to contact her aunt and tell her that she was all right. The bitch was just trying to use her.
“One of Zander’s people overheard Tiger going ape-shit because they can’t find Marisol.”
“Think they’ll try to sneak onto the ranch?” he asked.
“If they do, we’re ready for them. Don’t worry. Nobody will get to your girl.”
“I hate that everyone here is in danger and that all the women have been locked down.”
“Nobody is complaining, man. We all want Marisol safe and away from those bastards.” Kent grinned at him. “Plus, everyone is happy you’ve found your Little.”
She wasn’t quite his yet. But she would be.
“No problem. I’ll head to your place now. See you there.”
Linc nodded. Kent drove away and he turned, walking towards his own truck. He climbed in and just sat there for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. He wanted this threat to Marisol gone. He hated that they didn’t know what Tiger was up to. At least Zander had his people watching Tiger now. Having eyes on him made Linc feel better.
After a few minutes, he started his truck and headed home. One of the best things about his job was that it didn’t take long to get home. As he turned the corner and his cabin came into view, he slammed on his brakes in shock. What the fuck?
Oh God. Oh God.
What the fuck was she doing? Why had she decided to clean the damn windows? She’d already done all the lower ones. And when she’d found the ladder in the shed out back, she figured she might as well do the gable ones.
Big. Big mistake.
“It’s okay, Marisol. Just come back down,” Abby called out. “I’m holding the ladder, it won’t move on you.”
It was a big mistake, because when Marisol had gotten to the top of the ladder, it had started wobbling. In a fright, she’d climbed onto the porch roof, which had thankfully held her weight. And then the ladder had crashed to the ground.
Soon afterward, Abby had arrived and seen the ladder on the ground with Marisol clinging to the roof.
“Do you want me to come up and help you down?” Abby asked.
“No!” she cried out, shivering as a cold breeze whipped through her thin clothing. “No, you might get hurt.”
“I’ll call Linc then,” Abby told her.
“No, please don’t. He’s busy at work.” And her idea to help him had turned into a nightmare. He’d been talking about cleaning these windows yesterday and it had planted the seed about how she could take some pressure off him.
Stupid girl.
“I’m coming up,” Abby called out.
“No, Abby. You’ll get stuck too.” She wouldn’t let the other woman get in the same predicament as her.
She saw a truck pull up then Kent climbed out, rushing towards them. “Abby! What the hell is going on?”
“I’m going up the ladder to get Marisol. She’s too scared to climb back down.”
“No, you’re not. You know you’re not allowed to climb ladders. What’s happened? Marisol? Are you all right?” Kent called out.
She carefully looked over the side to see that Kent now had his arm wrapped around Abby’s waist. The other woman was pale as she stared up at Marisol in worry.
“I’m fine,” Marisol replied. Another shiver ran through her and her teeth started to chatter.
“Marisol climbed the ladder and then it started wobbling and scared her so she climbed onto the roof of the porch and now she won’t get down. And I can see how cold she is from here.”
A big red truck pulled up beside Kent’s and Linc fairly shot out of the driver’s seat. Relief flooded her. She was going to be all right. Linc was here.
Linc wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
“What the fuck is going on?”
She winced at his roar. He was yelling and swearing. That wasn’t a good combination. “Marisol! What are you doing up there?”
“She climbed up to wash the windows and now she’s too scared to climb down. The ladder was on the ground when I got here and she was clinging to the roof. But you have to get her down, she’s so cold,” Abby said worriedly.
She didn’t add that she’d been up here at least an hour before Abby arrived. Her whole body was starting to feel like a popsicle but especially her face and hands. She wished she could move, but she was too scared to.
“I’m coming up the ladder to get you, Mari-girl.”
She let out a small whimper but didn’t protest. She wanted down from this roof.