Conceal, Protect - By Carol Ericson Page 0,5

into the cold night. “I’ll let your mom believe in fairy tales.”

Tara gave her a quick hug and watched her walk to the truck. “Are you going to drive that old thing around while you’re here or get something else?”

“The truck’s okay. I’m not going to be here long enough to buy another car—just a month or two.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Drive carefully. It got dark while you were inside, but at least the snow hasn’t come in yet.”

Noelle waved and climbed into the truck. Holding her breath, she turned the key. The engine turned over with a rattle, but it did turn over. That cowboy knew his stuff.

She eased the truck back up the dirt road and turned onto the two-lane highway. It was more deserted now, but still several headlights from town caught up with her and followed her along the highway.

She signaled well in advance before aiming the truck between the posts that marked the entrance to the ranch. Her ranch. When Mom had moved in with her sister, she’d signed the property over to Noelle.

No reason for her mom to leave anything to Ted, since Noelle’s half brother wasn’t her mother’s blood. Dad could’ve provided for his son before he had died, but he had figured Ted would gamble it, drink it or drug it all away.

Probably figured right, but that didn’t stop Noelle from feeling bad that their father hadn’t left anything to Ted. Her mother had probably had a hand in that decision.

Noelle had left a light on in the house, but not the porch light since she hadn’t planned to stay out after dark. She swung the truck in front of the house, illuminating it with her headlights.

Cutting the engine, she left the headlights on so she wouldn’t kill herself going up those rickety steps. The moon had disappeared behind leaden clouds that threatened snow.

She lifted one bag of groceries from the back of the truck and picked her way across the dirt and gravel that littered the path to the front door. She set the bag on the porch and fumbled for her keys.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open, stooping to scoop up the grocery bag on her way in. Two steps into the room and she stopped. The smell. Cologne. Men’s cologne. The same cologne favored by her late husband.

Squishing the bag against her chest, she glanced around the living room. Her gaze darted from the magazines she’d stacked on the coffee table, now askew, to the sweatshirt she’d hung by its hood on the doorknob of the closet. It now hung by the back collar.

Panic pumped into her system, and she released her breath in short spurts.

Not again.

Clutching the bag, she spun around and made a beeline for the front door, which still gaped open. When the cold air hit her face, she dropped the bag and stumbled over it.

The headlights blinded her now, and she held her hands in front of her, clawing her way back to the truck and safety.

Until she collided with a body.

Chapter Three

Noelle flew down the front steps and hit his chest. J.D. staggered back, wrapping his arms around her soft body.

She arched her back, drove her heel against the tip of his boot and raised her hands as if to claw his face.

“Whoa, whoa.” He crushed her against his frame with one arm and cinched both of her wrists with his other hand. “What’s wrong? It’s me—the guy who fixed your car.”

Her fingers relaxed, but she continued to struggle against him. “Let me go!”

“Are you sure?” With her flailing limbs and rigid muscles, she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own two feet.

“Let me go!” This time her voice had a distinct growl around the edges.

He released her, and, as he’d predicted, she stumbled to the ground. Her eyes, iridescent in the glare of the truck’s headlights, glowed at him as if they belonged to some fierce creature of the night.

Stepping in front of the truck to block the blinding lights, he stuck out his hand. “Are you okay? Why did you attack me?”

She eyed him over her bent knees, the heels of her hands digging into the ground behind her. “I didn’t attack you. What are you doing here?”

“Just wanted to make sure you made it home okay.” That had a false ring to it, since Noelle had stopped at the ranch down the road on her way home. He kept his hand extended in case she changed her