“That’s right,” the Chief said.“And I’m betting dollars to donuts that we’ll find a big truck with damage to the left side and bullet holes around here soon enough.”He asked them to describe exactly what transpired, and Sarah was forced to repeat her story several times before he was satisfied.As was policy after a shooting, the Chief required Ben to hand over his weapon.“You’ll get it back,” he promised, and left to confer with the coroner.
Ben phoned Rio and put him on speaker.In a short, no-nonsense description, he explained what happened.
“Holy shit,” Rio exclaimed.“Sarah, glad you’re okay.I knew Ben would take care of you.”
“He did,” Sarah said, still shaky.“He did.”
“Boss,” Rio’s voice came clearly through the phone, “now that you got the bad guy, when are you coming back?I’m managing things at work okay, but ...I won’t lie, you’re needed here.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Ben said.He ended the connection and looked at Sarah and Jim.“Let’s go back to the ranch.”
“Yes.”She sighed.She just wanted to go home.
Ben had Franklin fetch the truck and he helped her into her seat.
Jim drove himself.
Back home, Sarah took the longest shower of her life, desperate to wash away the stain of Colin’s blood.She couldn’t forget the sticky feel of it between her fingers.She still smelled his awful breath, fanning her face.Agonizing tears mingled with the warm water.She cried until she was spent.
At last, she emerged, dried her hair, and pulled on a long, loose dress.She found Ben waiting for her and nursing a beer on the front porch.As evening closed on the land, stars winked to life.For once, she didn’t want any wine and instead sipped iced tea.
Satisfied she was safe now, Big Jim watched TV inside, and the other men retired to the bunkhouse.
“How are you feeling?”Ben asked.
“It’s hard.”She bunched the loose fabric of her dress in her fingers.“Hard to deal with.”
When he didn’t try to minimize the effect of the afternoon’s events on her, she was glad.
Sarah glanced at the man sitting beside her.This wasn’t the right time, and she wasn’t quite certain why she thought of this now, yet Ben hadn’t said a single word about a future for them.She didn’t know his thoughts, but from his lack of mention of any relationship, she concluded he wasn’t interested in one.With her stalkerneutralized, as Ben had called it, he’d leave the ranch, leave Mountain Wood, leave Montana.
He’d leave her there alone.
After all, he lived in Texas, had a growing business in Austin.His roots were in that state, not in Montana.Yet hers were here.
Her brain buzzed.Between the assault she’d endured and her own part in the violent fight, and now the imminent prospect of losing Ben, a deep depression enveloped her like a hot summer storm.
Ben had told Rio he was going homesoon.
Sarah bent forward in her chair, felt a sob coming on, and quickly covered it with a cough.
Ben’s sharp eyes zeroed in on her.
Pretending that the attack was still upsetting her, she said, “I was scared.I thought I was going to die.”
“You’re suffering from adrenalin dump.You’re exhausted.”He got up.“I know it’s early, but let’s go to bed.You need rest.”
Numb, she nodded.He couldn’t be allowed to know of her imminent heartbreak.After all, if he wanted her, he’d be making plans, not returning to Texas.
They undressed, Ben took her into his arms, and almost immediately, she sank into a deep sleep, devoid of dreams.
****
At dawn, she woke tofind him watching her from the next pillow.
Getting up on one elbow, she pushed hair from her face.“What?”
“I’m sending my men back to Texas today,” he told her.“But I’ll stay one more night.Got a few things to do.And I want that time with you.”
