there, please. Anything could fall on your head. And Beth....” He trailed off, his expression troubled.
“What?”
“Just because the rest of the home seems intact doesn’t mean that it is. It’s entirely possible that the house was momentarily lifted off its foundation. Which means you may have structural damage that could result in leaks or other problems. I don’t want to upset you, but it’s better to assume the worst and then be happy if it turns out not to be as bad as we think.”
He was right, of course. But hearing it laid out logically did nothing to lessen the impact of what had happened. She had worked so hard for this house. It was more than four walls and a roof. It was a symbol of all she had overcome. Seeing it in shambles broke her heart.
With Drew hovering, she quickly packed a bag with as many clothes as she could grab. Other than her computer and some pieces of jewelry, the only things worth stealing were her television and Blu-ray player. She sincerely doubted anyone would go to the trouble to drive out here and take electronics, so she left the living room as it was. As she handed off her small suitcase to Drew, it occurred to her that theft might be the least of her worries. What was going to happen when it rained? The tarps were surely a short-term solution.
Clearly, she wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding her jangled emotions. Drew hugged her with his free arm. “I know it seems overwhelming, but I’ll help you get things back together. Contractors, plumbers.... whoever else you need. You do have insurance, right?”
“Yes, thank God. And I think it’s pretty good. But I’ve never had to use it.”
“C’mon,” he said. “It’s almost dark. We have to string up the tarps while we can still see.”
They carried her things out to the truck and put them in the jump seat. Jed had already untangled ropes and unfolded three enormous sheets of heavy plastic. Beth leaned against the hood and watched as her Good Samaritans struggled and cursed and finally managed to get the first tarp in place. Gradually they encased the broken portion of the house in a shroud of overlapping layers.
It wasn’t airtight. And it wouldn’t keep out varmints, animal or otherwise. But hopefully it would protect her personal belongings from the weather. If she had to, she would rent a storage unit and move her things out of the house until the repairs were done. Since most of her furniture was thrift shop in origin, she wasn’t too worried.
Darkness closed in on them. As Drew and his brother tied off the last corners and used duct tape to secure vulnerable spots, Beth wandered over to the storm cellar. Squatting, she opened one side of the double doors. Without wind to contend with, it was as easy as raising a window. Nothing was visible down below. But she remembered. She would always remember.
* * *
Drew lowered the ladder and shoved it into the bed of the truck. His eyes were on Beth. She seemed so alone, it made his chest hurt.
Jed tossed a canvas bag of supplies on top of the ladder. “So what’s the deal with you and Beth Andrews?”
Still watching Beth, Drew shrugged. “We’re neighbors. That’s all.”
“C’mon, Bro. I wasn’t born yesterday. This thing you two have between you is more than surviving a tornado.”
Drew shot his brother a disgusted look. “Have I butted in about you and Kimberly? Drop it, Jed.”
“Fair enough. But be careful. Sometimes women mistake kindness for something else. It wouldn’t be fair to lead her on.”
“One budding relationship in your pocket and suddenly you’re an expert. Get over yourself. I can handle my love life without your help.”
Jed grinned smugly. “Who said anything about love?”
Muttering under his breath, Drew strode over to where Beth stood looking at the mass of metal and tires that had once been her car. “I’ve got an old rattletrap of a pickup out at the house,” he said. “We use it sometimes to run errands on the ranch. But you’re welcome to it for as long as necessary.”
Finally, she faced him. “I hate taking charity,” she said, her gaze stormy. “I’m already staying in your house. This is too much.”
“What does it matter, Beth? It’s not your fault the tornado struck here. It’s a whim of fate or whatever you want to call it.” He felt guilty that his place had been mostly spared. He would do whatever he could to help rebuild Royal. And he would start with Beth’s little bungalow.
It was so dark now he could barely see her face. “Let’s go.” She allowed him to take her arm and steer her toward the truck, but he knew she was struggling to deal with the blow to her life, her livelihood, her dreams.
As they pulled up in front of Willowbrook, Jed excused himself and walked away. Drew helped Beth down from the truck, his hands lingering a second longer than was necessary at her narrow waist. “I think I’m ready for that pie now. You want to join me? We can take it in the den and watch some TV.”
Beth nodded. “Sure.”
The kitchen was dark, the housekeeper gone for the night. But she had left the pie front and center on the table. Drew grabbed a couple of plates and cut two big slices. Beth looked askance at hers. “Seriously?”
He grinned at her, feeling the stress of the day melt away. “You’re still catching up on calories. It won’t hurt you. Besides, you know you’re a knockout.”
She blinked twice as if his words had shocked her.
Taking the can of