Chapter 14 #2
And suddenly it didn't matter that I couldn't put a name to what we were. Didn't matter that I'd been so careful not to call it a relationship, not to assume too much, not to want more than he was willing to give.
Because right now, terrified and alone on this empty street, I knew the truth with crystalline clarity.
Ripplan made me feel safe in a way no one else ever had.
Not just physically safe, though God knew his size and strength were reassuring, but safe.
Like I mattered. Like someone would actually stand between me and the world's cruelty.
And even without his physical presence, the realization steadied me. Gave me something to hold onto as I forced one foot in front of the other.
The market came into view. The brightly colored storefront heralded sales and specials. Relief flooded through me so intensely my knees nearly buckled.
I glanced over my shoulder one more time.
The street was empty.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
I made it to the truck before my legs gave out.
I sat in the passenger seat, shaking, my hands curling into fists so hard my knuckles were white.
He admitted it. He basically admitted it. And he'd been so damn smug about it.
Craig had tampered with the medications. He'd murdered Seth. He'd almost murdered Ripplan. And he'd done it deliberately, knowingly, because he hated Orcs and wanted them gone.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
No, that wasn't true. There was something I could do.
With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jordan's number.
She answered on the second ring. "Tammy? Hey, what's—"
"I need help." My voice cracked. "Jordan, I need help right now."
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"No. I'm not okay. I—" I took a shaky breath.
"The medications. The ones from the pharmacy here.
They're compromised. Deliberately. Craig, the pharmacist, he tampered with them.
He killed Seth. He almost killed Ripplan.
And I just confronted him and he basically admitted it and I don't know what to do—"
"Slow down." Jordan's voice was calm, steady. "Take a breath. Tell me exactly what happened."
I did. I told her everything. The conversation with Craig, his thinly veiled threats, the way he'd smiled when he talked about Seth dying. By the time I finished, I was crying.
"Okay." Jordan's voice was tight with anger. "Okay. Listen to me, Tammy. You can't use any more medications from that pharmacy. Not a single one. Do you understand?"
"I know. I won't. But I've got an injured ranch hand. I need—"
"I'll ship you everything you need. Kelsey's here. Let me put her on."
There was a rustling sound, then Kelsey's voice came through. "Tammy. It's Kelsey. Jordan told me what's happening. Tell me what you need."
I rattled off a list of medications I could remember off the top of my head.
"I'll ship them out overnight directly to the ranch. You'll have them tomorrow," Kelsey promised, then handed the phone back to Jordan.
"Tammy listen," Jordan started, her voice stern.
"I know this goes without repeating, but stop using anything from that pharmacy immediately.
I don't care if it's aspirin, nothing. Second, I need you to gather samples of every medication you got from there.
Label them, document everything. Dates, lot numbers, everything. Ship them to me, I'll get them tested."
"Okay. I can do that."
I glanced down Main Street from where the truck was parked outside the market. The FedEx office sat right next to the post office, both buildings sporting the same name. Broussard. Craig's family name.
My stomach dropped.
"Jordan," I said slowly, "there's a problem. Craig's family, the Broussards, they run this town. The post office, the FedEx franchise, probably half the businesses on Main Street. If I try to ship anything from here..."
"They'll intercept it," Jordan finished, her voice grim. "Shit."
"I'll drive into Denver and ship from there," I said, already planning it out in my head. "Or maybe ask one of the ranch hands to do it. I don't trust the local post office."
"Good thinking," Jordan said. "Last thing you need is him finding out you're shipping evidence."
"Exactly." The thought of Craig intercepting the package made my stomach turn.
"Use a major shipping company, FedEx or UPS," Jordan suggested. "Get tracking, signature required, the whole nine yards. I want to know exactly where that package is every step of the way."
"I will."
"Third, and this is important, you need to be careful. If Craig realizes you're building a case against him, he might do something drastic. Don't confront him again. Don't go back to that pharmacy. Stay on the ranch as much as possible and don't go anywhere alone. Promise?"
"I promise," I said, though even as the words left my mouth, I knew what would happen when Ripplan found out about this.
He'd probably never let me out of his sight again.
The thought should have annoyed me. I'd always been independent, and Arlo's control had made me sensitive to being controlled by anyone else.
But instead, a warm feeling spread through my chest. After everything that had happened, the idea of Ripplan's protective presence didn't feel suffocating. It felt safe.
"Good. Ship those samples as soon as you can. And Tammy? You did the right thing. You might have just saved lives."
"I hope so."
"Call me if you need anything." Jordan insisted. "Anything at all. I mean it."
"I will. Thank you."
I hung up and sat there, staring at the phone. My hands were still shaking. But underneath the fear, underneath the horror, there was something else.
Determination.
Craig thought he'd gotten away with it. Thought he was untouchable.
He was wrong.