Chapter 14
fourteen
Charlie
I stepped into the center aisle, bewildered at Jeff’s words.
And then I stopped dead.
Because standing at the other end of the barn, squirming, feet flailing as Jeff shook him by the back of his shirt…
Was my husband.
“Lorne?” I choked.
“Hey, buddy.” Lorne’s voice—which I hadn’t heard in a year—slammed into my chest, clamping around my heart like a vice. “There’s no need for all the manhandling.” His laugh was easy, as if he thought it would placate Jeff. Nope. Jeff dropped him to his feet so hard he tripped forward, almost falling on his face before righting himself. “Sheesh!” He laughed again but it was all a cover. He was scared, eyes on the concrete floor like he didn’t want to look at me.
My fingers curled into fists and I strode toward him, ready to light him up. But Cash cut in front, blocking me with one arm, like he could stop history from repeating itself. His eyes were wild and worried. And full of questions: Will you leave again? Will you pick him over me? “Do you actually want to see this tool?” he asked like it was a personal offense if I did.
If someone told me they’d spotted Lorne down at the local Food Lion, I wouldn’t drive the ten minutes to see him. I’d have sent Holden with the divorce papers without me. But standing here in the barn? I had a few choice words to say.
“Cash…” I said softly. “I need to.”
His shoulders fell in defeat and his arm dropped, letting me pass.
As I stepped around him, the barn door rolled open again. Backlit by the fading sun, Ford and Holden walked in like the good guys, showing up to save the world.
And it incensed me.
Lorne kept his eyes on the ground. There was no need. I strode past, walking straight over to Jeff.
“What’s up, Chuck?” Jeff’s voice was gentle, his expression anything but.
“Can you take Lorne outside for a minute? I need to speak with my uncles real quick.”
“You got it.”
I didn’t turn to watch. But Jeff must’ve manhandled Lorne because he let out a muffled squeal like a piglet being stuffed into a pillow case.
“Cash?” I said as I heard him move in behind me. “I need you to wait outside too.”
“Charlie.” He sounded hurt.
“Just…” I held up my hands, warning him off. “I need a few minutes.”
“Fine.”
Once he was gone and the door shut behind him, I turned to my uncles, wishing I had the kind of stare that could slice through stone.
Ford was in his usual getup: jeans, cowboy boots, a fitted button-down, and his black hat, not seeming the least bit guilty. Holden, on the other hand, was in a light gray suit like he’d come straight from work, an official-looking green folder in his hand.
I aimed my puny, powerless glare at Holden. “I can’t believe you told him. What happened to attorney-client privilege?”
Holden’s jaw twitched. “I didn’t tell anyone anything. Ford just texted fifteen minutes ago and said to meet him at the barn—STAT—with your divorce papers.” He held the folder out like an offering. “Here you go.”
I ripped it from his hands and swung my glare at Ford, still coming down from my anger. “What? No, why?” Still the wrong question. “ Where’d you find him?”
Ford had the gall to snort. “Florida. Shocker, right? He joined a circus. Literally.”
I blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Lorne is a bona fide juggling savant. A maestro of midair mastery.” His expression deadpanned. “I had to pay the bounty hunter an extra thousand because he wouldn’t shut up about it the entire flight here.”
Holden couldn’t hold back his laughter, fist to his mouth, nostrils flared.
I rubbed my temple. “That actually tracks.” Lorne tried to juggle everything he could get his hands on. Baseballs, bananas, car keys. Those survived. The casualties? At least five dozen eggs, my favorite mug, and a snow globe we got on our trip to Hawaii. And guess who got to clean it all up?
It was the kind of behavior you learn about your future spouse when, you know, you date them for longer than three weeks. I wiped a hand over my forehead, once again furious with myself for marrying such a ridiculous person. Lorne was a child. A weak, spineless, care-about-no-one-but-myself toddler.
“Joined the freaking circus,” I muttered as I stared at Ford’s Adam’s apple. “Did you do this for Cash?”
“Yes.” A muscle in his jaw pulsed. “My boy has been hurting since the day you married that fool.” The acid in his words burned my cheeks with embarrassment. Lorne wasn’t the fool. I was. For thinking he was a diamond in the rough, when in actuality, he was just a dirty lump of coal. Ford was right, I’d hurt Cash. So much. I’d hurt my whole family. “So if there’s something I can do to put an end to that pain, I’m going to do it. It’s what parents do.” But then he picked up my side braid, playfully tickling my nose with the ends. “But mostly, Charlie girl? I did it for you. Because you’re hurting and I love you too—just like I love Cash. I always have. You know that, right?”
“Yeah.” I did. Since the day my mom started dating Ashton, Ford treated me and Theo like we were blood.
He rubbed my arms. “You don’t want to be married to him anymore, do you?”
I gave him a quick shake of the head. “Definitely not.” I threw my arms around him. “Thank you.” I reached for Holden, pulling him into the hug.
He let out a soft laugh. “I did nothing.”
“Not true. You’re the best uncles in the world.” After a few seconds, I sniffed and fanned my face with the folder, not excited about what I had to do now. “Looks like I have some business to take care of.”
“Hold up.” Holden pulled a pen out of his suit jacket and handed it to me. “We’ll come with.”
I nodded. “Okay. But give me a little distance?”
“Sure thing,” Ford said.
We walked wordlessly through the barn and out the other door. Lorne was in the center of the riding ring, his eyes darting between Cash and Jeff who were keeping watch from opposite sides of the fence.
“Don’t even think about it,” Cash hollered, his expression hard. “I will outrun you.”
I flung myself over, not bothering with the gate. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as four men who loved me more than life spread out around the ring. My own personal sentries.
When I reached Lorne, he wouldn’t look at me. His hair was greasy, his skin greasier. When was the last time he’d showered? Or put acne cream on his face? Just like back in the barn, his eyes were on the ground. His hands trembled at his side and he looked even skinnier than the last time I saw him.
The last time I saw him.
The image burned through my mind, searing and suffocating. I was on the floor—a filthy tile floor in a place I never should have been. Because of him. I couldn’t get up. Could barely breathe. I thought I was going to die right there. And my husband? The man who swore to love me all my days? Gave me one last look like I was roadkill. Then, like the coward he was, he bolted from the room, leaving me there all alone.
Dragged here by a bounty hunter because he’d never have the courage or desire to come on his own, surrounded by people who would take him down if need be, I finally saw Lorne for who he truly was.
“How are you?” I asked. The words sounded like they’d come from someone else. I’d thought this conversation through a million times and it never started that nicely.
“Good.” His hand ran through his dark, oily hair. “It’s good that you came home. Finally.”
“I wanted to all along. You know that.” He wouldn’t let me. Twisted me up and made me believe that my family was against us. And maybe they were, but obviously for good reason. They’d seen what I couldn’t.
“Y-yeah. I’m sorry about that.” But he didn’t sound sorry. He just sounded like he wanted to run away.
“They wouldn’t have left me like you did. Do you know what happened to me? Do you even care?”
He stared at my shoulder. “I stayed away to protect you.”
So he knew.
That revelation was almost as painful as the fact that he’d left me for dead.
“To protect me?” A bitter laugh scraped my throat. “I was in the ICU. I almost died. Somehow I managed to pull through. But even after that, I had to stay in the hospital for months.” His hooded eyes told me he’d known. He’d known and still chosen to stay away.
“Do they know?” he asked. Even now, he was more worried about himself than me. His gaze darted to each of the guys standing guard.
“Holden knows. But no one else. And I won’t tell them. Because they’d probably do something that would land them in jail and I love them too much to put that temptation in their way.” There was no telling what Cash would do if he found out.
Lorne kicked at a rock in the dirt. “I didn’t think things would go sideways like that.”
“No!” My hand sliced through the air. “You didn’t think. Period,” I hissed. “You definitely weren’t thinking about me, that’s for sure.”
His hands flung out. “I thought you’d be okay. You’re tough, y’know? You always were.”
“For better or for worse,” I whisper-shouted. “In sickness and in health.”
His chest shook with a nervous exhale. “Your uncle said you want me to sign divorce papers.” He looked at the folder in my hand. “Is that it?”
My jaw jutted. He wasn’t even going to try to talk me out of it. Not that he could. There was nothing he could say that would ever make me take him back. But he wasn’t even going to try? I wasn’t worth even that?
I held the folder out and laid the pen in his hand. In thirty seconds it was done. After four long, lonely years, my shackles were unlocked.
“I’m no good,” he said. “Not for a girl like you.” He glanced at Cash, thirty feet off. “You deserve someone like him.”
“Is that your idea of an apology?” I shook my head, disgusted. “Goodbye, Lorne.”
“Hey,” he whispered, looking a little frantic. “I don’t have any money to get home. Back to Florida. Can you spot me some cash?”
I shivered with anger. “I already sold my car to pay off your… debt ,” I growled. “Ford gave me that car.” But he knew all that. I’d told him when he’d begged me to sell it. He didn’t care. He just needed the money.
His eyes were wide and fearful, looking past me to Ford. “Does he know about the car?”
“Not yet. But I imagine I’m going to have to explain it at some point.”
“He’s the one who killed your dad?”
My head jerked back like he’d physically slapped me. Lorne knew full well how much I struggled with the fact that Trevor’s blood ran through my veins. And how the image of his cold, dead eyes, staring up into the night sky as he bled to death on my parents’ lawn haunted me every night as I fell asleep.
But I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt me. Even with his careless words. Not today.
“Ashton is my dad, not Trevor. Get your facts straight. But yeah, Ford shot the man who tried to kill my dad,” I said in a threatening voice. I hoped standing across the riding arena from my sharpshooting uncle scared him witless.
He ran a hand over his mouth. “I wouldn’t ask for money, y’know, but I don’t have even a dollar. I’ll get paid on Monday.”
I was about to reach into my back pocket for the hundred Gramps had slipped me earlier. But I heard someone coming toward us. I turned to see Uncle Holden wearing a grim expression, his gaze trained on Lorne.
Holden reached for the folder and I handed it to him. He flipped through to check the signatures. “Looks good. It should be final in about ten days.” He shot Lorne a terrifying glare and jabbed a finger into his chest. “I know what you did. So stop asking for money. You’re lucky she’s not pressing charges and suing.” Then he glanced at me. “Boundaries, Charlie. You need to learn ‘em.” Then at Lorne, he hissed, “It’s a good thing I’m a law-abiding citizen, otherwise you would’ve been greeted by my twenty-two in your backside.” I choked on a laugh though it was anything but funny. “You got me?”
Lorne stared at him, horrified. Lorne was a self-proclaimed pacifist. I’d thought it so attractive when we met. Really it was an excuse to be a pushover who stood for nothing and stood up for no one. Uncle Holden might be a little over the top at the moment, but he’d never, ever let someone mistreat his wife the way Lorne had let me be treated.
“Yes,” Lorne said, his knees shaking.
Holden cracked his thumb knuckles, looming over him. “In these parts we say ‘yes, sir .’”
“Yes, sir,” Lorne squeaked, his gaze jutting around, searching for an escape. “I’ll get out of your hair.” He turned to go.
“Uh, uh, uh.” Holden grabbed his shirt collar and yanked him back. “You’re not done here.”
Lorne’s entire body was on high alert. I’m pretty sure Holden was the last one he thought might do him bodily harm. Honestly, I was a bit shocked myself.
Holden whacked him on the top of the head with the folder. “Charlie’s going to get the apology she deserves. Not that pathetic ‘my bad’ you gave her a minute ago.” I gave Holden a look. Could he hear our conversation? More importantly, could Cash or Ford hear? “I know how to read lips,” he said. Shoot. I hadn’t known that, and would be sifting back through every hushed conversation I’d ever had tonight. “You left her to die,” he breathed. “So repeat after me, loud enough for everyone to hear,” he commanded at full volume. “I, Lorne Green, am a selfish, no-good excuse for a husband.”
Lorne swallowed hard. “I, Lorne Green, am a selfish, no-good excuse for a husband.”
Thirty feet away, Cash chuckled, delighted. Ford shook his head, a hard look in his eye. Jeff was silent behind me. I wanted to crawl in a hole and I knew that was part of my problem. I hated seeing people suffer, be humiliated, or even get their just dues.
Holden slapped the folder against his other hand like it was a baseball bat. “I abandoned my incredible, saint-like, way-out-of-my-league wife like a garbage bag on the side of the road. But unlike me, at least, garbage gets picked up.”
Tension coiled in my stomach and I wished I could melt into the dirt beneath my feet.
Eyes on the ground, face bright red, Lorne recited verbatim, “I abandoned my incredible, saint-like, way-out-of-my-league wife like a garbage bag on the side of the road. But unlike me, at least, garbage gets picked up.”
Cash grinned. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
But Holden wasn’t done. “And I hereby swear to never, ever, as long as I live, come sniffing around here for money, sympathy, or?—”
“Hold on.” I placed a hand on Holden’s chest. “This means nothing. He’s just saying what you want him to say.” I couldn’t listen to another insincere word. I stepped closer to Lorne and whispered, “You may not believe this, but there’s something freeing in righting your wrongs. Don’t you think the least you could do is muster some kind of regret for what you did?”
Lorne’s gaze lifted slowly, across my collarbone, up my throat, finally locking with mine. His eyes were hollow and dark and terrified.
I cocked my head to the side, eyes widening as if to say can’t you do better than that ?
“You were way too good for me, Charlie. I knew that the minute I met you. I’m sorry I hurt you.” There was so much shame in his expression. “I didn’t stay away because I didn’t care. I stayed away because I’m a coward. I couldn’t look you in the eye.” He sniffed and I was pretty sure it was taking all his effort not to cry. “I’m sorry for what they did. I know it was my fault. And I’m sorry I left you alone.”
Those words didn’t bring the satisfaction I thought they would. If anything, I pitied him. I wanted to tell him that I hoped he’d move on and find happiness again. Maybe even get remarried someday. But I couldn’t recommend him for marriage, even in my mind. To think another unsuspecting, good-hearted woman might end up Mrs. Lorne Greene made me sick to my stomach.
So instead, I said, “Fix yourself, Lorne. Get help.” But I knew he wouldn’t. I’d tried to get him help and he wouldn’t take it. “And Holden’s right. Don’t ever contact me again.” I turned to face Ford. “Can you get him a bus ticket home?” If Uncle Ford said no, I’d take it out of some of the money I’d earned.
“Char—” Holden started, frustration bursting in his voice.
“No,” I said firmly. “I won’t be like him. I don’t leave people high and dry. We brought him here against his will and he’s broke per usual. He may not deserve it but I’m going to be the kind of person I wish he was.”
Holden’s jaw relaxed, and his grip on the folder loosened. His gaze lingered on me, something thoughtful flickering behind his eyes—admiration and respect.
“I can do that,” Ford said with a nod.
I didn’t turn back to say goodbye to Lorne or even get a last look. I walked toward Cash, his ridiculous smolder burning hot as ever.
“Hey,” I said under my breath. “I’ll do the music video.”
I didn’t wait for his response. Just darted over the wood board fence. Then I took off at a jog and headed across the pasture. About the time I reached the footbridge that connected Dupree Ranch to Clean Slate, my eyes started swimming like the river beneath.
But I wouldn’t cry.
Not over Lorne Greene.
Never again.