Page 46 of Cold Winter Nights

“Royal,” she began, her voice calm, and careful as if she knew the words she was about to say would cut him to the quick. “There’s still been no word from Stone.”

Royal’s throat tightened. “Nothing! What about the guys who work for him? What about Arthur.”

She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with heavy sorrow.

“They all tried, but he wouldn’t answer the door.” Her words came out in a rush. “Myra told me to take some food up there to him, but when I banged on the door, he wouldn’t answer, so I left it on the porch.”

“Shit, fuck.” Royal grimaced at her surprised expression. “Sorry, I just um…this is all my fault. I tried to tell him what I was doing but he wouldn’t answer my calls. I have no clue if he read my texts, but if he did, he didn’t respond.”

“This is just like when Ben died,” she cried. “Stone isolates when life gets to be too much. It’s like he doesn’t want anyone to see him in pain.”

Royal let out a stressed exhale.

Myra came from out the back and rushed towards him with her arms outstretched. Royal embraced her, inhaling her scent of berries and cinnamon. He was so overwhelmed moisture gathered in the corners of his eyes.

“Go to him, honey. He won’t let anyone inbutyou. Be insistent, but gentle. Make him see reason.”

“I fully plan to,” Royal headed towards the stairs. “I just didn’t want him to see me in this.”

He’d remove the stuffy suit and put on hisrealclothes.

Fire burned in Royal’s chest. “I’m bringing him back, don’t worry.”

That was a promise he intended to keep. And before either of them could say another word, Royal rushed upstairs to hisroom, shucked off the cashmere trench coat and got dressed in his jeans, a dark green turtleneck and hiking boots.

He was in his SUV in less than ten minutes and barreling towards the mountain road that led up to Stone’s secluded cabin. Dusk was approaching and Royal pressed harder on the gas, not wanting to navigate the rocky terrain in the dark.

By the time Royal arrived his heart was pounding so hard he thought he might have another panic attack and pass out. The house was dark and quiet, and the sight of two racoons ripping apart the food that’d been left on Stone’s doorstep made chills race down his spine.

He leapt out of the SUV and bounded up to the door hollering at the racoons that ran away with a chewed-up container of food and scraps of a plastic bag.

Royal knocked repeatedly on the hardwood door. After four or five minutes with no answer, he began calling Stone’s name so loud it hurt his throat.

Refusing to give up, he ran around the back of the cabin and pounded on the bedroom window, not caring if it broke.

“Bo, please! It’s Royal! I’m home! Please, open the door! Please!

The silence that followed stretched on too long. Royal’s mind reeled, and his fear escalated with each passing second. Was Stone just on the other side of the door watching him or peeking through the curtains waiting for him to leave.

“Bo!” he hollered, “Let me in! I’m back, baby, I swear it! I’ll never leave you again, please.”

Royal slumped against the door, feeling defeated, his voice hoarse from the cold. “I’m home…let me in, Bo.”

Damnit.

Just when he thought he might commit a crime and break a window, the front door creaked open.

Stone stood there wrapped in a heavy quilt, his face ashen. His hair was unkempt, his beautiful blue eyes were bloodshot, his posture reflecting defeat. This wasn’t the strong man he’d come to know…or the man he’d fallen in love with.

“Bo,” he whispered, stepping forward, his voice trembling. “Can I come inside?”

Stone didn’t move or speak. Royal shivered at the block of ice forming between them.

He stood there for long moment, unable to understand the blank expression on Stone’s face. But he did recognize the pain and exhaustion.

“I’m so sorry.” Royal’s voice was barely audible. “I never meant to hurt you. I hated to leave like that but I thought you’d understand or appreciate me trying to help you, to help Mrs. Pearl. The town needed money, and that’s the one thing I’m good at, is making money. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

Stone didn’t move, didn’t even look up. But Royal saw his fingers clench around the blanket.

---