Chapter Eight
The next morning, Gretchen gazed out the kitchen window, observing the icicles hanging from the porch and dripping as the warmth of the sun melted them away. She dreaded the moment when Kian would have to leave. She knew she was being unfair; he had family obligations, but she couldn’t help wanting him to stay with her.
The thought of never seeing him again terrified her. She had fallen hard for him and she knew he would leave as soon as he could.
“Good morning,” Kian said as he walked into the room.
She turned to look at him over her shoulder. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her, placing his face in the crook of her neck.
“Yes. Did you?”
Gretchen turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She nodded, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks.
He tilted his head. “Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not. It’s just from the stove.” She watched as he glanced over at the stove and then back at her.
“The stove isn’t even on.” He chuckled when she playfully pushed at him.
“Maybe I just turned it off.”
He placed his hand on it and shook his head. “It’s cold.”
She grinned. “Stop teasing me.”
“I’ll stop, for now.” He walked over to the window and looked outside.
“The ice is melting. It’s already above forty-five degrees.”
“That’s great. I can’t wait to get out of here.”
Hearing him say that was like a knife to her heart. She forced a nod, trying to hide her emotions.
“Gretchen, I didn’t mean it like that. I need to return to my family and help search for those men.”
“Isn’t that the sheriff’s responsibility?”
“Yes, but I can’t just sit back and wait. I need to be involved in finding them. Besides, I’ll need to work with the sheriff, so he knows what the men look like.” He stared at her intently. “They tried to kill me.”
“I know. It’s just that you seem so eager to get away from me.”
“That’s not true at all. I have no desire to be away from you. I just want to see my family and assure them of my safety.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I promise, I will see you again.”
“When?”
He sighed, unsure himself. “I’m not sure yet. There will be a lot for me to do when I return. I blew my whole vacation. I rarely take vacations anyway. It had been five years since my last one, and I had just transferred from Helena. My plan was to relax for the first week and then find a house to buy in the area. But instead, I ended up here on my third day off because I got bored.”
“How long were you supposed to be off?”
“Two weeks.”
“And you got bored by the third day?”
“Yes, well... I tend to throw myself into work and don’t know how to relax.” He grinned.
“We had to have found you on your first day out there, so you couldn’t have been there for more than a few hours.”
“True. But I wouldn’t say my entire vacation was ruined. I got to spend it with you.”
“I just don’t want you to leave and never come back.”
“That’s not going to happen. And besides, you know where to find me.”
“Yes, I do.” She nodded, then turned serious. “I don’t want to seem clingy, Kian, but I really like you.”
“Don’t worry darlin’, the feeling is mutual. I’d love to see where this goes between us. And I’m not going to disappear on you.”
“Okay... I’d like to ask you something.”
“Of course, ask away,” he said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
“Why did Killian have you take him off speaker?”
Kian sighed. “He told me that my ex-girlfriend was in Clifton.”
“You said you weren’t involved with anyone.”
“I didn’t lie. She’s my ex . We broke up almost a year ago.” He sipped from his cup.
“Why?”
“Gretchen...” He hesitated.
“Why, Kian?”
“Because she didn’t want to get married.”
“And you did?”
“Yes, at the time. But looking back now, I’m glad it didn’t work out. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been with you.” He smiled.
“You should have told me about her. A woman you almost married.”
“Gretchen, I just regained my memories. She never crossed my mind until Killian brought her up. I told him to tell her I’ve been found, and she can go back to Helena. He said she sounded genuinely upset, but it doesn’t matter to me anymore. She is not important.” He shook his head. “I am not lying to you.”
She nodded. “Alright.”
“I think I’ll go out and give Killian a call. Do you want to join me?”
“I’m going to work on a painting, but take the gun with you.”
“Sure. Can Lobo come along?” He poured the rest of the coffee down the sink, rinsed the cup, and placed it in the sink.
“If he wants to.”
Kian nodded as he slipped on his jacket, retrieved the gun from the cabinet, and headed toward the door. Gretchen handed him her phone and he carefully placed it in his inner coat pocket.
“Hey, boy. Do you want to come with me?” Kian chuckled when Lobo barked in excitement. “I swear he understands every word I say.”
“Of course, he does. Be careful out there.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” They looked at each other before Kian leaned down and kissed her lips.
“I won’t be gone long. Hold that thought for me.”
Gretchen laughed. “I will.”
“Let’s go, Lobo.” Kian opened the door and they stepped outside.
A few minutes later, a tear slipped down Gretchen’s cheek as she watched Kian ride off on the ATV with Lobo trailing behind him. She couldn’t shake off her fear that once he left, she would never see him again. No matter what he promised her.
****
Kian drove through the thawing woods, feeling the tires sink into the slushy snow. He was grateful for the large wheels on the ATV that could handle the conditions.
Approaching the creek, he slowed down and carefully crossed it. When he reached a clearing, he turned off the engine and pulled out the phone to call his brother.
“Kian?”
“Hey Killian. Any updates on my truck?”
“Not a single one. I bet they destroyed it. Maybe even set it on fire.”
Kian let out a sigh. “Yeah, I had a feeling. At least the snow is melting.”
“Do you think I can make it there?”
“If the weather stays warm today and tomorrow, I’d say you can make it here by the day after tomorrow.”
“Okay. I know where the cabin is, but how do I get there?”
“Off Gatlin Road. There are some private drive signs at the end of it. It’s about a quarter mile to the cabin.”
“I’ll be there around ten Monday morning. Will that work for you?”
“Yes, that works for me. I can’t wait to get home.”
“I’m sure. We’re all looking forward to seeing you.”
“Did Sheila leave?”
“No, she said she wanted to see you.”
“Damn. Well, I don’t want to see her.”
“You might not have a choice, man. Just see her and then tell her to leave.”
“That’s what I’ll have to do. I’m no longer in love with her.”
“Is something going on between you and Gretchen?”
“I’m falling for her, Killian.”
“Are you sure it’s not just because she saved your life?”
“I’m positive.”
“Alright then. Get Sheila to leave and see where things go with Gretchen.”
“I will. Please tell Mom and Dad I love them and I’ll be home soon.”
“Will do. Are you alone now?”
“Not unless you count Lobo.” Kian grinned.
“You’re never really alone when a dog is with you.”
“That’s for sure. I’m going to look around for the cartridge now. It has to be somewhere close to where they shot me.”
“Yeah, passing through your body would have slowed it down.”
“It was in the fleshy part under my collarbone, next to my vest.”
“Is it getting better now?”
“Oh yeah, both the head and arm wounds are healing well. I stopped wearing bandages a while ago. I’m going to go now. It’s a little chilly without a hat even though it’s warmer.”
“Okay. See you soon, take care.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Kian hung up and looked around, then drove the ATV up the hill to the area he knew he had been shot. Glancing at the trees, he could pinpoint which one he was standing behind when he saw the men. He made his way through the snow toward it and stopped, surveying a small incline in front of him. This was definitely the spot; he could see those men ahead of him before they turned to face him. The first shot went through his arm and he stumbled back in pain, then the second grazed his temple, when they shot again, he moved just in time, and if he hadn’t fallen, he would have died right then and there.
Finding any bullet would be difficult since nothing had stopped its momentum, but the first bullet going through his arm had likely slowed it down.
Turning, Kian walked deeper into the woods behind the tree line, checking every tree for holes as he passed by them. Just as he was about to turn back, he noticed a tree with pieces of bark hanging off and headed toward it.
Kian ran his hand over the bark and felt the hole in the tree; the split bark almost hiding it. He reached into his pocket and swore as he realized he didn’t have a pocketknife anymore. He didn’t want to try to dig it out with his hands and put his fingerprints on it, possibly covering any on it.
A deep sigh escaped from him as he realized he would have to make the trek back to the cabin to retrieve a knife. He hoped that Gretchen, who was surprisingly resourceful in this remote area, would have what he needed. He whistled for Lobo, but there was no response. Kian stopped and scanned his surroundings, calling out for him.
“Come on, Lobo. If I lose you out here, you won’t be the only male without any balls,” Kian joked, though there was a hint of worry in his voice. Finally, he heard barking and saw Lobo bounding toward him.
“You scared me half to death, boy,” Kian scolded playfully as the dog sat at his feet. “You know how much trouble I’d be in if I left without you? Gretchen would never let me hear the end of it.” With a smile, Kian mounted his ATV and motioned for Lobo to run. “Let’s go.”
As he drove through the snowy landscape, Kian kept a watchful eye on Lobo. When they arrived back at the cabin, he stopped and dismounted before stomping off the snow from his boots and entering the cabin.
“Oh, you’re back sooner than I expected,” Gretchen remarked from her spot in front of an easel, her gaze fixed on Kian.
“Yeah, I found the bullet lodged in a tree and I need to dig it out. Do you happen to have a pocket knife? Mine is probably with my other gear.”
“Yes, I do. It’s in my coat pocket. I always leave it there so I don’t forget.”
Kian rummaged through Gretchen’s coat pockets until he found the knife, then headed back toward the door.
“I’ll be quick. I’m leaving Lobo here this time.”
“Why?” Gretchen asked.
“Why what?”
“You’re stalling, Agent Doyle. Why are you leaving Lobo here this time?”
“Because he wandered off for a few minutes and I freaked out.”
Kian watched as Gretchen looked at Lobo, who refused to make eye contact with her, and Kian couldn’t help but grin at the dog’s guilty behavior.
“He knows he’s in trouble,” Gretchen said with a laugh.
“Not as much as I would have been if I didn’t bring him back,” Kian replied with a chuckle. “I need a small plastic baggie and some gloves, if you have any.”
“I have some rubber gloves that I use when I clean my paint brushes. They might be a bit small, but you can try them.”
“As long as they cover my fingers, they’ll do. I don’t want to leave any prints on the bullet.”
“Sure thing. They’re in that box over there.”
Kian walked toward where she had pointed and grabbed a pair of gloves from the box before finding a couple sandwich baggies to take with him, just in case he found more than one casing. After stuffing everything into his pockets, he leaned in and gave Gretchen a gentle kiss on the lips.
“I won’t be gone long,” he promised.
After touching her cheek, Kian left the cabin and made his way toward the ATV. As he rode back toward where he had found the bullet, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he would soon have to tell Gretchen that he was leaving in just two days.
He wasn’t happy about leaving her behind, but the thought of going home and being reunited with his family and friends brought him a sense of joy. Despite only being in the Clifton office for a short time, Kian had grown close to the agents he worked with and knew they were worried about him. Being a livestock agent was far from safe, there were risks involved and some agents had lost their lives in the line of duty. But Kian was determined to find the men responsible for this, whether it was through working with the local sheriff or on his own.
With a heavy heart, Kian knew that he couldn’t stay here much longer. He had to get back out there and do what he had to do and help bring those men to justice.
****
Gretchen stepped back to admire her completed painting, a beautiful depiction of the snowy cabin with smoke gently rising from its chimney. She couldn’t help but think she could smell the scent of wood burning.
“You’re probably smelling the actual smoke coming from the chimney,” she scolded herself as she took off her smock.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of an ATV approaching. He had been gone for quite some time this trip. Gretchen couldn’t help but feel anxious about what would happen when he eventually left.
“Stop being so negative,” she lectured herself. “He promised he’d come back and you have to trust him.”
As she washed her hands at the sink, she watched as Kian parked the ATV in the shed and emerge a few minutes later. After closing the doors, he trudged through the snow and up the steps, stomping his feet to remove any remaining snow.
When she heard him on the porch, she took a deep breath and sighed. She had to act like she was fine, but she knew it was not going to be easy.
“Hey,” he said when he entered the cabin and took his coat off.
“Hi. Were you able to get the bullet from the tree?”
Kian held up two plastic bags each containing a casing.
“I was. I almost missed the second one. I walked around and since some of the snow had melted, I saw a mark in the dirt. After digging a few minutes, I found the second one. There was no sign of the third one, but these will do. Uh, Killian will be here the day after tomorrow to pick me up.”
Gretchen turned to face him. “So soon?”
“Soon? Darlin’, I’ve been here almost three weeks now. I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”
“You could never do that.” She shook her head. “I know you have to go back. I’ll miss you.”
He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Gretchen, I’ll be back. It’s not like I’m leaving for good.”
“It feels like it.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be acting this way; I have no right to claim you.”
Kian buried his face in the nook of her neck. “Actually, you do, baby.” He looked into her eyes. “I can’t get enough of you, but I have to be honest. It might be a while before I can come back here. I’ll have a lot on my plate once I return. Dave will probably make me go to the hospital to make sure I’m healing properly.”
“Your boss?”
“Yes. He won’t put me on duty until he’s certain I’ve recovered. You did a great job cleaning my wounds and bandaging me up, but he’ll want me checked by a doctor.”
“I understand that.”
“And when I am cleared for work, I want to meet with the sheriff and look at mugshots. I know I would recognize those guys.”
“But what if they’re not in the system?”
“That’ll make it more challenging, but we’ll do our best to find them. Killian said the FWP is also on the lookout. And if these casings have fingerprints, we might find them that way.”
“Okay, I’ll try to be patient.” She smiled.
“I’m glad one of us will be. Please don’t think I’m ignoring you; I’ll just have a lot going on. But trust me, those bastards won’t get away with it.”
“I know they won’t. Do you want breakfast?”
“I’ll make it. Don’t worry about waiting on me; go paint.” He grinned, looking at her latest piece on the easel. “I love this. It’s amazing. You’re such a talented painter, Gretchen.”
“Thank you. For now, though, I’m done with painting.”
“Maybe after I buy a house, I’ll get one of your paintings.”
“Where are you looking to buy?”
“In Clifton, somewhere. Killian just got a new place; it’s beautiful.” He furrowed his brow. “I think he said it was on Rawlins Road.”
“Probably Rawlings Road. It’s a lovely area.”
“I might check it out then.”
“That’s where I grew up. My parents still live there.”
“You’ve never really talked about them. You mentioned your mom taught you how to cook and they lived in Clifton, but not much else. Are you close?”
“Very. My mom is my best friend, and my dad is an incredible man.”
“Are you a daddy’s girl?”
“Yes, and damn proud of it.” She grinned.
Kian chuckled. “Someday, I’d love to have a little girl to spoil.”
“Me too. Does Killian have any kids?”
“No, but he recently got engaged to Celine. She’s perfect for him; he’s head over heels for her.”
“That’s great! I’m sure he’s happy.”
Kian nodded. “I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“That’s wonderful. And I’m sure she’s just as happy.”
“Yeah, she is. She owns the coffee shop in town, The Everyday Grind.”
“Oh, I’ve been there! I can’t remember which one she is though.”
“She has blonde hair and blue eyes.”
“Does Killian look like you with dark hair?”
“Yes, we resemble each other quite a bit. We are twins, after all.”
“That was a dumb question.” Gretchen laughed.
“I don’t believe in stupid questions, but that was pretty close.” He laughed as she playfully swatted at him before pulling her into his arms and kissing her lips.
She pushed against his chest gently. “Go eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Watching him walk toward the kitchen, she sighed. She was going to miss him terribly.
“He promised he’ll be back,” she muttered to herself.
“What?” He turned to face her.
She shook her head. “Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
“Okay. But you know I’m not going to ask about what.”
“Kian?”
“Yeah?”
“Tell me about your ex.”
“Why? She’s old news, Gretchen.”
“I told you about mine.”
He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms and looking at her intently before nodding.
“About three years ago, a mutual friend set us up on a blind date and I was immediately drawn to her. We fell in love, though now I’m not so sure about her feelings. When I proposed, she turned me down and said she never wanted to get married again after going through it once before. She suggested we live together instead, but that’s not what I want. I want to get married and start a family.”
“I’ve been divorced before, but I do want to get married again and have children. I’m thirty-seven and don’t want to wait much longer.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I’m forty-two myself.”
“Yeah, I remember you mentioning your age.”
“I just meant that I understand not wanting to wait too long for marriage and kids.”
“I think you would make an amazing father.”
“If I can be half the father that mine is, I’ll be happy.”
“You seem very close with your family.”
“Yes, we are a tight-knit bunch. I can’t wait to see them again. It bothers me that my absence caused them concern.”
“I’m sure they understand the circumstances. Well, I finished up here so I’m going to take a shower. Won’t take me long.”
“Alright, I’ll be here when you’re done.” He smiled as he grabbed some eggs from the fridge.
****
Monday morning, Kian stood at the sink in the kitchen, staring out at the melting snow holding a cup of coffee. He was so anxious to get home, but he knew he’d miss Gretchen.
He glanced over his shoulder when she entered the room and made her way to the coffee machine.
“Morning,” he said.
“Good morning.” She placed her cup under the spout and pushed brew, then looked at him. He grinned when a blush moved through her cheeks.
“Why are you blushing? Sweetheart, I’ve been over every inch of you, so you shouldn’t blush anymore.”
“Stop. You enjoy teasing me.”
“And you don’t like teasing me? Come on. Last night—”
“No. Just no.”
Kian laughed. “Alright. I just wanted to make sure you wouldn’t forget about me.”
“That will not happen. It’s the other way around.”
“Gretchen, I won’t. I just want you to know that it may be a few days or longer before I can get back in touch with you. I’ll have to get a new phone, then call you, though you won’t know until you take a walk.”
“I will every day until I hear from you. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“Alright. Killian has your number in his phone and his is in yours. If you can’t get in touch with me, send him a text.”
“I don’t want to bother him.”
“You won’t. If you happen to go into town, come to the offices and look for me. I’m going to be busy, but I will never be too busy for you.” He kissed her lips. “I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll be patient, though it is not one of my virtues.” She shook her head. “I hate sounding so clingy. That’s not me.”
“I know. It’s fine.”
“Is it? What if when you go back, you realize it was only because we were stuck here together?”
“I think I’d know if that were the case. I’m a grown man, I like being with you and I’d know if it were just because of being here and you saving me.” He tilted his head. “I could say the same about you.”
“Nope. I’m not a fickle woman. I’ve been on my own for a while. I’d know too.”
“Good. Well, Killian should be here soon. I’d better get some clothes on.”
“I happen to like you in sweatpants, but let’s be honest here, I like you out of them too.” She laughed. “The first day you were here, after I removed your clothes, I covered you with a blanket. I had you roll over onto the sleeping bag and the blanket slipped. My mouth dropped open when I saw your… body.”
“My body , huh?”
“Yes. All of it.”
Kian laughed, then kissed her forehead. “I’ll get dressed.”
****
Gretchen watched him leave the room and smiled. She would miss him, but she was going to make a trip to see her parents once she was able to get out. Maybe Kian could meet her at the diner for lunch.
Later, as she sat at the table, drinking her coffee, she heard a vehicle pull up. Pushing the chair back, she got up, walked toward the window and saw a truck stopping by the steps. She watched as the door opened and a man stepped out. Lobo barked.
“Holy hell,” she muttered when he walked around the front of the truck and headed for the steps.
“Did I hear a truck?” Kian asked as he walked toward the door, opened it and laughed.
Gretchen watched the two men hug. She knew, since Kian and Killian were twins, he’d be good-looking too, but she’d hate to have to decide which was better looking. She turned toward the door when they came through it. Lobo ran to Killian and Gretchen smiled when he rubbed the dog’s ears.
“Gretchen, this is my brother, Killian. Killian, this is Gretchen Casteel.”
“Gretchen, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you so much for saving Kian.” Killian pulled her into a hug.
Damn, he smelled good. She smiled as she hugged him back, then laughed when Kian pulled them away from each other.
“That’s enough. You’re engaged, remember?” His eyes narrowed as he stared at Killian.
“I’m sure Celine would forgive me this one time.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’m sorry, but we need to head back.” Killian looked at Kian. “Are you ready?”
Kian looked at her, then back to his brother.
“Can you give me a minute?”
“Sure. I’ll be in the truck.” He looked Gretchen. “Thank you again.” He touched the brim of his hat, then walked out.
Gretchen looked at Kian and blinked back tears, then shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.”
Kian pulled her into his arms. “No, I feel the same.” He kissed her lips. “I will see you again, baby. I promise.”
“I know. Just go. Please.”
“Alright.” After kissing her again, he walked toward the door, then touched Lobo’s head. “Take care of her, buddy. Be good,” Kian said, then walked out, closing the door behind him.
Gretchen sank onto the chair and did her best not to cry, but tears rolled down her cheeks.