Walk Through the Fire (Finley Creek Book 10)

by Calle J. Brookes

  “Gee, thanks, Powell. What would I do without you?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t plan on giving you the opportunity to find out. Let’s roll. I want to catch your girlfriend while we still can. Consider this my one foray into charity work of the year.”

  Turner snorted. Powell did more charity work than she did legal. She just didn’t let anyone know that.

  Yeah, he was rather glad to still have her around. Not even a tornado could stop his little cousin without a fight. She was just the woman to help Annie.

  Giving Annie thirty days to vacate had just pissed him off enough to bring out the big guns.

  89

  Annie had one pair of giant, identical men carrying boxes to a moving van, one set of boy-girl seven-year-old twins helping the boys “pack,” Josie carrying smaller boxes, along with Annie herself, a pair of pregnant women who were allowed by their giant, identical men to lift anything that weighed less than a loaf of bread and nothing else, plus one Izzie MacNamara to supervise everything. Izzie still wasn’t supposed to be lifting anything. She was supposed to be at her apartment in bed, having just been paroled, as she’d put it, that morning.

  Into Nikkie Jean and Caine’s custody, as Izzie had put it. No one at the hospital had thought she was ready, but Izzie had insisted. Rafe had gotten involved, reminding everyone that it was Izzie’s right to decide for herself—and then he’d had Jillian push her to the entrance.

  Where Caine and his uncle had been waiting. They had effectively abducted her.

  Jake had given his full approval, having packed a bag for her and dropped it off at the hospital for Nikkie Jean.

  Izzie was grumbling, but Annie knew her friend had been touched by how much everyone cared about her. It just wasn’t easy to show that sometimes.

  Caine had insisted that Izzie take care of herself and not overdo it. He had bluntly told Izzie and Annie that he was adopting them as their big brother, and that that meant they had to listen to him when he talked.

  Caine had carried Izzie from the car to her front porch swing as gently as if Izzie were made of glass. Annie fell a bit in love with him herself in that moment. Nikkie Jean was a lucky, lucky, lucky woman, that was for sure.

  Nikkie Jean was making more hints about doing a nature-vs-nurture research article on the two almost identically dressed brothers and staring at them like they were bugs under a microscope. Nikkie Jean was needling them now.

  They were in her yard, carrying out the couch, when a fancy Lincoln pulled in behind Caine’s huge truck that was currently getting loaded down with the boys’ beds. A Lincoln she recognized. Annie’s breath caught and she actually shivered.

  Like an idiot.

  Annie’s eyes were drawn to the man when he stepped out of the driver’s seat.

  She would recognize him anywhere.

  Rafe called out a greeting.

  A small woman next to him stepped forward. Annie looked at her fully for the first time. Powell Barratt’s face was printed on real estate signs and billboards all around the county. And Barratt County, as well.

  Barratt County was a new start for her and her little family. Caine had even offered her a position within the Barratt County ER if she wanted to work closer to home. It had better hours by far. With a matching salary to what she currently made and more chances for advancement. A supervisor’s position, eventually. If she earned it. The offer was more than tempting.

  After the adoption was final, she was seriously going to consider it.

  Barratt County could be the fresh new start Annie wanted for all of them.

  Maybe putting Boethe Street and Finley Creek—with the exception of Izzie, Josie, and her friends, anyway—behind her was exactly what Annie needed to do to fully recover from the storm her life had become since the moment her father had been arrested for almost killing her and her mother when she was twelve.

  It was something to consider. In the meantime, there was a blue-eyed man looking right at her. Waiting. Annie stepped toward him. “Turner?”

  He didn’t exactly feel like he was bearding the lions, but it was close. Everyone, even the two toddlers running circles around Izzie’s feet, had stopped to stare at him and Powell. “I need to speak to you or one of your neighbors regarding an injunction.”

  Annie stepped toward him, stopping only to lift her youngest son. She came toward him, a fair-haired toddler riding on her hip. Syrus just blinked at Turner and gave a shy wave. Turner smiled and waved back.

  She looked damned beautiful. His fingers curled. Turner wanted to touch. He wouldn’t lie to himself. That was what he wanted most of all. Simply to touch her.

  “Why? What’s going?”

  “I asked Powell about the letters you and your neighbors received.”

  “Basically, the city is trying to low-ball offer for your property, and it is customary to give sixty days’ notice. With the storm damage in this area, ninety days would have been more appropriate. Turner and I believe we can get you a better offer, closer to fair market value, by filing an injunction at this point.”

  “And how are we supposed to do that? Wouldn’t this be a conflict of interest for you?”

  She looked at him with those eyes of hers that demanded every answer. “It will be for me.”

  “But not for me. I’m not invested in the Boethe Street ventures. I tend to avoid this part of town like the plague. Personal history, not so great, but I’m willing to take this on pro bono,” his cousin said, her eyes on Annie. Turner knew she was trying to figure out Annie’s measure. Powell was like that sometimes.

  She didn’t like people that much.

  Turner sometimes thought they scared her. Not surprising after what had happened to her when she’d been twenty. It had happened not too far from where he stood.

  Boethe Street had its reputation, after all.

  “Why? What’s in it for you? Excuse me for being so blunt.” Annie’s little buddies, Jillian and Nikkie Jean, stepped up next to her. A silent wall of feminine support. “There has to be a reason.”

  “Simple. I hate greedy people. And this is greedy. And dirty. The city has already slashed the budget by allowing twenty-seven original properties to remain for now. They can afford to offer an attractive relocation package for the remaining five. That they aren’t—that’s pure greed. And it concerns me.”

  And Powell could be fierce when she thought someone was taking advantage of those less fortunate. Vulnerable.

  “I…I can’t fight any longer. I just don’t have the time.”

  Solomon wrapped his arm around her leg and glared at Powell. He was the most reserved of Annie’s three boys.

  “What about your neighbors? Would one of them be interested in fighting this? They’ve offered bare minimum amounts, Annie. You’re entitled to at least what the property is worth on the market. What they’ve offered you isn’t it.” He’d told her that the night before. But her mind had been made up. She was putting this behind her and getting through. Moving on.

  In Barratt county.

  “You should fight this,” Turner told her. “I’ll support you in any way that I possibly can.”

  She stared at him like she was trying to look deep into his soul.

  That’s what it was about her. Annie Gaines caused him to open his soul in ways no other woman ever had. Turner wasn’t sure how a man like him was supposed to deal with that. “Annie, just...don’t give up.”

  “I’m not. I’m being realistic,” she said firmly. “I have other things to think about besides this house. It’s just walls. The family I love has nothing to do with walls holding us in. This...this is my family behind me. And my friends.” A car pulled in across the road. Annie stopped speaking to watch the elderly couple climb out. A look passed over her face that he didn’t understand, especially when the older man waved at her. Annie waved back.

  And then she turned back to him. “They have no family at all. That’s Mrs. Henderson. She said she was your fourth-grade teacher, Turner. Gi
a has no family. The Bennetts don’t, either.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ok, now she’d lost him. But he remembered his fourth-grade teacher as being an extremely nice woman, who’d knit every kid in his class mittens for Christmas.

  “Someone...needs to fight for them, don’t they?” She looked around, right at the people surrounding her. “I should do this.”

  “It’s up to you,” Jillian said.

  “We’ll be right beside you no matter what, Ann. You know that,” Nikkie Jean said, a dark-haired toddler tugging at her jeans.

  “Then tell me what you have to say.” Annie handed her toddler over to Nikkie Jean. “Please, come inside. Everyone’s going to take a break for lunch soon, anyway. Jillian and Nikkie Jean were demanding lunch.”

  “Yum. Jalapenos,” Nikkie Jean said, pretending to nibble on the toddler. “Spicy.”

  Annie smiled, but there was sadness coated with determination in her eyes. Something was going on in that head of hers. Turner wished he knew what.

  Turner wanted to make it all go away. He wanted to be her hero, even though he knew that was beyond corny. But it was the truth. He wanted to make the world better for her. He followed her into her house like everyone else, practically lined up like ducks. Even Powell bobbed along behind him.

  Annie’s house was far too small for this amount of people.

  With all the boxes now on their way out the door, and half the furniture already loaded, he was able to see that the house was shabbier than he’d noticed the first time. But it was clean. Just old. Worn.

  But it smelled like her—vanilla and warmth. Comforting.

  There were framed photos still on her wall. Her, her sister, the children. Nikkie Jean. Izzie.

  Izzie, who he’d passed on the porch on his way in.

  The last thing he wanted was for Annie to lose her home. Or the money she’d invested in it. There had to be a way to fix this. A way to just pick up her house and put it someplace else.

  Turner froze as it sank in.

  Move the houses. Buildings could be moved. They were moved all the time. He would do it. Even if he had to swallow the cost himself. The last thing he wanted was for Annie to lose her home.

  He looked at Powell. She would know the specifics of what he would need to do. And how quickly he could make it happen. But first...they had to talk to Annie about getting fair market value for her home now. Just in case Turner couldn’t make this harebrained idea work.

  90

  “Do it. Ensure that the message is delivered.” Dennis Lee had studied all the angles. Taken into account what had been lost. One of his prime supervisors for his little side businesses had been busted two hours earlier. Dennis Lee was still reeling. He’d thought that angle was well-hidden. But that bastard Turner Barratt had one-upped him.

  And gloated about it on the news conference.

  It was the gloating Dennis Lee couldn’t stand. He never had been able to lose easily.

  This was more than just a child’s game, though. This was his life. Everything he’d worked for could come toppling down if Turner Barratt and his special little task force hit just the right domino.

  He looked at Collin. “We need him in office now. I don’t have time to worry about getting someone else in place. I plan to…in a few months, after things fall into place. But now isn’t the time. So just make sure our point is made.”

  He fully intended to get Barratt out of office one way or another. Either by removing him permanently, or by rigging the election. Jenny really wanted the seat. And it would be convenient for him to have her in that office.

  It would be another domino.

  But right now…he had other things he had to focus on. And Jenny needed time. She needed things to settle down, needed her divorce to be finalized, needed to heal from the loss of her nephew. Time.

  Dennis Lee was forcing himself to practice patience. It was a new skill he was learning, after all. Man was never too old to learn.

  “Loud and clear…sir.”

  Had that been a smirk in Collin’s eyes? Dennis Lee looked closer.

  Something was different about the boy. Something that had his hackles standing on end. “You having a problem lately, Collin? Anything I can help you with?”

  He deliberately laced his tone with a threat. Even though the boy was armed, he would understand.

  Dennis Lee didn’t brook with no sass from the men he paid to do jobs for him. He was the king of Boethe Street.

  Collin knew that. He just needed reminded. “Just see that it’s done. Tonight. I have big plans for tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it. Right away.”

  “Good. See that you do. And Collin…this attitude you’ve been developing? Wouldn’t want me to think you were ungrateful for what all I’ve done for your…family…would you?”

  “Of course not. I will always be in your debt, Councilman Arnold. I’m well aware of what I owe you.”

  91

  She had just clocked out and been ready to head down to the daycare to grab the boys when the mayor of Finley Creek strolled into the ER and right up to her. He held out a hand to her.

  Annie took it before she thought. “What’s going on?”

  “Come with me.”

  “I can’t…the boys…I…”

  “Oh, go with the Mega-Hot Mayor!” Nikkie Jean said from beside her. She practically vibrated with excitement. Cherise, Courtney, Angie, and Wanda were all shamelessly watching every move Turner made. “Caine’s off tonight. We’ll take the boys.”

  “I thought his sister was bringing her two over?” Ari and the governor had a state function in Austin the next morning. They were dropping off their two children at Caine’s, then making the four-hour drive that evening. Nikkie Jean had been talking about her plans for the slumber party for two days.

  She liked having a niece and nephew, she’d said. And was super-excited that Caine had two more siblings with children in St. Louis. Nikkie Jean was surrounding herself with Caine’s family enthusiastically.

  “Exactly. The more the merrier.” Nikkie Jean shot her a look, one that told Annie she hadn’t forgotten what Annie had talked to her about that morning. About stopping the fear and taking risks. Nikkie Jean had understood exactly what she was saying. “I’ll take the boys tonight. Between Caine, Uncle Henry, and me there, that’s almost one adult per two kids. We can handle this.”

  “I…”

  “Please, Annie. I really need to show you something.” His hand was hot around hers. His darker blue eyes were beseeching. “Please?”

  In that moment, like an idiot, she’d probably agree to follow him just about anywhere.

  “Ok, so why am I here?” Annie looked around the huge plot of land. The creek the county had been named for ran right in front of her, less than three hundred feet away. It wasn’t a huge river, by any means. Maybe twelve feet across and four feet deep. It was actually beautiful. Almost idyllic. A slight breeze blew, taking some of the Texas heat with it. Some. Not a lot.

  Even with the rain drizzling around them, it was still hot out. Much too hot even for the thin overshirt and tank top she’d thrown on after changing out of her scrubs in the break room before Turner had spirited her away. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m going to put in the request that the city relocate your house and the remaining three. Harley Borlin will no doubt get a check from the insurance company for his.”

  Annie just gawked at him. “You’re serious.”

  “Very serious. It’s a workable solution. One that the city can afford, thanks to what happened to the other four houses in the storm. Insurance checks will cover the damages to them. That frees up some resources. We can move your home here. I thought…if you go across the river there—there’s a footbridge fifty feet behind those trees—and walk through the back acreage, you’ll come up right behind Jillian and Rafe. This land is actually owned by Barratt-Handley. Houghton has agreed to give the city a good deal. If you want it. There are
other lots available throughout the town that the city can purchase or already owns.”

  “You didn’t have to do this.” Annie didn’t know what to think. He was so sincere. And it was obvious he’d put a great deal of thought into this. When he hadn’t had to.

  He’d wanted to do it—for her.

  A big piece of her heart broke off in that moment. And flew to him. She’d never get it back, and she knew it.

  Annie had just fallen a little bit in love with the man in front of her.

  Maybe a lot in love with him, actually.

  “I had to do something. I couldn’t let you lose everything you’ve worked for since you were a teenager. I just couldn’t.” He stepped over a small river of gravel and then reached a hand back toward her. “The front porch would face this way. You’d have to fence the backyard because of the water. At least until the boys are older. Then they could fish and swim in the river. It’s not that deep here. Perfect for picnics and things. There’s that tree there. It should be far enough from where they’d put the house. I could put a tree house there for your boys, if you wanted me to. I can build things, you know.” He shot her a grin. “I’m not just another pretty face.”

  “I know.” He was so, so much more than just a handsome man. Mega-Hot Mayor. One of the Garlic’s most eligible Finley Creek bachelors. A Barratt.

  But he’d always be just Turner to her.

  Annie slipped her arms around him. “Thank you. This…means the world to me. I don’t know what I plan to do about the house. I…like Lacy’s ranch and what it represents.”

  “If nothing else, let me move your house. Rent it out. Use the money from it for the boys’ college funds or something. I just…don’t want you to see it torn down.”

  “I know. You’re a good man, Turner Barratt. One of the best I’ve ever known.” She didn’t exactly have the words to express how she was feeling right then. So all Annie could do was show him.