Her Adoring SEAL (Midnight Delta Book 3) (8 page)

“You’re bringing the sisters that close together?  Is it wise?”

“We want to keep them close together so there will be plenty of back-up for protection.”

“Where exactly will Beth and I be?”

“Santa Monica.”  Jack wasn’t too familiar with the city, but he’d been there.  “Is this a safe house the US Marshals are providing?”

“Hell no. It’s another SEAL—his girlfriend’s house.  She’s going to stay with him.  It’s not as isolated as your ranch, and it’s not going to be as easy to protect, but we have the personnel.”

Jack mulled over what Clint told him, and realized he wasn’t being told everything.  “You can’t be stretched that thin.  Where are her parents being stashed?”

Clint chuckled.  “I like you, Jack.”

“Cut the shit.”

“They’re going to be close by too.  They’ve moved the trial venue to California,” Clint explained.

“Doesn’t it have to stay in the same state?”

“Apparently not since it’s a federal case.  Too much publicity and too many threats in Texas, so they moved it to LA.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say so in the first place?”

“Because we’re still arguing with the Marshals.  Right now the girl’s parents are still with Finn in the frozen tundra of Middle America.  The Marshals are demanding for the next move they be in charge of their care.”

“That’s a bad move.  The Marshals were infiltrated before, what makes them think they won’t be again?” Jack asked.

“Because they would work with a small team in California.”

“Will Beth be able to see her parents?  Will she be able to see Lydia?”

“Hell Jack, until I’m satisfied that the Marshals have cleaned house, there is only going to be contact between Lydia and Beth.”

Jack sighed in relief.  He was in total agreement.

“But Preston, I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Does Beth know your intentions?”

Jack took a deep breath.  “You mean what I said to Mason?”

“That’d be what I’m talking about.”

“I didn’t know it’s how I felt until the words came out of my mouth.  So no, she doesn’t know.  When I’ve tried to broach any kind of relationship she shuts down.  She doesn’t think she’s capable.  It’s my job to prove to her otherwise.”

“Gotchya.  Let me tell you, these Hidalgo women are worth it.”

Jack grinned.  “So, when do we leave?”

“Tonight.”

“I better go tell Beth.”

****

S
omething was up.  Jack had been holed up in his father’s study for the last three hours, and he’d missed their riding lesson.  It was the second one they were going to have since she had gotten home from the hospital, and she knew only something important would have made him miss it.  She was nervous, so she was out in the garden with Boone.

The dog barked his welcome, and she looked over her shoulder to see Jack walking over towards her with a strained smile.  She gave a tentative smile in return, and stood brushing the dirt off her jeans.

“Sweetheart, I have some good news and a change in plans.”

“So no bad news?”  She knew Jack, he would try to protect her.  He wouldn’t want to worry her.  There was some bad news hidden somewhere.

“The good news is you’re going to be able to see Lydia sooner than we thought.”

“Is she all right?”

“She’s fine.  They’ve decided to move the trial from Texas to California.  So all of you are going to be moving.  Lydia is going to San Diego, your parents are going to Los Angeles and we’re going to Santa Monica.”

“I’m still not good with the geography of the United States, but aren’t all of those places in California?”

“Yes.”

“I thought we’re supposed to be kept far apart.  This doesn’t make sense.”

Jack took a deep breath.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“It’s because they can keep more Navy personnel guarding all of you if you’re in the Southern California area.  They wouldn’t put you in harm’s way.  If they say it’s okay for all of you to be in the same area until the trial, then it’s okay.”

“Can I talk to Lydia today?”

“Better than that.  You’ll get to see her tomorrow.”

He was trying too hard, and Beth understood why.  She appreciated his efforts, but she was tired of it.  If she didn’t start standing up for herself she was always going to be treated like a delicate little girl.  Stepping forward, she rested one hand on his broad chest and pushed a wayward strand of straw colored hair from his forehead.

“Tell me the truth, I’m a big girl, I can handle it.  Why do we have to leave the ranch?”

He took in another deep breath.

“Somehow the people at the hospital found out your real name.  It’s now in the hospital records that Beth Hidalgo was a patient there, not Beth Ochoa.”  She reeled backwards, but he caught both of her hands.

“What?  What is it Beth?”

“It’s my fault.  When I first woke up, they asked me my name, and I told them my real name.  I did this Jack.  I messed up. 
Madre de Dios
.”

She turned her head away in shame.

“Look at me Beth, it’s not a problem, we adapt.”

“It is a problem.  I am an
idiota
.”

“Stop it.  You’re not an idiot.  You’d been unconscious.  You were in a lot of pain, and the doctor was asking you questions.  Chances are I would have done the same thing.” 

She stopped and looked at him.  He looked sincere. 

“Really?”

“Really.  I’ve had drugs for wounds and they’ve made me disoriented.  It’s tough to fight the effects.”

“You’ve been wounded?” Beth asked, zeroing in on the most important thing he’d said—at least to her.

“Just a couple of times, and they weren’t bad.  I’ve been lucky.”

Beth thought it would be rude to ask what happened or where he was injured, but she wanted to know. 

“We leave tomorrow?”

“No, Beth, we leave immediately.  Your location has been compromised.  Dad is going to take mom on a vacation for the next couple of weeks just to be on the safe side.  She and Rosa are inside packing.”  Jack let go of one of her hands, and brushed her bottom lip where she was biting it. 

“Sweetheart, you’re biting so hard you’ll bleed.”

“I’ve ruined everything.  I need to go in and say good-bye.”

“I’ll go with you, and you haven’t ruined anything.  Mom is over the moon at the idea of a vacation with dad.  She said she’s been trying to get him away from work for two years.  She’s going to kiss you.”

“Mmm hmm.”  Jack tugged her hand and drew her towards the house.  That was the thing about him.  He was always on her side, and she was going to be the same way.  She pulled back. 

“Everything’s fine.”  He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.  Every good intention washed away.  He deserved better than her.  He needed someone who wasn’t broken.  Here he was, having to clean up her screw-up.  But she couldn’t resist the lure of his hug, and she snuggled in.

He smelled so good, like leather, soap, and a scent that was just Jack.  He was so big compared to her, but she always felt safe when he was near.  She relaxed for the moment and basked in his strength, enjoying it while she could.  Soon enough they’d have to part.

****

“S
hoo.  I want to talk to Beth alone.”  Beth loved the look of warm indulgence on Jack’s face. 

“Yes, Mom.  But remember she and I have to leave in the next hour.”

“Well the sooner you leave, the sooner she and I will be done.  Now shoo.”  He chuckled and left.

Rosa already left Grace’s bedroom, so it was just the two of them. 

“Come and sit down, honey.”  She patted a spot on the bed beside her, and Beth sat down.  She had no idea what Jack’s mother might have to say, but she was ready for anything.

“I can’t tell you how impressed I am with you.” 
Well, anything but that.

Beth stared at Jack’s mother.

“I’m serious.  You experienced a terrible trauma, you’ve been on the run, and then there was the damn snake, and yet you’ve kept it all together.  You’re a remarkable young woman.  I only see one problem.”

Here it comes.

“You don’t know how special you are.”

“Grace, I don’t think you’re seeing things clearly.  I still have nightmares.  I’m still scared of so much.  I’m the one who told my real name and now we all have to leave.  I’ve messed up things badly and I’m like a little scared bunny.”

Grace laughed.  “That’s exactly what I mean.  Real courage is doing things despite being scared.  You haven’t hidden away and stayed in your bedroom.  You have dealt with your fears and interacted with my husband and David, even though they reminded you of your attackers.”

“Thank you, but you’re giving me too much credit.”  Grace nodded, as if she had made a decision.

“Has Jack told you my background?  Did he tell you why I walk with a cane?”

“He told me about his father, but he didn’t tell me about the cane.”

“Jack’s biological father was very abusive.  He beat me.  He hurt Jack sometimes too, and I wasn’t able to protect him.”

Beth clenched her fists.  She hated the thought of either Grace or Jack having been hurt, but especially Jack as a small child.  Grace placed her hand over Beth’s.

“I know.  I know.  But Jack was so strong, so stoic.”

“Stoic?”  She didn’t understand the word.

“He never showed he was scared.  Sometimes I think it would have been better if he had, it would have calmed Burt down.  Instead Jack would just stare him down.  It would infuriate my husband.” 

“What happened then?  What happened to you?  How did you end up injured?”

“One night he’d been drinking.  I think he’d gotten into an argument while he was out, and lost some money.  He came home so angry, and needed to take it out on someone.  I’d made dinner, but he didn’t like it.  It had dried out because he’d come home so late.”

Grace gulped.  She looked down and picked at the quilt covering the bed.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”

“You’re a sweet girl.  I want you to see we’re not all that different.  That you
can
make a life for yourself no matter what happens.  You’re starting to, but you can have so much more.”

Beth’s laugh sounded hollow even to her.  She and Grace couldn’t be more different.  This woman was vibrant.  Everyone gravitated towards her.  Hell, Beth couldn’t even take classes at a university.

“I can see you don’t agree with me, but let me finish my story.  Burt came home that night and he pushed me down and kicked me.  He kept kicking me.  Jack ran to the neighbor’s house and got help, and they called the police.  I was passed out on the floor by the time they arrived.  Someone told me Burt was calmly sitting at the table eating his supper.”

Beth could picture it.  Her family lived in a very bad neighborhood when she was young, and there had been a lot of violence.  Domestic violence had not been uncommon.  “What happened next?”

“Burt was sent to prison, and I was hospitalized.  Jack was sent to foster care for three months while I recovered, since I had no family to take him.  When I got out, we had to live in a shelter.  It was over two years before I could really talk to anyone, let alone a man.  That’s why I’m so impressed with you.”

“You’re kidding, right?  Our stories are nothing alike.  You went through so much more than I ever have.”

“Really, Beth?  My gut tells me you’ve been scared longer than you’ve let on.  I think it’s remarkable that you’ve come so far so fast.  I want you to take it a little further.  Trust my son.  He’s a good man.”

Now it was Beth’s turn to twist the fabric on the quilt.  How could this woman see things so much more clearly than even her family?

“I can’t really talk about it.”

“Eventually you’ll need to talk to someone.  You can’t carry these types of burdens alone.  Trust me, I know.  In the meantime, I wanted you to know how much I admire you, and believe in you.”

That was it.  Beth burst into tears.

“Oh honey.”

Grace cradled her close to her heart.  Not even with her mother, had she felt so understood and cared for.  Too often
she
needed to be the caretaker.

“Just let it out.”

Beth thought about what was said at the shack where they’d been held prisoner, and the visits at her father’s office when she’d helped out.  She was scared.  It’d been fine when they didn’t know where she was, when she’d been under an assumed name, but now...  She pushed out of Grace’s arms.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow.  Richard and I are going to a friend’s house in Florida.”

Beth wiped her eyes.

“Leave today.”  Grace must have seen something in her face.

“All right, we will.  But Beth, I’m serious, you need to trust my son.  He’s good at what he does.  He can help you, but only if he knows everything that’s going on.  I’ve been in your shoes.  Keeping secrets will get you hurt, maybe even killed.”

“I’ll think about what you said.  But I’m probably making this all up in my head.  I overreact to things.  My parents say I need to be more like Lydia.”

“I’ve never met your sister.  But I stand by what I said.  Don’t doubt yourself, Beth.  Tell Jack what you’re thinking.  Trust your instincts.”

“Maybe I will.”

Grace rubbed her hip.  “Can you go over to my dresser and get that blue box?” 

Beth saw a small jeweler’s box.  “This one?”

“Yes.  Bring it to me.”  Beth handed it to her. 

“No, no.  It’s for you. Open it.”

Beth frowned.  But at Grace’s insistent expression, she opened the box and saw a beautiful heart shaped opal necklace.  Grace pulled out a similar one from beneath her blouse.

“Richard gave me this soon after we met.  It was his grandmother’s.  She was from Australia.  It’s supposed to help the wearer reach their highest potential.  I don’t know if I believe that, but Edna managed the family cattle ranch after her husband died.  I know after I started wearing it I believed in myself more.  It could just be the power of suggestion.  But I wanted you to have one too.”

Beth stared at the beautiful blue stone flashing with hints of green and red.  She’d never seen anything so pretty.