QR Code Killer (24 page)

“I’m Swede and yer right on time. And it’s jes Swede,
no mister needed,” Swede said. “The boss asked me to interview ya
since I’m the one ya’ll mostly be workin’ with, so let’s git ‘er
done.”

Swede asked Ty a number of questions about his
skills, experience and training. Ty got a little worried when Swede
asked if he’d ever worked on farm equipment. Ty honestly answered
he had not, but added that he could fix everything from lawnmowers
to semi-trucks.

Sounding pleased, Swede went over the list of
questions Ty answered earlier that afternoon via email.

“Are ya sure ya can live somewhere thet’s remote
without much in the way of a social life?” Swede asked. “It’s all
guys around this place and it’s a long way to town if yer lookin’
for some Saturday night action.”

“I haven’t had much of a social life since I lost my
job, Swede. I don’t see that the location will make much difference
in that,” Ty said, badly wanting this job. He didn’t care if it was
in Timbuktu; he needed to be employed for his own sanity and sense
of self-worth, not to mention the money he could give to Beth and
Nate until they got back on their feet.

“All right, then,” Swede said. “Let me talk with the
boss and one of us will get back to ya.”

“Thank you, Swede. I appreciate the opportunity to
interview with you.”

“No problem. Talk to ya soon.”

Ty hung up the phone feeling like the interview went
well. In a moment of self-deprecating humor, he realized if he did
land the job, he was all packed and ready to go.

Looking at his watch, he hustled out of the library
to the grocery store, filling a cart with fresh fruit and
vegetables along with cuts of beef and chicken. As a splurge, he
added a strawberry cheesecake from the bakery, Beth’s favorite.

Arriving at her apartment building, he lugged the
groceries to her door and rang the bell. She opened it, surprised
to see him.

“Hey, I didn’t expect to see you again for a few
days. What are you up to?” she asked, stepping aside as he came in
the door and set the grocery bags on the kitchen floor. “What’s all
this, Ty?”

“Jeff hired me to fix Geena’s car today and paid in
cash. Thought I’d just restock some of what I ate yesterday,” Ty
said, putting groceries away. He felt Beth tug on his arm and
looked down into her tear-filled eyes. She attempted to give him a
hug around her wide girth, making them both laugh.

“You are such a good brother and good man,” Beth
said, swiping at the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Thank
you.”

“You’re welcome. How about you feed me dinner and
we’ll call it even?” Ty asked, taking the cheesecake out of the
grocery bag and waving it in front of her. “I even brought
dessert.”

“Always did know how to get around me, didn’t you,”
Beth teased, as she put the cheesecake in the fridge, looking
forward to the treat. “Did you hear back about the job?”

“I did. I had to answer more questions via email and
I had a phone interview with the ranch foreman. You should hear the
way he talks. It sounds like he swallowed glass, the way his voice
is all raspy and rough.”

“But the interview went well?” Beth asked as she slid
a casserole into the oven and set the timer.

“I think it did. He seemed a little hesitant when I
said I’d never worked on farm equipment, but I have yet to meet a
vehicle I couldn’t fix, so I’m not too worried about it.”

“That’s wonderful, Ty. I’m keeping my fingers
crossed,” Beth said, helping Ty put the last of the groceries away.
“You really think you’ve got a shot at this?”

“I hope so, although I’m not so sure I’m going to
like the location,” Ty said, leaning against the counter and
accepting the cup of hot coffee Beth handed to him. “Swede, that’s
the foreman’s name, said it’s about a five-hour drive from
Portland.”

“Well, that’s not so bad. You could always visit on a
weekend, couldn’t you?” Beth asked, making herself a cup of tea and
motioning Ty toward the couch. Sinking down on the cushions, Beth
let out a tired sigh.

“Swede said the closest town is Burns,” Ty said,
trying to remember where Burns was located on the map they looked
up last night. Pulling out his phone, he Googled Burns and browsed
a few web pages. Showing a map to Beth, he grinned. “At least it is
on a major highway, so you can put your fears at rest of me being
eaten by a bear.”

“I really hope you get this job, Ty, but I’m going to
miss you so much. I… we’ll…” Beth choked back a sob and brushed at
tears. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she turned a watery
smile to her brother. “Sorry. I know how well you do with emotional
women, but I’m eight months pregnant and it comes with the
territory.”

“I’ll forgive you this once,” Ty said with an
understanding smile. They chatted until Nate came home and the
three of them discussed plans for the next day while they ate the
warm and filling chicken casserole Beth made for dinner.

Ty was setting the cheesecake on the table when his
phone buzzed. Reading the text message, he let out an excited
whoop, causing Nate to nearly drop the dessert plates he was
getting from the kitchen.

“I got the job!” Ty said, high-fiving Nate and
hugging Beth. “Lex Ryan, that’s the owner, said I can start
anytime. I guess I’ll plan on leaving tomorrow.”

“Dude, that is so awesome,” Nate said, cutting big
slices of cheesecake and passing them around while Ty sent a text
to Lex Ryan saying to expect him tomorrow afternoon.

“Congratulations, Ty,” Beth said, smiling through her
tears.

Patting his sister’s hand, Ty gave her an excited
smile. “This will be a good thing, sis, just wait and see if it
isn’t.”

Ty was up early the next morning, taking a quick
shower and dressing before hustling out to order breakfast while
Beth and Nate still slept. He came back in and quietly set the food
on the table, careful not to wake up Nate who was still sleeping.
From the water running in the bathroom, he could tell Beth was up
and getting ready.

Looking at his watch, he knew she was running ahead
of schedule this morning. He resigned himself to a teary goodbye
from his sister. When she came out of the bathroom a few minutes
later, she gave him a tight hug, which sent the baby into a flurry
of end-goal worthy kicks. Ty laughed as he placed his hands on her
stomach and savored the last time he’d get to feel the baby kick
before he actually got to meet the little one in person, whenever
that may be. It could be a few months before he made it back to
Portland. By then the baby would no longer be a newborn.

That thought made his throat tighten with emotion. He
and Beth were close. They grew up that way and were even closer
since their mom died of pneumonia six years ago. They were all the
family the two of them had in the world, other than Nate, and that
bond was very special. It was important to Ty that Beth’s baby
could get to know him, but that might be difficult from miles and
miles away.

“Well, little mama, I think we should eat breakfast
before it gets cold and then I’m going to hit the road,” Ty said,
holding her chair as Beth sank down at the table. Nate got up and
joined them. The guys tried to joke and keep things light-hearted,
but Beth’s quiet sadness lingered around the table.

Quickly cleaning up from their meal, Ty made sure he
gathered his few meager belongings before he gave Nate a brotherly
hug and thanked him for all he’d done for him in the past
years.

He hugged Beth again, inhaling her scent that
reminded him so much of his mother. Setting her back, he studied
her long and hard, realizing for the first time that she looked
like a replica of their mom from her warm brown hair and oval face
to her small build and short stature.

“I don’t think I ever told you how much you remind me
of Mom, Bethie,” Ty said, hugging her again. “You’re a beautiful
person and I know you’re going to be a fantastic mother.”

“Thank you, Ty. I’m really going to miss you,” Beth
said, swiping at her tears. “Promise you’ll stay in touch.”

“I promise. As long as I’ve got cell service, you can
call or text me anytime,” Ty said, carrying his small duffle bag
out the door and waving one last time. “Be well and be safe. I’ll
let you know when I get there.”

Before his own emotions got the best of him, Ty
headed out to his pickup. Filling the tank with fuel put a sizeable
dent in his wallet as he headed south out of Portland. Following
the signs, he turned southeast toward Bend and found himself there
a few hours later. He filled up with fuel again and ate a quick
lunch, although it wasn’t quite yet eleven.

Getting back on the road, he continued driving
southeast on Highway 20. As the pine trees and neat little farms
gave way to mile after mile of sagebrush and open land, Ty thought
he may have reached the end of the earth. Looking back, forward,
right and left, all he could see was sagebrush and more sagebrush
interrupted by the occasional craggy rocks and straggly looking
trees he thought might be junipers.

Swede wasn’t kidding when he said the landscape was a
little different.

As he drove up to a tiny store by a sign that said
“Welcome to Riley,” Ty stopped to stretch his legs. Going inside
the store, he asked about the Rockin’ R Ranch and the guy working
the cash register grinned as Ty paid for a cold soda.

“I know the folks at the Rockin’ R. The Ryan family
has been in this area forever. Poor old Lex passed away last fall
after that awful cancer got him, but Lex Jr. is doing a right smart
job of running the place now. Been trying to hire on a mechanic and
a housekeeper. I’m guessing you’re applying for the mechanic
job.”

“That’s right,” Ty said, not feeling particularly
chatty with the loose-lipped clerk.

“Well, good luck to ya,” the man said, slapping Ty on
the shoulder. “You’re built for the job, but so were the last two.
Together they didn’t last more than a week.”

Ty suddenly wondered what he’d gotten himself into.
If he had to turn around and drive back to Portland, he didn’t
think he had enough cash left to cover the fuel.

Not sure what to say, he didn’t need to worry as the
clerk rattled on about the ranch and how to find it. Lex, Lex Jr.,
Ty corrected himself, sent him directions last night, so he wasn’t
too worried about finding the place. He had the address programmed
into his truck’s GPS system, along with the emailed directions.

Giving a word of thanks to the clerk, he got back in
his truck and drove a few miles further east on the highway before
taking a right. According to the directions, he was supposed to
drive three miles then take a left. Two more miles, he would take a
right and another mile should bring him to the ranch house.

Lex indicated a possibility of not being home today
and gave direction if no one answered at the house, to call Swede
on his cell phone.

Ty noticed after he turned off the highway that the
road, though paved, had not seen any maintenance for quite some
time. Following the turns, he soon found himself bouncing down a
gravel road, surround by snow-covered fields and pastures filled
with red and white cattle.

Ty smiled, wondering if these were the animals he was
not supposed to fear. They looked pretty harmless to him.

As he pulled into the ranch yard, it was hard not to
be impressed. A huge Victorian house painted a shade of pale yellow
with white and dark green accents was the focal point, complete
with wrap-around porch, gingerbread trim and a yard enclosed by a
white-picket fence. What appeared to be a garage, in the same shade
of yellow, sat off to the side of the house toward the back.

A small but tidy looking cottage-style home and a
sprawling ranch house were off to the left of the main house with a
hulking red barn, machine shed, large shop and various outbuildings
across an expansive open area from the two houses.

Parking his truck, Ty got out and smoothed down his
jeans before straightening his sweatshirt and jacket. Running a
hand through his thick, wavy brown hair, he realized he probably
should have gotten a haircut before he left Portland. It had been
weeks since he last had his hair trimmed and it was getting pretty
long.

Walking through the gate in the fence, he strode
purposefully down the sidewalk, up the porch steps and to the front
door of the house. Ringing the bell, he waited, listening, but
didn’t hear any movement inside. Opening the screen door, he
knocked on the wooden door and still heard nothing.

Deciding Mr. Ryan wasn’t home, he pulled out his cell
phone and turned only to find a huge, furry animal staring at him
from just a few feet away with a bunch of sharp looking teeth bared
his direction.

The crazy questions about liking animals were
starting to make a lot more sense to Ty as he carefully backed up
against the front door…