Catherine Mann - Safe In The Rancher's Arms - Stranded with the Rancher / Sheltered by the Millionaire / Pregnant by the Texan

Royal was a great place to live and raise a family, but in situations of chaos, the occasional vermin crawled out to prey on others’ misfortune.

By the time the sun hung low in the sky, Drew was beat. He and Jed grabbed a burger at a restaurant offering free dinners to rescue personnel. They stood outside to eat, in full view of what was left of Town Hall. Almost all of the three-story building had been leveled. Only a portion of the clock tower still stood, the hands of time perpetually frozen at 4:14.

Drew’s stomach knotted. He tossed the last half of his meal in a trash receptacle and stared at the eerie scene. It was painful remembering where he and Beth had been at the moment they heard the sirens. Why had they been spared when others had not?

It was one of those questions with no answer.

He turned his back on the tragic scene and rubbed the heels of his hands over his eyes. Jed’s light touch on his shoulder startled him.

“You doin’ okay, big brother?”

Drew nodded automatically, but inside he wondered if anything would ever be okay again. “Yeah.”

Jed rolled his neck. “A bunch of the TCC guys and gals are going to meet at the club first thing in the morning for another follow-up meeting.”

“Good idea.” Jed lived in Dallas and was a part of that branch of the Texas Cattleman’s Club. He was only visiting Royal for the moment, but he knew most of the same people Jed knew. Unfortunately, he’d picked a hell of a time to come. Drew was glad to have him around.

“I ran into Gil Addison while you were talking to the fire chief. Gil has been coordinating the whole thing. He wants to ensure that we’re pooling resources and maximizing relief efforts.”

“Makes sense.” Gil owned a thriving ranch south of town and had been TCC president for two years. Drew checked his watch. “I promised Beth we’d get her house secure before tonight. We’d better head back.”

“Suits me. There’s going to be plenty to do tomorrow.”

* * *

Beth couldn’t wait to see Drew again. When he wandered into the kitchen, she could see from his expression that the work today had been heartbreaking and difficult.

“Have you eaten?” she asked.

“Jed and I got a burger in town.”

“You want some dessert? Mrs. Simmons made apple pie.”

“Maybe later. We need to get out to your place.”

She nodded. “Your foreman has been so kind. He’s already loaded everything we’ll need into the back of your truck.”

“Jed’s going to help me. You don’t have to go. It might be dangerous.”

She frowned. “It’s my house.”

“Fine,” he said, his tone resigned. “Be out front in five minutes.”

Beth grabbed a jacket and a flashlight. Despite what Drew had said that morning, she planned to recover a few valuables. She lived out in the country, but even so, she didn’t like the idea of her home being vulnerable to anyone who chose to intrude. Drew was used to being obeyed. That much was clear. But he would have to get over it. Accepting his help did not mean letting him boss her around.

He climbed behind the wheel of his huge truck, leaving Beth and Jed to enter from the other side. Beth found herself sandwiched between two handsome Farrell males. Both men carried an air of exhaustion. She decided then and there not to deliberately provoke Drew.

He had been out working, while she had enjoyed the luxury of a wonderful nap tucked beneath a fluffy comforter, resting on sheets soft as a whisper. The bed Drew had chosen for her was huge and comfy and decadent. Did he have any thought of sharing it with his guest at some point in the future?

Her focus changed entirely as they traveled the relatively short distance between the two properties. Not a word was spoken in the cab of the truck as they witnessed the storm’s track. It had effectively ripped a trail along the private road, turning abruptly to power over Beth’s property and head toward town.

As they parked in front of her house and got out, the memories of the tornado came rushing back. It’s over, she told herself repeatedly, but still her knees knocked and her stomach pitched.

She touched Drew’s arm, her gaze beseeching. “I’d like to get my computer and pack a few clothes. If I go in through the side that’s not damaged, I’m sure it will be fine.”

He glanced back at Jed. “I’ll stay with her. Do you mind sorting out the supplies? We’ll do the tarps in a few minutes.”

Jed nodded. “No problem.”

Beth’s house was small, but even so, it was almost unbelievable to see what was damaged and what was not. The back of the house was relatively unscathed. One broken window...a few shingles missing. The bedrooms were habitable. At the front of the house, the small living room wasn’t in bad shape except where a piece of lumber had punctured the vinyl siding. But the kitchen was a mess. The tornado had ripped apart one quarter of the house, shattering crockery and literally plucking off the roof and twisting it into an unrecognizable mess.

Standing in what used to be the doorway to her kitchen, Beth lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “Well,” she said, forcing words from a tight throat. “I needed new appliances anyway.”

Drew took her hand and tugged her backward to a safer part of the house. “Don’t go in there, please. Anything could fall on your head. And Beth....” He trailed off, his expression troubled.

“What?”

“Just because the rest of the home seems intact doesn’t mean that it is. It’s entirely possible that the house was momentarily lifted off its foundation. Which means you may have structural damage that could result in leaks or other problems. I don’t want to upset you, but it’s better to assume the worst and then be happy if it turns out not to be as bad as we think.”

He was right, of course. But hearing it laid out logically did nothing to lessen the impact of what had happened. She had worked so hard for this house. It was more than four walls and a roof. It was a symbol of all she had overcome. Seeing it in shambles broke her heart.

With Drew hovering, she quickly packed a bag with as many clothes as she could grab. Other than her computer and some pieces of jewelry, the only things worth stealing were her television and Blu-ray player. She sincerely doubted anyone would go to the trouble to drive out here and take electronics, so she left the living room as it was. As she handed off her small suitcase to Drew, it occurred to her that theft might be the least of her worries. What was going to happen when it rained? The tarps were surely a short-term solution.

Clearly, she wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding her jangled emotions. Drew hugged her with his free arm. “I know it seems overwhelming, but I’ll help you get things back together. Contractors, plumbers.... whoever else you need. You do have insurance, right?”

“Yes, thank God. And I think it’s pretty good. But I’ve never had to use it.”

“C’mon,” he said. “It’s almost dark. We have to string up the tarps while we can still see.”

They carried her things out to the truck and put them in the jump seat. Jed had already untangled ropes and unfolded three enormous sheets of heavy plastic. Beth leaned against the hood and watched as her Good Samaritans struggled and cursed and finally managed to get the first tarp in place. Gradually they encased the broken portion of the house in a shroud of overlapping layers.

It wasn’t airtight. And it wouldn’t keep out varmints, animal or otherwise. But hopefully it would protect her personal belongings from the weather. If she had to, she would rent a storage unit and move her things out of the house until the repairs were done. Since most of her furniture was thrift shop in origin, she wasn’t too worried.