High Lonesome (28 page)

Before filling her suitcase, Angela ran down the stairs to the den and removed the oil painting from the wall. As she worked the combination lock, she prayed Jack had not opened the safe and removed the strongbox. Reaching in, she pulled out the metal strongbox and noted the new bicycle lock had not been tampered with.
Thank God.
Closing the wall safe, she relocked it and returned the painting to the wall and made sure to straighten it so it appeared untouched.

Returning to the bedroom, she unzipped the suitcase and tossed in some clothes, her makeup, toiletries, and the important personal papers from the cardboard box she’d found in the closet. Satisfied she had all she needed, she set the strongbox on the floor next to her as she knelt and zipped up the suitcase.

“Leaving again so soon?”

She froze. A scream caught silently in her throat. She hadn’t heard the car pull up nor had she heard his feet on the stairs.

“I asked you a question,” Jack said. His voice sounded like gravel. “At least have the courtesy to look at me when I speak to you.”

Realizing he could see the strongbox on the floor beside her, she scooped it into her arms and stood up clutching it against her chest. “Jack.”

His scowl could have cut through glass. “Are you going somewhere, Angie? Back to that cowboy?”

She didn’t speak.

“Do you take me for an idiot?” he continued. “Do you think I didn’t see the way the two of you looked at each other in that hick sheriff’s office? I’m not stupid.”

“We’re just friends,” she mumbled.

“Of course you are. Too bad you’ll never get to see him again.” He stretched out his arm. “I’ll take that box. I can’t collect on your death policy without it.”

Her eyes grew large as he stepped forward.

“Stay right where you are, Jack. I know everything. I remember what happened, and you’re not going to get away with it.”

“I figured that out already, Angie. You never were a good liar.”

“No, but you were, and still are. We’re not even married anymore. This document is no good. You forged my signature. Any handwriting expert will be able to see that.”

“You’re wrong. It’s a perfect match. I practiced for weeks. The insurance agent couldn’t tell.”

“What are you going to do? Try to murder me again? You’ll never get away with it a second time.”

“If you remember everything, then you know I have to pay back the bank or go to prison. I no longer have a job, which, I assume, you’ve figured out already. You got the house and the car in the divorce. I have no other options. I have no money and no way to live. You’ve taken everything from me. Don’t you see? I
have
to collect on that policy. I’ve been forced into a terrible situation here.”

He took another step closer.

She clenched her teeth. “I’m warning you, Jack. Don’t come any closer.” Reading the danger and desperation in his wild eyes, she held the strongbox tight to her chest.

“Give me that box!” he yelled.

When he lunged, she swung the box and hit him on the side of the face. He screeched. She bolted for the door, but he whirled and blocked her with his body. In a déjà vu moment, he grabbed her arm and twisted. The box fell from her hands.

“Let go!” she screamed, while pummeling him with her other fist. Just like before, he shoved her hard, slamming her petite body against the wall. Her head hit the wall, and she slid to the floor and willed herself not to pass out.

As he reached for the box on the floor, she ignored the pain she felt in her back and head and stumbled to her feet. Glancing around, she saw he’d backed her into the corner. Trapped between the bed and the bathroom, she looked around, wondering how she was going to escape.

Knowing she was no match for his brute strength, she opted for reverse psychology. By trying to appease him, she could use the moment she needed to come up with an escape plan. “Jack, we can work this out,” she rasped. Her eyesight was blurry. She steadied herself against the wall to keep from falling down. “The judge wasn’t fair when he gave everything to me in the divorce. I realize that now. You can have the car and the house.”

His two wild eyes burned into her. “What about Heather?”

“Heather loves you. Once you get the help you need—go to rehab and get clean,” she said tentatively, “then you can spend more time with her. I’ll go back to court and have new documents drawn up. I promise.”

He considered that a moment before shaking his head. “No. It’s too late.” He lumbered forward like a bear. Angela crossed her hands to protect her face from the blow that was sure to come.

“It’s never too late!” she cried.

He stopped mid-stride.

“You don’t want to hurt me, Jack. Please think about Heather. She needs me. I’m her mother. Remember how you felt when your mother died? You were twelve and you felt lost. You told me your world was never the same after that. Heather’s only four. You don’t want her to go through that same kind of pain, do you?”

“Heather will be just fine,” he grumbled. “She can do without you as a mother. I’m all she needs. I’ll take care of her.”

Angela’s mouth felt so dry. “I know you love her, Jack, but you can’t take care of her until you take care of yourself. You have to get help for your addiction.”

“Shut up!” he yelled. “I’m sick of your nagging. Why didn’t you die out in the desert where I dumped you? How did you live?”

A trickle of blood dripped from his nostril. Angela wasn’t sure if it was from where she smacked him with the strongbox or if it was from the cocaine he’d obviously taken. He wiped the blood away with the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry, Angie, but there’s no other way. I did love you.” He tossed the strongbox on the floor. Springing forward with the speed of a panther, he raised his hands in a chokehold position.

“Jack! Don’t!”

His big hands wrapped around her neck. With a burst of adrenaline, Angela’s hand shot out. She yanked the lamp off the bedside table next to her and smashed it into his head.

With a low moan, he crumpled to the floor and fell unconscious. A gash on his scalp seeped blood the color of dark berries. Angela dropped to her knees and felt a weak pulse in his neck. She wheezed out a breath and stumbled for the phone. After dialing 911, she leaned over his body and said, “I’m sorry, too, Jack.”

****

Scott pulled up to a scene straight out of the movies. He parked along the curb because an ambulance was coming out of the driveway. Two police cars were parked in front and onlookers were both gathered on the street and congregated on the lawn, gawking. He jumped out of his pickup and jogged to the front door, banging on it with his fist. Realizing it was ajar, he stepped inside. A slender woman with short dark hair appeared from around the corner.

“Where’s Angela?” he asked, forgetting his manners.

“You must be Mr. Landry. I’m her friend, Faith. Come in.”

“Where is she? What happened here? Is she all right?”

“Shhh. Come with me.” Faith linked her arm through his and led him into the kitchen via the back hallway. “Angie’s fine. It’s Jack who’s been carted off to the hospital. She had to defend herself against him, but she wasn’t hurt. All she has is a sore back. She’ll explain everything to you when she finishes up with the police.”

Scott glanced around, noting the high-end interior surroundings. “She wanted me with her when she spoke to the police. We planned to go to them with the insurance policy. Does she have it?”

“Yes. She wanted me to ask you to wait here in the kitchen. I think the interview with the police is going well. Please sit down.” She motioned toward the dining table. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“No. I’m good.” His heart pounded with an insane rhythm. Caffeine would probably kick off a full-blown attack. He removed his Stetson and laid it in the chair next to him. “You’re sure she’s okay? That bastard didn’t hurt her?”

“No, but he meant to kill her. She walloped him with a metal box and cold cocked him with a lamp. She’s a courageous woman, our Angie.”

Scott shook his head, unbelieving such an itty-bitty woman had the strength to take down a man the size of her ex. He drummed his fingers upon the table.

Angela stepped into the room a half hour later. When her gaze locked with Scott’s, there was no hesitation. She walked straight into his arms and rested her head on his chest. He held her never wanting to let go again. They didn’t speak for several moments—just clung together— holding each other in a lover’s embrace.

Faith cleared her throat and excused herself. “I’ll go check on Heather while you two get reacquainted.”

They sat at the table, and he placed his hand over hers. He said nothing as she told him what it’d been like since returning to Tucson with Jack. How she remembered everything that had happened, and how she’d narrowly escaped Jack’s murderous hands for the second time.

“I’m not a lawyer,” she said at the end, “but I’m pretty sure Jack’s going to be incarcerated for a long time. He’s got some serious charges facing him. I just hope he’ll be able to receive the help he needs to kick the drugs.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Scott said. “You didn’t need me at all.”

She begged to differ. “Yes, I did.” She gazed deep into his eyes. “You were the first person I thought to call. You were the
only
one. I know I shouldn’t have contacted you, but you told me you’d always be there for me.”

“That’s right,” he said. “I meant it.”

Angela closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she told Scott she had to speak her heart. “I was heartbroken when I realized our afternoon at the lake was nothing more than physical attraction.”

“You’re wrong about that, Angela. The passion I felt when we kissed, it was real and my words were true. What you saw Jo and I share that evening before you left was a farewell kiss between old friends.”

“What do you mean?”

“After I washed up, I saw her sitting in her car in the driveway. I couldn’t believe it. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I went out to tell her it was over between us, but you’ll never guess what happened.”

“What?”

“She beat me to the punch.” Scott chuckled.

“I don’t understand.” Angela’s head angled.

“She broke up with me before I got the chance. She said she realized it hadn’t been working for some time, and she thought it would be better if we dated other people.”

A grin broke through her heartbreak. “So, are you telling me it’s over between you two?”

“Absolutely. One hundred percent. Angela, I wanted to tell you something before you left the ranch, but I didn’t get the chance.” He leaned forward and sifted his fingers through her silky hair.

“Tell me now,” she whispered.

He stroked her cheek. “From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were meant for me. I felt like I’d known you all my life, but I was afraid to get close to you, for the obvious reasons. I didn’t want either of us to get hurt. But the more I got to know you and the more time we spent together, I knew I could never say goodbye. When we kissed at the lake, my whole world turned upside down. I’ve thought about you twenty-four seven. Since you left the High Lonesome, I haven’t slept, I can’t eat, and I can’t keep my mind on business. I’m like a lovesick teenager.”

She smiled.

He ran his tongue over his dry lips. “I haven’t felt this way about a woman since Maggie.” Sliding off the chair, he got down on one knee and folded her hands into his. “I’m no longer afraid of telling you how I feel. This feels so right.
You
feel so right. I love you, Angela, with all my heart and soul. I want to be married to you. Will you marry me, darlin’?”

Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded and exclaimed, “Yes!”

He took her face in his hands, pulled her close, and seared her lips with a burning kiss. When they parted, he grinned and said, “I’m in love for the last time in my life.”

She returned the smile. “I’m in love, truly in love, for the
first
time.”

Chapter Eighteen

Three Days Later
.

As they pulled up to the log house, a welcoming committee stood on the front porch greeting the people in Scott’s old pickup with smiles wider than the Rio Grande. He hopped out of the driver’s seat and ran around to the other side. Opening the squeaky door, he unbuckled Heather and lifted her onto the ground. The little girl gazed around, holding her silk blanket snug between her fingers. Angela stepped out and took her daughter’s tiny hand.

Willow bounded down the porch steps and skidded to a stop right in front of them. She wore her signature pink cowgirl hat and boots. “Daddy! I missed you!” She coiled her arms around his legs and squeezed.

“I missed you, too, sweetie. Give your dad a kiss. Right here.” He bent down and tapped his unshaven cheek. After kissing him, she wrinkled her nose.

“Scratchy. But that’s just the way I like it.”

She raised her gaze to meet Angela’s smiling eyes. “Beth! I mean, Angela. My daddy called when he was in Arizona. He told me you’re going to marry him. I’m
so so so
happy!”

“So am I, Willow. So am I. We’re going to hold the wedding right here on the ranch.” She squeezed Willow’s hands and then knelt on one knee. “I want to apologize for not saying goodbye when I left before. I’m very sorry for hurting your feelings.”

“It’s okay. My dad explained it to me. The important thing is you’re back and you’re staying forever.”

“That’s right.” The two hugged. When they parted, Angela said, “Willow, I want you to meet my little girl. This is Heather. I’ve told her all about you and Midnight and the other horses. She’s never been on a ranch before, but she likes horses, too.”

Willow stretched out her hand to welcome her. “Howdy, Heather. I’m pleased to meet you.” The pixie brunette stared silently and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

“It might take a little time for Heather to adjust to all the new changes, and to living on a ranch, but I’m hoping you can help her with that,” Angela said.

“I sure can! I have something for you, Heather. Stay right here!” Willow dashed up the porch steps and slung the screen door open. It banged against the doorframe.