Chapter 19

Sage

I look around the funeral home, and tensions are high. It’s been a few days since the church members showed up at the B&B and today, we burry Abby’s parents. Many members of the church come, and all sit on one side while friends and people supporting Abby sit on the other.

Lauren and Adam have been right by our side with everything and have taken so much pressure off Abby. I’m so grateful. The service is about to start when a man in a suit sits next to me.

When I look up, I see Colt, and my jaw drops. He rests his forehead on mine.

“I know this isn’t a happy event, but you still look sexy as hell,” he whispers.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say with tears in my eyes.

“We were all talking at dinner the other night. We all wanted to come but knew we couldn’t, so I said I would. I have to head back tomorrow night. We’re short on ranch hands, but I couldn’t let you do this alone.”

I wrap my hand around his neck. “You’re the most amazing man, Colton Evans Buchanan, and I love you with everything I am.”

I watch his eyes mist over and fill with love. “I’m head over heels in love with you, Sage Ella-Rose Buchanan, and I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

He places a soft kiss on my lips, and I feel a hand on my arm.

“Sage, who is this?” Abby whispers, and I laugh.

I look at Colt one more time then take his hand in mine and turn to Abby.

“This is Colt. Colt, this is Abby, Lauren, and Adam,” I introduce him, and they say a quick hello before the funeral director starts.

On the way to the gravesite, Adam and Lauren drive us all there. Colt doesn’t let go of my hand once. After the service is over, I point out the members of the church to Colt, and he nods.

“I have some paperwork you need to see when we get to the B&B,” he whispers in my ear. I nod and take Abby’s hand in mine and walk over to Pastor Luke and his family.

“Anything you have to say to Abby, Lauren, or Adam should be done here, as I think it’s best you don’t attend the wake. It’s at the B&B, and you aren’t welcome,” I say in a firm, cold voice.

Luke stands a bit straighter. “So be it. I’d like to have a meeting with Abby sooner rather than later.”

Colt speaks up. “Fine. Tomorrow morning at nine a.m. at the bakery up the road from the B&B. We’ll be there.”

He then puts one arm around Abby’s waist and takes my hand and leads us to the car.

Lauren and Adam follow us in. Once we’re pulling out of the graveyard, Colt speaks.

“I was going to wait, but I need you guys to be informed. This can’t leave this car, understand?” We all agree.

“I put a private investigator not only on the church but on that Luke guy. Something about leaving twenty-five percent when church members die and the forced marriage rubbed me the wrong way, and my instinct was correct.”

Adam looks at Colt in the review mirror, and Lauren turns from the front passenger seat to face him. Abby’s spine goes straight.

“There were four church deaths last year. One of them was confirmed to have left the money to the church, which would have been over a half million dollars, yet the church only claimed half that all year long. So, where did the money go?”

“Always follow the money,” I say.

Colt gives a halfhearted smile. “Always follow the money. Luke bought a new house in cash that’s worth, take a wild guess.”

“Half a million dollars?” Lauren says.

“Exactly. There are also two cases where he forced his older two sons into marriages to take over the assets of the woman for the church. He takes the money but leaves everything in the woman’s name, so it all falls back on her when something goes wrong. Those women shockingly haven’t been seen in public for a while. My private investigator thought the amount of security around Luke’s home was unnecessary for a pastor. Via some not very legal methods, he did some digging and found those women and several others being held in his basement. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s say it was enough to make my stomach turn.”

“I can’t meet with them tomorrow,” Abby whispers.

“You aren’t going alone. Sage and I will be there. We need him to confirm his plans with you, your business, etc. while I’m wearing a wire. I’ve already been in contact with the authorities, and it was pushed up to the FBI. I guess they’ve been watching him, and this is the break they need to go after him. They plan to raid everything at once, so there’s no time to hide anything. The church, his house, along with the homes of several of the church leaders. So, we have to go in like nothing is wrong. If you don’t talk, so be it.”

“Will it be safe?” Adam asks.

“Yes, there are several undercover agents around today and will be at the wake and in the coffee shop tomorrow. For added protection, one of the guests at the B&B tonight will also be an undercover cop, but I don’t know which one. Again, not a word can be spoken of this once we open the car doors. There are ears everywhere, and we can’t trust anyone.”

Everyone nods. Then Abby looks up at Lauren.

“If you guys want to run the other way and forget the B&B I completely understand.”

They both laugh. “We don’t scare easily. If you knew my childhood, you would understand,” Lauren murmurs. This is when I get a good look at her.

“You might have more in common with Colt and me than you realize,” I say, and we lock eyes. She nods as we pull into the driveway.

“Remember, not a word. Not even tonight behind closed doors, okay? No texting, nothing. Act like you don’t know; we can’t risk it.” We all nod at Colt and head into the wake.

I hate wakes. It feels like it never ends. People linger and want us to comfort them, and I just don’t have it in me. Finally, Adam and Lauren take over and push people out with excuses that Abby needs to be alone.

Even once the place is cleared, none of us are willing to sleep. The guests stay up with us, and I know we’re all watching them, trying to figure out who is the undercover cop.

Is it the middle-aged business couple here on vacation from New York City? Maybe it’s the woman and her fiancé here checking out wedding venues in town. I rule out the little old lady who is making her pilgrimage to Graceland. She’s in her eighties. I thought for a moment maybe it’s even Adam and Lauren.

But my bet is the on the gentleman in his early thirties who’s in town for a family reunion. He says he wants to have a place of peace to come to escape his crazy family.

No matter who it is, my gun is always on me. Colt knows it too. He has made sure of it and has never left my side. I never leave Abby’s side, so the three of us share her room. Thankfully, Colt and I can squeeze into my bed. With Abby in her bed on the other side of the room, I can tell isn’t sleeping, but she has told us several times, she is happy to have Colt in the room.

We’re now getting ready for our coffee meeting, and tensions are high. Adam and Lauren stay at the B&B to handle checkouts and the guests. They’ve taken to the place, learning the ropes quickly.

Colt will drive us and promises not to leave our side. The car ride to the coffee shop is quiet, and I know Abby is terrified. Sadly, Colt and I have both been in worse situations. That doesn’t mean we aren’t nervous either. It’s the fear of the unknown.

Colt parks the car and we take a deep breath as he checks his phone.

“Okay, let’s do this,” he says. He guides us both into the coffee shop. We don’t see Luke, Mike, or Robby there yet, so we get in line to get a coffee. Then we take a seat by the front window, out in the open.

We only wait about five minutes before Luke and Mike show up, but no Robby. They don’t even bother getting coffee. They just sit at our table, with their backs to the front door. Abby won’t make eye contact with them, which is for the best.

You can tell by the way Luke carries himself, he’s over-confident, and I know this will be his downfall. As he sits, he unbuttons his suit coat and looks over at Abby.

“Let’s get right down to business, shall we?” Luke asks in an irritated tone.

I must bite the inside of my cheek not to smile. I feel Colt’s hand dig into my thigh as a reminder as well. He knows me all too well.

“Go on,” Colt says.

“Abigale, your parents were registered members of the church. They had signed that they acknowledged the rule upon becoming members.”

“When was this?” Colt interrupts.

“The date we have on file was right after they were married in 1988.”

“So, thirty-two years ago.” I do the math.

“Regardless, they knew the rules. Their estate has to pay out the twenty-five percent,” Luke states.

“Just to clarify. Twenty-five percent of what?” Colt asks.

“Of their net worth,” Mike speaks up for the first time.

“And what about your demands on Abby if she wants to keep the bed and breakfast?”

“Women cannot own such a high-profile, high-income business. She has no choice but to marry Robby to continue to own such a company.”

At this, I sit up straight, and Colt again knows what’s coming. I want to reach across the table and rip off this guy’s balls and force-feed them to him. But Colt remains calm and grips my thigh even tighter.

It’s a reminder that not only calms me but turns me on too.

“Okay, let’s play your little game. She marries Robby. Then what happens to the business?” Colt asks.

“Well, Robby and the church would run it for her, of course,” Luke says like we should already know that.

“But it stays in her name?” Colt asks.

“Of course,” Mike says. Colt nods.

“And if she doesn’t agree to marry Robby?”

“Then we will take her to court for the twenty-five percent of the estate, which will include twenty-five percent of the value of the bed and breakfast.”

Bingo.

“So. let me get this straight,” I say. I rub Colt’s arm to let him know I’m calm and in control.

“If she doesn’t marry Robby, you will go after her for twenty-five percent. But if she does, then you forget the twenty-five percent, but the church then runs the bed and breakfast?”

“Yes,” Luke says. I smile, which seems to confuse him.

“Why would she pick either option? This is America, and she’s free to do what she wants. Women have equal rights, and your case would be laughed out of any courtroom. Plus, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to bring the eye of the state or the government on your business dealings, now would you?” Colt states.

I love watching Luke squirm more than I should. He knows we have more on him than he thought. That over-confidence he had moments ago is gone.

Before he can respond, I hear the ding that states someone has walked into the shop. I look at the door over Luke’s shoulder and smile. Showtime.

“But it’s too late,” Colt starts. “Because the state and the FBI have been looking into you for longer than you realize, and you just admitted to this plan. That’s illegal, and you just gave them what they need. While we’ve been sitting here chatting, the FBI has been raiding not only your home, but Mike’s home, the church, and the home of several of your higher-ups. I know what they’ve found in your basement.” Watching Luke’s face pale puts a smile on my face.

Right then, four uniformed officers come behind Luke and Mike and whip their arms into handcuffs before they have time to react. The cops read them their Miranda rights and take them out to the waiting cars.

A man in a suit walks up to Colt and shakes his hand. “Thank you for everything, Colt.”

“Well, I’d do anything for my girl here, and she would do anything for the people closest to her. It was a no brainer,” Colt says as he removes the wire he’s been wearing.

“Hello ladies, I’m Detective Ryan Green, FBI. I need to get your statements on the case. I’d prefer you come down to the station, but we can also do it at the bed and breakfast if that’s more comfortable.”

I look at Abby. “It’s up to you. I’m where you are.”

She nods and smiles. “I can go down to the station.”

On shaky legs, we head to the car and prepare for what will be several hours of questions, I’m sure. But having Colt here? I won’t care if it’s several days of questions.