But then Owen stepped out of his office with a frown. “Reynolds, get your butt in here.”
“Nice to see you too, Tex,” I said as I strode over to him.
He pulled me into a fierce hug. “It is. But you could’ve taken a moment on your way back to the US of A to send me a damn message.”
We went into his office. He jabbed a finger at the chair in front of his desk, and I sat down. Clearly I was in the hot seat.
Owen went around to his own chair, taking off the cowboy hat he always wore. That was partly why his callsign had been Tex in the Marines. He’d loved wearing that battered hat whenever he was dressed in his civvies, and he had the hint of a country drawl to match. His family also owned a cattle ranch, though Colorado was home rather than Texas.
My best friend had been wilder in his Marine days. Fearless. Now that he was sheriff, he was far more cautious.
“I knew you were upset after my call,” he said, “but then you went dark on me. Not a word. I had no idea what was going on.”
“You had enough to deal with without focusing on me.” I hadn’t wanted to take up a single minute of Owen’s time when he should’ve been investigating Keira’s attack.
He gestured at my bandaged hand. “What happened there?”
“It’s not important.”
Owen raised a brow. I scratched my forehead.
“Anyway, there were some flight delays and crap like that,” I said. “I let Keira know I was on my way, but apparently she didn’t get the messages.” Because she’d blocked me, but I didn’t want to admit that to Owen. “I’m here now.”
“Have you seen her?”
I nodded. “This morning. She yelled and threw me out.”
It had been harrowing to see her in the hospital, so small and diminished. Keira might not have been very large in size,but she had a personality that took up space. Not because she was loud or boisterous. But because of her constant regard for other people. The light she brought to any room she was in.
Earlier today, when I’d seen her in that hospital bed, her light had been burning a whole lot dimmer.
Then I’d made her feel worse just by showing up.
Owen’s eyebrows went sky high. “Keira Marsh, Hart County’s Sweetheart? The woman who was shot twice a few days ago, who’s immobile in a hospital bed, threw you out?”
“Figuratively speaking. Brynn probably would’ve done it on Keira’s behalf if I hadn’t removed myself. Keira seems pretty furious with me.”
“Can you blame her?”
“I guess not.”
Owen knew, more or less, how I felt about Keira. Though we’d never discussed it outright. He also had a pretty good sense of why I’d moved away from Colorado after staying here so long.
But I wasn’t here to talk about that.
“I’d like to hear about the investigation so far. What progress have you made in finding the people who did this?”
Owen tilted his head, assessing me. “First of all, how is that any of your business? Second, I wanna know what you’re thinking, showing up this way after two years.”
“At least once a week, you text and tell me I should visit.”
“But you’re not here for me, and I’m not asking because my feelings are hurt, asshole. It’s good to see you. I’m asking for Keira. She wasn’t the same after you left. If you show up like this when she’s already been through it and then take off again, how do you think that’s going to go?”
I was glad Owen was looking out for Keira. She’d been one of his most trusted deputies for years now. I would never begrudge him that.
Also, fair question.
“I plan to stick around for at least a while.” I rubbed a hand over my rough jaw. “I don’t want to hurt her again, Tex. Never wanted to hurt her at all.”
