Gimme Some Sugar

by Stephanie Berget

  Micah rubbed his thumbs across the back of her hands, his voice soothing. “Try again, and take your time.”

  “We were driving into town when we saw a car stopped in the middle of the road.” Cary rubbed her face with her hands then raised her gaze to his. “Two men. They had a picture on their phone of Willa Wild standing with them. They said they had her. God, I was so scared.”

  When Cary stood and began pacing, Micah drew her into his arms. “She’s safe and so are you.”

  Cary melted against him. “I thought it was Mad Dog. That he’d sent his men after me, but they wanted Marlene.”

  Micah leaned back. “Who’s Mad Dog, and where’s Marlene?”

  Her voice rose to an almost wail. “I don’t know! Oh, god. I left her out there.”

  “And Mad Dog?” There was someone after Cary who would hurt Willa? What the hell was going on?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it, but we need to help Marlene.” The pleading look in her eyes convinced him to drop the subject for now. He scanned the room. “Hank, come with me. Cal, find the sheriff and send him out Hwy 21.”

  The three of them jumped into Micah’s truck. As they left town, he noticed two more cars following. Apparently every man in the café was coming along. Leave it to the residents of East Hope to join in the battle.

  With Cary pointing the way, Micah and the crew made it to the two men’s car in no time flat. There was no sign of Marlene or either of her attackers.

  Micah bailed out of his truck. Cary climbed out right behind him, placed her hands on his waist and peered around his shoulder. “Marlene,” he yelled as he ran in the direction Cary pointed. “Marlene!”

  He stopped for a second then heard a voice in the distance. He turned to Cary. “Stay in the truck.”

  “Not on your life,” Cary said. “I’m staying with you.”

  He could either waste time arguing with her or find his ex-wife. He chose the latter. Climbing through a ravine and over a hill, he finally saw someone in the distance. As he drew closer, he saw Marlene holding a gun in one hand and a large branch in the other. One of the crooks sat on the ground in front of her, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead, and the other stood back, his hands raised in surrender.

  Marlene flashed him a smile as he approached. “Bout time you got here.”

  Hank lumbered up, followed by the rest of the townspeople. In no time at all, they had the two men trussed up like roping calves. Townspeople surrounded Marlene as she told them the story of how she’d beaten the men who tried to kidnap her.

  Micah looked around in time to see Cary walk back to the truck.

  When he was sure the situation was under control, he made his way back to Cary.

  She sat in the truck cab, alone, her head in her hands. “They didn’t have Willa Wild, but they could have.” A tear ran down her cheek, and she swiped at it with her hand. She didn’t look at him as she spoke. “If it had been Mad Dog, he would have had her.”

  Anger welled up in Micah as he thought of what could have happened. “Who the hell is Mad Dog?” Had she purposely led bad people to his town, to his ranch?

  She raised her gaze to his, her eyes red rimmed, her jaw clenched. “My lousy, stupid ex-boyfriend owed him money. Mad Dog couldn’t find him so he was going to take his revenge out of my hide if I didn’t pay what was owed. When I didn’t have it, the bum burned me with a cigar.” She pulled up the sleeve of her T-shirt, revealing a large bandage.

  The puckered skin turned his stomach, but he couldn’t let Cary sway his thinking. “So you came here?”

  “He told me he’d come back in a week. There was no way I could come up with that much money, so I ran.”

  Micah folded his arms over his chest. “He could have followed you here, right?”

  “He was seen by a friend of mine in Salt Lake three days ago. I was leaving today. When these guys stopped us, I thought Mad Dog had found me. I’m so sorry.”

  Micah waited to see where she’d throw the blame. Marlene had never taken responsibility for anything in her life, and he sure couldn’t see her taking responsibility now.

  Cary stood then looked him in the eyes. “I’m so sorry. I should never have come here in the first place. I’ll go as soon as we get back to town.”

  Micah nodded to her then turned back to see about getting the men to the sheriff. His taste in women had to be the worst on record. Not one, but two women had dragged his family into their crooked schemes.

  The thought of some evil person getting their hands on his daughter sent shivers down his spine. Just as they got the men to the trucks, Sheriff Madison pulled up, siren wailing, lights flashing. In minutes they were handcuffed and on their way back to town.

  Cary stared at him for a moment before climbed in with Millie and Clint.

  Marlene climbed into Micah’s truck, excitement rolling off her in waves. “Did you see how I got them?” She turned, her eyes shining, her breath coming in short gasps.

  Micah clenched his jaws to keep from turning on her with all the anger and fear that filled his body.

  “What?” Marlene put her hand on his shoulder. “Everything turned out all right.”

  “What would have happened if they’d gotten their hands on Willa Wild?” He was having a hard time keeping his voice below an all-out yell. “What then, Marlene?”

  “I don’t know what you’re so all-fired mad about. They never had Willa. They just took a picture of her yesterday.” Marlene slumped into the seat, building to a full on pout.

  “To take that picture that man was within inches of her. He probably touched her. He could have grabbed her.” He lost the battle to keep calm. “Marlene! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  She turned, the look on her face telling him she’d finally realized what could have happened. “Riley wouldn’t have hurt her. He just sent the men to scare me.”

  “Even if you’re right, and I’m not sure you are, has it occurred to you how scared our daughter would have been?”

  Marlene wilted, but Micah didn’t think she really got it. He didn’t have time now to try to explain, and he wasn’t sure she wanted to know. All he knew was he would do everything in his power to keep her away from his daughter from now on.

  When they pulled up in front of the café, Willa and Clint stood waiting. He scooped his daughter into his arms and absorbed the wonderful scent of little girl. “Kiss your mother goodbye. We need to get home.” He set her on the ground in front of Marlene, but didn’t let go of her hand. He had to find some normalcy before he collapsed.

  Willa Wild gave him a puzzled look. “Isn’t Mama staying with us?”

  Marlene leaned down and kissed her daughter. Micah was afraid she would make a fuss, but for once, she did the right thing. “No, baby. I have some things I have to do.”

  Willa Wild kissed her mother then looked up at her father. “Is Cary coming back with us?”

  How did he answer her? The two women who meant the most to his young daughter had betrayed them. “I think she has something else she has to do too.”

  He’d just put Willa Wild in the truck and fastened her seat belt when the sheriff showed up. “Micah, I need to talk to you, and Marlene. Got a few minutes?”

  “I’ll take Willa Wild home,” Clint said.

  Micah nodded and followed the sheriff to his office, trailed by Marlene who stopped every few feet to talk to one person or another. Micah had the sneaking suspicion she was enjoying all the attention.

  Cary stood in the corner of the sheriff’s office, her shoulders slumped, her arms wrapped around her waist. She didn’t look up as they entered.

  When Marlene saw Cary, she reached out and put her hand through Micah’s arm. Her body pressed against his, and she had the nerve to smile at Cary. “Are you all right, honey?”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cary turn away without a word then his anger focused on the woman who had made his life miserable for more years than he wanted to count. “Get your god-da
mned hands off me!”

  ~~~

  The pure anger in Micah’s voice caused Cary’s head to jerk around. Marlene had backed away from her ex-husband, her face flushed. “Micah!”

  He turned to the sheriff. “Sorry, Matt. What did you need?”

  Cary looked from the sheriff to Micah and back. Although it would break her heart to leave this town and this man, she couldn’t bear for him to look at her the way he did at Marlene.

  Sheriff Madison turned to Cary. “I think we’re done. You stay in town until I give you the go ahead to leave. Shouldn’t be more than a day or two.”

  As she made her way to the door, she heard Marlene begin to answer questions, her voice rising in excitement. She pulled the door shut with a click.

  The day was as beautiful as a spring day could be. Sun shining, fluffy clouds in the sky and just enough of a breeze to keep it from being too hot. The way her heart was breaking, she’d have preferred dark clouds, lightning, and thunder.

  Cary walked down the sidewalk to her car. What the hell was she going to do now? She couldn’t leave, and she had no place to stay. Well, she’d slept in her car before, and it wouldn’t kill her to do it again.

  She’d asked the sheriff to check with the local police about Mad Dog, but didn’t know why she bothered. The way her luck ran, he was probably on his way here now.

  She fingered the check in her pocket. When Micah had paid his employees last night, the plan had been to cash the check on her way out of town. No time like the present, she thought as she walked to the bank.

  She looked around for Mr. Loveland, but a young cashier was the only person present.

  The woman counted out the bills with a smile. “Do you want to open an account?”

  Cary stared at the pile of bills in her hand. That had been a dream she’d played with. Staying in East Hope and belonging to the town and Micah. That dream died as soon as Micah found out about Mad Dog. “No, thanks.”

  The young woman gave her a classic eye roll. “Mr. Loveland wants us to ask that of everyone. He’s always looking for new accounts.”

  Cary felt a genuine smile spread across her face. Oh to be that innocent again.

  “Thanks for using East Hope Bank. Please come in again. “The pretty blonde gave her a conspiratorial smile. “He wants us to say that, too.”

  Cary waved goodbye then stepped onto the street. Her car sat in front of the sheriff’s office where she’d left it on her panicked race into town. Afraid she’d run into Micah or Marlene, she decided to walk around town until they left.

  “Cary!” Millie waved her hands as she raced across the street. Her carrot red bouffant tilted slightly to one side, and she was missing the bright red lipstick she was known for. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  Cary sucked in a deep breath. Millie’s animosity was all she needed right now, but maybe the woman had been right to dislike her. She’d let everyone down. Managing what she hoped was a convincing smile, turned to the woman and waited for the attack.

  Millie wrapped her arms around Cary and squeezed her tight.

  What was going on here? Cary stiffened and it was all she could do to not pull away.

  Millie held her at arms length. “First of all, thank you for talking Clint into telling me how he felt. I feel so foolish for the way I’ve been acting.”

  What? When had this happened? “He talked to you?” Cary’s life was falling apart, but here was one little ray of sunshine.

  “Yep. He told me he thinks I’m special. All these years wasted because he didn’t speak up, and I couldn’t see a terrific man right in front of me.” Millie put her arm around Cary’s shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “But back to you. Clint and I thought you might need a place to stay. I’ve got an extra room.”

  Millie had to be kidding, but when their eyes met, the woman seemed sincere. “You do know I have someone after me, don’t you? You might not want me anywhere around you.”

  Millie waved her hands, dismissing Cary’s misgivings. “Just let that jerk show his face around here. He’ll get a super-sized dose of western inhospitality.”

  The tears that she’d successfully balanced on her lower lashes broke free. She would have survived staying in her car, but the embarrassment of having the whole town know she had nowhere to go would have been humiliating. Now the woman who’d hated her when she’d arrived in East Hope was offering more than friendship. She was offering understanding. “Are you sure?”

  Millie led Cary across the street. “We’ll have fun. And if you think you want someone to talk to, you can tell me all your troubles.”

  “I’m afraid I’d scare you.” Millie’s caring attitude just made leaving harder. Maybe for a day, she could pretend she was here to stay.

  “Honey, I’m a few years older than you. I bet I’ve been through anything you can tell me about and then some. Come on. Let’s get you settled.”

  Millie stopped by Foodtown to give instructions to the cashier.

  As she waited for new her friend in front of the grocery, Cary saw Micah and Marlene leaving the sheriff’s office. Her strategy had been to sneak away. This was about as unsneaky as a person could get.

  Micah kept saying he didn’t have feelings for Marlene, but every time Cary turned around, they were together. Without looking back, she followed Millie into the store, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.

  Several times during the next two days, Cary was called into the sheriff’s office for questioning. By the morning of the third day she was free to go. Her grandfather had told her often enough about the silver lining in every dark cloud, and even in this heart-wrenching situation it was true. When Sheriff Madison told her Mad Dog was dead, she felt equal measures of relief and pity. The man had been scum, but she’d never wished for that.

  Just a few days after she’d fled from Denver, he’d tried to strong-arm another woman. Apparently he’d picked the wrong victim, because she’d put one round right through his heart. Must have been a great shot, because Mad Dog’s heart was no bigger than a pea.

  “Can’t I talk you into staying? You belong here.” Millie stood in the doorway to the bedroom, her hands in the pockets of her jeans. “You don’t have to work for Micah. I could hire you.”

  Cary folded and packed the few clothes she’d brought with her. She turned to her friend. “I appreciate your offer. You’ll never know how much your kindness means to me, but I have to go back. Now that Mad Dog isn’t a problem, I have to return my friend’s car and take care of some business.”

  Millie crossed the room and pulled Cary into a hug, the scent of her ever-present Tabu perfume enveloping Cary in warmth. When Millie stepped back, she said, “Will you come back?”

  No, she wouldn’t be coming back. Although she’d miss Millie and Clint and the other East Hopians, she couldn’t bear having Micah hate her. “Probably not. Please understand. Maybe you can come visit me.”

  Millie walked with her as she carried her duffel bag to the car.

  After popping the trunk, she tossed the bag in then gave Millie a hug. “I’ll miss you.”

  Clint climbed from his pickup and hurried across the street.

  She kept it together as they said their final goodbyes, but as she turned, she saw Micah watching from Clint’s truck. She hesitated, hoping he’d give her some sign he didn’t want her to go. Yeah, her luck wasn’t that good.

  He held her gaze for a moment then turned his head to stare straight down the street.

  With a quick wave, she climbed into her car and drove away before she became a soggy mess in front of everyone. She’d made a promise to herself the night before. No more crying. Wishes were one thing. She could wish all she wanted that Micah loved her. Reality was an entirely different animal, and she had to deal with facts.

  Time for her to get back to her life, get her plans back on track, and become the pastry chef she’d always wanted to be. As she drove past the East Hope city limits, she straightened her spine and made up
her mind. No more looking back. From now on, she would look ahead and make her own decisions.

  Among the layers of grief was a spark of excitement. In a little over eight hours she’d be back in Salt Lake City. The conversation she’d had with Pansy had given her a feeling of optimism.

  If she could just keep her mind on Pansy and Chez Romeo and her life in Utah, maybe she wouldn’t spend all her time thinking of Micah and Willa Wild.

  When she stopped for fuel, she checked her cell phone again. She’d given herself a stern talking to, but of course, she hadn’t listened. In her head, she knew Micah wouldn’t call, but her heart insisted that was a possibility.

  As she put the nozzle back into the pump and screwed on the gas cap, she felt the familiar buzzing that preceded the ring of her phone. She almost dropped it in her haste to answer. Disappointment flared as she saw the caller ID. The voice on the other end was Pansy’s.

  “Where are you?” Pansy’s breathy Marilyn voice brought a tiny smile to Cary’s face.

  “Just outside of Boise. I’ve got a ways to go yet.” She tore off the receipt and climbed into her car.

  “You drive careful, you hear. I don’t want you getting lost now that you’re finally coming home.”

  “I’m never lost, Pansy. You know that.” Cary climbed into the car and pulled onto the highway. “It’s just sometimes I don’t know where I am.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Micah thought it would be easier when Cary left town. For the three days she’d spent with Millie, he’d stayed at the ranch. He hadn’t expected to see her when he’d driven into town with Clint, and the sudden jolt to his heart when she’d appeared outside the Foodtown made him wish he’d been anywhere but there.

  But the days since she’d left dragged on every bit as slowly as the days he’d spent avoiding her.

  Why the hell couldn’t people just leave him alone? Every time he saw Clint, the man tried to talk to him about Cary. So far, he’d cut that conversation off before it got started. There was just nothing to talk about. He’d wanted to call her back, but Micah didn’t trust his instincts anymore.