Grabbing a handful of Karina’s butt, Bo chuckled. “Good thing they all are old and hard of hearin’. I plan on you makin’ some noise tonight. I need me some Karina-candy.”
Swatting Bo’s hand away, Karina grinned. “Give me a sec, okay?”
Bo nodded, so Karina stepped inside and shut the door. Gram immediately rose from the couch, her face a sea of worry.
“She’s asleep, so I’ll talk to her in the morning.”
Ruth’s shoulders sagged from relief. “Okay. Guess we get one more night’s sleep in blissful ignorance.”
Hugging her tight, Karina nodded. “Exactly. Listen, uh, well, Bo’s here, and I need to spend some time with him.”
“Say no more. I was young once too you know. Goodnight, Karina Ruby. Thank you for, well, just bein’ you.”
“It’s in the genes.” Karina smiled as Gram headed to the door.
“Evenin’, Bo. How’s your brother?”
The playful look on Bo’s face from seconds before was overshadowed by a brief flash of sadness. He recovered quickly, but the pain still beamed from his eyes. “About the same, Ms. Tuck.”
“Well, I’ll keep him and your family in my prayers. Goodnight, you two.”
Gram left, and Bo stepped inside, shutting the door with a gentle push. Ranger bounded across the floor, licking and whining as Bo caressed his head. The eerie similarities with the same scene with Cal made Karina wince.
“How’s Brice really doing?” Bo stopped petting Ranger’s head. When he looked up, Karina saw tears in his eyes, and her heart sank. “Oh, Bo. I’m so sorry. When did he pass?”
In two quick strides, Bo wrapped his arms around Karina’s neck, pulling her close, his lips buried in her neck. “Six hours ago. I’m sorry I didn’t call, but we’ve been busy plannin’ things and such. Mom and Dad weren’t in any shape to drive, so I took them home before comin’ here.”
“Babe, I completely understand if you need to go be with them.”
“No. I need you. I need to feel alive. Loved. Right now.”
Bo’s kiss was hard, full of needy passion. His lips crushed hers while his hands moved across her body, yanking with force at the button on her jeans. Overwhelmed by the raw display of sexuality, it took Karina several attempts to pull herself away from Bo’s hunger. “Hey, I just bought these so don’t rip them to shreds.”
“Karina, please. Don’t make me wait.”
Stepping away, Karina moved over to the wall and flicked the switch off. The decision she’d been grappling with about whether to tell Bo about their child had just been made. “Get on the bed, big boy. I’m all yours.”
For the next two hours, Karina did her best to offer her body as a way to comfort Bo’s grief, biting her lip each time she wanted to yelp when his rough hands touched the sore spot on her back or his erection pounded into her so deep it hurt.
Sometime after midnight, in a tangle of sheets and beyond exhausted, the spent lovers snuggled together and drifted off to sleep.
Bo woke with a start, breath heavy and heart pounding. It took him a few seconds to realize he wasn’t at the hospital, watching Brice take his last breath. Looking over at Karina’s sleeping frame, he smiled while twirling a lock of her raven hair around his finger. A wave of guilt slammed into his chest for keeping her in the dark about family secrets. He hated lying to her, but what choice did he have?
The sound of his cell buzzing from his jeans on the floor caught his attention. Careful not to wake Karina, he leaned over the edge, stretching his arm until reaching the hem of the pants. He winced at the time. It was four a.m. The text was from his mother.
“Come home. Now. Trouble.”
Bile rose in his throat from what he’d feared ever since the day he set eyes on Karina. It was bound to happen, yet he’d continued to pray it wouldn’t. After Brice’s death and the reaction of his father, he knew it was only a matter of days before everything fell apart.
Turning the phone so the light shone on Karina’s back, he stared at her exquisite body, never even flinching at the large, faded yellow bruise near her kidney, in the exact spot he’d imagined after hearing the story.
“Why, Karina? Why did you have to be so damned nosy? So amazin’? So easy to love?”
Stirring at the whispered words, Bo held still until Karina settled back into heavy sleep. He was so quiet while getting out of bed and dressed, Ranger didn’t even stir. Once dressed, he considered leaving a note—some type of explanation—but ultimately decided against it.
No words would ever be able to soften what was about to happen or how he’d treated her like nothing more than a whore earlier. Shame and guilt made blood rush to his cheeks and ears, angry at himself to being so rough. Rage at the situation, Brice’s death, even Karina’s involvement, drove him to the brink of insanity.
Pausing at the doorway, Bo drank in the final moments he’d ever spend with the woman he was supposed to only use and ended up falling for. Silent tears ran down his cheeks as he slipped out into the hallway, cursing the fates intervening and changing the course of his life.
“I’m sorry, babe. One day, I hope you’ll believe that.”
Chapter 13
Hot Springs, Arkansas – Saturday Morning, March 11, 2017
Karina’s eyes fluttered open to find Ranger’s snout inches from her nose. “Whew! Somebody needs a breath mint!”
Rolling over, expecting to snuggle up against Bo’s warm body, she realized he wasn’t in bed. After sliding on her glasses, she noticed his clothes were gone too.
“I hope his parents’ are okay. What do you think, huh buddy?” Ranger responded by licking her hand and then tugging at the sheet. “Okay, okay, I know. Bursting bladder. It’s really a good thing he’s gone since there’s no telling how I’ll react after talking to Betty, right?”
“Honey? You up?”
“Yeah, Mom. Come on in.”
“It’s almost time for breakfast. Let me take Ranger out while you get dressed. Okay?”
“Thanks. Sorry I slept in so late.”
“Understandable since you had company.”
“How did you know?”
“Mom told me. How’s Brice?”
Wrapping the sheet around her body, Karina stood and retrieved Ranger’s leash from the dresser. “He passed yesterday.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. When’s the service?”
Handing the leash to her mother, Karina shrugged her shoulders. “He didn’t say. I would imagine in the next few days.”
“That’s it. You’re taking some time off. Bo will need you by his side to get through this.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Now get dressed and pack some things. I’ll have Cheryl call some folks in to help. Go.”
Smiling as Ranger led the way outside, Karina wasted no time. She had about ten minutes to talk to Betty before her mother returned. Yanking her hair into a messy bun, she popped in her contacts, threw on a pair of sweats and headed down the hall.
Knocking on the door, Karina waited for an invitation.
“Hey, sweetie. I was just leavin’ to get Betty’s breakfast. Come on in.”
Ruth stepped out of the way as Karina walked inside. They hugged and Ruth left, shutting the door behind her without a sound. Karina forced a smile as she neared the edge of the bed. Though some color was back in Betty’s cheeks, she still looked frail.
“Sit, child.”
Karina eased down next to Betty, who reached out a hand. Her skin was warm, the bones easily felt through the paper-thin skin.
“Ruth told me she’s prepared you with all she knows.”
Karina swallowed hard, heart thumping in her chest as she nodded.
“I planned on takin’ this to my grave. I did. Almost made it too, had you failed at bringin’ me back from death’s door. Not sure if I should thank you or curse you for that.”
“Betty, you don’t have to tell me—”
“No, child. I do. And it’s not Betty Berle
Dravis. My name’s Carolyn—Carolyn Renee Singleton. God, it sounds weird to say those words out loud after all these years.”
“I can’t even imagine.”
“The secret don’t affect just me anymore. I’ve suffered for sixty years with it, payin’ my penance for bein’ weak and too scared that night to do the right thing by Miss Maud. She and Clyde, they were good people. Poor Clyde. He suffered the remainder of his life all alone, a cloud of suspicion hoverin’ over his head. I was young and angry at the world for a variety of reasons, and I didn’t appreciate their kindness back then, but I do now.”
Karina couldn’t bring herself to call the woman Carolyn since her entire life she’d known her as Betty. “May I ask a question?”
“Of course, though I bet I already know what it is. Dravis is trippin’ you up?”
Karina nodded.
“I left that night on a bus to New Orleans. The man behind me was Ralph Dravis. He kept tryin’ to strike up a conversation with me, but I ignored him…until he mentioned he was goin’ to the Big Easy for a few days after gettin’ discharged from the service and then planned to move to Los Angeles. While he yammered on and on, I started to worry someone might have seen me at the bus station purchasin’ a ticket…how easy it would be to track me to New Orleans. So, I made up my mind to befriend Ralph. We spent three days on Bourbon Street—him drunk as a skunk and me pretendin’ to be…yet actually sober—eyes constantly on the lookout for the killer’s face in the crowd. Ralph offered to take me to California with him, and I played it coy and said yes but only if he married me…which is exactly what happened in front of a country preacher on a bus stop somewhere in Texas on our ride to California several days later. He was so drunk he didn’t remember a thing, so when we got to Los Angeles and I told him, I didn’t bat an eye when he asked to get it annulled. I never saw him again.”
“You felt safer with another name, didn’t you? That the person you saw wouldn’t be able to track you down?”
“Yes, a little. Didn’t stop me from never buyin’ a home or emptyin’ the packed suitcase I’ve always kept in the closet—just in case I had to run. What happened the night on Clifton Street…it’s haunted me my whole life. I can, and would, live with that, but not after I saw him. I know the doc would disagree and say it was because my insides was clogged, but seein’ his face after all this time…I believe it’s what triggered my heart attack. When I opened the door to head downstairs for breakfast and saw him standin’ there, all angry and impatient, I thought I was losin’ my mind or seein’ a ghost.”
“Why do you think it took you so long to recognize him?” Karina asked.
Confusion spread across Carolyn’s wrinkled face. “Took me so long? Darlin’, I hadn’t seen him before that day. Not for sixty years!”
Dumbfounded, Karina blurted out, “Cecil’s lived here for over a year!”
Carolyn blinked twice. “Cecil? Oh, honey. It ain’t Cecil Pickard.”
Dread slammed into Karina’s chest with such force it nearly took her breath away. “Then who is it?”
Tears ran down Carolyn’s cheeks as she closed her eyes. Knowing she was about to destroy Karina’s world tore away at her soul. Speaking the name out loud she’d feared her entire life was almost impossible. It took several attempts for her lips to form the words. “Bertrand Barton.”
For a second, Karina thought she might faint. “That’s…not possible, Betty. He’s been dead for twenty years! You saw Brandon Barton the other morning…”
The words dried up in Karina’s throat as images and memories swirled inside her mind.
Looking at pictures on the mantel during the holidays at the Barton house of Bo’s grandfather, Bertrand Barton.
Her comment to Bo how father and son looked so much alike, they could pass for twins.
The nametag on the cop in Camden—Officer Barton.
Swallowing hard, Karina asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Bertrand was a soldier stationed at Shumaker. He dated my friend, Leah, for over a year. I saw him carry Maud away and toss her limp body in the back of his car. Until my final breath, I’ll never forget anythin’ about that awful night. I’m so sorry, child. Really. But the Barton family…they’re dangerous. I thought you needed to know.”
“I…I don’t know what to say,” Karina whispered.
“You don’t need to say anythin’, child. You just needed to know so you can make the right choices from this point forward.”
Numbed from shock, Karina absentmindedly leaned down and kissed Betty’s cheek. “Thank you for trusting me. I won’t say a word. To anyone. That’s a promise.”
“It’s okay, child. I’m not afraid anymore.”
Nodding, Karina did her best not to run as she left the room. Once in the hallway, she clung to the railing for support. “This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening! She’s got to be mistaken. It’s been too long. Her memories are wrong!”
“Karina? We’ve got a problem.”
Wiping away the tears on her sleeve, Karina turned around to face her mother, grateful for the distraction of work. She hoped it was something like they were out of coffee or biscuits so she’d have an excuse to leave and go to the store.
After shooing Ranger inside, LiAnn shut the door and then walked over to the edge of the stairwell.
“What is it, Mom?”
“Something’s going on with Cecil.”
“What do you mean? Is he ill?”
Producing her cell, LiAnn punched a few buttons, handing it over to Karina. “That’s not what I mean. He’s there. I just don’t know where there is exactly, and he’s been there for over twelve hours. Wiley mentioned he saw Cecil leave late last night with his shotgun.”
“Maybe he was going hunting…oh, shit.”
“You know where that is?” LiAnn asked.
Karina started to shake. “You tracked him through his medical necklace, didn’t you?”
“I did. I, well, I haven’t told you some things because I knew you didn’t want to—”
“Enough. I get it. You kept investigating behind my back. Cecil’s not our man, Mom.”
Edging closer, worried Karina was close to fainting, LiAnn pointed to the phone. “Where is he?”
“That’s the Barton Ranch.”
“As in Bo’s family? What in the world?”
“We were way off base, Mom,” Karina said, yanking her mother down the stairs. “Where’s your purse? Keys?”
“Karina! What is going on?”
“I’ll tell you in the Tahoe! Keys, Mom! We’re wasting time!”
“They’re right here,” LiAnn responded, patting her back pocket.
Bursting out the front door, Karina yelled, “Toss them. I’m driving.”
Spurred on by Karina’s fear, LiAnn didn’t object. Once inside the SUV, Karina tore out of the parking lot, zigzagging through traffic, ignoring the honks of the vehicles she cut off. LiAnn didn’t say a word until they were on the freeway, noting they had to be doing at least one-hundred.
“Karina, talk to me. Why are you driving like a mad woman simply because Cecil is at the Barton’s?”
Gritting her jaw, Karina kept her gaze on the road. “Because Betty, er, Carolyn, just told me Bertrand Barton killed Maud Crawford.”
“We were right? Betty’s really Carolyn? My God! Wait, who’s Bertrand Barton?”
“Bo’s grandfather.”
“Holy shit. We better call for—”
LiAnn’s cell rang, cutting her words off. Grateful it was Andrew calling, she answered, putting him on speaker. “Andrew? Where are you?”
“LiAnn? Are you still at The Magnolia?”
“No. We’re on our way to Sheridan. We’ve got a situation. You’re closer than we are so can you meet us at—”
“We? Is Karina with you?”
“Yes. We’re on our way to Bo’s place. Cecil’s there and armed.”
“I’m aware. Take me off speaker, please.”
“No!
” Karina yelled. “What’s going on, Andrew?”
There was a long pause before Andrew answered. “You’re too late. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, my God!” Karina wailed, tears streaming down her face. Unable to stop shaking, she pulled over to the shoulder.
Taking the phone off speaker, LiAnn pressed it to her ear with one hand, reaching out with the other to stroke Karina’s back. “Talk to me.”
“Brandon, Bo, Gail—they’re gone. The house burned to the ground. Cecil’s barely hanging on. The ambulance left about four minutes ago for Baptist Memorial. The cops are leaning toward a murder-suicide.”
“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.”
“I heard the call go out over the scanner and recognized the address. I just left. It’s a bloody and burned mess. Take Karina home. Don’t let her see this.”
“Will you meet us at The Magnolia?”
“Already on my way.”
The appropriate words to say wouldn’t form. Sorry seemed woefully inadequate and almost trite, so LiAnn leaned over and wrapped her arms around her daughter, letting her own tears intermingle with Karina’s.
“Are…all…of…them…?”
“Cecil’s still alive and on his way to Baptist.”
Pulling away, Karina wiped the wetness from her cheeks on her sleeve. “Then that’s where we’re going. I want answers, and only one person can give them now.”
Sensing Karina’s determination and recognizing the undeterred defiance on her face, LiAnn nodded. “Only if I drive.”
Two hours later, Karina paced around the waiting room, fingernails chewed down to the nubs. Every second seemed like an hour. “You did tell the staff we’re here, right?”
“Yes, honey. They said as soon as Cecil is stable, they’ll come get us. I also told them we weren’t in any shape to talk to the police and to please not mention we are here.”
“Did you tell Andrew to make sure Gram and Grampa are occupied so they can’t watch the news?”
“Baby? Sit please.”
“I’m fine!” Karina snapped.
Blood Loss_A Magnolia Novel Page 17