Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Jack
I’m holding Brynn as she falls apart in my arms, and normally, this would be incredibly awkward for me.
I’ve never been good at handling emotions—mine or anyone else’s.
But right now, all I want is to comfort her.
To take this weight off her shoulders. To protect her from everything that’s been eating away at her.
She’s not a woman who lets her emotions show, and that makes this moment even more significant.
When she choked out that she was tired of taking care of everyone else, something inside me snapped.
I got you is what was screaming in my head.
I’ve never wanted to protect someone like this before.
I never wanted to take care of someone outside of my family, to love someone in the way I feel right now.
Not even my ex-wife.
Brynn is so damn strong. But this? Letting me see this side of her? It’s a gift. Just like the other day, when she let me in, let me see her softer side. She doesn’t do this for just anyone. And I know what it means that she’s doing it for me.
I run my hand down her back, slow and steady. “You don’t have to carry this alone, Brynn.”
She fists my shirt, her breath shaky against my chest. “I don’t know how to let someone in.”
I rest my forehead against hers, my voice quiet but certain. “Then don’t think about how—just let me be here.”
Her lips part slightly, and I can see the conflict in her eyes—the need to be strong warring with the need to let go. And then, she does. She leans in, and I don’t hesitate. I close the distance, capturing her mouth with mine.
The kiss is slow at first, tentative. But then, something shifts. Her fingers curl into my hair, and I deepen the kiss, pulling her flush against me. She melts into me, and damn, it’s everything. Every unspoken promise, every emotion we’ve been holding back, is pouring into this moment.
My entire body is screaming in protest, but I don’t care.
I just need to kiss her. We don’t have to do anything else; I know my limits.
I press her back against the desk, my hands sliding down her waist, gripping her hips as I kiss her like I’ve been starving for this.
Because I have. She moans softly, and the sound shoots straight through me, making me desperate for more.
Her hands roam over my chest and my shoulders, pulling me closer. She’s so gentle with it, like she can feel me tense when she finds a tender spot. I slide my hand under her shirt, feeling the warmth of her skin and the way she shivers under my touch. I want to lose myself in her, in this moment.
Then, there’s a sharp knock on the door.
We freeze, breathing hard.
“Jack,” John’s voice comes through the door. “The adjuster’s here.”
Brynn’s eyes go wide, and she pushes against my chest, trying to compose herself. I take a deep breath, resting my forehead against hers for a second before stepping back and running a hand through my hair.
“Be right there,” I call out, my voice rough.
Brynn straightens her shirt, her cheeks flushed, and I smirk slightly, reaching out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “This isn’t over.”
She exhales a shaky laugh. “No, it’s not.”
I give her one last lingering look before heading to the door, my body still humming from the feel of her. But as much as I want to stay wrapped up in her, I know that I need to be out there with John for this visit.
I open the door and hurry out before John can take a look inside. He leads me out of the house to where the adjuster is waiting for us.
The adjuster, a tall, thin man in a crisp navy suit that looks out of place here, straightens his tie as we approach. His sharp eyes flick between us and the remains of the structure like he’s already forming a judgment.
“I’m Neil Hastings with Riverbend Insurance. I’ll be handling the assessment of your claim.”
John shakes the man’s hand, his expression unreadable. “Appreciate you coming out so quickly.”
“Of course,” Hastings replies. He pulls a notepad from his leather folio and flips it open. “I’ve already taken a look around. Do you have any pictures of inside the barn? You’re claiming that there was equipment in there?”
“No, I don’t think so. I can ask my daughter,” John says. “Is there anything else that you need?”
“Why don’t we start with the basics? Can you walk me through what happened?”
John takes a slow breath. “We don’t know much.
Nick was doing a last check before heading in for the night when he saw someone toss a lit bottle into the barn.
It only took a matter of seconds before it engulfed.
He alerted everyone he could to get help.
By the time they got the animals out and the fire department showed up, there wasn’t much they could do. The barn was gone.”
Hastings hums as he scribbles something down. “And you have no idea who started the fire?”
John’s jaw tenses. “No. The sheriff is looking into a suspect, but that’s all we know.”
Hastings looks up, his expression unreadable. “Any electrical issues in the barn? Frayed wiring? Overloaded circuits?”
“No.”
“Any space heaters or other sources of open flame inside?”
John shakes his head. “Nothing like that.”
“The fire marshal already gave you his report, Mr. Hastings. The fire happened almost a week ago. If there were concerns, you should have been here on Sunday,” I interject. “There was an accelerant thrown into the barn. I have the proof.”
Hastings taps his pen against his notepad, then flips to another page. “And you’re sure this Nick person saw someone throw something in, and he wasn’t the one doing so?”
“He’s been with the ranch for decades. He wouldn’t do this.”
“So you’re saying he’s extremely loyal to you, Mr. Castings?” Hastings asks quickly.
John’s hands clench at his sides. “You suggesting something, Mr. Hastings?”
“I’m just covering all the angles,” Hastings says smoothly. “It’s part of the process, especially when a fire happens under circumstances like this.”
I step forward, keeping my voice even. “What kind of circumstances would those be?”
Hastings looks at me, his gaze assessing. “A struggling business, a sudden fire, a sizable insurance policy. You understand I have to be thorough.”
Is he serious right now?
I take a step closer to John. If I’m feeling irritated and offended by this man’s tone, then I can’t imagine how John will feel or react. I keep my eye on him.
John’s face darkens, and I can practically feel the heat of his frustration radiating off him. “You think I burned my own damn barn down?”
“I’m not accusing anyone,” Hastings says, holding up a hand. “Just doing my due diligence.”
Before John can respond, another vehicle pulls up, an unmarked truck with government plates. The door opens, and a woman steps out, wearing a dark blue windbreaker with State Fire Marshal emblazoned on the back.
The arson investigator.
He strides over, nodding at us before turning his attention to Hastings. “You must be the adjuster.”
“That’s right,” Hastings says, offering a hand. “Neil Hastings, Riverbend Insurance.”
She shakes it briefly. “I’m Jorge. I was called in to evaluate the scene. I’m sorry, I’m late to the meeting.”
Jorge turns to John. “I’d like to take another look around if that’s all right.”
“Go ahead,” John says, exhaling sharply. “Maybe you’ll find something that’ll get this guy off my back.”
He frowns but doesn’t comment. He moves toward the wreckage, his sharp gaze scanning the area. Meanwhile, Hastings clears his throat and turns back to John.
“Mr. Castings, it’s not uncommon for fires like this to be—”
“This was arson,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “And John sure as hell didn’t have anything to do with it.”
Hastings gives me a polite but unconvinced smile. “Like I said, just covering my bases.”
Jorge steps back over, her expression unreadable. “Did you get my report on the accelerant and the arson, Mr. Hastings?”
Hastings nods. “Of course.”
“Then you’ll remember that I stated in the report that Mr. Castings had just let a ranch hand go who has a history of arson.”
Say what?
I suck in a breath. That’s new information.
“I have to investigate all the details. It could also be the perfect setup to make that young man the patsy for the insurance payout.”
“I assure you that’s not the case here,” Jorge sighs. “I’ve known the majority of the people in this town for a very long time. John Castings is the least likely suspect for insurance fraud.”
“Maybe you’re too close—” Hastings starts.
Jorge holds up a hand and shakes his head.
“The former employee was seen buying accelerant and was in town, drunk, talking about how he was going to make everyone at Castings Ranch pay for firing him. No ranch owner is going to set anything on their property on fire during a drought because the conditions are too uncontrollable and could cause loss of life. His daughter and granddaughter were on the property, in the line of fire, had the winds changed correctly. If you’re going to accuse someone or go against my findings in my report, as well as the sheriff’s report, make sure that you come with all the logical information and proof first.”
John exhales sharply, and I can see some of the tension ease from his shoulders. Hastings, on the other hand, just gives a tight smile. “I’ll still need to review everything carefully before we proceed with the claim.”
John’s lips press into a thin line, but he nods. “You do that.”
Hastings lingers for another moment before snapping his folio shut. “I’ll be in touch.”
He turns and walks back to his car, leaving John staring after him, fists clenched.
“Don’t let him get to you,” I say. “They always look for an easy answer.”
John shakes his head. “I just don’t like the way he was looking at me like he’d already decided I was guilty.”
“Listen to Jack; he’s always like this. I try to remind myself that he’s seen a lot from his viewpoint, but he’s always an ass about things,” Jorge interjects.
“He could have some more tact, that’s for sure,” I say with a chuckle.
“He should have asked you or Nick some questions,” Jorge says with a shake of his head. “He’s not the final say, though. The insurance company will take a look at my report and the police report and pay it out.”
“It’s insulting that anyone could think that I would do this. And for him to say that the ranch is struggling financially, where does he get his information?” John asks gruffly.
He walks off, shaking his head and muttering to himself.
“You’ve dealt with that guy before?” I ask Jorge.
“Yeah, they carry the insurance for most of the ranches in town. He’s from the city and doesn’t know anything about ranches, so he’s out of his depth and shows it often. He’d do a lot better in life if he admitted that instead of attacking everyone.”
Before I can respond, Nick jogs over from the far side of the pasture, his face pale. “Jack, we’ve got a problem.”
“I’ll let you handle that,” Jorge says quickly as he shakes my hand and then heads to his truck.
“What kind of problem?” I ask.
Nick swipes a hand over his face. “Some of the cattle are acting strange. Stumbling, lethargic. It looks like toxicity, maybe. It doesn’t seem like the respiratory disease again.”
My stomach drops. “What the hell?”
John walks back over, straightens, and his face goes hard. “How many?”
“Half a dozen, maybe more. I don’t know how bad it’s gonna get.”
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Doc Sutton’s number. It rings twice before she picks up.
“Sutton.”
“Doc, it’s Jack. We’ve got cattle showing signs of toxicity. Lethargic, stumbling. We need you out here now.”
“I’m on my way.”
I hang up and glance at John. His expression is grim.
“First the barn, now the cattle,” he mutters. “This ain’t a coincidence.”
“No,” I agree. “It’s not.”