by Hope, Amity
Toby shrugged. “Same old, same old.” Cole nodded at his vague answer. “You?” Toby asked.
Cole decided to be a bit more forthcoming. Maybe if he tried to chat up Toby, he’d be more willing to talk. “Oh, you know. Keeping busy with odd jobs. I came back to town to take care of my mom.”
“Too bad about Darren,” Toby said. “Your gas came to twenty even.”
Cole pulled out a single bill and handed it to Toby.
“Yeah, too bad,” Cole said with a shake of his head. Under the circumstances, he thought it was best to say what Toby expected him to say. While in truth, as far as he was concerned, his brother had gotten exactly what he had coming to him.
Beyond Toby, >Beto try tCole could see the plump woman at the pump finishing up. His time was running out.
“Hey,” he said in a conspiratorial tone as he leaned forward, “you remember Sarah? Sarah Heath?”
“The chick that was always attached to your side in high school?” Toby asked, though it sounded more like a statement. “Yeah. What about her?”
Cole tried to keep his tone casual as he watched Toby for the slightest sign of guilt.
“Her place was robbed the other night. Completely trashed,” Cole said.
Toby shifted on his feet, his arms going back to a crossed position over his chest again. “So?”
“So,” Cole said, “I was wondering if you happened to hear anything about it?”
“Are you accusing me?” Toby growled.
Cole kept his expression even and worked at keeping his tone reassuring. “Not at all,” he easily lied. “The opposite, actually. I’m asking for your help. If you happen to hear anything, could you let me know?”
Toby narrowed his eyes at Cole. His tone was cool and placating. Cole didn’t believe him for a second when he said, “I’ll let you know right away. Sure.”
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” He wasn’t sure it would make a difference but he thought it couldn’t hurt to let it be known that he was keeping an eye out for Sarah.
“You two together again?”
Cole nodded, keeping his voice even while hoping to make his point clear. “Yeah, she’s my girl. And I’m willing to do anything to protect her.”
Toby nodded as he glanced over his shoulder. The woman, whom Cole had thought was on her way in, was now head first in her car. Her large backside was sticking out of the driver’s side door. Cole figured she must be rooting around for her purse or something.
Whatever the reason, she had given him enough time to say what he wanted to say. He was almost to the exit door when Toby’s voice stopped him.
“I got a wife and two kids,” Toby said.
The words took Cole by surprise. He wasn’t sure how that was relevant to anything. He stopped with his hand on the door and turned to Toby.
Toby continued. “When Mike was arrested, it was enough to scare me straight. I didn’t want to end up like my brother. The way those two dumbasses started bragging it up, I can’t believe someone didn’t turn them in sooner.”
“Oh yeah?” Cole asked as he tried to keep his tone impassive. He’d always known Steve and Mike had rocks for brains. But it had never occurred to him that they’d actually been stupid enough to admit to anyone what they’d whw head fi done. He’d overheard them in what they’d thought was a private conversation. But they’d actually been stupid enough to tell people? Or was Toby baiting him?
“You weren’t the only one that straightened out.”
Cole raised his eyebrows in question.
“We all figured that’s why you left town,” Toby said. “Figured you heard the rumors and didn’t want to get caught up in our brothers’ bullshit anymore than I did. Maybe I didn’t make it to a fancy college like you did. And this job pays shit but at least it’s an honest job.”
Cole nodded. “Why are you telling me this?”
The look Toby gave him wasn’t a friendly one. “Because I heard Alex was asking around about me the night that someone broke into Sarah’s. I want to make it clear: I had nothing to do with that.”
“Alright,” Cole said as the lady finally came bustling in. He slipped out the door as she hurried past.
He tossed around what Toby had said. Straightening himself out sounded like a good story. Cole just wasn’t sure if it was true. Did he mean what he said? Or was he just trying to push suspicion off in another direction?
an>
Chapter Twenty-Three
“I can’t believe this place is still open,” Cole said as he carried their tray to a picnic table. “It seemed old way back when we first found it.”
The Roadside Smokehouse couldn’t quite pass as a restaurant. The small building looked more like a shack. It had a green tin roof. The white paint was peeling on the outside but from what Sarah could tell, the inside looked clean enough. Orders were placed at a window and customers were given a number. Seating was provided outside at picnic tables. Some were sheltered under an open air structure that consisted of a roof to provide shade, held up by four sturdy beams. Cole and Sarah had opted for a picnic table in the sunshine.
The meat was cooked on a large, wood smoker. The menu was limited. They offered only smoked turkey legs or smoked pulled pork sandwiches. Each meal came with a side of coleslaw and a generous handful of kettle chips. Lemonade was the only beverage served.
“I can’t believe you kept my helmet,” Sarah said with a grin. She and Cole had found it years ago at a consignment store. It had cost her ten dollars. A fraction of what she would’ve spent if she’d had to buy one that was new. The helmet was purple and glittery and it sparkled in the sunlight. It was completely gaudy but she loved it.
“You can thank Mom for that,” Cole said as they settled onto the wooden benches. “I mentioned it and she knew exactly where it was at.”
“Well, I’m glad she had it. This has been so much fun.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so relaxed. After the stress of the last few days, going for a ride had been almost therapeutic.
They had ridden for a few hours, not really heading anywhere but just enjoying the evening. Cole had driven right by the roadside eatery, having forgotten all about it. As he passed, Sarah had given his waist an excited squeeze. He’d looped around, neither of them sure if it would still be serving at this later hour. The window had still been open. The perk of missing the dinner rush was that they nearly had the place to themselves. A few families and another couple were seated under the shelter but Cole and Sarah were far enough away that they had their privacy.
Sarah glanced up from her sandwich when she heard commotion coming from the building. The woman who had taken their ortak
“Looks like we made it just in time,” Cole said.
“Thank goodness,” Sarah muttered before taking a bite. She closed her eyes as she savored the flavor of the smoky, slightly sweet meat. The place might look like a dive but the food was incredible.
“Did Mom talk your ear off?” Cole asked.
Sarah laughed as she reached for her lemonade. As much as she loved going for rides with Cole, she missed the opportunity to talk without having to yell in his ear. “It was nice to catch up with her,” she said.
As soon as Cole had returned from his errand, they had taken off. This was the only place that they’d stopped so they hadn’t had an opportunity to talk yet.
“I think she was really happy to see you.”
Sarah smirked at him. “Oh, I gathered that much. She subtly hinted that she’s getting older and that her health isn’t the best.”
“No shit,” Cole said sarcastically.
Sarah laughed. “Oh, I’m not done. She made the offhanded comment that she’d like some grandkids sooner rather than later.”
Cole burst into laughter until he realized Sarah had a serious look on her face. “You’re not kidding?”
She shook her head. “Not even a little.”
“Guess she’s getting a little ahead of herself,” Cole said. “She does
that sometimes.”
Sarah smiled at him again. “It’s okay.” She hesitated before saying, “She’s really proud of you. You know that right?”
“Yeah,” Cole said. “She’s mentioned it.”
As they finished their meal, the other customers trickled out to the gravel parking lot and then took off.
“It’s getting late,” Cole noted when they were the only ones left.
“I suppose we should get going,” she said as she wiped her fingers on her napkin.
He piled their garbage onto the tray while she finished her drink.
“Is there any chance I could talk you into staying at my place tonight?” he asked. “I mean, we could stay at yours. But I’d have to go back to my place first anyway because I’ll need my truck in the morning.”
“Cole, I’ll be fine home alone,” she carefully said. I’m not going to let whoever did this scare me out of living my life. I’m grateful that you’ve stayed the last few nights. But I can’t ask you to keep doing that.” Their evening had been so perfect, she wondered if maybe this was the wrong time to bring it up. As much as she liked havishe nights. ng him stay, she just wasn’t sure it was the best idea. She loved having him there and she knew he wanted to be there. The problem was the reason he was there.
It felt like things were happening too quickly instead of naturally. They’d been thrown into the situation because she’d been afraid to be home alone the first night. Cole had been too protective to leave her alone. The same was true for each night following.
Now they were heading into the fifth night after the robbery. She knew that if she didn’t put an end to his staying over now, she’d be in danger of not putting an end to it at all. While that was tempting, she just wasn’t sure it was right for them. They’d come a long way over the last several weeks. But they were still getting to know each other all over again.
Besides, if the day ever did come when Cole moved in—she mentally cringed, realizing she was getting ahead of herself—she wanted it to be for the right reasons. Not because she was scared into it.
“Sarah,” he said, his voice low, “I don’t mind staying. In fact, I prefer it. Hell, if you want me to sleep on the couch, I’ll sleep on the couch. But I don’t feel right leaving you out there alone until this guy is caught.”
She had been expecting him to give her a similar argument.
“You said yourself, you’re not sure that they’re really even looking for this person,” she pointed out. “What if they never find out who did it?”
The look he gave her was grim. She noted the way his jaw was set and she was sure that thought had crossed his mind.
“Look,” she said, “the security system is in place. And whoever did this isn’t going to be able to break through the steel door.”
“No,” he agreed, “but they could come through a window. As far as the security system, yeah, it’s better than nothing. But the truth is, if someone sets it off, it’s because they’re already there. You do realize how far out in the country you are, right? Maybe the extra patrol Duncan sent out will be going by, but probably not. It could take up to ten minutes for someone to get out there. Ten minutes, in that kind of situation, is a very long time.”
If he meant to scare her, he succeeded. The memory of the shattered window pane, the trashed house, the feeling of being so violated, it was still so fresh in her head.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh.”
“Do you really think this person would come back?” she asked. “They already stole the only things worth taking. It wouldn’t even make sense for them to waste their time.” She wanted him to agree with her. If he told her she was right, it would go a long way toward making her feel safe in her home again.
He was quiet for a few moments too long.
“You think they’ll come back?” she asked.< />He was>
“I honestly don’t know. Neither do you. And that’s the problem. But if they did? And something happened to you? If I hadn’t done everything in my power to stop it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.” His tone was as pained as his expression.
Sarah dropped her gaze from him. She knew that feeling of guilt all too well. She knew what it felt like to be partially responsible for someone’s death. Even if that death was an accident.
“Ah, dammit. I’m sorry,” he said as he got up from his side of the table. He quickly rounded to her side and pulled her out of her seat, into his arms. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories for you.”
They had hardly spoken of Aaron since the night she had told Cole everything. He’d seemed hesitant to ask. She had done what she’d always done. Not wanting to bring her past baggage into her current relationship, she’d metaphorically packed it up. She’d stuffed it in a big old steamer trunk and not taken it out again.
“No, it’s fine,” she said with a little shrug. And it was. She didn’t want him to censor what he said around her. Besides, it wasn’t that he’d made her feel guilty. She was past that. It was simply that she would never want to cause him the kind of guilt she had struggled with in the past.
“I’ll stay tonight,” she said. “But at some point, I’m going to have to go back to living my life.”
He pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”
*****
The grating ring of a cell phone awoke them from a deep sleep.
Cole squinted groggily into the darkness, as it rang again. For just a moment, he thought he was dreaming. He could feel Sarah’s body draped over his, her head was resting on his shoulder. She had jerked awake at the sound too.
“I think that’s mine,” she said. She hesitated for only a moment before tossing the blankets off.
Cole reached for his bedside lamp as Sarah clumsily climbed over the top of him. She was only wearing an old t-shirt of his. Her hair was a wild mess as she fumbled through the pocket of her jeans.
He glanced at the clock. It was a little after two in the morning.
She frowned at the display. “It’s the security company.”
He sat up, instantly alert as she came back to the bed. She dropped down on the edge as she answered. “Hello…Yes, this is Sarah…No, I’m not at home. I’m—….Wait, what?”
nt>0">H
Her body went rigid and she turned to him with huge, frightened eyes. “Okay,” she said as she jumped up, reaching for her jeans. “Thanks for calling.”
Cole had launched himself out of bed a moment after Sarah had.
“What’s going on?” he demanded as she dropped her phone onto the bed and began to wiggle into her jeans.
She looked at him, both dazed and upset. “There’s a fire. My house is on fire! The alarm went off and the fire department has been called. They’re on their way. They were calling to make sure I wasn’t in the house.” She froze, putting her hands over her face and tears filled her eyes.
Cole yanked on his jeans and pulled her in close. “It’s okay, you’re safe. They’ll get the fire put out.”
“What about Penelope?” she asked in a choked tone.
Dammit. He’d forgotten about the damn cat.
“You said they’ve already sent the fire truck out. Maybe they’ll get the fire under control quickly. Maybe it’s not even a big fire,” he said, trying to sound reassuring.
“Will you drive me out there?” she asked. She’d already peeled off his t-shirt and had slipped into her bra and the shirt she’d been wearing the night before.
“Of course,” he said as he slid his own shirt on. He grabbed his keys as they hurried out of the apartment. For just a moment, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. It might be best to keep Sarah away. But he knew that wasn’t going to happen.
She sat forward, her elbows on her knees, her face in her hands. He sped through the dark streets as quickly as he dared. By the time they hit the country road that lead to Sarah’s house, he could see a soft glow and thick smoke billowing into the air.<
br />
“Shit,” he muttered. If he could see the fire from their location, it had to be raging.
Her head snapped up and she let out an agonized gasp as she realized what Cole had cursed about.
“No, no, noooo,” she moaned as she swiped at her face. “This can’t be happening.” She put her hands up to her face but he could still hear her muffled, quiet sobs.
He felt useless, unable to think of anything comforting to say. Instead, he reached over and took one of her hands. He held it the last few miles to her house. As they approached, the flashing lights from sirens bled into the glaring illumination of the flames.
A uniformed figure approached them, holding his hand up in a halting motion. Cole parked and before he’d shut the engine off, Sarah had pulled her hand from his. She flew out of the passenger door.
“Sarah!” he called after her.
Instead of running toward the house, she stagnt !” hegered a few steps and then swayed. Cole quickly leapt from the truck, racing to her side. He looped an arm around her waist as she stumbled.
“She lives here,” he told the officer. He had no idea who the man was.
He tried pulling Sarah backward. He could feel the heat of the flames from where they stood. Firemen were already working to put out the conflagration but he could tell the house was a complete loss.
“I’m sorry, what?” he heard Sarah mutter. He’d been unaware that she’d been asked a question.
“I asked if there’s anyone inside?”
She shook her head, visibly fighting back tears. “No, just…”
“Her cat is inside,” he quietly finished for her.
The officer tossed a glance over his shoulder and then looked at Sarah apologetically.
“If you could just come over here with me, out of the way,” he said. He nodded to an area at the other end of the driveway.
“How did the fire start?” Cole asked.
The officer shrugged as he looked back at the blaze. “It’s too soon to tell.”
“Can you tell if it was started by someone?”