Page 39 of Operation: Unify

He turned to face them. “Look, I know being here is making this harder on you. I don’t think I’m actually in danger other than losing my job. I want you to drop me off back at Dad’s rental house where my car is. I’ll deal with this situation on my own from here. I’m too close anyway. I know all these people and that means they can pick me out from a mile away. They don’t know you.”

Connor nodded. “I think that makes good sense. I know you’d talked about going with us. We may have to leave on a moment’s notice, but you’re welcome at Wayside.” He dug his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a business card. “You helped Lacy when she needed it and that means I owe you. It’s rare that I give these out, so don’t let that into the wrong hands.” He handed it over.

“Thanks. I won’t.” He kept silent the rest of the way back to the rental.

“This is me. Thanks for taking me along for the ride.” Randy laughed but it held no humor.

“Thank you again for all your help,” Lacy said. She wasn’t quite sure she agreed with him that he wasn’t in danger, but he was an adult, and they couldn’t make him stay.

“No problem. If you don’t leave in a rush, be sure to call me. I’d love to get out of here.” He waved and got out of the truck.

Lacy moved over in the seat to give Connor more room then buckled in. “So, where do we go now?”

“Honestly, I’m not really sure. We can’t report what happened at the café because he tried to make it seem like nothing. We could tell them that we suspect Tod will be there, but that might not happen and then they’ll have wasted resources, making us look bad. I should call Wayside and find out what’s happening there.”

She gave a single nod of agreement but said nothing. At least her friend had survived and by all appearances, they’d be able to leave soon. If Wayside wasn’t in danger, they could go even sooner. “There’s a little overlook on the edge of town. Melinda showed me when we were driving to her aunt’s house. The reception is really good there and you can see people coming from a mile away.”

He snorted. “Sounds like the perfect place.”

A few minutes later,Connor turned onto a gravel road that led up a small incline. After about a quarter mile, everything seemed to open up and the whole town came into view below them.

Lacy got out and closed her door. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket and looked out over the guard rail. “It’s too bad that I haven’t had a chance to enjoy this place. It really is pretty.”

The sun was halfway up and sending golden rays over the orange hue of the town. Connor wanted to get the call over with, but talking to Lacy, alone, was an even bigger draw.

“And even sadder that you’ll probably never want to visit again.” He brushed hair away from her cheek that had come loose in the wind.

“No, but maybe I’d like to go to Santa Fe. It’s pretty here and not as cold or windy as Wyoming.”

“I thought you missed being home?” Though he’d known she said that because of the situation. Still, she’d chosen to leave and had said she needed time away. He doubted she’d gotten what she hoped for.

“I do. Home is just that. I love Wyoming and Wayside ranch. I’m not above saying there are perks to other areas though.” She smiled at him over her shoulder.

He leaned against the front of the pickup and gave himself permission to be still. Lord, what would You have me do with this amazing woman? She told me no not so long ago, but I feel like something has changed between us. I don’t want to ignore her wishes, but I also don’t want to ignore encouragement if that’s what this is.

She moved closer to the railing and peered over the edge. “It’s not as far down as I thought it would be, the slope is less harsh than it looks.”

He laughed. “You’ve never been one to appreciate heights. What was it you said when I wanted to take you skiing when we were first married?” He hadn’t remembered that in a long time. She’d refused to admit it scared her. Since she was never afraid of anything, he’d teased her good-naturedly for a while about it.

“I told you that skis belong at the end of last names, not on my feet. I still stand by that.”

He couldn’t help himself. He headed over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Sticking his hands in her front coat pockets, he held her hands warming both of them. “I miss you, Lacy.”

“I’m right here.” She chuckled.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m not here because I think of you as some second-chance mission. I’m here because I still care about you. I don’t think I ever stopped.”

She released his hands and doing so tugged them from her pockets then turned around and rested her hands against his chest. “I know you’re not here on a second-chance mission because I told you that I wouldn’t do that. The issue that I had, that I still have, is that you still don’t believe I won’t walk away. Even after all these years. I’m not her, Connor.”

He bent his head and backed away, hiding his face from her. How had she known how hurt he was by that? He’d never told her the reasons he was so sure he wasn’t worth loving if trouble came up. He just knew it was true.

“It’s not you that I don’t trust, Lacy. It’s me. I don’t know what I did to make the one woman who was supposed to care for me unconditionally . . . walk away. She just walked away. No goodbye. No explanation. No offer to take me with her. She stayed in contact with my brothers. Why not me?”

He shook his head and turned away. “Now I sound like a whiny child. I’m not.”

“Connor.” She held his arm and stopped him from turning away further. “I know you’re not a child. Adults have feelings too. What she did hurt you and it had a direct effect on our lives. I always felt like you didn’t fully trust me to love you, no matter what.”

“How could I?” He looked into her eyes. “How could I risk rejection again?”

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