Boss

by Deborah Armstrong

  “Yes, you did. You must be very proud.”

  “I am. Anyway, what I want to say is that Jules got called back to the hospital and she had no one to look after Becca. She put me in a difficult position. I knew that I had to get back to the ranch. Bringing Becca with me was the only option.”

  “You could have stayed. I would have understood, and it would have been better for both of you.”

  “I never thought that it would be a problem.”

  “I know, but it could be. You haven’t told Jules about me. Have you?” It was more of a statement than a question. Dane knew that Val hadn’t told her niece about her employer.

  “No! There wasn’t much I could say to her in five minutes. Besides, it’s only for tonight, and nothing is going on here that would make it unsafe. Your home is the safest place Becca could be. I wouldn’t have brought her here if I thought otherwise.” Her gaze searched his face for understanding.

  Dane steepled his fingers across his chest. “How do you think your niece will react when she comes here to pick up Becca? I’m sure she’s going to ask questions about me and this place.”

  “I don’t have to tell her the truth.”

  “Yes, you do. You aren’t one to tell lies, and I don’t expect you to lie now.”

  “You’re not a bad man, Boss. She’ll see that right away.”

  “Not everyone has the same viewpoint as you, Val. Guns and guns for hire seem criminal to most people.”

  “The work you do is for good. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise.” Her brow furrowed as she took in the haggard look on his face. “Was it a rough one today? You look exhausted.”

  He shrugged, allowing her to change the subject. “Nothing more than usual. I think it’s playing with Becca that’s tired me out.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  “I wanted to. Besides, I liked reading Red Riding Hood. Over and over again.”

  Val got to her feet. “She does like that story. I’m going to check on her then go to bed. Do you need anything?”

  “No, I’m fine. Good night, Val.”

  “Good night. And please don’t worry about Jules. I’ll have a word with her.”

  Dane turned his attention back to his laptop. He opened it and clicked on the encrypted government file he had been reading before Val interrupted him. Another request to liberate a village in a war-torn territory in Central Africa, rescuing women and children held captive before getting sold into slavery, and young boys destined for the guerilla army. It was a never-ending occurrence. No matter how many times Dane and his men came to the rescue, another village would fall.

  There were times when Dane wondered if it was worth it—risking his men to save strangers, especially when he knew what they did was only a drop in the bucket. There was evil everywhere, and they were a small group of men who could do only so much. Then Dane would open his desk drawer and pull out the file he kept, one filled with pictures of the many smiling faces of the villagers they had freed, and he would know that it was worth it.

  He closed the file and shut down his laptop, locking it away in his top desk drawer. His bed called to him. He was tired, and he longed to fall into a dream-filled sleep.

  She came to him in his dreams. The woman he knew as Red. She was perfection on two legs. The most beautiful red hair he had ever seen fell in thick waves to her shoulders. Emerald eyes that seemed to see deep into his soul sparkled with the promise of endless pleasure. In his dreams, Red always wore the same green dress that hugged every curve on her body. They danced, their bodies a perfect fit as he held her close. Her chin touched his shoulder, and she whispered in his ear for him to hold her tighter, to never let her go. All he wanted to do was to dance with her, hold her in his arms, and feel the gentle caress of her lips on his ear and neck. She had the softest and sweetest kiss he had ever known. She kissed him on the mouth. It was a warm kiss, wet and urgent. His dream moved them to his bed. Red now lay on top of him. Her weight pressed him to the mattress. He reached out to her, his fingers searching for the soft wavy tresses he remembered so well. Instead, he found short, cropped hair. And her breath was no longer sweet. It was warm and smelled of dog. Lucky.

  Dane opened his eyes to find his eighty-five pound Rhodesian Ridgeback sprawled across his body, his nose to Dane’s. Lucky’s wagging tail let Dane know that it was time to get up.

  “Good morning, boy,” Dane said as he patted his dog. “Not quite the kiss I was dreaming of.”

  He rubbed the dog’s ears and stared up at the ceiling, wondering about the woman he knew only as Red. He met her once when she approached him in his bar, looking for a man to help her out of a bad situation. He remembered how she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and whispered in his ear, “Help a girl out. Your name is Gary, and you’re my boyfriend.”

  There was no hesitation in jumping to the rescue. He could never refuse a woman in need. He played the role of her boyfriend perfectly. Happy to be Gary, her fantasy boyfriend. It was all a game. They didn’t know each other’s name. They made up stories about themselves, danced, drank, and fooled themselves into thinking there would be no strings attached. Red left his bed in the morning with her name invisibly tattooed on his heart.

  Jules sat comfortably in the passenger seat of Dr. Mark Blackwell’s Hybrid Land Rover SUV, thankful that the snowstorm from last night had ended and that the recently cleared roads allowed them to drive out to the ranch. She loved the rugged Albertan countryside in the summer, although the dangerous and often impassable country roads in winter made her wonder why she ever lived and worked in High River. She had to admit that living close to Uncle Ned and Aunt Val had a lot to do with her starting her medical career in her home town. Her stint in Toronto had converted her from country doctor to a prominent city specialist. The city of Calgary was more to her liking now, and since High River was part of the Calgary network, returning to High River General was the perfect choice for Jules.

  The drive through High River brought back memories of a life she thought she’d left behind. She made sure they drove past the hospital. She thought of Uncle Ned and regretted that she hadn’t been with him when he passed away two years ago. He’d had a fall. Val pleaded with Jules to come home to visit with her uncle. Val was sure that seeing Jules and Becca would help in his recovery.

  “I can’t,” Jules told her. “He’ll be fine.”

  “It’s an emergency. Can’t you see that?” Val cried on the phone.

  “I have emergencies here, Aunt Val. I can’t get away. I’m sorry.”

  Two weeks later, Ned was gone. His stroke had been fast, taking him away without causing him to suffer. Aunt Val suffered, and although she had never said the words to her face, Jules knew that her aunt hadn’t forgiven her for not seeing Ned one last time. And Jules had regretted that she had not come when asked.

  Jules tried to get her to move to Toronto, knowing full well that her aunt wouldn’t leave her home and the town she had grown to love. That is why Jules found it incredible if not insane when Aunt Val told her that she was selling her house and moving in with a stranger to become his housekeeper.

  “Aunt Val, why are you doing this? You don’t need the money, do you?”

  “Of course not. That’s not the reason. I’m tired of living on my own. I’ve been looking after our bungalow for most of my life. Why not keep house for someone else? I can cook and clean to my heart’s content. And the view, Jules—you’ve never seen the mountains like this. This place is heaven on earth.”

  “You don’t know this man, Aunt Val. He could be a pervert. Maybe he wants to make you his sex slave. You’re making a huge mistake.”

  “Well then, I’m making a mistake. I’m an adult, Jules. I’ve made my decision, and I won’t let you ruin it for me.”

  Their conversation ended with tears and hurt feelings. Val put all of her energy into her new
job, while Jules kept busy with her practice and Becca. Phone calls became few and far between until a birthday card to Becca was the last Jules heard from her aunt.

  “A penny for your thoughts, or is that not enough for the new Head of Pediatrics?”

  Jules blinked and turned her attention to Mark. “Sorry, I was thinking back to a time long ago.”

  “Was it a good time or bad?”

  “It was good until I messed it up.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Jules shook her head. “No, thanks. It’s something I have to deal with by myself. A bridge that needs mending.”

  “Ah,” he nodded. “Your aunt. Unresolved issues.”

  She frowned. “Don’t analyze me, Dr. Blackwell. I’m not one of your patients.”

  His brow furrowed. “I don’t need to be a doctor to know that you have issues with your aunt. She’s the only family you have here.”

  Jules reached for his free hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry, Mark. You’re right. It is my aunt. It’s just that I don’t want to talk about her.”

  She didn’t like to talk about many things. Jules didn’t talk about her past, only offering a quick story to satisfy one’s curiosity—orphaned when a teenager and raised by her childless aunt and uncle, then decided to take up medicine because of them. She didn’t talk about Becca’s father, relieved that single motherhood had become an accepted norm with no questions asked.

  Jules turned her attention back to the passing scenery. Snow. Open space. Mountains. All seemingly held captive by a wire fence that ran parallel to the road. She kept her focus on the mountains and wondered if Becca’s father ever looked at them and thought of her. It seemed like a lifetime ago when they took in the view of the mountains from his penthouse suite, and then made love as though there would be no tomorrow.

  “You don’t know who your aunt works for?”

  “No. Aunt Val has never mentioned his name.”

  “Never?”

  “She refers to him as Boss, nothing else. It sounds weird. I hope I’ll be able to meet him. I’d feel better knowing who this man is.”

  Mark glanced at the GPS. “His place is coming up. Look out for a driveway on your side.”

  They hadn’t seen a building for miles. Whoever Aunt Val worked for, it was apparent that he didn’t have neighbors. Maybe he didn’t want them either. They were indeed out in the middle of nowhere, Alberta. Jules wondered what Val thought about it.

  “There,” she said as she pointed to a gate coming into view. “That’s probably the place.”

  As they neared the entrance, Jules realized that this boss of Val’s had a thing for security. A massive gate built out of stone and carved timber framed the steel gate barricading the driveway. There was no sign on the entrance or logo to identify the place. Mark stopped the car and lowered the driver’s side window and reached for the intercom button. As he did so, Jules noticed a security camera aimed at them.

  “Smile,” she said while making a thin smile.

  “Jules Montgomery to see Val Williams,” he shouted into the speaker.

  Within seconds the gates opened wide to allow them entry. Mark drove the vehicle forward slowly as both of them took in their surroundings. He glanced at his rearview mirror and saw the gates close behind them. “We’re in here for good,” he teased. “No escaping now.”

  Jules gave a weak chuckle. “Don’t say that.”

  “Everything will be fine.”

  “Of course, it will.”

  They traveled for a half mile on a driveway cleared of snow from the previous night’s storm. Snow drifts at least six feet high made a natural wall along the way.

  She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “This is creepy.”

  When the driveway ended, the enormity of the compound became apparent. There were two large barns, and at least six or seven outbuildings. All of them matched with white sides and green roof and trim. Across the driveway from them stood the residence—a sprawling log house with a wrap-around veranda.

  “Damn. This place is—”

  “A commune,” Jules finished for him. “My aunt’s joined a bloody cult.”

  “I was going to say impressive. Let’s not jump to conclusions, Jules.”

  She took in the view. Even with three feet of snow on the ground, the place was immaculate. The driveway was cleared up to and around the outbuildings. Not a flake of snow remained on the cleared stone walkway leading to the house.

  “I’m sure this place is legit,” Mark offered as if to convince himself more so than Jules.

  “Do you know of anyone who lives in the area who has a place like this?”

  “No, but that doesn’t mean anything. Val’s employer could be a cattle baron or a dot com millionaire.” Mark stopped the SUV in front of the house and turned off the ignition. “There are plenty of people who live in places like this. Besides, your aunt wouldn’t bring Becca somewhere that wasn’t safe.”

  “How do you know that? If she’s joined a cult, she won’t hesitate to bring a child into it.” Jules unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door. “I’m going to find my daughter.”

  Mark fumbled with his seat belt then scrambled out of the SUV to catch up with Jules. He caught her by the elbow and pulled her to a stop.

  “Take a deep breath and relax. Don’t go storming in there like a madwoman. Let’s get our bearings first.”

  “You get your bearings, Doctor, while I get my daughter.”

  Jules pulled away just as the front door opened.

  “Jules! Welcome! I didn’t know you were bringing someone with you,” Aunt Val exclaimed as she waited for Jules in the open doorway.

  “You didn’t say I couldn’t,” Jules replied testily. “Is it allowed? Where’s Becca?”

  Val’s brow furrowed, unimpressed by Jules’ behavior.

  “She’s inside making cookies. Becca’s been such a pleasure to have here. She’s a wonderful child.” Val extended her hand to Mark. “Hello, I’m Val Williams, Jules’ aunt.”

  “Dr. Mark Blackwell,” he said as he accepted Val’s outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Mark turned and looked behind him. “This is quite the place you have here.”

  “It’s not mine,” Val chuckled as her hand touched the growing blush on her cheek, “although I do think of it as home. My boss, Dane, has made me feel like it is.” She let go of his hand and gestured inside. “Come in out of the cold. I have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and Becca’s made cookies. I’m glad you didn’t try to drive out here last night. We had quite the blizzard. It took the men all morning to clear the snow.”

  Val took Jules’ and Mark’s coats, hanging them in the closet off the spacious stone foyer. “You can leave your boots by the door. The floors are heated so you’ll be fine in your socks.”

  “Heated floors? That’s a bit much, isn’t it?” Jules asked as she slipped off her boots.

  “It gets cold out here, Jules, and Dane needs the floors to be warm.” Val gazed at her niece with concern. “What’s wrong? You look upset. Paler than I remember.”

  “It’s nothing,” Jules lied, shaking her head.

  “The gate is impressive,” Mark offered. “And the driveway is longer than we expected.”

  “I’m sorry. I should have warned you about the drive. I sometimes forget the effect it can have on people. I remember the first time I drove here. I wondered if I had made a terrible mistake. The things that ran through my mind, I tell you. Silly me. Let’s head to the kitchen.”

  “I’ve never heard you call your boss by his name until now.”

  “I haven’t?” Val raised her fingertips to her mouth then smiled. “It must be because everyone calls him Boss.”

  Jules caught her reflection in the foyer’s mirror. She adjusted the cowl of her navy blue sweater,
satisfied that she didn’t look too travel- weary despite being up most of the night at the hospital. Jules ran her fingers through her thick mane of red hair and reached into her jeans pants pocket, pulling out lip gloss. She applied it to her full lips.

  “You look fine, dear. Besides, when have you worried about how you look? She’s beautiful, isn’t she Mark?”

  “That she is,” Mark said, giving Jules’ a wide smile.

  Val hooked her arm through Jules’ arm and led her toward the kitchen. “This house was originally a log house built by Boss’s great- great-grandparents. Every generation that followed added another extension to it. By the time Dane inherited the ranch, the house was a disaster. He’s made remarkable changes to the place. Wait until you see the kitchen. He built it for me. He couldn’t care less about all the appliances and gadgets as long as there’s beer in the fridge and a snack cupboard filled for him and Lucky.”

  “Lucky?”

  “His dog. Don’t talk to Lucky or try to pet him, okay? Those are the only rules.”

  “Is he vicious?”

  “Heaven’s no, sweetheart. Lucky is a service dog. He’s Dane’s lifesaver.”

  Jules heard the sweet cadence of Becca’s voice and a male’s soft, easy laugh. She knew that laugh, or at least, it was similar to one she’d heard a long time ago. Jules felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach. After all this time, he still had a hold on her. She stopped short of the kitchen entrance.

  “Are you okay?” Mark’s hand gripped her shoulder.

  She shook her head, hoping to clear her thoughts. It wasn’t his voice she heard, only her imagination playing with her. “Yes, I’m fine. Whatever it is, I’m sure Aunt Val’s coffee and one of Becca’s cookies will make me feel better.”

  “Mommy’s here,” Val announced when they arrived at the kitchen doorway.

  Becca looked up, cookie dough smudged on her nose and showing a wide toothy smile. She kneeled on a stool at the kitchen island with an assortment of mixing bowls and cookie trays spread on the countertop.