Earth and Sky

well behaved, and they could practically see the school’s entrance from where they’d had breakfast.

Chapter 29

    Grant scooted back into the booth and took a swig from his now half-cold coffee in the hope it would help him relax and feel less of the pain. He was grateful that Hunter had given him this time with Christy, because he’d seen the bruise on her arm, and although he felt uneasy about pointing it out to her, he felt he had no choice.

    Christy was sitting across from him, uncharacteristically avoiding his scrutiny.

    “Everything okay, Chris?”

    She nodded, staring at the table with the leftover pancakes. The waitress came to clear the plates and offer more coffee, but after she was gone, Grant knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. He touched her arm, pushing the sleeve up to reveal the bruise. “Did he do this to you?”

    She shrugged.

    “Christy.” Grant sighed. “This scares me, when I see you hurting.”

    “It doesn’t hurt.”

    “Chris.” Grant sighed. “It’s bad enough that I’m so far away and I can’t protect you and the kids from him.”

    “I don’t need you to protect me.”

    “Stop protecting him, then!” Grant sighed once more. He hadn’t realized how loud his voice had sounded until he shouted at her. This wasn’t helping. People were staring at them, and Grant tried to calm himself down. And on top of everything, his painkillers were wearing off and his breathing was becoming painful again.

    “He never does anything when the kids are around. It always happens when he comes home late at night and he’s been driving for days and he’s tired. The kids are all in bed by then.”

    Grant swallowed, trying to keep the rage from showing. “I’m glad he doesn’t hurt the kids, but what happens if he loses it and hurts you so badly you can’t take care of them anymore?” He didn’t want to say, “What if he kills you, Christy?” but that was certainly what he was thinking. “Come with me, Chris. Pack the kids and come with me.”

    She shook her head. “I can’t. He feels horrible about it when it happens. It’s just when he’s tired. When he’s had a good night’s sleep, he’s really sweet to me and the kids. He takes us on trips and buys them stuff and plays catch with them in the yard. I swear he never lays a finger on them, Grant.”

    The pleading look on her face made Grant feel defeated. He knew there was nothing he could do.

    Christy pulled down her sleeve so the bruise was covered and then put her hand over Grant’s. “So is he your…?” She gestured outside.

    “Yeah,” Grant replied softly.

    “I’m glad,” she said. “He’s cute.”

    Grant smiled wryly. Although he was still feeling uneasy about the situation Christy and the kids were in, he was happy to see his old friend reemerge. “Don’t know if he’ll appreciate being called cute, but he’s special to me, Chris.”

    She squeezed his hand. “I know. I see the way he looks at you and how you look at him. You’d have to be blind to miss that.”

    “Didn’t know we were that obvious.”

    Christy smiled. “I’m glad you found someone, Grant. Are you living with him?”

    Grant shrugged. “He’s my boss, actually. Owns a big-ass ranch out in South Idaho.”

    “You were living in Idaho a while ago too.”

    “Different ranch and different man,” Grant admitted.

    “So he’s got money?”

    “I suppose,” Grant replied. “It’s a family ranch, so it doesn’t really matter.”

    “He’s got a family?”

    “Everyone has a family, Christy,” Grant answered with a smile.

    “You and I don’t.”

    “True,” Grant agreed. “We just have each other. And you have the kids.”

    “I do. And they mean the world to me, Grant. You know that, right?”

    Grant nodded. He never doubted that. “Just keep them safe, okay? And if you need anything, I’m at the Blue River Ranch in Idaho, near St. Anthony. Everyone in town knows the ranch and Hunter’s family.”

    “So you’re thinking of staying there permanently?” she asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

    “If it were up to me, yes. Hunter’s pretty hooked on the place. It used to be his father’s, and now he runs it with his sisters and his mother.”

    “Sounds like they could use another man around the house.”

    Grant chuckled, getting a painful reminder of his injured ribs. “I think they’re just fine without my interference.”

    “Does he need you? Hunter?”

    Grant