Chapter 11

Tyler

Tuesday 8.19am

I’m standing at the office door, back on the ranch, deciding whether to break in when I hear a car pull up.

I jump down the steps and walk out to see who else has come to stick their nose into my business.

So far, I’ve had every nosy neighbor, every old acquaintance of dad’s show up.

I don’t know what they expected to find. But when I tell them what the Sherriff told me to say, that Liam has been arrested, and I can’t discuss the details, they’ve all gone away distinctly pissed off.

It’s only a matter of time before Gary or one of the other ranch hands start telling people what Liam has done. But while I can, I’m trying to sort through the mess Liam left.

I brace myself for another unwanted visitor and am only slightly relieved to see dad’s lawyer Gerry Higgins arrive.

Doughy, and a deathly shade of pale, he looks decidedly sheepish as he extends his hand. “The Sherriff called me last night.”

I accept his hand and try not to squeeze too hard. “What does this mean for the future of the ranch?”

He clears his throat and gestures to the office. “Can we talk inside? This is confidential.”

I shrug and amble back to the steps. He trails behind, looking uncomfortable as he climbs the stairs.

Since I don’t have a key for the padlock, and Liam never supplied anyone else with one, I have no choice but to kick it down.

I position myself and land a few decent kicks before the timber splinters and the door frame cracks.

When I turn to Gerry, his face has paled even further. I have to hide my smile as I gesture inside. “After you.”

He gives me a clipped nod and walks inside, clutching his briefcase to his chest.

I still don’t know why dad chose him of all people. He’s a fish out of water. An implant from Chicago and he’s not exactly embraced the lifestyle.

I drag a chair out for him and take a seat behind the desk. He clears his throat and places his briefcase on his legs. “To answer your question. The assets have been frozen. But once we start the process and with Liam’s arrest, I have every confidence the ranch will be yours again by the end of the month.”

I should feel happier. But all I feel is numb and unsettled. “Right. Good.”

He nods and opens his briefcase and removes a wad of documents. “I have everything here for you to sign.”

When he pushes the papers towards me, with stickers on the parts I need to sign my unease only grows.

“Of course, now that Liam has been arrested, there is a chance one of your father’s relatives may decide to contest.”

I frown at him. Where did that come from? “What?”

He looks visibly distressed as he answers. “This ranch is valued at over three million dollars. And there are stocks and bonds to the value of another three hundred thousand. Unfortunately, your father’s brother and his sister are considering contesting.”

I curse under my breath. “Nice to know the vultures are already circling. But why now? Why not before?”

He swallows thickly. “Perhaps they see this as an opportunity that wasn’t there before?”

I shake my head and slump back in my chair. “Shit. So, even after everything, I’ll still have to fight to keep the ranch.”

He winces. “The quicker you act, the better. If you’re seen to be incapable of making a decision—”

I wave my hand in the air cutting him off. “I get it; I get it. They’ll try to get in first.”

I work my jaw as I stare out the window at the welcome sign. I still don’t understand why Liam made so many changes when he was just going to sell.

Was it just to torture me? Does he hate me that much? I blow out a breath and stare at the paperwork.

“What happens to Liam’s mother?”

He pushes his glasses over the bridge of his nose. “I expect when Liam doesn’t confirm he can pay, they’ll cancel her surgery and she’d probably go back on the waiting list.”

I stare at the contract, filled with legal jargon I’ve never understood or wanted to. I stare at it, thoughts twisting in directions I wish they wouldn’t.

When I start to think about my own mother, her early death, and the fresh reminder I’m an orphan, my head starts to ache.

Mom’s family all live in New York, and dad was never close to his and now I see why.

Family doesn’t always do the right thing when you need them too. Instead of a Grandma or an Aunt helping dad when mom died, I had a bevy of nannies raising me until I was a teenager.

I never even thought about why before. He must have had good reason not to contact them all these years. He rarely mentioned his brother, or his sister unless it was to say they hated everything about the ranch and wanted nothing more than to escape.

Until Liam showed up, I barely considered I might have more relatives out there let alone greedy ones, who also had a legitimate claim to the ranch.

If I wasn’t stuck between a rock and a hard place before, I’m jammed in tight and completely fucked now.

***

Tuesday 9.17am

Zoe

I’m desperate for a caffeine hit when I arrive at the office, my entire body sore as I push the door open.

Christine looks every bit as frazzled as I expected her to when she launches herself at me the second I’m through the door.

“Oh, thank God. I was going out of my mind!”

I let her hug me despite the pain it causes what I now know are bruised ribs. “I’m okay. Thanks to you.”

She pulls back and holds me at arms’ length. Her eyes flick over my face as she assesses the damage. “He did this? I was half feeling sorry for him until now.”

My eyebrows rise. “You’ve been reading his case file?”

“Yup. I had some time to kill this morning. He’s got a lot of contacts that would have been useful.”

I nod as she walks with me to my office. “I’ll bet he does. I haven’t had enough time to look at all the notes the DOC sent through can you give me the condensed version?”

I toss my bag and look longingly out the window at Molly’s coffee shop. Christine follows my gaze and chuckles. “I can ask her to swing by and bring you coffee and cake after the meeting?”

I collapse in my chair and try not to grimace as I nod. “That’d be great. Who’d Liam share jail time with?”

She screws up her face. “A bunch of career criminals. The most notable one was Jason Stanford; identity theft is his specialty.”

I lean back in my chair. “That makes sense. Liam’s records were cleaner than my kitchen floor.”

She chuckles. “You do have an excellent house cleaner. Not that you’re ever home to mess it up.”

I frown at her, but I can’t exactly argue. I spend more time here than I do in my apartment.

But since I obviously suck at taking vacations, I’m not sure that really matters anyway. “Guess I’m doomed to work myself to death.”

Christine narrows her eyes. “What you need is a healthy work-life balance. Or you’ll end up, Jack whatshisname.”

I pull a face at her. “Jack Carlson? He was murdered.”

She shrugs as though that’s inconsequential. “I was reading his case notes. He had terrible health problems. And my sister was the same. She never missed a day of work, then dropped dead at forty-seven. Then there’s my uncle, he was a workaholic like you, and he had a heart attack at fifty-four…”

I lift my hands in an ‘I give up’ gesture. Although it raises more concerns about her family history rather than mine. “Fine. I’ll take a proper vacation soon.”

She jabs her finger at me. “I’ll hold you to that. If you haven’t booked a cruise or a tropical holiday by the end of the month, I’ll do it for you and I will reschedule all your appointments.”

When I don’t reply, she looks out the window. “And I’ll also tell Molly and she’ll cut your coffee supply off.”

I gape at her. “You’re bullying me into taking a break?”

She walks away, looking decidedly menacing for a petite blonde in heels. “Yep.”

I sigh heavily and switch my PC on so I can read over my case notes.

But my focus is off. Instead of seeing a clear pattern of theft, all I can think about is The Laughing Cat Ranch.

When my phone rings, I jump in my seat and have to take a few moments to collect myself.

I breathe in and out before I pick up the phone. “This is Zoe Foster.”

“Agent Foster, heard you got into a little trouble involving cowboys in Montana?”

I pull a face at my monitor. “Morning Agent Brewer. I did. But I’m back at work again. About—”

He cuts me off with a laugh. “Your assistant has been talking to mine. They both agree you need a break. Sounds like you’re outnumbered?”

I snort into the phone. “She thinks she can nag me into it.”

He chuckles down the line. “Yeah. I have one like that. But I’m married to mine. Anyway, did you get what I needed?”

I tap on my screen and make sure I have the information in front of me. “He’s been moving it to his wife’s step-mother’s account. I also have a series of very expensive purchases including a necklace, and a down payment on a swimming pool on her property made in March.”

He blows a breath down the phone. “March. Got it. How much money is still in the account?”

I scroll down. “Not a lot. Out of the missing seventy, there’s only three thousand and some change.”

He sighs. “Looks like my suspect has been having some fun with the retirement fund.”

I chew my lip as I open the first of a lot of very damming emails. “That’s not all he’s been having fun with. I checked with the hotel and confirmed our suspect was meeting an older woman regularly. There are corresponding email arrangements and credit card charges on her American Express card.”

“Great stuff as always. Thanks for putting in so much overtime on this for me. He looked set to run, so I appreciate you pushing so I can be there for the birth.”

I smile as I toy with a pen on my desk. “How’s Clara doing?”

I can hear the usually reserved agent almost gushing. “She’s doing well. Off bed rest. They’re going to induce her on Friday if she doesn’t go into labor by then. So, again thank you.”

“No problem. Happy to help.”

After a brief rundown on a few other details and the impending birth of his first child, I end the call and push back from my chair and walk to the window.

As usual, customers are flowing through Molly’s coffee shop, so it’ll be some time before she gets a chance to come to see me.

Given the bruising around my face and neck, I’m not entirely sure I want to see her right now.

I have a mountain of work waiting for me, but instead of sitting at my desk again, I kick off my shoes and walk around my office.

I let my mind wander and immediately find myself back at the ranch. I close my eyes and let my thoughts stray back to the fishing shed, to Tyler’s body, his kisses, the way he made me feel.

I sigh happily and open my eyes to my dreary grey walls and my accreditation certificate.

With nothing else to do, I retake my seat and do what I always do when I’m trying to pretend I have everything I need and want.

I lose myself in my work.

By the time Molly shows up with coffee, my head is aching and I’m struggling to see straight.

The last thing I want to do is dissect my actions or talk about Tyler. But I accept the coffee and take a seat on my sofa beside her.

She looks at my face and shakes her head. “I’m not even going to say anything.”

I sip my coffee and rub at my temple. “Good, because Christine already has.”

She stays quiet, which coming from Molly is even worse than her chewing me out for ignoring her. “Just say it. Everyone else has,” I grumble.

But she only slowly shakes her head as if there’s no hope for me. “Did you have any fun at all?”

I stare down at the plastic lid of my cup to avoid her gaze as I answer. “Saturday night was fun.”

I can feel her eyes on me as I drink. “Oh? What did you do?”

Heat brushes my cheeks, prompting a sharp inhalation of air. “Wait; what? Did you sleep with someone?”

I shrug but look at her. “There wasn’t a lot of sleeping going on.”

She looks so shocked; I think she’d find it easier to believe I was tracking down a cell tower all Saturday night, which I sort of was.

She stares at me and a slow grin spreads over her face. “Was it a guest? What’s he like?”

I pick at the lid as I try to formulate an adequate reply. “He was a horse wrangler. And he’s broody, tough, funny, sexy, an incredible lover.”

She whistles. “Was it the guy on the brochure? Please tell me he was real.”

I pull a face. “He was real. He’s also a murdering prick who swindled Tyler out of his inheritance.”

Her eyes pop and her mouth slackens. “That’s what you were doing? Falling for a hot cowboy while solving a crime? How kick ass are you right now!”

I laugh so hard my ribs burn and I have to stop myself. “You told me I could be anyone I wanted while I was there.”

She laughs and hands me a paper bag with cake inside. “I cannot wait to meet the guy who did this to you. What’d you say his name was?”

I nod and shove a piece of devil’s food cake in my mouth. “Tyler. Tyler Carlson.”

The second I say it, I wish I’d not. “And please don’t go looking online for him or trying to contact him. He’s dealing with a lot; he doesn’t need you emailing the ranch or friending him.”

She pulls a face and rolls her eyes. “Fine. I won’t stalk him. But only if you promise to show me a picture.”

When she gets to her feet and sits in front of my PC, I know I have little choice.

“Log in to that thingy you use with all the info on people. I want to see how hot he is.”

I abandon my cake and drain my coffee as I shoo her away from my desk. “If I show you a picture, will you drop it until I know where I stand with him?”

She nods a little too eagerly. “Show me.”

I relent and pull up his driver’s license. “Satisfied.”

She doesn’t say a word for so long I think she isn’t as impressed as I am. “Oh. Fucking. Hell. That is not fair. That is so not fair. I had to go to a dumb wedding with screaming babies and you, you got a hot cowboy.”

I gesture to my face. “I also got this, remember?”

She scrunches up her face and manages to look guilty. “Sorry. Anyway, are you going to see him again?”

“I left that up to him.”

Her eyebrows rise in surprise. “And you’re okay with that?”

I try to sound casual. “I don’t really have a choice. Besides which he’s in Montana and I’m here. Long-distance relationships are hard and I don’t even know if he wants to see me again.”

She shakes her head at me. “So, you just give up before you start?”

A flickering of annoyance grows. “I’m not giving up. I’m just being realistic.”

Her own annoyance seems to match mine as she walks towards the door. “That’s a load of crap and you know it. Normally you’re just as bad as your dad was. But for some reason this guy made you think about something else for a change.”

I push back from my chair, ridiculously annoyed at her attitude and for mentioning my father. “We spent one night together. That doesn’t mean I’m going to ride off into the sunset with him.”

She hovers in the door, almost glowering at me. “I’m sorry you got hurt, and I’m glad you’re okay, and I love you like a sister, but sometimes Zoe Foster, I just want to slap you until you see everything you’re missing out on. Do you really want to end up like your parents? Still working when they should be enjoying life?”

I don’t even have time to reply before she storms out of my office.

I stare at my inbox on my desk and scowl at the pile of case files.

“It’s completely unrealistic,” I mutter.

But when the incoming call light flashes at me, I hesitate to pick it up.

Instead, I stare at Tyler’s expired license still on my screen and sigh before I answer my phone.

***

Tyler

I pace back and forth in the hallway. Hands shaking and heart pumping way too fast.

I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing here. Liam is back in jail. The offer for the ranch has been withdrawn, and Gerry has managed to convince my relatives I’m not the pushover they seem to think I am.

By all rights, I should be feeling relieved things are finally going to go back to the way they were.

But I’m not. In the five days since Liam’s bombshell about dad, I’ve been growing more and more distanced from the Laughing Cat.

Everything is tainted by Liam. Half the stock have been sold. I took the website down, but I’m still fielding calls from tourists who want to book.

Kelly quit. Still convinced Liam is innocent and that there’s just been a big misunderstanding.

Meg’s folks have closure, but because of Zoe’s findings Silver Falls hospital is now under investigation, so it’s not over by a long shot.

Instead of resolution, all I have are a chain of events that all lead up to dad dying, The Laughing Cat being wrecked, and Meg and Leah’s parents both grieving.

With the right crew and a lot of work, I know I can turn things around at the ranch.

But instead of feeling good about getting my home back, I’m thinking about Zoe, about my mom and now, I’m here outside a stranger’s room, trying to work up the courage to go inside.

I fantasized about getting the ranch back and smacking the smug smile off Liam’s face.

But the cost was too high. I can’t enjoy the moment and try to celebrate it when Meg and Leah paid the price.

I lean against the wall and look down the corridor towards the reception desk where the Sherriff is waiting.

He’s busy asking the receptionist a few questions, and since he’s doing me a favor, and possibly stretching the law, I push off the wall and knock on the door.

A weak voice calls out for me to enter, so I twist the handle and steel myself as I step inside.

The room is airless, and there’s little in the way of personal items. I keep my eyes on the woman in the bed and try to find the words that have so far eluded me.

She’s hooked up to a machine and propped up by pillows. Dressed in a floral nightgown and with the sheets pulled up, her skin is unnaturally yellow, cheekbones sunken in.

Her eyes are the same shade of blue as Liam’s but she’s so thin she looks like she might snap in a strong wind.

A dozen memories flicker past my eyes, and I have to blink several times to remind myself I’m not back in dad’s hospital room, the doctor telling me not to hold out hope, Burt telling me to stay strong, and Meg flitting in and out at odd times, that now makes sense.

It was all a haze. I was so exhausted, so bone-weary, running on three hours sleep, trying to keep the ranch running, trying to squeeze in visits to see dad, running myself into the ground, all the hopes that one day he might come back.

When he told me he was giving the ranch to Liam, I was too stunned, too disappointed, too hurt to even think to ask why.

“Did my son send you?” she whispers.

I step closer and try not to look at the bruising on her exposed arms. “My name is Tyler Carlson. I’m Jack Carlson’s son.”

Her eyes widen and I see panic swimming in the cornflower blue. “Why are you here?” she whispers.

Why I am here? Did I want to see if he was telling the truth? To see her and ask her if she knew?

She swallows. “If you came to ask if I knew. No. I knew he was planning on seeing him. I suppose I should have seen it coming. For most of his childhood he kept hoping Jack would miraculously arrive and pull us out of the gutter.”

Her voice comes out choked. “He believed that for so long. He had so much faith; it was the closest thing to religion he ever had.”

I don’t say a word, just stay silent as she talks about a brother I’ve never really known. “He had a picture of Jack he cut out from a newspaper. He kept it in his wallet and used to show people. He was so sure, so convinced that one day, Jack Carlson would come put everything right.”

My stomach tightens as she shrugs her bony shoulders. “But he never did. And my little boy, my sweet little boy, I lost him forever.”

I swallow, throat closing as the walls press in on me. I choke the words out, but they seem so meaningless. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I,” she says.

I stare at my boots as I hide my shame and my renewed sense of loss.

Liam wasn’t just legitimately my brother. If dad had done the right thing, Liam’s entire life would have turned out differently. And mine would have too.

“He could have helped but he didn’t,” I mumble.

I lift my eyes and realize as I say it, he really could have.

We had plenty of room; mom was gone; if he wanted to, he could have given them a good life. Liam and I could have grown up together, could have worked together. We might have even been friends.

As she nods wearily, looking exhausted, tears blur my vision. “We were an embarrassment. A stain he wanted to wash away.”

I shake my head and as I look at her; it’s jab like a hot knife to my chest that I don’t know my father as well as think I did.

“What Liam did, who he hurt, I can’t forgive that…but, I think I can understand why he did it.”

She nods slowly, looking like all her energy is draining away. “What do you want, Tyler?”

What do I want? Not to know my father wasn’t the man I thought he was. I want to go back in time and tell him the consequences.

After all this time, after years of emulating him, his work ethic, one question from Jane Cooper, clinging to life, makes everything else seem insignificant.

No matter what I do, Meg and Leah will always be gone. And I will never be able to escape that.

Twenty-five years ago, my father cheated on my mother, and instead of owning up to his mistake, he left a teenage girl to fend for herself.

“Jack wanted his legacy to continue,” I say.

I shake my head. “That’s what he told me when he said Liam was his son.”

I exhale slowly. “But it wasn’t the ranch he wanted to continue.”

My throat gets thick as I recall every second of dad’s final words to me. “He was trying to tell me something I didn’t want to hear.”

I clear my throat. “He was trying to say Liam was like him and I wasn’t.”

Jane flinches. But I can’t stop now. I have to say what I’ve always known but refused to admit it.

“And I’m glad. Because I don’t want to be like him. What my father did to you was wrong, and I can’t ever change that.”

I pause, not sure if I can get out the words lodged in my throat.

But when she nods weakly and looks exhausted, I have to remind myself the Sherriff is probably going to come in any second.

“I want to do the right thing by you. Even if my father didn’t,” I say.