Disarming My Destiny: Sulfur Springs Book 5

by Taylor Rylan

  This one was hefty, but not as heavy. I plopped down on the bed and opened the bin and discovered stacks and stack of letters. They were tied together in ribbons, and when I picked them up to look at them, I realized they were letters between my parents. Handwritten letters to Mom from Dad and vice versa. Judging by the color of some of the envelopes, they were old.

  I put the bundles back in the bin and stared out the window, thinking. Mom had been gone twenty-five years, so the letters were at least that old. I tried to remember the stories of how they met, and I smiled.

  Dad had told me on multiple occasions how he fell instantly in love with Ellie Bishop the first time he saw her. She was an eighteen-year-old student at the University of Texas and had just walked into Professor Jones’s History 101 class. Damn. She was twenty years younger than him, and he’d often said he was miserable because of the crush he had on her.

  I glanced at the letters, knowing I wanted to keep them, but I definitely wasn’t ready to read the love between my parents. Who knew—maybe they’d fought in some of the letters, I wasn’t sure. I put the lid on the tote and carried it over to the closet to join the other one. I went back and retrieved the tote with the pictures, and it joined the others in the closet. That left just one tote.

  I lifted it and discovered it was just as heavy as the last one, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw it was full of papers. I started sorting through them and discovered the important papers. Things like the mortgage papers, Mom and Dad’s birth certificates, their marriage certificate, their wills, stuff like that.

  Before I got rid of anything in there, I’d need to talk to someone else about it, so I quickly replaced everything and put them back in the tote. I had a feeling the one with the letters as well as the one with all of the pictures were going to be the most difficult to go through. I certainly didn’t want to keep them in a plastic bin, but my safe wasn’t overly large and it was already full of my stuff. I’d need to replace it with something bigger or get a second one.

  Knowing that everything was as sorted as it was going to be for now, I closed the closet door, retrieved my unopened water bottle, and went back downstairs. It was only just afternoon, but I was bored. I downed the water in one go and tossed the bottle into the recycle bin in the kitchen.

  “Oreo. I know I’ve said it before, but I really need a life.” I didn’t ski, unless it involved water, and even then it was iffy. I loved Wyoming, but the winters were long and I had no life. None. I didn’t even have a Christmas tree. Why? There was just me, and the only gift I’d gotten was from Adrian and Cody.

  They’d given me a gift card for a local restaurant that I fully intended on using in the very near future. I’d given them a couple’s massage at one of the ski lodges. I’d heard Adrian talking about taking Cody there for a weekend away, and I decided they could use an extra massage. They both seemed excited about it, so at least I’d done something right.

  Bored out of my mind, I took Oreo outside to go to the bathroom, and when she was finished, we went back inside.

  “Girl, let’s go for a drive. Okay? Do you want to go bye-bye?”

  As expected, when I said bye-bye, Oreo got excited and started dancing around while barking. If I didn’t find something to do, I’d go crazy staring at my own walls. I grabbed my keys and wallet before I pulled on my shoes at the door as well as my coat, and after I slipped a leash to Oreo’s collar, we were off. Oreo was clipped into her harness in the front seat, and I buckled my seat belt before backing out of the garage.

  I didn’t have anywhere in mind, I simply knew I needed out of the house. I understood that holidays happened, but they tended to suck ass when you had no family. Add in that most things were closed today, I was screwed. Although, that could be fun, but unfortunately, I didn’t see that happening anytime in the near future. I sighed as I glanced over at Oreo, who was happily looking out of the side window as we drove out of Jackson and toward Sulfur Springs.

  Because Jackson was a touristy area, there were more things to do there, but they involved ski lodges and tourists, and I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with people today. So, I took my girl for a Christmas Day drive. I wasn’t quite sure where I was going, but I’d figure it out when I got there.

  “Bishop, come on. We’re headed to the airport.”

  I glanced up at Adrian, who had a scowl on his face. “Airport. Why?”

  “Because we get to babysit. That was Director Woods. We have to pick up Deputies Lopez and Stevens. They’re arriving in a couple of hours. We’re on their case now. Something about some stolen horses or something, I don’t know.”

  “Really? Stolen horses? Now we’re investigating rustlers?” I asked, shocked. I got up from my desk as Adrian shook his head. Yeah, he was having a hard time believing that as well. What the actual fuck? Stolen horses.

  “We’ll get more info when they arrive. I was told they were arriving at baggage claim five around two.”

  I grabbed my coat and slipped it on, both relieved Adrian was my partner and I wasn’t getting stuck with someone new as well as cringing at the thought of the two of us getting stuck with two other yahoos.

  “So they can’t get a rental?”

  “I’m sure they will. We’re supposed to meet them and make sure their arrival is smooth and all that fun shit.” Adrian rolled his eyes as he said that, and I glanced back at the phone he’d just been on.

  “Whose ass did they kiss to get an escort for stolen horses?”

  “Exactly. I’m not really seeing the need, but I’m doing what I was told. If it’s a complete shit assignment, I’ll get us out of it. It’s not as if we’re super busy right now though,” Adrian said as we walked through the office. He had a point, and I agreed completely. Things had been slow. That wasn’t a bad thing really, but it did make for slow workweeks.

  We exited the building into the shining sun, but the absence of heat was more of a presence than the sun was. I was definitely ready for spring. Adrian and I quickly dashed across the parking lot, making a beeline for Adrian’s SUV. In no time, he had us headed toward the airport and the agents we’d be stuck babysitting for the foreseeable future.

  I sighed, louder than intended, because Adrian quickly glanced at me before he turned back toward the road.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing really. I’m just…I’m not sure. Restless?”

  “Well, who knows. Maybe these new guys will give us something to do.”

  “One can only hope,” I replied. I was certainly ready for something more. Problem was, I didn’t know exactly what.

  We made it to baggage claim five with plenty of time to spare, so we simply sat and waited. Adrian got upset when we kept getting approached by the local police and security guards coming up to the SUV, telling us we couldn’t park there. A flash of our badges usually sent them along their way, but occasionally, it didn’t work and we had to convince them we were indeed legit.

  “I know it’s fuckin’ cold outside, but either we park in the lot and walk in, or we wait outside the car to shut those fuckers up.”

  I glanced at Adrian and nodded. “I’m game. Besides, if we stand outside against the car, we can glare at them when they come over,” I told him.

  Adrian shut the SUV off, and we both got out and stood against the side, waiting.

  “You know, this probably wasn’t the best idea with as cold as it is out here, but their flight was supposed to have arrived by now.”

  “I’ll go in and check. Give me a few,” I said as I left my position beside the SUV. I quickly walked across the walkway and into the airport. It was nice inside, even with the doors constantly opening and closing.

  Once inside, I faced a wall of departing people, and that let me know what I needed, so I turned and walked back out toward Adrian.

  “I’d ask what happened, but judging by all of the people, I’d say the fight has arrived?” Adrian asked as I rejoined him beside his SUV.

  “Yep. I guess you shou
ld have said something to get me to go inside and check sooner. There’s tons of people in there.”

  “Looks like our guys are here,” Adrian said as he gestured with a head nod. I turned and looked over my shoulder and groaned. That was not what I needed. Why did we have to get stuck with two marshals that looked like they were going to be trouble? “Someone you know?” Adrian asked, and I turned back toward him.

  “No. But they look like trouble, and I was thinking that was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now,” I said. Adrian nodded in agreement.

  “Deputy Fisher?”

  “That’s me. And this is my partner, Deputy Jones,” Adrian told him.

  I reached for the offered hand of the other guy, who simply smiled and nodded. Yep. So much fun.

  “I’m Deputy Alex Lopez, and this is my partner, Deputy Kirk Stevens. We were told you would be our contact here.”

  “Yep. Sorry to say, we were only informed about an hour ago, so we don’t know a whole lot about the case. You can either fill us in on the way to the rental car place, or you’ll have to wait until we get a chance to read the report.”

  “We don’t mind filling you in. It’s an interesting case, to say the least,” Deputy Lopez said. After we popped the liftgate and they put their bags in the back, we all climbed into Adrian’s SUV and left the airport.

  “Is there anywhere you need or want to stop at after we get your rental?” Adrian asked.

  “We’ll want to hit a drive-through somewhere because they didn’t even give us a bag of peanuts on the flight,” Deputy Stevens said. I turned in my seat to glance back at the pair in the back seat.

  “They still do that? I haven’t seen peanuts on a flight in forever. Stale pretzels, yeah, but that’s it.”

  He smiled at me and shook his head. Oh shit, that smile was most definitely trouble.

  Xander — 6

  “You screwed up. You need to fix it. You’ve done nothing but mope around here since you reopened the clinic,” Ezra said from the doorway of my office he was standing in. He was right. I had been moping around. The last time I’d seen Oreo was before Christmas, when her hot-as-hell owner had come in to pick her up.

  Who knew I had a thing for guys in suits? Actually, I think it was more the sidearm I could see peeking out from under the suit jacket. Or maybe it was the badge he had on his belt? Didn’t matter though. He said he had other arrangements for Oreo, and I hadn’t seen her since.

  “Ezra?” I said, looking up at my office manager. I really wasn’t in the mood right now. He looked at me with a triumphant smile, but I quickly erased that. “Go back to work. I’m not in the mood, and you’re riding a very fine line.”

  I didn’t mean to be so harsh. I honestly didn’t. But that was all I’d heard for over a week now, and I’d had enough. Yes, I missed Oreo. Yes, I’d been out of line and I owed her owner an apology. Yes, I’d no doubt love to see her owner again. But he was a client, and it was never good to date clients. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but it’s just not advisable.

  “Dr. Garrison, your mother is on line two,” Ezra said through the intercom on my desk phone. What the hell?

  “Thanks, Ezra,” I replied. I tried to figure out why Mom would be calling the clinic instead of my cell. I picked up the desk phone and pushed the flashing button for line two.

  “This is Dr. Garrison.”

  “Xander, sweetie, my phone broke, and I can’t for the life of me remember your cell number.”

  “Umm, Mom, is something wrong?” I was confused and figured it was probably best I simply asked instead of assuming anything.

  “No, nothing’s wrong. But I’m at the phone store, and I need you to give me your number so I can put it in my new phone.”

  I reached for my cell and texted Mom my own contact.

  “Oh. Oh yeah, that works lovely. Thanks, sweetie.”

  “Sure, Mom. Was there anything else?”

  “No. That’s all I needed for now. Will I see you this evening?”

  “Not this evening. I have some paperwork that I need to finish and a bunch of calls I need to return. I’ll be by Second Chance tomorrow though. How is your new doctor working out there?” I was curious. I hadn’t heard much and wondered if things were working out.

  “She’s okay. We’re working on the schedule still, but Dr. May seems to get along with her.”

  “That’s good news. Mom, I have to go. I have another call,” I told her as Ezra showed up in the doorway of my office again.

  “Okay, talk to you soon,” Mom said, and then she was gone. Huh. I looked up at Ezra, expecting one thing but getting another.

  “No. No call. But there is someone here to see you,” Ezra said before he turned and walked off. I got up and followed, but when I saw Oreo in the arms of a man I knew wasn’t Bishop, my heart sank. He was a hell of a lot younger than me. Actually, I was probably old enough to be his dad. But even I had to admit, he was quite attractive.

  “Can I help you?” I asked as I approached him.

  “Bishop’s on his way, but he said for me to bring her here. She didn’t want to play this weekend, and today she’s not eating.”

  I glanced at the younger man and offered a smile, hoping to reassure him.

  “Well, why don’t you bring her on back and we’ll see what’s going on, okay?” I gestured for him to follow me, and when I glanced back, I was happy to see he was.

  “She’s been spending a lot of time outside playing in the snow, and I don’t know if that’s the best thing for her. It’s been so cold, you know?”

  I looked at him and then Oreo before I patted the exam table. Her little tail was wagging, despite the fact that I could tell she wasn’t feeling the best. She wasn’t like her usual self.

  “How long has she been like this?”

  “He said this weekend. I mean, it’s Monday, so that’s not bad, right? She’s going to get better? I told him I’d watch her, and look what happened.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can find. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch your name.”

  “It’s Cody. She’s going to be okay, right?” he asked again as I felt Oreo’s lymph nodes. When I felt exactly what I expected, I grabbed my penlight and looked in her mouth. She wasn’t exactly happy about it, but she didn’t have any problems letting me look.

  I turned toward the door as Bishop and another man, one around my age, entered the exam room. But my focus was solely on Bishop because he looked frantic.

  “Is she okay? She ate a little this weekend, but she didn’t want breakfast, and when Cody told me she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything at all today, I became worried.”

  “She has what appears to be a cold. Cody said she’s been playing outside a lot?”

  Bishop walked over to the exam table and started petting Oreo, whose tail wagged a little faster now that her daddy was here.

  “I’m sorry, Bishop. I didn’t think about it. She’s just had so much fun in the snow,” Cody said. The other man wrapped Cody up in his arms and kissed his temple before he put a hand on Bishop’s shoulder.

  “We’ll be out in the front. Okay?” the other man said. I looked at the three of them, trying to figure out the dynamics of their relationship, but I was drawing a blank.

  “Yeah, sure. And, Cody, I’ve already told you it’s okay, so please don’t feel bad,” Bishop said as he patted the younger man on the shoulder before turning back to me.

  I watched as the other pair left, and then I returned my attention back to the handsome blond standing in front of me. Our hands occasionally bumped as we both ran our fingers through Oreo’s soft coat.

  “Is she really going to be okay? She’s spent a lot of time playing outside with Adrian’s niece and nephew, Addie and Josh, lately and I honestly didn’t think much of it. I guess you can add it to your list of marks against me.”

  “Her lymph nodes are swollen as are her tonsils. If you want, we can give her some IV fluids and that should perk her up, but she’ll need to be kept
inside except to use the bathroom,” I told him. His icy blue eyes met mine, and I realized I’d been wrong about him. You could tell he loved Oreo; he was just incredibly busy.

  “She’ll be okay?” Bishop asked, and there was something more to the question, I just wasn’t quite sure what it was.

  “She should be fine. She’ll need lots of rest, warm meals, plenty of water, and you’ll have to keep her inside and warm. Does she have sweaters? I remember she used to wear them,” I said as I put my stethoscope in my ears and listened to her heart, lungs, and then her stomach and digestive tract. Everything sounded great.

  “She has sweaters. I’ll get them,” Bishop said as he gently stroked Oreo’s ears and cheeks. He was incredibly worried, and it showed.

  “They’ll help. She’s used to being inside. We don’t take the daycare dogs outside when it’s really cold like this,” I told him. He nodded and when his eyes met mine again, they honestly appeared to be glistening. Damn. If he was going to cry about his dog getting a cold, what the hell was I going to do? “Hey, she just had her checkup and everything was good. I can run more labs to double-check, but everything points to a cold. She should recover without any issues, okay?”

  Bishop nodded and then picked Oreo up and buried his face in her coat. “Look, I know I’m a shitty pet owner who’s too busy, but you have to help her get better. I can’t really help my hours right now. We’re in the middle of a weird case that’s just…odd. But please, Doc. She’s all I have left, and I just can’t.”

  I nodded in understanding. Only I didn’t fully understand. “Do you want to leave her here? It’s not necessary but we can keep her overnight and observe her and give her fluids like I mentioned.”