by Stacey Wilk
“Gage, maybe name-calling is too far.” She hoped her voice held a strong warning. She really didn’t want to dose him with hot coffee to make him shut up.
“All you white people think we’re stupid and don’t belong in your world because we’re poor. I might be poor, but I don’t steal.”
Gage pointed a finger at Justin. “You don’t know the first thing about me, young man. I suggest you show some respect, or I will throw you in jail for sexual misconduct with a minor.”
“Gage, please. You’re being unreasonable. For the tenth time, Justin did not rob my home.” She needed to derail him. He was picking up too much steam.
“Okay, Justin, tell me this. How is it Miss Hartman hires you to work for her and that very night her house is burglarized? Doesn’t that seem strange to you?”
“I don’t know anything about it. I left here around four and went to your house and then home. Are we through? I have work to do.” Justin pushed away from the door.
“Not until I say we are.” Gage blocked his path.
“I think he answered all your questions.” She broke her own rule and gripped Gage’s arm. The strength of his muscles sent shivers over her skin.
“Don’t go far. I may have more questions.” Gage eased out of her grip and leveled a cold stare on him.
“You got it, chief.” Justin saluted.
“It’s Sheriff Ryker, son.”
“Yeah. Okay. Calista, I’ll be in the garage, if you don’t have a problem with that?”
“That’s fine. Thanks.” She waited for him to leave, then turned on Gage with rage flowing through her. “What is wrong with you?” She could not summon an ounce of her yoga practice.
“What are you talking about?” He reached for the mug, but she stopped him. Her hand gripped his wrist, and the current between them ran up her arm to her heart. Touching him twice in five minutes was liable to kill her.
“You come in here and practically accuse him of robbing the place. How could you do that?” She walked away from him. No touching.
“I did not accuse him of anything.”
“Why didn’t you tell him your father is from the Kootenai tribe? You let him believe you dislike him because he’s Indian.”
“No, I’m pretty sure he knows I don’t like him because he had my daughter half-naked. Besides, my heritage is none of his damn business. Can I have that coffee?”
“No.”
He reached for the coffee pot anyway, but she got in his way.
“Calista, he knows something about last night. He’s probably one of the three guys your father saw running away from here. It’s too much of a coincidence.”
“You’re being ridiculous. What makes you think he’s a criminal? You don’t know him.”
Fox hadn’t been a criminal. He had been a good kid who wanted to make something of himself. He’d wanted out of the neighborhood and to do his grandmother proud.
Gage put his hands up. “I can tell you’re upset—”
“Do not patronize me. My feelings are real.”
“I’ve been doing my job a long time. My hunch says Justin is involved. My hunches are rarely wrong. He knows something. If you’re smart, you won’t keep him around. Let him find employment in another town. Your father has enough problems without this kid causing trouble.”
“Have you become a police officer who accuses everyone before they have all the facts? Are you any good at this job of yours, or are you just a dad who’s mad he caught his daughter rounding second base?” She didn’t really know him anymore. Her mission had been to stay away from him. He could have burned out over the years. She certainly had.
She couldn’t even believe Gage had a child. He had wasted no time falling into bed with another woman, but what did she expect? She had slapped his face when he was covered in blood and searching for her to help him. Only she couldn’t help him.
“She’s fifteen. Why am I explaining this to you? I’ve seen plenty of good kids do something stupid thinking they’ll never get caught.”
“I don’t know a whole lot about Justin, but I do know he didn’t commit this robbery.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Is that what you’ve been doing this whole time you were away?”
“I’m not following. What do you think I’ve been doing?” Besides working two jobs to make ends meet and forming an attachment to her neighbor because she had no one in her life.
“Saving the world. Have you been trying to save the world so Ava wouldn’t have died in vain?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She dropped her gaze to the coffee. His piercing glare made heat travel from her chest to her scalp.
“Let me tell you something—you can’t change the past. There isn’t anything you can do now that will change how that night turned out. Believe me, I’ve already tried.”
She would not side with him. They could not erase the fact Ajay pulled the trigger and fired the bullet that took her sister. They were not victims in this together. She fought a sob. The truth was, they were in this together. Both of their families had suffered. But if he had been paying attention, if he had not pushed Ajay away when he needed Gage most, their lives would be so much different today.
“When are you going to forgive me for being Ajay’s brother?” He leaned in close enough she could smell his spicy scent.
“Every time I look at you, I see him.”
He pounded his fist on the counter and walked out of the room. He slammed the front door, making it rattled in its frame.
She dropped down in a chair and held her head in her hands.
“I’m sorry,” she said to no one.
Chapter Six
Gage slid open the door to the barn and inhaled. The smells of feed, grain, horse blankets, ammonia, and minty medicated mouthwash mingled together and assaulted his nose. Up in the loft, the place held the sweet smell of hay, but down here, no matter how clean Jett kept the barn, the distinct barn smell lingered.
As the oldest of five boys, Gage should have wanted to be the one to run the ranch. He had become “the man of the house” at twelve when his dad died of a heart attack out in the acreage. He had helped his mother as much as he could, and when college called, he went and used it as his excuse to find another career.
His mother had understood. She never judged him. She had set him and Kace free. Jett and Lock had taken to the ranch the way their parents had. Ajay had been rebellious, but their mom had faith he’d settle down and stick around. He loved the horses. Especially Silver Bell. His horse.
Gage went down to Silver Bell’s stall. She snorted as he approached. “Hey, old girl.” He rubbed her white coat and ran his fingers over her soft, silky mane.
His parents had bought each boy a horse when they were born. His horse had been gone for some years now as were Jett’s, Kace’s, and Lock’s. Silver Bell still moved around even at thirty-three. It was as if she knew what happened to her owner and was determined to stay alive in his place.
Her coat lightened over the years, going from gray to all white, but she was still beautiful and other than memories, the last thing Gage had of his brother. And not all those reminders were good.
“How are you feeling today?”
She nudged his hand, and he pulled out the carrots in his pocket. “I can’t fool you. I’m sorry I haven’t been out to visit. I’ve been busy with work.” He had been so busy he didn’t even go for a run anymore, but he could have made time. “Jett and Izzi are taking good care of you. Want to go for a walk?”
He opened the stall door, grabbed the lead, and led her out. He’d walk her to the pasture for some exercise before he went to work. He wouldn’t ride her today. Jett had taken her out for light exercise yesterday, and her muscles would need a day or two to recover. She might not appreciate his large frame on her back.
The sun warmed his skin, but a soft breeze pushed through the trees. The picture-perfect day did nothing to ease the knots in his neck. “She’s
back, Bell.”
He had a ritual of spending time with the horse every morning before work. He had stayed away more and more, making one excuse after another. He had promised Ajay he would take care of her. It was one promise that shouldn’t have been hard to keep, but recently it was. Maybe because he was getting older and so was Silver Bell.
He had believed that with time he and Ajay would have had long talks out on the ranch, but there hadn’t been enough time. He talked to the horse instead.
“She’s been home before this, so why does this time make me want to punch something? Maybe it was the robbery. I can’t have robberies happening in my town weeks before the Fourth. They can’t happen ever, but especially now.”
He led Silver Bell to a nearby tree.
“This is a good place to spend some time.” He sent Jett a text telling him he took Bell out and left her in the shade.
“I wanted to protect her the night the robbery happened. Like before. She would not want me to do that. The look on her face said it all.”
He and Calista had dated on and off through college, but when he came home and joined the police academy, they became serious. They talked about marriage and a family. She only had her sister and her parents. She wanted a big family like his, and he was more than ready to give her exactly that. Even out there under the tree with Silver Bell, he could recall Calista’s sweet scent and the way she smiled up at him when they’d made love.
Then the tragedy happened. The image of Ajay pointing that gun was seared behind his eyelids. Gage had been a rookie cop and had frozen in place. Time had slowed and sped up the way it did in a nightmare. The sound of thunder had rumbled through the air, but it hadn’t been the weather. Ajay fired the gun. He stumbled back from the recoil. Ava’s face filled with horror first, then knowledge next. More guns fired. Dark red blood spread out from the center of Ajay’s shirt. He clutched his chest and fell.
Gage’s phone buzzed. A text from Jett.
—Andy Hartman is here to see you. Can you come to the main house, or should I tell him you’re not around?—
It was early for a visitor. Or had the man spent the night and Jett just caught him on the way out?
—You sure he’s not here to see Mom?—
—Shut up.—
He laughed. Andy Hartman had no romantic interest in their mother. He saw the Rykers as the enemy just as much as Calista saw him that way. —I’ll be right there. Silver Bell is staying outside.—
“See you soon. I promise not to stay away so long this time. Enjoy the grass.” He patted the horse and trotted back to the house.
Andy waited for him on the front porch. His white hair fell in strands above his eyes, which were red behind his glasses. His nose spread across his face from too much drinking. He usually wore a white button-down shirt. Gage thought white dress shirts were the only thing Andy owned, but today a gray pullover sat in its place.
“Everything okay?” He stood on the long step beside Andy.
“Do you know who the kid is that Calista hired?”
Better than he wanted to admit. “I met him yesterday at your place. Why?”
“I don’t like him, and I don’t want him working there. Can you convince her? Because she won’t listen to me.”
“Me? She isn’t going to listen to me, Andy. My mother would have better luck with that. But why don’t you like him?”
“Those tattoos, for one. I know my place needs a little TLC, but not what she’s suggesting. She doesn’t understand. We had plenty of guests last month.”
A couple who wanted their money back because the room smelled like fried food and the place didn’t resemble the photos on the website. They had made so much noise Andy called for him and Barry to come over and escort his guests out.
“A little paint won’t hurt.” He wanted to help her. Pleading her case in a small way would be the only opportunity he would get.
“I don’t want that kid in my house. Have you found out anything on the robbery?”
“Barry is asking the neighbors, but I doubt they heard or saw anything. You’re too secluded.”
“That’s nonsense. Someone must’ve seen something. I want someone arrested for this. I have a reputation to uphold. You need to do your job.”
A bitter taste filled his mouth. “We’re working on it and the last robbery. Why don’t you head home and help Calista today? Your time would be better spent with a hammer and a few nails than standing on my family’s front porch.”
“I’m not lifting a finger until she fires that boy. We don’t need a handyman.” Andy ambled off the porch and slid into his car.
“What was that all about?” Jett pushed through the front door as Andy drove away. He wore his baseball cap backward, and his flannel shirt was open over a white T-shirt.
“Nothing important.”
“He didn’t come, then, to apologize to Mom for always playing the guilt card with her.”
“Do you think he might have a crush on her?” He had seen stranger things, and Andy had called her to lend him money.
“He’d better not even dream about it. I’ll take him on a little hunting trip he might not return from if he tries to date Mom.”
“You realize you’re speaking to the sheriff of the town. I can have you arrested for planning a crime.”
“You’re my stupid big brother before you’re the sheriff. You don’t have the balls to arrest me.”
“Is there a point to all your anger? I have to get to work.”
“I feel like picking a fight with someone, and Andy seems like a good enough choice.”
“You’re going to fight someone old enough to be your father? What’s really going on?”
Jett removed his cap and scratched at the top of his head. “I had to turn away two families who wanted to book the week of the Fourth. We’re already booked solid. I’m not complaining, but I can’t afford to let business go like that. I tried to get them to schedule another time this summer, but they only wanted that week. Their memory of us will be how they couldn’t get what they wanted. They won’t be back.”
“They might think if the place is booked up, they should try earlier next year. We must be doing something right.”
“It doesn’t always work that way.”
“How about you send them to the Hartman and let them use our services at a discount?” The money would help Andy and Calista. He would have done something to help her, and she wouldn’t be able to shove him away.
“You know, you’re not so stupid after all.” Jett laughed and shoved his cap back on his head. “I’ll go give them a call.” He turned but stopped. “You know, I was about to throw you out of your cottage so they could stay for the week.”
“What? I pay rent, asshole.”
“Keep your pants on. I would never do that to Izzi. Listen, my horse trainer quit too. I hate to ask you this, but can you take a few people out on the horses this weekend?”
“I’m working this weekend.”
“It’s just for a few hours. The town can take care of itself, and you have Pearce. I need you. Lock is taking some of the guests hiking into the mountain.”
“Did you ask Kace?”
“He has a race in Wyoming. I tried to find a backup, but there isn’t anyone on this short notice. And I can trust you. I can’t trust just anyone with the horses or the guests.”
“Mom can’t do it?”
“She’s trying to retire, Gage. She deserves that. She’s worked hard all these years. It’s one damn afternoon. The ranch isn’t that bad.”
“I never said it was.”
“But you’d rather be anywhere but here. I can’t figure you out.”
“I wanted to be something other than a rancher. Figuring me out isn’t that hard. Why do you keep bringing my career choice up? Haven’t we had this conversation enough times?” Jett had been grilling him forever about leaving the family business for something else.
“I think you didn’t want to be like Dad. There’s
no shame in what we do. I’m proud of us. You should be too.”
He didn’t want to admit that Jett was right. By the time Gage started high school, he was tired of the ranch. He could never get the smell off him at night. It was in his hair and on his clothes. The kids in class teased him for being a farmer, even though his family wasn’t really. He didn’t want to spend his life working so hard he’d end up dead in a field for hours before someone found him.
It was bad enough he had to come home with his tail between his legs, needing his mother to help him raise Izzi. If he ended up working on the ranch too, what would he have to show for his life? He would have gone nowhere and accomplished nothing. At least as the sheriff, he could keep order. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Thanks, man. I appreciate it. The tour goes out at eight a.m. An hour out and an hour back. You know the route.”
“Can I take Silver Bell?”
“I don’t think she should work that hard. The trail is too rough for her. Take Kit Kat.”
“Kit Kat hates me.”
“She hates everyone.” Jett laughed. “I need to check on the breakfast. I’ll catch you later. And thanks.”
“Yeah.” He was going to regret this.
****
Gage jogged back to his cottage from the main house, still thinking about taking the guests on a ride. It was the last thing he wanted to do because he had a town to run and crimes to solve, but he wouldn’t tell his brother no. When one of his brothers needed something, he made sure they had it. He’d learned his lesson the hard way. He didn’t make the same mistakes twice, which was why after his failed marriage he never wanted another long-term commitment.
Unfortunately, the woman in his dreams had returned and screwed with his practical side. He changed into his uniform and found Izzi packing up for school.
“Izzi, I’m leaving for work. Do you want me to drive you to school?” He shoved his phone and his keys in his pockets.
“Dad, you promised I could ride my bike the last two weeks.” Her thumbs tapped away at her phone.
“Please look at me when you speak. I don’t think riding that far is a great idea.”