Risky Return. Virginia Vaughan

      Her statement did nothing to alleviate the concern on Janice’s face. “Honey, look at you. What happened?”

      She hadn’t seen a mirror but she figured she looked as black and blue and beat-up as she felt.

      “Who did this?” her father demanded, slicing his eyes at Collin, who stepped farther away from her bed. She didn’t care for the distance he’d put between them.

      “Do you know why someone attacked you?” Janice asked her as she sat down.

      “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” her father said. “That neighborhood she lives in is dangerous. You should have let me buy you a place in a nicer area.” She was used to his comments about her modest home, but she loved her neighborhood and she didn’t want his money.

      He turned on Collin next. “What are you doing here?”

      She rushed to his defense. “It’s okay, Dad. He was there when I was attacked.”

      Her father gasped and turned to her. “He was at your house tonight?”

      “No, I meant the first time I was attacked. This afternoon.” She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was four a.m. “I mean, yesterday afternoon.”

      They both gaped at her and she realized Kent had obviously not filled them in about the multiple attacks.

      “Someone attacked me in the parking lot of the grocery store today. Collin was there.” She glanced at him and smiled, true gratitude welling up inside of her. “He saved my life.”

      Janice leaped to her feet. “Then he’s a hero.” She rushed over to him and threw her arms around Collin’s neck. “Thank you for being there. We all owe you a debt.”

      “Yes,” her father said, his face less grateful than Janice’s. The man didn’t know how to admit when he was wrong. “Thank you for your assistance, but we’ll handle it from here.”

      Collin’s jaw clenched in a way she remembered meant he was holding back from speaking his mind. Her father had always had that effect on him. “I’ll give you some time with your family,” he said, turning to Rebecca. “I won’t be far.”

      “Will you come back?” she asked, not surprised at all by the look of disbelief from her father.

      He gave her a slight nod. “Don’t worry. I’ll be close by,” he promised, and she believed him. She shouldn’t after the way he’d left her all those years ago, but something about his demeanor said he was sticking around. She needed to trust in that, at least for now.

      “What is he even doing back in town?” her father demanded when Collin was gone from the room. “I thought we were rid of him for good.”

      Rebecca couldn’t believe the contempt in his voice. “His mother died a few months ago. Perhaps you heard. He’s in town to sell her house.”

      “Oh, that’s terrible,” Janice said, coming to Collin’s defense as she returned to Rebecca’s side. “His mother was a very nice lady.”

      Rebecca was thankful for her cousin’s support. Even though they lived in a small town, they didn’t move in the same circles as Collin’s family. They wouldn’t have known that Collin had moved her to a facility to care for her several years ago. But Rebecca knew. She’d kept up with Collin’s activities through visits with his mother for years and had seen the woman’s steady decline. “I know you never cared for him, but he saved my life. He didn’t have to jump in and rescue me, but he did. He’s a good man.”

      Her dad had the good sense to look chagrined. She knew he meant well, but she didn’t like being treated like a child. She was a grown woman and knew what was best for her.

      Janice leaned over and hugged her neck. “We should go. Get some rest. I’ll call and check on you later.”

      “Thank you.”

      Her father also planted a kiss on her head but held back as Janice left the room. “I realize you’ve been through something traumatic, Rebecca, but I hope it hasn’t clouded your judgment. That Collin boy cannot be trusted.”

      She couldn’t believe his gall—he was still treating her like a child. “He’s not a boy any longer, Dad.” He was a man now and she couldn’t help reliving what it felt like to be in his arms. She pushed away those thoughts. He’d proven he didn’t want her when he’d left her after the miscarriage. But she needed him now and he’d already stepped in multiple times to help her. Maybe he would continue to do so.

      “Be careful, Rebecca,” her father told her as he walked out, but she wondered if he was referring to the attacks on her life today...or to getting involved with Collin again.

      Rebecca lay back in the bed. She needed to guard her heart where Collin was concerned. Her father was right about that. But she believed him when he said he would keep her safe and help her navigate through the potential baby-selling ring she’d uncovered.

      It felt good not to be on her own and, for the first time in a long while, she actually felt safe.