by Geri Foster
“Don’t count on that, Candi. You two belong to me.”
“I don’t and neither does Tyler.”
He motioned to the man beside her. “Maybe he brought all this down on your head, trying to step in and take my son.” He shrugged. “Who knows? Think about that next time he asks you out.”
“Don’t come after her,” Austin said. “If this is really all my fault, then come get me.”
“I don’t want you.” He pointed to Candi. “It’s her I want.”
* * *
Candi’s heart dropped to the ground and her breathing hitched. She knew this would happen. If Aaron had learned anything from his daddy, and, unfortunately, he’d learned a lot, it was how to get what he wanted. Pulling Tyler into this was a low blow, and all because he thought he owned her. Her life, and Tyler’s, was in more danger now than when he had just taunted her.
Panic gripped her chest and clawed at her heart like a wild beast. What if he took her son? Took him away where she couldn’t find him. Perhaps, if he lost his temper badly enough, like he had with her the other day, he’d hurt him. She looked at the smirk on Aaron’s face and she knew instinctively he was capable of anything. Violence, meanness, and revenge. Oh, yes, he would have his revenge. He had his whole life. No one crossed Aaron Travis and got away with it. Especially her.
He and his daddy left, leaving her alone with Grandma Faith and Austin. Lucas and David were still in the judge’s chamber.
“What do you think he’ll do next?” Grandma Faith asked. “We know he’s as ornery as they come.”
“Let’s let him calm down a little. He’s probably still angry at the judge. He got smacked down pretty good today. He’s still stinging.”
“I wonder if he’ll go against Levi and try to take Tyler,” she worried. “He could do that, you know.”
Austin took her arms and turned her to face him. “Listen to me, Candi. That’s a boy who’s lived off his daddy all his life. He’s never accomplished a thing other than mooching for his daily bread.” He leaned closer. “You heard what Levi said. He doesn’t want Tyler and I get the feeling the old man has the last say.”
“He’s right,” Grandma Faith said. “Aaron ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.” She started down the stairs slowly. “But I’ve had enough of this. It’s time I step in and show those two exactly how mean I can be. See how they like that.”
“Don’t do anything crazy, Grandma,” she warned, knowing the grandmas were a powerful entity when they put their minds to it.
Grandma waved her hand in the air, not bothering to turn back to them. “Don’t you worry, I have a plan.”
“Oh, dear, that’s never good.”
“I don’t want you to worry, Candi,” Austin soothed. “If necessary, when I get a place, you and Tyler can move in with me.”
She stared back at him. “Now, wouldn’t the courts look favorably toward us shacking up together.”
“They wouldn’t say anything if we were married.”
She folded her arms and scowled. “Are you joking again? Now is so not the time.”
He smirked and lifted one shoulder before dropping it. “Kind of joking, kind of not. It would solve a lot of your problems.” She was about to protest but he kept on. “It’s not exactly the way I was hoping to go about it one day, but I care about you and Tyler and I’d do anything to protect you.”
“Honestly, Austin, that’s very sweet, but you and I aren’t ready for that. We’re just getting reacquainted. I can’t rush into something like that. Besides, the whole town would be abuzz with gossip. I get enough of that on my own.”
He held up his hand. “Okay, I just wanted to put it out there. My dad’s going to watch Tyler tonight while we look at a house. Go on to work and don’t let all this ruin your day.”
She turned to walk away. “How on earth can I do that?”
At the diner, she put on her apron and tried to act as if nothing had happened, but it certainly didn’t feel like that inside. Her stomach felt tied in knots, her hands shook and her heart raced like a quarter horse.
The customers all seemed to understand her being distracted today. She imagined the whole town had heard about the trial. She felt a certain relief when Rachel and Lucas came in and took a booth. Before sitting, Rachel hugged her and rubbed her back. “Don’t worry, Lucas isn’t going to let him take Tyler.”
“I’m not sure it will be up to Lucas. You know how the court systems are. Anything can happen.”
Lucas allowed Rachel to slip in the booth first. “I talked to Austin and we both agree, as long as Levi holds the purse strings, Aaron is going to do as he’s told.”
“I think you’re right. I remember, when Tyler was born, Levi wouldn’t even let Aaron slip into the hospital to see him.”
Rachel cocked her head, “He tried to come see him?”
She nodded. “When I told him I was pregnant, he panicked, but he didn’t push me to get rid of the baby. That wasn’t until after he told his daddy about the situation. Honestly, if it weren’t for his daddy, I’m not so sure he would have reacted the way he did. I’m not excusing his behavior, because he has been horrible, a really terrible human being, but it’s not as simple as it looks from the outside. I mean, did you notice how Levi treated him at the court? I overheard some of what he was saying and it was just awful. Imagine growing up in that kind of environment.”
Rachel folded her hands on the table. “Wow. You’re right, it is complicated. But Aaron is a grown man and he has made the decision to treat you like he has. He let his daddy’s money dictate how he’s acted, and that isn’t right.”
She agreed, whole-heartedly, “No, it isn’t. And it is all kinds of wrong that he is pulling Tyler, an innocent boy, into all this now. Hopefully Levi can get Aaron to stop before he does any more damage.”
“Levi doesn’t want to have to claim a child born out of wedlock,” Lucas interjected. “That would mean his son did something wrong and Levi cares too much about his image to accept that.”
Candi shook her head. “I don’t know why he cares. Half the town hates him and the others don’t care enough to give an opinion.”
“He’s a sick and lonely man, that’s why. How long ago did his wife leave them?” Rachel asked.
She thought for a few minutes. “Well, Aaron was fifteen, so I’d say at least ten years ago. He was pretty messed up about it actually. After that, you could really start to see his daddy’s influence taking hold. I was so stupid to not take that warning for what it was.”
Rachel grabbed her hand. “Hush. None of this was your fault.” Releasing her after a small squeeze, she wondered aloud, her eyes tight with suspicion, “But no one has ever heard from her, right? Maybe she had an accident or something.”
“Believe me, Sheriff Townson looked into her disappearance pretty carefully,” Lucas added. “Levi had a perfect alibi. The time she went missing, he proved he had been in Dallas the last three days making arrangements for a shipment of cattle.”
“The Sheriff checked it out?” Rachel questioned.
“Not only that, but Levi appeared pretty torn up over the whole affair. He later went around town claiming she’d probably found another man, but not anyone Townson could find. So, he figured Levi was saving face by blaming her and another man.”
Candi caught herself. “Look at me jabbering away. What can I get for you today? The lunch special is your favorite, Lucas. Meatloaf.”
“I thought his favorite was chicken fried steak.”
“I love them both. I’ll take the meatloaf and iced tea.”
“Mashed potatoes, extra gravy and black-eyed peas with cornbread.”
Lucas beamed. “Exactly.”
Rachel shook her head. “How do you eat like that and never gain an ounce and here I’m starving so I’ll fit in my wedding dress next month.”
She smiled. She was so happy Lucas and Rachel managed to get back together after being apart so long. The two reminded he
r that true love existed, you just had to believe.
She turned to fill their order when Austin came through the door looking so delicious, she wanted to gobble him up. She smiled instead. “Welcome. You here for lunch?”
He nodded, then, Lucas called him over to their booth. He slid in across from the couple. Carrying two glasses of iced tea and a diet coke, she made her way across the diner.
At the table she sat them down and asked Austin what he wanted for lunch.
“I’m settling for a salad,” Rachel said, thumbing at Lucas. “He’s having meatloaf with the works.”
Austin smiled. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
“Oh, no salad for you?” she teased. “That’s right, neither of you have a wedding dress to squeeze into soon.”
“No, we don’t,” Austin said. “And I think that whole idea is crazy. Eating is one of the few things a man should be able to do without judgement.”
“You two don’t have to worry about the size of your hips,” Rachel teased.
Lucas leaned over and captured her mouth. “And you don’t either. They’re perfect.”
Candi cashed out several customers and finished cleaning tables before their order landed on the heating counter. When Vern slapped the bell with his spatula, she was there waiting.
After delivering their food, she finished cleaning up from the lunch crowd. Soon enough, Lucas had to get back to work and Rachel had an IT problem to solve over the phone with her company, leaving Austin to sit alone in the booth. She approached. “You don’t have to get back to work?”
“I do in a few minutes. I want to make sure you’re okay. That the trial didn’t leave you afraid.” He looked around. “When I leave, the place will be empty, but I doubt Aaron will come back here.”
“I’m not afraid of what he might do to me. It’s Tyler I worry about. The judge didn’t say he couldn’t go near him and I’m positive he took note of that.”
“You and I know he doesn’t really want your son.”
“Maybe you’re right, but talking with Rachel reminded me that Aaron wasn’t completely opposed to the idea of a kid at first, it was just his daddy he was trying to please…and an inheritance he was trying to secure. I know he still cares about the money, so why claim Tyler now? Why risk the inheritance? The only thing that makes sense to me is that he wants to make me pay for putting him in jail. He’ll come at me for that and poor Tyler is left standing between the two of us.”
“He touches him and that’s kidnapping, meaning it’s also federal. I won’t let him get away with that.”
“Aaron doesn’t think like a rational person. His brain doesn’t work that way. He’s a little warped in the mind if you ask me. Always has been. I’ve seen him at his cruelest and it’s so ugly you can’t imagine. That’s why, when he didn’t want anything to do with Tyler, I actually felt relief. My son would never have to endure his abuse.”
“Was he that mean to you?”
“When we were together, no, because I always pleased him, didn’t go against want he wanted.”
Austin stretched out his legs. “You held yourself back for a long time.”
She lowered her gaze. “I guess I did, but after you and I kissed…I felt something so huge, I knew I had to choose. Aaron and I had been together for a long time. I thought maybe we just needed to go to the next level for me to feel anything close to what I had with you. I didn’t want to throw all our time together away and he was so close to dumping me for being such a ‘good girl’ that I relented the next night. Only once, but that’s all it took.”
He stared at the floor. “I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry I pushed you into making that decision.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t push me into anything. You helped me see that what he and I had wasn’t love, it wasn’t even close. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but the whole while it was happening, it was your face I saw, not Aaron’s.”
“But if I hadn’t—”
She put her finger to his lips. “Then I wouldn’t have Tyler and I wouldn’t now have you. Neither of those things would I give up for the world.”
Kissing her finger, he smiled. “I wouldn’t give the two of you up either.”
Chapter 15
Austin left the diner feeling lighter than he had in a while—which was saying something considering all the meatloaf he’d eaten. Thanks to a kiss by the lake, both his and Candi’s lives were forever changed, and he was determined to make sure that change was only positive, which meant dealing with Aaron once and for all.
Reporting back to his office from his new office, he confirmed six other office personnel would be transferring to the area from Dallas. He had to make several arrangements before the move could be made, but it was a relief that all of the four men and two women coming to work with him did so willing.
They had all volunteered, which made him feel good, because he didn’t want to start with a bunch of disgruntled employees. He’d be interviewing locally for a secretary since he and the director had decided it wise to hire locals for the office staff. That way, everyone benefited. They knew the area and would come in handy when they needed directions.
After signing for the delivery of office furniture, he looked around and decided he liked the way things were shaping up. They had a great location, plenty of space, and he looked forward to living near his family and Candi and Tyler.
Next, he checked in on the gas can, after which he called Uncle Jeff and told him nothing had been found. No prints, and the contents were so generic they couldn’t be traced. Still, he warned him to be careful. He didn’t want his uncle taking chances. Levi Travis couldn’t be trusted and the trial had only escalated his anger. He didn’t want Uncle Jeff messed up in Candi and Aaron’s troubles—he had enough problems of his own.
Closing the office, he headed for his hotel room. He wanted out of his suit and into a comfortable pair of khaki pants and a long-sleeved shirt as the weather turned cooler. Outside, he glanced at the sky and noticed dark clouds hovered over the area. He worried about rain. He’d already called Benny to make sure they were still on for that evening, but Candi wouldn’t be as excited about house hunting in a downpour. Moving into the parking lot, he flicked the key fob to open the door of his vehicle and noticed it didn’t beep.
Unsettled, he stopped, dead still, and waited. He couldn’t see if the lock stood up because of the tinted window, but he knew instinctively the lock had already been popped due to the lack of any noise when he clicked the unlock button on the fob.
Instantly, he went through his latest cases, but nothing held a dangling threat. His case files were up to date and there hadn’t been anyone out there he knew of that he had to be cautious of. Except, maybe Aaron. But he wouldn’t be that stupid, would he?
Thinking back, he distinctly remembered locking the door. He’d cultivated that habit his first year with the FBI. Never leave an open invitation. He moved closer, certain that, if someone had popped his lock, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to mess with the FBI any further.
Standing next to the door, he was able to see the lock was indeed up. That could only mean a person, or persons, had messed with his vehicle. While it was his personal car, it sat on government property, making that move a huge risk.
He went around and popped the hood. After examining the engine, he didn’t see anything unusual. Down on his hands and knees, checking under the frame proved to be futile. After carefully checking the outside of the vehicle, he quickly yanked open the door.
In the passenger seat laid a bright yellow, rubber chicken. One often used as a practical joke. Confused, he picked it up and stared at the toy. Who’d do something so juvenile? Or could it be just a warning?
He looked back at the building he’d be working at. Tomorrow he had the security company coming out to wire up the building. He’d make sure that included the parking lot. Maybe whoever did this would try something else in the future and the camera would pick it up.
He tossed t
he chicken in the back seat and headed toward Rainwater. He’d used up enough time where he now had to hurry to meet Candi in time. Luckily, it looked like the rain would hold off until later.
Filing the event of the chicken away in his mind, he knocked on Candi’s door. He could hardly wait to see her, even though it’d only been a few hours. Benny had given him several addresses to put in his GPS and, if time permitted, they’d be looking at four houses.
Candi came to the door in dress jeans, a form fitting sweater and her blonde hair piled on top of her head. She looked ravishing and he thought of several things he’d rather be doing than going house hunting.
“Hi,” she said, smiling. “I hope we can get this done before the rain starts.”
“I hope so too. Benny is going to meet us at the first house and we’ll follow him from there.”
She grabbed a jacket off the back of a kitchen chair and walked toward the door. “I’m ready.”
“My dad have Tyler?”
She nodded. “Yes, they’re playing checkers, so Tyler is going to be whining when we get back.”
“I’m sure he will.”
“There’s also a ballgame on tonight. They like watching together.”
“Oh, I’m missing a game?”
“Monday night football and the Dallas Cowboys.”
He snapped his fingers. “Damn, maybe you should go check out the houses, pick one, and I’ll join them and watch the game.”
She laughed. “You might not like what I’d pick. Then you’d be stuck in a house you don’t want.”
“I don’t think that will happen. I trust your taste better than mine. This will be the first house I’ve ever bought.”
She opened her mouth then closed it. “Where did you live before?”
“In apartments and condos.”
“I thought you had a house in Dallas.”
“No, that was too much of a commitment for me.”
She laughed as they stepped out the door. “This from the guy who keeps talking about getting married.”
