“I need to know where they’re going to…bury him. I want to go there.”
“How can we find out? Who would know?” Patsy asked.
Isabella climbed off the bed and walked to the door, opening it. Immediately, an agent appeared just as she suspected since she knew there were several around yet, as two of Barkley’s men were still at large. The agent raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
“I need to speak with Agent Turner. Is he still in Wyoming?”
“Yes, ma’am, he’s not scheduled to leave for Denver until tomorrow. I’ll call him for you.”
Isabella nodded her thanks, and closed the door, returned to the bed, and took a seat beside Patsy, who took her hand in hers.
“Who’s Agent Turner?” she asked.
Isabella smiled thinking of Micah. “He was working undercover as one of Barkley’s men. He was always nice to me and he seemed close to Colt. I guess it was part of his job, to get close to them, I mean.” Her words ended in a sob.
When someone knocked on the door, Isabella cleared her throat and called out permission to enter. The agent she’d talked to about Micah stuck his head in the door.
“Excuse me. Agent Turner said he’ll be here within the hour, Miss Lofton.”
She thanked him, and he pulled the door closed.
“Did you and Colt…um, you know?”
“Have sex?” Patsy nodded. “Yes, and it was amazing. I’ve never felt like that before. I love him, Patsy, so very much. How am I going to go on without him? Even if it had ended with him arrested and sent to jail, I would’ve waited for him. I don’t care what kind of man he is…was, I love him.”
“You’re strong, Bella. You’ll get past this. It may not seem like it now, but you will.”
Isabella shook her head. “I won’t, I know. He’ll always be the love of my life.”
She stood and moved toward the window.
“I’ve made some decisions. I’m quitting the firm. I’m going to do what I really want. I’ve realized life is way too short to do only what’s expected of you. I should do what I want.” She glanced back at her friend. “I’m going to buy a house with some acreage, get some dogs, and horses. I’m going to write the next great novel. I’ve wanted to write for years so now I’m going to do it.”
Patsy smiled, leaning back against the bed. “I know you’ve always wanted to write. The stories you’ve let me read are amazing. So yeah, do it. I’ll be there for you, no matter what.”
“I’ve decided to look for a home in Dry River, Wyoming, it’s where Colt came from. He was born and raised there, and he told me he has…had friends there. I want to meet them.” She shrugged. “I have no idea how I’ll find them, but Colt said it was a small town so I’m sure if I ask around, someone will know where I can find his friends.”
While they waited for Micah, they sat together and talked about Colt and the future. When a sudden knock sounded on the door, Isabella didn’t get a chance to give her permission before it flew open and Micah Turner strode in. He scowled at Isabella, and then his attention shifted to Patsy, but then he looked back to Isabella.
“What is it, Isabella? This had better be important,” he growled, obviously perturbed at her summoning him.
“Well, aren’t you pleasant?” Patsy interjected.
Micah turned toward her and Isabella saw him narrow his eyes at Patsy.
“Who the hell are you anyway?” Micah asked, placing his hands on his hips.
Patsy stood. “I’m her friend. She needs some information and thought you could help her, although why she’d want your help is beyond me. So put the big bad agent attitude away.”
Isabella watched the muscle in Micah’s jaw twitch so she suspected he was clenching his teeth to keep from saying something he shouldn’t. Patsy had that effect on some people.
“What do you want to know, Isabella?”
“I want to know where they’ve taken Colt’s…”
“I can’t tell you that. It’s—” Micah began but didn’t get far.
“Why can’t you tell her? She just wants to know where he’s being buried. Wouldn’t you want to visit where someone you loved was buried?” Patsy put her hands on her slim hips and glared up at him.
“If you hadn’t interrupted me, I was going to say that it’s not something we’re told. I’m sure he was sent back to his family.” Micah glared down at Patsy, and then shifted his gaze to Isabella. “You have to let this go, Isabella. I’m really sorry, but I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Isabella went to him and put her arms around his waist hugging him.
“You liked him, didn’t you, Micah?” She felt his body tense against hers. She knew she was right. He finally wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him.
“Yes, I did like him. He was a great guy,” he said in a low voice against her hair.
Isabella looked up at him. “I just want to pay my respects. I love him, Micah.”
Micah pulled back from her, releasing her. He cleared his throat.
“I appreciate that, but I can’t help you with it, Isabella. I’m sorry,” Micah said in a very official voice without looking at her, but when he turned to leave the room, Isabella saw him glance at Patsy, who was staring at him as if she was about to say something, but then he gave a slight shake of his head, and she looked like the air went out of her. Her shoulders slumped and she gave him a nod.
When Micah reached the door, he stopped, and then turned to look at Isabella.
“If you need anything, Isabella, anything other than info on Colt…call me.” Then he was gone, closing the door behind him.
Chapter Eight
Maria Lofton was worried about her daughter. She wasn’t the lively young woman she used to be. Something more than the kidnapping had changed her. Maria knew the situation Isabella went through was rough on her, but she usually bounced back quickly from anything difficult. It had been two months since she came home and Isabella still seemed to be in a fog. Even her best friend, Patsy, didn’t know what to do to help.
Isabella had shocked everyone when she quit the law firm and sold her condo. She’d been staying at the mansion, but was constantly looking at homes for sale in northern Wyoming. She had told Maria she wanted to buy a house, and raise dogs and horses. Maria knew of her daughter’s dreams of her own home, and writing. She didn’t begrudge her daughter her dreams, but being in the funk she was, it was hard to imagine her even getting started.
She just wished she knew what was going on in Isabella’s head and her heart. She’d been so happy to see her father come home from the hospital, but it hadn’t been long after that she went back to being sullen. It confused Maria because she was at a loss to know what was going on with Isabella. She loved her daughter so much, and she suspected she was hiding something that was causing her a world of hurt. Nothing was the same since she came home from her time in the hands of that monster, Barkley.
The other two men, Rodgers and Lewis, remained at large, and although the FBI felt they wouldn’t attempt another attack on the governor or his family, there were still agents assigned to protect them. Maria knew Barton was glad his daughter had decided to come home and stay, if for no other reason but her safety. He also knew about the home she was looking for and why, and like her, was supportive of his daughter’s dreams, but the two of them hoped she’d remain home until the FBI captured the last two men. It was possible they may have left the country and weren’t even interested in revenge for their boss’s death. After all, they did double cross Barkley, so the thinking was that they were long gone. That would be a good thing, but they still needed to go to trial, and Maria knew the lawyer in Barton Lofton was still alive and well.
* * * *
Isabella sat in her room and looked through the real estate magazine she’d bought. She glanced up when her mother entered her room. They smiled at each other, and then her mother took a seat on the bed next to her, running a hand over her daughter’s hair.
“Have you
found anything yet?” Maria asked her, looking over at the magazine.
“No, but I’m just starting to go through this one. What’s bad is they all seem to list the available homes together, and the same ones are in each magazine.”
Maria laughed softly. “You’ll find something, honey.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “Isabella, is there anything you want to talk about? You know you can tell me anything.”
Isabella looked into her mother’s concerned eyes, and wished she could explain. “No, nothing. I’m fine, Mom.”
Maria shook her head and sighed. “No, Isabella, you’re not fine, but if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.”
Isabella blinked back tears.
During the day, she tried her best to keep the tears at bay but at night, she’d bury her head in her pillow and cry herself to sleep. With all her heart, she wished Colt were there with her, holding her. She asked God every night why he brought Colt into her life only to take him away. He never answered. She’d always believed that everything happened for a reason. What was the reason for meeting the love of her life only to have him taken away so quickly? She choked back a sob. Her mother would be shocked to learn about Colt, and it would do no one any good to tell her. She shook her head, leaned over, and kissed her mother’s cheek.
“I will be fine, eventually. It’s nothing I want to worry you with right now. One day, I’ll tell you everything but for now, I’m just not ready.”
Maria hugged her, but then nearly fell off the bed when Isabella jumped up with an excited squeal.
“Oh my God, Mom! This is it,” she exclaimed, pointing to a picture of a house as she sat back down and held up the magazine. Her mother leaned over to look at it.
Isabella stared at the house with pure joy—a lovely white Cape Cod style home with a front porch that stretched across the entire front of the house. The shutters were red, a swing hung at one end of the porch, and the driveway curved in a circle in front. Located to the right of the house was a stable with fenced-in corrals. She tried to make out the interior from the pictures in the magazine but they were too small.
Pulling her laptop close, she quickly found the site, entered the listing number, and within seconds, the house popped up on the screen. It was beautiful. She smiled at her mother, who was now fully intrigued.
The kitchen had all new black appliances. The floor was cherry hardwood, the same as the cabinets. She nearly squealed again when she saw there was a large garden window above the country sink. She’d fill it with houseplants.
The next picture was of the dining room. It wasn’t large, but there was a big picture window on one wall and another doorway which led to the foyer. The more she read about the house, the more she fell in love with it. The floor in the foyer was the same beautiful cherry hardwood as in in the kitchen. Reading further, she realized the entire house had the hardwood floors throughout it.
How wonderful!
The living room boasted a huge fireplace and a large window facing the circular drive and front porch. The open stairwell in the foyer led upstairs where there were three bedrooms. The master suite had its own bathroom, but there was another full bath at the top of the stairs and a half bath down stairs.
Isabella was totally in love with the house. She read more and when she discovered it had ten acres of fenced land, she knew it was the perfect place. Excited, she smiled at her mother as she reached for the phone. After speaking to the agent and setting up a time to view it, she hung up and hugged her mother, feeling truly happy for the first time in a very long time.
“I can’t wait to see it. Do you want to go with me tomorrow?”
“I’d love to, honey, but I have a luncheon tomorrow. I’m sorry, but I bet Patsy would love to go with you,” Maria told her with a big smile.
Isabella had no doubt that was true. She hurried to the hallway and called out for her best friend. Patsy came running and after Isabella told her about the house, she agreed to go with her and hugged her with excitement.
The home was inside Dry River but with ten acres, she was going to be able to have her animals and her privacy. For the first time in months, she was happy about something, but it still hurt to think about the house and that Colt wouldn’t be there to share it with her.
Isabella bit her bottom lip and blinked back tears, wishing her emotions would stop running so high. When would the tears stop? When would the pain go away? When would she no longer see his face when she closed her eyes? She had no answers for any of those questions. The only one she had an answer for was, when would she stop loving him, and the answer to that was never. He would forever be in her heart. The thought of ever being with another man was so foreign to her, in both her mind and her heart, that she could never see it happening. She never wanted it to happen. No man could or would ever replace Colt Raines.
The next day, the sun was shining down and the temperatures rising. It was a beautiful summer day. Isabella and Patsy were on their way to see the house. Isabella was excited. She knew Patsy was happy for her, but still worried about her. She also knew Patsy could tell she was still crying over Colt. She couldn’t hide it from her. Patsy knew her too well. It had only been two months and Isabella knew Patsy was giving her time to get over it, but Isabella knew in her heart she would never get over Colt.
Three hours later, they pulled through the gate and drove up the drive to the house. Isabella had the most overwhelming sense of feeling as if she’d just come home. She smiled and squeezed Patsy’s hand. The real estate agent stood on the porch waiting for them. Patsy and Isabella got out of the car, and looked around at the grounds. Patsy smiled at her.
“I think it’s you,” she told Isabella, and she honestly had to agree.
Isabella felt like a kid at Christmas as they walked toward the front porch to meet the agent, who came down the steps and introduced herself. She looked at Isabella with a small frown of confusion on her face.
“I’m sorry, but you look so familiar to me. I don’t mean to stare but have we met before?” she asked with a friendly chuckle.
Isabella and Patsy glanced at each other and shrugged. Isabella explained who she was and the agent’s eyes widened.
“I should’ve known by your name. Boy, you’ve been through a lot lately. Glad to see you’re doing so well,” she said with a smile. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll show you this lovely home.”
Two hours later, Isabella was even more in love with the home. After going through the stables, she knew absolutely that she had to have it. She told the agent she wanted it and made an offer on it. The agent told her she’d call her later after speaking with the seller.
Isabella was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get started. As they drove home, she thought of Colt. Would he have liked the home? She had to pull off the road because she couldn’t see for the tears in her eyes. She put her forehead on the steering wheel and wept for what felt like the millionth time since Micah brought her home. She felt Patsy rubbing her back, but not saying anything.
Isabella raised her head, and beat her fist on the steering wheel. She hurt so much. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure how long they’d been sitting there when a police officer tapped on the window. Startled, she wiped her eyes and lowered the window. Using a headache as an excuse for stopping on the side of the road, he seemed to believe her and let her go with a warning to be careful. Once home, she left Patsy downstairs and quietly went to her room where she showered, climbed onto the bed, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
Colt was running toward her. He was calling her name. She tried telling him where she was, but he didn’t see her. He was running right at her, but couldn’t see her. She kept yelling his name to let him know where she was, but he ran right past her. She cried out for him to no avail.
“Isabella! I love you, princess. Come to me, please,” Colt called out to her.
“Colt…I’m here! Please, see me…I’m right here!”
“I lo
ve you, Bella. I will always love you! Forever, darlin’, forever,” he told her, but then his voice faded away.
“Colt! No…please stay with me, Colt. Come back!”
Isabella jerked awake and gazed up at her mother, who wore a concerned expression. She threw herself into her mother’s arms. Her mother held and rocked her while she sobbed against her shoulder. Her mother continued to hold her until her tears slowly subsided. Exhausted, and feeling too warm, Isabella lay back down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. She felt the bed shift when her mother stood, and a few moments later, her mother pulled her hands from her face and placed a cool damp washcloth across her hot forehead.
“Who’s Colt?” her mother asked, her voice filled with compassion.
Isabella flinched, and looked up at her. “How did you know?”
“You were screaming out his name. That’s why I came in, you were dreaming and obviously something was upsetting you,” she said with a loving smile. “You love him.”
It wasn’t a question.
Isabella nodded. “Yes, Mom, I do, but it doesn’t matter.”
“Why doesn’t it matter? He’s crazy if he doesn’t love you back,” she said smoothing back damp hair from Isabella’s face. She smiled down at her.
Isabella’s heart ached as the words caught in her throat. “He’s dead,” she whispered.
Her mother gasped in horror. “Oh! Isabella, honey, I’m so sorry. No wonder you’ve been sulking around and didn’t want to talk about it. You could’ve told me. Why didn’t you?”
“You wouldn’t understand, Mom. It’s complicated, and I’m really trying to get past it, but it’s been so hard for me. I love him so very much.”
“Why wouldn’t I understand?”
Isabella laid one arm over her eyes. “He was one of Barkley’s men.”
The silence was palpable. Her mother stood and walked toward the window. Isabella watched her stand there with her back to her wishing she could see the expression on her mother’s face. Neither said anything for a few minutes, but then she heard her mother sigh before turning.
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