by Linda Warren
She ignored her father and sat up again. This time more slowly. “Let me have your phone, please,” she said to Hardy.
“Sis, I’ll make this right, so—”
“Give me your damn phone.”
Her brother was taken aback by her tone, but he reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell. “I can take care of this,” he repeated.
“You should have taken care of it from the beginning. What happened to facts? Aren’t you supposed to have evidence to prove a man guilty?”
“We were worried about you.”
Rachel knew they were, and most of this was her fault. Guilt was once again beating heavily upon her door and she had to take responsibility for that. She searched for Wyatt’s number on Hardy’s cell and touched it.
The sheriff responded immediately. “I hope you’ve got something, Hardy.”
“Let Egan go immediately.” Rachel didn’t mince words. “He didn’t do anything but help me. Isadore McCray’s dogs attacked me.”
“Rachel, it’s good to hear your voice, and you’ve told me all I need to know. How are you?”
“I’ll be fine once Egan’s out of jail. What happened to justice, Wyatt?”
There was a pause on the other end and she knew the sheriff had been railroaded by her father and his cronies. So much for small-town justice.
“I’m just the sheriff, Rachel, and I have to follow the law.”
“Then let Egan go. He did nothing to harm me.”
“You got it.”
She handed the phone back to Hardy and rested against the pillows, feeling drained. Feeling lonely. And wondering why she’d thought coming home would do her any good.
“Sweetheart...”
“Please, just leave. I’m tired.” She closed her eyes.
“Egan Rebel said he would get even with me for putting him in prison, so it was natural for me to think the worst once a witness came forward. I’m not apologizing for that. I’m not apologizing for worrying about my daughter.” The judge made his opinion crystal clear.
“I’m sorry I made everyone worry,” Rachel murmured, opening her eyes. “And I’m really sorry an innocent man was put in jail because of me.”
“Just get better so we can enjoy having you home,” Hardy said. “Now, we’ll leave you in peace.”
The two men walked out, but Angie lingered. Until she glanced at her friend, Rachel didn’t realize the doctor was still in the room.
He walked over to the bed and pushed the call button. “I’ll have the nurse give you something so you can rest.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want any more drugs. I want to get out of here as soon as I can.”
“You have an antibiotic drip that should be through tomorrow. Then I’ll think about letting you go home. You still have more rabies shots to go, but you can come in for them.”
Rachel snuggled down in the bed. “Thank you.”
As the doctor left, Angie moved closer to her. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’d like my clothes.”
“The highway patrol brought your suitcase and it’s in the closet, as are your toiletries.”
“Thank you.”
Angie pulled over a chair and sat down. “Do you want to talk?”
“Not really.”
“Erin is dying to meet her aunt. I know you go on Skype together, but she’s excited out of her mind to meet you in person. She’s pulling out all her art supplies so you can teach her more about painting.”
“I’m dying to meet her, too, and the new addition to the family.”
“Hardison Hollister III is only concerned about milk right now, and he’s been a little colicky lately. I can’t wait for you to see him. He looks a lot like Hardy, while Erin favors me.”
“Where is he now?”
“Mavis has him. She still helps out at the house.”
“I can’t wait to see everyone.” Rachel pulled the sheet up higher. She’d been gone so long she didn’t know if she would fit into the household anymore. Just talking about family, though, made her feel better. Mavis was the housekeeper, and after Rachel’s mother died, she’d been a godsend. Always there if Rachel needed her—just like Angie.
She looked at her friend. “Do you know Egan?”
“I know the Rebel family, as everyone here does. Egan’s not too easy to get to know. He’s more of a loner and rarely comes into town.”
“I like him.”
“I can see that. He’s very handsome. Ruggedly so.”
Rachel scooted up farther in the bed. “I...I think I love him.” She could always be honest with Angie, and this time was no different. “I know that sounds crazy and I’m willing to admit it, but something in me just connected with him. Does that make sense? Does love happen that quickly?”
“I’m not an expert, but love for me happened slowly. The more time I spent with Hardy, the more I fell for him. Through all the heartache and pain that was to come, that feeling never changed. At times I thought I hated him, but that was just hurt feelings.”
Rachel reached for her hand. “I’m so glad you and my brother finally got it right.”
“I’m happy, Rach.” Angie smiled so widely that Rachel smiled, too. Her friend’s good nature was always contagious.
“I’m happy for you.”
“Then why have you stayed away so long?”
Rachel looked toward the window and saw it was dark outside. She wasn’t ready to talk about the past, but knew Angie would understand. “It’s a long story and I’ll tell you later. What time is it?”
Angie glanced at her watch. “It’s a little after five in the morning and I’ve got to run. The baby wakes up about six for a feeding.”
“Why did you come so early?”
Her friend squeezed her hand. “As Hardy told you, we’ve been so worried, and when the doctor called and said you’d been stirring, we came right away. We didn’t want you to be here alone.”
Tears stung the back of Rachel’s eyes. Her family loved her, but at times it was hard to feel that love. The problem was with her, not them. The guilt had weighed her down for years and she was still feeling the pressure. When she was stronger, she would open her heart and explain her feelings to her family—just as Egan had told her to do.
“Go home,” she told Angie. “I’m fine. I just need to heal.”
Angie stood up and hugged her. Rachel hugged her back with all the emotion she was feeling. “I’ve missed you,” she said.
Drawing back, her friend brushed away a tear. “I’ve missed you, too, and we have tons to catch up on. I’ll come back later today to see when you’ll be able to go home.”
“Thank you.”
Angie picked up her purse from the floor. “Don’t be too upset with Hardy and your dad. They were just reacting to a terrible situation.”
“You can’t always make everything better, Angie.” In the old days her friend had worked overtime trying to keep peace, trying to make everyone smile, trying to make everyone happy. Rachel didn’t need that anymore. She’d grown up and learned that life was not always happy. “You see, I’ve grown a backbone and can actually take care of myself these days. Although my actions lately have disproved that.”
“Hardy’s waiting, so I better go. We’ll talk later and you can tell me about the new Rachel.”
“She’s still neurotic, I’m afraid.”
Angie smiled as she went out the door.
Rachel leaned back and touched her hair. It was still matted with blood. She was a mess. The scratches on her arms were now a reddish blue and seemed to be healing. Looking up, she saw the IV dripping into her arm. Egan had gotten her help in time. She would be fine. But what about him? He probably never wanted to see her again.
The thought of him in jail made her sad. She wanted to do something to help him. She looked toward the window as if she could see Horseshoe, and knew that Egan didn’t want or need her help. No matter how he felt about her, she would find a way to thank him for everythin
g he had done for her.
* * *
EGAN HEARD THE front door open and immediately sat up and reached for his boots. A light was on in Wyatt’s office, but everything was quiet. He sensed a presence at the cell door and looked up. The figure was unmistakable: big, strong and undeniable.
“Hey, Falcon, what are you doing here?”
“Making sure you’re okay.”
Egan got to his feet. “I thought you were here to break me out.”
“Don’t make jokes. I was worried Jericho might try something stupid, so I came in early.”
“He didn’t return to the ranch?”
“No. He’s asleep in his truck.”
“I tried, but I guess he didn’t listen.”
Falcon rested his forearms on the crossbars of the cell. “You’ve never talked much about your time in prison and I guess that’s understandable. For Jericho to be so protective, it must have been pretty bad.”
Egan swiped a hand through his hair and instinctively reached for his hat, which wasn’t there. He felt naked without it. And vulnerable. Talking wasn’t his thing, not even to his brothers. That time in his life had been shut away into a special compartment of his mind, never to be opened. With Rachel, he had opened it briefly, only because he had to.
“You know, Egan, you can tell me anything. We’re brothers. We’re blood.”
“Yeah.” His hand went to his head again. Damn, he missed his hat. “If I remember correctly, you’re not one for talking, either.”
“Not much,” Falcon murmured, and even in the darkness Egan knew a shadow darkened his brother’s eyes. A shadow known as Falcon’s wife, Leah. The subject was off-limits, just as prison was. It was understood among the Rebel brothers. Sharing inner emotions wasn’t for them. As that thought crossed his mind, Egan wondered why it had been so easy to share that time with Rachel.
“Another reason I came by—” Falcon coughed, then changed the subject quickly “—Gabe called last night and said that Rachel Hollister was still out. Then he phoned this morning about five and said Wyatt wanted him in his office as soon as possible. So I decided to come in and see what’s going on.”
“Is Mom with you?”
“Nah. I persuaded her to stay home and get the kids off to school.”
“Really?” No one could persuade their mother to do anything unless she wanted to. Seeing the McCrays had upset her, Egan suspected.
“Is she okay?”
“She will be as soon as I get you home.”
Suddenly, the front door banged open, lights came on and irritated voices echoed.
“Ya got this all wrong, Sheriff. I didn’t do nothin’. It was that Rebel boy. He was up to no good, not me.” That was Izzy’s voice, and Egan listened closely.
“Ms. Hollister says differently,” Wyatt replied. The sheriff opened the cell across from Egan, removed Izzy’s handcuffs and escorted him inside.
The door clanged shut. “You’ll be sorry, Sheriff,” Izzy shouted.
Wyatt inserted his key into Egan’s cell door and held it opened. “You’re free to go. Rachel corroborated your story.”
“Egan told you the truth, Wyatt. There was no need to lock him up.” Falcon made his view clear.
“Don’t start with me this morning. I’ve had it with the Rebels and McCrays and I’m just sorry Rachel got caught in between. I’m sorry I had to arrest Egan.”
“How is Rachel?” Egan asked, walking out of the cell as a sense of relief came over him. Men were not meant to be locked in cells, even though the Horseshoe jail was downright hospitable compared to prison.
“She’s doing good. They’ve started her on a rabies treatment and she should be able to go home soon.”
That was good news. She’d been through a horrific ordeal, but that was as far as Egan’s sympathies went. He’d had enough of the Hollisters—enough to last him a lifetime.
Gabe and Hardy came through the door at the same time. Gabe looked from Egan to Wyatt. “Ms. Hollister told her side of the story?”
“Yes,” Wyatt replied, placing a plastic bag holding Egan’s valuables on the table. “Egan’s free to go.”
“This isn’t over, Wyatt,” Gabe told the sheriff. “The good ol’ boys’ network doesn’t sit well with me.”
Wyatt looked up. “Me, neither.”
Gabe shifted into second gear for another round.
“Let it go.” Egan stopped him, slipping his wallet into his back pocket. “Wyatt was doing his job. He didn’t have a choice.”
“That’s mighty generous, considering what he put you through.”
“He didn’t,” Egan corrected him. “Judge Hollister did.” He looked pointedly at Hardy.
The man stepped forward with his hand outstretched. “Thank you for taking care of my sister. Cleaning her wounds saved her from a lot of misery. Please accept my apology for what happened.”
Egan stared at Hardy’s hand. He wasn’t a vindictive guy, but for the life of him he couldn’t reach out and shake it, accept that apology. Something was holding him back.
The phone rang and Wyatt spoke to Egan. “It’s Rachel. She’d like to talk to you.”
He had to make a decision, and it wasn’t easy. All he wanted was peace, and the only way to achieve that was to not get involved with the Hollister family.
“I have nothing to say to the Hollisters.” With that, he strolled out of the room and into the morning light. He took a deep breath, sucking in the air of freedom.
Falcon slapped him on the back. “Your partner awaits.” His brother glanced toward Jericho, leaning against his truck. “See you at the house. Mom will have breakfast ready.”
Egan nodded as Falcon got into his truck. Gabe came and stood beside Egan. “I’d like to file a complaint against Judge Hollister, Judge Henley and the sheriff’s department.”
“Let it go,” Egan said again. “Nothing good will come from that.”
“If you say so. Now, I’m going home to have breakfast with my wife and Emma.”
“Thanks, Gabe.” Emma was his wife’s half sister, and they were raising her. The little girl had stolen Gabe’s heart.
“No problem.”
Gabe drove away and Egan walked over to the dirty black Dodge parked at the curb. Jericho rested against it, his worn boots crossed at the ankles and his arms folded across his chest. His hat was pulled low, his ponytail hanging down the back of his chambray shirt.
Egan stopped about a foot from him. “You know, you make a lousy Tonto.”
“Hmm?”
“Tonto always obeyed the Lone Ranger.”
Jericho straightened. “Not when he was in danger.”
Egan nodded. “Thanks, friend.”
He crawled into the passenger seat of the Dodge. “Who took the heifers to Abilene?”
“Your mom called the man and said she had a crisis and would deliver them later. Nothing was getting done until you were out of that cell, and I have to agree with Miss Kate.” Jericho backed away from the courthouse. “Time to get even with the good judge.”
Egan fastened his seat belt. “I’m telling you like I told Gabe. We’re doing nothing but running Rebel Ranch.”
“He needs to learn a lesson.”
“But not from me and not from you. Understand?”
“No. Someone hurts you. You get even.”
“I’m asking you to let this go. Judge Hollister has enough on his plate dealing with his daughter. She’ll handle the rest.”
Jericho turned off Main Street. “You like this girl?”
Yeah. A lot. “She’s just someone who needed help and I happened to be there. That’s it.”
Jericho shot him a glance. “I believe my friend has forked tongue.”
Egan laughed out loud. Until that moment, he’d been spouting a lot of positive words to keep everyone’s tempers in check, not knowing if he meant them. He did and it felt good not to harbor resentment. He was fine.
“Home, Tonto.”
* * *
EGAN HAD A quick breakfast with his mom to assure her he was okay. Eden, Falcon’s seventeen-year-old daughter, and Zane, Jude’s eleven-year-old son, were rushing around getting ready for school. His brothers were already on the ranch doing their jobs. Falcon relayed everything that had happened.
“I think Gabe needs to file a complaint,” his mother said.
Egan downed the rest of his coffee. “No, Mom. It’s over and I’m going back to work.” He kissed her cheek and made his exit before she could state her opinion again. It really was over. Why couldn’t they understand that?
At his house, he found Quincy nursing a cup of coffee. “Why aren’t you on the ranch?” Egan asked him.
“Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Egan paused in the doorway to his room. “I wish everyone would stop treating me like I’m ten years old.”
Quincy held up both hands. “Whoa. We’re just worried about you.”
Egan knew that, but he was getting tired of all the smothering. “There’s a cell down at the sheriff’s office that has Elias’s and Paxton’s names on it. I’ve never seen anyone worried about them when they’re in jail for drinking and fighting.”
Quincy got to his feet. “Because they make their own trouble and they’re usually guilty as sin. You, on the other hand, had a raw deal that still sticks in our craw.”
Egan was tired of fighting this battle. “I’m taking a shower and then I’m searching for my hat. I might take the rest of the day off.”
“Did you tell Falcon?”
Egan unbuttoned his shirt. “No. He can figure it out on his own.”
Quincy nodded. “Glad you’re home, brother.”
In less than ten minutes Egan was out the door. Pete jumped up and down, barking, glad to see him. He rubbed the dog’s head.
“Where have you been? With the cow dogs? You know they’ll eat you alive.”
Pete growled and Egan headed for the barn to saddle up Gypsy.
His grandpa ambled in while he was cinching the saddle, and patted Egan’s back. “Glad you’re home, boy. Justice comes in all colors—the good, the bad and the very ugly. You’ve had your share.” Grandpa eased onto a bale of hay, chewing on a toothpick. “Did I ever tell you about the time Sheriff Wilcott arrested me?”