Chapter Thirty-Five
Like a raging prairie fire, news of the assault spread through the festival crowd.
Ben’s team kept everyone away until Chief King was able to quickly close off the corner.
He assured the people that Sarah was fine and the police were in full control of the matter.
All was well. The authorities kept it quiet that Sarah’s attacker was dead, and they left his body inside for the coroner.
There’d be plenty of time for word about that unsavory detail to get out tomorrow, after the festival was over.
Around the side of the building, the youth who’d originally worn the rhubarb costume with the red tennis shoes was discovered, bound and gagged. He was relieved to be released, and confirmed that he’d been overwhelmed, his costume stolen, by a man matching Colin Korhonen’s description.
Ben pulled his men back, letting law enforcement do their jobs. He held a shaking Sarah close to his side. He signaled his team to surround them, clearing a way to the diner. People murmured among themselves, watching Sarah, concern evident on their faces.
She spotted Emily and her father. She saw Daisy, Betsy, and Virgil and tried to smile at them in reassurance. “Everything’s all right,” she said, although her voice was tinny.
In a rear booth, Ben urged Sarah to sit. The presence of his men kept others at a distance. Jim took a seat across from her. “Honey, are you okay?”
Milly, too, slid into the booth beside her, took her hand.
Sarah ran shaky fingers over her brow. “I think so.”
“She did great,” Ben said. “She managed to stick the little shit twice.”
Jim nodded approvingly.
“You saved me,” she said to Ben. Her entire body trembled. Like sparks firing along her nerve endings, the aftermath of the life-threatening experience jolted through her. For a moment, she was afraid she was going to vomit.
“Not so,” he said. “I looked at the body. He was losing blood fast. In another few seconds, he would have weakened and you’d have finished him off. I just sent him to hell a little sooner, that’s all.”
Sarah folded her hands tightly in her lap. Guilt consumed her. “I’m partly responsible for Mira’s death. Now I’ve helped kill her brother.”
“Sarah,” Ben said, giving her arm a little shake, “that guy was bent on murder. He stalked you for weeks, threatened you. He hurt Annie Smith, Butler, and you. He killed someone’s pet. Don’t take responsibility for this. The man was sick.”
Falling silent, Sarah’s thoughts were jumbled, chaotic. She didn’t know how to make sense of her assault. It was going to take a long time for her to process the event. A very long time.
“Let me see your neck,” Milly said.
“You may need a tetanus shot.” Ben looked at the small wound. “Maybe some antibiotics.”
Milly inspected her. “I’ll send for the doc. He’s here at the festival with his family. He’s always got his bag. He’ll fix her up right away.”
That was done, and the doctor arrived and administered the proper shots, all while Sarah remained in the booth. In reality, she wasn’t certain her legs could support her. They’d turned to gelatin.
Outside, the festival was wrapping up. People began to leave, and the animal pens were broken down. A few dozen adults would keep the party going at a local tavern long into the night, but for the young families, the celebration was over.
Within half an hour, Chief King arrived to sit with Sarah and Ben, taking their statements. “I just checked the body. He’s got a dog bite on his left calf.”
Sarah gasped. “So, Colin was the one who assaulted Annie Smith?”
“That’s right,” the Chief said. “And I’m betting dollars to donuts that we’ll find a big truck with damage to the left side and bullet holes around here soon enough.
” He asked them to describe exactly what transpired, and Sarah was forced to repeat her story several times before he was satisfied.
As was policy after a shooting, the Chief required Ben to hand over his weapon.
“You’ll get it back,” he promised, and left to confer with the coroner.
Ben phoned Rio and put him on speaker. In a short, no-nonsense description, he explained what happened.
“Holy shit,” Rio exclaimed. “Sarah, glad you’re okay. I knew Ben would take care of you.”
“He did,” Sarah said, still shaky. “He did.”
“Boss,” Rio’s voice came clearly through the phone, “now that you got the bad guy, when are you coming back? I’m managing things at work okay, but ... I won’t lie, you’re needed here.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Ben said. He ended the connection and looked at Sarah and Jim. “Let’s go back to the ranch.”
“Yes.” She sighed. She just wanted to go home.
Ben had Franklin fetch the truck and he helped her into her seat.
Jim drove himself.
Back home, Sarah took the longest shower of her life, desperate to wash away the stain of Colin’s blood. She couldn’t forget the sticky feel of it between her fingers. She still smelled his awful breath, fanning her face. Agonizing tears mingled with the warm water. She cried until she was spent.
At last, she emerged, dried her hair, and pulled on a long, loose dress. She found Ben waiting for her and nursing a beer on the front porch. As evening closed on the land, stars winked to life. For once, she didn’t want any wine and instead sipped iced tea.
Satisfied she was safe now, Big Jim watched TV inside, and the other men retired to the bunkhouse.
“How are you feeling?” Ben asked.
“It’s hard.” She bunched the loose fabric of her dress in her fingers. “Hard to deal with.”
When he didn’t try to minimize the effect of the afternoon’s events on her, she was glad.
Sarah glanced at the man sitting beside her.
This wasn’t the right time, and she wasn’t quite certain why she thought of this now, yet Ben hadn’t said a single word about a future for them.
She didn’t know his thoughts, but from his lack of mention of any relationship, she concluded he wasn’t interested in one.
With her stalker neutralized, as Ben had called it, he’d leave the ranch, leave Mountain Wood, leave Montana.
He’d leave her there alone.
After all, he lived in Texas, had a growing business in Austin. His roots were in that state, not in Montana. Yet hers were here.
Her brain buzzed. Between the assault she’d endured and her own part in the violent fight, and now the imminent prospect of losing Ben, a deep depression enveloped her like a hot summer storm.
Ben had told Rio he was going home soon.
Sarah bent forward in her chair, felt a sob coming on, and quickly covered it with a cough.
Ben’s sharp eyes zeroed in on her.
Pretending that the attack was still upsetting her, she said, “I was scared. I thought I was going to die.”
“You’re suffering from adrenalin dump. You’re exhausted.” He got up. “I know it’s early, but let’s go to bed. You need rest.”
Numb, she nodded. He couldn’t be allowed to know of her imminent heartbreak. After all, if he wanted her, he’d be making plans, not returning to Texas.
They undressed, Ben took her into his arms, and almost immediately, she sank into a deep sleep, devoid of dreams.
****
At dawn, she woke to find him watching her from the next pillow.
Getting up on one elbow, she pushed hair from her face. “What?”
“I’m sending my men back to Texas today,” he told her. “But I’ll stay one more night. Got a few things to do. And I want that time with you.”
She didn’t know what he needed to do and didn’t ask. She wanted that time with him, too. In fact, she wanted a lifetime with him. Her bottom lip trembled. She hid it from him.
Dressing for the day, she discovered her mood hadn’t lightened after the night’s sleep. She felt worse, and all morning she hovered on the brink of tears.
Ben assumed she was still upset about Colin Korhonen, and she was, but she let him think Colin was the only reason she was so distressed.
Within two hours, Ben had driven his team to the airport and returned alone.
While he was gone, Travis Butler made a visit. He tied his gelding to the corral railing, and she chatted with him in the yard. He stood close, his head angled toward her, his hat shading his face, aviator glasses reflecting the sun.
Ben exited his truck and very deliberately slung an arm around her shoulder. “Butler,” he said.
Travis eyed him impassively, but she saw him take in Ben’s possessive arm and her acceptance of the embrace.
For many years, she’d known Travis Butler was interested in her.
While he hadn’t been pushy, perhaps because she’d never encouraged him, she wondered why Ben felt the need to stake a claim. After all, he was leaving.
“Paxton,” Travis said in return. “Heard you got the guy bothering Sarah.”
She felt Ben glance at her profile. “We both got him.”
“Either way, a guy like that’s better off dead,” Travis said.
“Agreed,” Ben returned.
The two men fell silent, taking each other’s measure. Sarah felt tension arc between them.
Finally, Travis added, “Glad you got him.”
Ben said, “Glad you kept watch over Sarah here at the ranch.”
Travis dipped his head toward his mount. “You were right. The vet says my horse has a touch of navicular. Got him some new shoes and a dose of Isoxsuprine tablets.”
“Good.” Ben studied the gelding.
Sarah looked from one man to the other and felt their temperatures lower, the strain dissipating. She wondered if one day these two could become friends.
Then she realized there’d be no chance of that. If possible, her frame of mind plummeted to new lows.
Travis Butler made his goodbyes, mounted up, and ambled down the driveway.
In her jean’s pocket, her phone rang, and she said to Ben, “It’s my agent. I’ll just take a little walk.” He nodded and she took the phone to speak privately in the yard.
Within an hour, she had made plans. Different plans than she’d first imagined. She would return to New York, and she would model again. This time it would be totally and completely on her terms. Although her agent argued, she stood firm. Satisfied with her decision, she headed back to the house.
Big Jim drove his dusty pickup into the yard, returning from his morning breakfast at the diner. Climbing out, he slammed the door.
Despite her own troubles, she noticed he was scowling. “What’s wrong, Dad?”
“Nuthin.” His clomping boots made angry dust puffs fly into the air.
She caught up to him and touched his arm. “Dad.”
Her father swung to face her. “Just don’t know why people have got to be so gol-danged difficult.”
“People?” she prompted, but she already had an inkling.
“Well, women.”
She folded her arms together. “We’re talking about Milly, aren’t we?”
“She’s a woman, isn’t she?” He frowned at her as though she were the one arguing, not him.
“Milly’s an amazing person,” she agreed. “Rio and I love her. Without her, I don’t know how you could have raised us. She mothered us, made sure we had school lunches, got us clothes. She did so much for us. During those years, she really helped you.”
“She did,” he allowed, his tone grudging.
“She’s incredible. Right?” She looked at him closely.
He didn’t answer, just walked into the house and then the kitchen to yank open the refrigerator door and glare inside.
She followed. “So, just wondering, but how come you two never got together? You seem to like one another.”
“What are you talking about?” He pretended not to comprehend her meaning.
She tried not to be impatient. “Dad, you just came from breakfast at the diner, correct? Was Milly there?”
“She’s there, all right.” He took his hat off and beat it against his leg. “With that damn Chief King. What’s he doing sniffin’ around her all of a sudden?”
Aha! She thought so.
“I don’t see why he wouldn’t.” Sarah spread her hands. “He’s not much older, and Milly is a smart person. She’s also pretty and curvy and a great cook. I bet a lot of men would like to spend time with her.”
Grinding his teeth, Jim slammed the fridge and stomped into his room. He slammed that door, too.
Sarah smiled. Her mature father was acting like a rebellious teenager.
From behind her, Ben observed it all. “Proud of yourself?”
“I sure am.”
He chuckled. “Your dad will see the value in Milly, don’t worry about it.”
She blinked at him. Big Jim was supposed to see the value in Milly, yet Ben didn’t see the value in her? Saddened, she didn’t know what else to say. So, she asked, “So ... what time tomorrow are you leaving?”
“Early. I’m needed back at the office.”
“Ben...” She breathed deeply, feeling the urge to get this out. “I want to thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’re a true, real-life hero.”
“Not a hero, Sweet Pea,” he said, taking her into his arms. “Just did a job. Besides, you’re a special person. If I’d let anything happen to you, I think the townspeople would have tarred and feathered me and run me out of town.”
Gently, she stepped away from him. “Think I’ll go feed the chicks.” She needed a few minutes to herself.
“I’ll go with you.”
She held out a staying hand. “No, they’re my chickens. I’ll do it.”
He watched her face. “Sarah, you okay?”
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll be back up to the house in a bit.”
“One thing.” Ben held up his index finger.
“Yes?”
“In the morning, will you drive me to the airport?”
“Of course.” She left the kitchen then, managed not to stumble down the front steps because of the moisture building in her eyes. Sure, she’d drive him away, watch him return to his life, the one that most definitely didn’t include her.
How she was going to do that, she wasn’t at all certain.