Page 40 of Herding Cat

Granted, nearly dying first thing in the morning could do that to a guy. Make him imagine he was in love. And he would never forget that moment of terror when he’d seen that assailant’s gun pointed at her. A feeling of absolute dread had possessed him before he’d launched himself between her and that threat.

It had been a cold and terrifying flash of time. He’d glimpsed a world without her in it, and he didn’t want to be there.

Surely that was love of some kind, wasn’t it?

He didn’t know. He was hardly an expert.

He’d spent his whole life avoiding tender emotions, at least the lasting kind.

“Are you coming?” Luke asked. His tone was decidedly snarky.

“Yes.” A bark.

“Then come on.”

Garrett braced himself on the car door and levered out with a groan.

Luke shook his head and clucked his tongue. “You really should go to the hospital.”

“I’m fine.” And what could they do for him? Give him an aspirin? He knew, from experience, he would ache for a couple days and, if a rib hadn’t been shattered, he’d be just fine.

Still, it took him forever to make the short walk from the car to the stoop.

Mae laughed at him. “You look like an old man,” she said.

It annoyed him that Catherine agreed.

“I’ll feel better in a bit.”

They all nodded, but judging from their expressions, no one believed him for a moment.

It didn’t matter. He wasn’t leaving Catherine—not even to go to the hospital. Even though they had trounced the last assailant her brother-in-law had sent, she was probably out of the woods for the time being, and Tate and Luke could manage without him, he simply could not leave her.

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Mrs. Parsons met them at the door, her bun askew. Her gaze lit on little Mae and she nearly collapsed right there in the doorway. “There you are!” She clutched her chest. “I’ve been worried sick.”

Catherine passed the little girl’s hand into the headmistress’s. “She came to our hotel.”

Mrs. Parsons went white. “All that way? On your own? Mae, you didn’t!”

“I had to ask her.”

“I told you not to bother her.”

“I had to ask.” Mae turned her big brown eyes on Catherine. Garrett watched her melt. “I had to know.”

Catherine hunkered down. “I always keep my word, Mae,” she said, brushing the girl’s hair back and curling it around a tiny ear. “I promise.”

“I am so sorry,” Mrs. Parsons gushed. “I hope she wasn’t a bother.”

“Oh, never. She’s a doll,” Catherine said.

“She’s always slipping out.”

“She is a clever girl.” Catherine turned her attention back to Mae. “Do you see how much you’ve frightened Mrs. Parsons?”

Mae nodded.