by Sarah Hegger
“Yes. I want to run up to the cabin and speak to Ben.” She glanced at Vince’s concerned expression. “It’s about India.”
“On my way.” Peg hung up.
It took Peg less than ten minutes to get there. She stormed through the door already shedding her coat. “Off you go. I got this. I’ll lock up tonight as well.”
“Thank you.” Kelly pulled her apron off. “I can get the keys from you later.”
“Or I could open on Monday,” Peg said, picking at the counter edge with a nail. “Like a regular thing. Like all the time.”
“I can’t pay you much.” Kelly shrugged into her coat.
“That doesn’t matter.” Peg beamed at her. “I don’t need the money, but I sure love having something to keep me busy.” She jammed her fists on her hips. “I have big plans for this place.”
Whatever that meant, but Kelly didn’t have time to get into it then.
Vince walked outside with her. “What do you want me to do?”
“Could you see if you can find her around town? I’ll go and talk to Ben. If anything is wrong, I need him to know.” She opened her car door and jumped inside.
Leaning down, Vince tapped on her window.
Kelly rolled it down. “Yes?”
“I’ll text you if I find anything. I’ll also ask some truckers who travel through here if they’ve seen her car.”
He really was a good guy, just not the guy for her. “Thanks, Vince. I’ll keep you updated.”
Tapping her car roof, he nodded, and then trotted back to his SUV.
Driving to the cabin, Kelly couldn’t decide between speeding up the mountain and going slow enough to spot India. Anyone following her must have thought her car had a personality disorder. But she made it to the cabin and parked next to Ben’s truck.
She walked through the open front door and followed the sound of men’s laughter. Let that be a lesson to her. Gabe was moving on with his life, and she should quit being a whiner and do the same.
The brothers were in the kitchen installing hardware on cabinet doors.
“Hold it straight.” Ben scowled at Gabe.
“I’m trying.”
“You really suck at this.”
“How’s that?” Gabe chuckled and adjusted his hold on the cabinet door.
Ben spotted her and straightened. “Kelly?”
Gabe whirled around and gave her a smile that looked like he was pleased to see her. See, he was doing great at the being friends thing. “Hey.”
“What’s up?” Ben put his screwdriver down and walked toward her.
“I’m not sure.” She felt stupid suddenly. “Maybe nothing.”
Ben put a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me anyway?”
“It’s India.” She didn’t want to sound alarmist. “Vince came around to the store a little bit ago and said she wasn’t at your mom’s place. Dot said she hasn’t seen India since earlier this morning.”
“Did you try calling her?” Ben frowned.
Kelly nodded. “Her phone goes to voicemail.”
“Where’s Jacob?” Ben’s intense focus helped calm her worst fears.
“Dot told Vince he was with India.”
“Do me a favor, Kelly.” Ben rubbed his nape. “Do you have Piers’s number?”
“Yes.”
“Call it.” Ben looked grim.
Kelly didn’t like what Ben was implying. “Why would I call him?”
Ben grimaced. “Call it, Kelly.”
She found the contact and called Piers.
“Hello, Kelly,” Piers answered.
It took Kelly a moment to respond. She had been sure he wouldn’t answer.
Ben looked even grimmer.
“Piers.”
“I’m surprised to hear from you after that unpleasantness between us,” Piers said.
Is that what he was calling trying to strangle her?
“Ask him,” Ben said.
Kelly’s heart thundered in her ears. Please don’t let Ben be right.
Gabe slipped his arm around her waist and tucked her closer. “It’s all right.”
She took the strength he offered. “Have you seen India, Piers?”
“My wife, India?” Piers chuckled. “Why, of course, I have. I’ve seen her every day since we got married, bar recent unfortunate events.”
Kelly refused the bait. “I mean today.”
“Ah.” Piers chuckled. “Yes, I have. She’s sitting in the car next to me. And before you send your pet cop after me, let me assure you that we are already out of his jurisdiction.”
“Where are you taking her?” Her knees felt iffy, so Kelly leaned into Gabe. She didn’t understand what was going on.
Piers chuckled. “Remember when I asked you where India was? Well, now you know how it feels. And I won’t be standing trial in Colorado.”
“You kidnapped her.” Kelly’s anger almost choked her.
“Really, Kelly.” Piers clicked his tongue. “So melodramatic. But we both know you won’t believe a word I say.” The phone crackled, and he said, “India, darling. Speak to your sister. She’s worried about you.”
“Kelly.” India came on the line.
Ben swore and turned away. He jammed his hands on his hips and muttered.
“India.” Kelly nearly choked trying to wrap her head around India being in the car with Piers. “What’s going on? Can you speak?”
“Yes. I can speak.” India sighed. “Piers didn’t force me to go with him. I made the decision on my own and then called him to pick us up.”
Her head whirled and she breathed deep, trying to center herself. Gabe’s calm presence provided a needed life raft. “I don’t understand.”
“Piers and I have been talking for a week or so now,” India said.
India had spoken to Piers since he attacked her. That was beyond unbelievable.
India filled the silence. “He’s really sorry about what happened to you. He didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Yes, he did, India. He tried to strangle me.”
India huffed. “He has a temper, Kelly. I told you that. It’s best not to argue with him when he’s in one of his states, but you argued with him.” India paused. “Didn’t you?”
“Are you victim blaming me?” Kelly stared at Gabe.
“No.” India’s voice softened. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I don’t know what happened with you and Piers. I wasn’t there, but he was really worried about me, and that made him behave in a way he’s ashamed of now. He’s really sorry though, and he’s promised me to make it up to you.”
It would be frosty in the real down under before that happened. “And what about what he did to you? The way he threatened Jacob?”
“He’s changed, Kelly.” India sounded heartbreakingly sincere. “Since I left him, he’s been seeing a family therapist to understand why he does these things. He’s making good progress too.”
Again with the cold nether regions. “How do you know he’s not lying to you?”
“You’re not married, Kelly. You don’t understand how marriage works. There has to be trust, and if Piers tells me he’s changed, I have to believe him.”
“No, you don’t.” Her raised voice echoed through the empty house. “What you have to do is get out of that car and come back to Twin Elks. If Piers has really changed, then he won’t mind you staying with Dot until he’s proven himself.”
“We’re a family.” India sighed. “Jacob needs his father, and I need my husband. Try to understand. Please, Kelly.”
She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t give India the approval she wanted. It was so wrong and none of the crap India was spewing made any sense.
India sighed. “You’re angry with me. You’ve always protected me, and I’m so grateful for that.
But I’m all grown up now, and I can make my own decisions. I can’t lose my family.”
It was on the tip of Kelly’s tongue to tell India not to come crying at her door when everything exploded in her face, but she bit it back. If—when—Piers decided to use India as stress relief again, she wanted to make sure she was there for her sister.
“I don’t agree with this decision,” she finally managed to say. “I think you’re making a mistake. But I love you, India, and if you need me, I’ll be here.”
“I love you, too.” India’s tone brightened. “And you don’t have to worry about me. I won’t need you like that again. Piers promised.”
Kelly hung up and stared at her phone. “Tell me I’m wrong about this.” She looked at Ben. “Tell me I’m full of shit and the odds are really that Piers has changed and will never so much as yell at her for the rest of their lives?”
“Babe.” Gabe kissed her temple. “I’m so sorry about this.”
Ben winced. “I really wish I could, Kelly.”
“How did you know?” She stayed close to Gabe, needing him too much to worry about her future heartbreak.
Ben shoved his hands into his pockets. “When Gabe told me you thought she was in contact with him, I guessed it was only a matter of time. I hoped like hell I was wrong, but the possibility was always there.”
Helplessness welled up and choked her. “I don’t believe this.”
“It happens more than anybody would like it to,” Ben said.
“Why?”
Ben shrugged. “Assholes like Piers are masters at playing on vulnerabilities. Somehow, he convinced India she would be better off with him than without him.
Kelly’s head hurt and her chest felt tight. “Just this once, can we all please be wrong? Can Piers please have changed?”
Chapter Thirty-One
Gabe couldn’t stay away. He’d restrained himself from going to Kelly’s the night before, but that morning he couldn’t fight it.
He was at her door earlier than was strictly polite.
She answered it looking like hell. Deep shadows underscored her eyes, and her hair was a tangled mess.
“Did you sleep?”
Kelly shrugged and walked away from the door. “Not really.” She trudged into the kitchen. “Want some coffee?”
“Sure.” He guided her to the couch and pressed her to sit. “Why don’t I make it?”
The smile she gave him was teeth in a stricken face. “That would be great.”
Gabe made the coffee and kept an eye on Kelly.
Her attention was locked on the phone in her hand.
“What are you doing?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ve been trying India all morning, but she’s not answering.”
“She could still be asleep.” He kept it gentle. “It isn’t even eight yet.”
Kelly shook her head. “Not India, she gets up early and makes that bastard breakfast. She hasn’t even texted me back.”
And probably wouldn’t, but he kept a lid on that. Piers was cunning, and there was no way he was going to let India have free contract with Kelly, today or any day for that matter. Kelly was India’s salvation, and Piers needed to cut that cord. Damn this situation sucked.
“Babe.” He eased on the sofa next to her. “I think you’re going to have to wait for India to contact you.”
Kelly gaped at him. “He could be beating the shit out of her right this minute.”
“But you can’t do anything about that.” He hated having to say it.
“Of course, I can.” Kelly glared at him. “I can keep reminding her that I’m here, and she doesn’t have to take this.”
“She chose this, Kelly.” He took her hand. “And until she makes a different choice, you are powerless.”
Kelly snatched her hand back. “So, she made her bed and now she has to lie on it?”
“That’s not what I meant.” And now he really regretted opening his mouth. If Kelly wanted to sit there and stare at her phone, that was her choice. After a few days that had to get tiring, and maybe she would stop. “Forget I said anything.”
He returned to the kitchen to finish the coffee.
“It’s so easy for you, isn’t it?” Kelly stood by the sofa, trembling in her anger. “It’s easy for you to walk away from your family. Put them in a box and shove it way back on the shelf until you feel like taking them out again.”
The attack left him guessing, and he couldn’t fight back. And ouch! “That’s not fair, Kelly.”
“I think it is.” She thrust her chin out, pleading for a fight. “You put thousands of miles between you and them, because God forbid, they should need you for anything.” She dragged in a ragged breath. “If they need you, you might fail them. Fail them like you did your dad. And so you stay away. In your head, you even convince yourself they’re better off without you.”
“Shit.” He couldn’t stay there or he’d fight back and say stuff he didn’t want to. Kelly was upset, and he cut her some slack for that, but it only went so far.
He stalked to the door and yanked it open.
“Oh look.” Kelly’s voice chased him out the door. “It’s Gabe Crowe doing what he does best. Getting the hell out of Dodge.”
Gabe resisted the urge to slam the crap out of the door. He got that she was upset, but damn, when Kelly got mad, she tossed the gloves away.
He stormed home, breathing deep the entire way.
Ma and Belinda looked up when he stalked into the kitchen.
He couldn’t deal with their questions. “I’m going for a hike.”
It took him a few minutes to grab some water and his hiking boots. His backpack was still in the truck from his hike with Kelly.
Damn woman had steam coming out of his ears. Granted, he had put distance between him and his family. He’d also left Ben shouldering the majority of the burden with Ma. Not that Ma needed much, but she did need the connection with her sons, and Ben played proxy for all five of them.
He parked at the trailhead and climbed out of the truck. Crisp, chilly air laden with the musty smell of scrub oak and dried plains grass met him. Gabe breathed it deep. It was one of his childhood smells. It brought back those happy days playing with his brothers outside after school. His long hikes with Dad. Walking into the kitchen and finding Ma there. He saluted Ma, trying to keep all of them in line and losing the battle to sweaty socks and wet towels on the floor.
Ma was due for a sainthood. No doubt about that. Maybe it had something to do with being older, but coming home this time had made him realize how much he missed that sense of family. Having all of them together for Ben’s wedding had been great. Even putting up with Luke’s prissiness, and Mark’s galloping ego. Even tolerating Rafe’s asking him about not being a proper doctor.
Small creatures rustled in the brush framing the trail. Icy mud cracked beneath each step he took. Like it always did, the sense of space around him eased his anger and calmed his mind.
“Gabe?” Belinda called from behind him.
Biting back a curse, he turned. Couldn’t she understand he wanted to be alone?
Also dressed in hiking gear, Belinda headed down the trail toward him. “Hi.” She looked uncertain. “I hoped you wouldn’t mind some company.”
He did mind. “I’m not in a talking mood.”
“Gabe.” A dimple appeared in her right cheek, and her brown eyes lit with amusement. “I lived with you for three years; I can tell when you need to disappear into your cave.”
Yet, here she was.
“I wanted to get out of the house and ease some of the cricks from that bloody plane ride.” She smiled. “I’ll be back here not saying a word.”
Gabe nodded, because he’d already gone twelve rounds with one woman today and didn’t have another twelve in him.
Beli
nda stayed true to her word, and she kept pace with him easily. Unlike someone who had caused the steam coming out his ears. That woman could get him to steam up in other ways too. Except they’d agreed to cool that off. More like turn it right off.
Jays crashed through the bushes around him. Soaring above them, a red-tailed hawk whistled to its mate. He’d forgotten how big the skies were here. They arced from horizon to horizon in one unbroken, azure curve.
Belinda tapped his shoulder and pointed. “Look.”
“Elk.” Gabe identified the small herd. “We don’t see them that often. Lots of mule deer but less elk.”
She breathed deep and took a slow turn. “It really is beautiful. I see what you love so much.”
“Yeah.” Because wherever he traveled, he always took a bit of Twin Elks with him. He turned and carried on. The magic of being out there in nature soothed him and his mood started to improve.
They reached his place much sooner than he had with Kelly. A slight breeze ruffled the water and sent a light spray from the falls their way.
“Oh, wow.” Belinda crouched to cup the water. “Is this where you used to come with your dad?”
He must have told her about that. “Yeah. We loved coming here.”
“I can see why.” She stood and gave him a misty smile. “Thanks for sharing it with me.”
He shrugged, because he hadn’t started there with the intention of sharing it with her, but she’d followed him, and he needed the peace being there brought too much to change his direction.
Belinda dropped her backpack on the rocks. “Do you remember that trip we took in Algonquin?”
They’d done a lot of that sort of thing together. “Canoeing and camping?”
“And skinny dipping.” Belinda dropped her jacket and whipped her shirt over her head and bent to untie her boots.
“Are you nuts?” He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “You’ll get hypothermia.”
“Chicken,” Belinda tossed over her shoulder. She was long, lithe and tanned and her body had been the first thing he had noticed about her. Then her big easy smile.
The same one she was giving him now as she wriggled out of her leggings.