“Of course.”
“Fine. Tonight, some men from town, and me, will be on your ranch. You’ll be in your house. With any luck, that guy will try to get his drugs, and we’ll catch him.”
“You can’t use her as bait!” Zandra’s voice rang out shrilly.
“It’s okay,” Saffron blurted. “I want to do it. I have to do what I can for Rory.”
“It is dangerous,” Boone cautioned her.
“I don’t care. I want to do it.”
She watched the look passed between brother and sister. Zandra sighed deeply, appearing greatly diffused by Saffron’s offer. “Tell me what you meant by what you said before,” she said, her tone much lighter now, but her face still holding anger. “You said you don’t believe that about Rory, but obviously you did last night. Explain that to me.”
Boone’s cellphone rang. He excused himself, and then left the room as he answered it. Saffron chanced joining Zandra at the table again. She seemed willing to listen now, and Saffron drew in a deep breath to calm her rattled nerves before speaking. The thought of being bait for a dangerous drug dealer terrified her, but she was determined to make things right.
“I don’t believe Rory hid those drugs in my house,” she began slowly, “and I don’t think he’s dealing, or doing anything wrong at all.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything? Why did you believe Myles?”
“I didn’t want to believe him. I don’t believe him.” Wringing her fingers, she sighed deeply. “I didn’t believe Rory did those things, but when Myles proposed he’d been devious about getting close to me, that part made sense.” She shrugged stiffly, her neck feeling like a steel rod. Stricken with guilt, she was also unbearably uncomfortable at the thought of revealing what she needed to next. Zandra regarded her critically, and didn’t look like she’d be swayed by anything Saffron said. Supposing if she was Zandra, she’d struggle just as much to understand, she decided to tell Zandra everything. As she placed her shaking hands on the tabletop, she drew in a deep breath, and then released it slowly, determined to, finally, tell someone the whole story.
“It’s not that I doubted Rory, I doubted his love for me.” It sounded terrible coming out of her mouth, but it was the truth.
“What do you mean?” Zandra’s brow crinkled deeply. “You don’t think he loves you?”
“He probably doesn’t now,” Saffron bemoaned, “but I know he did. Maybe he still does, I don’t know, but I do know I ruined everything. It’s all my fault. It’s just that when Myles said that Rory manipulated me to get close to me, I believed it. I know I shouldn’t have, but I did. Suddenly, it was clear that what I’d feared all along was true. That Rory didn’t love me, because he couldn’t, because no man ever has, and because he’s so wonderful, and I don’t deserve him.”
The tears were back. She didn’t want to shed them, but she couldn’t stop. She’d said it, the truth she’d hid from everyone. Her insecurities exposed, she met Zandra’s eyes, convinced she’d see condemnation within them. Shocked at the sight of tears in Zandra’s eyes, she was astounded when Zandra reached across the table, and placed a hand over hers.
“Why would you think that? Rory would never use you for anything.”
“I know. I mean, I know that now. No, I knew it then, but—”
“Saffron, oh, dear God, who hurt you so badly?”
Harsh sobs broke free at Zandra’s words. She’d blown her chance at true happiness. Amazingly, Zandra moved around the table to sit beside her, and laid an arm around her shoulders. When Zandra’s hand then covered hers again, she cried harder. She’d betrayed Rory by not believing in his love, a love he’d shown her repeatedly, and now his sister was comforting her traitorous ass. It was too much to bear, she needed to leave, but she couldn’t move. As sob after sob left her, she sat where she was, not quite hearing Zandra’s soft, comforting words. The condemning voice in her head spoke louder.
“Zandra?” Boone’s concerned voice sounded.
His presence drew Saffron’s eyes to the doorway of the kitchen where he stood. The alarmed look on his face morphed into a confused one as his eyes took in her crying. Undoubtedly, he’d heard sobbing and was concerned for his sister but, seeing Saffron as the source of the noise, he didn’t seem to know how to react.
“Everything’s fine,” Zandra told him. “She just needs a little time.”
Appearing uneager to involve himself in the flood of tears, he left, and Saffron wiped under her eyes. She felt embarrassed by her show of emotions in front of them for she was, after all, the enemy.
Zandra patted her hand. “I’m going to make you a cup of tea, and then you’re going to tell me why you don’t think you deserve Rory.”
Her tone hard to decipher, but, figuring it was a good sign Zandra hadn’t told her to leave the house again, Saffron waited as Zandra went about filling the kettle. She’s already related so much to Zandra, she might as well get it all out. Zandra probably hated her, but she was still hopeful she might convince the woman to deliver a message to Rory. A plea, really. She needed to tell him how sorry she was, and tell him she didn’t blame him for hating her. She deserved it.
Some time later, having related the entire story of Doug, and all the emotional damage he’d wrought, she tried to ascertain Zandra’s mood. She hadn’t reacted to anything Saffron had said while she was speaking, but had listened intently. Turning the mug in her hands, Saffron supposed she’d hear what she expected to, that no matter what had occurred in the past, she should never have doubted Rory.
“Does Rory know all that? What happened between you and Doug?” Zandra asked.
“Some. Not much, actually. I only told him I was once in a serious relationship with Doug. I didn’t tell him any of what I just told you.”
Zandra fell quiet again, and appeared to mull over everything Saffron had related. Finally, she spoke, her voice no longer holding the condemnation it had. “He needs to know.” She sighed. “I could tell him.”
“No, that’s something I need to tell him. But could you, please, when you see him later, please tell him how sorry I am, and that I can explain. Well, sort of.”
“You can explain, and he will understand, but you’re right, you should be the one to tell him,” Zandra confirmed.
Then she promised to relay Saffron’s apology to Rory, and Saffron thanked her. She hoped he’d accept her apology, and that he’d want to see her, and allow her to explain her actions. She hoped he didn’t hate her, even though he should. As tears stung the backs of her eyes again, she knew a disheartening truth. Hope was all she had, and the past had taught her it was never enough.
Chapter 45
In spite of his surroundings, Rory smiled when Zandra entered the room. Shackled to the table, he couldn’t stand, but motioned for her to sit down, knowing no physical interaction would be tolerated by Myles, who stood silently in a corner of the room after showing Zandra in.
With a quick glance in Myles’s direction, Zandra placed her hands before Rory’s on the tabletop, her fingertips lightly brushing his. Her expression was grave, her eyes were puffy and red, as if she’d been crying recently. Knowing she had been, because of him yet again, he stifled his self-loathing, and held his smile.
“How are you?” she asked softly.
“I’m good,” he assured her. When she looked uncertain, he nodded. “I am, really.”
With another sidelong glance at Myles, she leaned a little closer, dropping her voice. “Saffron came to see me. She’s worried about you.”
“Sure she is.” He couldn’t help the hard edge to his voice.
“She wanted to come see you, but only family is allowed. She told me she was sorry she didn’t say anything, but she was in shock, and couldn’t believe what was happening. Now that she’d had time to calm down, she doesn’t believe you did this. She was just scared, and confused. She loves you.”
“Bullshit. If she loved me, she’d never doubt me.”
“I know you’re
upset, but maybe if you hear—”
“No,” he interrupted, “I don’t need to hear bullshit excuses. You’ve never doubted me. Because you love me.”
“She does love you, I can tell.”
“Then she doesn’t love me enough. Sissy, I don’t know what’s going on with all this, but I know one thing. I would’ve supported her through anything, but she didn’t love me enough to do the same. End of story. I won’t discuss it further. I want to spend this time visiting with you, not arguing over her.”
“Okay.”
He was glad she’d let the matter go. The fifteen-minute visit granted him was time to be with her, not time to discuss Saffron. His heart stinging with her betrayal, he didn’t want to talk about Saffron ever again.
Chapter 46
Driving cattle back toward the barn, while the sun continued its downward arc in the sky, Ethan spotted a rider heading his direction. Too tall to be Jeff, the only hand not out with livestock, the rider slowly took shape as he approached, and soon Ethan recognized Boone atop the horse. Undoubtedly, he’d come to the ranch to see Ethan and, when Jeff informed him Ethan was out with cattle, had asked Jeff for a horse to ride. Passing several men to reach Ethan, Boone nodded to them, and then reigned his mount to ride beside Ethan.
He wanted to laugh at the extremely uncommon sight of Boone on a horse, awkward, and gangly, looking uncomfortable despite being a competent rider, but there was no mirth in Ethan’s heart. Consumed with worry over Rory, he could only imagine the fear that enveloped Boone.
“Any news on Rory?” he asked, hesitantly. He didn’t expect Boone to have any good news to relate.
“Myles has stuck to his word about not proceeding for another day. I have Chase to thank for that, I know, but unless I find out who really did it, Rory will be formally charged, and transferred to remand tomorrow.”
Ethan chose his next words carefully. He’d heard that tone in Boone’s voice before. His friend was close to losing his temper, something that rarely occurred, thankfully, as Boone was savage when angered. Truthfully, all the male Bukowskis struggled with their tempers. Boone and his late father, Ted, had merely learned to cap theirs better than Rory had.
“You know you can count on me to help in any way I can,” Ethan assured Boone. “I haven’t been a cop for a long time, but I will help. I wish I still had contacts, something I could utilize to help Rory.”
“I’ve done nothing but contact everyone I know,” Boone informed him. “I’ve called in every favour, levied threats, dickered for information, and bullied my way into receiving what information I could. No one seems to know who’s dealing in this neck of the woods. The dealer’s a ghost. What I did manage to do, though, is get some colleagues to utilize their C.I.s, to put the word out that the RCMP is going to raid a small ranch in Bison Bluffs tomorrow morning, as soon as their search warrant is granted.”
Ethan mulled over what Boone had said. Employing his colleagues’ confidential informants, Boone hoped to get word out that the drugs were still on Saffron’s ranch, forcing the hand of the dealer to recover them before the ‘raid’ took place. With no formal charges against Rory being announced, only Myles, his staff, and a select few others knew the drugs were currently in the evidence locker of the Bison Bluff’s RCMP detachment. It was a smart idea. If it worked.
“And I imagine you’re going to be there tonight, on Saffron’s ranch, hoping the dealer shows.”
“With you, I hope,” Boone replied. “I couldn’t reach you earlier, I guess your phone doesn’t get a signal out here. I already talked to the guys, and they’re going to be there. Cole, Chase, Sawyer, and the Carsons. Myles doesn’t know about it, of course. You will be there, right?”
“Of course.” He’d already decided he would, but the plea in Boone’s voice cut through him. Boone sounded desperate, and for good reason. The plan was solid, but hinged on the actual perpetrator overhearing word on the street. Maybe, if they had more time, the odds of the man showing up on the ranch would go up. As it stood, if the dealer hadn’t heard the fake news, he wouldn’t make an appearance tonight, and Rory could go to jail for the rest of his life.
“There’s more, and I have a feeling you’re not going to like it,” Boone continued. “Saffron will be in her house. She’s agreed to be there, and she knows it’s potentially risky. I’m going to station the other guys around her property, and you and I will be just outside the front of her place.”
Ethan’s jaw clenched. “You can’t use Saffron as bait. It isn’t fair, and far too dangerous. She doesn’t need to be in the house. She should be at my place tonight, with Zoë.”
Boone sighed. “I knew you were going to say that, and I don’t want to argue about this. She has to be there. It has to look like everything is normal at the ranch, and that she’s there, and alone. She’s always there. I don’t want anything to spook this guy. We have to catch him.”
They rode in silence for several moments. Ethan could feel Boone’s eyes on him, but wasn’t ready to answer his friend yet. He would still be there tonight, eager to catch the real culprit, but also to protect Saffron. If the plan blew up, she could be injured, maybe even killed. He doubted Rory would’ve approved the plan, but he understood why Boone wanted to do it. However, Boone’s focus was solely on helping Rory, and Ethan feared his friend’s ferocious drive to aid his brother could leave Saffron unprotected. While worried for Rory himself, Ethan was unquestionably more clear-headed than Boone at the moment, and he’d ensure Saffron stayed safe.
“We do, and we will,” he answered finally as he met Boone’s eyes. “Of course I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.” The relief in Boone’s voice tore at Ethan’s heart, saddened his friend thought he might not support his plan. While he didn’t care for the plan, believing it too dangerous for Saffron, he would always been there for Boone when needed.
They made their way back in silence, only the lowing of the cattle, the occasional bark of a dog, or a command from one of the other men, breaking the quiet. Ethan figured Boone was focused on the details of the plan, and worried about its potential failure. Those matters filled Ethan’s head, too, but he had an additional worry. Once she heard Saffron might be in danger, how was he to prevent Zoë from volunteering to be there tonight, too?
Chapter 47
Boone hid in the bushes, a short distance from the front of Saffron’s house, Ethan beside him. The night air was still, and too damn quiet, eerily so. Sweating, despite the cool temperature, he picked at skin on the side of his thumb. It was torture to remain hidden, even though he had to. Nervousness crackled through him. So did fear. If this didn’t work out—no, it would, it had to.
“So, how did you convince Zoë to stay home tonight?” he asked Ethan quietly, desperate to keep his mind from dwelling on thoughts of Rory being incarcerated for life.
Ethan snorted. “I had the battle of my life on my hands. That woman is so damn determined. No, she’s stubborn. Bull-headed.”
“Like a female you.”
“Not funny.”
“But true,” Boone insisted.
“Yeah, well, I’m in the doghouse for a while, but at least she’s home, where she’s safe.”
Boone was glad Zoë wasn’t present. He’d seen how capable she was the night he and the others here had defended her against an attack. As it had turned out, she’d done away with the biggest threat on her own. She was an incredible woman, and while she undoubtedly would’ve held her own if present tonight, he was still relieved she wasn’t here. If anything happened to her, he doubted Ethan would ever recover. He might have the same concerns about Rory when it came to Saffron, but from what Zandra had related of her visit with Rory, his brother was done with Saffron. Zandra questioned that, telling Boone of how close the pair had been. Boone wanted Rory to have a good woman at his side, one who would always support him. A woman like Zoë. According to Zandra, Saffron was that woman, she’s just been swayed by Myles. Boone wasn’t sure he bought that, but
then again, he hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know Saffron.
No matter what happened between Saffron and Rory from this point on, Boone respected Saffron’s willingness to help tonight. She was brave, he’d give her that. While he, Ethan, and the others would do all they could to ensure her safety, there was a possibility she could be placed in danger. He knew Saffron couldn’t have prevented Rory’s arrest, but she damn well should have stood by Rory last night, insisted Myles was wrong, and told Rory she believed in his innocence. Instead, she’d done nothing. However, Boone would give her credit for trying to help Rory now, especially in the potentially hazardous manner she was.
A rustling noise drew both his and Ethan’s attention to the side of Saffron’s house, but nothing there moved. It had most likely been an animal moving through the bushes there. He shifted his position, his knees not appreciating his crouched position. Ethan knelt beside him, and Boone had spent some time kneeling, but as his restlessness grew, he’d assumed this position, ready to spring forward in an instant.
Sawyer, Kit, and Shane were around the barn, and Cole, Chase, and Zeke in the pastures, able to spot someone approaching from those directions. Ethan and Boone comprised the third line of defence, and all of them were keeping in touch on walkie-talkies. Boone hoped the man would come straight to the house as he longed to be the one to catch him. He had much more than words for the man.
His walkie sprung to life with Cole’s strained voice informing him they’d spotted a man dressed in black who was running away from the property, and they were in pursuit. Right after, Sawyer’s voice announced his group had also spotted a fleeing man, and were following him. Exchanging an odd look with Ethan—neither suspecting a group of people involved—movement in the corner of his eye caused him to jerk his head in that direction to see a man in black dash past them, running hell-bent for the road.
Lost Together Page 20
