Lost Together

by Cynthia Knoble

  “Tansy, you two have an open, communicative relationship. You just need to discuss this. Once he realizes how strongly you feel about not having children, he’ll understand, and let it go.” At least she hoped so. While she longed to be an aunt, the thought of Tansy becoming a mother solely to please Tymyn turned her stomach.

  “Yeah,” came Tansy’s hesitant response, but Saffron didn’t hear much conviction in it. After a pause, her sister sigh deeply. “Anyway, I gotta go, it’s late here, and I have to be in the shop early tomorrow morning. I just wanted to hear how things were going with you. I’m happy for you, Saff, I really am. I know how long you’ve wanted that ranch on the prairies, and I’m proud of you for taking such a huge leap. You’re going to do so much good with it, and, really, I’m so proud of you.”

  Knowing Tansy meant each word she spoke, Saffron made a kissing noise. “Thanks, hon. We’ll talk soon. I love you. Bye.”

  “I love you, too,” came the response. “Bye.”

  After placing her cellphone on the counter, she grabbed a K-cup from the small rack beside the coffee maker, popped it in, put a mug under the spout, and pushed the start button. It was getting late, and coffee might not be the best choice of beverage at this hour, but she had a lot of work to do. Her finances were in shambles, as, despite buying the ranch at a great price, it required more repairs than the property inspector had said it needed. With the payment for the alpacas coming out of her account soon, some money remained, but she had to ensure it would be enough to cover repairs, wages—if she ever found employees—and cover her personal expenses until the ranch started making some money. Considering the official opening of the ranch was still some time away, the situation wasn’t critical yet, but was becoming worrisome.

  At the sound of a loud thump on her front porch, she jumped, swearing loudly. Her heart hammered as she heard stomping steps, and, when the crash of breaking glass sounded, she snatched up the phone, and dialled nine-one-one. Holding the phone in a white-knuckled grip, relief slammed into her when the operator answered after one ring.

  “Emergency services, state your emergency.”

  “I think someone is breaking into my house. Please send the police.”

  She related her address, and stayed on the line as instructed. More thumping footfalls sounded, and she sucked in a frightened breath. The sound of the operator’s voice informing her the police would be there in a few minutes comforted her, but the woman’s next instruction, to lock herself in a room and stay on the line, didn’t.

  Clutching the phone, she raced to her bedroom, locked the door, and then put the phone down to pull the dresser before it. Certain she heard another window break downstairs, she shakily snatched the phone up again, and held it to her ear to ask the operator how much longer it would be.

  “Any minute now,” came the calm response, “just stay on the line. A police car is two minutes away.”

  Hearing a distant siren, she breathed a sigh of relief. “I can hear them,” she informed the operator, “the police I mean. I can hear the siren.”

  “Good. Stay on the line with me until they arrive and inform you it’s safe to come out of the room.”

  “Okay,” she squeaked out. Still clutching the phone tightly, she tried to relax, hearing the sirens drawing closer, but feared she’d start hyperventilating. Someone had attacked her new home, and the safe environment she believed a small town to be suddenly wasn’t safe at all.

  Chapter 3

  Speeding to the Bairstow residence, Myles Patton clenched his jaw tightly. While he’d witnessed horrid things as a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, violence against women set his nerves afire the most. As he turned into the long driveway that led to the house, he shut off the siren but left his lights flashing, and then stopped his cruiser beside that of his constable, Terry, who was already on scene. Hearing the third dispatched cruiser closing in on the property, he exited his vehicle.

  “There are definite signs of an attempted breakin,” Terry informed him. “The front window is smashed, along with the glass front door insert. The door’s still locked though and the hole in the window isn’t big enough to get through. The sirens probably scared the guy away.”

  “Sounds like it,” Myles agreed. After radioing in to dispatch to inform them they were on the scene and were about to enter the house, he waited until the arriving constable, Nick, exited his vehicle.

  After a quick rundown of how to proceed, he and Nick accessed the house while Terry checked the back of it. Finished sweeping the lower level, Myles again radioed that they were heading upstairs so the operator could inform Ms. Bairstow. Satisfied the house was safe, he rapped on the closed door he spotted.

  “Ms. Bairstow, I’m Corporal Myles Patton. Constable Nick O’Donnell is here with me. It’s safe to come out now, ma’am.”

  Hearing the scrape of furniture moving across the floor, he then heard the click of a lock before the door slowly opened partway, exposing her. Taking in his first glimpse of the town’s newest resident, Myles dipped his head as he touched the brim of his hat.

  “Your house is secure. Another constable is sweeping your property but I’m confident whoever it was is long gone. I need to get some information from you so please, if you wouldn’t mind accompanying us back downstairs, we’ll be as quick as possible.”

  She still looked scared as she stepped into the hallway, her cellphone in her hand. Hating that this had happened to her, hoping it didn’t sour her on their town, he followed her down the stairs, Nick proceeding before her, leading them into the kitchen.

  Once there, she seemed to relax somewhat and gestured to the table. “Please have a seat. Would either of you like a cup of coffee?”

  “Yes ma’am, I would. Thank you.”

  Nick took her up on her offer as well and a few moments later, all three sat at the table with steaming mugs of coffee before them. Attempting to ease her into a conversation, Myles cocked his head toward the single-cup coffee maker.

  “I was thinking about getting one of those. They seem very convenient.”

  “They are,” she agreed quietly before taking a nervous sip of her coffee.

  Myles’s radio crackled to life startling her, and Terry’s voice sounded, informing Myles that he’d been around the area immediately surrounding the house and hadn’t detected anything. After informing Terry to return to his normal duties, he addressed Saffron again.

  “Sorry about that. Now, please relate everything you experienced tonight.”

  As Nick took notes, Saffron related how she’d been making a cup of coffee when she’d heard a thump on the porch. Running through everything else up to the point Myles had knocked on her bedroom door, she finished by turning frightened eyes upon him.

  “Did that person get in the house?”

  “As far as we can tell, no. Ms. Bairstow, you did exactly what you should have tonight, and please don’t ever hesitate to call nine-one-one or the station directly whenever you feel scared or suspect something is wrong. Don’t hesitate to do so, even if you don’t think it’s an emergency situation.” She nodded, and he repeated the gesture. “Good. Now, is there somewhere you can go tonight? You shouldn’t stay here until your windows have been replaced.”

  Blanching slightly, she winced. “Oh, um, I didn’t think of that. I don’t know anyone here well yet. I guess I could go to the motel.”

  She didn’t sound keen on the idea, and he wondered if finances were tight. The rumour mill in town had it that she’d faced unexpected costs with the ranch, including buildings in a worse state of disrepair than she’d anticipated.

  “Have you met your neighbour yet, Ethan Collins?” he inquired.

  “Once. He came by with his girlfriend, and introduced them.”

  “I can call them, if you like, Ethan’s a friend, and I’m sure he’d gladly put you up for the night. Zoë lives there too.”

  Figuring the mention of Zoë being in the house would lay any concerns she might have to rest, he wa
ited for her answer. Ethan’s home was one of the safest places she could possibly spend the night, but he understood her hesitancy considering she didn’t know Ethan well. She agreed, and he pulled out his cellphone to make the call. Not surprised when Ethan instantly agreed, he informed his friend he’d drive Saffron over shortly, and then disconnected the call.

  “Ms. Bairstow, you should install a security system. I can suggest a company here in town that can assist you with that.”

  She shrugged awkwardly. “I can’t afford that. Not right now.”

  “Okay, well please plan to do so when you can, and, in the meantime, perhaps you should consider getting a dog. It’s not the same protection as a system that would immediately connect with police, of course, but a barking dog would alert you to the presence of someone on your property before they reached your house.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking about getting a dog. I’m not fond of them, truthfully, but I know it would be a good idea to have one.”

  “Yes, it would,” he agreed. “Okay, if you’d like to pack a bag now, I’ll drive you to Ethan’s.”

  As she left the kitchen, he hoped tonight’s occurrence wouldn’t traumatize her. It could be a prank, teens stupidly blowing off steam, or something of the sort, and not a targeted attack against her. However, along with the rumours of her financial woes, others had reached his ears, those of some folks not being pleased with her choice of enterprise, nor the fact that a woman pursued such an endeavour on her own. While he wanted to believe it was a case of tongues wagging for something to do, he knew how often rumours had truth behind them.

  Chapter 4

  Feeling uncomfortable still but relaxed somewhat by how gracious Zoë and Ethan received her, Saffron accepted a cup of herbal tea from Zoe as she sat at the dining room table in their house. She’d politely declined a coffee, having just had one with the RCMP officers at her house, and knowing a second cup at this time would have her up all night. Although still feeling wired, she wanted to sleep, and put this awful day to rest.

  The short ride in the cruiser had been awkward, but Myles had been gracious, encouraging her to use his first name, and had given her his cellphone number, telling her to call him directly if anything bothered her. He seemed genuinely concerned about her safety, and she’d greatly appreciated his help. Zoë had then led her into the house, as Ethan remained outside speaking with Myles, and she figured Myles was explaining the situation to him. She hoped so as, having just informed Zoë of everything that happened, she wasn’t keen on having to repeat it to Ethan, already dreading having to call Tansy tomorrow to tell her, not to mention her brother Basil who would also worry for her.

  “I still can’t believe that happened to you, that’s awful,” Zoë commented as she took a seat at the table. “You should get a security system.”

  “Yeah, I’m planning on it,” she replied, nodding to Ethan who entered the room, and sat down beside Zoë, “but I just can’t afford it right now.”

  Ethan leaned forward, and fixed her with a serious expression. “Then get a dog.”

  “Myles already made that suggestion and I’ll consider it, I will. I don’t care for dogs, but maybe I should get one.”

  “You can’t be too careful, being a woman on your own.” When she cocked her head, he waved a hand. “I don’t mean to imply you’re not capable or that this town poses a threat, merely that it’s an unsafe world, and you need to protect yourself, that’s all. Any time you feel uncomfortable, and I mean about anything, a noise, a weird feeling you get, anything at all, you call, okay? Anytime at all, and I mean it.”

  “I will,” she promised, appreciating the offer even as his forcefulness still bothered her somewhat. Then she pursed her lips. “Um, I’m not sure I should be asking this, but how well do you know Rory Bukowski?”

  Ethan sat back in his chair, and she was instantly sorry she’d asked the question. “Well enough to know he’d never do something like that,” he answered. His tone was firm but didn’t hold the anger she’d expected when his posture changed so dramatically.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, “I shouldn’t have asked, it’s just that he was at my house earlier today for an interview and I didn’t hire him and—” At the stern looks on both their faces, she blew out a breath sharply. “I shouldn’t have even thought that. I mean, you did recommend Rory to me, and I shouldn’t be acting like this. I’m so sorry.”

  Zoë looked to Ethan, and he shrugged stiffly. “Myles already made the suggestion, but before you put much stock in that, just know Myles hasn’t cared for Rory since the second he set foot in town, even though he’s never done anything to warrant Myles’s distrust of him.” He spread his hands on the table as he leaned forward again. “Look, you’re new in town, and don’t know many people. You’ll get to know us soon enough, and you’ll see that Rory is just trying to rebuild his life, and he would never do something like break into someone’s house, or attempt to scare them. Ex-con or not, he’s an honourable man.” He stood. “I’m turning in. Goodnight Saffron.”

  “Goodnight, Ethan.”

  Then he looked at Zoë, and all the tension he seemed to hold visibly slipped away. “You ladies enjoy your chat. I’ll meet you in bed, darlin’.”

  Zoë blew him a kiss. “Later, lover.”

  After Ethan left the room, and Saffron heard him plodding up the stairs, Zoë grinned at her. “Damn, I still can’t over how hot he is!”

  Saffron chuckled, and it amazed her. Zoë put her at ease, something even Myles hadn’t been able to accomplish.

  “The guest room is made up, and you’re welcome to it,” Zoë informed her, “or you can sleep in the room I used to, for more privacy, if you wish. It’s a small apartment actually, but you can’t get to it through the house, only by its separate entrance. It’s up to you.”

  “I’ll take the guest room, if you don’t mind. It’s just for the night, and I don’t like the idea of being separated from you and Ethan.” She winced. “That probably sounded needy.”

  “Not after the night you’ve had, no, it doesn’t,” Zoë assured her. Then she placed a hand over hers. “Listen, the Rory thing aside—although for what it’s worth, you can trust him—you’ve had a scary night, and I understand you not wanting to be alone. You can stay here for longer if you need to, if it takes longer to secure your house, or if you just don’t feel safe there. Believe me, Ethan won’t have a problem with it. He’s nothing if not protective.”

  Saffron had no intention of her visit lasting longer than a single night, but appreciated how gracious Zoë and Ethan were. Liking Zoë immensely, she thought in time they could become awesome friends, and hoped it would transpire. Although she’d been too busy to meet people in town, she appreciated having such friendly neighbours, even as she hoped she wouldn’t have to rely on them much. Achieving her dream of being a ranch owner included gaining independence, and right now, she felt anything but independent.

  Chapter 5

  Answering the harsh rap on the front door, Rory’s stomach tightened at the sight of Myles Patton standing on the porch. It was late, past midnight, and he unlatched the screen door as he lifted his chin slightly.

  “What do you want?”

  “May I come in?” Myles asked sharply.

  “Why?”

  Rory had tried being kind to Myles when he’d first arrived in town. Soon Myles’s behaviour toward him had him being diplomatic in return, and now he was barely civil. He couldn’t help it. The cop always came knocking whenever something went wrong in town. Myles folded his arms over his chest, and rocked back on his heels. Rory didn’t know if the gesture was born of true anger, or a wish to make Rory think he was angry, and didn’t care. He just wanted Myles to leave, but knew that wouldn’t happen until the cop said his piece. He’d learned as much, since being paroled and moving to Bison Bluffs. His release was conditional on him making restitution payments to his victim’s family upon finding gainful employment, and meeting with a parole officer weekly, at firs
t, to help facilitate his integration back into society. Had he remained in Calgary, he would’ve been assigned an actual parole officer. In Bison Bluffs, however, the local RCMP detachment provided that service, and he’d come to rue the days when Myles performed the checkins. The constables at the detachment would do the checks swiftly, but Myles insisted on grilling Rory on each visit, and Rory knew he was in for more of the same now.

  “Where were you earlier tonight, around nine o’clock?”

  “Here. I’ve been home since just before two this afternoon.”

  “Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts?”

  “Yeah, me,” Zandra’s voice sounded from behind Rory, and he spun to see his sister’s angry expression.

  “It’s okay, Zandra.”

  “No, it’s not,” she returned, and then glared at Myles angrily. “I’ve had enough of this. Rory hasn’t done anything wrong since he’s been paroled, and you know it.”

  “I know he hasn’t been charged with offences since he’s been released,” Myles retorted, “but no, I don’t know he hasn’t done anything wrong.”

  “Bullshit,” she shot back. “You’re just giving him a hard time because he’s an ex-con. According to the law, he’s served his sentence, and now, as a free man, should be afforded the same rights as anyone else in this town.”

  “Zandra, I know—”

  “Let me finish,” she spat, pushing past Rory to stand on the porch before Myles, tilting her head upwards to look him in the eye. “Enough is enough. Rory was here all afternoon and evening, as he said. I was here the entire time expect for between about four and five, when I went to the grocery store. So, yeah, I can’t vouch for his whereabouts then, but the rest of the time, yes, I can. You asked him where he was around nine, and I can verify he was here, with me. We’d finished dinner by then, and sat on the porch, and chatted until it got cool out. I’d say we came in around ten. Is that good enough for you? Is my word enough for you, or would you like me to come down to the station and take a lie-detector test?”