Page 48 of Operation: Return

Trace shook his head. “I saw him again about three days after that, at my apartment. I was afraid for a moment that he’d moved in but never saw him again. I forgot about it until you asked.” Trace coughed and clutched his throat.

“I’ll get you some water.” Scarlet pushed to her feet and headed for the kitchen.

“Thank you for telling me.” Cole stood. “I need to go back upstairs. Gabby has a way of contacting Edwyn. If you need anything, let Gabby know. I’ll be back down here later to let all of you know what is going on. It’s not our intent to leave you in the dark.” He realized that he sounded more like his old self. In a lot of ways, Taylor would’ve made a better man at Wayside than Cole. Maybe there was hope yet for him.

* * *

Erica tried notto fidget as she waited for Edwyn to finish his meeting with the police deputy and the leader of The Guardians. She’d watched Cole head for the kitchen and hoped he wasn’t still angry. Junior had mentioned they were going to a secure location. She’d been torn between wanting to go with him and wanting to stay where she was and find out everything she could about Pete’s abduction.

The minutes ticked by far too slowly and she got up to pace. Where was Cole? Wouldn’t he come back to go to the meeting? Then again, why would he? She’d given him every indication that he shouldn’t care about either Pete or her at all.

She hadn’t considered how much it would hurt to know he believed she’d cheated on him. The very thought hurt. Deeper than she thought it would. For the last six and a half years, she’d put up with people thinking she was the type of woman who would sleep around, since she had never had a husband and she obviously had a child.

But having Cole believe the same hurt worse than anyone else. Why hadn’t she considered what that would do to her? For a minute back in the barn, she’d considered what life would’ve been like if Taylor would’ve returned as he’d planned. Pete would’ve had a father to teach him how to throw and catch a ball instead of having to rely on her. He would’ve had a father to help carry the load of love and discipline that a child needed.

And she’d allowed herself a moment to dream what life would be like with Cole if she told him. A moment that would be nothing more than a dream because he was already angry with her. Once she told him the truth, he’d probably be furious.

Tears welled in her eyes and she dashed them away as the front door opened. She whirled around, hoping to see a friendly face. Instead, one of the Guardians stood in the doorway and looked around. He peered down the hall where Pete had been abducted, then made his way toward the kitchen, only stopping when he noticed her.

“Are you one of the guests?” He tugged his hat off his head and held it in both hands.

His cold, calculating stare made her shiver. “No, I work here for the summer.” Though she hadn’t been able to work since Pete had disappeared. Even thinking about going back into Teddy’s office worried her.

“I didn’t realize any women worked here. I thought it was all men, so I assumed you were a guest.”

She wanted to ask why he wasn’t out looking for her son. All the men had been mobilized who weren’t needed to talk to the police or to help the guests. Who was this guy, and didn’t the Guardian men answer to anyone?

“I haven’t seen anyone walking around so I was beginning to wonder if this really was a healing ranch or if that was just a cover-up.” He chuckled and glanced down the hall again.

“I can assure you. It is.” She felt uncomfortable taking her eyes off him, like if she risked turning her back, he might do something. “Did you need something? Did you find anything while you were looking? Is that why you’re in here?” She hated questioning him, but his presence seemed so out of place.

“No, I was looking for someone, but he’s not around. Is that the kitchen?” He tipped his head toward the door where Cole had disappeared what seemed like a long time ago.

Erica stalled, wondering why he would ask such a question. There was no reason for her to go into the kitchen and she worked there, he had no excuse. Victoria ran a very tight ship in her kitchen, usually only allowing her few part-time workers in there and Teddy. The part-time workers only came three hours before supper and left before the dining room opened for guests to maintain privacy. All of them had been put on temporary leave since she’d been there.

“Why? Do you need something to eat?”

He chuckled. “I have a hankering for a little something. Thought I could grab a snack and not bother anyone.”

“The dining room is through that door.” Erica pointed. “We aren’t allowed in the kitchen. It’s against ranch policy. Victoria should be in there and she can help you.” Maybe the Guardians had been here for such a short time they hadn’t been told all the rules. Even she hadn’t known everything for a few days.

“What do you do for the ranch, if you aren’t a guest.” He stared at her as if he questioned her honesty.

There was no reason not to answer his small talk, yet she didn’t want to. She hadn’t really looked at the Guardians, but something felt off about this one. Her past snuck up on her, reminding her that she had yet to have a positive experience with men other than Taylor and his father. Taylor was one of the few men who’d broken through her walls in a positive way and allowed her to feel something other than fear and suspicion.

Was her unease more of that, or were her worries valid? Was he really acting strangely, or did she just take issue with every man who crossed her path. A little voice in her head whispered,even Cole.

It was true. She’d refused to trust Cole just in case he was like every other man who’d treated her with zero worth, or tried to take from her what little she had. “I work in the office,” she answered when she realized she’d not answered him and he wasn’t leaving.

“This place has an office? Interesting.” He craned his neck, looking around.

She wanted him to leave, to go find the snack he wanted or to find whoever he was looking for. Mostly, she wanted him to leave her.

What it came right down to was, she wanted Cole to return so she could feel safe again. Ever since these men had arrived on Wayside, she’d felt on edge and unprotected. Pete’s disappearance only solidified that feeling of dread.

“Don’t you think you should get what you were looking for and go back to looking for Pete?”

He cocked his head. “The boy?”

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