Page 13 of The Maverick

Earl nodded. “Nice to meet you both.”

She leaned toward Nick so she could talk to Earl. “Happy to meet you, too, Earl.”

Jake leaned up and was watching the man with unveiled interest. “Is that a real gun?”

Earl’s right hand rested on his gun. “Yes, son, it’s as real as it gets.”

“Have you ever shot anyone.” Jake leaned forward more.

“Yes, I’ve had to. I don’t do it lightly. Shooting someone is a difficult thing to do...at least if you have a conscience.”

“Oh. I don’t think I could ever shoot anyone.” He looked over at his mother. “Well, almost anyone. I could shoot my dad if he hurt my mother again.”

“I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen. You and your mother are perfectly safe here.”

“Thank you, Earl.” She was more relaxed than she’d been since Greg had his hand around her throat.

“We should get going.” Nick shifted his gaze to Earl. “Be extra vigilant tonight, there might be some trouble.

“I will. No one will get by me.”

“Good. I’ll have the security system switched on and men patrolling, too.”

“That’s a good idea,” said Earl. “We have a lot of land to cover.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight. Nice again to meet you, Ms. Foster-Bennett.”

“Thank you and you as well.” Rachel waved at the man, then sat back and stared at the house.”

Nick put the car into drive and headed for the structure.

“I look forward to meeting your daughter.” The fact that Janet wanted to take advantage of her old friend made Rachel angry on Nick’s behalf. He is a good man and deserves to have a wife who loves him. “I’m sorry, Nick. Janet obviously didn’t know what a great husband she was giving up. Sounds like we both made mistakes with our first marriages. Do you think you’ll marry again?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I have a hard time trusting a woman now, present company is excluded. I believe they are all after my money.”

Rachel huffed out a breath. “I feel the same way about men. I don’t let anyone get close. Greg and his abusive behavior was enough to put me off men forever.” Then she chuckled. “Present company is excluded.” She began pulling at the pills on her sweater. “Um, Nick, what’s the plan? I can’t stay at your ranch forever. I have a job that I need to do. Sure I don’t start it for another two weeks. But despite that, I have to go back to the house eventually.”

Nick ran a hand through his hair, keeping his other hand firmly on the steering wheel as they approached a large garage. “I don’t know. I just knew I had to get you out of that house. You couldn’t stay there. It’s obviously too easy for him to break in even with the new deadbolts on the doors.”

He pressed the button on the visor to lift the door on the first garage. The thing was huge. It held spaces for six cars. A second garage, which looked just like the one he drove into, stood off to the side.

When she saw the other cars in the garage, Rachel’s jaw dropped. He had a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, and a Camaro that looked like it had been souped up—with two chrome vents on the hood.

“Ray has all these cars, too. I guess it’s a brother’s thing.”

She noticed that he also had a SUV, and a Ford F350 pickup truck was parked in the spot adjacent to the one he pulled in to.

“Wow, I’ve never seen this many expensive cars together anywhere but at an auto show.” Rachel turned around to the back seat. “Jake, put your tablet away. We’re here at Nick’s ranch now. Time to get out of the car.”

Jake looked up from his tablet. “I thought it would take longer to get here.”

Rachel chuckled. “We’ve been driving for more than half-an-hour. You were lost in your game.”

“Oh.” He looked at the truck next to him. “That’s a big truck. Do you drive it a lot? Do you use it for feeding the cows? I’ve seen them do stuff like that on TV.”

Nick opened his door. “Sometimes, but I have other trucks for that...work trucks.” He hurried around the car and held Rachel’s door while she got out.