Protecting Her Daughter (Wrangler's Corner) by Lynette Eason Page A

the bleeding and to hold the edges of the wound together. He looked at her. “Best I can do without my medical kit.”
    “It’s fine,” she whispered. “Thanks.”
    “It needs to be washed out and you probably need a round of antibiotics, but we’ll have to worry about that a little later.” She gave him a tight, grim smile and shifted with a grimace. “Pain pills might not be a bad idea, either.”
    “No,” she bit out, her eyes hard, jaw tight. “No pills.”
    Aaron raised a brow. “Okay. No one’s going to force them down your throat.” He pulled her coat back around her, leaving her arm free of the sleeve, but under the warm material.
    She sighed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to snap. I... I used to have a drug problem.”
    He froze for a slight second as her words registered. He saw her face flame red and knew she was already regretting her words. “It’s all right,” he said. “No pain pills then.” He looked at Lance. “Haven’t heard any shots for a few minutes.”
    “Yeah.” He glanced toward the house. “Clay hasn’t said to move yet.”
    Several tense minutes passed and Aaron thought his heart might beat out of his chest thanks to his rushing adrenaline. Movement near the tree line captured his attention. “Lance?”
    “I see it.”
    “Hold your fire,” Clay called out. “Joy’s near the trees. The shooter’s gone.”
    Lance stood. Aaron waited a few seconds then helped Zoe to her feet. She held her arm against her stomach and he kept a steadying hand at her back. “Let’s get inside and get that cleaned up.”
    Aaron led her to the house while Clay and his deputies discussed strategy. Clay had already notified the proper authorities of the incident with a request to have neighboring law enforcement available should they be needed until the shooter was caught.
    “Sophia?” Zoe called. “Where are you?”
    “Mom!” Sophia rushed from the den to her mother.
    Zoe wrapped her good arm around her child and held on tight. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”
    “Sheriff Starke pulled the couch from the wall and told me to get behind it. He told me to stay right there between the couch and the wall and I did.”
    Zoe kissed the top of Sophia’s head. “I’m very proud of you for obeying.” Her eyes filled, and she looked at Clay. “Thank you for keeping her safe.”
    “Of course,” Clay said.
    Sophia pulled back and frowned at the blood on her mother’s arm. “Why are you bleeding? Are you hurt? What’s wrong?”
    Sophia shrugged the rest of the way out of the jacket and Aaron took it form her. “I’m okay,” she said. “It’s just a scratch.”
    He watched them together and felt his heart clench. They were all each other had at this point. “What happens to Sophia if something happens to you?” he asked her quietly.
    She stilled. “She goes to live with Trevor’s sister, Nina, and her husband, Gregory.”
    “And does Sophia come with any money attached?”
    Zoe swallowed and he saw her follow his line of thinking. “Um. Sophia,” she said, “will you go get the first-aid kit out of the bathroom?”
    Sophia pressed her lips into a tight line and didn’t release her grip on her mother. She looked back and forth between the adults then nodded. “Sure, I’ll get it, but I know you’re just sending me out of the room so I won’t hear what you’re going to say next.” She shot a look at Zoe’s arm. “But since you’re hurt I’ll let you get away with it this time.” She turned and headed for the bathroom. Aaron lifted a brow, and Zoe’s lips curved slightly even though her eyes didn’t smile.
    “You have your hands full with her, don’t you?” Clay asked from his position near the kitchen door. Every once in a while he’d look out.
    “A bit.”
    * * *
    More than a bit, but she wouldn’t trade raising Sophia for anything. She shook her head. “And no,” she said to Aaron. “Sophia doesn’t come with money attached. The only money I have is from