Page 4 of Operation: Integrity

“I think I need to rest.”

Edwyn nodded and took a step toward the door. “We’ll take this slow. You don’t need to ride on your first day, or even choose a horse. It’s just good that we got to meet and that you know you can talk to me.”

She could, but how much could she trust him? Would he listen or just condemn? He was friends with Sam and would probably tell Sam everything if she confided in Edwyn. She didn’t want him knowing she’d originally gotten herself in this situation willingly, at least somewhat, and that it was while they were still together.

Her stomach knotted.No one will ever want you again. You’re nothing but a bad girl.

Kelly ignored the near-constant inner thoughts. “Right. Where should I meet you tomorrow?” She hoped that was enough for him to understand she was too tired to do anything else that day.

“If you don’t want to go out anymore, either Victoria will bring your supper tray here or I will.” He seemed hesitant to leave.

“Okay.” Was she supposed to tell him what she wanted? Her heart picked up speed. Was he going to standthere or go? Did she need to choose a meal? What was the appropriate response? Nothing was easy anymore.

“If you need anything, pick up the phone in your room and dial #0, that will get you to Connor’s phone. He’ll get a message to me.”

She hadn’t had her own phone in years since she had no money of her own and she wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone, so having a phone had been an impossibility. Now, she had one in her room and the only one she could call was someone she didn’t know. “I won’t be doing that.” Talking on the phone with a virtual stranger? No thanks.

“Then I’ll see you at 5:30 when I bring your tray.” He touched his hat and left.

She wasn’t sure having Edwyn come to her door was any better than talking to a stranger on the phone.

Chapter Two

Sam finished releasing the dogs that weren’t working that day into the huge kennel run they used to let the dogs play and get exercise. He checked the heated water dishes to make sure none of them had frozen over and were full. Then he headed for the house to talk to Brendon.

He honestly didn’t use Brendon’s therapy services that much. Of all the guys, he considered himself the least affected by his time in the military. He hadn’t seen combat. He only stayed in for a short time. So, instead of wasting time that Brendon could use for people who needed it more, he only went when Connor told him he had to or when, like today, something was weighing heavily on him.

He knocked on Brendon’s door and was told to come in almost immediately. He peered inside, making sure there wasn’t anyone else in the office.

Connor glanced up at him. “Sam? I don’t usually see you unless I get an order from Connor.”

“Am I going to run into anyone else’s time?” Sam didn’twant to be interrupted once he got started. He’d come back later if someone else was on the schedule.

“I’m free for the next hour and a half. Sit and tell me what’s going on.” Brendon closed his notebook and gave his full attention to Sam.

“I don’t know how much you know about Kelly Chambers who just arrived?” He gripped the arms of his chair tightly, willing his words and thoughts to stay calm.

“I have a file started on her. Just like I do every other guest who comes to Wayside.” Brendon offered noncommittally.

“She’s my one regret. Kind of.” How to say what needed to be said and still be sympathetic? Kelly would be one of Brendon’s clients, putting him right in the middle of a sticky situation. His brain wouldn’t let him relax. She’d used him or lied. One of the two.

“Kind of? You’ll have to explain that to me. I haven’t met with her yet, so I don’t know what’s going on in any sort of personal way.”

“She wouldn’t know what I have to say, anyway.” Because he’d never told her, and she was much too wary now. Not to mention hurt, both physically and mentally. The fact that he might never be able to talk to her about their shared past ate away at him worse than he thought it would. “I regret that I didn’t know her as well as I thought I did. I was going to propose to her but the day I showed up to surprise her, I caught her with another man.”

Brendon didn’t look surprised, then again, it took a lot to surprise him. “You caught her doing . . .?” He prompted.

Sam felt his neck go hot as he thought back to that day. While he hadn’t caught her sleeping with another man, he could’ve just as well have. That kiss wasn’t platonic in any sense of the word. “Kissing.” He wouldn’tdescribe the scene in any greater detail than that, even though he would never forget it.

“Hmm, interesting.” Brendon slowly pulled open a drawer on his desk, then flipped through the files, the shuffling sound as his fingers flicked over the hard paperboard edges letting Sam know what he was doing, even though he couldn’t see. He laid open a file on his desk and ran his finger down the front page.

“When did that happen?” He glanced up at Sam.

That was a date he would never in his life forget. “September 23rd.”

Brendon’s eyebrow rose as he looked at Sam. “Her house was sold at sheriff’s sale in November, the year she went missing. Meaning her house was in foreclosure for probably at least eight months while you two were dating. Did she ever mention financial trouble to you?”

Sam shook his head. Toward the end, she’d preferred staying in to going out, often joking with him that she didn’t want to leave to go anywhere, that she had what she needed whenever he was there. Earlier, she’d been a social butterfly, often begging him to take her to parties. “She didn’t say anything to me. There wasn’t a For Sale sign in the yard.”

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