Beautifully Wounded (The Beaumont Brothers) by Susan Griscom Read Free Book Online Page B

going. This girl was injured, in more ways than one.
    “ Um ... listen, I have some clothes you could put on. Nothing fancy, and I’m sure they’ll be three sizes too big for you, but at least you won’t have to wear your coat all the time. I’ll go get them. I live in the house down there.” I pointed to the large three story stone house that sat on the other side of the driveway in front of our massive backyard—close to two acres—spanning down to the three-foot wide creek that flowed most of the year.
    Lena glanced out the window. “You mean that park down there is part of your backyard? I guess with a dog like Rufus you would need a backyard that size.”
    “ Yeah. You sit. Relax. I’ll be right back. Rufus stay.”
    It was n't like me to eavesdrop, and I had full intentions of walking straight down those steps, but when I closed the door I heard her speaking to Rufus, and the sound of her sweet fragile voice had me frozen in my steps.
    “ Ahhh, Rufus. I'm so scared. What's going to happen to me? If they find Troy's body they'll surely put me in jail. I know he would have killed me this time. I don't think they'll believe me. Do you believe me Rufus?”
    Who was Troy? And did she kill him? If so, it must have been self-defense. But then why was she running?
    I pictured her hands on the dogs face, looking at him square in the eye, and Rufus licking her chin. I knew my dog, knew he'd nuzzle up against her leg with an assiduous look to his deep-set eyes as if he understood every word she said.
    “ You're a good dog, aren't you, Rufus, boy. Yeah, you like that don't cha?”
    Realizing I stood frozen and riveted over each and every one of her words, I forced myself down the steps to retrieve the promised, but almost forgotten , clothes. After rummaging through my drawers searching for those small grey sweat pants I had back in high school, I finally found them in a corner on the floor of my closet. When and how they got there, I had no clue. Less than ten minutes later I raced back up the stairs, juggling a couple of long sleeve thermal shirts and the grey sweat pants in my arms. I didn’t just walk right in though. I knocked before opening the door about an inch, and asked if it was okay to come in.
    “ Yeah sure, of course.”
    “ Here’s a pair of sweat pants that are small on me and might fit better than my others, and a couple of shirts.
    “ Thanks.”
    “ I’ll see what I might be able to come up with from one of Brodie’s girlfriends, but in the meantime, these should work.” I handed her the clothes as our furry grey and white cat slinked her way past me and rubbed up against Lena.
    “ That’s Rosie, she’ll rub the heck out of your legs if you don’t pick her up and pet her for a few minutes, but you should go ahead and change. I’ll be back in a few and get you set up with some clean bedding.”
    She picked up the cat, stroked her head, and smiled as she looked up at me with a bemused expression. “ One of his girlfriends?”
    “ Yeah, that’s Brodie. Anyway, you can go ahead and change if you want. I’ll be back up in a few.”
    “ Jackson ... if it’s okay, I think I’d like to bathe first. I um ...”
    “ Oh yeah.” How inconsiderate of me. Anyone in their right mind would want to shower after what she’d been through. “Of course. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Let me just make sure that there’s some soap in there. I’ll run down and get you some towels and stuff.”

Chapter 1 0
    Lena
     
     
    I sat on the daybed looking around, noting there were no pictures on the walls, and very little furniture, and that the kitchen counters were completely bare. Then I remembered he’d said it was a rental. I patted the dog some more and stroked the cat before taking the clothes into the bathroom. I set them on top of the counter and ran the water in the tub, letting it run over my fingers as it filled. I debated as to whether I should wait for him to come back up with towels before