Chapter Twelve
Josie had gotten hardly any sleep last night.
But just near daylight, she’d dreamed about Cordell, that gleam in his eyes, that dimple when he smiled at her.
She’d awakened with a start when her cell phone rang.
Overshadowing the sweet dream she’d had was the darkness looming on the horizon.
It felt denser somehow, more threatening this morning, as if getting closer as she picked up the call.
The news from Cordell had come as a shock and a relief.
“We heard from Wyoming that the man I warned you about has been picked up,” Max said. “Sorry if I worried you for no reason.”
She thought the dark foreboding fog of danger would lift, but she could still feel the weight of it. “You’re sure?”
“Everything is fine,” the sheriff said. “Cordell and I are going down there. We’ll probably be gone at least until tomorrow.”
Everything wasn’t fine, but he didn’t give her a chance to argue the point before he said, “Hold on, Cordell wants to say something.”
“We’re heading out now,” he told her. “Maybe we could talk when Max and I get back? Got to go. Wish us luck.”
“Be safe,” she said and let him go. Inhaling a breath, she tried to take it all in.
Both men had been in a hurry so she’d only gotten the abbreviated update.
Grimes had been caught and Max’s and Cordell’s mother’s remains had been found, which they hoped would prove that Grimes had murdered her all those years ago.
Josie closed her eyes, feeling the brothers’ pain. She had only sensed what they’d been through before. Now she knew at least some of it. Her heart broke for them. As she silently wished them a safe trip, she sensed that it wasn’t over and feared what might be waiting for them down in Wyoming.
Then she put in a call to Esther Mason to make sure she was going to be home.
“Just heard from Cordell,” she told Goldie when she got up. “They caught the man from the mug shot Max sent. But still be careful. Why are you up so early? I thought you didn’t work until the afternoon shift?”
“I’m going to have to work a double,” Goldie said as she dumped two over-the-counter pain pills in her palm and got herself a glass of water.
“My waitress is sick, and Clancy has to work at her real job. Don’t worry, I’ve got it.
Also, it appears Max sent his deputy to walk me the few blocks to my job.
He’s so thoughtful,” she said sarcastically.
Her friend had gone from hurt to anger. “He’s worried about you and I’m sure he’s upset that he’s responsible for the danger.”
Tears filled Goldie’s eyes. Josie could see that she was more frightened for Max than for herself. “If it’s over, then why am I still worried about him?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “See you later?”
“I’m going down to Grass Range to talk to Esther,” she called after her. “I’ll stop by the café when I get back.”
“Good luck,” Goldie said. “You’re going to need it with that old battle-ax.”
From the window, Josie watched her friend and Rance go down the street to the café. The deputy was strutting more than a little and laughing as they walked. He didn’t look worried. But Josie couldn’t shake her apprehension.
She sensed just the opposite of everything being all right. It wasn’t until she saw the open sign come on down at the café and the deputy leave to head back in the direction of the sheriff’s office that she headed for the family farm.
As she drove up in the yard, her sister came out of the house. “I’m surprised to see you.”
“I came by to pick up a few things before I head out of town.”
“I made some lemonade,” Amy Sue said. “Want some?”
Josie reached into her SUV for her insulated coffee mug.
“Would love some in here.” Her sister took it and they both headed for the house, her sister turning toward the kitchen while Josie ran upstairs to her room, where she grabbed her large purse she often took when leaving town.
She had dropped her handgun in the bag, telling herself as she always did that she wouldn’t use it unless it was a last resort.
But she didn’t want her sister to know that she might need it.
“Where are you headed?” Amy Sue asked as she handed over the container as they walked back outside.
“Grass Range.”
“I’m afraid to even ask, but does this trip have something to do with Cordell?”
“He could be in trouble.”
“Isn’t he always?”
“This time, it feels…serious for both brothers.” On impulse, she said, “I need to show you a photo.”
Her sister recoiled as she took Josie’s phone and saw the man. “Who is he?”
She shook her head. “If you see him, call the sheriff’s department. Don’t confront him.” She knew what Max had said, yet the darkness she saw coming was now here and she couldn’t explain it.
“Fine,” Amy Sue said, handing back the phone.
“I can’t imagine why he’d come out here, can you?
” Josie couldn’t since Max had said the man had been arrested, but whatever had her scared was still lingering.
If not this man, then someone maybe even more dangerous.
“What, or should I ask who, is in Grass Range?”
“Esther Mason.”
Her sister laughed. “Why would you want to go see that old crone? Iris was the nicest person I’ve ever known and even she couldn’t stand her sister. Didn’t she throw Esther out of the boardinghouse after years of carrying all the weight?”
“Sisters don’t always get along.”
“Very funny. You know it was more serious than that. Esther was always carrying tales, butting into everyone’s lives, spreading lies and suspicion everywhere she went.
She was walking misfortune and misery. I bet she’s spinning conspiracy theories now that they’re the rage.
” Her sister frowned. “You think she knows something about this man I should watch out for?” She nodded toward Josie’s phone.
Josie shrugged and shook her head. “Won’t know until I ask her.”
Her sister glanced down at their vehicles parked side by side. “Well, you aren’t going anywhere in your SUV.”
Josie looked and felt her heart drop as she saw that her left rear tire was flat.
“Take mine,” Amy Sue said. “I’ll see about getting your tire fixed while you are gone.”
“Are you sure?” Josie had a bad feeling about all of this. The tire hadn’t felt as if it was going flat on the drive there. She found herself questioning if she should even go now. “Maybe I should—”
“For once will you let me do something for you instead of you always having to do for everyone else,” her sister snapped.
She had never been good at taking help, she knew. “Fine. Thank you.”
Her sister smiled. “Now, was that so hard?”
It was hard. “I just have this feeling—”
“Oh, don’t start with the vibes, please,” Amy Sue said. “My car’s insured if you’re worried about wrecking it. Just drive carefully and don’t worry for a change. Can you do that?”
She nodded, even as she knew she couldn’t. But her sister was right. Josie needed to go. She needed to talk to Esther. That feeling was stronger than the one that made her hesitate. “I’ll try not to wreck it. You…just be careful,” she said, looking around.
Amy Sue laughed and shook her head as she handed over the keys. As Josie climbed behind the wheel of her sister’s SUV, all she could hope was that Esther’s prying and meddling would be an advantage this one and only time.
“Be careful,” her sister said before she could start the engine. “You’re the one with the ESP, but Esther gives me the creeps.”
Josie started to explain for the hundredth time that she didn’t have visions, but she wished she did. Instead, she smiled and promised to be careful as she started the engine and left.
She felt off-balance, suddenly scared as her vision darkened for a moment and she had this feeling that Amy Sue was in trouble. It was so strong that she almost turned around and went back. Instead, she called her, using her cell since she wasn’t hooked up to her sister’s hands-free calling.
Amy Sue answered giggling. It was strange to hear. Not as strange as hearing a male voice in the background. “What now, Josie?” she demanded.
“Is there someone there with you?”
“What if there was?”
“Amy Sue, I’m going to turn around—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was just the TV. I turned it off.”
Josie listened, hearing nothing in the background now. “I know you think I’m silly.”
“Silly is putting it mildly. I have something on the stove,” her sister said. “I have to go.”
She disconnected, still afraid, but knowing if she turned around and went back, Amy Sue would be furious with her. Whatever was coming, it felt as if it was already here. But her second sight had never been very precise. Still, she hurriedly called Goldie.
“Can’t talk right now, swamped,” Goldie said when she answered. “Call me later.” With that, she was gone.
Josie tried to relax. Goldie was working a double at the café since the other waitress had called in sick so she’d probably be busy all day.
Still, she wished she’d talked Goldie into coming with her and blowing off work.
Not that her friend would ever do that since it would mean closing the café.
Goldie couldn’t let anyone who needed a meal go away hungry.
But Josie had one of her feelings she often had that made her anxious. She reminded herself that her friend wasn’t at the café alone. Her teenage cook, Ronnie, and it sounded like half the town was there, as well.
Still, unable to throw off her uneasy feeling, Josie called the Dry Gulch Sheriff’s Department and asked to speak to the deputy. When Rance came on the line, she said, “Could you keep an eye on Goldie? She’s working a double shift down at the café today.”
“The sheriff already has me keeping an eye on her,” the deputy said. “Had breakfast down there. Ronnie’s there cooking. The place is hoppin’. Not sure what you think is going to happen in broad daylight. Anyway, I thought Max told you. Everything is fine now.”