She Can Tell by Melinda Leigh Page A

anything from that experience, it was the importance of sticking to his plan. Discipline was the key.
    His immediate goal was to get Rachel to leave.
    The rain picked up, echoing off the inside of his hood. For now, watching was his only release. But he’d do a lot more if she showed any signs of remembering what he’d done.
    Her truck disappeared down the narrow country lane.
    He hoisted the bag of tools over his shoulder and strode across the wet lawn. A decent tracker would see his trail, but the grass and weeds were too thick for his boots to leave discernible prints. He eyed the lock on the door. No problem. He had just the tool for the job. He reached into the bag. His gloved hand closed on his kit.

Chapter Five

    “You’re sure the girls are OK?”
    Rachel settled her sister on the sofa in the den. Sarah’s voice barely slurred, despite her swollen lip. Her arm was in a sling, and the bruises on her face had colored to a rainbow of purples. Physically she looked beaten, but the stubborn set of her jaw and the glint in her soft brown eyes gave Rachel hope that Sarah had finally had enough of Troy.
    “Yeah. They love Mrs. Holloway. They’ll be home soon anyway. The movie ended at three.” Rachel straightened. “Hungry?”
    “Not really, but I’ll eat anyway.”
    “That’s the spirit. Soup?” Despite her sister’s new tenacity, chewing solid food would be challenging for the next few days.
    “OK.” Sarah shifted on the couch. “Rachel, I’m sorry. About everything.”
    “I told you. It’s gonna be all right. I’ll take care of everything.”
    “But I don’t want you to take care of everything.” Moisture glittered in Sarah’s eyes. She looked away. “Marrying Troy was my mistake. He was always temperamental, but I thought when he got away from his father, he’d change. I could make him happy. I used to go to all his baseball games. In the beginning it was OK. It was way better than Mom and Dad’s marriage. But then he got cut from the minor leagues. I’d just had Emma. His dream was gone. He had a wife and two babies to support. He started going to the bar instead of coming home at night. The more he drank, the meaner he got.” Sarah turned back, a spark of anger in her eyes. “But he never hit me before this time. I wouldn’t have stayed with him if he had.”
    “I know.”
    A breath heaved through Sarah’s thin frame as she rested her head on the back of the couch. Whatever resolve she’d bolstered for the drive home deflated. “I promise I’ll pay you back every cent.”
    “And I’ll hold you to it.” Rachel wouldn’t, but Sarah needed the self-respect.
    In the kitchen, Rachel selected a can of chicken noodle from her meager pantry. She dumped the condensed blob into a saucepan.
    Sarah needed a high-powered attorney. Troy’s daddy’s money could buy a hell of a lawyer. And the bastard wouldn’t do it because he wanted the girls. He’d only try to take them to hurt and control Sarah. None of that mattered. Sarah had to keep her children. Whatever the cost.
    With a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, she picked up her cell phone. Blake’s number was still on speed dial, as if she could still call him at any time for advice or just to talk. So much for her being over what had happened between them.
    “Rachel?” Surprise colored Blake’s voice.
    She couldn’t do polite banter, not with Blake. She didn’t want to give him false hope, but she needed his help. She blurted out, “I need a favor.”
    What was wrong with her? She couldn’t even manage a simple
hi,
how are you?
    “What’s going on, Rachel?” Blake’s tone sharpened. “I haven’t heard from you in six months.”
    “I know. I’m sorry. For everything.” Exhaustion smoothed her voice. “Let me start again. How—”
    “I miss you.” Visceral emotion filled those three words.
    She closed her eyes and rested the phone against her forehead for a few seconds. She missed him too, but she couldn’t say