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"Eyes to me, Gypsy." Without thought or hesitation, she obeyed Chance's command.

In his face, she found nothing but concern and love. He loved her. Of all the things she doubted, she didn't doubt that.

"Breathe with me, Gypsy," he said. "Slowly breathe as I do. In one. Two. Three. Four. Five. Now out, one. Two. Three. Four. Five.” He searched her eyes. “We’re all right here with you, Calliope Joy Joplin. The only thing I know about everything that happened is that none of it was your fault. No one here blames you for anything. Not even Detective James."

She lost his eyes then as he glared across the table at the detective. "Isn't that right, detective?"

"Of course," Detective James said immediately. "I'm just trying to get a picture of the situation. I am asking nothing the defense won’t ask. Assuming we ever have enough to bring charges against Eddie Sharp."

Then her Daddy's eyes were back on her. "Hear that little gypsy? No one thinks you're guilty of anything."

Sam spoke up then. “Detective, how long are you planning on being in town?”

"As long as I need to be. Why?"

Sam stood before answering. "Because I think we’ve put these good people through enough for today. Your witness is obviously upset. And with the time that's passed by since the crime occurred, it's not likely she's going to forget something tomorrow that she remembered today. So, I suggest we table this discussion… pardon, interview… and try again tomorrow."

She hadn’t known relief could feel so good. But before she could enjoy it, Detective James had a suggestion of his own. "We've had additional funds come into the police department back home. Now we have the funds to provide protection for Joy. I suggest she come back to Nameless with me.” He lifted his hand when Chance started to speak. “It will be easier for everyone concerned. And she’ll be safer in her hometown, surrounded by people who love her, and under the protection of the local authorities."

Joy's world turned gray at the very thought of leaving the ranch. Maybe the detective was right. Maybe it was for the best if she wasn't in Wilder. They would have to worry about being in danger. Her situation wouldn't put the reputation of Wild River Ranch at risk.

The thought of leaving broke her heart. But for these people, who'd been so kind, and for her Daddy's sake, she’d do it.

The words she had to say tried to choke her, but she forced them out. “Maybe you’re right. I?—”

Chance didn’t give her the opportunity to finish. "That’s not gonna happen, Chris. I can call you, Chris, right?"

Holy cow! She had never seen so much anger on Chance’s face before. She was just thankful he didn't seem to be angry at her. Well, she hoped he wasn’t angry with her.

She would have tried to speak again, but her Daddy wasn't done.

He stood and prowled the room like a caged animal before returning to stand by the coffee table. "There’s no one living in Nameless who’ll love her more or better than the people in this room. As for you keeping her safer than I can here on the ranch? Well, that's nothing but a load of horse shit. No one makes it onto my ranch without me knowing it. There are four men in this family who would lay down their lives down to protect her, not to mention more than a dozen ranch hands. Wilder Security, whose job is to protect people and keep them safe in situations just like this, is on this property. And to finish, Chris, if the Nameless PD was half the law office Sam Nelson runs, there wouldn’t have been drug wreakin’ havoc in the town because of some rich asshole who wants power and doesn’t give a fuck how he gets it. So as much as I appreciate your suggestion, Chris, I can tell you right now she isn't going anywhere. Even though she might have a house in Nameless, Texas, her home is in Wilder, Wyoming, on the Wild River Ranch."

Everything else in the room seemed to disappear.

Chance didn't want her to leave. More than that, her Daddy had said he wouldn't allow her to leave. His words gave her the courage to look into the faces of everyone else in his family. They were all offended, not of her, but on her behalf.

None of them wanted her to leave. Her parents might have done the best they could, but she’d never known what a family could be. No, what a familyshouldbe, until she found Chance and his family on Wild River Ranch.

CHAPTER 18

“Trust me,” he’d said. And she did.

“It’s easy,” he’d said.Well, once you know how.

“You’re going to love it,” he’d said. And he meant it. He should have known it wouldn’t be that easy when his gypsy was involved. After a quick nap, he coaxed Joy out with promises of a new adventure. Gypsy did love a new adventure, and he loved her for it.

"Let's get you dressed in something warm. Layers will be better for this. It'll add warmth as well as padding."

She frowned at him with suspicion. "I'm not getting a spanking, right?"

He grinned.

“Why? Have you earned a spanking?”

The suspicion in her eyes was quickly replaced by the innocence of a babygirl talking her way out of trouble. "No, Daddy. I've been as sweet as ice cream and as pure as the driven snow." Once again, her expression shifted, this time from innocence to confusion. "Daddy, what is driven snow?"

With a shake of his head, he helped her with her jacket. "Thatquestion is over my pay grade, Gypsy. Spanking is more my territory, so I can answer that one. First of all, if you were gettin’ a spanking, I wouldn't be puttin’ clothes on your bottom. And second of all, if your clothes were already on your bottom, they wouldn't be padded."