Chapter 20 Aspen
ASPEN
Charlie and Cady ran out of the double doors, holding hands and giggling as if there was no one else in the whole world but them.
“Don’t you think that’s a little inappropriate?” Katelyn sneered.
I had to close my eyes for a moment and breathe.
It had been the longest day in recent history.
I’d been confronted with a shirtless Roan this morning—my dry spell making itself abundantly known—a full day at work, the run-in with the podcasters, talking with Lawson, trying to smooth things over with Elsie and Jonesy, and attempting to concoct a story they would believe without outright lying.
I did not need bitter, bitchy Katelyn on top of it all.
“I think their kind of friendship should be celebrated, don’t you?” I asked, casting a look in her direction.
Her casual perfection made me cringe at my sweater and faded jeans. Katelyn pursed her lips. “They’re holding hands. They’re too young for that.”
“They’re kids. It’s completely innocent.”
Katelyn scoffed. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’re condoning this behavior. You were what? Twenty when you had her?”
I stiffened. The judgment wasn’t entirely new. I was twenty-seven now, twenty-two when I’d taken custody of Cady. But I looked a little younger, and whatever piece of glitter Cady had stuck on me today didn’t help that fact.
I plastered on a wide smile. “Katelyn, you’re too kind. I love that you think I look so youthful.”
Her jaw dropped, and I turned to greet Cady and Charlie. “Hey, you two.”
“Hi, Miss Aspen,” Charlie greeted.
“How do you feel about coming home with us this afternoon? Your dad and uncle are going to meet us there.”
I heard a sound of annoyance come from Katelyn’s direction as she stalked away.
Charlie grinned widely. “That would be awesome!”
Cady jumped up and down while keeping hold of his hand. “Is Mr. Grizz gonna be there?”
A prickle of something passed through me. “He is.”
“This is the best day EVER!” she cheered.
“Come on, kiddos. Charlie, I’ve already got your booster in the car.”
“Aw, man. I keep telling Dad I don’t need one no more.”
I bit back a chuckle. “I’m afraid it’s the law, and it wouldn’t be very good if your dad didn’t follow the law since he’s the chief of police.”
Charlie’s shoulders slumped. “I guess.”
Cady tugged on his hand. “We can decorate your booster. I put pink glitter and stickers on mine.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Could we do frog stickers?”
“Totally,” Cady said.
“Okay.”
That being settled, I got the two of them situated in the back seat. “Ready to rock and roll?”
Charlie grinned. “You got cookies at your house?”
I twisted in my seat. “Do I look like an amateur to you?”
His little brow furrowed. “What’s an am-am-a-teur?”
“Someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. A beginner.”
He grinned again. “Nope. You make the best cookies and muffins and scones ever.”
“Thanks, Charlie. That just made my day.”
“It’ll make my day if I can get some of those cookies.”
I laughed as I pulled away from the curb. “I’ve got cookies, but I was thinking we could do some experimenting in the kitchen after I chat with your dad and uncle. I’m working on a new recipe.”
“Is it a yummy one?” Charlie asked skeptically, not sure he wanted to give up on cookies.
“Mama’s recipes are always yummy,” Cady told him. “Well, other than when she makes broccoli. This isn’t broccoli, is it?”
God, these two were good for the soul.
“No broccoli. I wanted to make double chocolate peanut butter cup muffins.”
Silence reigned in the car for a beat.
“That sounds freaking awesome!” Charlie cheered.
“It’s like my favorite but better,” Cady echoed.
“I’m glad I’ve got your vote,” I said as I turned onto Huckleberry Lane.
The two of them talked in a rapid-fire language I didn’t have a prayer of understanding. I caught the occasional mention of a type of candy or a dessert, but that was it. But the chatter and joy warmed my heart. It was the perfect balm after a trying day.
I pulled into my drive, spotting Lawson’s SUV. But when I saw Roan’s truck next to it, my heart rate ratcheted up. “Get a grip,” I muttered to myself.
The second the car was in park, and the engine was off, the kids were unbuckling and climbing out. I hurried to follow them, catching sight of Roan and Lawson emerging from the barn. The kids ran toward them.
“How’s Dory?” Cady called.
Roan’s lips curved the barest amount. If I didn’t make a habit of studying the man, I likely would’ve missed it. “She looks really good. Bet she’ll be able to go home in another few days.”
Cady’s expression dropped. “I’ll miss her.”
Roan’s face gentled. “I bet you’ll see her around. And you’ll be so happy knowing she’s back with her family.”
Cady bobbed her head in a nod as she looked back at me. “I’d be real sad if I had to be away from my mama.”
My heart squeezed.
Lawson gave me a chin lift. “You’ve got even more than the last time I was here. An emu?”
I gave him a sheepish smile as I cast a quick look at Emmaline in a pasture with a few of the goats. “She needed a place to go.”
Lawson shook his head. “Can’t wait to see what shows up next.”
“I think I want a grizzly bear next,” Cady piped in.
Lawson choked on a laugh. “I think Roan might have to arrest you then.”
Cady glanced up at Roan. “Arrest me?”
Roan’s lips twitched. “Bears aren’t meant to be domesticated. They could hurt you without meaning to.”
Cady’s mouth pressed into a firm line. “Not if we’re friends, and he’s had a snack.”
I squeezed Cady’s shoulders. “How about we get you a snack before you start taking us out one by one?”
She giggled and turned around to fake nibble on my arm. “Tastes just like Cap’n Crunch.”
I laughed and led the way to the house. At the top of the stairs, I reached for my little piece of wood in the doorframe, unlocked the deadbolts and doorknob, and ushered everyone inside.
Chauncey lumbered toward us, and I gave him a quick pat as I held the door for him to go out and do his business.
Roan eyed the space suspiciously. “Where’s the demon?”
Lawson’s brows hit his hairline. “The demon?”
“You ever meet that one-eyed creature from hell?” he challenged.
Chauncey lumbered back up the steps and inside. I locked the door, even though the house was full of people. Some habits were hard to break.
“My cat. He’s scared of a poor, innocent cat,” I informed Lawson.
His eyes filled with humor as he turned back to Roan. “You’re scared of a cat? You work with the most dangerous wildlife in the county, and a cat did you in?”
“That so-called cat nearly took my toe and my eye,” he grumbled.
“That just means Pirate likes you,” Cady said.
“She could like me a little less,” Roan muttered.
“Can we go play in my room?” Cady asked.
“Don’t you want a snack?”
She shook her head. “I wanna show Charlie my new game.”
“Okay. But let me know if you guys get hungry.”
Charlie glanced over his shoulder. “We’re still making the chocolate peanut butter muffins, right?”
“You know it,” I promised.
As the two kids disappeared down the hall, I turned to the men dwarfing my living space. “Can I get you something to drink? I’ve got coffee, tea, water, and juice.”
“Wouldn’t say no to tea,” Lawson said.
The fact that he drank tea was always a surprise to me. His masculine energy seemed in opposition to it.
I glanced at Roan in question.
He moved past me into the kitchen. “I’ll get everything. What do you want?”
I blinked in surprise. “Tea’s good.”
Sitting at the battered kitchen table, I watched Roan move around my kitchen as if he’d lived in this house all his life. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was an expert watcher and could pick up the tiniest details in a split second.
As the kettle heated on the stove, I turned to Lawson. “What’s the plan?”
Lawson leaned back in his chair. “Roan didn’t think the word I had with Steven and Tyson was strong enough, so we stopped by their cabin on the way here.”
My gaze flicked to Roan as he gently pulled mugs from my cabinet. He paused as he took in the illustrations on the outside. Bright pink hearts on one. A rainbow between two clouds on the other. And a Pegasus on the last.
He just shook his head and returned to his task. But something about those large, callused hands dwarfing the mugs Cady had painstakingly picked out made my heart squeeze.
I forced my focus back to Lawson. “How’d the second conversation go?”
His expression was carefully blank, and that blankness put me on edge. “They’ve been informed they are no longer allowed on the property of The Brew or your home. If they go against that official warning, they’ll be arrested.”
“Can’t imagine they took that well,” I mumbled.
Roan slid the Pegasus mug in front of me. “They don’t have to like it. They just have to obey it.”
I studied Roan’s rainbow mug as he sat. “Is that hot chocolate?”
A hint of red hit Roan’s cheeks as he shrugged. “I like hot chocolate. Just not on top of ice cream.”
Lawson dunked his tea bag in and out of his water. “I’ll have officers keeping an eye out for them.”
I stiffened. “I don’t want anyone else to know.”
Lawson’s expression gentled. “No one here would believe the nonsense some of those conspiracy theorists spout.”
I pressed my palms against the sides of the mug, trying to let the heat ward off the dark memories that wanted to break through.
“You don’t know what it was like,” I whispered.
“People were awful. Some just stared with pity, but others were cruel. Someone dumped an entire iced coffee over my head. Another person who came into my office for a meeting started screaming at me that I was a liar and a whore.” And everyone had known where to find me, thanks to Oren Randal.
I stared down at the swirling liquid as those memories pressed—memories of how things had gotten so much worse.
A hand landed lightly above my knee and squeezed. My gaze flew to Roan’s, but he didn’t move.
“We’re not going to let that happen to you here,” he vowed.
“You can’t stop it. No one can. Not if everyone knows the truth.”
Lawson blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll tell my people those two were hassling you at The Brew and I want to keep an eye out. That’s the truth, just not all of it.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you.”
Roan gave my thigh one more squeeze and then released me. I missed his heat the second it was gone. I wanted to beg him to bring it back. Needed the steady pressure that seemed to somehow ground me amidst my swirling thoughts.
“We need to figure out how they found you,” Lawson said.
I nodded, my gaze dropping to my darkening tea.
“Has anyone else found you here?” Lawson asked.
My blood ran cold, my muscles winding tight. “I got a letter.”
The air around me went electric.
“What kind of letter?” Roan growled.
“Not the warm and fuzzy kind,” I said.
“Was it signed?” Lawson asked.
I shook my head. “No. But I know who sent it.”
“Who?” Roan demanded.
“John. The man who killed my sister.”