Soldier's Duty

by Elle James

  “Still, it didn’t hurt to look,” Colin said, sounding tired. “Like Angus said, we might be looking in the wrong place.”

  “What did the sheriff say about the search?” Angus asked.

  Colin took off his hat and ran his fingers along the rim. “They’ve called it off. The helicopters and the SAR team won’t be back tomorrow. The sheriff’s department doesn’t have enough manpower to keep looking and run their regular shifts.”

  “They’ve given up.” Angus wanted to be angry and rail at those people who were willing to give up on their father. But he couldn’t. They had lives and families to go home to. If they’d found anything, they would have kept going. But after four days of searching, they hadn’t uncovered a damned thing. It was as if their father had disappeared off the face of the earth.

  The door to the house opened, and their mother stepped out onto the porch.

  Silence descended.

  She looked from one of her sons to the next, and the next, and then squared her shoulders. “You’ve done your best. Dinner’s ready.”

  Angus slipped an arm around her shoulders. “We’re not done yet.”

  She shook her head. “You can’t keep looking. If the National Guard and the Search and Rescue people haven’t found him yet, there’s no telling where he is. And as cold as it’s been, there’s no way he can still be…” She choked on her words and stumbled.

  Angus gripped her shoulders and steadied her, pulling her into his arms. Though she was small compared to her husband and boys, she had always been strong, capable and willing to pitch in with the hardest work. She’d thrown hay bales that weighed half again as much as she did. She’d roped steers, built barns and raised her boys to be the best men they could be and taught her daughter that she could do anything she set her mind to.

  God, it hurt Angus to see her break down.

  “We’re not giving up,” Angus repeated.

  His mother wiped the tears from her cheeks and forced a smile to her face. “Well, you’re not going back out there tonight. Get in here and eat before your dinner gets cold.”

  The brothers chuckled at her commanding tone. Not much kept their mother down for long.

  As he entered the house, Angus looked toward the staircase.

  Bree had just taken the last step down when she spotted them.

  “We’ll leave for Bozeman right after dinner,” Angus said. He wasn’t leaving before. His mother needed his support as much as Bree’s mother needed hers.

  Bree nodded and smiled at Angus’s mother. “I smell something wonderful.”

  “We’re having fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It was James’s favorite.” Her eyes filled, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Damn it. I’m not normally a crier.”

  Bree reached out and took Mrs. McKinnon’s hands. “You’re allowed to cry. There’s no shame in it.”

  She snorted in an unladylike manner. “Tell that to my children. I’ve always tried to live by the motto, Never show weakness. People take advantage of you when you do.”

  “You’re allowed to be human around your family,” Bree said. “Now, how can I help? Or did I wait long enough that you’ve done it all?” She said that last bit with a teasing smile.

  The family pitched in and helped set the table with flatware and glasses, while Angus took his father’s usual position at the head of the table.

  Once they settled into chairs, Angus and his siblings made a marked effort to keep the atmosphere light. They told old jokes and poked fun at each other until they laughed.

  Their father would have wanted them keep living.

  When dinner was done, his mother waved him and Bree away from the kitchen. “Go on. We have enough of us here to clean up. You need to get to Bozeman to see Bree’s mother. Give her my love and let her know we’ll do whatever it takes to keep things running on Wolf Creek.”

  Her sons all nodded their agreement.

  Bree smiled. “Thank you for all you’ve done for my mother. She’s truly blessed to have you as neighbors.”

  His mother laid a hand on her arm. “Tell Karen that when she and Ray get out of the hospital, I expect them to stay with us until it’s safe to return to Wolf Creek.”

  “That goes for the animals as well,” Duncan said. “They can stay as long as necessary.”

  “That includes you, too,” Mrs. McKinnon said.

  “That means a lot to me. You all have been wonderful to take me in,” Bree said. “Thank you.”

  Angus was glad his brothers had dropped their open animosity toward Bree. She’d had her reasons for leaving Montana. He hoped she would trust him enough to share those reasons with him. Until then, he’d be patient. One thing was certain, he didn’t want to lose her again. Somehow, he would convince her to stay. If he had to leave the military, he would. If he had to leave Montana…

  Angus stared across the room at his mother. The McKinnon family was tight-knit. They would do anything for one of their own. Angus was a McKinnon, through and through. Was he willing to abandon his family to follow the woman he loved?

  He prayed he wouldn’t have to make that choice. Already, he was convinced he needed to end his military career to be closer to home and help his father and mother with the ranch. As the oldest of the siblings, it was his duty to be there for them and for them.

  Angus loved his life in Delta Force, but his heart and family were on Iron Horse Ranch. He belonged here. Of all people, Bree should understand. He hoped.

  * * *

  The drive into Bozeman was done in silence. Bree had her own thoughts and memories filling her mind, making her even more determined to come clean with her part in the death of her stepfather. She couldn’t continue to live the lie.

  When her mother and Ray were well enough to take care of the ranch on their own, she’d break it to them. Then she’d turn herself into the sheriff and accept whatever punishment the courts determined.

  Inside the hospital, Bree entered her mother’s room and found an empty bed, ready for a new patient. Her heart slammed against her chest and spun toward the nurses’ station. “Mrs. Hemming… What’s happened to my mother? Is she okay?”

  The nurse glanced up and smiled. “She’s doing great.” Her eyes widened, and she shot a glance toward the room. “Oh, sorry. She decided to do her exercise by walking down to Mr. Rausch’s room. She’s been there for the past thirty minutes. It gave me time to change her sheets and clean her room.”

  Bree pressed a hand to her chest to slow her beating heart. “Thank God.”

  “Do you want me to get her and bring her back to her room?”

  “No,” Bree said. “We wanted to check on Ray as well.”

  Angus hooked her elbow and walked with her to the other end of the hallway where Ray’s room was located.

  Laughter sounded from inside.

  Bree knocked before pushing the door open.

  Her mother sat on a bench by the window, while Ray sat in a chair. Each wore the requisite hospital gowns and were hooked to IVs, but they were smiling and appeared to be doing much better than the last time Bree had visited.

  “Oh, Bree, I’m so glad you came.” Her mother started to get up, but Bree waved a hand to stop her. She sank back onto the bench. “The doctor said he was only keeping us one more night to make sure our systems are completely flushed of the toxins. But they should release us tomorrow.”

  “Don’t know where we’ll go,” Ray said. “But anywhere has to be better than staying here.”

  “Don’t get us wrong,” Bree’s mother interjected. “The staff has been great.”

  “But it’s a hospital,” Ray said. “And I need to get back to work.”

  Bree’s mother touched Angus’s arm. “We heard on the news that they’d found a body in the canyon.”

  Angus shook his head. “It wasn’t my father. He’s still missing.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Karen said. “But I’m glad it wasn’t him. Do they know who it is?”

  “They
had a match on dental records,” Bree said. “The M.E. thinks it’s Shelly Kurtz.”

  Bree’s mother’s face blanched. “Shelly Kurtz?”

  Bree frowned. “Yes. Why? What’s the matter?”

  Her mother shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Ray reached out to take her mother’s hand. “What is it, Karen?”

  “It’s just…” She shook her head. “Sweet Jesus. It’s like I can’t ever be free of him.”

  “Of who?” Ray pressed.

  “Greg.” She looked into Ray’s face. “Shelly was the woman he was having an affair with.”

  Bree’s head jerked back. “She was the one you accused him of having an affair with?”

  Her mother nodded, tears trickling down her cheeks. “After you left, I went out to the barn and told him I was done with him. He could have Shelly and his stupid ranch. I wasn’t going to put up with him hitting me or you ever again.”

  “You went back out to the barn after I left?” Bree’s breath hitched in her chest. “Was he…was he…”

  “Mad? Of course,” her mother said. “He came after me, and I…” her voice cracked on a sob, “and I grabbed the shovel and hit him in the head.” She bent over, pressing her fist against her mouth. “I…I killed him.”

  Bree staggered backward, her heart fluttering ineffectively inside her chest, her vision blurring. “He wasn’t dead when you went into the barn?”

  Karen shook her head. “No. No. I killed him. I hit him with the shovel. He went down, and I left him there to go check on the cake in the oven. I thought I’d just knocked him out, and he’d come back to the house. I took the cake out of the oven, ran upstairs and started packing.” She looked up through her tears. “That’s when I saw the fire in the barn. I just stood there and watched it burn.” She shook her head. “I killed Greg.”

  “No, you didn’t,” a voice said from behind Bree. “I did.”

  Bree and Angus spun to face the woman standing in the doorway.

  “Meredith?” Bree stared at the woman she’d known as the city librarian since she was a little girl, Meredith Smalls.

  The petite woman, with her straight, yellowing gray hair pulled back in a neat bun at the nape of her neck, stood in the doorway with a vase of daisies.

  “I brought these for you,” she said, her voice soft, her shoulders slumped. “If one of you would be so good as to call the sheriff, I’m ready to confess.” She held out the flowers.

  Bree hurried forward to take the vase and set it on the nightstand beside the bed. “What are you talking about? I thought I’d killed Greg.”

  “No, sweetheart, I did,” Bree’s mother said. “That’s why I told you to leave. I didn’t want you caught up in the murder investigation. I didn’t want anyone to find you guilty by association with me. Everyone knew what a bastard he was. But that didn’t make it right for me to kill him.”

  “Sounds to me like you only defended yourself against him,” Ray said, patting her arm. “He was a mean son of a bitch. He deserved what he got.”

  Meredith shook her head. “Neither one of you killed Mr. Hemming. The barn was on fire when I drove up. When I ran to the door to see if anyone was inside, I found Mr. Hemming letting the last horse out of its stall. When he turned to see me, I stood in the doorway and told him off for hitting Evan.”

  “He hit Evan?” Ray looked to Bree’s mother.

  She nodded. “He did. I told him if he did it again, I’d kill him.” She pressed her hand to her mouth. “And then I did.”

  Again, Meredith shook her head. “He wasn’t dead until I killed him,” the librarian said. “He charged at me, roaring like a lion.” Meredith’s hand fluttered at her throat. “I was so scared, I swung my purse, hitting him in the side of the head.”

  “That wouldn’t have killed him,” Angus said.

  Meredith gave a hint of a smile. “I carried a brick in my purse for self-defense.” She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Never did like carrying a gun.” She lifted her chin. “I drove off before he could come chasing after me. He must have been out cold when the barn burned to the ground. So, you see, I killed Mr. Hemming.”

  Angus turned to Bree and gripped her arms. “Is that why you left Wolf Creek Ranch?”

  Bree nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I couldn’t stay. If I had, they would have charged me with murder. My mother had already lost her husband, I couldn’t let her lose her daughter the same day. I left so that when they did come after me, she wouldn’t have to witness my shame.”

  Bree’s mother pushed to her feet and shuffled toward her, bringing her IV stand with her. “Oh, baby, if I’d only known. I would have owned up to my part in his death much sooner. I thought you left because you knew and didn’t want to be around someone who could commit such a heinous crime.”

  “I could never be ashamed of you,” Bree said, hugging her mother. “You were a saint to put up with that man. He was a horrible, horrible man.”

  Meredith Smalls walked to the phone on the nightstand and lifted it from the receiver. “I’m making that call. Neither one of you should suffer because of what I did.”

  Bree held up her hand. “Don’t, Meredith. You only did what you had to in order to protect Evan and yourself. Greg attacked you. You defended yourself, just like we did.”

  “Maybe so, but I’ve lived in fear of being found out for the past thirteen years. I can’t do it anymore.” She paused with her finger poised over the buttons. “Only, will you promise me one thing?”

  “What’s that?” Bree’s mother asked.

  “Please take care of Evan. He knows and trusts you. If I go to jail, he’ll be lost, or worse, turned over to be a ward of the state.”

  “Nothing’s going to happen to you, Meredith,” Karen said. “We’ll make sure you have a good lawyer.”

  “Promise me,” Meredith begged, tears spilling down her cheeks.

  “I promise,” Karen said.

  Meredith placed the call to Sheriff Barron. When she hung up, she stared across at Karen. “He said to go home and rest. He’ll see me in the morning.” She smiled. “I feel so much better for getting that off my chest. No matter what happens now, I don’t have to carry around that secret.”

  She crossed to Karen and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. It was all my fault, and you thought it was yours all these years. I’m so, so sorry.” She turned to Bree. “And you, too. You both carried the same secret as I did. I know how hard that was. I hope you both can now get on with your lives, knowing you didn’t kill Greg.” She walked toward the door. “Now, I have to go and finish cleaning the house. I might not have a chance after the sheriff’s visit tomorrow.”

  When Meredith left, silence swelled like a black hole in the hospital room.

  Bree finally looked toward Angus. “I didn’t kill Greg Hemming. I can come home.” A smile spread across her face, and she fell into his arms.

  Chapter 13

  Thirty minutes later, Angus led Bree out of the hospital and to his truck in the parking lot. Once there, he held her for a long time, kissing her like there was no tomorrow. Or rather, like they were just beginning a lot of tomorrows together.

  When he finally let her up for air, she gasped, breathing hard. “I’m sorry,” she said. “So, sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m just glad you’re free of that horrible secret.”

  She shook her head and buried her face in his chest. “I couldn’t be with you, knowing I’d killed a man. If I’d gone to jail, the Army might have thought you helped. They might have kicked you out of the service. I couldn’t let that happen.” Her tears soaked his shirt.

  Angus didn’t care. He finally knew why she’d left. To protect him.

  “Come on, let’s head back.” Angus opened the passenger door and held it while Bree climbed in. “Let’s get back to Eagle Rock. I want to stop by and see if the sheriff’s working late.”

  The ride back to Eagle Rock was filled with Bree’s words. She told
him every detail she could remember about the night the barn burned with Greg Hemming in it. She went on to tell him about her cross-country journey to the coast and the ferry ride to Juneau.

  “I never stopped thinking about you.” She turned to him, chewing on her bottom lip the way she always did when something troubled her. “I want you to know that if you don’t feel the same way about me now, I’ll understand. A person can change his mind after thirteen years. I won’t hold it against you if you decide you don’t want to see me anymore.”

  He shook his head. “Sweetheart, I don’t feel the same way about you.”

  The hope that had been shining in her eyes dulled, and her face fell.

  “I love you even more than I did thirteen years ago. We were just kids then. I thought you were the one for me then, but I’m a grown man now. I know you’re the right woman for me.” He reached across the console for her hand and held it the rest of the way into Eagle Rock.

  Angus couldn’t believe how things had turned out. He’d come back to Iron Horse Ranch to the tragic loss of his father. He’d never expected to find the woman he’d thought lost to him all those years ago.

  Now, if he could find his father and bring him home, all would be right with the world again.

  “How do you feel about staying in Montana?” he asked as they drove into Eagle Rock.

  Bree smiled. “I don’t care where I am, as long as I’m with you.”

  “You’d follow me if I continued to serve in the Army?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “What if I choose to stay and manage the Iron Horse Ranch?” he asked.

  She turned a frown toward him. “Do you think your father isn’t coming back?”

  He shot a brief glance her way. “I haven’t given up on him, yet. But I’m thinking through the scenarios and what I need to do in any case.” He pulled into the sheriff’s station and shifted into park. “Even if…no… When my father returns, he’s not getting any younger. I feel like it’s my duty to be here to help him transition into retirement. He shouldn’t have to run the ranch until the day he dies. One or all of us will ultimately have to take over and run the operation.”