Chapter 29
29
Hudson
S eeing Rachel was like coming up for air. Hudson had missed her. He knew that. But something in him had managed to mute the agony he’d felt from being separated from her over the last little while.
But he couldn’t dwell on the elation he felt at that moment. He needed to focus on his reason for coming to the sheriff in the first place.
Hudson pushed Tony forward, causing his feet to shuffle against the tiled floor. Then he charged toward the desk himself and slammed the cigarette box he’d found at the creek onto the desk.
The sheriff looked down at the box, then up at Hudson. “No, thank you. I don’t smoke.”
“No, that box was found at a section of the creek that runs through Miss Walton’s property. It had been diverted to a man- made pond. There is still evidence of it, though we’ve fixed the water to flow back to where it belongs.”
The man’s eyes narrowed as he took in Hudson with suspicion. “And I’m to believe that you weren’t responsible for the diversion? No one has made any reports?—”
“It’s true,” Rachel blurted.
The hairs on the back of Hudson’s neck rose. Oh, how he’d missed her sweet voice.
Rachel continued. “We didn’t file a report because we needed the water to return quickly. Hudson and his brothers followed the water up the mountain, and they were able to solve the problem.”
The sheriff’s frown deepened. “If that is true, then you interfered with an investigation.”
Hudson pulled out the bag with the used cigarette butt and put it next to the box. “Then arrest me. But first, you have everything you need right here. This man was present at the break-in. He was there when the creek was diverted. And he participated in the fire. Check that cigarette against the one we found at the barn. It’ll be a match.”
Tony shifted uncomfortably at his side.
Hudson sighed. “He’s willing to cooperate if he can get a deal. I didn’t promise him anything. But it should depend on what information he can give. I have a feeling you’ll get a lot of attention for this one. Sounds like some very powerful people have been behind this whole thing.”
The sheriff’s eyes flitted to Rachel, and Hudson could sense her own reaction to his words. Had she found something already? Wait, why was she here visiting with the sheriff? Had something else happened? His eyes darted to Rachel, concern flooding his heart to the point it felt it would burst.
Before he could ask her, the sheriff stood. “It seems that you and Miss Walton have similar theories.” He nodded toward Tony. “I can’t make any promises, but if you’ll follow me to the interrogation room, I will see what I can do.”
“I—don’t I need to get a lawyer?” Tony asked.
“As of now, you’re not under arrest. What you say or don’t say is up to you. I will say, however, that if Mr. Keagan is correct and that cigarette is a match to the one we’ve already sent to the labs, then it would be wise for you to cooperate. You have a right to legal counsel. There is a phone you can use this way.” The sheriff motioned for Tony to follow him. He stopped in the doorway and nodded to Hudson. “You’ll be available if I have additional questions?”
Hudson nodded.
Then the sheriff looked to Rachel. “And the same goes for you. I’m not sure where this is all heading, but if what you are both saying is correct, then I think it might finally be time to call in some reinforcements. There’s no telling how high up this will go.” He glanced at Tony. “Shall we?”
Hudson watched the two men leave, and in the quiet moments that followed, he felt like he could breathe again. He exhaled a deep breath and then glanced toward Rachel, finding her staring at him.
“You’re back,” she whispered.
He flinched. “I’m back.”
“To stay?”
“Are you?” he said in a sarcastic tone, then flinched once more. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I probably deserved that.”
Hudson shook his head. “No. You don’t. You deserve kindness and support. I haven’t been giving that to you.” He moved closer to her and reached for her hand. His thumb traced over her knuckles, and he took a deep breath. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you, how scared I was that you would leave.” It was harder to admit than he’d expected. “I’ve found myself falling in love with you.”
She brought his hand to her cheek and leaned against his palm. “I fell for you a long time ago.” Her words were a boon to his soul—something he hadn’t known he needed until that moment.
“You did?” He couldn’t keep himself from asking.
Rachel smiled, emotion brimming in her eyes.
Hudson pulled her closer, putting his arms around her waist. He leaned in even closer, forgetting they were still in the sheriff’s office until a soft knock on the door interrupted them.
“I’m sorry, but due to the sheriff’s absence, I’m going to have to ask you two to leave.”
He turned to find the secretary grinning widely at both of them. Hudson chuckled. “Of course. We’re leaving now.” He slipped his hand into hers, and they headed for the exit.
Rachel loved him. She was staying. And they were even closer to stopping the harassment that Rachel had been experiencing. It was hard to believe that everything they’d gone through together was coming to a resolution.
She glanced at him, a small smile on her face as they exited the building and stepped into the evening light. He offered a smile back. They slowed as they reached the foot of the steps that led to the sheriff’s station, and she turned to face him fully. “You’re probably wondering what happened while you were gone.”
“I won’t deny that,” he said with a chuckle. “There were so many times when I wanted to come back just to keep an eye on you. I questioned if I’d made the wrong decision over and over.”
“You remember that letter I got from Mr. Grant?”
He nodded, his stomach churning at the memory. That letter had been a catalyst of sorts. He hadn’t wanted to leave, and yet he knew if he didn’t do something, then he’d be left with nothing. When she’d gotten that offer, she hadn’t had any reason to stay.
Rachel’s gentle touch around the back of his neck pulled him to the present. He shook off that sense of trepidation. Things had changed. She wasn’t going to leave. She wrapped her other hand around his neck and tilted her head with a coy smile. “Turns out that Mr. Grant is in deep with that developer.”
Hudson’s brows shot up. “No.”
“Yep. He doesn’t work for the developer directly, but he’s on the board of a charity they support, and he’s been linked with their resort business holdings. I’m guessing he made his offer so that I would sell to whomever he recommended.”
“So, the charity he wanted you to run was a hoax?”
“No,” she mused, “I think the charity position was real. In fact, I think most of the charities that developer supports are on the up-and-up. But it’s possible that the only reason they have their fingers in so many pies is so they can stretch their reach across the country. If they’re known by groups who have a good standing in society, then it’s easier to get the town or city to approve their requests.”
Hudson frowned. “Do they know anyone here?” His brows rose. “Shane?—”
“It doesn’t appear so, no. That might be why it was so easy for me to make the purchase. Technically, I have family here. And that family is marrying into another bigger family. I think the people who were selling the property had a similar opinion of the resort. Copper Creek doesn’t need a big resort to pull tourists in when we already have that country club.”
He grinned. “Have I told you how much I like it that you say ‘we’?”
“You can say it as often as you like.” Her grin widened, and her eyes sparkled. They’d only been speaking for about fifteen minutes, but already he could tell she was lighter. Her burdens had been lifted, even if only by a little bit. She was happier—happier than he’d ever seen her.
Rachel glowed. The courage of this woman exceeded that of most of the men Hudson knew. She was too good for him, and it had become clearer and clearer the more time he spent with her. He couldn’t think of a single human being that could handle what she’d been put through.
He’d been a jerk and didn’t deserve her.
“I can’t believe I ever said you were scared.” He could feel the embarrassment of that conversation returning with a vengeance.
“When we’re put under pressure, we tend to say things we don’t mean.”
“Please don’t make excuses for me,” he said. “I want you to know that I’m going to spend every waking moment making up for what I said and how I treated you.”
Rachel laughed.
He stiffened, his head rearing backward. “What?”
She shook her head. “You can stop that right now.”
“Stop what?”
“That self-deprecating nonsense. I love you, Hudson. I know you better than anyone, and I know that you would never intentionally hurt me. This is all very new for both of us. We come with baggage, and that’s okay. As long as we learn from each other, I think we’ll turn out all right. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Me neither.”
“Good.” Rachel leaned into him, resting her cheek against his shoulder. “Because I don’t think Odin can handle you being gone much longer.”
He laughed.
“I mean it,” she said again. “That poor dog has been out on the porch day and night keeping watch—but also waiting for you to come back. I think he always knew that’s what you were going to do.” She pulled back and gazed up at him. “He might be smarter than the both of us.”
Hudson allowed himself to get lost in her gaze. It was easy to fall into those deep pools of blue. “Man, I missed you,” he said, looking deep into her eyes. “And if you’ll have me, I swear I will never leave your side again.”
Her smile stretched wider. “I’d like that.”
“Then it’s a promise.” He grasped her chin with his finger and thumb and tilted it upward to gain access to her lips. She was everything he needed and more. He found himself wishing that he would have given her a chance before they’d gotten stuck together on that ranch, but then if he had, there was no telling how their futures would differ. The way it was right now, he couldn’t imagine it being any more perfect than it was at this moment.
And with that thought, he captured her mouth with his. Theirs was a kiss where he could promise her the world as long as she was willing to accept it. Her arms flung around him, holding him close. They fit together better than two pieces of a puzzle. Symbiotic. That’s what they were. He wanted to be better because of her. He had found his place because he knew she loved him.
Heat flickered to life between them, filling his soul with its light and joy. He didn’t know what their future might hold, but it didn’t matter as long as they were together. Their kiss deepened, and the city street, along with all its noises, fell away.
This was pure happiness.
This was what his brothers had been talking about.
This was happily ever after.