Chapter Nine
Tyler looked like a whipped dog when a deputy escorted him to Burke’s office nearly two hours after Cash received Owen’s call.
It had been one hundred and fifteen minutes of tension that Cash was eager to put behind him.
The silent trip to the ranch with Burke had been pure hell.
Cash kept waiting for him to ask about Nick or comment on his possessive display, but he’d said nothing.
Somehow, that made the situation worse. Once at the ranch, Burke had been all business, which was the appropriate tone considering the situation.
Cash just missed the friendly twinkle in his friend’s eyes and the easy camaraderie they felt in each other’s presence.
But if he were honest, the easiness had dissipated each time Burke asked him out.
Cash should’ve been up front with Burke the first time it happened and admitted he was hung up on someone else.
But Cash hadn’t been willing to admit it to himself, let alone to Burke.
He thought he could bury his unrequited love in the basement of his soul through sheer willpower.
Then said love showed up, threw open the door with a few words, and let all his feelings out.
Cash had been foolish in so many ways. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to salvage his friendship with Burke.
But he’d have to worry about that later.
Tyler’s well-being came first. Though Ty didn’t wear cuffs or shackles, he moved as if he did.
Dread and shame hung over him like a rain cloud, but Cash carried a big umbrella.
“Ty.” Cash gentled his gruff voice as best he could.
The younger guy snapped his head up and his eyes went wide with surprise. Had he not expected Cash to come to his aid? “I didn’t steal anything, boss.”
Cash crossed the room and placed both hands on Ty’s shoulders. “I know you didn’t. I’ve come to take you home.”
Tyler looked from Cash to Burke, then back. “You mean it? They’re not keeping me until my arraignment? You can deduct whatever bail money you paid from my paycheck,” Tyler added in a rush. “If that’s not good enough, I can call my folks and see if they’ll help.”
Cash pulled Tyler into his arms and hugged him tightly. The younger man stiffened for a few heartbeats before melting into his embrace. Ty released a muffled sob against Cash’s shoulder before pulling himself together and stepping back.
“There’s no bail to pay back and there won’t be an arraignment,” Cash said.
Thanks to Nick, Owen, and a certain feisty redhead who’d rallied the business owners on Main Street.
Cash’s compiled data impressed Burke, but he said it only proved the Redemption Ridge trucks weren’t nearby when the thefts occurred.
He’d suggested that Tyler could’ve ridden there with someone else.
Cash explained that Tyler went nowhere without Owen and vice versa.
They weren’t close to anyone outside the ranch’s tight inner circle, and they didn’t own their own vehicles.
Burke dismissed the logic and said he could charge Tyler with receiving stolen property.
Cash had countered that Tyler didn’t need to purchase or receive stolen property because every tool he needed was available on the ranch.
Both men had dug in their heels as tension rose between them until a young deputy alerted the sheriff to a problem in the lobby.
The problem turned out to be seven business owners from Main Street led by Hope.
They were armed with security camera footage that painted a vivid picture and cleared Tyler of all charges.
Judging by Ty’s reactions, he hadn’t known about his vindication when the deputy brought him to Burke’s office.
“Tyler.” Burke’s voice was authoritative as ever, but he’d softened the edges just the slightest bit.
The younger man turned to face the sheriff. Tyler’s spine stiffened and rapt attention replaced the hangdog expression from earlier. “Sir.” Cash wouldn’t have been surprised if Tyler had saluted Burke.
The sheriff gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. Tyler took one, and Cash sat in the other. “You’ve been set up,” Burke explained.
Tyler’s eyes went wide again, and he bounced his gaze between Cash and the sheriff. “Me? I don’t know anyone who’d want to do that.”
But Cash did, though he didn’t know how he’d prove his suspicion.
“How do you know I was the target?” Tyler asked.
“Well, I can’t prove they were setting you up specifically,” Burke replied.
Cash realized the sheriff’s thoughts were following the same path as his, but he kept his mouth shut and let the man speak.
“I want to show you the footage from Main Street to see if you recognize the person who placed the stolen goods in the truck bed,” Burke said. “Mr. Sweeney already watched the clips and didn’t recognize the guy.”
Mr. Sweeney, huh? So that’s where they stood.
“Okay,” Ty said hesitantly. “Gotta tell you, Sheriff, I only really know the people on our ranch. Unless this person works at a store or restaurant in town, I won’t recognize them.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Burke said.
“I’ll do anything I can to help.” Tyler’s eagerness was one of his most endearing traits.
Burke turned his computer monitor around so Tyler could see it better, then cued up the first clip.
It showed a slender man wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots walking down the street with an oversized canvas bag.
The guy wore a ball cap pulled down low over his forehead and kept his profile toward the cameras, even when he dumped the tools into the bed of the truck. Burke paused the video and zoomed in.
“I’ll be damned,” Tyler whispered.
“Do you know him?” Burke asked with urgency.
Tyler shook his head. “Sorry. I was just shocked by his boldness.”
Burke continued playing the video clips to show the man walking down the sidewalk.
He discarded the canvas bag in a trash can and continued toward a parked sheriff’s cruiser.
They watched as the man approached a deputy who exited the diner with two large sacks of food.
He gestured animatedly toward the parked truck, now out of frame.
Burke paused the action again. The security camera footage came from across the street, so he zoomed in again to look for any identifying features like scars or tattoos.
The only feature that stood out to Cash was the man’s nose.
It had a slight bump on the bridge as if it had healed poorly after an injury, which gave the nose a hooked appearance.
“Sorry, sir,” Tyler said. “I can’t help you. I’ve never seen that man before in my life.”
The sheriff sighed. “I’ll keep working on this. Can you think of anyone who holds a grudge against you?”
“Me personally or the ranch?” Tyler asked.
“Because I’ve never exchanged a harsh word with anyone.
” He scrunched up his face. “Well, a few of the guys from Salvation Anew said some shitty things to me once in town. I just ignored them and kept walking.” Tyler looked at Cash.
“Do you think they’re behind this? The logo on the truck doors clearly identifies it as ours.
Could this have happened to any of us who drove into town?
We’re here often enough. Dude could’ve just been waiting for the opportunity. ”
“That’s for me to figure out.” Burke’s voice had regained its sharp edge, and he locked his gaze with Cash’s in a warning.
He didn’t want Nick interfering more than he already had with the errands that had caused him to part ways with Cash earlier.
“You’ve been as helpful as can be, but I’ll take it from here. ”
Tyler held up both hands in surrender. “Fine by me, sir.”
Burke arched a brow at Cash, who grinned to let the sheriff know he’d received the message. Now he just needed to convince his…um…Nick to stay out of it. Burke stood up and said, “I’ll walk you out.”
Tyler didn’t let on if he thought that was weird. Then again, he was probably too eager to leave the station to pick up on nuance. Burke had ordered Tyler’s truck to be returned, and a deputy had parked it in front of the station for them.
“You mind driving?” Tyler asked Cash when Burke held out the keys.
“No problem.”
Cash mentally braced himself for an accusation or snide remark once Tyler climbed into the passenger side of his vehicle and shut the door. Instead, Burke chuckled as he dropped the keys into Cash’s open palm.
“You know,” he said, crossing his arms, “you could’ve just told me you were in love with someone else.
I wouldn’t have been upset.” Burke tipped his head to the side.
“I think I already knew but continued to hope I had a chance.” With a heavy sigh, he added, “Tell that arrogant asshole that you and I are still having our weekly lunches. I’m not losing my friend over this. ”
Cash’s muscles unclenched, and relief flooded his body. He reached over and clasped Burke’s shoulder. “I’ll see you Wednesday at one, Seth.”
“Looking forward to it.” The twinkle returned to his gray eyes. “Hey, Cash,” Burke called out before he could open the driver’s door. “Be careful and stay alert.”
Burke’s caution held an ominous tone, but Cash tried to smile through his unease. “Will do.”
Tyler said little on the way home. He appeared to lock himself down tight, though Cash caught a telltale shiver every once in a while.
Cash’s mind was in a million places too, so he embraced the quiet instead of trying to guess the assurances Tyler needed to hear.
Owen would know the perfect way to reach Ty just as Nick would calm the tumultuous feelings troubling Cash.
They were going home to their respective people, and that was better than idle chitchat.
Tyler didn’t launch himself out of the truck when Cash parked it in the usual space next to the barn. He turned solemn eyes on Cash and said, “Thanks for coming for me.”