“He’s in Austin,” Brandy told Tyler when he picked up his phone later that evening. She’d thought about stopping by to tell him in person, but after her recent realization, she’d decided that distance was better.
Safe.
“Who?”
“Cooper.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw Gator Hallsey. He’s back, so I asked where your brother was.”
“And you think he told you the truth?”
“I don’t see a reason for him to lie. Not about that anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
She wasn’t going to tell him. That’s what she told herself, but the hopelessness inside of her welled up and suddenly, the words tumbled out. “My mash is missing. Someone took it and I’m laying my money on Kenny Roy, or Ryder Jax or Gator Hallsey, or all three. At the very least, they know who has it and what’s going on.”
“Where are you at?”
“The bakery?”
“I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea—” she started, but it was too late. The dial tone echoed in her ear and Brandy had all of fifteen minutes to gather her courage and prepare herself for a visit from the last man she wanted to see at the moment.
Why did everything have to be so complicated all of a sudden?
* * *
“There’s no sign of breaking and entering here,” Tyler said as he examined the small back door that led into an alley behind the building and then walked back to the small closet behind the oven. “This pantry door wasn’t locked?”
“Why would I lock it? It’s not like someone’s going to break in to steal flour or sugar, and that’s all that I keep back there.”
“Ellie knew it was here?”
“Ellie’s so preoccupied right now, I seriously doubt she knows her last name anymore. She’s really into your buddy, Duff.”
“I think the feeling is mutual.”
“Uh, oh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That Ellie doesn’t like being hooked on anyone. She likes playing the field.”
“Duff’s pretty much the same.”
“Which is why Ellie’s determined to break things off and stay away from him.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”
It was, which was exactly why Brandy was following Ellie’s lead. Except Ellie didn’t have Duff barging over to check her back door and fog her common sense.
“The back door had to be unlocked at some point,” Tyler said. “Unless you think someone came in through the front door. Was it unlocked last night?”
“Of course not. I never leave it unlocked.”
She thought about how she’d rushed in at the last minute that morning because she’d let Tyler McCall distract her last night. And every night before then.
“Maybe I left it unlocked. I mean, I had to have, right? Otherwise there would be some evidence of an actual break-in.”
“Unless it’s a really experienced thief.”
“In Rebel? We haven’t had any sort of break-in around here since the Rebel Softball Team went on a scavenger hunt and dared each other to steal two rolls of toilet paper from the Mercantile. Even then, they didn’t actually break in. One just distracted the clerk while another girl snuck the toilet paper past him under her shirt. It’s not like there’s a big crime wave around here.”
“And you sure as hell can’t call the sheriff.”
“No.”
He nailed her with a gaze. “You can’t go chasing after Gator Hallsey and his crew. I don’t care if they did have something to do with taking the mash.”
“They did,” she said, more to convince herself than him. Because ever since she’d left the bar, she hadn’t been able to shake the voice telling her that while Gator wasn’t the most upstanding guy, he’d been telling the truth.
Which meant something else was going on.
“Leave it alone and make another batch,” Tyler told her.
She shook her head. “I don’t have time. Speaking of which, I need to get home. Thanks for stopping by, but I promised Jenna we would hang out tonight.”
“What about later?”
She ignored the rush of excitement. “I’m committed for the long haul. Maybe we can get together tomorrow.” Even as she said the words, she knew she wasn’t going to call him. Or drive over.
Distance.
“Listen—”
“I really have to go.”
He looked as if he wanted to say something, but then his phone blinked and he shook his head. “Fine, but you’re sure you’re going home? No more poking around?”
“Scout’s honor.” She crossed her heart and watched as he turned and walked away.
* * *
“He called,” his mother told him when he walked into the trailer a few minutes later. “Told me he was fine and he’d try to stop by sometime soon. I told him I needed him here now, but that boy doesn’t listen. Why, you just wait until your father gets home…” Tyler’s mother went off on a rant about how things were going to change and shape up before she ended the tirade with a long swig of her coffee.
“Where’s he at?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Did you ask him?”
“’Course, I did,” the woman said, her words slightly slurred. Then again, it was after sundown. Well past happy hour. And to say Ellen McCall was happy by now was an understatement. “Say, when are you going to pick up that mess out front?”
“I should be done by tomorrow,” he told her, particularly since he wasn’t doing much else tonight.
He thought of Brandy and her reluctance earlier, and his gut tightened. She was scared.
He didn’t blame her. Last night hadn’t gone exactly as he’d planned. Things had started off good enough. Fast. As planned. But then she’d sighed and he’d found himself slowing down, and then they’d both been so tired that falling asleep had seemed like the right thing.
Until the neighbor had called to tell him his mother was singing at the top of her lungs and she was going to call the police if Tyler didn’t put a stop to it. He’d gone by the house, poured his mother into bed, and then headed back to the rodeo arena only to find that Brandy had left.
So? Good riddance. That’s what Tyler told himself, but damned if he hadn’t actually liked falling asleep with her. Enough that he’d had one hell of a practice session that morning. He’d been focused. On point.
“You keep riding like that,” Jack had told him, “and you’ll give those cowboys a run for their money in Cheyenne.”
Yep, he’d done good, and all because he’d gotten some much-needed sleep. Some peace. The most he’d felt in a long time.
Unfortunately, Brandy hadn’t had a similar day. Her mash was missing, she was rattled, and now she was scared.
Of him.
Of them.
The urge to hop into his truck and haul ass over to her place hit him hard and fast, but Tyler wasn’t about to go there. Sure, he’d had a good day. But maybe it hadn’t been because of Brandy. Because he’d had some decent sleep.
Maybe he was just pushing himself.
His mind made up, he spent the next few hours clearing away the leftover wood and nailing up a few of the last pieces, until the porch stood strong and tall. He jumped to test the weight and satisfaction rolled through him.
Short-lived when he headed back to the empty apartment and the soft sheets that still smelled like Brandy Tucker.