Chapter 11 #2
Throughout the night, she stared at her brother’s number, desperate for him to answer. She couldn’t tell him any more than that. Only what she shared with Sammy. Even now, she feared she may have blurted too much.
Silas expected her compliance. She’d thought they were safe. He’d had years to serve before she should worry. No matter how hard she prayed, nothing went in her favor. She chose her next words wisely. “I told Owen to stay away from the garage.”
“Is it wise to let him stay on your property?” Sammy asked cautiously.
What choice did she have? Same old Silas.
Same old Pops. She should have known he would fall right back into Silas’s plans.
She prayed her father would come to his senses.
Getting stripped of his cut and removed from his position with the Ghost Riders didn’t keep him from seeing Silas’s manipulation.
What did she know? According to her father and brother, females needed to let the men handle the business.
Caitlyn lost her business, and soon, she’d lose so much more if she couldn’t get Silas to leave.
“It’s not like I have a choice. He’s got Pops back under his influence again, and he’s warned me about keeping Owen away from him.”
“What does he want?” Sam reached for her arm and squeezed it. “I keep thinking back when…”
Guilt churned in Caitlyn’s stomach. The knowledge about Silas’s interest in Sammy’s brother kept her lips sealed.
How much was someone willing to pay Silas to find Sebastian Daniels?
Why? What had the man done? Sammy’s brother was a cop.
Caitlyn tried to take a breath to ease the tightness against her ex-husband, making people disappear for a price.
“I’m… uncertain,” Caitlyn finally managed. It was the truth, technically, but a truth born from a tangled web of secrets. “He’s out of prison, so he needs a place to crash, and he still considers me his wife,” Caitlyn finally said.
Cole walked past them again and winked at Sammy. She giggled and then gave him a stern face that made him grin. It sent flutters in Caitlyn’s belly, seeing the two of them so in love. She never had that with Silas. All she’d ever been was his property.
She bit back the bile rising in her throat. He’d take Owen. He’d hurt her father. Or worse. He’d kill him. Or her. She took a shaky breath, pushing down the panic.
Sam’s eyes softened. She licked her lips.
A nervous habit Caitlyn noticed over the years they’d known each other.
The sound of clunking against the back wall of the barn reminded her she didn’t have much time until work started.
A horse rattled a water bucket, the heaviness of it bumping against the planks of the stall.
“Are you okay?”
Why did people keep asking her that? Daniel asked her that, too.
Caitlyn took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m okay. I’m just... I’m scared he might hurt someone.”
She expected a dismissive scoff or maybe a comforting hug, but Sammy’s grip on her arm tightened, her blue eyes widening. “There’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?”
Caitlyn looked down at her feet, the weight of it all pressing down on her. “I can’t. Please don’t ask again.”
“Caitlyn.” Sammy pulled her into that hug. “We’ve always confided in each other.”
“I know.” But the fear of putting Sammy’s brother in danger was stronger.
Sammy pulled back from the hug. “What is God telling you to do?”
The unexpected question sent a jolt through Caitlyn. When was the last time she’d spent enough time with God to find out? Caitlyn remained silent.
“You’ll get through this. You’re strong. And you’re not alone.”
“I know.” Caitlyn blinked away the blur of moisture in her eyes.
“Your siblings still aren’t coming around?”
Caitlyn bit the inside of her lip to distract her from the tears threatening to build and spill over and shook her head. Crying again was the last thing she planned to do while dropping off Owen.
“What about the lawyer?”
“It’s not an option right now.” Caitlyn had asked Regina to pick up more hours at La Rosa’s. The hourly lawyer fees took a day or more’s wage to cover.
“Well, you have me and Cole.” Sammy shouted down the aisle. “Isn’t that right, Cole?”
“You name it, babe.” He stuck his head around the corner of the barn and waved.
“He has no clue what you said,” Caitlyn deadpanned.
“Nope, but when my parents return, I’ll have my mom contact Seb. He’s bound to have some connections to ensure Silas goes back to jail. Or at the very least, you and Owen are safe,” Sammy said.
“Seb? As in Sebastian?” Her heart skipped a beat.
“That would be him.” A hint of pride crept into Sammy’s voice.
“Don’t do that,” Caitlyn blurted.
Sam tilted her head. “Cat, I want you to be safe. I know Seb’s in a different county, but he might have a way to find out about Silas’s parole or contact the parole officer. You can trust Seb. He’s a good cop. He’s one of their best undercover guys.”
No… No… She didn’t want to hear this…
“Then we shouldn’t get him involved.” She tried to reason with Sammy as much as herself. “He’s probably undercover, and you don’t want to distract him from his current case, right? It might take a long time to contact him or for him to respond.”
“Maybe,” Sammy said, unsure.
“Please don’t involve your brother.” Caitlyn hoped she didn’t sound too desperate.
Sammy’s lips twitched in thought. This wasn’t a math quiz.
It was her life. Caitlyn’s. And Sammy’s twin brother.
Caitlyn’s expression must have been enough to sway her because she said, “Okay, I’ll wait until Mom and Dad get back.
Mom will be eager to send him photos and stuff from the trip.
Once she hears from him, then I’ll check in with him.
In the meantime, though, maybe we could contact that detective who was on Silas’s case. ”
Caitlyn helped save the detective’s life, but he disappeared after Silas’s trial. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips. With no way of contacting the detective and no ties with the local law, she said, “I don’t know.”
“I pray for him. What happened changed his life. Changed everyone’s life, you know.”
She did know. Silas almost killed the detective.
God had crossed their paths for a reason.
Almost as if they were meant to meet, but then the trial happened, and the detective chose a path away from her.
Maybe it wouldn’t have worked, anyway. If not for God’s intervention, the Ghosts would give him more reason to flee.
Still, a flicker of longing sparked in her chest. He’d been kind and attentive, his concern for her safety tinged with something more.
Like the stronger “something” building between her and Daniel.
It was dangerous. She was a danger. No man would ever be safe in a relationship with her. The detective was right to leave.
“I’ll figure it out,” Caitlyn reassured her, putting on a smile.
A nervous smile to keep from blurting why Sebastian couldn’t help her.
Bringing up the detective reminded her of what Silas was capable of, given the chance.
There was an answer. Surely, there was a way out.
One that kept her family safe and Sammy’s.
Which yanked at her heart. She cared. Oh, how she tried not to care about that man.
“God will help you. Lay it at his feet, Cat. Pray and wait. Don’t do anything rash. Promise me?”
The detective offered for her to run. He wanted her to start a new life with him. It hadn’t felt right. Something made her stay. Her son. Her father.
Maybe God hadn’t been listening when she asked to keep Pops sober and Owen away from motorcycles.
That was why she closed the shop. If not for needing to keep the lights on, she might have stopped doing custom paint jobs altogether.
People would have come around, but the memories tasted bitter.
They rose like bile, making her ill as they all came rushing up at once.
Her entire body trembled. Her chest tightened, and her breathing got painful.
“Cat.” Sam sat her coffee on a nearby saddle hanging on the wall.
It tilted and spilled over like Caitlyn’s emotions.
Sam wrapped Caitlyn in her arms while the sobs broke out.
“I’ve got you, Cat. You’re not alone. Dear lord,” Sam prayed over Caitlyn’s sobs.
Caitlyn cried harder, gulping for air and clinging to Samantha Daniels and her soulful prayers.
Even though she heard none of the words, she felt the intentions and silently pleaded with God.
Someday, please let Sammy forgive me for not telling her everything.
The sounds of a vehicle approaching caused Caitlyn to pull back.
She swiped at her tears. “I should go. I need to get to work for my shift.” She glanced around.
Several horses grazed out in the field, while around the side of the barn, Cole led two horses.
Owen followed. A horse trailing behind them.
All three horses wore saddles, ready for the upcoming tour ride across the battlefields.
“Cole can handle this group. Owen and I will take the next. Don’t worry. Owen’s going to get along fine here with the horses.” Sammy switched their topic of conversation.
“He talks of driving a motorcycle.”
“Like his momma. Come on, chica. You don’t want to be late for your shift.”
Caitlyn laughed at Sammy’s attempt at slang. After their talk, her eyes appeared watery, and her face pale.
Caitlyn’s chest refused to ease. If something happened to Sammy’s brother because she kept silent... She stifled back another choked sob. Sammy rubbed her back as they walked. She didn’t deserve a friend like Sammy.