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Ryder shot a loving glance at his daughter. “Two going on forty.” He carefully rotated her wrist, and Grace gave a sharp intake of breath. “Sorry. Did that hurt?”
“A little.” Grace forced a smile, trying to mask her discomfort.
He pushed up her sleeve, checking the line of her forearm, exposing the purple bruises that marked her upper arm. Fingerprint bruises.
Crap. Grace snatched at her sleeve and tugged it down. She avoided Ryder’s gaze, focusing on the counter, anywhere but at the questions in his eyes. This was why she didn’t accept help. People asked questions and everything became dangerous and complicated.
A cry of triumph came from the opposite side of the counter. “Daddy. Unca Cale. Cookie!” Ellie held up a cookie, triumphantly perched on Caleb’s shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world. Blonde waves framed her pixie face and Grace wondered what her mother looked like. Beautiful, if she was anything like Ellie.
Richard had never wanted children and so she had never allowed herself to consider what it might be like. It was too painful and what was the point of enduring pain for thinking about something that would never happen? She touched her belly with tentative fingers. Richard had made sure of that.
Ryder wagged a finger at his brother. “Caleb, I’ve spoken to you before about the C word.”
Caleb winged one eyebrow at Ryder and kissed the top of Ellie’s head as she munched. “Favorite uncles are excluded from all your rules and regulations.”
Ryder turned his concern back to Grace. He’d seen the bruises. It was clear in the furrow between his brows. “You need to get that checked out with an X-ray. Make sure there’s no broken bones. I can’t tell just by looking or manipulation.”
“Sure.” Grace nodded mechanically, her mouth dry. She needed to escape, to flee from well-meaning inquiries and offers of help. The net was closing in around her, and she couldn’t bear the thought of entangling these kind-hearted people in her dangerous reality.
“Caleb can take you.” Ryder snapped his medical case shut.
“Sure,” Grace repeated, her mind spinning with the need for a plan, for a way out.
Ryder lifted Ellie from Caleb’s shoulders. “Come on, Pumpkin. We need to go. Daycare beckons.” He shrugged a coat over her shoulders and pulled a hat onto her head.
“Grace, it was a pleasure to meet you.” He dipped his head at her, then faced his brother so she couldn’t see his expression. “Caleb, a word.” He jerked his head to the front porch and headed out with his daughter.
Caleb raised a finger to Grace. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
11
Caleb followed Ryder out onto the porch.
Dolly bounded between them, sprinting for the squirrels digging through the snow on the edge of the forest. He took a deep breath of chilly, moss-scented air. Never got old. Closing the front door behind him with a firm hand, he braced himself for the conversation he knew was coming. He didn’t want Grace to hear what was on Ryder’s mind. Heck, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it.
“She needs an X-ray, Caleb.”
“I know.” Caleb stuck his hands in his pockets. They both understood the X-ray wasn’t the only matter at hand.
Ryder’s gaze bore into Caleb, his concern etching itself at the corners of his eyes. “There are bruises on her forearm.”
“She had a rough night last night.” Caleb left it at that. The sight of Ellie resting her head on her dad’s shoulder prevented him from going any further. Simpler to keep Ryder out of the full loop. As a single dad, Ryder had enough on his plate and there was no way Caleb wanted those goons anywhere near his niece.
“Not just bruises.” Ryder wasn’t easily deflected. “Fingerprints. Purple marks from where someone has grabbed her and damn near broken her arm.” Ryder’s breath formed wispy clouds.
Caleb’s eyes snapped to the screen door. On the other side, Grace sipped her coffee, both hands wrapped around her mug for comfort. The sight of her there, at peace, stirred an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach. Bruises. Some bastard had hurt her. He took his hands out of his pockets and gripped the porch railing. “I’ll speak to her.”
“Where exactly did you find her?” Ryder’s tone grew insistent.
“She’s not lost property, Ryder.”
Ryder bared his teeth. “You know what the f—, damn it, you know what I mean.”
“Daddy.” Ellie buried her face in his neck.
Ryder cupped her small head with one hand. “I know, sweetie, we’re just going.”
“She was on Barrow road.” Caleb stared at the forest edge. The squirrels had vanished and Dolly was snuffling through the snow, throwing up billows of white frosty dust. “I was on my way home from drinks last night, came across her car… I already told you that.”
