Josh

by R. C. Ryan

Everett laughed. “Probably. Though now I deal mainly with drunks and petty criminals.”

  “The chief knows everyone in town and most of the outlying ranchers by name. In turn they know him to be a good man, fair and honest, who takes pride in his work.”

  “Don’t we all love our work?” When the chief had devoured his pie, and washed it down with two cups of steaming coffee, he set aside his cup and turned his attention to Sierra. “Now, Ms. Moore, why don’t you tell me why you asked to see me.”

  “I guess I should begin with this.” She dug out the crumpled note that she’d been carrying in her pocket and handed it to the chief. “After hiking the Tetons, I found this note in my rental car.”

  He read it aloud. “ ‘Did you think you could just walk away from me?’ ”

  Around the room, the others simply stared at her in silence. It was another bit of mystery that she hadn’t, until now, shared with them.

  Chief Fletcher tapped a finger on the wrinkled paper. “Do you know who wrote this?”

  Sierra nodded. “His name is Sebastian Delray. And tonight, he had this delivered here at the Conway ranch for my signature.”

  She handed over the jeweler’s box and the note that had been inside the wrapped package.

  Everett whistled as he lifted the jeweled bracelet and very carefully placed the two earrings in his big palm. “Expensive taste.” He dropped them into the box and read the note before looking up. “He forgives you? For what?”

  Sierra shrugged. “There’s nothing to forgive, except for the fact that I left him without saying good-bye or telling him where I was going.”

  “Sebastian Delray.” The chief peered at her. “I’ve been running that name through my memory bank.” He tapped a finger to his temple. “It sounds vaguely familiar. Who is he?”

  “An international financier. His family owns blocks of valuable real estate in London, Paris, and Rome, including several art galleries.”

  Everett shook his head. “I don’t follow international finance or art. What else does he do?”

  “He gets his photograph in newspapers and magazines.” Sierra sighed. “You’ve probably seen pictures of him escorting rich and famous women to important events like royal weddings and worldwide movie premieres.”

  Cheyenne gasped. “Oh, my gosh! I’ve seen that name.” Her eyes rounded as the light dawned. “A royal wedding in Monaco. He was there with an Italian actress.”

  Sierra nodded. “Sebastian enjoys the spotlight.”

  “Which shines on him as long as he’s dating beautiful women.” The chief frowned. “In other words, using them to enhance his own image.” He looked over. “Who introduced the two of you?”

  “He introduced himself. At a showing of my work in one of his family’s galleries. He’s very brash. I guess, at first, that’s what I liked about him. But I didn’t understand why he bothered with me. I don’t travel in his circle. I’m not royalty, or a celebrity. I don’t live a glamorous lifestyle. I’m a working woman just trying to carve out a career.”

  “So you’re a starving artist?” the chief asked with a smile.

  “Not starving, by any means. But I’m certainly not famous.”

  The police chief crossed his hands over his midsection and leaned back. “You say you met him in Paris, Ms. Moore. You don’t sound like a French woman.”

  “I’m an American. But educated in England.”

  The chief nodded. “That would explain the accent. I couldn’t place it.”

  “In England I was teased for sounding too American. Here at home, I’m teased for sounding too British.”

  Everett gave her an encouraging smile. “And now you’re here by way of Paris. Which you left rather quickly after ending a relationship with Sebastian Delray.”

  Sierra shook her head vehemently. “I told him I wasn’t interested in any kind of a real romantic relationship. You see I have this career—”

  “But he tried to persuade you otherwise, isn’t that right?”

  Sierra flushed. “He was persistent. He had an uncanny way of showing up at places where I happened to be with friends.”

  “Could he have had some inside information?”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  Patiently, Everett said, “Didn’t it ever occur to you that he may have befriended people who knew you, just so he could learn more about you?”

  It was clear from her look of surprise that she hadn’t thought about that possibility. “I don’t see why he would go to all that trouble. I let him know that I wasn’t going to change my mind.”

  “So you became a challenge he couldn’t resist?”

  She stared hard at the floor, mulling his words. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. I suppose so.”

  “Who won the debate?”

  “Debate?”

  “About whether or not you’d see him.”

  Another flush stole over her cheeks. “In the beginning, I guess he did. At first, I agreed to dinner. But only dinner. And then he took me to an old classmate’s wedding. There were a few gallery showings. And just like that, he decided that we were a couple, and he became—” she shrugged, searching for a word “—controlling and possessive.”

  The chief’s tone sharpened. “In what way?”

  “He started complaining about the time I spent with my friends. He started insinuating himself into every aspect of my life. I was feeling smothered.”

  “Did you ask him to stop?”

  She nodded. “He excused his behavior by saying that he couldn’t bear to be away from me for even a few hours. But I told him I needed my space.”

  “Did he back off?”

  “No. It got worse.”

  “How much worse?”

  “He started calling me dozens of times a day. When I wouldn’t answer his calls, he started showing up at my apartment. The final straw was when he persuaded my apartment manager to let him in while I was out with friends. I arrived home to find him sitting there in the dark, my apartment filled with dozens of flowers. On the coffee table was a jeweler’s box. Inside was a…” Her gaze flew to the jewels spilling out of the box on the table. “A diamond necklace.”

  Everett Fletcher turned to study the jewels. “I guess that would turn a girl’s head.”

  “That’s what my friend Janine said. She told me I was crazy to pass up a catch like Sebastian Delray. But all I could see was a man who thought he could buy me, and I ordered him to leave. After the apartment manager escorted him out, I called Janine and asked if I could stay the night at her place, because I was afraid he would come back.” She took a deep breath. “I loved that apartment, but I couldn’t go back.”

  “You moved out?”

  She nodded. “I went to Janine’s. The next day I contacted the leasing agent and terminated my lease.” She chewed her lower lip. “It cost me a fortune to pay the balance in full, along with the closing and cleaning fee because of the short notice.”

  “You were that afraid of him?”

  She mulled that for several moments before saying, “Looking back, it sounds like a bad melodrama. But at the time, when I realized how obsessive he’d become, and had a taste of his anger…”

  “Wait a minute. I think you glossed over something.” Chief Fletcher held up a hand to stop her. “Tell me about this anger.”

  “It was the reason why the apartment manager showed up. The neighbors heard the breaking of glass when Sebastian put a fist through the door after I refused to allow him to stay the night.” She swallowed. “At the time, I was afraid of his black mood. I was afraid that he would… force himself on me.”

  “Did he threaten to?”

  She shook her head. “No. It was just a feeling I had. He was in a full-blown, out-of-control fury.”

  “Did you see him again?”

  “No. I stayed with my friend Janine until I made arrangements to end my lease and purchase a one-way ticket out of Paris. I asked Janine to contact Sebastian after I was safely gone, letting him know that I h
ad left the country and wouldn’t be seeing him again. I was certain that would be the end of it. He would cool off, get used to the fact that I’d left, and move on with his life, and I could do the same.”

  “This note was the first you’d heard from him since then?” The chief stared down at the handwritten words on the paper.

  “Yes. It was in my car. A rental, which I’d parked at the ranger’s station at the Tetons before I started my climb.”

  “Why the Tetons?”

  For the first time she smiled, and a light came into her eyes that caused her to glow. “I love climbing and hiking. I did a lot of it in Europe. I’ve always wanted to climb the Tetons. And since I’d had enough of big cities, and because I was craving some solitude, I thought the time was right. Besides, I’m an American. I wanted to come home.” She shrugged. “And like I said, I was confident that Sebastian would accept that I was gone for good and move on with his life.”

  “Did you tell Sebastian Delray you were coming to Wyoming?”

  Sierra shook her head. “I didn’t tell a soul except my best friend—”

  The chief interrupted. “A best friend who may have been persuaded to reveal your whereabouts?”

  When he could see that she was about to disagree, he held up a hand. “Think about this. An abject boyfriend comes to your best friend and says he really needs to apologize for his behavior. Would she think she was doing you both a favor by giving him one last chance to redeem himself?”

  Sierra took a long, deep breath. “I can see Janine doing exactly that, and believing it was the right thing to do. She kept calling me a fool.” Her eyes grew stormy. “And I thought I could trust her with my secret.”

  “So now he’s found you here and left his calling card so that you’d know that he knows where you are,” the chief added.

  “That still doesn’t explain why he’s doing this. Why has he targeted me?”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Ms. Moore, you’re easy on the eyes. Along with that, you’re open and friendly and trusting, something that is extremely attractive to a man who likes to be in control. If that isn’t reason enough, I’d guess that part of this man’s obsession has to do with the fact that he can’t have you. You walked away from him, and he can’t accept that from a woman.”

  “But he can have any woman he wants.” She shook her head. “He has the money, the connections—”

  Everett Fletcher interrupted. “Not to mention the ego, to believe that he can pretty much do whatever he wants, without consequences. That sort of man can be dangerous.” The chief nodded slowly as he put his thoughts into words. “Ego and obsession and anger can be a deadly combination, especially in someone with extreme wealth who feels entitled to live by his own rules.”

  The chief leaned back in the comfortable chair. “I’m no psychologist, but my years as a police officer have taught me to read people. I think this speaks of a certain arrogance on Delray’s part. He needs to prove to himself that the relationship wasn’t fractured by anything he did, but rather by some failure on your part. So he’s generously offering to forgive you. And if that isn’t enough, he’s offering a reward, as well. A carrot, if you will, instead of a stick. Thus, those very flashy jewels. There are a lot of young, vulnerable women who would take him at his word, put the past aside, and begin again. Is that what you would like to do?”

  Sierra’s eyes flashed. “I’d like to do whatever I can to see that he isn’t allowed to contact me again.”

  “You’re talking about signing a restraining order.” The chief gave her a stern look. “I need to know that you aren’t being coerced in any way. Are you requesting this of your own volition?”

  “I am.”

  “I’ll be right back.” He got to his feet and walked outside to his car. When he returned, he was carrying a sheaf of documents.

  With a click of the pen he filled out the top lines before handing them to Sierra to be completed.

  When she handed them back he read them carefully, then signed and dated them.

  He looked up. “I’m obliged to tell you the following. What you have filed is a restraining order, or an order of protection, which is recognized by the State of Wyoming as a form of legal injunction requiring the party named herein to refrain from coming near you, or contacting you, or asking a third party to contact you in his name. If this party refuses to comply with the order, he faces criminal or civil penalties that could result in arrest and possible jail time.” He looked up. “Do you have a business card or phone number of a legal representative of Mr. Delray’s, who can be notified of this legal action?”

  Sierra gave him the name of the gallery in Paris. “It’s a family-owned business, so I’m sure they can put you in touch with Sebastian or his lawyer.”

  “Thank you.” The chief made a notation, then folded the documents into his pocket and pointed to the jeweler’s box and notes. “I’d like you to keep everything. The two notes, the box, the wrapping, for evidence.”

  Sierra didn’t make any move to touch them. “Why don’t you take them? I don’t want to even look at them.”

  “I’m not authorized to take them. But see that they’re kept in a safe place.” He got to his feet. “I’ll record these documents tonight. I have to stop by my office anyway. I’ll scan them and send a copy via e-mail to Mr. Delray’s counsel, and ask him to contact Delray, since I have no idea where he’s staying. I hope once Delray realizes that you have the law on your side, he’ll be willing to let this thing go.”

  Sierra managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Chief Fletcher.”

  “You’re welcome. But I must warn you, Ms. Moore, that these legal documents can’t guarantee your safety. They may not be a deterrent if someone is hell-bent on taking the law into his own hands. But at least it offers a paper trail, stating that you have cause for concern. It’s a reason for me to keep my eyes and ears open around town to see if the guy is hanging around, and to keep track of where he goes and who he sees. Once these documents are recorded, he can be found in contempt of the law if he tries to contact you. If this man chooses to ignore the warning, you’ll have the power of the law on your side.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “Are you planning on staying in Wyoming?”

  Before she could respond, Big Jim spoke. “I think we agreed that Sierra will stay here for a while longer. Right, sweetheart? At least until the chief can file these documents and settle this matter.”

  Sierra glanced at Josh, then away. “Yes, thank you, Big Jim. I certainly feel a lot safer here than I would anywhere else.”

  Chief Fletcher held up a beefy hand. “I should warn all of you to be careful. A person who is obsessed enough to travel halfway around the world may not be deterred by a few documents. If he’s exhibited violent behavior in the past, there’s no telling what he might be capable of now.”

  Sierra blanched. “You think this is all going to get worse?”

  “Sorry.” The chief put a hand on her arm. “It’s not my job to sugarcoat the facts. My job is to present them as I see them. This man isn’t behaving in a normal, rational manner. Therefore, I have to consider him a threat to your safety and to the safety of those who offer you refuge. As soon as I leave here, I’ll be in contact with the state police, checking out both you and Sebastian Delray.”

  Josh shot her a smile meant to comfort her. “Everett’s not kidding. When the state police are finished with their investigation, they’ll know more about you and Delray than your mothers do.”

  The chief’s eyes danced with laughter. “Josh is absolutely right on that point. So a word of warning, young lady. I consider myself the guardian of Paintbrush, Wyoming. I take my job seriously. If you’re hiding anything, now’s the time to spill it.”

  Sierra sighed. “It wasn’t easy telling you such personal business. But now that I have, I’m feeling so much lighter. As though a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

  “I’m glad.” The chief started toward th
e door. “Thanks again for the apple pie, Phoebe. Ms. Moore, you’ll be hearing from me as soon as I have any information.”

  Big Jim followed the police chief from the room. In the kitchen their muted voices could be heard through the closed door.

  When the lights of the chief’s truck faded, Big Jim returned to the great room.

  Seeing the concern etched on the faces of his family he dropped an arm around Sierra’s shoulders. “I’m glad you’re staying, sweetheart.”

  “I’m grateful for the sanctuary. But after hearing what the chief said, I’m afraid that my being here could cause all of you trouble.”

  “We’ll deal with trouble the way we deal with everything here in the Devil’s Wilderness.” He looked around, hoping his words would lift all their spirits. “Head on, full steam, and all of us together.”

  At the vehemence of his words, Sierra felt her eyes fill.

  “Thank you, Big Jim.” Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  He held her for several seconds before releasing her.

  She took a long, deep breath before saying, “But I should warn you. I wasn’t completely honest with Chief Fletcher.”

  She saw the way she had everyone’s sudden, complete attention.

  “I don’t mean about Sebastian. But I haven’t been honest about my family.”

  She glanced at Josh, wondering how he and the others would feel about her when she had finished baring her soul.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  I told you that my father is currently playing with a band in Germany, and that my mother, a sculptor, has a studio in Italy.” Sierra stared down at her hands, aware that Josh and his entire family were listening in rapt silence.

  They were entirely too silent, their attention riveted on her.

  She could feel herself beginning to sweat. Hadn’t she revealed enough already? It was actually painful to have to bare her family secrets like this.

  Though she kept her tone light, she couldn’t hide the hint of sadness in her eyes. “I guess you’d call my parents the poster children for the term ‘free spirits.’ ”