The Marine Finds His Family

Disentangling the boy’s arms, DJ peered down at Tyler’s face, hardening his heart to the damp on the boy’s cheeks. “I can protect her from whatever or whomever she needs protection from. You know I’m a marine. We’re tough. You saw what Uncle Wyatt and I can do to protect the people we love.”

DJ still had nightmares of that night Wyatt’s girlfriend, Emily, and Tyler had been attacked. Her nutcase stepbrother had tried to use Tyler to get to Emily. She’d handled it all really well—the best she could—but if they hadn’t shown up, who knew what would have happened. Tyler had thought of him as a hero ever since, and DJ had to admit, he liked it.

“Yeah,” Tyler murmured. “But—”

“But what?” DJ carefully prompted.

“She made me promise.”

“Promise what?”

“Not to tell.” Tyler shook his head again. “Not to tell anyone. Ever.”

Something told DJ even the lure of the dirt bike wasn’t going to budge this kid. He had to admire him...and hurt for him.

Damn, Tammie. What the hell have you done?

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_36ae3039-295a-542a-a1c7-5d17e4d7093b)

WYATT WAS IN the barn, exactly where DJ expected to find him. With the weekend’s arrival, the big farmhouse was overrun with women, and DJ was as uncomfortable with it as the rest of the now-scarce men. Big family gatherings had always been the norm. Heck, with six kids, dinner was a big family gathering.

But today DJ wasn’t in the mood, and neither, apparently, was Wyatt.

The jangle of metal and leather told DJ that Wyatt was cleaning tack. DJ stopped in the doorway of the small room and watched Wyatt rub the glycerin soap onto the leather.

“What’s up?” Wyatt asked.

DJ took a deep breath and stepped into the room. He hadn’t planned what he was going to say, but he had to tell Wyatt the truth. Had to let him know about the decision he’d made.

“The other night I caught Tyler sitting up in the old cottonwood,” DJ began. “I don’t think it was the first time.”

That made Wyatt whip his head up and his hands stopped moving. “What was he doing?” Dread filled Wyatt’s voice.

“Just sittin’, staring at the stars.”

“You know why?” Wyatt relaxed a little, returning his focus to his work.

“I think so. He eventually came down and we talked.” DJ tried to wrap his brain around the information, or rather, lack of information, Tyler had shared with him.

Wyatt waited.

“I’m worried,” DJ finally admitted.

“About Tyler?”

DJ paused before shaking his head. “No. About Tammie.” Wyatt’s frown reflected his confusion. DJ moved to sit on the bench near Wyatt. “I know she’s in trouble. Big trouble. She made Tyler swear not to tell anyone anything, and he’s sticking to that promise.”

Wyatt paused, thinking for a long minute. “I’ve wondered why he doesn’t say much.” They had both tried to get info out of him, with no luck. “You think he’s afraid?”

DJ pondered the question. Sitting still was killing his back and legs. His muscles were tight from lack of sleep lately. He needed the rest, but the stress of his worry was eating him alive. He gave up and paced.

“I need to find her,” he finally said. He didn’t have to wait long for Wyatt’s response.

“And do what? Let her have Tyler back?” Wyatt’s anger was controlled, barely. “Emily said you’d mentioned doing that. What if there’s nothing to find? Sounds like she doesn’t want to be found.”

Wyatt watched him, waiting. The silence was deafening. DJ gritted his teeth. “No. Tyler’s my son. Her wishes aren’t what’s important. But Tyler is.”

Wyatt shook his head and resumed his work. “What makes you think you can find her? The private investigator didn’t discover much.”

“Tyler knows something. I just have to get him to talk.”

“How? I don’t think the bribery you had planned will work.”

“No.” DJ paced back and forth a few more times. “That’s what actually made me realize I have to do this. His loyalty is solid. Too solid for a kid not wanted by his mother.”

Wyatt didn’t respond. The sound of his work and a stray whinny from the direction of the stalls filled the heavy silence.

DJ couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay, get it over with.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. Yell at me. Do that whole older-brother thing. Tell me I’m making a mistake. Something!”

Wyatt remained silent, staring down at his own hands for a long minute. DJ tried to guess what he was going to say. Then Wyatt looked up.

DJ barely remembered their father, who’d died when DJ was six. But while he didn’t remember the man that much, he remembered that look. DJ swallowed. Why had he started this whole conversation?

“Deej, I can’t tell you what to do this time. I wish I could.”

DJ cursed. He’d been counting on Wyatt to guide him.

“I’ll admit I’m not happy about this.” Wyatt’s voice shook. “I’ve watched you work too hard to recover, and to build your relationship with Tyler, to just—”

“Just what?” DJ asked after several seconds of quiet passed.

“Risk losing it all for a woman you don’t even know.”

That’s where Wyatt was wrong, and where DJ had to admit he’d been wrong, too. “I knew her once,” he whispered. Contradictory memories filled his mind. “I can’t put that woman together with someone who’d abandon her son.”

Wyatt nodded, and DJ wasn’t sure if it was in agreement or submission.

“When will you tell Tyler?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure how.” This was a new role for him. Here at home, he’d always been the younger brother, taking orders from half a dozen wannabe parents. In the military, his commanding officer and the mission told him what to do. He looked over at Wyatt, hoping he’d give him some direction.

“When your commanding officer called, it nearly killed me to think of you hurt. But it was worse knowing I had to tell Tyler. Deej, that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” Wyatt looked down and DJ turned away, looking out over the row of stalls instead of at his brother.

“Sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say.