“Listen up, Brad. I’m going to warn you again, because she knows what buttons to push to set you off. Control that temper of yours, be smart, think before you say anything, and above all call me if you’re not sure.” That last remark had brought a slight smile to his lips. Keith knew him well, too well sometimes.
“Plan B, I’ve hired a private detective I used to work with in Seattle. I guarantee you he’ll dig and find any deep dark secret and skeleton we can use on Crystal.”
Brad kicked at a pile of manure. “Keith, something’s been bothering me—Crystal coming back when she did and knowing things that were going on at the ranch she shouldn’t have. I don’t know, it’s as if she’s got someone on the inside feeding her information.”
“I’ll get Byrd, my guy in Seattle, to check it out.”
Brad stared at the house he loved with such venom. “Thanks, Keith.”
He pocketed his phone and grabbed a rake. “May as well clean out the rest of these stalls.”
Two weeks and three days had passed since he last touched Emily. He should have called before now. If nothing else, to tell her how much he cared.
Keith called and he raced into town. They spent hours strategizing. When Brad left, he was distracted, but he didn’t miss the small brunette who gasped, ducked her head and attempted to walk around him. “Whoa, Em, what are you doing?” He reached out and grasped her arm. But she yanked it away and when she raised her head, he was rocked by the blazing fire that seeped from her eyes. “Em, are you okay? I know I should have called.” Whoa, if the sparks flying from her were any indication, she was madder than a nest of angry hornets.
“Well, funny you should ask. Just answer one question for me. What kind of kicks do you get by pulling that kind of crap on me? How could you, Brad? What did I ever do to you?”
He was stunned by her hostility. Her eyes had taken on a deeper hurt, as if she hated him. His gut twisted when the tears popped out in her eyes. “Look, Em, I’m sorry I didn’t call, I have no excuse. You’ve been on my mind almost every minute of the day. I just didn’t know what to tell you, I’ve been fighting to keep my head above water with this divorce and custody of Trevor. I just didn’t want you getting dragged into the middle of it.”
The look she gave him at that moment, Brad wondered if she’d ever speak to him again. Then she dropped her eyes and shook her head, and stepped around him to walk away. And then changed her mind, stepped into his space, tilting her face up to his, with all the fire and fury blazing in her eyes. “Your divorce? Are you kidding me, you sure have a funny way of showing it. Have a nice holiday, Brad?” This time when she stepped back, she was walking away.
It was pure instinct to grab her arm. “Whoa, just a second. What the hell are you talking about? What holiday?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t play games, Brad. I really thought you were different; that you were someone with values and integrity. What hurts more is how you could have done that to me. You know how hard I’ve been struggling and it hasn’t been easy finding another job.”
Okay, now she really had him confused, and he felt a sticky sick feeling expand inside him like a ball being pumped with air. A few curious people milled around. They were getting loud. Brad took hold of her arm and pulled her with him to his truck parked ten feet away. He yanked open the door. “Get in now.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
She couldn’t believe his high handedness. What a bully. She should scream and call for help. When she glanced up, she was unprepared for his rock solid caveman routine. He was going to pick her up and toss her in. So wrenched her arm away, threw him a furious gaze, and stepped back. “No.”
“Get in now or I swear I will physically put you in and really give these people an eye full. I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but you’re going to tell me. But not here!” A few people stopped in front of the truck.
An old lady hobbled over with a cane. “Brad, dear, maybe you should let the lady go.”
Emily went to step away but he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I can’t do that, you see she just received some unsettling news and hasn’t been acting rationally, so I need to make sure she gets home before she does or says anything that can’t be undone.”
“Oh, I see.” The white haired lady waved as she wandered away.
Emily gaped; she wanted to yell after the woman. Tell her it was Brad who was a liar, a cheat, the devil himself. But she narrowed her eyes and climbed in, smacking his hand away when he touched her arm. The door slammed shut as soon as she cleared it.
He strode around to the driver’s side, wrenched it open and climbed in. He slammed the door, gunned the engine and threw it in reverse before backing out of the parking space. He didn’t say a word as he drove straight to her house, pulled up in front and turned off the engine. “Katy home?” There was no kindness in his tone.
“No.” She kept her reply aloof, not willing to give anything.
He came around to her side and yanked the door open. Brad pulled her out of the truck, holding her arm and slammed the door behind her. “Let’s go.”
He led her up the walkway, the concrete steps and to the front door. She unlocked the door; he opened it and closed it behind them. Emily dropped her purse on the sofa and continued into the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulders. He stalked behind her like a wild animal. She needed to busy herself so she plugged in the kettle. When she turned, he was right there. So she turned around and reached for a mug in the cupboard and grabbed the box of tea. “Just leave it, Em. Turn around and look at me.”
Oh good, he was as angry as she. Maybe it was better this way. Lay their cards on the table, make him look her in the eye while he explained why he had her fired. What kind of spin would he put on their holiday? She couldn’t wait.
“Okay, Brad, how could you tell Jake to fire me? I still haven’t found another job. I go in to apply and no one will hire me.” She had to fight to control the tears, all the built up humiliation of the past few weeks. She knew she wasn’t being paranoid; had he called around and asked people not to hire her? She couldn’t keep her vision from blurring any more when the first tear spilled over. She couldn’t see much, but she leaned back and covered her mouth as soon as she saw Brad’s look of horror and confusion. He grabbed her arm, but this time it was filled with gentle concern, and he led her to the table.
“Sit down, Em. Please.” A chair scraped out. Brad sat so close his legs were spread and all but surrounding hers. “What the hell are you talking about, why were you fired and when?”
“I was fired two weeks ago, right after you were here. Jake told me it was you who said to get rid of me. You even threatened to pull your account if he didn’t.” Her face burned when she relived that embarrassing, hostile meeting. Emily jumped when Brad’s fist slammed the table, followed by explicit, quite descriptive foul curses. She’d heard him swear before, but not with this much venom.
Maybe he saw the way she pulled back, because he stopped and took her hands in his. “Em, I never told Jake to fire you. I’d never do anything like that. Not to you. Why didn’t you call me?”
This time bile circled her stomach making her dizzy. She touched her forehead, and shut her eyes for a second. “Brad, I did phone. Crystal answered and I left a message for you to call me.” She allowed her hand to fall into her lap. “That was when she told me you were getting ready to leave on a holiday together.”
Brad leaped up. His chair hit the ground and he paced the tiny kitchen like a caged animal back and forth, clenching his fists, running his fingers through his hair. His eyes narrowed as he approached her. He watched her closely for just a minute; and then leaned closer, maybe to see if she was telling the truth.
“That bitch never gave me any message. I did not go on any holiday with her, nor would I. And I never had you fired.” It was amazing how low and even, in control, his voice became when he was angry, so much so Emily feared he might hurt someone. “Why didn’t yo
u call my cell phone, Em?”
Why didn’t she call his cell phone? She should’ve, but after she’d waited, positive she’d been played, she didn’t want to talk to him. “I thought you’d played me and I didn’t want to talk to you.”
Brad picked up the overturned chair. He sat again, sighing as he ran his hands over his face. “Em, listen to me. I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but I’m starting to get a pretty good idea that Crystal’s pulled some backhanded shit here. It’s got her name written all over it.”
He touched her head. “I’m going down to straighten out Jake. I’ll be back and just so you know, I want you, Em. As soon as I get this shit with Crystal straightened out, I’m coming for you. In the meantime, don’t you worry about finding another job.”
She didn’t know how to respond. This roller coaster ride she’d been on since she met him, she wanted it to stop. But she also worried what he’d do.
“Brad, wait. If Crystal was responsible, you need to be smart about this. Don’t leave here angry. Please think about it.”
He walked into her space, his arms went around her, protective and secure. His voice was gruff. “Don’t worry, Em, I’ll hold it together.” He kissed the top of her head and smoothed back her hair with his hands.
She forced her hands up and planted them on his chest. She pushed and stepped out of his arms. “I can’t do this emotional roller coaster anymore. You’ll leave here; I won’t see you for days—weeks. And you expect me to just sit and wait like a good little girl. I can’t—won’t do it anymore. No matter what Crystal did, you still hurt me. You should have called. You made love to me all night. And when I didn’t hear from you, it was the same as saying it meant nothing, just another feather in your cap. I’m not made that way. I care deeply and you hurt me. So when you go out that door, to fix whatever it is you need to fix, thinking I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready for me—guess again. I won’t be.” She wouldn’t look at him. She wouldn’t let him touch her as she walked around him to the sink. She gave him her back. She waited, for what she didn’t know. But her heart wouldn’t take anymore hurt.
Apparently he wasn’t done, instead of leaving, he moved behind her. He touched her back, slid his arm around her waist. “I won’t let you go. And you’re right. It was my fault. I will be back. Will you still be here?”
“Go take care of what you need to.” She patted his hand.
He pulled away. His heavy footsteps never broke stride as he walked out the door. And Emily never moved as she listened to his truck, the purr of the engine and spew of gravel as he drove away.
The kettle whistled, only Emily no longer needed the distraction. She pulled the plug, and sat, feeling like a woman who’d aged thirty years overnight. She was sickened by this seesaw of guilt and innocence and the awareness she’d been thrust into the middle of a playing field, with no rules to follow; winner takes all.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Brad stormed into Jake’s store; he was a man teetering on the edge of sanity.
“You get in your office now.” Jake had been chatting with a customer and flushed at the heavy handedness and disrespect.
“Jackie, can you come here please. I’m sorry, George.” He handled it well as he followed Brad to his office. Brad slammed the door as soon as he crossed the threshold. The short man raced behind his desk and held up his arm as if Brad would hit him.
“You fired Emily.” His voice rumbled, in a quiet menacing way.
Jakes face was beet red. “You told me to fire her; you threatened to pull your account if I didn’t. And you know losing your business, all the animal feed alone would hurt me. I didn’t want to let her go, I liked her.”
Brad slammed the side of his fist against the door. “What a load of bullshit. I never told you to fire her.”
“Brad, I don’t like games okay. I’m a straight shooter. But that guy who works for you, Cliff, said it was your orders. And you’re the one who told me a long time ago, he speaks for you. And he said either I get rid of Emily or you were pulling all your business. So what was I supposed to do? You’ve always given that guy free rein.”
Brad could feel the ache in his jaw as he bit down hard. It couldn’t be Cliff; he trusted him. Cliff had been with him for ten years, he was like family.
“Well guess what? That was my reaction too.” Jake pointed at Brad’s face. “So I phoned the ranch to talk to you, because I thought for sure someone got their wires crossed. And guess what? Your wife, Crystal, answered and she was madder than a bee stuck in some old lady’s bonnet. She said you were expecting him to call and confirm, and how dare I question Cliff, since he’s been handling things for you for years. Plain and simple, she said you demanded she be fired. She even went so far as to say she’d tried to talk you out of it, but after all, ‘you know his temper.’ And once you get an idea into your head, you’d have a better chance of negotiating and reasoning with a wild animal. She said you caught Emily stealing money from your wallet you’d left lying in your room. She also said that you’d searched her room and discovered some of Crystal’s jewelry, and the only reason you didn’t press charges against her, was because of her kid. And this is your wife’s quote, not mine. You refuse to do business with someone who employs a thief, a thief who stole from you.”
Jake paused before continuing. “You know what convinced me?”
Brad leaned against the door and all that out-of-control anger changed to wariness.
“She said it would be better not to anger you any further. That just hearing Emily’s name would send you over the edge. You have to admit, Brad; I’ve known you a lot years. I like you, but sometimes you’re a hothead. And when you cut someone out of your life, you can be cruel.”
That was better than an icy pail of water dumped over his head. To have someone hold up a mirror in front of you reflecting all your faults and all the stupid-ass things you’ve ever done.
“I’m sorry, Jake. I didn’t treat you very well when I came in here. I thought you screwed Emily over, and I won’t stand for someone I care about being treated that way.”
Jake crossed his arms, partly relief, and the other half, righteous indignation. “Brad, you’ve got a temper and when you’re pushed, not many of us, with any brains in our head, want to be anywhere around you.”
“Jake, I don’t go looking for fights. But if one comes to my door, I’ll take it on and sure as shit, I’ll come out the winner.”
Jake didn’t move. “This isn’t my fight Brad, so why’s it on my doorstep?”
That was a good question.
“Crystal lied, Jake. Emily’s no thief; give her back her job, today.”
“I can’t! I already hired Jackie. How fair is that to let her go, because of your—” He stopped his round face tinting a deep shade of pink. “Shit, Brad, what the hell’s going on? You can’t fuck around with people’s lives like this. That was your man and your woman, which is your business. Take care of it and keep it out of mine.” Jake dropped his eyes and rummaged the papers on his desk.
“Look you’re right, to a point, but you still should have talked to me.”
He watched the man as he took on an air of indignation, snapping back at Brad in self-defense. “Well, how the hell was I to know? She’s your wife.”
Brad winced and brushed his hand in the air. “Jake, let’s be clear on something, that’s a mere technicality, soon to be rectified. And just so there are no more misunderstandings, from now on, unless you hear it directly from me, it didn’t happen.”
Brad yanked open the door and stalked out, paying no mind to the burning eyes following him. He pressed his cell phone to his ear, stepping out of the store, he hurried to his truck. “Something’s happened, got time to see me, Keith?”
“Sure, if you come right now, my next appointment is in an hour.”
Brad was there in ten minutes. Keith’s secretary was gone for the day, so he walked right in.
Keith never looked up. “Twice in one da
y, what’s up?”
He noticed Keith needed a haircut. His dark thick curls had grown past his ears and touched the rim of his glasses.
He filled Keith in on what happened, along with Cliff’s surprising role.
“This could be the leak, I’ll call Byrd and get him to unearth everything he can on Cliff, we’ll know soon enough. Since I’m sure I sound like a broken record, I’m going to remind you again to control your explosive temper. And when you speak to Cliff, because I know you, do it with some tact and use restraint. If you can manage to win him over to our side, maybe we can find out what Crystal is up to. We have a trail of where she’s been for the last few years. I have to ask you, Brad. How much do you personally want to know, of who she’s been with?”
“You need a haircut and don’t hold anything back.”
Keith rolled his shoulder and tossed his pen down, chuckling under his breath. “Well okay then. She’s had boyfriends, or lovers, whichever way you want to look at it; we’ve got names, statements. We’ll use it all against her.”
“My condolences to all those guys,” Brad offered.
Keith shook his head. “Glad to see it doesn’t bother you. But what I’m concerned about now is this recent incident with Emily. I’m pretty sure this isn’t an isolated incident. There’s more. We need all we can get, to show she’s unfit. And let’s face it, an affair when you’re estranged, a judge rarely considers unless we can show the boyfriends would have been a danger to Trevor. Then it just shows poor judgment on her part and judges tend to be lenient with parents. We’re not perfect.”
Keith allowed Brad to mull that over for a minute. Then the lawyer reached for his phone and dialed.
From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone Page 17
