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Carlos was waiting for me when I got home, and he yelled a lot. When he started slamming things around, I knew it was going to be bad, but he’d already warned me that I would be punished. I expected a beating, but when he pulled a knife, I panicked. I’d like to say I fought him, but the truth is that my life is miserable. Tyson was the only bright spot I had, and I knew it was a matter of time before he stopped calling for me.”
    The officer paused. “You gave up?”
    “Death was preferable to the life I had to lead. I was a pawn, something for Carlos to own and sell, and I was tired of my life. No one will ever want me as a girlfriend or a wife. Would you marry someone who’d been a whore for five years?”
    His silence was answer enough.
    “That’s what I thought.” Dacey looked out the window. “No one’s ever wanted me, and now they never will. What’s the point in living if you have to do it alone?”
    “Is that what you think?” A deep voice rumbled from the doorway.
    Dacey nearly got whiplash, she turned her head so fast. “Ty?”
    Tyson came toward her, stopping beside the bed. “Did you think that no one wanted you because of a life you’ve been forced to live?”
    “You’ll eventually find some nice girl to settle down with,” she said, tears gathering in her eyes. “I looked forward to our time together, but I knew it would never last.”
    “Dacey.” He stopped and shook his head. “I thought I’d made it rather clear, on several occasions, that I wanted more from you. I’ve offered to get you away from Carlos so that you could have a different life. I’d hoped you’d let me be a part of it.”
    “I thought you were just being nice.”
    The officer cleared his throat. “I think I have enough for now. I’ll go to the trailer park and see if I can stir up some witnesses. I think the two of you have a lot to discuss.”
    Tyson smiled at the deputy. “Thanks, Deputy Watson.”
    The deputy tipped his hat to Tyson before stepping out of the room. Then her cowboy gave her his full attention. Dacey licked her lips as she stared up at him, feeling a sense of wonder that he could ever want a relationship with her. Tyson was a decorated war hero, and his ranch did fairly well. He’d be a prize for any woman, and for some reason he wanted her.
    “When you’re released from the hospital, you’re going to come home with me. I don’t think there’s much at your place that’s of any use. You’re going to give me your sizes, for everything from shoes, to underwear, to jeans, and then you’re going to rest while I take care of some things. I was hoping you’d agree to share my bed when you come home, but if you want your space, there are plenty of bedrooms upstairs.”
    Dacey reached over and took his hand. “I would be honored to share a bedroom with you, Ty. Just knowing that you want me, even knowing about my past…” A tear slid down her cheek. “You’re more than I could have ever hoped for. I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to do my best to be a good girlfriend.”
    He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. “That’s all any man could ever ask for, sugar. And stop telling yourself that you don’t deserve me. I’m a broken man, but you’ve never seen me that way, have you?”
    She shook her head.
    “Well, when I look at you, I don’t see a whore. I see a vibrant, young woman with her whole life ahead of her. You can do and be anything you want, Dacey. I know you didn’t finish high school, but with some study time, I think you could easily pass the G.E.D. And from there, you could look at the community college, or maybe train for a job you like.”
    “You think I can do all that?”
    He smiled warmly. “I do. And if you don’t want to work, then I know a certainly broken soldier who would love having you around the house all day.” His eyebrows bounced up and down. “I’m sure I could think of something to keep you occupied.”
    Dacey giggled, a sound she