Page 22 of Chance (Wild River Ranch #3)

O nce everyone had finished eating, Joy moved with the rest of the family to the adjoining gathering room where Sam had questioned her before.

This time, Chance led her to the rounded leather love seat and, again, pulled her onto his lap.

She liked this seat better than the armchair.

From here, she had a view of the snowcapped mountains and could watch the sunlight sparkle and dance on the frozen pond just behind the lodge.

Stress had no place in this meeting, Joy reminded herself. Detective James was a nice man who had looked after her from the minute she ran screaming and crying into the police station. When he heard her story, he insisted on handling her case personally.

And he had. She couldn’t have asked for anyone more attentive and helpful than he had been ever since that night when everything in her world had fallen apart.

The least she could do was answer a few more questions.

She could handle it. Talking about all the details wasn’t that big a deal.

It wasn’t like anyone, not even Eddie or any of his henchmen, could hurt her.

But that didn’t mean she was looking forward to talking about this. Her hands trembled, and if she was going to talk a lot, she needed a cup of water. Hopefully, her Daddy would put it in her water bottle with the whale that blew bubbles every time she sipped.

Unlike Sam had done, the detective took out a voice recorder instead of a notebook and placed it on the coffee table in front of her. A cold knot of dread dropped into her stomach. Why was that so much more intimidating?

What if she said something wrong? Would she get in trouble? She hadn’t realized her foot was bouncing on the floor so fast it shook the chair until her Daddy lifted her legs and lay them over his lap. He rubbed her legs, giving her a feeling to center on.

No one had ever done anything like that before. Closing her eyes, she tried to recreate the scene of him wrapping his ropes around her. It had been so centering and relaxing. Maybe she could ask him to do it again?

Lost in the thoughts of him tying her, Joy jumped when the detective spoke. “I’d like to start at the very beginning, Joy. I need to make sure I understand every detail, no matter how small. If you don’t mind, of course.”

“Oh, I don’t… what do you mean by beginning?” Joy asked, her voice trembling already. And they hadn’t even started.

Tension tightened every muscle in Chance’s body. “Is it really necessary to put her through relivin’ everything she went through? Did you read through Sam’s notes? He was very thorough.”

The detective leveled a cool look at Chance. She’d never seen that look on the man’s face before. “I have. And while I’m sure the sheriff did the best job he could, there are quite a few details he didn’t explore.”

How her Daddy’s eyes narrowed didn’t bode well for the detective. Before this was over, it might be him who needed to be tied up.

"I realize you have a job to do, Detective James.

But you might as well deal with the fact I have a job to do, too.

My job is keeping this woman safe from any and all predators, or anyone else who might endanger her physically, emotionally, or mentally.

So if she's willing to answer your questions, that's fine. But the choice is hers. And if she says no, well, I’m a firm believer that no means no. "

Joy stared at Chance in wonder. No one, not in her whole life, had ever stood up for her like that. Her shoulders relaxed, and she breathed easier because she knew her Daddy would keep her safe. "It's all right," she said. "What's your first question, detective?"

It occurred to her then she might have a few questions of her own. Just like it was her Daddy's job to keep her safe, it was her job to protect him, too. That meant making sure the trouble following her did not endanger anyone on the ranch.

She ran her fingers lightly over the back of Chance's hand and prepared for Detective James's first question.

Instead, Detective James led with a statement. "You know, Joy, if you aren't comfortable discussing this in front of –" he gazed around the room before returning his eyes to her – "your new friends, I have no problem asking them to leave."

Joy's mouth went dry at the very thought. There was no way she would be able to answer any questions without her Daddy there. And as for everyone else, if she was putting them in danger, they had a right to know everything. It was the only way they could decide if they wanted her to leave.

God, she hoped they didn't want her to leave.

"It's all right, Detective James. I don't have any secrets. And I didn't do anything wrong. So, I really have no reason to be uncomfortable."

The look Chance gave her then shot desire straight to her clit. He was proud of her. Had anyone ever been proud of her?

Running her fingers lightly over the back of Chance's hand, she waited for Detective James's first question.

"All right, how long was it before you started living with Eddie Sharp after your parents died? "

Chance almost jumped out of the seat. "Why the fuck do you need to know that?" he demanded.

Reacting to the tension now snapping through the air, Sam said, "Hold on now. Let's not get riled up."

Joy wasn't sure Sam's words helped the situation very much. But it was Boone's expression and deep voice that made the difference. He exchanged a look with Chance and said, "Easy." Something passed between the two of them she didn’t understand, but her Daddy relaxed.

Joy didn't mind answering the question, but she agreed with Chance.

Why did the detective need to know that?

"It wasn't very long. After Pop passed, Mom didn't last long.

She kept her heart hidden from most people.

Even me, most of the time. But she loved Pop.

With me grown, I think she decided she'd rather be with him. "

It wasn't that she didn't miss her parents, but they were hard to get close to. They were from the stiff upper lip, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, generation.

"It wasn't until after they died that I found out they had mortgaged the house to pay for I have no idea what. Eddie's bank foreclosed on the loan, and Eddie offered to let me stay with him for a price."

She hadn't really understood at the time exactly what kind of price he was talking about. She truly believed he wanted her to cook and clean and run errands. She had been so gullible. So stupid. And she'd paid such a high price.

"I see, so he coerced you into living with him?"

"I don't know if coerced is the right word. He did expect everything he said he would. He just added to the list once I moved in."

"And while you lived in Mr. Sharp's home, did you see any drugs?"

Joy shook her head. “No, I didn't. It was almost a year before I found out he even did drugs, much less sold them. I didn't know that until you told me.”

She wanted to look around the room to see what Chance's family felt about all they were hearing, but she didn't have the nerve.

They had every right to hate her. Who would want someone caught up in the drug trafficking trade to be in their house?

Not even considering the danger, the reputation of the ranch itself could be at stake.

No guest would want to visit a resort that was connected in any way to that kind of thing.

Her heartbeat sped up. It became difficult to breathe.

She had ruined everything for people who had done nothing but help her.

How could she have been so selfish? Dizziness attacked her. She felt like she was drowning.

Suddenly, a deep voice broke through the chaos in her mind.

"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 family should be, until she found Chance and his family on Wild River Ranch.