Secrets and Lies (Hearts Of Braden Book 4)

by Susanne Matthews

  “Jackson Harris, you wound me. After everything I’ve done for you and your uncle, you turn your back on me. I thought you were my friend. Daryl told me he saw her talking to Merryn, giving her a list of how her items would have to change to be acceptable.”

  “I haven’t turned my back on you, and you know it. You’re blowing all this out of proportion. Daryl is half-deaf and hears only part of what’s being said, and even then, once he puts his spin on it, the gossip is barely recognizable. If Merryn wants to work with Ms. Jacobson and make her baked goods according to the healthy foods’ guideline, that isn’t any of your business. It’ll make things easier for you next year.”

  “Next year,” the woman screeched. “Are you telling me I have to keep serving this slop after she’s gone?”

  “It’s not slop. Did you look at the menus I sent over to you?”

  “Well, no, not really,” she said, looking both angry and flustered.

  “Mabel, this campaign to harass the woman stops now. Emily is trying very hard to put out the false fires you’ve started, but I won’t have your friends threatening her the way they have.”

  “Threatening her? No one’s threatened her.”

  “For your sake, I hope you aren’t behind what’s been happening. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the chairman and a few members of the school board. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll have to let you go, and I don’t want to do that. I’m thinking of rescheduling that meeting with Emily for Wednesday. I’ll let you know.”

  Mabel harrumphed. “Fine. I won’t stand idly by while she brings her highfalutin ideas and notions to Braden. I’ve fed these kids for more than thirty years, yourself included, and you don’t look any worse for the wear. Unless I miss my guess, you’re still eating some of those dishes I filled your freezer with after Jack died. Think of what he’d say if he knew you were treating me this way. Don’t expect me to take this lying down.”

  Maybe not lying down, but gagged would be nice.

  * * * *

  Jackson sat at a table with Harlan Ford and Randal Curry, grateful the former NFL player had a good sense of humor. He’d already signed a dozen autographs and had promise Reese one of his old jerseys to add to the bar’s eclectic sports memorabilia. Where the boys would put it was anyone’s guess.

  In a golf shirt and casual pants, Randal looked less like a super nerd or Bill Nye, the Science Guy, than he did when they’d met earlier in the afternoon.

  Jackson was pleased to see the two men hitting it off so well. Randal had offered to help Harlan with some of the coaching if he liked. It seemed the unassuming man was a big wrestling fan.

  The door opened and Micah Thomas came in, dressed casually in jeans and an oversized football jersey, her blonde hair tied up in some sort of messy bun on her head.

  As expected, every guy in the bar stopped talking when she entered. The ensuing silence was deafening.

  The last thing he expected was the shriek of recognition from Lilly Dixon Cooper, Reese’s wife who’d stopped by with the baby. “I don’t believe it! Micah Thomas, you look fantastic, but I’d recognize that rooster tail anywhere. It’s so good to see you.” Lilly handed the baby to Reese and rushed over to hug what was apparently a long lost friend.

  Jackson couldn’t tear his eyes or ears away from the unexpected occurrence.

  “It’s great to see you, too Lilly, although this is the last place I thought I would. Aunt Maddy tells me you’re the town Librarian now.”

  “Yes, I am. I’m so glad you’re here. I own this place—well, Reese and Buddy own it, and since I’m married to Reese…What are you doing back in Braden? I would’ve expected you to be married to some ‘the third’ by now.”

  “I’m not, but it isn’t because Mother and Father haven’t tried their best to get me to the altar on the arm of someone they think suitable. I came close last year, but cooler heads prevailed. I’m BCR’s new math and science teacher.”

  Lilly smiled. “So you did it. You stood up to your father and got your teaching degree. I’m so proud of you.”

  “Well, it helped that I managed to find the money to support myself those five years in Lansing when he cut me off for behaving emotionally as he put it. If everything works out, maybe I’ll get to stay in Braden or Colchester. Right now, I’m living with Aunt Maddy and Uncle Hank. You’re the first of my old friends that I’ve seen. I’ve missed you guys.”

  “Hey, there are still a few of the other nerds around, but most of those who were so mean to us have moved or come around. Some of them even visit the library now and then. Come over and say hello to Reese—you might remember him—and meet the newest member of our family. Who’d have guessed the jock was as crazy about me as I was about him?”

  Jackson watched his newest teacher greet her old friends and relaxed. If she really wanted to stay in the area, he was that much closer to keeping her when the year was out.

  Jackson sipped his beer and turned when the door opened once more and a redhead who’d been on his mind more than off it came through the door alone. His spirits soared. When she noticed him and smiled, he motioned her over, grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat. “Hi,” he said. “Come by for another burger?”

  “Maybe. I’m meeting Mike. I’m running late and figured he’d be here by now.”

  Jackson fought to keep the disappointment he felt out of his voice. “I haven’t seen him, but he should be here shortly. Let me introduce you to some of the school’s new staff. This is Randal Curry, who’ll be looking after the grade seven and eight language program and history, and Harlan Ford. Gentleman, this is Emily Jacobson, the registered dietician who’s going to implement the new Healthy Living Initiative at the school.”

  Emily held out her hand and shook, Randal’s and then Harlan’s. “Mr. Ford it’s an honor to meet you. My dad was a big fan. I saw you play when you were with the Steelers. He claims the day you had to retire was a dark day for football.”

  “Thank you. I enjoyed my years playing, but coaching’s easier on the body, especially at my age.”

  “What made you come to Braden?”

  “I lost my wife to cancer last year, and I decided leaving El Centro was for the best. My fifteen year old daughter and I needed a change.”

  “El Centro isn’t too far from the Baja Mexican border, right?”

  “Yeah. We used to visit Mexicali on a regular basis.”

  “My last school was in Presidio, Texas,” Randal said, joining the discussion. “I spent a lot of time visiting south of the border, too. I enjoy the spicy Mexican food.”

  “How long were you there?” she asked.

  Jackson had a feeling there was more than basic curiosity to her interest.

  “Two years. I never really stay in any one place for more than that. I have a temporary contract here. I like to travel and get to know this country. Short term replacement teaching allows that, although I’ve spent most of the last ten years in the south.”

  “Presidio’s near El Paso, isn’t it?”

  “It is. I actually took some part-time courses at UTEP.”

  Micah walked over to the table carrying a tray full of drinks. “Reese says these are on the house in honor of my homecoming.”

  “Emily Jacobson,” Jackson stated. “Meet Micah Thomas the school’s new math-science teacher.” He picked up a beer. “Emily is the FDA nutritionist I mentioned the other day.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Micah said. “Sorry you’re having a tough time with the locals, but they’re basically good people. They’ll come around. What was everyone chatting about? You all looked so serious.”

  Jackson laughed. “We were talking about Mexican food, I think. I’m sure you sampled some last year.”

  “Gosh, yes. There was this little cantina in Tijuana that served the best fajitas with guacamole.”

  “Where did you teach?”

  “At a private school in San Diego.”

  “Looks like your date is here,” Jackson
announced as Mike entered the bar.

  Emily turned and smiled at the man as if seeing him was the best thing that had happened to her.

  Jackson tried hard not to frown.

  Mike walked over to the table, put his arm possessively across Emily’s shoulders, and kissed her quickly, much to Jackson’s dismay.

  She seemed surprised by the public display of affection, but didn’t say anything. Obviously, she and Mike knew one another better than he’d thought.

  “Sorry I’m late,” Mike said addressing Emily as if the rest of them didn’t exist. “I got called in to work. I didn’t realize we were meeting others.”

  “We aren’t,” Emily said flustered. “I mean we are, but we aren’t with them. These are the new teachers at BCR. Micah Thomas, Randal Curry, and Harlan Ford. This is Mike Reynolds. He’s an engineer at the new ethanol plant in Riveredge.”

  “I remember you,” Mike said addressing Harlan and shutting out the rest of the group.

  The action raised Jackson’s dislike for him. There was never an excuse for rudeness.

  “You played for the Steelers.” He turned to Emily. “I’m starving, babe. How about we get something to eat first, and we can fraternize later. I want alone time with you, and I’ve only got a couple of hours before I have to get back.”

  Emily nodded, but Jackson thought he saw a flash of anger in her eyes. “Okay.” She turned back to the table. “I’m sorry, but we need to eat and since you’ve already done that…It was nice meeting you all. I hope to get to know you better soon.” Turning carefully, no doubt because of her leg, she allowed Mike to lead her to a secluded table in the far corner of the room.

  Jackson pulled his eyes away from the woman he wished he were with to the one at his side. His dreams of getting to know Emily better were in ashes at his feet. He smiled at Micah who looked at him strangely.

  “So, you and Lilly are old friends. How did a rich girl from Detroit end up hanging out with the minister’s daughter in Braden?

  “It’s really not that complicated,” she said, and while Jackson tried to listen to what she was saying, he couldn’t keep his gaze away from Emily.

  * * * *

  “You didn’t have to lay it on so thick,” Emily hissed as soon as she was far enough away from the table not to be overheard. “I said we could be friendly, and people would assume we were dating, making it easier to be seen together without anyone questioning it, but I didn’t expect a mauling.”

  “If I didn’t kiss you and touch you, no one would believe it. I don’t know what your husband was like, but people except new couples to be all over one another. I’ve worked a lot of undercover jobs, Emily. It’s attention to detail that keeps you alive. It’s saved my skin on more than one occasion and you said yourself, that you don’t have a lot of experience with this. I’ll tone it down, but you have to act as if you’re pleased to see me, or this won’t work.”

  Emily sighed. “I’m sure you’re right, but I’m not really a touchy-feely kind of person. I’ll try harder.” She wouldn’t mind if the hands all over her belonged to another man in this room, and since Mike was equally handsome and one of the good guys, her animosity at his open affection and display of coupleness made no sense.

  “Let’s just let it pass for now and look like we’re happy to be together. Your new teacher pals are an interesting bunch. You’ve got a broken down football player, a nerd, and a Barbie doll. So which one teaches science?”

  “Barbie.”

  “Get out of here.”

  While Mike’s sexist comment annoyed her, Emily realized she’d thought pretty much the same thing. She knew appearances had nothing to do with ability, but she couldn’t ignore the green-eyed monster eating at her. What chance did she have to attract Jackson’s interest when there was a woman like that around? “The problem is that the Chef could be anyone of them,” she said softly. “Two of them worked near San Diego and the Mexican border last year, and the third was in Presidio—that’s on the border not far from El Paso.” She scowled. “You know, just before he was killed, Alex was thinking the Chef might be several different people. What if he got it wrong and it’s a gang? Three teachers working together. They have the knowhow. As a science teacher, following a meth recipe would be a snap for Micah, and she would be able to spot those who’d make good cooks. And look at her! No one would suspect she was involved in this kind of business. To top it all off, she knows the area and used to visit here when she was younger.”

  “Well, that would make scouting out the place easier, and as to having more than one person involved, that makes sense. Too many things for one man to look after alone, and if he had partners…but they wouldn’t do it in the school. You know, she’d have access to all sorts of lab equipment and could get the chemicals she’d need easily. Hell, she could probably buy them in their pure form and not have to break them down to make the meth.” He stopped speaking when someone approached the table.

  “Jenny is on break,” the woman Emily knew was the owner’s wife said. “What can I get you?”

  “Menus and a couple of cold ones,” Mike answered. “Whatever that table has is fine, isn’t it, Em?”

  “Yup, that’s great. I guess you know the new math teacher,” Emily commented as the woman wiped down the table for them.

  “I do. She spent summers here with her aunt and uncle when we were both kids. We were inseparable—two misfits trying to fit in where we weren’t really wanted. It wasn’t really like that, but that’s how it felt to us. She hasn’t been back in at least fifteen years. It’ll be nice having her around. Jenny will be right over with your drinks.”

  As soon as she moved away, Mike pulled his chair closer.

  Emily still didn’t like the intimacy he was showing any more than she had before, but she could see his behavior was no different than that of half the men with dates in the bar. Jackson didn’t realize she was a widow, so the scowl he wore now was probably because he assumed she had loose morals. Let him. He wasn’t the one who’d missed church on Sunday probably because he’d been playing house with Barbie, and if she were in league with the Chef, then maybe the erstwhile principal was, too. And since she’d been to Braden years ago…

  “You look to be having some deep, dark thoughts,” Mike interjected taking a swig of the beer Jenny had just delivered along with the menus.

  “I was just thinking. If those three are aligned with the Chef, maybe Jackson is, too.”

  “Then it’s a good thing you’ve decided to keep him out of the loop. So what more can you tell me about the Chef?”

  Emily proceeded to fill Mike in on everything she knew. When Jenny came back, they both ordered burgers and fries.

  “If you aren’t in Riveredge and Braden, looking for the Chef, what are you doing here?” Emily asked.

  “I’m still looking for illegal aliens being smuggled up the pipeline by the cartel. Factory jobs like the ones available at the plant are an easy fit for general laborers who don’t need any credentials. Sometimes, they set up shop and help the cartel move guns and ammunition into the country. The area has a high Amish population, but we believe one of those compounds is actually a front for a survivalist anarchist group. I’ve nailed two already, and we caught one with a trunk load of AK47’s.”

  “Wow. I can see why you’d want few people to know about that. Does Cal?”

  “No. When I introduced myself, I said I was the front man for another operation. I got here a few weeks before you did.”

  The food arrived, and when it did, more people entered the bar, sitting at the nearby tables, forcing the conversation away from business and onto the usual topics people on dinner dates tended to discuss—movies, music, sports and of course the dismal weather they’d been having since her arrival.

  Just after they’d finished eating, Mike looked down at his watch. “Damn. I’ve got to get back. Do you want to leave now?”

  Emily smiled and shook her head. “No. I think I’ll go over there and see if
I can learn any more about my new colleagues. A little alcohol is just the thing to loosen tongues.”

  “Are you sure? You’ve had a couple, too. You wouldn’t want to spill anything yourself.”

  “I can assure you, I can take care of myself,” she answered more crossly than necessary. She hadn’t liked Mike’s feigned possessiveness earlier and really didn’t like this macho attitude now. “We came in separate cars, so leaving that way isn’t a problem. While you pay the bill, I’ll freshen up.”

  He frowned and grabbed her arm as she moved past him. “Emily, I didn’t mean it like that. I worry about you being alone. I think this fake relationship of ours could become real enough if we give it a chance—you’re alone, I’m alone…”

  “I’m sorry, Mike. I’m not ready for anything like that right now…I don’t know if I’ll ever be. Losing Alex and the baby—I need to go and freshen up.” She moved away, escaping as quickly as she could to the washroom, wondering when she’d missed the sign that Mike had gone from colleague to potential problem. When they’d met, she thought he might be a good cover for the investigation, but she wasn’t ready to have to guard against the Chef, Mabel and her league of citizens determined to make Emily’s life miserable, and a coworker with Russian arms and Roman fingers. She frowned. If Jackson were the one putting the moves on her, would she react the same way?

  When she returned to the main room a few minutes later, Mike was standing at the table talking to Harlan Ford. “Here she is,” he said, reaching out and pulling her close to him.

  Emily stifled her annoyance. If this was what he meant by toning it down, they needed to talk about the situation again.

  “I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Jack.” Mike pulled her to him, bent his head, and kissed her, forcefully as if he were imprinting his brand on her for all to see. When he pulled away, she saw humor quickly veiled in his eyes.

  He might think this was a joke, but she didn’t.

  “I’ll call you about next weekend. Think of me. I’ll be thinking of you.” He winked and walked away.