The Heart the Cowboy Broke

by M J Andrews

  “I was just about to ask if you needed tampons and some chocolate for this little meltdown,” Brett piped in.

  “Dude, you haven’t lived with Jordan and Daisy during the formative years. Periods are no joke, my friend. Something you will find out yourself in about eight years” Finn challenged.

  “And you need to give yourself more credit!” Finn argued turning his full attention back on Sawyer.

  “You talked to Lex?” he asked.

  “I took her for breakfast this morning. I could tell something was wrong.”

  Sawyer leaned back and let out a groan, “I don’t know why I keep fucking it royally with her. How was she this morning?”

  “Honestly?” Finn asked.

  “Honestly. No bull.”

  “She was hurt. Questioning everything. But I never got to finish my conversation with her because Phillips came to get her statement,” Finn said.

  Phillips? Agent Phillips wasn’t due until tomorrow and he had called to check in just that morning to let them know his flight had been delayed due to a storm in the Midwest. Why did he go to Lexi before checking in with him? His radar started to flicker and a storm started to brew in his stomach.

  “Wait… Agent Phillips?” Sawyer questioned.

  “Yeah, middle-aged suit with aviators and a ‘don’t piss me off’ face,” Finn added.

  Okay, that sounded accurate. Maybe he was confusing his days again. It wouldn’t be the first time that happened. God knew he needed a vacation.

  “Lexi is worth the risk, Sawyer,” Brett said, returning the conversation to the topic at hand. “I know you don’t want to get hurt and it’s hard losing someone you love,” he sighed and Sawyer knew he was thinking of Lucy. “But there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t smile over the happy times I had with Lucy, even if in the end there wasn’t forever,” Brett continued.

  “Daddy! Look!” a squeal was heard before a little ball of energy flew in through the door. Sara ran directly into her father’s arms and showed him the sucker Parker had given her.

  “Princess, did you thank Deputy Parker for the candy?” Brett prompted.

  “MMMhmmmm” she murmured around the candy stuffed in her mouth. Brett leaned in and kissed her forehead before he turned to Sawyer.

  “Despite the hurt, I got the greatest parts of her with me in this one and I don’t regret taking the risk and never will,” Brett said, his eyes filled with unshed tears as they often did when they spoke of Lucy.

  Brett never got back out there after Lucy and told Sawyer that he already had a lady in his life who consumed his entire life. And she deserved everything he had to give.

  “You’re right,” Sawyer admitted.

  “Daddy’s always wright uncle Sawyer,” Sara said seriously.

  God, she was so much like her mother that it almost hurt his heart.

  “Yeah he is kiddo,” Sawyer agreed.

  “So, how are you gonna fix this mess?” Finn asked from his perch on Sawyer’s desk.

  “I guess some grovelling and some major wooing,” he announced.

  “That’s a start,” Finn smiled down at him.

  “Uncle Sawyer, will you come to lunch with us? Daddy said I could have ice cream if I was good in the grocery store,” Sara perked up and her enthusiasm could be heard all the way to Dolly’s Diner.

  “And were you good at the grocery store?” he asked.

  Sara shrugged as her father shook his head behind her, “Good enough,” she commented.

  “Sounds about right. Sure thing kiddo, but can you help after lunch pick out something for a girl?” Sawyer asked.

  He tried hard to include Sara as much in his life as possible. Brett was doing a great job acting as both parents, but everyone needed help sometimes. And he wanted Sara to know that he would be there through everything. He liked the idea of being the “cool uncle”.

  Sara’s face brightened and she clapped her hands together with excitement, “Yes!”

  Sawyer popped up from his chair and walked to the bubbly princess. She eagerly jumped from her father’s lap and put her small delicate hand in his. His heart swelled every time she did that.

  Sawyer spent the rest of the afternoon with Emma and Brett. He knew that Lexi was with the FBI and didn’t worry about her. He also wasn’t concerned when she didn’t call or text him throughout the day. She was pissed and hurt and probably need some time to process everything.

  After lunch, he took Emma to the local florist and got some fresh cut flowers. He went to the grocery store and picked up some items to make dinner that evening. Emma even helped him set up a table for two out by the lake. She helped him pick out a dress jacket for the evening and was a very opinionated little one.

  “That one doesn’t look nice,” she barked, as Sawyer hauled on a navy blazer. She sat with her father on his bed, her little legs swinging from the edge. He put on another cowboy jacket that he owned in the mid-90s. Brown leather with fringes that lined the arms. Sara’s face screwed up as though she smelt some foul odour. Sawyer spread his arms and twirled.

  “It makes you look like a funny bird,” she chuckled and Brett laughed from beside her.

  “Woman, you’re gonna be hard to please when you get older,” Sawyer said.

  After a long debate about why he couldn’t wear a feather boa and tiara to the tea party, Brett and Emma went on their way. Sawyer sat patiently in the living room while he waited for Lexi to return to the farmhouse with Phillips.

  “Me-owwwww,” a catcall rung out, as Remi and Aubrey strolled through the door.

  “Where are you off to done up like a very fine stick of chewing gum?” Aubrey asked as she took in his fancy appearance.

  “Did you just call my brother fine?” Remi asked from behind her.

  “Sure did!” Aubrey exclaimed. She knew how much Remi hated feeling like her attention was anywhere but on him. A sharp slap rang through the air and Aubrey yelped before Remi picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

  “Put me down you maniac!” she screamed between laughter.

  “Nope, we’re going home and I’m going to remind you why you only compliment me!” Remi said a smile prominent on his face. “Where ever your ass is going brother, I hope you’re not overdressed.”

  Sawyer shook his head before moving into the kitchen to grab a beer. He needed to settle his nerves. He sat at the island until it was approaching six pm. Surely gathering Lexi’s statement didn’t take Phillips that long.

  He was just about to whip out his phone and call her when a knock sounded on the door. When he opened the door he found a blond mid-thirties man in a suit and tie. He had a badge clipped to his waist and carried a duffle bag.

  “Can I help you?” Sawyer asked.

  “Sheriff?” the man questioned.

  “Yes,” Sawyer dragged out the words. His hesitancy was clear.

  “I’m Agent Phillips. We talked on the phone,” he announced.

  Sawyer blinked slowly as he tried to process what he heard. Lexi was with Agent Phillips and had been for most of the day. But the man on the stoop had a badge and brought a duffle bag as Sawyer told him there would be accommodations on the ranch. Sawyer did not doubt that the man who stood before him was FBI.

  If Lexi wasn’t with Agent Phillips, who was she with? And why did he suddenly feel like he was having a heart attack?

  Chapter 21

  Lexi

  Lexi stirred with an urge to vomit. She was nauseous and still a bit dizzy. Her eyelids felt heavy and she struggled to get them open. She was going to kill Brant if she ever saw him again. With great difficulty, she was able to lift one eyelid to take in her surroundings.

  Where the fuck was she?

  She took a minute to orient herself and thought for sure that she was dreaming. And not a nice dream, you know like unicorns and rainbows. This was a fucking nightmare. She lifted her left hand to rub her eyes and felt the sting of metal on her wrists. She quickly startled into reality and looked at herse
lf.

  She was locked to a bed and she could feel the sting from where she had been trying to get her hand free. The skin surrounding the chain was red and fresh blood trickled down her arm. Her right hand was free of any kind of bondage, so she twisted herself and sat up on the side of the bed. Her head was fuzzy and she squinted to see.

  “What the fuck?”.

  The floor and walls were concrete and she sat on a small double bed that had a metal bed frame. The chain attached to her left wrist was bolted into the wall and despite her attempts to break free, she was unsuccessful. There was a small desk to the side that held a single desk lamp which lit the room. In the corner, there was a small bucket and Lexi forced herself not to think about the purpose of the bucket. Lexi realized that it wasn’t a nightmare. That she was indeed being held captive by Brant and that she had no clue as to where she was. She collapsed onto the floor and pulled her knees to her chest as sobs wracked through her.

  She’d just realized that she loved a man and was willing to give everything up to be with him. Sawyer would know that she was gone and he would move heaven and hell to find her. She knew he would. How long had she been gone? Surely long enough that he would be worried. She rested her head on her arms as she curled into herself.

  The sound of metal opening caused her to jump. She stood and pushed herself into the wall and sought anything in the room that could be a weapon. Of course, there was nothing. Brant wasn’t stupid.

  “Hello, pet,” Brant cooed from his spot by the door. He looked casual and relaxed wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. The mere sound of his voice caused chills to course through her body. She never thought she would be in a position where she would be at his mercy.

  Brant slid himself closer to her and Lexi struggled not to flinch at his proximity to her. She felt his breath on her face and she forced herself not to shake in his presence. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek and Lexi fought back the urge to vomit, again.

  “You’re more beautiful now than you were the last time I saw you,” he whispered.

  “You’re a sick son of a bitch Brant,” Lexi hissed.

  He leaned into her and whispered into her ear. His breath was warm on her neck as he slowed his movements. He knew she was shaking and scared. The fucker thrived on it. He needed to create fear in his victims and Lexi wasn’t about to show him that she was scared.

  “Oh my pet,” he whispered, “I’ve been waiting a long time for you, and I’m going to savour every moment we get together. But for right now, I have another matter to take care of. I believe her name is Carly. You know how I like to keep to a schedule, Lexi.”

  Lexi’s heart dropped at the thought that Brant had another victim wherever they were. Another girl who was being tortured or worse. She also knew that Carly was only eighteen and was just a child.

  “She’s just a child. Let her go and do what you want with me,” Lexi hissed, her gaze rose to meet his stare.

  Brant was an attractive man by all accounts. He always presented as a well put together man with his wrinkle-free clothing and always freshly shaven. He was taller than Lexi at six feet, medium build with bland facial features and nothing that would cause him to stand out. He was average in every sense of the word. But inside his mind, he was sick.

  Lexi thought about that for a second. She knew him better than anyone. She knew more about Brant than any of his victims and she could use that to her advantage. She knew what ticked him off and what he wanted to hear from his mother.

  “Brant, she’s someone’s baby. Like you were at one time. Do you remember being eighteen?” Lexi asked calmly. She had to outsmart him that was the only way she would get the upper hand. He would easily overpower her physically.

  Brant just stared into her eyes and she refused to look away.

  “When you were her age, what did you want?” Lexi asked.

  Brant’s left eye twitched and she knew that she was getting inside his head. He shifted and pushed himself against her. The weight of his body flushed up against her before he pushed back with a smirk on his face.

  “What I wanted at her age is irrelevant Ms Scott. This is what I got,” he growled and rose his shirt to show the scars on his torso. “We don’t get what we want and neither will she. She’s said she wants to die, but I won’t let her. I’ll decide what she wants now, Ms Scott. And once I’m done, I’ll be back for you,” he hissed before he turned on his heel and exited the room.

  Lexi fell to the floor again and her nausea overwhelmed her and she tossed her cookies. She laid on the bed as her tears fell from her eyes onto the dirty mattress. It was then that she heard the screams of Carly and her pleas. Lexi tried to run to the door but was held back by her chains. She started to scream and hit things before she collapsed on the floor with her hands over her ears trying to not hear the sounds of death that engulfed the room.

  Sawyer

  Sawyer stared shell shocked at the man who stood on his porch. Every hair on his body stood at attention and his heart felt like it was about to beat out of his chest.

  “Sheriff, you don’t look too good,” Phillips said pushing through the door as Sawyer stumbled backwards. Phillips grabbed him and helped him to the sofa.

  “If you’re Phillips, who the fuck has had Lexi all day?” Sawyer panted out. Sawyer saw the moment Phillips made the connections and the man’s face lost all its colour.

  The back door slammed shut as Finn and Jack made their way to the kitchen, completely oblivious to the panic occurring in the living room. Finn snuck around the corner to stumble upon the scene unfolding and his steps faltered.

  “Sawyer…” he said hesitantly. Finn knew his brother and he would be able to tell just with a glance that something was off.

  “What’s happening?” Jack asked as he moved to stand next to Finn with a beer in his hand.

  “He has Lexi,” Sawyer breath out. He sat unable to move or speak as the realization dawned on Jack.

  “What the fuck do you mean Sawyer? Who has Lexi?” Jack gritted through clenched teeth.

  “Brant,” Phillips answered.

  “And you are?” Finn questioned.

  “Agent Phillips with the FBI,” Phillips replied and Finn’s face dropped.

  “No, Phillips took Lexi this morning for her statement. I was there when he went to the diner to get her.”

  “You saw who this person was?” Phillips asked.

  “Yeah, mid-thirties, brown hair about six foot and a medium build. Drove a Ford town car with tinted windows,” Finn answered.

  “Would you recognize him again if you saw him?”

  “Sure would. But what about Lexi? Where is she?” Finn questioned.

  Sawyer couldn’t answer. He sat completely immobilized and unable to function as his mind flicked through all the dreams he had for him and Lexi. It was as though his life flashed before his eyes. He pictured her walking towards him in her wedding dress with her father on her arm. Lexi with a swollen belly that carried their first child. Tears formed in his eyes and he knew they were falling from his face and there was not a damn thing he could do about it.

  “Sawyer!” Finn bellowed. He was in front of him now and had grasped his shoulders. Sawyer didn’t know how long he had been trying to get him out of his daze.

  “Yeah…” he mumbled.

  “Sawyer look at me!” Finn demanded, “Lexi needs you now. Not the man who loves her. She needs the Sheriff and the solider. You hear me?”

  He was right and Sawyer knew he was, but he couldn’t get his mouth to say the words. He thought back to their last conversation. She told him that she was in love with him and he had hesitated. Now, he felt his world shatter. He should have been honest with her. She should have told her that he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Suddenly the option was ripped out of his reach and he desperately wanted it back. He wanted her back and safe in his arms.

  Phillips had stepped outside to make a couple of calls and Sawyer hoped he was c
alling in reinforcements from the FBI.

  “I’ve spoken with Houston office and they’re sending some men as soon as possible. In the meantime, we should retrace her steps and if someone can get me a map so I can take a look at what is around this place, that would help,” Phillips directed.

  Sawyer pushed down all the emotion and with an intense drive to find Lexi, he regained his composure. He picked up his phone and made contact with Parker. He didn’t want to let the Scott’s know what was happening because it would send them over the edge. Jack agreed and said that he didn’t want to worry them if they could get Lexi back home where she belonged.