Promises: Promises Prevail Part 53

"Stay put or I won't cuddle you." He pressed her back down. It was a toothless threat, considering that his big hands were coasting over her body, touching her everywhere he could as if rea.s.suring himself that she was really there. As if he couldn't get enough of her. Still, because he worried, she settled her cheek back against his chest.

"So what happened when you said no?" His hands went to the muscles knotting in her back, gently ma.s.saging away the tension.

"What makes you think I said no?" The question was more of a groan than a statement. He had wonderfulhands. Her scalp tickled as Clint brushed his lips across her hair.

"I know you, Suns.h.i.+ne." It was the softest of whispers, carrying the utmost of confidence. As Jenna listened to his heartbeat and felt the determination carefully couched in his gentleness, she realized he really did. He knew everything about her, and it didn't matter. He wanted her anyway. She started to cry again.

Big fat tears of relief.

"Tears are not going to sway me, Jenna. I want to know everything."

"I know." She sniffed. The second and third tear came hard on the first. "You don't hate me," she whispered.

"Ah h.e.l.l, is that what has you crying?" He squeezed her carefully. "Suns.h.i.+ne, I could never hate you."

"You don't think I'm weak."

"You're the strongest person I know."

"You don't want me tougher."

"Baby, I want you happy and safe, in my home, loving me, our kids."

He kept answering her statements like they were questions.

"You really do care about me."

"Yes.""And it really doesn't matter."

"No."

"I love you." She worked her arms around his neck.

Moaning and crying at the same time as pain and joy lanced through her. He held her while she cried, steadying her so she didn't have to until, finally, he understood.

"These are happy tears, aren't they?"

"Very happy." She nodded and wiped at the pool collecting in the hollow of his throat. His sigh blew her hair off her face.

"Suns.h.i.+ne, I'm never going to understand you."

"But that's okay."

"Yes." He took a corner of the blanket and wiped her face. "But I still want to know."

She took a breath and gave him the last of her trust.

"They locked me in a grain bin full of rats until I agreed to do what they wanted." She shuddered. "The rats were everywhere. On my face, my legs, under my skirts. I thought I'd go crazy.

"Instead you did what you needed to survive," Clint provided in that deep baritone that soothed.

"Mark raped me then." She ducked her head.

"And he'll die for it." It was a calm statement of fact that brought her face up."You can't kill him!"

"I can do whatever I want." He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at her.

"But that would be murder and we... I need you."

"A man doesn't let an animal like that loose in the world."

"Let the law take care of it."

"He touched you." He cradled her cheek in his palm.

His fingers brushed the bruise on her forehead while his thumbs stroked her lip. "Hurt you. There's no way in h.e.l.l he's seeing another sunrise."

His eyes were the cold, deadly eyes of a stranger. She didn't have any doubt that Mark would not make it to trial if left to Clint.

"Does Cougar feel the same way you do?"

"Yes."

"You've talked to him?"

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"The man laid hands on his wife. I don't need to know any more than that."

"Oh G.o.d, you're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm just going to put a rabid animal out of its misery." His kiss was cool, not the least comforting, hismind clearly on revenge.

"You are going to have to hunt him first," Gray interrupted from the door.

Jenna squealed, knowing she was bare to Gray's gaze. Clint pulled the covers over her body, carefully settling them over her injuries as he slid out from under her.

"You have reason to come barging in, son?"

"I thought you would be caring for her, not doing...

other things."

"I was caring for her."

Jenna peeked out from under her lashes. Gray was staring at her, a brooding expression on his face.

"Mark escaped the jail."

"How?" Clint asked, reaching for his gun belt.

"Someone let him out."

"When?"

"A couple hours ago."

"Who brought the news?"

"Jackson."

"Does Cougar know?"

"He told Jackson he'd meet up with you at the river."

"Is Jackson still downstairs?"

"Yes. He said to tell you that the reverend is stayingwith Mara and he'll stay with Jenna."

"Good."

Jenna caught the pocket of Clint's pants.

"Don't do this."

He buckled his gun belt low in his hips. His hand was gentle on her wrist as he removed her hand. He smoothed the hair off her face, his expression solemn.

"You can ask just about anything of me, Suns.h.i.+ne, except for me to let Mark live."

She bit her lip against the protest that leapt forward.

This was her husband. She knew him the way he knew her. It would be impossible for him to leave Mark free to hurt another woman. She swallowed her selfishness and fear. Nodding her agreement was the hardest thing she'd ever done.

The slightest of smiles lit the cold depths of Clint's black eyes.

Gray broke the silence from the door.

"I am riding with you."

"No." Clint's hair swung forward as he grabbed his black hat off the chair.

"He used to beat my mother like that. Many times.

Many marks." Gray met Jenna's gaze and she wanted to cry for the too-old eyes in such a young face.

Clint settled his Stetson on his head. "He'll neverbeat another woman."

Gray nodded with the purpose of a much older person. "This is true."

"Clint will handle it, Gray," Jenna whispered, scared by the cold-blooded determination in the boy's face.

"It is my debt."

"I need you here." She pushed herself onto her side.

Oh G.o.d, Clint had to do something.

"I have not been a child for many years." Gray's eyes softened with pity. "You must stop thinking of me as one."

"Clint." He was her son. Brianna's brother. Despite what he said, he was still just a child.

"Easy, Jenna," Clint said, "I've got this." In two strides he was at the boy's side. "You're my son now, Gray. That makes your debts mine and I promise you, before the son of a b.i.t.c.h dies, he'll know exactly who's killing him and why."

"Yes."

"Tell him he can't go, Clint." Jenna didn't for one second think he was agreeing to let Clint handle his revenge.

Clint stared at the boy. In that moment they looked so alike, both of their faces drawn tight with fury, their eyes hard with the call for revenge as they took eachother's measure. And she knew. She knew before a word came out of either of their mouths that the decision had been made.

"No."

Gray stepped forward and touched the bruise on her head. She felt his pain and his determination in the brief connection.

"If the G.o.ds will it, I will be back and be proud to be your son."

"And if it goes wrong?"

"Then I will die a man for you to be proud of." His hand dropped to his side. He stepped back. He turned for the door.

"This isn't necessary." She couldn't lose him.

"It is." He didn't pause or flinch. Clint ushered the boy out the door before turning back to her. He filled the doorframe the way he filled her heart to the brim, a big powerful man who always did right.

"I know you don't agree, Jenna, but Gray is right.

He's not a kid, and he's got a bellyful of hate he needs to let loose. If I leave him here, he'll just light out on his own."

"You don't know that." The sheets tightened painfully around her fingers as she twisted them.

"Yes. I do.""How?"

"Because that's what I'd do."

The reality sank past her fears and her denials. If their places were switched, he would. Which meant Gray would, and if Gray had to go at all, it would be better if he was with Clint.

"You'll take care of him?"