Van, Becca - Double E Ranch [Slick Rock 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Becca van Page B

the door before exiting the bathroom. She began to pack up her stuff and hid what she could in the closets and bathroom. If everything went according to plan, maybe she wouldn’t need to ask Jack for help after all. The more she thought about it, the more she was determined to leave in the early hours of the morning. It was better if she didn’t talk to Jack since he was the ranch foreman. Even though she liked him and he seemed to like her, because he was in charge of the ranch hands, he might get it into his head to let his bosses know what she was up to.
    Once Felicity had everything organized, she slid into bed, hoping to catch a couple of hours sleep before she could sneak her belongings to her car. Not that she had much stuff, but someone would definitely notice her forays in and out of the house with her couple of boxes and case of clothing. If she encountered anyone, she would act as if nothing was wrong. She would have to figure out what to tell them about her being up and about in the early hours, if she got caught. But she didn’t think she would have any problems. She planned to be well and truly on her way by 3:00 a.m. It should be a piece of cake.
    Then why the hell did she feel so miserable?

    * * * *

    “Do you have any idea what the hell that was about?” Luke asked as he sat on the living room sofa drinking coffee.
    “No. Has she said anything to you, Billy?” Tom asked.
    “Nope. I mean, what the hell? It looked like she was so full of pain, like her heart was breaking, with her crying so much. I wish she would open up and talk to us. God, who knew it would be so hard to start courting a woman?” Billy asked.
    “She’s only really been seen talking to Jack. Maybe we should call him over from the bunkhouse, see if he knows anything about her,” Tom queried.
    “I’ll go get him,” Billy stated.
    Luke watched as his friend’s long legs ate up the distance to the back door rapidly. He wasn’t surprised when Billy was back ten minutes later, Jack at his side. The two men took seats and looked at him then Tom.
    “Thanks for coming over, Jack. We have a few questions to ask you regarding Felicity. Does she talk to you much besides ranch business?” Tom asked.
    Luke saw Jack relax back into his seat, and knew the man had been concerned over being asked up to the house. Luke and his friends began trying to pump Jack for information about Felicity. He admired the way Jack took his time to think over his thoughts before he began to speak.
    “I know her parents died when she was just a toddler. I asked her about them one day, and she said she couldn’t remember her parents and went on to explain why. She didn’t tell me how they died though.”
    “Can you remember anything else?” Luke asked, leaning forward, waiting for a reply.
    “I think she said an elderly maiden aunt raised her, but she didn’t go into any detail. Oh, she’s been on her own since she was seventeen. That I do remember. I thought it was way too young for a female to have to be alone. Can I enquire why all the questions?” Jack asked curiously.
    “We want to claim her as ours. We laid down the law to her tonight, and she got upset. Her tears were nearly more than we could bear. Then she had the audacity to yell at us and lock herself in the bathroom,” Billy stated. Luke watched in amazement as Jack threw his head back and burst out laughing.
    “I’m sorry. I know it probably doesn’t seem funny to you, but I just had a picture of that tiny woman going at you then storming off in a temper. She’s such a feisty little thing. She can be so cool and controlled, but when her temper gets the better of her, boy, she nearly singes you with her fire.”
    “Hmm, I think you’ve hit on something there, Jack. Thanks for coming over and talking to us,” Luke said then shook Jack’s hand. Tom and Billy rose to their feet, thanking him and shaking Jack’s hand as well. Luke watched the foreman leave, the man still chuckling