“Whenever you’re ready I’ll take you out to Wheat’s three plots that are for sale,” Mark said. “I see you brought your motorcycle, but I’ve got the keys to Wheat’s Gator and can drive us around in that.”
Suddenly a double beep sounded just outside the front door. A few seconds later Mark held the front door open and kissed the woman entering.
“This is my wife, Ashley. And this is Cain, the man I told you was coming to look at property in the area.”
She held out her hand. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. You’ll love this little town.”
A cold wind blew in from the curtained doorway behind the counter, then a shorter lady with pinkish-blonde hair raced through and kissed Red on the cheek.
“And this is the love of my life who puts up with all my shenanigans, Janie.” Patrick beamed with the happiness of a man who’d found his dream. “This is Cain Connery.”
“Hi and bye, Ashley and I are headed to Surryfield, the closest thing to big city shopping in the area. And we’re already getting a late start. Welcome to town, tell your wife or significant other to give us a call.” The two women rushed out the door. “We’ll take her with us the next time.”
“I’m working on that.” Cain couldn’t believe the friendliness of the people here. “Tell me Mark, Red. How did you give up your life with the CIA and move to this small town and end up with two women who clearly adore you?”
“Luck!” Patrick smiled.
“Luck, and in my case, a dance.” Mark nodded. “What about you, Cain? I heard about all the trouble over in Crayton. Heard you’d taken a leave of absence from the DEA to consult with the Crayton police. Even heard a rumor there was something going on between you and a lady named Betsy.”
Cain shook his head at himself. What was he doing here? How could he have left Betsy, even for a few hours, while she was still in danger? She wasn’t a chain around him like his dad used to say about his mom. Betsy was the woman he loved. The one he’d give his life for. The one he wanted and needed with every ounce of his being.
He swiped his palm across his hair. “You know, sometimes I’m just a flat-out fool. I went off and left her there in Crayton today just so I could see this land. Just because we’d had a spat…and it wasn’t even that, it was just a disagreement.”
Red walked up beside him. “We’ve all been there, man. We’ve all been fools and worse. Takes a little time to realize the give and take in love is two-sided. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”
“Do you love Betsy?” Mark cut right to the chase.
“Yes. I think—I know—I love her.” Cain swallowed the emotion he heard in his voice, felt in his whole body. “And I don’t want to see the property for the first time without her by my side.”
“Then get on out of here. Tell her how you feel and go from there. We’ll explain everything to Wheat. He’ll understand.”
Cain shook both their hands and headed out the door, then turned back. He rolled ten hundred dollar bills out of his pocket and handed them to Mark. “Tell Wheat this is a deposit on one of the parcels.”
“What if she says no?” Red asked.
“I still want one of the parcels”—he stepped outside as the men followed him to his truck—“but sooner or later, I’m banking on her saying yes. Sooner would be a hell of a lot better.”
He texted Betsy that he was starting home, then started his truck and headed down the road. Back to Crayton. Back to Betsy. When he was well over halfway back, JB called and said Mr. Howard, Earl’s attorney, had called, asking for the meeting to be moved up an hour.
“Why?” Cain asked as he pulled into a gas station to fill his gas tank.
“Said his client was nervous. Felt like someone was watching him. Earl said he knows for sure there’s a price on his and his son Steven’s life.”
“That means he knows about their two names being on the business life insurance policy that Mr. Crestfall told Betsy and me about.” Cain finished and jumped back in the truck. “Means he knows more than we thought.”
JB grunted. “That’s my thought, too.”
“I’ll be there in less than thirty minutes.”
Their call ended and Cain called Betsy. She didn’t answer. Instead, he was left leaving a message on her voicemail:
“Betsy, I’m on my way back and we need to talk about our individual plans and dreams, because…well, I didn’t plan to say this on voicemail, but damn it, Betsy—I love you! See you soon. Call me.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Thirty minutes later, Cain arrived back in Crayton with no idea what he was about to learn. All he’d known was that while JB and he had been busy watching Sadie and her girls have breakfast at Joanie’s Café this morning, local attorney Mr. Howard had contacted the sheriff’s office. He had a client needing to meet with the police ASAP. The client had important information to be shared. Possibly matters of life and death.
Currently on his way back to St. Louis for additional surgery, Sheriff Davis quickly referred everything to JB as acting sheriff. JB had called in Deputy Evans, Officer Kennett, and Officer Hastings. And since the attorney insinuated it might have relevance to the drug case and other recent criminal activity, he also invited the FBI agent assigned to continue working the unfolding case Shadow had been on.
