Carter's Treasure: Racing to Love, #1

By Amy Gregory

From the outside, Molly West had everything, beauty, brains, and a career she’d retired from not once, but twice. Being in a male driven sport Molly was surrounded by men, for which she had no time for. Her cold shoulder and patented ‘not a chance in hell’ look were usually enough to keep them at bay and she had no plans in changing what was working. That is, until, she walked into the pits and stood toe-to-toe with the sex in a pair of jeans, Carter Sterling.

Carter took one look into Molly’s sapphire blue eyes and knew she was his, forever. But it’s never that easy and Carter soon found out it was going to take a lot more than just love to protect her from her past, one she thought she’d buried a long time ago.

• Language: English
• Publisher: REN Publishing
• Release date: May 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546495840

Amy Gregory

When asked ‘when do you have time to write’, Amy Gregory simply laughs.  The real answer is, “in bits and pieces”.  She and her husband live in Kansas City with their three fantastic kids that keep them running in three very different directions.  Because she sits so much, she always carries a notebook with her at all times. She has an off the wall, snarky, off the cuff sense of humor that often shocks even those who’ve known her for years.  And she loves that her children have all been blessed that ability to make others laugh as well.  At least she’s grateful most of the time!  Her husband often teases her about how she “makes this stuff up” when he’s reading a piece of her work. … The answer—“it just comes to me when I’m typing”. Scary thought, huh!

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

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Call it a sixth sense, a premonition...hell it didn’t matter—James Noland simply knew. 

Saturday.

In the world of motocross, to both amateurs and professionals alike—it was race day. He and his family followed it religiously, though their son had given up racing for the love of flying through the air competing in freestyle riding.

However, they kept a very close eye on one rider. An amateur, a fourteen-year-old girl with her name in all the headlines...Molly West.

James noticed his hand was shaking as he reached for the pot of fresh coffee. He turned so his wife, Karen, wouldn’t pick up on it. His long-life friend ran the amateur circuit, so there was no way to call George Kapp and check in on Molly, to try and ease his conscience until the day was done.

He’d have to sit—and wait.

The trees were starting to change colors, the temperatures were cooling more each day, and the tell-tale sweet smell of snicker-doodles floating through the kitchen made for a perfect Saturday morning.

James finished refilling his coffee mug, pulled himself together, then leaned back against the granite counter top. He smiled to himself as he watched his beautiful wife of twenty-one years. She had been his college sweetheart and was still the love of his life.

Together they had built the perfect home on a large section of beautiful Pennsylvania countryside, and their pride and joy was doing homework in his bedroom upstairs...but James couldn’t shake the feeling of dread looming over his heart.

It was a gut instinct that had put a choke hold on him an hour ago as he had been walking out of his study. It was something that didn’t happen often, but when it did, he sat on edge...waiting—knowing it was never wrong.

Karen’s hands were covered in cookie dough, so James crossed their magazine worthy kitchen to the ringing telephone on the built-in desk. Seeing the name on the caller I.D., his gaze met his wife’s while he sent a quick prayer to the man above.

Damn it all to hell. 

His pulse spiked, he blew out a breath and braced himself. Foregoing the niceties, he put the phone to his ear.

George? It’s Saturday...no. He shook his head. You’re too busy to call. I’m begging you—please tell me everything is all right.

No! No, damn it, James. It’s—it’s our girl. George paused. It’s...Molly.

His friend was choked up on the other end of the line. Karen glanced up, her face panic stricken.

He mouthed one word. "Molly."

All time stood still. Using the desk to hold himself up he watched the color drain from Karen’s face as she put the back of her delicate hand to her mouth.

That piece of shit she has to call her father...fuck. I think I’m going to vomit...hell, James. I tried to watch over her. I did. But he might have gone too far this time, she’s so tiny. He just, oh my God, James, it’s way worse than ever before. Please? Hurry? Can you and Karen get here as fast as you can?

James recoiled as if he’d physically taken a sucker punch to the stomach. Oh my God, he whispered the desperate words.

They had known when the news came, it was going to be like a double edged sword. Only God knew how deep that sword had cut—this time.

Yanking the dishtowel off the counter, Karen twisted in her hands, wiping off the dough and sugar as her chin trembled. With a grunt of frustration, she flung it toward the sink, an outward sign of anger he’d very seldom witnessed from his wife. The flash of temper from the gentlest soul he’d ever known...shouted her hurt so loud it was deafening. She turned, running up the back staircase off the kitchen. 

James shut his eyes and willed himself to finish listening to the man on the other end of the phone. It was never good news anymore when George called, and with every phone call James watched his wife’s heart break a little more. 

George and James had been best friends since grade school. They had grown up racing together until James’s parents just couldn’t afford it anymore. The two had stayed close in spite of their different paths and had weathered several of life’s storms together. However, the last two years had been a hell neither of them thought they’d make it through.

Even in the gray V-neck cashmere sweater he was wearing, James felt a chill run through him and his stomach churned. The fire rolled and made its way back up, a line of stabbing pain crossed his shoulder blades right before the acid started burning his throat. 

Sure, the locations were different and the severity of the injuries George called to inform them of varied, but it was never the news they so desperately longed to hear. 

Having spent years and thousands of dollars trying to have children, James and Karen knew intimately the pain of denial, but this was so much worse. Knowing a child desperately needed help, knowing they had the means to offer her the world and more, yet not being able to left them both frustrated as hell and feeling completely helpless. 

A sweet adolescent, with long blonde hair and big blue eyes, Molly was an innocent girl who James and Karen ached to have safe in their arms. 

One person stood in their way. 

Ray West, her biological father was a burly man, and in reality, he was a complete monster who should have been placed behind bars years ago. 

He scribbled down the logistics George was rattling off, as he fought to hold it together. 

Orlando. Got it.

How soon do you think you can get here? 

The panic in his friend’s voice eluded to words George wasn’t voicing aloud. James could tell time wasn’t on their side. I’ll call and get our plane ordered right now. He cringed, mentally calculating the time. Pennsylvania to Orlando? Hopefully less than three or four hours.

I’m so sorry, James. I’ve been trying to keep an eye on things. I didn’t see this coming.

You’re her saving grace, George, don’t go there. It’s over this time.

God, I hope you’re right. James...one more thing. You have to prepare Karen for when you see her. It’s not good, James. She’s in bad, bad shape.

As long as James and George had been friends, there had never been a dramatic side to the man.  George laid it out like it was and didn’t sugar coat anything, never made things sound better or worse than they actually were. And he’d never heard George cry before. Today, the man was a mess on the other end of the line. 

His description sent James reeling. He swallowed hard, and even though the tears were stinging his eyes, he blew out a shaky breath and held them back. Karen could not see him break down. For all the years he had known her, she’d been as strong as they came. For the last two years though, it was as if she felt every pain that innocent child endured. 

Don’t leave her side, George.

James had been able to hear the steady beeping of monitors in the background during their entire call, suddenly one stayed continuous. 

Shit. Damn it! Hurry, James! 

The line went dead. Their worst nightmare was coming true.

Entering their bedroom he found Karen in their walk-in closet, a small open suitcase lying open on the floor. Mindlessly ripping items off hangers, tossing them over her shoulder with no regard as to what they were, or if they even landed in the bag at all. James reached out, trying to turn her to face him.

Karen pushed away. No, James. We have to hurry. We need to get out of here. Stop.

She continued to struggle with him as the fight or flight running through her had launched into overdrive. 

Karen. Sweetheart. Stop. Just leave the bag. We don’t need anything right now. We’ll just go. Please baby, it’s okay. Don’t worry. It’ll all be okay.

As the struggle in her wore off, her knees gave and she collapsed against him, burying her face as close to his neck as she could. 

Probably one of the few men in the world that could honestly say he had never lied to his wife—ever, James hoped to hell that it stayed that way. That young girl lying in a Florida hospital had to be all right; he had promised his wife she would be. 

A fourteen-year-old girl...one they’d never even met, and yet, James knew their world would be destroyed if she didn’t make it.

They needed to head to their plane. But another fourteen-year-old needed them, too. How in the hell were they supposed to explain everything to Brody? They had been very careful to keep their conversations with George over the last couple of years very private.

Their son was a contradiction if there ever was one.  On one hand, they knew they kept him more sheltered than most parents. The flip side of that coin was they let him do things on a dirt bike that normal parents would shit their pants over. His amateur career was taking off, so the last several years Karen had homeschooled him.

As they reached Brody’s closed door, James heard Karen take a shaky breath. He knew where her thoughts were. Her kind heart was what made her the wonderful mother that Brody was lucky to have. Lacing her fingers with his, took James’s breath away. She was ice cold to the touch. He turned to face her. She’s going to be all right, Karen. You just have to believe, sweetheart.

James whispered so their son wouldn’t hear. 

I’m trying, James. I’m trying. It just absolutely kills me that someone could do that to a child...let alone their own child.

I don’t understand it either, honey. 

James opened the bedroom door without knocking first. Son. 

Talk about startling someone, Brody about hit the ceiling. He had been leaning back in his desk chair with his legs propped up and crossed at the ankles. When they scared the crap out him Brody was a blur of arms and legs flailing about. He was damn lucky he didn’t tip over backward in his chair. They weren’t trying to sneak up on him, but it was apparent Brody had been up to something. 

James held the door open and motioned for Karen to enter ahead of him. So much for working on the homework his mother had sent him up to do two hours prior. The breathing hard, game controller still in his hand and the closed math book gave him away. His eyes were wide, like a deer caught in the headlights, and only made their son look all the more guilty.

Honey. Karen’s voice cracked. 

She was noticeably shaken. She took a deep breath and tried to start again. If it was possible, James’s heart broke further. His wife in so much pain, and knowing there was nothing he could do to erase it was excruciating.

We...honey...we...  After another deep breath, she continued on. We know this is very last minute, but you’re going to have to... She paused, choking back the next round of tears that were threatening, placing a hand against her mouth. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to frighten you. You’re going to have to stay with Grammy for a few days. 

Brody loved his Grandmother Noland dearly. He was the only grandchild who lived close by, and she was always happy to spoil him rotten. To hear he was going to stay with her several days was a good thing, except, James could see the fear in his panicked eyes.

What’s going on, Dad?

His voice was desperate as he turned to his father for answers. The homework and game were both long forgotten.

Son, George called. 

James knew the statement wouldn’t faze him. George was like an uncle to Brody. He knew their son understood what George did for a living, and being in charge of the amateur circuit was something their dear family friend loved. Whenever they were together, he never failed to have a head full of stories to share regarding the riders of all ages. However, it was the kids that George had a soft spot for. 

What’s wrong with George, Dad? Is he okay?

George is fine. At least physically James thought to himself. 

Then what is it? You guys are scaring me. 

That statement in itself spoke volumes, the fact that a teenage boy admitted it took it to another level. 

Okay, well. I don’t know where to begin, but really, and I hate to do this to you, Brody, but we just don’t have time right now to get into all the details. Do you know the name, Molly West?

The blonde girl that races?  She’s like winning everything. Waving his hand toward his bed and the three current issues of his favorite motocross magazines that were laying on top of the navy and gray plaid blanket, Molly’s pictures splayed across the covers. He turned back to face his father. She was in them again this month because she just signed a development deal, and she’ll go pro as soon as she turns seventeen. Can you freaking believe that? She’s like...my age and she’s already signed. Do you know how amazing that is?

Shit. James mumbled under his breath. He had forgotten the future that Molly had going for her. 

She’s like...unbeatable right now. I mean, seriously, like no one can touch her, Dad.

James couldn’t help the sliver of a smile that flashed. Brody really loved the racing side of dirt bikes, like James had when he was younger, but his passion had turned to competing freestyle. It scared the absolute holy hell out of him and Karen, but doing tricks and flying through the air, that was what Brody loved. It was what he lived for, the challenge of it all.

Yes, Brody that’s who we are talking about. James stopped for a moment trying to put right in his head what he was about to say, Well, son...she’s coming to live with us—permanently.

Even with the sound of the game on, and the virtual bikes on the screen continuing to rev waiting for their rider to bring them to life, the breath Brody sucked in was audible. His eyes widened briefly before narrowing as he purposefully set the controller down. It was nothing short of a bombshell they had just dropped on him, and James saw the rebuttal in his eyes. 

What? But she’s...she’s like my age? I don’t get it, why would she leave her parents, for like you said...forever? I wouldn’t want to leave you guys. Well... Brody slouched down in his desk chair, a visible sign that he’d let the comment slip and was now embarrassed to still need them. At least not forever, I mean.  He added the mumbled last line hesitantly, the pink noticeable on his cheeks.

George knows her really well and she needs our help, son. We’ve been discussing this for a couple of years now.

James could almost see the gears spinning in Brody’s head. The confusion washed over his face erasing his embarrassment of just a moment ago. His raised eyebrow and curled lip made it apparent he was trying to sort this out, but none of it was making any sense.

What are you going to do, Dad, take over her training or something?

Yeah. I’ll help train her. 

Being well aware that he’d need to bring in professional trainers for her was a bridge they’d cross when they came to it. Right now, it wasn’t even a concern, not even a blip on the radar. His mind was still on Brody’s last question, but his son was firing off the next.

Okay?  But, you’ve never trained anyone but me, Dad. How are you going to train her? What’s going on?

James could see the path that Brody’s mind had gone down. He was a teenager, combined with the fact that he was well on his way to becoming a pro athlete himself. Competing and winning were all he was concentrating on. James could tell the point of Molly moving in with them, had gone completely over his head and Brody just hadn’t seen the bigger picture yet.  He and Karen hadn’t had a chance to discuss how much they were going to tell him about her situation, there hadn’t been time. The last few moments had been a blur.  Their travel plans were last minute, and they needed to get to the airport so they could get to her.

Brody, honey.... Karen’s choked and saddened voice interrupted them. She’s really hurt right now. 

He watched his son’s face go blank as he listened to his mother. Blinking a couple of times, Brody’s gaze flitted between his and Karen’s; James could only assume their son was making a mental list of questions. 

Sweetheart, they just took her to a hospital down in Orlando. We’re flying down to meet George and Eileen there.

Brody’s jaw slowly dropped at his mother’s statement. 

Okay, he softly responded.

James let out a subtle sigh of relief Brody seemed to understand not to ask anymore. His old soul was perceptive and right now James appreciated it. He knew they had just rocked his entire world, but there wasn’t time to put him at ease until they knew what they were dealing with. Unfortunately, they weren’t going to know that until they got to the hospital. George and Eileen were waiting for them along with a lawyer and the local police, and hopefully everything was in order this time. 

Get packed, Grammy’s on her way to get you and should be here any minute, we’re leaving now.

Brody only nodded. 

The shell-shocked blankness on their son’s face gripped at James’s heart. He grabbed the boy who was almost his height these days and hugged him tight.

Mom and I love you, we will call you and talk to you more—I promise. But son, this little girl needs us right now and we’ve got to go. 

He shut his eyes with Brody in his arms and prayed silently that Molly would still be alive when they got to her.

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James stood behind Karen lightly rubbing her shoulders. She’d been sitting in the same chair for three days, holding the frail hand of the angel in the hospital bed. The only exception to that was when she quickly changed into the clothes that he had had delivered from the nearest department store.

Seeing his wife without a trace of makeup and her hair pulled up into a messy bun of sorts, she looked as young as she did the first day he’d laid eyes on her. He only wished she didn’t have the dark purple smudges painted on the delicate skin under her eyes.  James had reserved two rooms at the nearest hotel for the four of them. It was just across the parking lot and a road that he had yet to see a car drive down. While George and Eileen sat all day, the two of them had been leaving when visitor hours were over. 

Karen, however, refused to move.

She wouldn’t even go as far as the cafeteria to eat, and what he brought up for her, she barely touched.  Sitting on Molly’s left side, since her right hand was bandaged from surgery, Karen would softly stroke her leg, hold her left hand, or sometimes James would even catch her laying her forehead on the bed with her arm draped around Molly’s waist. As far as he knew, those were the only times he saw Karen shut her eyes. He was worried about both of the girls in his life, so that meant he himself had only left the hospital long enough to shower in the barely used hotel room.

The doctors had set them down the moment they arrived, along with George, Eileen, a lawyer and two local police officers, they had given the group a grim outlook, therefore when the nurses came running, it was nothing short of heart stopping. 

In all his life, James had never had something leave him so angry, scared as hell, reeling, pissed and upset as that conversation had left him. They had been given the specifics of what George had found when he entered the West’s RV, as well as what the doctors found during their initial surgery. Surgeons had gone ahead and pinned both her right wrist and left shoulder at the same time, but let them know that it was very possible Molly would be back in surgery again. Scans had shown two broken ribs along with a punctured left lung and multiple contusions over her face, back, arms and collar bone. She’d lost a fair amount of blood, and to top it off, they were very concerned about the extent of her internal injuries.

It was simple. At that point—she either lived or died. 

There were no guarantees. That afternoon the doctors had said it was touch and go, and the first twenty-four hours would give them an idea. No one asked what they meant, the unspoken truth was better left unsaid.  She was just a young girl...an innocent young girl. A girl their son’s age that had a life so drastically different from Brody’s that it nearly killed her—literally.

That meeting had been just over seventy-two hours prior. James had kept track of every hour and every minute. Each moment of time that she was still with them, gave them all more hope. They just needed her to open her eyes.  Over and over they’d been reassured that the doctors weren’t worried about the coma...yet.  Another statement left hanging. James knew what they weren’t saying, but he could feel the petite little thing was a fighter. She might have been barely five foot tall at fourteen, and couldn’t have weighed more than seventy pounds soaking wet, but James felt it when he would caress her cheek or whisper softly to her—she was a fighter. 

The deep sleep was helping to heal her broken body, but God help them, they needed her to wake up. They needed to tell her it was over, that she was safe from now on. 

They needed her to live.

The professionals all agreed it was going to be a long, rough road of healing for Molly, both physically as well as mentally. He and Karen had been given names and contact information for anybody and everybody the staff thought they might need in Pennsylvania once they got her home. Eileen had shopped and brought back a couple of outfits that would be comfortable to travel in, shoes and a lightweight jacket that Brody swore was what all the girls were wearing. Everything was in place. All they needed was for Molly to wake up so she could get dressed, sign the emancipation documents, and start her life over. 

When James had returned from showering at the hotel early that morning, what he found nearly stole his breath. Karen was alone in the room, sitting in the same chair as she’d been in day in and day out with tears streaming down her face. Glancing at Molly, he saw that Karen was holding her cell phone to her ear.  Confused, he turned back to Karen. Through the tears she mouthed one word.

Brody.

Given the least amount of information that would appease him, still had Brody growing up in ways they had never intended him to.

From the first conversation they had with him once they were in Florida, Brody had referred to Molly as his sister. James had been caught off-guard by the reference the first time, pausing during their phone conversation. Their son continued on, supplying his answer without being prompted. 

James had let him know her mother was deceased, as well as one set of grandparents. Her paternal grandparents didn’t believe their son would do the things Molly had told them about. George had let James know that from the very first phone conversation they had had two years ago, and it still to this day made him sick. Even more so at the moment. 

Brody’s answer...they were her family now. 

Simple, concise, black and white. Easy. Done. She was theirs now and they would take care of her.  James didn’t tell his son that he and Karen had felt the same way after George came to them the first time with Molly’s situation asking for help, but it was the truth.

As much as George and Eileen had loved the little girl since she started racing and they got to know her, they didn’t have the means to step in. George traveled with the circuit and like Karen, Eileen was also a teacher.  George knew Molly was going to make it to the top, he just couldn’t afford to get her there. Combined they made good money, but James also knew how expensive racing got at the level Molly was at. The costs would eat his friends alive and no one wanted to hold her back, especially when riding was all she had.  Even more so, Molly had confided in George one weekend at a race several months prior, that being on a bike was the only place she felt safe. She knew her father couldn’t get to her then. They also weren’t in the position to pay for the legal fees to step in and save her.  But George had known where to turn.

Karen ended her call with their son as James walked around the bed to Molly’s other side. Leaning over her, he curled one arm around her head laying his cheek against her forehead. Gently running his fingers through her hair, he began to whisper to her like he had so many times already.

Molly. It’s me, James. We love you, baby girl, you’re safe now...we’ve got you. It’s time to wake up, sweetheart, we need you to open your eyes, baby girl. 

Oh my God, James! Karen whispered, her eyes opened wide. She squeezed my hand. Keep talking to her.

Baby girl, you hear us, don’t you? You’re safe, it’s okay, please wake up, honey.

She did it again, James. Karen looked from him to Molly’s hand in hers, the tears of joy pouring over her cheeks. James, she’s with us. Don’t stop.

George and Eileen walked in the hospital door to catch the last words from Karen. I’m going to get the nurse, Eileen said, hurrying back out of the open door.

George walked to Karen’s side of the bed and maneuvered himself in between the monitors and Karen’s chair. "Sugar, how’s my favorite girl? You can believe James, Molly. We’ve got you now. You’ll be safe from now on. I promise