by Linda Style
She started to rush over to him, but slowed when Ryan said something to the other man and the guy’s eyes shifted to her. The two exchanged a couple more words, but their voices were so hushed she couldn’t make out what was being said. Then the other man left.
“Are you okay?” She went over and touched her brother’s cheek. “What happened? Where have you been?”
“Stop it.” Ryan jerked away. “I’m fine. I just had an accident.”
“An accident?” Serena hurried to the bathroom to get a towel. “What kind of accident?” Finding no clean towels, she took the least dirty one in the pile, wet one end and went back to where Ryan was sitting amid the junk on the couch.
“It’s nothing.”
She ignored the comment and sat down next to him. “Here, let me see how bad it is.”
He gazed at her, then began laughing.
Her nerves tensed. He was drunk…or high. “Dammit. Hold still and let me clean the blood off.”
Ryan quieted while she brushed the hair off his forehead, wiped the scratches and then the cut on his lip. When she finished, she laid a hand on his arm and said, “It doesn’t look too bad.” She felt the muscles in his arm relax. “Who was that guy with you?”
“Nobody. Just a guy I met.”
Nobody he wanted to tell her about. She couldn’t keep from thinking the worst: a drug source. Ryan’s prescription for painkillers had run out long ago. “So what was this accident?” she asked again.
“I said it was nothing. Now, quit hounding me about it.”
Which meant it was something. In the past whenever Ryan was guilty of something, his first line of defense was angry denial. When he got like that, to say anything more was pointless. She pulled in a breath. “I’m hungry. How about you?”
“I ate at the taco stand outside Black Canyon City with Lucy.” He laughed and shook his head. “Lucy is freaking crazy.”
Ryan’s so-called girlfriend was older than Ryan, but how much was hard to tell. No one really knew anything about Lucy Xantos, other than the fact that she’d blown into town about two months ago. There had been the usual speculation among the locals about where she got her money, but no one was sure, not even Ryan. Or if he was, he wasn’t saying.
Serena stood. “If that’s the case, I hope you’ve stopped seeing her.”
He leaned back against the arm of the couch and swung his feet up. Besides the cut and scratches, dark smudges lay like crescent moons under Ryan’s eyes, and he looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. “Crazy can be good,” he said. “Fun. You should try it sometime.”
“If that means getting banged up and bloody, I’ll pass.” She shifted position, crossed her arms. “I have plenty of fun.” Playing pool the other night had been fun. Sparring with Cole—that had been fun. Going on the vortex tour had been fun.
Ryan shrugged. “It’s your life.”
“It is, and it’s not up for discussion.”
“Ditto.” He grinned as though he’d put one over on her.
“Is Lucy still living at her sister’s?” she asked, hoping to change the subject. Lucy lived in a small cabin on her sister’s property outside of town in an area that wasn’t well populated. Her sister and husband were quiet people who kept to themselves. No one knew for sure what they did for a living, either.
“Yeah, she is, but not for long.”
Ryan faced Serena and she saw his right eye was beginning to swell.
“She wants to move in here with me.”
“What?” Serena jerked back. “That’s ridiculous!” When he didn’t say more, she reminded him, “The lease specifically states one person. You.” Serena had cosigned for Ryan and had already ended up paying part of his rent to keep from damaging her own credit rating.
“I told her that.”
“Good. Then there’s no problem.” She bent to pick up an empty chip bag.
“Don’t do that.” Ryan jumped up and snatched the bag from her. “I’ll get it later.” He placed a hand on her arm and urged her toward the door. “You can’t come over and clean up for me all the time.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “Since when?”
“Since now. Lucy says I need to cut the ties.”
Serena’s mouth dropped open. “Lucy says—” The muscles across her shoulders instantly contracted. What could the girl possibly know about Serena’s relationship with her brother? Lucy didn’t know how Ryan counted on Serena, needed her. That they had a connection few people did. Serena flicked back her hair. “Nice that she knows you so well already. What’s it been—a whole month?”
“It doesn’t matter. We love each other,” he said.
She nearly choked. “Love? You’ve barely met.”
His lips pinched, and she could tell she’d said the wrong thing. Again.
“Lucy was right. You don’t understand. You don’t understand anything.” His face got red anew, then he walked over and held open the door.
As a kid, Ryan had had little control over his anger, and though he’d learned to manage it over the years, she always felt it was still there, simmering, ready to erupt. She couldn’t let him make such a foolish mistake. “Maybe I don’t. But I’m only thinking of you, and every time I ask something about her, you get defensive.”
“I’m not defensive!” he blustered. “I know Lucy. And she knows me, and we want to be together. But you wouldn’t have a clue about that, because every guy you’ve been with can’t wait to get away. What does that tell you? Huh?”
She stared at him, aghast, then a horrible hollowness engulfed her. If he’d slapped her in the face, it couldn’t have hurt worse. “We—we better stop. This…this isn’t getting us anywhere.” She fought the tears welling in eyes. “I came over because I was concerned,” she said more evenly. “Cole was here, too. But since you’ve got everything in order, I’ll butt out. But don’t—” she shoved a hand through her hair “—don’t expect me—” Her throat closed. She started for the door, tears clouding her vision.
“You just don’t understand—” Ryan followed her. “You don’t ever understand, and you never give me credit for anything. You’re always expecting the worst.”
She stopped abruptly and spun around. “That’s so not true. I’ve always wanted the best for you. Always tried to make things easier. Every time you told me you would do something, I trusted you, and I’d get my hopes up that you were going to come through. And every time—” She halted. What was the use? Nothing she said would change anything. It never did.
She was tired, tired of feeling responsible. Tired of being unable to make a difference. Tired of being the bad guy. Then, as she gazed at Ryan, saw his frustration, his inability to comprehend what he was doing to his life, she felt like a jerk. All she was thinking about was how his problems affected her. This wasn’t about her. It wasn’t Ryan’s fault he was dyslexic. He didn’t ask for parents who barely knew they had children, parents who were gone more than they were around. Parents who never gave him so much as a hug.
Unclenching her hands, she was about say she was sorry, when Ryan reached out and slammed the door in her face.
AT THE CAFÉ, SERENA refilled condiment jars, wrote down the new special for the next day, which was just a different type of scone or muffin. Between her conversation with Mrs. Gentry at church, then with Ryan, she’d had enough testy encounters for one day, and called Natalia to talk, but she was out on a call. Serena thought about phoning Tori, but the last thing she felt like doing was sitting around with a happy couple who’d soon be leaving on a trip to Paris.
Seeing the sheriff’s cruiser pull up, she couldn’t imagine why he’d be there, since he knew she was closed on Sundays. She went over and unlocked the door. “Hi,” she said as he entered. “What brings you by this morning, Karl?”
He stayed near the door, his expression serious. “Nothing, I hope.”
“Well, c’mon in,” Serena said, swinging open the door. “I’ll give you a cup of coffee. My private stock.”<
br />
He raised a hand to stop her. “No, thanks.”
“So is work what brings you here?”
He shifted feet. “In a way. You probably heard about all the problems Arizona has with illegal substances coming across the border.”
She nodded. “Everyone has, Karl. Is there a problem here, in Spirit Creek?”
“I’m not saying there is or there isn’t, but as an officer of the law, I’ve got to uphold the law and do what I have to.”
“Of course you do.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t mean to sound dense, Karl, but if you’ve got something to tell me, I’d appreciate it if you’d just come out and say it.”
He hiked up his gun belt, moved over to the window and gazed down the street to the Purple Jeep Touring Company. “Well, I don’t have somethin’ to tell you. But I have seen Ryan hanging out with some sleazy characters lately.”
Did he believe Ryan was involved in smuggling drugs? “Ryan’s done some stupid things, Sheriff, but drug running isn’t one of them. I know Ryan. He’d never do anything like that.” But she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure about anything where Ryan was concerned. He used to be charming and fun to be around most of the time. Now, he was angry at the world almost all the time.
Karl raised a hand. “Not sayin’ he is. Nope, I’m not sayin’ anything like that. I’m just looking out for the community, and wanted to tell you that if you notice anything suspicious, be sure to let me know. I’m not the only one watching around here. State police have been around, asking lots of questions. Asking about new people in the area.” He moved back to the entryway and opened the door to leave.
Serena started to say something, then stopped. Everyone was aware of the drug trafficking across the Arizona–Mexico border and the illegal immigration, the “coyotes” smuggling truckloads of people across the border for exorbitant amounts of money and leaving many to die in the desert. But that stuff happened around Phoenix and Tucson, big cities a hundred miles from their little town. It didn’t happen in Spirit Creek.
And certainly not with people she knew. Least not her brother. An addiction to prescription drugs was a far cry from running drugs.
The sheriff placed a hand on her shoulder. “You let me know if you hear anything. Okay?”
She nodded. “Of course.”
As the sheriff drove away, Serena glanced down the street, saw one of the touring-company Jeeps pull in, then four people and the driver get out. Sam. He was new in town. So was Cole. So was Lucy, Ryan’s girlfriend. Her family, too.
Did that make any of them drug smugglers? If that wasn’t ridiculous, she didn’t know what was.
CHAPTER NINE
SERENA SPENT THE BETTER part of the following week trying out recipes for the chili contest at the Blue Moon and ended up with two that she liked. She couldn’t decide which one to use, so she invited Natalia, Tori and Linc over to do some sampling. But Tori called back a little later and said Linc couldn’t make it. She also said she’d called Ryan and left a message. He’d called back and chatted about work and how well the tour company was doing. His shift in attitude was amazing, but she was grateful and she’d felt some of her anxiety melt away.
Serena was just as happy that the get-together would be only the three friends again. Not that she didn’t like Linc. He was wonderful, and she hadn’t seen Tori so happy in years. But sometimes it was nice not to have to be guarded and watch what she said. Linc was good friends with Mac, and Mac was good friends with Ed, and Ed and Cole were good friends. A classic example of six degrees of separation.
But to Serena, all it meant was if one of them knew something she didn’t want Cole to know, it would eventually get back to him.
She went to the stove in the kitchen, stirred both pots of chili and then got out a couple bottles of wine. She was trying to decide whether she should make some margaritas, when the phone rang. She didn’t recognize the ID.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Serena. It’s Brody.”
She’d been putting off speaking to him because he couldn’t seem to take no for an answer. “Hi,” she said.
“I wanted to stop by and talk to you. Do you have a few minutes?”
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t. I’m expecting company shortly. Tori and Natalia are coming over, maybe Ryan.” She didn’t know why she was explaining, but somehow felt compelled to.
“Okay. When would be a good time?”
There wasn’t any. “I don’t know. I’m really busy. What’s it about?”
“Are you going to the chili cook-off tomorrow night?”
“Of course. I always go.”
Brody wasn’t as involved in the town’s social activities as some people were, and she hoped he wouldn’t be there.
“I may make it, or I may not. If I do, can we get together to talk?”
“Not a good idea. I’ll be really busy helping out. I can call you back some other time.”
“You won’t, though,” he said abruptly, and hung up.
She held out the phone, momentarily surprised. But at least that was the end of it. Usually a guy was gone after the first no. She punched in Ryan’s number, but got the machine once more. “It’s me again, Ryan. Call me, will you, please?” He sounded happy and upbeat the last time she spoke to him, but ever since the sheriff had been there, she’d been worried about him. She’d had the same anxious feeling that something wasn’t right. She shook off the thought. She didn’t want to think negatively about Ryan and was going to make a conscious effort not to. Then she went back upstairs and took a quick shower.
No sooner had she got dressed than Natalia and Tori were knocking at the side door. “Hey, ladies,” she said, then motioned them to follow her upstairs. “I’ve got wine and appetizers first.”
“I’m starved,” Natalia said. “I did a canyon rescue for five people who somehow lost their boat on the Colorado River. It’s unbelievable sometimes how people can get themselves into such predicaments.”
“Amazing,” Tori said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve seen on the news that people are warned about driving in a wash during a storm. Yet they do it anyway.”
“People think they can handle things,” Natalia said. “They don’t see anything dangerous and have a false sense of security. It’s usually the younger crowd, though. These people were seniors.”
Because the kitchen was downstairs, Serena had revamped a small alcove upstairs to resemble a tiny Paris bistro. The little room had a wet bar, a small refrigerator, a wine rack and a tall table and chairs. Quint had hooked up a sound system. She could really set the mood if she put on some French music. Mostly, though, she played folk, country music and pop, and had earlier put in a Brandi Carlile CD.
Natalia picked up a bottle of wine. “Want me to pour?”
“Do it,” Serena said as she got out some artichoke dip and flatbread. “I made this today so you could test it for me. I’m thinking of offering an appetizer menu along with lunch.”
“Great. Now, tell us what’s going on with you and Cole,” Natalia said.
Serena scoffed. “Nothing. Why would you think anything was going on?”
Tori and Natalia exchanged glances. “You spent a whole day with him, didn’t you?”
“Sheesh.” She accepted the wine Natalia offered. “I spent an afternoon showing Sam the vortex sites and Cole happened to come along.” She shrugged. “That’s it.”
“What I want to know is what’s going on with you and Mac?” Serena said, throwing the question back at her friend.
“He works with me. That’s it.”
Tori waggled her eyebrows.
Tori looked amazing, Serena thought. Since meeting Linc, she’d gone back to highlighting her hair and now wore contacts most of the time, instead of glasses. She really was back to being her old self, after enduring some tough times. “A likely story,” Serena teased.
“Is Mac okay?” Tori asked. “Linc said he has some issues about something that happened in Iraq.
Do you know what they are?”
Natalia appeared surprised. “No. I haven’t heard a thing.” She raised her glass for a toast, and they all clinked glasses.
They yakked on like that for two hours before they realized they hadn’t even sampled the chili yet. Serena went down and brought up the two pots, then put a sample of each in two bowls. Tori said the first one was better and Natalia said the second one was.
“You’ll have to get someone to do a taste-off,” Natalia said, her words a little slurred. “Brody. You can get him to do it.” Then she gazed at Tori. “We haven’t discussed him yet,” they said in unison.
“And we’re not going to. He’s out.”
So they talked about Linc and and Mac and Cole and Sam and Ryan and Brody, and decided that everyone was screwed up in some way or another. But in the end, Serena knew it was only her. Tori and Linc were a great couple, and Natalia was so centered and so confident in what she wanted and how to get it. Serena had thought she knew what she wanted—a safe and secure home, an average Father Knows Best kind of family life and her café—but she was finding out quickly that maybe it wasn’t. If it was, she’d have married Brody and been done with it.
By the time her friends left, Serena was no closer to figuring out what chili to take along…or anything else, for that matter.
But the next morning, she saw things clearly. Her life was great. She had wonderful friends, lived in a town in which people cared about one another. She was even getting used to crossing paths with Cole now and again. She decided right then there was no reason to make problems where there weren’t any.
Maybe she and Cole could be friends…distant friends. As long as she kept her secret. Because if she didn’t, if he ever found out, he would never speak to her again. She knew that as well as she knew her own name.
“OKAY, LADIES AND gentlemen,” Ed Torborg said. “Line up on the right.”
