by Becky Avella
As he spoke his concerns, a new thought dawned in Deanna’s mind. It unfolded slowly, giving her time to adjust to its enormity. If it had taken shape any faster, the weight of the fear the thought brought with it might have crushed her. They wouldn’t be safe. And the people they loved weren’t safe now, either.
Gram.
Greg Martin knew them too well. He was familiar with her family and Sean’s, too. He would know what would hurt her the most. Deanna sat up straight, the blood draining from her face. She felt ill. “You have to take me to Gram.”
“I told you I would,” he said. “After the sheriff.”
She shook her head. “No, I changed my mind. That’ll take too long.”
“But we agreed. After we report the fire, we can go home.”
She should have thought of Gram sooner. Gram would have put her first, no matter what. She always did.
Sean pleaded his case. “We have to get help, if not for those men, then at least to stop the spread of more fire.”
And then he said the worst thing possible. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Her cheeks burned. Sean thought she didn’t care as much as he did, but that wasn’t true at all. She cared too much, more than she wanted to let herself feel, but who was he to dictate her conscience? To tell her what was right or wrong? It reminded her of Blake Ransford. He was always doing that to her, too.
“I understand that people just died back there. It’s horrible, and I don’t want to see that fire spread any more than you do. But Gram.” Deanna squeezed the seat’s edge and closed her eyes. Just saying Gram’s name aloud made her sick with worry. “Sean, Gram is my whole world.”
A choice dangled before her. Maybe her father was onto something with his flying-solo philosophy. It might be a lonely life, but at least he got to call the shots. That’s all Deanna wanted. To have a little control for once, and nothing said she had to stay with Sean. She hadn’t considered separating from him—at least not until they’d seen this thing through—but now that they faced an impasse, it was probably time to leave him so she could take care of her own issues.
“You’re quiet,” Sean said. “What are you thinking about?”
“Drop me off on your way,” she said. “I’ll walk to The Hangar.”
Sean flinched as if she’d slapped him. “I’m taking the last exit off the highway to go to the courthouse. Taking you downtown first would add too much time, and we need to stick together.”
“Why do we have to stick together?” she demanded. It sounded cold, but she had to be tough for Gram. That mattered far more than Sean’s feelings right now. Besides, they were getting too cozy anyway. She would only end up hurting him in the long run. This was for the best.
He rubbed his eyes, battling with some internal debate. Finally, he spoke. “I’ll do whatever you want. I still believe we need to get help first, but if it means splitting up, I’ll go downtown first.”
Gripping the steering wheel, he looked up at the truck’s roof. Then he turned to her. His voice was gruff, almost a whisper, but she could still hear it above the wind when he asked, “Please, Deanna?”
Her heart lurched at how much feeling was behind his request. Another reason to make a clean break now rather than later.
Sean continued, “You wouldn’t be in danger if I hadn’t gotten you into this mess. Let me make sure you’re safe before you go off on your own.”
They wouldn’t be in this danger if Sean hadn’t hired her.
They wouldn’t be in this danger if she hadn’t insisted on landing in the meadow.
They could play the blame game all day long, but truth stared her in the face: the actual threat of spreading fire took priority over the perceived threat to Gram. That ravine was full of flash fuel and Deanna’s conscience spoke for itself. With no cell service, they had a duty to deliver the news in person. Taking her to The Hangar first really would add too much time. If she insisted they do this her way and then the fire spread, all the blame would land on her and her selfishness.
“Okay. We’ll go for help first,” she acquiesced and then turned to stare at Sean, determined to deliver her next message loud and clear. “But Gram better be okay.”
He nodded slowly. “She will be.”
* * *
Sean parked next to the courthouse annex and turned to Deanna. “Hopefully, this won’t take too long.”
“It better not.”
He read her rigid body language. She wasn’t giving him an inch. Anything that went wrong would be his fault, and keeping her with him wasn’t going to be easy, either. She could change her mind and bolt at any minute.
“We’ll be in and out, I promise. Report what we know, then we’re out of there. Maybe they can send someone to check on your grandma while we fill out reports,” he said.
The laser-sharp look she shot him was impressive. “I don’t want them to send someone. I want to see she’s safe with my own eyes.”
It was fear that was making her mean. He understood it. Sean worried about his family, too, but it was different for him. Uncle Paul could fend for himself, and his mother and grandmother had moved to Spokane a few years ago after his grandfather passed away. His loved ones were almost a three-hour drive away from this danger. He understood Deanna’s urgency. Arlene Jackson was right here, and she was alone with no way for them to warn her.
He tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but Deanna flinched away from it. He let his hand drop back to his lap, his face flushing. What had he thought would happen? That after their harrowing afternoon together, she would somehow suddenly be swept off her feet?
Without looking at her, he said, “Making sure your Gram is safe is our next step, I promise.”
“Let’s stop talking about it, then, and get this over with,” she said.
He was so terrible with women. What should he have said to her? Even if he’d had all the right words, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Deanna wanted only one thing right now. The best thing he could do for her would be to get in and out of the sheriff’s office as quickly as possible.
Walking through the parking lot, they passed a hodgepodge of the department’s fleet of vehicles—a few Ford sedans, a couple of Suburban SUVs, a diesel pickup—all of them displaying the same sheriff’s department logo. Deanna stopped and stared at the final car in the lineup.
She flipped her arm out, catching Sean across the gut. “That’s it.”
“Huh?” Now what?
She kept her arm against him and pointed with her other hand at a forest green Jeep Cherokee. “That’s the car I saw by the shed in the meadow.”
Disbelief froze Sean in place as he stared at the Jeep. Had someone from the sheriff’s department really been up there? Everything had happened so fast it was possible that Deanna was mistaken. Jeeps were common enough. Sean hoped that was the case because the alternative was too scary. Sheriff Johnson was his best friend. Sean had always known Jim to be a man of integrity and moral conviction. If his department was somehow compromised, or—Sean shuddered at his next thought—if Jim wasn’t the man Sean thought him to be, then there was no one else left to help them. He needed Deanna to be wrong.
EIGHT
Deanna was familiar with the older, prettier courthouse next door, but what reason would she have ever had to come into this annex and see the sheriff? She glanced around the fluorescent-lit room. Could they trust whoever was in here? It was doubtful that Sean believed her about the Jeep. He was too much of a Sheriff Johnson fan. He’d never believe this department could be anything but on the up and up if it meant implicating his best friend.
“Can I help you?” a female voice asked from behind a bank of dispatch equipment.
“Um, yes. We need to report—” Deanna began.
“Sean!”
The plump, ginger-ha
ired woman hustled around the desk, brushing past Deanna in her haste to wrap Sean up in a warm embrace. Deanna closed her mouth, not bothering to finish the sentence she’d started.
The woman held Sean at arm’s length, appraising him. “Oh my goodness, sweetie, what happened? You look beat up.”
Sean gave her a warm smile and said, “You should see the other guy.”
“I can imagine,” she said, embracing him a second time.
Deanna stepped away from them and tucked her thumbs into her back pockets. She looked up at the ceiling to avoid watching them. Was she jealous? She didn’t have any claim on Sean, and it wasn’t like this matronly woman would be any kind of rival even if she did. But the obvious loving connection between the two of them left her hollow. This other woman was in her spot. Sean’s arms around her at the crash site had been warm and comforting. He’d protected her from watching Rex’s truck plunging to the bottom of the ravine. Deanna wanted back in those arms, where she could pretend that this day had never happened. Where she could feel safe again.
Deanna clenched her teeth, disgusted with herself. She was just shaken up and missing Gram, that’s all. She shouldn’t be jealous; she should be annoyed. This was Sean’s idea of “in and out”? This woman looked like she was winding up for a long-winded walk down memory lane, and they didn’t have time for that.
“Good to see you, Sue,” Sean said. “We need to report an accident and possibly a new fire.”
“You mean that crash site out on Tunk Road? That was reported a bit ago. Already sent men out there.”
Deanna’s nostrils flared and she glared at Sean. They could have skipped this stop altogether.
“I hope they get that fire put out before it gets close to your place,” the dispatcher said.
“Me, too,” Sean said.
That thought hadn’t occurred to Deanna. Sean’s ranch was already threatened from the east. The last thing he needed was to worry about new flames coming from the west. That ravine had been a tinderbox. It could easily blow up the hill. It was more evidence of how selfish she was. She had been so focused on what coming here first was costing her. She’d never bothered to consider what it was costing Sean.
He put a hand on the small of Deanna’s back, pulling her into the conversation. A thrill traveled through her at the touch and at the thoughtfulness it represented.
They’d never be a good match. Sean was too laid-back to put up with a hothead like her. She’d end up walking all over him, and he’d end up resenting her for it. But when Sean did find the right girl, whoever she was, that woman would be treated like a queen. Deanna couldn’t help but admit to herself that she was jealous of that girl.
“Deanna, this is Sue Lloyd. Sue’s a friend from church,” Sean said. “We’re in a home group together.”
Deanna stuck her hand out to shake, but instead of gripping her hand in return, Sue folded her up into a voluminous hug. Deanna awkwardly patted the woman a few times on her back. As a rule, she did not hug strangers. She met Sean’s eyes, begging him to take charge and hurry things along.
Sue held Deanna out at arm’s length. Her turn for inspection. “Oh, honey, you look a little worse for the wear yourself.” Sue’s forehead creased. “Are you guys okay?”
A lump formed in Deanna’s throat. The concern in Sue’s voice was too much for her to handle. They’d reported the fire. Could they go now?
“We’re actually hoping to see Jim,” Sean told Sue. “Is he in? It’s important.”
Before Sue could answer, a honeyed voice from behind them spoke. “Sean Loomis and Deanna Jackson. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a little high school reunion going on here.”
Deanna rolled her eyes. She’d know that lazy drawl anywhere. Sure enough, when she turned, she found Austin Mills, a guy she’d dated in high school, leaning against the doorjamb.
Austin was dressed for the part of deputy, but the official uniform looked more like a costume on him. Deanna almost laughed out loud. Austin a deputy? She’d never be able to take him seriously.
Sean mumbled a halfhearted greeting. “Austin.”
There had never been much love lost between the two men. They were polar opposites. But between Deanna and Austin—that was a different story. There had been plenty of love lost there. Dating him had been a huge mistake.
Sue frowned. The look she gave Austin told Deanna that she wasn’t much of a fan, either.
Without acknowledging Austin, Sue said, “Sorry, Sean. Sheriff’s not in the office much these days. But he’ll be at the high school gym at seven tonight for a town meeting. There’s going to be a press conference about the fires.”
She glanced at her watch. “You’ve got about an hour and a half or so.”
Good. Now they could get out of there and get to Gram. They’d done their duty. Time to go.
Still leaning in the doorway, Austin crossed his arms and flashed his “my daddy bought me expensive braces” smile, never breaking eye contact with Deanna.
“In the meantime, looks like you’re stuck with me,” he said. “What can I do for you, Dee?”
Deanna glared at Austin. In her mind, she pronounced his name like she was spitting out sour food. “I think we’ll come back later...”
Sean maneuvered Deanna toward the door. “We’ll come back when Jim’s here. Deanna’s got to get to The Hangar and check on her grandmother anyway.”
Austin stood to full height. “What’s wrong with Arlene?”
“Nothing. I hope. We just had a crazy...” Deanna looked to Sean to finish the sentence. How could she explain everything they’d been through?
Sean hesitated. “It’s a long story.”
“They were up at the Tunk crash site,” Sue said.
“Whatever you have to do, it can wait.” Austin gestured with a nod of his head. “Come on back.”
He led them down a hallway to a conference room. He waited for them to sit and then said, “So tell me this story.”
Sean and Deanna made eye contact. Where did they even begin? They both spoke, talking over each other. Deanna waved at Sean. “You start.”
Sean’s mouth quirked to the side, his brows furrowing. Deanna could imagine his brain sifting through the afternoon’s events, trying to figure out the relevant details. She was doing the same thing. “I had a valuable horse go missing, and Deanna took me up in her plane to look for him.”
“So you want to report a missing animal? You’ll need to contact the state brand inspector,” Austin droned, already bored.
“No. That’s not it,” Sean said, clearly frustrated. “It’s what we found while we were looking that we need to talk to you about.”
“We found a hidden landing strip,” Deanna added.
They attempted to piece together the crazy story. They told Austin about the drugs and the guns, about Sean being knocked out and the two of them tied up. They told him about their narrow escape and the unorthodox landing in Sean’s alfalfa field. They finished with Rex Turner’s crash and their concern for Gram’s safety.
Austin’s chair squeaked as he lounged back in it, raising his long quarterback arms behind his head. His styled sandy curls and his too-perfect, symmetrical face made Austin look like he belonged in a Hollywood soap opera instead of sitting here in a small-town sheriff’s department.
“Wow. Rough day,” he said.
The dry tinder of Deanna’s temper sparked. She popped up from her chair. “Yeah. Rough. Did you even bother to write any of that down, Deputy Mills?”
Sean’s hand covered hers. He could try to calm her down all he wanted, but it wouldn’t work. She wouldn’t let Austin demean them like this.
“I don’t need to write it down.” Austin smirked and tapped his temple. “Like a steel trap.”
He leaned forward on his forearms. “Look, I understa
nd. You’ve been through a lot today. You’ve got a right to be freaked out, but I’m not getting all worked up about it, because you didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. It’s already been taken care of.”
“How?” Sean asked, leaning forward to mirror Austin’s posture, his eyes set in a steely stare. Something flashed between the two men that Deanna couldn’t decipher. As Sean sat up to his full height, they looked like two bucks about to lock horns.
Austin continued, “You can rest easy tonight because we’ve already made arrests.”
Arrests? Deanna sat back down, relaxing a bit. So that Jeep up in the hills had been one of the good guys? She was grateful that she’d misjudged the situation. Maybe this nightmare was about to be over after all. Maybe there was no threat to Gram. It was over.
“Who?” Sean asked. He didn’t sound as relieved.
Austin stood. “Can’t discuss an ongoing case with you, Sean, but I will assure you that the two of you are safe now. This smuggling operation has been cut off at the knees. After the DEA gets involved, they’ll all be too busy defending themselves to worry about you two.”
He slapped paper and pens in front of them and said, “I’ll just need your statements, and as soon as things calm down with the fires, I’m sure Sheriff Johnson or a detective will be in touch.”
“That’s it?” Sean said.
“That’s it.” Austin walked toward the door. Before he left the room, he turned and said, “Frankly, Loomis, I’m glad to hear you weren’t involved with all that illegal activity on your land. You’re fortunate to have a friend like Sheriff Johnson to defend you. He kept insisting that you were one of the good guys.”
Austin’s face looked doubtful.
It was Sean’s turn to stand. “Don’t give me that, Mills. I’m the same guy I’ve always been, and you know it.”