Jamie stopped the truck and then went around so that he could help her down. She reluctantly put her hand in his and felt a slight jolt as he helped her down. Too soon his hand was gone and she was left flexing her hand, wondering if she had imagined it.
***
Councilman Hamilton remained waiting for them at the porch and he gave them an easy smile as they walked up.
“I hope it was easy to come here,” he said, an odd sentiment considering Jamie obviously new the way. Still, Gaby held her tongue. He was nervous about something, that she could detect, but she only smiled, knowing that it wasn’t enough to get her back into Joe’s good graces.
He led the two of them inside and had them sit down while a pleasant lady served them tea. She sipped the tea, but didn’t take the biscuits, looking around the well-decorated interior.
“My daughter and son will be here soon,” Councilman Hamilton said. “They are busy on the ranch.”
“I see, it’s no problem.”
“Will you be asking them any questions?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t think that will be necessary. My objective is to get some images of the family and the ranch, as well as, some back-story on the ranch.”
“Cat can do that for you, she has everything memorized, even better than my son,” Councilman Hamilton laughed.
“Cat?” Gaby said confused.
“Catherine, my daughter. We call her that affectionately.”
***
Councilman Hamilton continued to do some small talk which she responded to but didn’t care for. She was already bored and wanted to get this over with. Finally two individuals entered, both with similar features and the same colored hair. The lady caught her by surprise, being very lithe and pretty. The man was handsome and seemed pleasant enough.
The two introduced themselves and shook her hand, sitting down. More small talk followed and then she quietly announced her intention to take images.
“Of course, how could I forget?” Councilman Hamilton said.
The three of them posed on the sofa as she clicked images but to her frustration, none of them seemed to come out right. She was nearing the end of her patience when Jamie, who had been quiet throughout the whole thing, tapped her shoulder and held his hand out for the camera.
“Let me,” he said.
She nodded and he took the image in one shot, making a perfect image that she doubted she could have made through the hundreds she would have to take. Gaby was so taken aback by the image that she couldn’t stop staring at it even as the three family members dispersed.
“Well, I think Cat can show you around the ranch now,” Councilman Hamilton said.
“Yes of course but if you don’t mind, can I borrow Mr. Simmons to be my cameraman briefly?” Gaby asked knowing that she couldn’t take images like he did.
“Of course.”
Jamie didn’t say anything but she could see his shoulders stiffen, he wasn’t happy about going with her and that pricked her. She was only asking him for help, he didn’t have to be so mean about it. But then again, what did she expect from this grumpy oaf?
Catherine Hamilton was a delight.
She was completely different from her father and something shone out of her, a sudden sense of openness and freedom. She didn’t mince any words and talked about the animals with fire in her eyes. Gaby could see she loved it and she let her talk, drinking in the information and casting glances at Jamie who took images silently. What was the deal with him? His images were amazing, almost like a professional camera man. Was he a fluke or was there something related to photography in him? She couldn’t tell, but she was eager find out. She wanted to know more about him, immediately but she held her tongue.
“Where do you come from?” Cat asked.
“The city you could say,” Gaby replied, laughing. “I don’t know much about animals which seems like such a shame now.”
“It’s always easy to learn. Some like it, some don’t. I can’t live without it.”
“Did you always want to take over?”
“Oh yes, my father was worried at first, but once I finally convinced him that I was capable, then he caved,” Cat said carefully.
“What about your brother?”
“He has other aspirations which he is following right now. Is that necessary for the interview?”
“Oh no, I was only curious. Please don’t think that I am going to print everything I listen to, I am not that desperate.”
She heard a minor sound, which sounded very much like a snort from behind her and looked to see Jamie innocently take images of the cattle. Her blood boiled, this man…! But she didn’t say anything and eventually Cat went away, citing that she had to look after some animals.
She was left alone with Jamie, who was still taking images. She looked around and breathed in the clean air. Looking at the animals, she could see why people loved this life, there was a sense of freedom here that she never imagined there would be. But it wasn’t for her. She wouldn’t be able to survive here.
She walked to Jamie and tapped his shoulder.
“I think that’s all the images I need,” she said. “You’re pretty good.”
He handed her the camera, not saying anything about her compliment but she figured that she had stumbled onto something and said,
“Did you ever take lessons for it?”
“I majored in it,” he said shortly. “I left it a long time ago, but it never fully left me.”
“Seems a shame,” she said scrolling through the images. “You could have worked as a professional cameraman.”
“Not everything is about career and money,” he said.
“I didn’t say that,” she retorted, shocked.
“But you implied it,” he said. “And that means all the same.”
He walked away from her, leaving her confused and intrigued. Her hunch was right, there was something about it and she knew just the person who could give her some background on Jamie Simmons.
***
“Here’s your milkshake,” Loretta said with a grin.
“Thanks,” she said smiling back. “You have time to spare?”
Loretta looked around the diner and nodded. It was afternoon which was a slow time for the diner so Loretta sat down opposite her as she quietly started her tape recorder under the table.
“Your interview done?” Loretta asked.
“Oh yes, it was a wonderful interview. I only have to finish writing it,” she said.
“The councilman is nice, how was Jamie?” Loretta asked.
“Well he wasn’t very forthcoming but he behaved like a gentleman.”
“The boy never forgets his manners,” Loretta laughed. “I tell you, his father pushed that into him when he was a kid, like he did with all his sons.”
“He is very good at taking images,” Gaby said innocently.
“He went to study that. It was a stink up in the town, everyone knew that old Simmons wanted his eldest son to succeed him but then the son declared he didn’t want anything to do with the ranch. Left town in the middle of the night and then no one talked about it. Of course the rift didn’t stay for long and they reconciled soon after with old Simmons supporting his boy’s ambition.”
“But…?” Gaby said eagerly. She could already feel that there was something strange in the story and she was right.
“Jamie came back suddenly, five years before. No one knew why he had come back and he didn’t have any camera with him. All he said when anyone asked him was that it was none of their business and then he took over the ranch with his brothers. Strange I tell you,” Loretta said shaking her head. “You seem mighty interested in him.”
This was it, the first signs of suspicion but she was used to it so she only shrugged and said, “He has a good talent, I don’t see many with that talent so I got curious. Reporter by nature.”
Loretta relaxed at her answer, “He is talented. He used to take photos of all the events in town. Sh
ame that he gave up on it.”
“Do you think something happened to him?”
“Many say that something happened. Some speculate that he couldn’t get a job or that he was out of luck. I tell you, if anyone had to know what happened it would be Henderson’s daughter, Sally Henderson.”
“Sally Henderson?” Gaby asked. The last name sounded familiar, she was sure she had seen it somewhere and then it clicked. The name had been on the plaque back at the council office, the list of offices. Her father had to be one of the other councilmen.
“Her father works in the office as well. The two children were thick as thieves when they were children and they left the town together. Everyone thought Jamie and Sally would get married and settle down, but then Jamie came back without her. Henderson doesn’t talk about her anymore but people can’t forget. Oh, there are more customers, I should be off.”
She got up and walked away as Gaby shut down her recorder. It seemed like she had a lot more to work on and she allowed a smile to appear on her face as she pocketed the recorder. It looked like there was a mystery here and she could already see the direction of her article. What Loretta said made for a great story and if she could only write it well, there was no ways she wouldn’t be back in the paper’s good graces.
Be careful Jamie, she said. I’m coming for you.
Chapter Six
Jamie sneezed, feeling a strange feeling go down his spine. Something didn’t feel right but he didn’t stop to dwell on it. He stabbed the potato in front of him, unable to concentrate on the happy conversation going on around him. He was bothered to think that he had done the one thing he had promised never to do again. But seeing Gabrielle struggling with it had given him a major case of frustration, because he knew he could do a much more efficient job. She had seemed grateful for his help and he couldn’t figure out why helping her made him feel happy. She was only a pesky reporter who would be gone soon, he didn’t need to dwell on her.
“Earth to Jamie,” Drew’s voice kicked in and he looked up.
Lana was looking at him with worry and so was Pete. Mark seemed impassive and Jamie turned to Drew to say, “What?”
“The potato can’t take any more of those stabs,” Drew said dryly and he looked down to see that he had stabbed his baked potato into mush.
“Something bothering you?” Pete asked.
“Not really,” Jamie said, his voice convincing no one.
“The reporter?” Pete guessed.
“Maybe,” Jamie replied. “She isn’t exactly putting me at ease.”
“What did she do?” Mark asked.
“Nothing,” Jamie replied. “That’s what bothers me. She hasn’t done anything that would make me think she was a troublemaker, but something about the way she interacts with me makes me think that there is something on her mind.”
“I am sure it’s only your imagination,” Pete said. “You said her interview was done right? So there’s nothing else she can do that could cause you harm.”
“I hope so,” Jamie said sounding unsure.
“Cat didn’t say anything strange about her,” Mark said. “She said that the reporter seemed like a completely normal person.”
“You’re right, I’m worrying too much,” Jamie agreed. “There’s nothing I need to be worried about.”
Even as he said that, he couldn’t help but think that something was going to happen sooner than he would expect, something he wouldn’t like.
***
Gabrielle decided that if she was going to be go all out with her mission, she was going to be bold with it and being bold with it meant that she was going to take the fight to him. It wasn’t really a fight, but the point was she was going to charge ahead and find out all the information she needed to about Jamie Simmons, through him.
She had the basis but now she needed to interview her target which meant, she needed to gain Jamie Simmons trust as well as his permission to run the article on him. She was a reporter but she wasn’t a sleazy reporter. She wasn’t going to try and run an article without his explicit permission.
It was going to be hard, she thought suddenly, to be all chummy with him but that didn’t mean that it was impossible. She just had to try her best to not mess it up.
Even as she thought that, she knew it was going to be hard.
The first thing she did was dress her best, in her experience, it helped if she looked presentable and harmless enough. She had a game plan ready as she made her way into the council office because she was sure that he was bound to be there.
“Hello,” Destine said, looking at her in surprise. “Anything I can help you with?”
“Yes, I was looking for Jamie Simmons,” she said.
“Oh, he isn’t in today. Jamie doesn’t really work here so he comes and goes as he pleases,” Destine replied.
“Is that so?” Gaby said disappointed. The first part of her plan had already somewhat been foiled.
“Well, if you really need him, you should try the ranch, his ranch. It’s in the city outskirts, hard to miss,” Destine said.
“I’ll do that,” Gaby said and turned away.
This was better, she decided. This way she would see him in his home and get some good info on the background of the article. She started at a brisk pace, keeping it steady as she walked, but soon lost it as she realized that his ranch was further than what she had anticipated. But finally she saw what appeared to be a ranch in the distance and hurried to it, huffing. She was out of shape, she had to rectify that.
This ranch, already in her eyes, suited her tastes. There was a serene feeling to it. She could hear the animals in the background, but that didn’t stop her from admiring the area as well as the pretty farmhouse standing in front of her. She was about to go on ahead when she heard the sound of galloping feet. She had one look of a large shadow before an involuntary shriek escaped her lips.
“Whoa!” a deep voice said and she opened her eyes to see that it had been a horse that had startled her.
The horse’s rider had dismounted and she stared at him, seeing a very strong similarity between him and Jamie Simmons. Then if occurred to her that this must be one of the brothers.
“Are you alright?” the man asked.
She nodded.
“Sorry for startling you,” The man said. “I was taking her around for a ride, didn’t think someone would be here this time of day.”
“It’s fine,” she said.
“I haven’t seen you around,” he said. “Do you need to see someone?”
“I’m here to see Jamie Simmons,” she said.
“Jamie?” the man raised his eyebrow. “Why do you need him?”
“That’s my business isn’t it?” she said.
“It is. But I’m his brother, Pete, so it also makes it my business,” the man returned calmly.
“Yes well, it has something to do with an article I’m working on,” she fibbed and awareness came into his eyes.
He knew about her. What had Jamie talked about to him? That was something that was bothering her quite a bit. Instead, she followed Pete as he led the horse with him towards what she assumed to be where Jamie was.
As they walked, she took in everything and couldn’t help but like this ranch much better than the Hamilton ranch. It was so peaceful yet had its pieces of action in it. She took out her camera, wanting to take an image, but realized the fruitlessness of such a gesture. She wasn’t meant for the camera, but Jamie on the other hand was perfect for it.
She really was intrigued about the whole story. What did Jamie have in relation to Sally Henderson? Maybe she should talk to her father about it. But first she needed to understand who Jamie was and his motivations. Maybe if necessary, she would ask Joe to dig something up for her.
Pete had led her to a small building and he said,
“Jamie’s in there. Mind you, he isn’t in a good mood.”
“Is her ever?” she mumbled. “Thanks for the warning,” she called, before she walked
in.
She could tell he wasn’t in a good mood from the way he was using the laptop, his fingers were basically smashing the letters and she couldn’t imagine what had made him so mad. She knocked slightly and when his eyes turned to her, she felt a shiver go down her spine. There was something so intense about his eyes that it made her feel as if he could see everything that she was trying to hide from him.
“What do you need?” he asked impassively.
“It’s nice to see you too, Mr. Simmons.”
“I don’t like exchanging pleasantries,” Jamie replied. “It doesn’t go with how I am.”
“So I’ve noticed,” she said.
“And that’s coming from a reporter.”
“Do you have something against me or my profession?” she asked bluntly.
“Neither, I just think all reporters look for a story and I am not wrong am I?” Jamie said, staring at her again.
He was perceptive and she knew she couldn’t hide it.
“You’re right, we always look for a story.”
“So you found a story in me then?” he asked.
“Maybe,” she said, sitting down. “If you cooperate.”
“You know,” Jamie said, leaning back in his chair. “At least you aren’t hiding anything. You want a story from me and you came to ask me about it? What’s your angle?”
“The trusted aide of the councilman,” she said. “I want more details about you.”
“I refuse,” he said without a pause. “I don’t want any news to come out about me.”
“I need it for the article,” she said, trying another method.
***
“You can use another thing for the article; you don’t need to use my information. I know enough about reporting to know that you’re stretching the truth.”
That made her gears turn. How did he know? This was getting her excited and she smiled without meaning to.
“What’s funny?” he asked.
“Nothing, nothing at all. Fine, at least show me around town while I’m here,” she said, changing her angle. “I want to get a feel of the town, so that I can do justice to the article.”
Jamie: A Simmons Brothers Story Page 4