by Eileen Green
He figured if he kept drinking the delicious coffee and nibbling on the loaf of banana nut bread he had purchased, no one should be coming over to kick him out. He just had to wait until Tony called and told him he was out front with Kirby.
Taking great pleasure in watching the woman with the dark hair behind the counter, he thought of ways she could please him. Albert didn’t get a lot of chances with women, and he wasn’t averse to taking what he wanted. It wouldn’t be the first time, nor the last. If his boss ever found out the bodies he had scattered around Jersey and New York, he would probably find his own body dumped in a shallow grave in the woods. Here, he would be gone before anyone would be any the wiser.
Two police officers walked in the door talking to each other. Albert’s heart leaped into his throat as he tried to plan his escape if needed.
He watched as they went over to the coffee station and waited their turn. When the brunette stepped over to help them, her face lit up. She must have a thing for one of the men.
As she fixed their drinks, the two men turned and let their gaze sweep the shop. Albert quickly turned toward the window so as not to be noticed. He tried to be small and inconspicuous even though he was an overweight ogre.
There was a lull in customers, and that stupid brunette took that moment to flirt. Taking occasional glances in their direction, Albert couldn’t figure out which one of the men she was hitting on, and they were both talking to her.
A vibrating in his shirt pocket announced the phone call he was waiting on. Pulling it out, he read the text, and anger overtook him. He stood, grabbed his items, and took off out the door. After a glance up and down the street, he finally located the rental car and headed in that direction.
Pulling open the passenger side door with more force than he intended, he got in the car. “What the hell do you mean you were at the wrong airport?” he demanded before slamming the door behind him.
Chapter Nine
As soon as the door closed behind them at the bunkhouse, Trent stepped up to Augusta who looked ready to collapse. Her face was pale, and she was trembling. For someone who seemed so strong and in control, she wasn’t.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her back against him. He laid kisses in her hair. “I’m so sorry you have to be going through this, precious. If I could take you away from all this, I would.” He had whispered the words, drawing a shiver from her body.
“I appreciate the kind words, Trent. But you told me that none of this was my fault even though in a way, it is. I married Josh. I brought him here,” she retorted quietly.
He released her quickly and twirled her around so that she was facing him. A shriek sounded from her. Trent bent down far enough so that he was at eye level with her.
Guilt assailed him as he saw how large her brown eyes were from her surprise, or fear. He hoped it was the former. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, he drew her against him.
“God, Augusta! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Mentally, Trent kicked himself. He had assumed she was strong. However, she was on the verge of breaking down.
When her body shook violently in his arms, he realized she was sobbing, silently. It broke his heart.
Bending at the knee, he slid his right arm down behind her legs and swept her up against his chest. He made his way into the bedroom she had chosen and laid her gently on the bed.
Hunter had followed him and was now removing her sneakers as Trent pulled off the coat she wore. Pulling up the blankets, he climbed into bed with her and snuggled close to her, holding her as she cried.
As much as they needed to get her to understand she was not the cause of any of this, she needed to get her frustrations out as she hadn’t yet.
As she sobbed in his arms, he had to wonder if she grieved her divorce, or even the passing of her father. She was alone here, and he figured, by their conversations, that Margo was her only friend. He wondered if that was the real reason she spent so much time at the bakery.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw Hunter watching her also. He had pulled in one of the chairs from just outside the bedroom and placed it next to the bed. The man looked as downfallen as Trent felt.
After a while, Augusta’s sobs began to taper. Trent’s shirt was soaked with her tears, which wasn’t a problem. He didn’t mind wearing them for that meant she had shed them, hopefully casting away some of her anguish and grief.
Small hiccups wracked her body, but he refused to release her. She needed support, and he was intent on providing it as he knew Hunter would give also.
The two men had been fast friends when Hunter first joined the patrol a year and a half ago. They had their own residences but found themselves spending time at each other’s for drinking, movies, or even poker.
Hunter had liked to fish when he lived in Texas, usually from the shore of a lake or a river. When he had moved here, he had discovered fly fishing from a fellow officer, and Hunter had taken to it like, well, a fish to water. He taught Trent the hobby, and while the two had gone a half a dozen times, Trent preferred to be on his bike.
When he had enough of big city drama, Trent had decided to take a vacation, one that consisted of a month’s worth of time since he didn’t do time off. He got on his Harley and headed west. There was beauty in this country, but he hadn’t seen it before.
Once past the Mississippi, he was amazed to see the beauty of the terrain, which changed dramatically from canyons to rocks that rose toward the sky. Animals he would never see within New York City roamed the open land.
He stopped at the mecca of the motorcycling world, Sturgis, South Dakota. It was a ten-day-long party and get-together of like-minded people. Concerts, food, camaraderie was what was to be had, and Trent had enjoyed every minute of it.
Friendships had been struck, many of them from outside the country. Tons of food had been eaten. And, a niggling thought in the back of his head indicating that he didn’t want to live in the city anymore.
Various other landmarks were visited along his journey before he found himself in Glacier National Park. The beauty was hard to take in knowing he would have to leave.
Trails were hiked, waterfalls visited, and fantastic vistas taken in. Standing on the Continental Divide reminded him of the Bob Seger song, “Roll Me Away.” He had done just like the song. Got on his bike and rode.
Making his way down to Kalispell, he spent a day exploring the area, driving along Flathead Lake. A chance glance at the local police department website, he found the state police were hiring. On a whim, he applied and was surprised to hear from them the next day. He only went back to New York to pack up his belongings, and since then, this had been home.
On days off, he rode into the mountains to enjoy the sights if Hunter was doing something else. Now, he had Augusta who he hoped would join him on his rides.
“She’s finally asleep,” Hunter said from the other side of the bed as he stood. “I’m going in the living room and watch some TV. You go ahead and stay here. She shouldn’t wake up alone.”
Trent nodded.
Once his friend had walked out of the room, Trent rested his chin on top of Augusta’s head. He felt like he wanted to be a part of her from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet.
She had told them that the shop had pretty much been her life since she started up. He doubted that she had taken time off for herself. Perhaps she needed to have some fun.
Today wouldn’t be the day for outdoor activities since the rain had moved in again. He would need to speak with Jimmy, but Trent had an idea for tomorrow.
* * * *
Hunter closed the door behind Ruth as she left. She had brought over a container filled with a variety of sandwiches along with some cut-up fruit. When he had told her they could have fared with what was in the kitchen, she blushed as she told him that she had done the same thing for his coworkers. Cole and Lucas were staked out in the dining room at the big
house, enjoying the warmth of the fire and the endless supply of coffee.
He knew all too well that the woman was interested in the two men, and he was pretty sure they were equally attracted to her.
Going to sit on the couch, Hunter stopped when the bedroom door opened, and Augusta stepped out. She looked a bit unkempt, which was expected after sleeping for a bit.
Tendrils of hair were sticking up in a few directions, and her eyes were swollen from her earlier crying jag. He really wished there was a bathtub here for her to soak in, but there were only two walk-in showers.
When he opened his arms to her, she walked right into them and wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. “Are you all right, darlin’?” he inquired softly.
She nodded against his chest.
Trent exited the room also and stepped over to the duo. He rubbed her upper back before he moved over to the kitchen. He grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge.
Continuing to hold her, Hunter could feel her anxiety and exhaustion. He glanced over at Trent who went over to the TV stand next to the door. “What’s this?” Trent asked as he picked up the containers and carried them over to the coffee table.
Hunter unwrapped himself from Augusta but slid one arm around her waist and escorted her to where Trent was now sitting. “Ruth brought those over. She said that since she was making lunch for Cole and Lucas, she might as well make some for us also,” Hunter explained as he waited until Augusta sat.
Trent set one of the bottles of water in front of her after twisting off the cap. “I can get you something else if you prefer, precious,” he said quietly.
“No, this is fine.” She picked up the bottle and drained about half of it.
Fiddling with the container of sandwiches by twirling it around on the wooden table, Hunter knew what had been said by Trent earlier was bothering him.
“Augusta, I’m sorry about earlier,” the New Yorker said as he looked at her. “I would never say or do anything to hurt you in any way.”
She reached out and set a hand on Trent’s. “Honestly, I’m fine. I know what you are trying to say when you say it’s not my fault. The ‘what ifs’ are a part of human nature, and when it comes to this situation, it does cross my mind. I don’t want you two to get hurt because of me. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of my ex.”
Insightfulness was a good trait to have. Augusta was a strong woman, but he was beginning to see that she was on the verge of crumbling. He had to wonder if that’s what Trent had seen earlier.
“There are no guarantees in life, but we’ll make sure we do our damnedest to keep everyone from getting hurt, darlin’,” Hunter said as he stood.
As he passed by her to the kitchen area, he leaned over and placed a kiss on top of her head. He grabbed three plates, some forks, and a water for himself before returning to the seat he had just vacated next to Augusta.
As they all moved in to get sandwiches and fruit, Hunter said, “We need to get you out of the house. I’m going to talk to Jimmy about some activities. Have you ever been on a horse?”
She shook her head. “No. I rode the ponies at the fairs each year, but never a horse. I assume you’re talking about not riding around in a circle?” she asked before she took a bite of the egg salad sandwich she had chosen.
There was a bit of a mischievousness in her as the corners of her mouth turned up, and her dark chocolate-brown eyes glittered a bit. Hunter was happy to see the emotions on her face as everything had been quite serious the past few days.
“I’m sure we can sit you up on a horse that’s attached to the hot walker,” Hunter teased. “Then you’ll be going around in circles like the ponies.”
She scowled at him. “I’m not sure what that is, but if I’m going to ride a real horse, I might as well do it right,” she said right before she reached over and slapped his arm. “Besides, don’t tease me like that.”
Augusta’s laughter rang through the room, a sound Hunter could never get tired of. He would tease her every day just to hear it.
“I’m sorry, darlin’. I couldn’t resist.” Hunter grabbed up a sandwich and bit into it. “I have to say, Ruth makes a mean tuna sandwich.”
“Breakfast was great,” Augusta admitted. “From what I understand, she doesn’t stray from the ranch, much and all she seems to do is cook for Jimmy and the hands. Even the group that has the one woman with five men in it still go to dinner at the main house, mostly because the woman works evenings.”
“Her name is Erin, and she’s the manager of the Tipsy Tavern. She had been abused by her boyfriend so badly that she wound up in the hospital. Her men did all they could to save her from that piece of trash, and now they’re all married. Jimmy had a large house built for them here on the ranch, so that’s why the men still eat with the crew.” Trent did the explaining.
Her nose crinkled a bit which made her look so cute. “I’ve only been in the Tipsy Tavern a couple of times, but it’s been a while. Officer Hawthorne’s brother was still the manager then,” Augusta reminisced a bit.
Hunter laid a hand on her knee and said, “First off, sweetheart, you can call him Brian. Also, you really need to get out more often. You need to relax more.”
“Augusta, may I ask a question?” Trent inquired from the other couch.
“Sure.” She shrugged.
“Please don’t hate me for this, but why do you work so much when you can afford to hire more people?” An ill look on Trent’s face told Hunter that the man was afraid he was going to get decked for his question.
Their woman was quiet for a few moments before she finally spoke. “I just like to stay busy. But now I’m bringing Penny on, so I can have more time.”
“Did you grieve for your father?” Trent asked.
Paleness filled Augusta’s face, and her eyes lowered. The longer she remained quiet, the more Hunter had to believe Trent was correct with the question.
It was about a minute before she finally looked up and then glanced between Trent and Hunter. “I don’t have any friends here, except for Margo. My parents moved here when I was fifteen. With my mother sick, she wanted to come back to be near her family. I didn’t really make a lot of friends in school, and then I went away to Europe. Then, I poured all my time into starting up the bakery. I was fighting with Josh before and after the divorce. When my father passed away, I had so much on my plate.” Augusta had tears streaking down her cheeks. “I’ve come to terms with it, as I did my mother.”
Trent moved over to sit on the other side of Augusta. “I just want you to be able to enjoy life, precious. Not work all the time. We see a future with you, but it won’t work if you are constantly working.”
Hunter nodded before agreeing. “I second that, darlin’. There’s so much to do around here, and I want to experience it with you. We want to experience them with you.”
A blush colored her cheeks. “To be truthful, I made the decision to hire Penny so that I could spend more time with you two. I took a chance and hoped you wanted the same thing.”
“I’m so happy that you’ve decided that, precious. I’d like to take you to Sturgis in August, maybe for your birthday,” Trent suggested.
“And I’d like to go up to Glacier and do some hiking,” Hunter added.
“I’d like that. I just want all this mess with Josh to be over with once and for all. I thought when the divorce was final I wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore, but that didn’t happen.” She looked up at Hunter. “You don’t have issues with your ex?”
He shook his head as he shifted on the couch, bringing one leg up on the couch so that he was facing Augusta’s side. “We fought a lot when I found out she was leaving Hillary alone with an elderly woman, or even sometimes alone, period. Once the divorce took place, she was still having fun. I think for a little bit afterward that we’d get together, but I needed to do what was best for our daughter. That was moving back to Texas for support.
“
We weren’t married long enough for her to get alimony, which was a good thing. Amy’s settled down quite a bit since then. She has remarried, and on the last trip she made here to see Hillary, we sat down and really talked. I’m still disappointed that she made it to where Hillary grew up without a mother, but there are no hard feelings.”
“I’m glad you didn’t have the problems I did. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Sometimes I think I should just give him the money and he’ll go away, but I know that wouldn’t happen. I think that if he hasn’t learned his lessons by his age, he’s never going to,” she said sadly.
“Some people just never grow up,” Trent said as he rubbed Augusta’s back. “We’re going to make it to where he will never come to you for money again.”
“I hope so. Every month he calls me. It’s gotten to the point that I’m afraid to answer my phone.” She took a bite of her sandwich, a small moan escaping from her. “This is good. I’ll need to ask for the recipe.”
Hunter reached out with his free hand and gently pushed Augusta’s hair away from her face. “We’ll take care of you, darlin’. I promise.”
Augusta turned her head into his hand, and she pressed a kiss to the palm. “Thank you. I appreciate what you guys want to do for me, but I just want to make sure no one gets hurt because of me.”
“We will all do our best not to get hurt, Augusta,” Trent offered. “We are all trained to protect people, however, occasionally things go wrong. It’s not something we want to think of, but if it does, then we take it as it comes. But, you are our first priority, precious.”
“Do you think he’s in town yet?” she asked as she looked up at Hunter.
“Probably,” he responded. “But, he’s not important right now. We’re going to pull out a few movies from under the TV and have a marathon. The weather will be better tomorrow, and hopefully Jimmy will have three horses for us to use.”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”