Chapter Five
Monday morning, Beau sat at his desk going through files on the computer, looking for any information that would help him find out who took the horse from the Lawrence ranch, and he was having no luck at all.
“Morning, Beau.”
He glanced up to see Killian taking a seat at his desk.
“Morning, Killian. Did you have a good weekend?”
“It was too fast but other than that, yes. How about you?”
“I had a great weekend,” Beau said with a grin.
“Good for you. I looked through real estate ads and saw a few houses I like. I just have to find out how far they are from work. I’m hoping I won’t be sitting in traffic to get to work in the mornings, like I did in Butte.”
“There’s not much traffic here in the mornings. The most traffic is heading out of town to the Beckett Boot Factory, Beckett Feed, and Callahan Distillery, but it’s in the opposite direction.”
“Beckett boots are made here? It’s the only boot I’ll wear.”
“Yes, it’s owned by Gage and JD Beckett. Ash Beckett owns the feed factory.”
“Damn, I should have been born a Beckett,” Killian said with a laugh.
Beau grinned. “No shit.”
“Are you having any luck with the stolen horse?”
“No. I can’t find a damn thing.”
“You checked social media, right?”
“Eli’s going over that for me. He’s going to look into the friends of the kids he arrested. There might be some connection there.”
“Could be. Kids will do anything trying to get attention. Well, If you need anything, let me know,” Killian said.
“I might take you up on that.”
Killian nodded and opened his computer. Beau got back to work but he wasn’t having any luck, and it was frustrating the hell out of him.
As the morning wore on, Beau never left his desk. He was determined to find that horse.
At lunchtime, Beau called the diner to order his lunch to go, then he pushed his chair back, put his hat and coat on, then walked to the elevator.
He was happy to see it wasn’t snowing and the sun shone down brightly, almost blinding him as it hit the snow piled along the street next to the sidewalk. He reached for his sunglasses, put them on, and after checking traffic, he crossed the street, and made his way to the diner.
When he opened the door to the diner, the bell above his head jingled, and just about everyone waved or called out to him as he stood beside the register. There wasn’t an empty seat in the place. As was usual at this time of the day.
“Hi, Beau. Are you picking up or waiting for a seat?” Diedra Mitchell asked him.
“Hi, Diedra. I called an order in.”
“Okay, I’ll check on it for you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He watched her enter the kitchen. She was married to a good friend of his, Preston Mitchell, and she was good for him. He’d been through a lot of relationships that never worked out, but once he met Diedra, he fell hard. They got married and have been happy ever since. He was happy for his friend. Diedra was a wonderful woman, and Preston was head over heels in love with her. Beau hoped to have that one day again, but hopefully, his next relationship wouldn’t end the same way. And if he were being honest with himself, he hoped it was with Brenna.
It surprised him to think that way. Even though they’d known each other for years, he never looked at her in that way because he was in love with Liz, but now Brenna was all he thought about. Especially after the weekend.
They went to his house Sunday morning, then spent the day watching movies, horseback riding, and having sex. She was hot and he told her the truth when he said he’d never had better.
“Here you go,” Diedra said as she set the bag on the counter, removed the receipt stapled to it, and rang up his order.
“Thanks, Diedra. Tell Preston hello for me.”
“I will. Here’s your change.”
Beau waved it off, picked up the bag, touched the brim of his hat, and walked outside. After checking traffic, he crossed the street, and headed back to the office. The elevator was just opening when he entered the lobby, so he ran for it and made it. Stepping inside, he saw Eli.
“Hey, Eli.”
“Beau. I might have found something on the missing horse. I looked through social media and found some kids talking about how cool it was to take animals from ranches as a joke. I wrote the names down, so I’ll look a little deeper into those.”
“They think it’s a joke to steal?” Beau shook his head. “Who’s teaching these kids right from wrong?”
“Sounds like no one is,” Eli said.
The doors whooshed open on their floor, and they stepped out, then walked to the office. Once inside, they took their seats at their desk. Beau removed his lunch from the bag, unwrapped the burger, and took a bite as he looked through more files.
****
Brenna let out a long, exasperated sigh as she stood in front of the classroom, chalk in hand. The students in her first-grade class were fidgeting and whispering to each other, their attention seemingly anywhere but on the math problems she was writing on the chalkboard.
“Class, please pay attention,” Brenna said firmly, trying to regain control of the rowdy group. “Write the problems on your paper and do your best to solve them. Remember, no cheating. I’m watching you.” She pointed two fingers at her eyes, then pointed them at the kids, before turning back to the board, causing a few giggles from the students.
As they worked on their equations, Brenna sat behind her desk and kept a watchful eye on them. She didn’t want to see any cheating; the kids needed to learn on their own. In first grade, they start with the basics; counting, adding, and subtracting. Those were the foundation of math skills that they would use for years to come.
It wasn’t just about numbers though. First grade was also about learning how to read and develop social skills. Making friends and getting along with others was just as important as learning academic subjects.
Brenna knew that success in first grade could have a lasting impact on how the children viewed school in the future. A positive experience could make all the difference in keeping them engaged and excited about learning.
Some of the students already knew each other from kindergarten, but many were separated into different classes. However, this gave them the opportunity to make new friends to go through school with, and Brenna loved seeing them bond over learning. Their little minds were so eager and curious.
She noticed Allie’s hand shoot up in the air, signaling that she had finished her test. Brenna got up from her desk and made her way over to the little girl’s side.
“Are you done, Allie, or do you have a question?” Brenna asked quietly.
“I’m finished, Ms. Lawrence,” Allie replied with a smile.
“Very good. Let me check your work.” Brenna crouched down beside Allie’s desk and carefully went over her answers. When she finished, she looked at Allie with genuine pride in her eyes. “You got them all right! I am so proud of you.”
Allie beamed with joy. “I really like math, Ms. Lawrence.”
Brenna smiled back at her. “That’s wonderful because you will use math throughout your life. While you wait for the others to finish, why don’t you color?” she suggested.
Allie eagerly reached under her seat and pulled out a coloring book and a box of crayons. Coloring was a special treat that Brenna only allowed after finishing a test. Not only did it give the students a chance to unwind and relax, but it also had numerous benefits for their development, improving fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
As the rest of the class completed their tests, Brenna couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to teach these young minds and watch them grow and learn each day.
The shrill sound of the school bell echoed through the empty halls, signaling the end of a long day for Brenna. She let out a deep sigh of relief, eager to escape the chaos and demands of her students and retreat to the comfort of her home. The thought of sinking into a warm bubble bath followed by a peaceful night’s sleep was enough to make her smile.
As the last few students scurried out of her classroom, despite her reminders to walk, Brenna made her way to her desk to retrieve her purse. With a sense of exhaustion, she grabbed her coat from the rack and slipped her arms into it.
“Hey, Brenna.”
She turned to see Annie Beckett standing in the doorway.
“Hi, Annie. How was your day?”
Annie let out a weary sigh. “Some days I wonder why I ever came back to teaching.”
Brenna chuckled in understanding. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“And it’s only going to get worse as we approach the holidays.”
“I know. They’re already too hyped up and excited to focus on learning.”
“Yes, well, I just wanted to see if you were ready to walk out.”
“I am. I think I’ll stop at the diner on my way home. I have no energy left for cooking.”
“I’ve been there before, but luckily Jesse is cooking tonight. He picked up some steaks and wants to grill them outside. I told him it’s too cold, but he insists they taste better that way. Not that I’m complaining; he can do all the grilling while I stay inside by the warm fire.”
“I hear you. There’s no way I’m braving this cold unless absolutely necessary. Oh, and have you talked to Vivian lately?”
“I spoke with her last night. She loves being a mom. And that little boy is just so beautiful.” Annie beamed.
“Well, of course he is. He’s a Beckett,” Brenna teased.
Annie laughed. “That’s the truth. Whenever Jesse gets on my nerves, I always tell him it’s a good thing he’s good-looking or else he’d be in even more trouble. He just laughs it off.”
The two women left the building and made their way to the parking lot, chatting away. They got into their separate cars and drove away, waving goodbye.
Brenna genuinely liked Annie. They had met years ago when Brenna started teaching at the same school. Annie had left for a while to care for her first husband who was dying of cancer. Jamie Tipton had been a teacher as well, but his illness forced him to quit, and Annie followed suit to nurse him in his final days.
Now Annie was happily married to Jesse ‘JD’ Beckett. Despite Annie being eleven years older than Jesse, they were deeply in love and that was all that mattered. He was also the only person to call her ‘Anna’ instead of Annie.
As she drove toward town, her thoughts wandered to Beau and what he might be doing. Most likely, he was still poring over cases in search of the missing horse. One thing was for sure; he was determined and wouldn’t rest until the case was solved.
She pressed the call button on her steering wheel and dialed his number.
“Hi there. How was your day?” Beau’s voice came through the stereo when he answered.
“My day was good. What about yours?” She smiled as she heard him sigh.
“It was okay, but I feel like I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.”
“I have faith that you’ll solve the case, one way or another. I just hope the horse is still safe.”
“Yeah, me too. I hate to think what might be happening to it. I’ve been staring at files for so long, my eyes are starting to cross. It’s frustrating.”
“I know, but I believe in you.”
“So... when can I see you again?”
“Are you free this weekend?”
“Darlin’, whenever it comes to you, I’m always free.” Beau chuckled.
“You’re quite the smooth talker, Beaumont McCallister.”
“I just had to tell you my full name.” They both laughed.
“I like it. So how about coming over to my place on Saturday?”
“Why don’t you come to my place after school on Friday and spend the whole weekend? We can go riding, watch TV, swim, or just be lazy.”
“Swim? I think it’s a bit chilly for that.”
“I have a heated pool.”
“Oh, well then that changes things. Sounds like a great weekend to me.”
“Great. Just show up on Friday. Oh, and Brenna?”
“Yes?”
“Swimsuits are optional. Gotta run now, baby. See you soon.”
“Okay, and same goes for you on the swimsuits.”
“Darlin’, I don’t even own one.” She smiled as he chuckled before hanging up.
Oh my... just the thought of seeing his gorgeous body naked while swimming made her moan. She couldn’t believe how much she had been missing out on before him. She was excited to see where this relationship would go and just hoped her heart wouldn’t get broken.
****
Beau grinned as he placed his phone on the desk. He couldn’t wait to see Brenna again, but it would have to wait until the weekend. With both working jobs with demanding schedules, getting together during the week was a challenge. Sometimes Brenna had to stay at school for meetings, and Beau’s job as an agent often involved traveling and long hours.
After the divorce, Beau didn’t mind the busy schedule; it kept him occupied and helped distract him from the pain of his failed marriage. It had taken him almost a year to move on from what Liz had done to him. He had once loved her deeply, but that love quickly vanished when he realized she could betray him so easily.
Brenna couldn’t help but question if Eric had cheated before, and Beau found himself wondering the same about Liz. But he knew he would never have all the answers. All he knew was that she deserved to feel the pain he had endured. It was only fair.
As he shook his head, Beau couldn’t help but contemplate whether he had been blind to love. He fell for Liz the moment he laid eyes on her; it was astonishing how quickly love could fade when someone you trusted betrayed you.
Looking back, maybe Liz wasn’t happy in their marriage and didn’t know how to communicate it. Perhaps they could have sought counseling and saved their relationship. But that was all in the past now, and Beau intended to leave it there. Even if counseling had been an option, he wasn’t sure if he could stay in a marriage where infidelity had occurred. The thought of another man with her had made his blood boil, and he knew it would be difficult to move past it if they stayed together.
Once Liz moved out, Beau wasted no time in filing for divorce, yet even now, he still had no answers as to why she cheated. He was tired of being blamed for it.
It still bothered him, but he tried not to dwell on it. She had destroyed any love he had for her, and she could never be trusted again. Without trust, there could be no love.
Beau’s attention was pulled away from his computer screen by Eli, who sat across from him at his desk.
“Hey, Eli. Are you ready for your wedding?” Beau asked.
Eli grinned and chuckled. “Absolutely. Will you be there?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You don’t seem nervous at all.”
Eli shrugged. “I’m not. I love Lorna and I can’t wait to marry her and adopt Lily.”
“I’m happy for you both.” Beau smiled.
“Thanks. Hey, I found some teenagers talking about stealing livestock on social media. They claimed it was a joke when others called them out on it. I looked into it but didn’t find anything noteworthy. Do you want to talk to them, or would you like me to?” Eli asked.
“I’ll handle it. I could use a break from this computer anyway. Text me their names. I’m heading for lunch.” Beau shut off his computer, pushed his chair back, grabbed his hat and coat, and headed to the elevator.
As he stepped inside, he put on his coat and hat before hitting the button for the first floor.
As he stepped out onto the sidewalk, he quickly surveyed the street ahead of him before making his way toward the diner. He hoped there wouldn’t be any snow this weekend; he was eager to spend time with Brenna.
While walking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a text from Eli containing the names of three boys suspected of being involved in the recent livestock theft he was investigating. After his lunch, Beau planned on looking into these individuals more closely to determine if they were truly responsible or just making empty threats.
Upon entering the diner, Beau acknowledged those who greeted and waved at him as he made his way over to sit on a stool at the counter.
After finishing his meal, he left the diner and headed back to the office. He was determined to get to the bottom of these thefts and ensure that those responsible faced consequences for their actions. While some may see rustling as a joke, Beau understood the gravity of the crime and was committed to putting an end to it.
Back at the office, he hung up his coat and hat before taking a seat at his desk. With determination, he scoured social media for information on the three suspects provided by Eli. The first one, Timmy Matthews, was fifteen years old, but after reading through his posts, Beau didn’t view him as a serious threat. Nevertheless, he planned on speaking with him. However, there was no mention of horses anywhere on his page.
Next up was Shelby Jones, also fifteen years old. Based on his social media activity, Beau concluded that this kid simply followed along and wasn’t capable of masterminding anything. There was no evidence of involvement with horses either, but he was friends with Matthews.
Lastly, was Donnie Simpson; sixteen years old and seemingly the leader based on his posts. The other two seemed to do whatever he said. The only post remotely related to the horse theft was one about how easy it is to get what you want if you know where to look, with a horse emoji at the end.
Beau’s instincts rarely failed him, and he had a strong feeling that these boys were indeed the culprits. He just needed to talk to them.
After obtaining their home addresses, Beau left the office once again and drove his truck to the Matthews residence.
****
Brenna sat at her desk, keeping a watchful eye on the children in her classroom. The bell would ring soon, signaling the end of another day. She was excited to go home and relax for the evening.
The students were all working diligently on their math problems, their little brows furrowed in concentration. Brenna couldn’t help but smile at their eagerness to learn.
As the bell rang, the kids put down their pencils and looked at Brenna. With a smile, she stood up to address the class.
“Okay everyone, you may leave now. Leave your papers on your desk, and I will collect them.”
“But I’m not finished, Ms. Lawrence,” one little boy piped up nervously.
“Don’t worry, Scottie. This wasn’t a test, just an activity to keep you busy until the bell rang. I will still check your work and use it to guide our lesson tomorrow. Now, gather your backpacks and coats before you head out. See you all tomorrow.”
As they quickly gathered their belongings and rushed out the door, she shook her head, knowing it was pointless to remind them to walk instead of run. Brenna couldn’t help but smile when she saw Annie making her way toward her.
“Is it almost summer break yet?” Annie asked jokingly with a grin.
Brenna let out a laugh as Annie playfully rolled her eyes.
“Unfortunately, not yet. And we still have to make it through the holidays,” Brenna replied with a chuckle.
“Thanks for the reminder. Let’s get out of here.”
As they both pulled on their coats, they walked toward the doors and left together, Brenna was grateful for their routine of walking out together. She hated the thought of walking across a dark parking lot alone, especially since some days they had to stay late at school, and it would be dark by the time they left.
After getting into her vehicle, she started it, pushed the button for the heated seats, and sighed as she felt her butt getting warmed. She laughed.
“Warm butt, warm body.”
She drove out of the parking lot and waved at Annie as she drove off in the opposite direction.
Brenna wondered what Beau was doing. She knew that even though the department had set hours, the agents did not. Especially when working on a case. She didn’t want to text him in case he was busy. Sighing, she decided to text him and hope she wasn’t disturbing him.
Thinking of you! Can’t wait for the weekend. She waited for his reply but didn’t hear anything from him. Had she scared him off by telling him she was thinking of him?
“Way to go,” she muttered, but as she pulled to a stop for the traffic light, her phone rang through the stereo, announcing a text. She pushed the button on the steering wheel and smiled when she read his message.
Thinking of you too. Hope the week flies by. Sorry, I have to run. I need to talk to someone. I’ll call you later, darlin’.
She smiled. He missed her as much as she missed him. She pressed the button on the steering wheel to end the text, then jumped when the car behind her blew the horn, and she looked up to see the light had changed to green. She waved and got going before she pissed someone off.
As she drove home, she wondered what she’d eat for dinner. She decided to stop at the grocery store and pick something up. Once she found a parking spot, she exited the vehicle and strode toward the doors, and they slid open as she approached.
She strolled through the brightly lit store pushing her cart. She made a beeline for the dairy section, her mind focused on getting some yogurt and milk, then she’d find something for dinner. As she reached for a container of yogurt on the shelf, she heard her name being called out. Her stomach clenched as she turned to see Liz making her way toward her.
“Oh, hell no,” Brenna muttered under her breath as she quickly placed the container in her cart and moved along to grab some milk.
“Brenna,” Liz’s voice broke the silence, slicing through the heaviness in the air. Brenna let out a heavy sigh and turned to look at her former friend, raising an eyebrow in annoyance. The tension between them was intense.
“Uh, how are you?” Liz asked with a smirk.
Brenna couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “None of your business. Go away.” She wished she could just erase Liz from her life and memories entirely.
“We used to be friends,” Liz said.
A flash of anger surged through Brenna’s body. “Yes, we were until you decided to betray me and fuck my husband. You not only ruined my marriage but yours as well. You had a good man, but clearly, I didn’t. And trust me, if Eric cheated on me with you, he’ll cheat on you too. And you’ll deserve it.” With that harsh truth thrown in Liz’s face, Brenna turned away from her former friend, but then spun back around to face her again. “I hope I’m around to see it.”
As she continued down the aisle, Brenna could hear Liz walking behind her like a shadow. It was infuriating.
“What’s going on with you and Beau?” Liz blurted out.
Brenna stopped in her tracks and narrowed her eyes at Liz, clenching her jaw tight. How dare she bring up Beau?
“Who I’m seeing is none of your concern. Not even a little bit, and I’m sure Beau feels the same.” She took a step closer to Liz, their faces just inches apart. “So back the fuck off and leave me alone.”
“He’ll leave you alone all the time. That’s what ruined our marriage,” Liz snapped, her bitterness slipping through her facade.
Brenna’s blood boiled at the accusation. “What ruined your marriage was you spreading your legs for another man. You knew what Beau’s job was when you met him, so don’t try to put it on him. And don’t you ever speak to me again.” She paused; her gaze locked with Liz’s. “If I were you, I’d keep a close eye on Eric. I’m sure you weren’t the first one he cheated with on me.” She stepped back, unable to stand being so close to Liz any longer. “I hope karma bites you both on the ass. It’s no less than what you both deserve. You destroyed two marriages.”
Brenna turned and pushed her cart away, needing to escape the suffocating presence of Liz. She was sure there was steam coming from her ears from the anger she felt but she refused to let it show. She didn’t care about either of them anymore, and she’d be damned before she let Liz get to her.
As she stood in line waiting to check out, her phone buzzed, and she removed it to see Beau’s number. Glancing around, she was surprised to see Liz behind her in line, still stalking her. Brenna sighed and answered the phone, grateful for the distraction.
“Hey, Beau,” she said with a genuine smile in her voice, happy to hear his voice.
“Hey, I have a couple of minutes while I’m waiting to talk with someone. What are you doing?”
“Right now, I’m standing in line at the grocery store.” She laughed.
“Sounds like an exciting day.” He chuckled.
“Oh, it’s been interesting to say the least. I ran into an old… friend ,” she said with a hint of bitterness as she glanced over her shoulder at Liz to see her staring at her with her jaw clenched.
“Is that right?” His tone became serious, and she knew he sensed something was amiss.
“Yeah, but she’s no longer important.” Brenna’s voice held a note of finality.
“She?”
“Yeah, I’ll tell you later when you’ll have more time.”
“Sounds good, darlin’. I just wanted to get back to you. I’m going to talk to someone who might know something about your mother’s horse. It’s possible I might have a lead.”
“Oh, that would be great. Well, I have to go, too. I’m checking out,” she said, noticing the cashier waiting for her to pay.
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Can’t wait.” She disconnected the call and turned to see Liz’s face red with anger. Brenna smirked as she paid for her groceries and left the store.