Page 33

Chapter thirty-three

Into the fire

Mason

“She won’t answer,” I growl and toss my cell onto the tailgate of my truck.

I get it. Sophia did what Lori was most worried about. My head says I need to give Lori some time, but my chest aches to pull her close and ease her fears.

“Well, you did say this morning was a shitshow.” Ford’s feet dangle from where he’s sitting next to my uncooperative phone. “She probably has a lot to think about.” He leans over and taps the screen until the clock appears. “Shouldn’t Wade be here? Why’d we have to stay?”

Almost like he was summoned, the sheriff’s truck pulls down the bumpy gravel road leading to Sean’s trailer.

“Mason. Ford.” Wade nods to each of us as he slides out of the driver’s seat, his badged hat bobbing with the movement. “Sorry it took so long, today has been busy.”

“It’s been a good one. Sean’s dead. Can’t get much better than that.” Ford spits into the dry dirt beneath him. “Wish I coulda killed him myself.”

Wade shakes his head, his copper curls over his ears wavering. “Shouldn’t say shit like that. Anyone who didn’t know your history would pull you in.”

Sheriff Rowland rolls up the tan sleeves of his uniform and adjusts his gun belt before pushing past me to the makeshift stairs.

“Jesus, fuck. I can smell him from here.” He drapes his elbow over his face and disappears into the single-wide.

Ford and I lock eyes in a silent countdown.

With a crash, Wade billows out of the shack and folds himself over the wobbly rail of the porch. The sound of his retching makes my stomach begin to turn again.

He staggers down to us, wiping the spittle from his mouth with the back of his meaty hand. “That’s something I’d rather not do ever again in this, or any other, lifetime.” Smoothing out his red mustache he shakes his head and leans against the side of my truck behind Ford. “Well, he’s definitely dead.”

Ford snorts, and takes a pull from the warm bottle of water I found in my back seat.

Pretty sure it was leftover from the lunch Lori packed me a few weeks ago, still rolling around on the floorboards.

Another pang stabs into my chest.

Will I ever see her again?

“What do you think happened?” I need to get my mind off of her.

Wade pulls his broad brimmed hat off and runs his fingers through his thick hair before dropping it over the sweat-permed waves. “Can’t say for sure. But, his neck is sliced open. I’ll have to call the coroner to do an autopsy.”

“You mean, there’s someone else out there that hated him as much as me?” Ford grins, swinging his feet like a child.

Wade furrows his brows and his mouth flattens. “You’re making it hard not to put your name at the top of the list. Don’t say stupid shit like that if you’re still here when forensics arrives.”

Ford holds up his palms in a gesture of surrender. “It wasn’t me, but sure wish it was.”

“Can we go?” I’m antsy. I don’t know where the hell I’ll head, but I need to do something.

Wade nods, stepping close enough to his own rig to reach into the window and grab a roll of police tape. “Might as well. I just needed you to keep anyone else out until I got here.”

“Hear that Ford? I think we were just deputized.” I slam the tailgate shut.

“Funny,” Wade grunts. “I don’t think Ford would pass the psych.” He grins and pats the hood of my Dodge before I shift it into reverse.

Ford slumps in the passenger seat and stares out the window as I navigate my way through the deep potholes.

“Did it help?” I ask quietly.

I know what happened between him and Sean, and the hatred that has festered in Ford for years.

He shrugs. “Won’t know for a while.”

I’ve barely rolled to a stop when Ford is sliding out to his Harley. “It’s been real. Good luck with your women.” He slams the door shut before I can reply.

Might as well have doused me with ice water.

My girls. What should I do?

Lori isn’t answering, and I can’t make her.

But, Sophia, I might be able to use my “dad voice” to at least get her to hear me out.

Caesar is sitting on the porch when I pull up. He tilts his head when I take the steps. His cold nose touches my hand before I let him in the house.

“Yea, I know. Can cut the tension with a knife in here, huh buddy?” I scratch behind his ears and watch him turn in a circle on his bed before laying down with a huff.

He’s even frustrated it seems.

I’m raising my hand to knock on Sophia’s door when Sawyer opens it.

His lips are thin. “Hey. You missed the excitement.” His nose wrinkles as he pushes past me. “Did you find a dead cow?” He pulls her room closed before I can go inside.

“I’ll tell you about it later. What excitement?” I make sure to stand far enough away the smell on my clothes doesn’t bother him.

Guess ol’ Sean left some lingering effects on me.

I need a shower.

“Cash stopped by.” Sawyer’s blue eyes roll with dramatic effect. “Got real pushy to see Sophia. I didn’t know she paid that much attention when we were working cows to come out with all those words.” He scratches the back of his neck and looks at me with a sideways smile.

“He was here? Tell me.” I didn’t get my chance to take out my morning on Sean, doesn’t seem right focusing it on a waif like Cash, but if he was fucking with my daughter, that changes things.

Sawyer nods. “I didn’t catch all of it. He was just going on about giving her the life she wanted, and how she’s gonna need him.”

“What the hell does that mean?” My words come out a little louder than intended.

Today is just one giant shit show.

His wiry shoulders shrug. “Dunno. She might be able to fill you in, if she was willing to talk to you.” The corner of his mouth drops in a wry frown. “Sorry, Dad. I know that whole thing coulda gone better.”

“You knew?” I’m not sure how that makes me feel.

He nods, not meeting my eyes. “Hard not to. Dunno how Sophia lived like a mushroom. You guys were always making goo goo faces and running off together. I finally tested Lori to see if she’d be interested in Scotty, and I thought she was gonna puke.” A broad grin spreads across his face. “Besides, you’ve been actually pleasant , I didn’t want to mess it up by letting the cat outta the bag.”

“Funny.” But, probably true. I haven’t been this happy in years.

Well, until it all came crashing down.

Now, my stomach is in knots and my chest hurts wishing Lori was still here.

I can feel Sawyer staring at me. “It’s okay, Dad. I like her. Sophia loves her. Once Soph pulls her head out of her ass, she’ll see this is a good thing.” He swings out and pats me on the arm, then makes a show of shaking it in the air. “Nasty. I hope you clean up before trying to talk to her.” He jerks his head towards his sister’s room, then steps behind the kitchen counter to the sink.

Steam rises from the faucet before he’s finished. “I was gonna head to Scotty’s, but I’ll stick around if you’re going to Missoula, in case Cash shows back up.”

He slides the dish towel back over the handle of the oven, grabs an apple, and leaves me standing near the dinner table with the dog.

What a damn day.

I don’t want to go into my room. It’s empty and hollow without her.

Where she was sleeping would be even worse.

Leaving my clothes in a pile on the tile, I let the hot water try to wash away the weight of this fuckery.

How do I get Sophia to listen? I can yell, but I need her to hear me.

Then, what do I tell Lori?

The only solution I can think of is to somehow convince Sophia to call Lori and apologize.

Yea, and a cactus is gonna crawl out of my dick and sing me a show tune.

I’ll have more luck talking to Lori first.

Shit. Is that my phone? Is it her? Slipping as I rush out of the shower, I almost faceplant against the cabinet in my hurry.

Wade Rowland.

Taking a deep breath before I answer, I grab a towel then slide to accept the call.

“Mason. I’m trying to get a baseline of contact. Do you know when the last time you talked to Sean was?” He doesn’t bother with “hello.” Guess we’ve known each other too long.

“Uh, hold on.” I flip him to speaker and scroll back through my log. “Looks like almost three weeks ago.”

Right about when I had my first night with Lori. Seems like yesterday, and forever ago.

My cock should not be twitching while I’m on the phone with Wade.

He grunts. “Thanks.”

The click of the disconnect is expected.

Apparently all of my friends are men of few words.

When I sit on the bed, the soft scent of her wafts from the pillows.

Am I ever going to see her again? How long do I wait before I push?

I know I have to be patient, but the knot in my throat is begging me to have her back in my arms. To see her emerald eyes dance in the moonlight. The need to press her silky skin against me makes my dick thicken on my thigh.

I want to know she’s here waiting for me to get home from a long day on range. That she’s been thinking about me with a hot meal and her soft lips tugging up in a tender smile.

Staring at my phone doesn’t make it ring. My messages to her sit unread.

I’d trade my ranch to be able to hold her hand sauntering through a grocery store again, watching her bite her lip as she compared pasta sauces.

She’s worth the wait.

It takes patience for the best biscuits to rise.