Chapter 24
As Kristy pulled into the parking area of Lexi and Cort’s ranch, she noted Rusty’s SUV parked near the barn. But no Rusty.
Her father had called and told her that Dean agreed not to file charges with the understanding that Kristy was moving back to Cheyenne. Dean should have known moving back to Cheyenne would have nothing to do with him. If he’d been listening. Likely that was her father injecting his conditions for making the gesture.
The thought of becoming her father’s chief of staff was already causing knots in her stomach. She hated politics. She hated the drama, the backroom gamesmanship, the public limelight. But the worst of it would be moving back to Cheyenne and away from Rusty. Surely it would strain their budding relationship, even if she was making the move for his sake.
She’d work for her father as he wanted. She’d agreed to two years, which would take her through the next election cycle. The important thing would be keeping her relationship going with Rusty because then she would move back to Gillette and, hopefully, find a job again.
She felt guilty. Guilty for leaving Ariel, who was, understandably, barely speaking to her. But Ariel could work with whoever Marcia hired to replace Kristy. She felt guilty leaving Marcia in the lurch when Marcia needed her now more than ever and had been super complimentary about the gala, with promises to Kristy that she would indeed get a piece of the business—as well as hinting at other plans.
Already the An Affair to Remember had had four inquiries as a result of the gala, so there was definitely a business opportunity in the area.
Really, four hours was not that long a distance. Some people lived on separate coasts and made it work.
It worried her that Wyoming didn’t have a statute of limitations on crimes, but by then Rusty would have a few years under his belt as a police officer, and she hoped that would prove to be enough reason for him to keep his job. And surely by then Dean would unequivocally understand that nothing was going to happen between them.
She scooted out of the car and used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. As she focused on the porch, she spotted movement. Her heart leaped but settled as the figure moved to the steps and she realized it was Lexi.
She appreciated Lexi’s invitation to come out to the ranch and talk to Rusty. She had no clue, though, why Rusty hadn’t returned her calls. Though he’d overreacted at the gala, it had to mean he cared for her.
And she was in love with him. That thought had been bouncing around her head and filling her heart. That was why she was willing to do this.
“He’s in the corral behind the barn, rubbing down Misty. He slept out at the cabin last night,” Lexi called from the porch.
That was a surprise. “Guess that’s why he didn’t return my calls. No cell service?”
Lexi shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him.”
Kristy turned toward the barn. Was there another reason he wasn’t returning her calls? He couldn’t be angry with her . And he couldn’t know about the deal she’d made with her father yet.
“Kristy,” Lexi called, and Kristy looked back over her shoulder. Lexi had come down the stairs. “Let him down easy, if you can. He comes across as a strong man, but he’s more vulnerable than you might think.”
What did Lexi mean about letting him down easy? Her stomach was in a jumble as she pushed through the gate of the first corral. No horses were in that first one, and she tromped through the dusty field to the back gate. The smells of horses, hay, and manure wafted over her despite the still air.
She looked over the gate toward the west, where she could see him working. His back was to her, and he was currying a horse.
When she latched the gate behind her, he craned his neck, straightened, then turned around to face her.
“What are you doing here?” His voice had a low growl to it that made her stop in her tracks.
“I came to see you. You didn’t answer my calls or texts. Lexi invited me out here.” If his face had been a cloud, it would have been a black thunder cloud.
“My not answering should have been a hint.”
“You don’t want to talk to me?” Anxiety pumped her pulse.
“Not right now.” He turned back and began to curry the horse again.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Shouldn’t I be the one upset with you?”
“Why, because I decked a guy who looked like he was hurting you?” He didn’t turn around but continued with the curry comb, a little more vigorously than Kristy thought was called for. “Usually you get thanked for that.”
“Tell me what’s wrong.” She hadn’t told him yet about Cheyenne. His attitude was going to make that even more difficult.
“You tell me. Say what you have to say and go.”
“Rusty, I don’t know what is bothering you.”
This time he turned around, and the horse brushed her nose against Rusty’s neck, as if encouraging him to keep going.
“You’re going back to Cheyenne.” He turned back to the horse who gave a snort as he curried her rump.
“How did you know?” She’d just decided an hour or two ago.
“So, it’s true. Your boyfriend must be pretty happy.”
“What boyfriend? You’re my boyfriend.” At least, she’d thought he was.
“The guy who answered your door yesterday morning, half-dressed and saying what a good time he had with you. Your fiancé. That guy.”
“Dean?” She gasped his name. “You came to the apartment yesterday morning? He didn’t tell me.”
“Guess he didn’t think it would be important to you.”
She found her legs and walked toward him, although it felt like she was walking toward fire. “It is important to me. You’re important to me.”
He threw the curry comb on the ground, causing the horse to fidget, and turned toward her. If his face had looked stormy before, it looked like it was twisting up to be a tornado now.
“So important that you slept with another guy. Your ex-fiancé, and now you’re heading back to Cheyenne to be with him.”
She felt anger boiling up inside of her. “I did not sleep with Dean. And I am not going back to Cheyenne to be with him.”
“Then what the hell was he doing at your apartment half-dressed?”
“The doctor said he needed to be watched since he’d suffered a concussion, and I certainly didn’t want to spend the time at his hotel room, so I did take him home. I slept in Ariel’s room. I checked on him every few hours, like the doctor said. That’s it.”
She saw the tension in his face relax a bit.
She hurried on. “I must have been in the shower when you came by, and, no, he didn’t mention it.” She took a step closer and took it as a good sign that he didn’t move away. “I have never forgiven him for what he did, and after his actions at the gala, I can honestly say that I can’t stand him. What I ever saw in him is beyond me. You have to believe me.”
“But you’re returning to Cheyenne. If you care about us, then what the hell are you going there for?”
She bit her lip as perspiration broke out on the back of her neck. “It’s part of the bargain I made with my father to get him to persuade Dean not to file charges against you. I did it to save your career. I care about you. Only you. And I don’t want you to lose everything you’ve worked for and wanted, because of me or Dean the Weasel.”
“Dean the what?” He looked askance at her, as if he couldn’t quite understand her words.
“The weasel. That’s what Ariel and I call him now.” Although Ariel had probably always called him that. She was much better at reading people than Kristy was. “And how did you even know about Cheyenne? I just made the decision an hour or so ago.”
“A little birdie left me a text. And you made this bargain without talking to me?” He shook a finger at her like she’d been a bad little girl.
She put her hands on her hips. “I tried to talk to you. I called and texted you enough.”
“You should have never made that bargain, Kristy. This wasn’t something you needed to fix. Tell your father that it’s off. I don’t give a rat’s ass if the weasel files charges against me.”
“But it will ruin your chances of becoming a police officer. That’s been your goal since you got out of the service.”
“I’m not becoming a police officer. I withdrew my application an hour ago.”
“Because of Dean?”
“Partly. But also because I don’t think it’s the career for me anymore. I’ve got some things to work through, and I don’t think being a police officer is going to help me do that. So if you made that bargain because of me, you can tell your father it’s off. And even if I were still pursuing a law enforcement career, I’d say the same thing. Because that’s how important you are to me.”
She felt like she’d just been freed from prison. She hurtled toward him and flung her arms around his neck. He held her, squeezed her close. She breathed in the scent of man, horse, and hay.
She rubbed her hands up and down his back, checking to be sure he was real. “If you’re sure, because I really don’t want to work for my father.”
“I’m sure, but honey, we’ve still got a problem.”
“Why?” She nuzzled his neck, enjoying the feel of his warm body next to hers despite the heat of the day. She didn’t want to hear about any problems. She just wanted to be with him.
“I’m moving to Cheyenne.”
Kristy hung on to him like she was drowning, because that’s how his words made her feel. She leaned back in his embrace to get a good look at the pained expression on his face. “Why are you moving to Cheyenne?”
He grimaced. “Two reasons. I decided I was going to fight for you, and if I was going to fight for you, I had to be where you were. And two, I was offered a civilian job at the air force base in Cheyenne, training recruits for the pararescue team.”
She took a deep breath and blew it out.
“You were ready to do that to be with me? So you want a real relationship now?” Joy bubbled up inside her like champagne being uncorked.
“Yes.” His eyes searched her face, as if trying to read something there.
“But I’m not going to be there, and you said you didn’t want a desk job—you wanted to be part of the action.”
He shrugged. “Besides training, which will keep me physically active, I’m also going to be part of the strategic team that helps plan missions and slots the personnel to accomplish the mission. That will provide enough challenge. I’m actually looking forward to it. Or was.”
He hugged her close, and she tightened her arms around his neck. She’d gone from fear, to happiness, to confusion in the space of a few minutes.
“I’m also committed to understanding what’s behind those nightmares that plague me, and the base has counselors I can use.”
“I’m really proud of you, Rusty.” She kissed his cheek. It took courage to face one’s demons. “But you’re going to be in Cheyenne and I’m going to be in Gillette?” And not just for two years. “How are we going to make this work?” His rock-hard body was like an anchor, keeping her from drifting, because she definitely felt at sea.
“We’ll find a way, Kristy. Together. We have to.”
His lips found hers, hard and demanding, making her believe him. For the moment, at least.