Broken(23)

Stone shook his head as though he was still trying to reconcile what he’d just learned. “No. She loved the ranch. I’d bet my last dime on it.” He scratched his head. “Hell, at any given time she could be found riding just as well as any of us, swimming in the pond, or helping out around the place. And you were never far behind. Even though she was a little older than you, I always sensed she had a soft spot for you, so when you became legal…I guess we all assumed…”

“I guess the enticement of becoming a big name and living the glamorous life was too much of a temptation to ignore. Who the hell knows what was going through her head. Look, Stone, I know you mean well, but this is something I’ll need to deal with on my own. I know I acted like an ass back there and I’ll apologize to Aunt Earlene for ruining dinner, hell, I’ll even be cordial to Jocelyn if that’s what it takes to keep the peace around here, but don’t expect anything more than that.”

Stone looked liked he wanted to say more, but Cade forestalled him by holding up his hand. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ve said enough and I’d thank you not to bring it up again.” Turning on his heel, Cade walked off. This time Stone didn’t stop him.


Chapter Five

“Keep your mouth shut bitch and you won’t get hurt.” A pair of black eyes glared at her, threatening and daring her to contradict their owner.

A silent scream tore from her throat, as tears coursed down her cheeks. “Please,” she begged her assailant.

“Not another word. You’ve been asking for this all night.”

“No! Please. I don’t want this. Stop!” The more she argued and fought the more excited her attackers seemed to get. Two of the three assailants grabbed each of her arms and pinned them to the bed, while the one she considered the ringleader unbuckled his pants. “I won’t tell anyone, just please stop. Don’t do this. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Slick laughed, his dark eyes twinkling. “Oh, I know you won’t because if you do, I’ll f*cking kill you.”

Kicking and twisting, she attempted to break free, but they were too strong for her. “No,” she cried out her throat raw from yelling as she silently prayed for someone to hear her pleas and intervene. But no one did.

“Jocelyn.”

“Go away! Leave me alone!”

“Jocelyn.” Strong hands grasped her shoulders and began to shake her.

She fought against the hold, struggling with all her might before she heard a loud crack followed by a stinging heat in her cheek. Her eyes popped open and it took her a moment to discern where she was and who was holding her. Heart racing, she shook her head to chase away the drowsy pull of sleep. She blinked and saw her father sitting on the bed next to her. “Daddy! What are you doing in here?”

“I heard your screams. I’m sorry I had to smack you, pumpkin, but you wouldn’t snap out of it.” He brushed away the trail of tears staining her cheeks and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “We could hear you all the way down the hall so I thought I would check in on you. I’m glad I did. The last time I heard such terror in your voice was after your mama died. Remember that?”

Jocelyn nodded. “I couldn’t understand why you let them put Mama in that box. The thought of her laying in the ground, in the dark, was terrifying. I guess I didn’t fully grasp the concept of death then.”

“You were only five, baby. I didn’t expect you to, and though some people didn’t think it proper for someone so young to attend a funeral I thought you had just as much right as anyone to be there to say your proper goodbyes.”