Chapter 11 #3
“Then don’t act like one. You need a hard spanking for being so damn impetuous.
” I paced the ground, uncertain what the hell to do with the woman.
However, guilt remained just below the surface.
I was the one who’d made the stupid decision to take her with me.
I was the one who’d placed her in harm’s way.
I couldn’t the thought of losing anyone else I…
cared about. The reality was something I could no longer avoid.
While every part of me had wanted to save the Kingstons, I’d placed her life in jeopardy. What the fuck was wrong with me?
You’re an asshole, a selfish prick who deserves to be alone for the rest of your life.
My inner voice wasn’t lying. Fuck. Fuck! I wiped soot from my face, taking several scattered breaths. I barely knew anything about the woman, yet my heart ached for and because of her.
“You have to be kidding me.”
Hissing, I looked away, shaking my head. I could sense her fury, which was almost as great as mine. “You worried me. Okay? You could have been seriously hurt or even killed.”
“Yeah? Well, that didn’t seem to bother you before,” she scoffed.
“That’s not true. I didn’t think you’d be so… rebellious to follow me. Whether you understand or not, I had to make certain the family was safe. It was important to me. Can’t you understand that?”
She sagged against me. “Of course I can. Maybe better than anyone else around you, but what you did was careless. I’m worry. I just wanted to help.”
Yeah, tell me something I didn’t know. “I can do what is necessary, Aspen, but you aren’t trained for fighting fires.”
“And neither are you.” Recoiling, she lowered her head, her breathing ragged.
“I’m sorry, Montgomery. I know what you went through was horrific.
I can’t imagine it, but I can take care of myself.
I don’t need you telling me what to do.” Another moment of quiet tension settled between us.
“We’re both rattled. Okay? What’s going to happen to the family?
” She leaned back, studying my face. “They need help.”
I looked down into her eyes. The worry and anxiety she expressed were things I wasn’t used to.
She truly cared about people she’d never met before.
There was also something else. The woman was falling for me.
Me. Maybe I should push her away. Maybe I should send her packing.
That would be the right thing to do, although I knew there was no way I could ever let her go.
“I’m certain they have insurance. That’s a requirement for the lenders.
” And the Kingstons were in way over their heads from what Douglas had told me a couple of months before.
No wonder Prescott had targeted his winery.
“They have no place to go, nothing to their name. You know that. You need to help them. You can help them. You have all the space in the world. You could give them a place to live until they figure out what to do. Hell, give them my villa! What do I need with such a huge place?”
Her kindness was something I could learn from.
Exhaling, I noticed the sheriff’s car moving closer.
I would know his blue flashing lights anywhere.
Bristling, I kissed her forehead then pushed her aside.
“Stay with the family. There’s something I need to do.
Okay? Can you do that for me?” Her continued defiance irritated the hell out of me.
She had no idea how close she’d come to losing her life.
I was shaken to the core at the thought.
I also felt an incredible warmth like I’d never experienced before.
“Okay.” Aspen shifted her gaze toward the oncoming car. “But you need to promise me that you will help them.” She shifted the flashlight from one hand to the other, following my gaze. “Who is that?”
“A pain in my ass and I know what to do, Aspen. Just trust me.” I eased away from her, moving directly in Bryce Sanchez’s direction.
I’d gone through several caustic discussions with the sheriff over the last two years, two of which had almost come to blows.
Robert grabbed my arm before I could get near the man.
“Don’t do anything rash, Montgomery.”
I glared at Robert, shaking my head. “Why would that bother you at this point, my friend? You know exactly who was behind this. You should be incensed. Instead, it would appear you’re just sizing up the damage for another reason.”
It took a few seconds for him to process what I was saying. Then he took a single step away, his expression filled with as much rage as continued to rush through my system. “How fucking dare you. Do you think I have anything to do with this tragedy?”
“What I think is that you know more than you’re telling me.
There was a padlock on the gate, a new one.
That meant someone was on this property preparing to torch them out.
What I think is that you’ve forgotten about loyalties.
Don’t I pay you well enough? Don’t I make certain that you have cart blanche with my estate when needed?
If I didn’t know better, I’d think your loyalty has shifted. ”
He pursed his mouth, his entire body shaking.
Then he pointed his finger in my face. “You’ve been like a son to me, although you haven’t cared about anyone but yourself for years.
You’ve tossed your brother aside, as if he meant nothing to you.
He’s your blood yet you told him that you never wanted to see him again.
I’m disgusted with you. I’ve had it, Montgomery. You’ve gone too far.”
His statement told me one thing in particular.
He’d recently had a conversation with Jackson since my exclamation of never wanting to see my brother again had come just a few hours earlier.
I shook my head then walked away, finding the sheriff talking to a group of reporters who’d appeared out of nowhere.
“Unfortunately, the road leading to the Kingston winery is blocked. We won’t know the extent of the damage until the firefighters have completed their work.
That’s going to take some time. The fire has yet to be contained.
” The sheriff was in his element, pontificating to the group of men and women, a huge smile on his face.
I wanted nothing more than to wipe it off.
He noticed me as I approached, his smile turning smug. The reporters paid little attention to my arrival, acting as if they weren’t the ones trespassing on my property.
“Can you tell us how the fire started?” one reporter asked.
“Was the entire vineyard destroyed?” another demanded, shoving a microphone into the sheriff’s face.
He returned his attention to the group of them, waving his hands. “I can’t tell you anything definitive at this point; however, from what little I heard from the captain of the fire department, it appears to be accidental.”
What the hell?
Now I knew the man was involved in a much bigger scheme, a plan to destroy the few small owners who’d remained resistant.
“What do you have to say to the reporters about the fact you’re working with Prescott Westfield in an attempt to extort several of the owners out of their properties for a pittance?
Since the man refused to sell out, my guess is that Prescott Westfield took matters into his own hands and you turned a blind eye.
How much did he pay you to keep the firefighters away?
” I allowed the words to sink in. Almost immediately, the reporters turned their cameras and microphones in my direction.
The reporters seemed to buzz from my accusation, starting to inch closer in order to get a better picture of me. They certainly knew who I was, had enjoyed their tours of the winery when I’d been on top of the game.
Sheriff Sanchez sucked in his breath, but there was no other reaction. “I’d say you need some medical attention. It would appear you’ve inhaled some toxic fumes.”
Laughing, I walked closer, enough so the man finally appeared uncomfortable. “I know that you’re involved with Westfield. I’m aware of the plans for the resort. How much is the man paying you to look the other way just like you did when my wife was murdered? How much, you lying sack of shit?”
I hadn’t realized I’d reared back, prepared to strike him until one of the female reporters gasped. Within a few seconds, I felt Aspen’s presence behind me. There was something so comforting about the fact she was close, allowing my rage to dissipate for a few seconds.
“Turn the damn cameras off! There is no story here! Just a bitter, sad man,” the sheriff demanded. His face was bright red from his own heightened level of anger.
The reporters were shocked at the exchange and as if orchestrated, they turned off the cameras, walking away.
My God. It would seem an entire portion of the town was in on this bullshit. I’d allowed myself to become trapped in some kind of other world for far too long. That needed to change.
“I think you better be very careful who you threaten. I’m going to give you a piece of advice that you’re not going to like, Montgomery. Leave the area. Perhaps you should have left when you were told to do so before. Then maybe your wife would be alive.”
I’d known the sheriff was a long time and while we’d sparred before, I was surprised by his statement.
“You bastard,” Aspen hissed, moving between us.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but I suggest you think about what you’re saying.
Now is not the time to play this game.” She glared from one to the other, pushing me back with her hand.
“Don’t do it, Montgomery. He’s goading you and you know it. ”
“I’m the sheriff of this fine valley. Who are you?” Sheriff Sanchez asked as he shifted his gaze down the length of her.
I sucked in my breath, making certain he knew exactly what I was thinking. “Leave her alone, Sanchez. This is between you and me and you know why.”
He snorted, shaking his head. This really was nothing but a game to him. “You and I aren’t finished with this conversation. When you accuse a man of the law of something so heinous, then you will need to back us those accusations unless you want to find yourself behind bars.”
“Fuck you.” I smiled after issuing the words, allowing Aspen to pull me away. I’d done just enough damage I had a feeling everything would come to a head soon enough.
“We need to help the family, Montgomery. Listen to me.” She kept me walking backward, finally cupping my face, forcing me to look at her. “Look at me. Don’t let him get under your skin. Okay? Whatever beef you have with him, now is not the time to get into it.”
“You have no idea what that man is capable of doing,” I hissed, allowing her to drag me away. I noticed Joshua approaching, his face covered in sweat. “However, I have things under control. You’re going to need to trust me.”
After taking several deep breaths, Joshua darted a glance over his shoulder.
He nodded to Aspen, an exhausted smile crossing his face.
“We have it contained on our side. I don’t think the fire can jump at this point.
The firefighters doused a good portion of the area surrounding the fence. You okay, Aspen?”
“I’m fine. No damage to the winery?” she asked.
“None that I could see, but a group of us will check out every vineyard in the morning.”
“I have a feeling this is just the beginning, Joshua. We’re going to need to strengthen our security,” I told him, grateful to have him working with me.
Joshua exhaled. “I figured that.”
“Make sure the men have everything they need.” I kept my eyes on Douglas and his family, clenching my fists. “Do me a favor. Make certain the horses have food and water. Then take the Kingstons to one of the villas. They can stay as long as they want.”
Joshua nodded as he wiped his face. “Don’t worry about the horses. They’re all safe. I’ll drive the family over. Is there anything else you need?”
I wasn’t certain he could understand the answer that remained in the forefront of my mind. “Not right now. We’ll talk about adding more security in the morning, including for the barns.”
“I’ll be ready. By the way, you did a good thing, Mr. Wolfe.”
After a few seconds, I locked eyes with his. “We’ve known each other far too long. You can call me Montgomery, Josh.”
Chuckling, he gave me another respectful nod before walking away. The anger refused to leave my system, my mind fixated on eliminating my enemy. I needed some kind of relief. I took Aspen’s hand, my grip firm. I needed some air and it had nothing to do with the stench of the fire. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, trepidation in her voice.
“A place where I can finally get some peace.” I thought about my father, a man who’d done everything in the last years of his life to avoid his true heritage.
He’d been so proud when I was a boy, relishing the Cheyenne ways as taught by his father and grandfather.
Then everything had changed. When I was very young, he’d often recite something that had been taught to him from an early age.
On this night, the words flowed freely in my mind.
“Fear not what life can bring you. Rejoice in the celebration of both triumph and heartache for both will shape you. However, only one will alter the course of your journey.”