Flashover

Chapter 9

Sometimes the truth hurt.Yes, those rumors had been awful. Supposedly meant only for his so-called buddies’ ears to warn them away from her. She wished there was time to process through all of what Houston said about how he hadn’t deserved her back then.

Sophie sniffed. “I forgive you, Houston.”

He nodded.

But her words seemed to make him hunch his shoulders. There wasn’t a moment more to spare on the past when the future kept knocking them over. So even if Houston had started the hurtful rumors, that wasn’t the man he was now.

She turned toward Crispin. What she wasn’t sure of was who her brother had become. There was something she couldn’t quite read about him. She hated not even being able to trust those in her inner circle.

Plus, he’d yet to answer their questions.

When they’d hugged, he’d smelled different. Less like fruity cereal and peppermints and more of pine needles and smoke. His chest was broader. His beard had tickled her forehead. His compassion that used to extend off his tongue was replaced with harsh tones.

She fisted her fingers. “Please explain something about what happened to you, Crispin. Anything. I’ve missed you so much.”

Crispin opened his arms and pulled her against his chest again. “Sorry, Lamby, that I was gruff earlier. You just have to stop saying my name so loud. I know it’s always been your nickname for me…but it became my code name.”

He picked up a long strand of her hair that had rested on her shoulder. “You grew out your hair again. Looks good.”

That was one of the minor things on the detailed list the boys at Last Chance County had also made fun about. How her ponytail looked like horse hair. How only horses liked her. And other things that she’d blocked from her mind. “Does this mean you’re finally done working for Homeland? Because you once told me that you’d never tell me your code name.”

With a scowl, Crispin drew back. “There isn’t time to explain everything.”

“Why don’t you start with the shot and burned dead body,” Houston’s voice held a stern quality she hadn’t heard before. “The one your sister thought was you.”

Crispin met Houston’s glare with his own. “I’m sorry you thought it was me.”

Sophie reached out her pinkie and touched Houston’s clenched fist. “And the necklace?”

“It was stolen years ago. The man who pulled it off of me before an explosion—the one where I was reported dead—probably thought I had been killed. I guess he carried it as a trophy. Or maybe to show proof that he’d succeeded in his job of killing me.” Crispin tucked his gun into his hoodie pocket. “Now, I assume he’s the one who is dead, and I get to continue my mission.”

Sophie opened up her palm. The rings balanced in the middle of the long chain. “He tried to kill you?”

Houston stepped closer to Sophie. “So you killed him instead?”

More a statement than a question, but Crispin simply narrowed his eyes. “Not the first time someone has tried to kill me, and I doubt it will be the last.” He looked at Houston. “And no, I wasn’t the one who killed him. Not that you’re my keeper.”

Sophie extended the necklace out to Crispin. “Who was he?”

He folded her fingers back around the rings and put his hand over hers. “You keep this. To remember them.”

Sophie squeezed the rings into her palm. “You need to keep it. To remember to come home sooner to?—”

“I never should have worn it in the field to begin with.” Crispin gritted the words out.

Houston widened his stance. “Who was the dead body? The coroner has him now.”

Crispin shook his head. “That’s what I’ve been trying to find out.”

Sophie dropped her hand away from her brother. He was allowing her to keep the necklace because he was leaving. Again. She knew it. There was something in his expression he wasn’t saying. “So you really don’t know. Or you just won’t tell me?”

“Seems like something a federal agent could have figured out in the three years he went missing,” Houston said.

Crispin lifted the bill of his baseball cap. “If I had answers, I wouldn’t have clearance to tell you. I’ve been cut off from my people. If I don’t figure this out, there could be serious national security-level consequences. I tracked him down to this town.”

Sophie heard what he wasn’t saying. He hadn’t come to Ember to see her. “It was you that I saw earlier at the film set, wasn’t it? Why didn’t you wait for me?”

“I couldn’t let anyone connect us a second time.”

An owl hooted in the distance. Then Goldie and Thunderbolt both nickered from the corral.

Sophie, Houston, and Crispin spun toward the sound.

Crispin put his hand on her shoulder. “We need to get out of the open. I know, Houston, that you weren’t riding in Sophie’s truck,” Crispin murmured. “Where did you park?”

Houston tipped his head toward the woods that ran along the outskirts of the movie set. “My truck’s back there on the road. I ran over because I thought you were the kid who stole Sophie’s truck.”

Did Houston think that was sufficient as an apology? Crispin seemed satisfied by it.

Men were odd creatures.

Crispin put his hands on his hips. “It was a mistake to contact you. I need to stay below the radar until this is over. For your sake and mine.”

“Something we might agree on,” Houston mumbled.

“I think we’re both lucky my sister has a forgiving heart, or she wouldn’t be giving either of us the time of day,” Crispin said as he inspected the trees. “Lamby, can you still throw a punch like I taught you?”

“Like I’d ever forget where to place my thumbs ever again.” Sophie walked toward the corral. “Let’s get the horses loaded quickly. We’ll talk about everything back at the house, which you can help me clean up.”

Surely, she’d be safe if she wasn’t the only one at her ranch. Especially since Crispin was trained and had a gun.

“No.”

Sophie paused on her hurt ankle. She grunted and eyed her brother. “No what? I really don’t want to leave my horses here when we can go?—”

“I’m not bringing you any deeper into this mess. It’s deep, Rachel. I mean, Sophie.” He tugged on the hoodie’s strings dangling against his chest. “I hate that you’ve had to already give up so much for the job that I chose. I don’t know who I can completely trust. That’s why it took three years to finally see you. I could never forgive myself if I led you to more danger.”

Crispin shoved his hand into his hoodie pocket. “I wish you could have told me you moved up here. That’s why you thought you didn’t get a postcard this year. I didn’t know you’d moved. You practically disappeared, untraceable through my normal channels. I sent it to your old address. I guess it didn’t forward.”

Sophie would have stumbled back if Houston hadn’t steadied her. “What do you mean you didn’t know I was up here? You were the one who set it up with the White family to have me inherit the land.”

Houston raised his brow. “As in President White?”

She shrugged. “I have no clue which Whites. But that’s the previous last name on the ranch.”

Crispin ran his fingers along his beard. “Do you have any information on the inheritance, or who signed the paperwork?”

She shook her head. “Everything was done through a lawyer. You really didn’t do this, or you don’t want to tell me you know President White?”

Crispin’s fingers paused and his jaw locked. “I’ve met the president. But I didn’t give you a ranch. I never shared much about you. I also just always called you little lamb. I don’t know how he found you and protected you for me.”

His little lamb.That was what the man at her house had said.

She squared her shoulders. There would be another time to discuss that she owed her dream ranch to a stranger. Which was actually a lot more disturbing, but…“I think it’s possible I might have met one of the Whites, or more than likely one of the people who might be after you.”

“When?” Houston asked at the same time Crispin said, “You probably should have led with that information.”

“Right.” Sophie smacked her own forehead. “Makes perfect sense to not first hug my brother I thought was gone forever.”

“When did you get this much sass?” Crispin gave Houston a deadpan expression. “Is this your doing?”

Houston held up his palms. “Is she safe? Someone broke into Sophie’s house and stole a picture of you.”

Her brother gave her a look, which if she were young, would mean that she’d have to do all the dishes for the next week.

Sophie opened her mouth twice before words flowed. “I thought the break-in had been Lewis. My friend’s nephew. He’s been hanging out with the wrong kids. But then I started to think, what if it’s more than just teens, like the creepy dude from this morning. What if he’s the one who broke in and took your picture? Not Lewis.”

“You have more of a description than creepy dude?” Crispin asked.

Sophie gave him everything she’d shared with the sheriff.

Crispin nodded. “I’ll check him out, and if I give word then you’ve got to leave and change your name again. This time you send a postcard to our old California address and tell me you had a good time at the show or concert or something like that so I can know?—”

“Wait. What? Go where?” She threw out her arms. “I have eight horses and a donkey.” And hopefully more soon. Plus, she was finally starting to have a home again, even with her best friend leaving her. “I can’t exactly pull up and stay at a hotel somewhere with all of them.”

“You’re more important than some animals.”

“I can’t abandon my horses.” She knew what it felt like to feel so alone.

“Lamby, I know how much horses mean to you. Ever since that first counseling session after Mom and Dad…but these are bad guys. Not storybook ones. Or those cartoon ones you used to watch that would chase the sheep. Real ones. And I don’t know who I can trust right now.” He eyed Houston. “If I leave word, will you get her out of here if it comes to that?”

Sophie’s ankle throbbed as she limped forward. “There’s got to be another way. To stay safe and keep my horses.”

No one else would love her horses like she did. No one loved her as much. She needed them as much as they needed her.

Crispin exhaled. “There’s no time to be stubborn. I’ve got to keep you safe.”

She blinked at her brother. Demanding and unyielding was not the kind of protection she wanted.

“I know where she can go.” Houston’s expression pulled tight. “To be safe.”

She wasn’t going to like her brother and Houston working together.

“I’m not going to run.” Sophie stepped back from both of them. No, she was tired of doing that. Failed at doing that. Ran from the earthquake. From Last Chance County. From being fired at the horseracing farm. Scared or not, she was going to do what she always did.

Face what came at her, alone.

* * *

“Where would she go?”

He’d gotten Crispin’s attention, but Houston wasn’t about to give up that information.

Crispin’s baggy hoodie and cargo pants didn’t give too much away, but probably he weighed a bit more than Houston. Which meant Houston couldn’t toss Crispin far. And Houston trusted the guy even less than he could throw him.

It looked like he and Sophie were finally on the same page over needing to be cautious about her brother. Crispin didn’t realize how important her horses were to her. They were like her family, because she hadn’t really had anyone for her.

“Someplace no one could trace her and her horses,” Houston offered.

Crispin gave a brief half smirk. “If you two are together, they’ll track her there.”

“Please stop talking as if I’m not right here. I’m not a kid to be dumped on someone else.”

“It wouldn’t be dumping at all.” Houston didn’t want her to think of it that way.

“Right. I’m sure your sister-in-law’s family wouldn’t think you showing up with me to bunk with them would be odd. And who says I even want to go back to Last Chance County? I’m not giving up my life again.”

He barely refrained from smacking his forehead. He didn’t exactly want her brother knowing anything else. “Never said where it was.”

Sophie’s eyebrows rose, and she propped her fists onto her hips. “You learned to ride with your sister-in-law’s family’s horses, right?”

“He was trying to keep the information from me.” Crispin leaned toward him. “Do you really think I’d stay away for so long to protect her, only to let her get hurt now?”

“No offense. But I don’t exactly trust you.”

“Fair enough.” Crispin nodded. “But we want the same thing.”

“Stop doing that guy stare down stuff.” Sophie sighed. “I’ll make my own choice about where I go and when.” Sophie held up one finger toward her brother. “I have a condition. You find a way to stay in contact better. That’s number one.” She held up another finger and limped forward.

Houston frowned. Was her ankle hurt worse than she admitted back at HQ?

“And number two,” she raised another finger and shifted on her feet. “You’re going to ask me to do whatever favor you’re wrestling over inside your head.”

Crispin’s gaze dropped to Sophie’s feet. “Is your foot hurt?”

“Don’t even with another whole changing the subject.”

Crispin grunted. “It was an honest question, and I’ll figure out another way for what I need. I don’t want your help if it puts you in danger, Lamby.”

“So there is something you need,” Houston said.

“We can figure it out together, right here, or at my house.” Sophie didn’t back down. “Now, what is it?”

For the first time, Crispin seemed to wilt. Bad guys and national security didn’t bother him. But when his sister stood up for herself, he melted. The guy leaned his back up against the truck. “I have to get a message to someone I used to know.”

Sophie wrinkled her nose. “Are we talking a package or a phone call type of message?”

He pulled out a flip phone from his pocket. Even in the darkness, the cracked plastic was obvious. “I need to charge this.”

Houston tugged his phone out of his pocket. “Here.”

Crispin shook his head. “Traceable.”

“Then we’ll get another burner,” Sophie suggested. “An unregistered phone.”

Crispin checked the horses in the corral. “My old partner thinks I’m dead, and it needs to stay that way. For his sake. But he still needs to know the brothers are back. That’s why I need you to contact him and tell him that. ‘The brothers are here.’ He’ll know what it means.”

Houston frowned. “How do we know if we have the right guy, if we’re just calling numbers on your list?”

“He goes by Samuel Mudd.”

Sophie opened up her passenger-side door and plugged it into her charger with the cigarette lighter. She opened her glove box and found a blue folded piece of paper. She unfolded it and held out three twenties to her brother. “Here. It’s not much. But I have a bit more in my…”

Crispin pulled her into another hug. “This isn’t forever.”

Sophie turned. “Let’s get the horses loaded. I’ll hook up the trailer first.”

“I’ll help you line up the hitches.”

Houston went to leave, but Crispin’s hand clamped down on his shoulder. “I’m trusting you to keep her safe.”

Houston nodded. “I got this.”

He must have uttered the magical words because Crispin let him go. The horse trailer was connected to the truck, and then Houston and Crispin helped load the horses from the barn.

Crispin led a gray horse by a purple lead rope and hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “The last horse only has a halter on.”

“I can handle it.”

A scream from outside the barn pierced through Houston’s heart. “Sophie!”

He sprinted past Crispin and arrived outside first.

Sophie was on the ground, holding her head in her palms at the end of her trailer.

“What happened?” Houston dropped before her.

Crispin slid in behind him. “Are you?—”

“He rammed me over and took Goldie and your phone. I should have paid more attention to her snicker earlier. She had been trying to tell me someone was there.”

“Who?” Houston’s breath caught in his throat.

“Where did he go?” Crispin ordered.

“They galloped that way.” She pointed toward the back of the barn that butted up against the woods. “We’ve got to go get the phone.” She pushed herself up but wobbled.

Houston wrapped his arms around her shoulders. And saw the blood pooled on the side of her head. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

She shook her head, but then moaned. She leaned against Houston’s chest. “We have to help Crispin.”

“No. This is my problem. I’ll deal with it.” Crispin locked eyes with Houston. “Remember what I told you.”

Houston tightened his hold on Sophie. He had no other plans except protecting the woman he had never stopped loving.