Page 31 of The Rancher's Fake Fiancée

Chapter Fourteen

“Are you sureabout this?” Randy asked for what seemed like the fiftieth time since they had taken El PaPa from the ranch, and then helped put the others, including Philippe and Madeleine, away with their cases for the courts to handle, if Jessie had truly made the decision to leave the service.

“You will be bored to tears being a member of regular society. You are too good at what you do in the field. Besides, what am I supposed to do? I have to now break in someone else and hope they can understand how my genius mind works. You were already broken in. It’s just not being fair to me.”

Jesse shook her head. “You are so humble. I know that someone will feel as blessed as I was over these years to put up with your whining about cold mornings, bad coffee, crappy food, and having to listen to country music when rock is your jam. But we each must make sacrifices for the good of saving the world from bad guys. Besides, look on the bright side. All the rookies coming along won’t know any better…at least not at first…they will think you are a super star having hauled in the biggest cartel brain in the last two decades. Just think of the captive audience you will have on those stakeouts?”

Randy gave a long thought to what she said. “That is true. They will be able to benefit from all my stories. You do have a good point. But what will you do without those same stories?”

“Oh, I think I’ll be able to muddle along somehow. Afterall, my brother thinks I’d make a good investigator for him while I finish law school. I might like the view better from behind a tall bench. Besides, I always did look good in black. So, you catch the bad guys, and I’ll put them away. How’s that?”

“Well, I suppose that does make sense and all. You’ve got the brains, and I’ve got the brawn.”

She shook her head, stifling a smile. “And you are as always, so very humble. But I will miss you. And you better take care of Maddie. She’s good for another fifty thousand miles at least.”

“I hate to see you go.” He had grown serious. “You know you are good at this job but there is something more for you out there. I know there are one or two or more in Red Cliffs interested in knowing what’s going on with you. Have you spoken to them?”

“No and I don’t intend to do so. That never works well after a case is closed and people have returned to their normal routines. We go forward and don’t look back. I believe you once told me that bit of advice.”

“Since when do you choose to listen to me now?”

She reached up and hugged his neck. “Take care of yourself. Keep your head down. And go have another baby with that pretty wife of yours. Take your own advice.” She walked away then. She didn’t trust herself to not be able to check the water threatening to spill from her eyes.

It was never easy saying goodbye to people who mattered.

But she settled into her car, moved her potted plants over a bit into the front floorboard and seat to secure them for the drive. She was headed west. Away from the big city. Back to Destiny’s River. And she couldn’t help feeling that just maybe she was headed towards the place she had long dreamed of having those days and nights spent in someone else’s bed, in their home, not hers. Her sister had helped move her into the Victorian house she had established before she married and moved to her husband’s ranch. Now Cassie would call Primrose House her home. She caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror when stopped at a red light.

She was reintroducing herself to herself again. Jesse McCord was no more. Not Delilah or Sarah or any of the multitude of others she had taken on. From that point on, she would be just herself…Cassie Parker. One of four siblings, aunt to two little girls and one little nephew.

Beyond that, she would build who she was…reacquaint herself with her own likes and dislikes. She would begin by using her skills as an investigator for the district attorney’s office while studying for the bar exam. She had set that aside for her marshal’s job. But now, it was time to get back on track.

And then if by some chance she should pass Cole or Emmie or any of the others from Red Cliffs, then she would smile and keep walking. That was evidently how they wanted things since she had heard nothing from any of them after the day she left the ranch for the last time with El PaPa in handcuffs. El PaPa otherwise known as Hector Torres. Almost six months and all she had received was a single red rose on her desk one day with a handwritten note…from Cole.

“I don’t know who to address this to but know that it comes with all the thanks in the world I can find to let you know I will always be grateful that someone named Jesse came into our lives and kept my daughter safe as you promised. You will forever be in our prayers and always in our hearts.”

Cole

And that had been that. So, the past was past and now the future was ahead and that was the way she needed it to be to keep her mind focused. Three days later, as she drove around the town square, she saw her brother talking to another man on the sidewalk, and she had to smile. She was coming home. To a new place that someday wouldn’t feel so new, and she wouldn’t have to remind herself that she belonged there. The courthouse stood in the center of the town square. Life revolved around its square. There were the storefronts with bright quilts, antiques, flowers in baskets and the requisite bakery and café. People strolled the streets and actually smiled and greeted each other, pausing to catch up on the news and neighborly gossip. She didn’t doubt she would be the talk of the town soon enough.

Pulling into the driveway, she parked and came around and gathered her potted plants in her arms. Then she mounted the steps of the beautiful old Victorian house, with its wide porches and cushioned porch swings and rocking chairs. Scent from the rose garden filled the air. Cassie slid the key into the lock and stepped across the threshold.

She was immediately assailed with memories of the first time. She had come to a birthday dinner for her niece. And it struck her that her sister Tori had indeed found a perfect place when she searched for a ‘forever home’ as she called it for them. It had taken her a while to get there, but Cassie had finally found her way home. There had been parties, births, a wedding, and already the house had a history for them. She would add to it one day, she hoped. In the meantime, there were suitcases to bring in and food to shop for.

She need not have worried about the food part. Going in to set the plants in the wide windowsill above the kitchen table alcove, she found a note from her sister.‘Groceries in fridge and pantry. Welcome home little sister! Dinner tomorrow night at 6, remember? Love you!’Opening the fridge and pantry she realized that everything had been thought of for her. She laughed when she saw the jar of her favorite pickles front and center. Her sister never forgot. She poured a glass of sweet tea and made her way out onto the large front porch. The rocker was waiting. She smiled as she took her seat, sinking back into the soft cushions. She closed her eyes and felt peace…such a strange feeling but a nice one. One she could get used to. Yet always in the quieter moments, a tall figure appeared in the recesses of her heart with his easy smile and deep gray eyes. He was never far away in her waking moments, nor did he stay away in her dreams at night.

The sound of a vehicle broke into her thoughts at that moment. She saw a marked SUV had pulled into the driveway. The emblem denoted the Destiny’s River Sheriff’s Department. A door opened and a little girl flew up the walkway and then up the steps and almost knocked Cassie down with the hug she gave her.

Laughing, Cassie hugged her back. “You have grown a foot since I last saw you. You need to slow that down.”

“I can’t, I have to play basketball. Dad said I could. Will you come watch me?”

“Slow down, not so fast. Give your old aunt time to breathe,” the man said with a grin as he topped the steps, a basket in his hands. He stepped forward and gave his sister a welcome hug also. “It’s about time you got here. This one has been watching the clock until I could get away from the office. But she had to stop by before tomorrow.” Matt handed the girl the basket.

“We got you a present,” she piped up. “Aunt Tori said it was going to be a tradition. She had one the first time she came here and sat on her porch. So, you need one, too.” She thrust the basket over to her.

“Oh dear,” Cassie said. “If my sister thought I needed this then there is no telling what it might be.”

“Just remember, don’t hurt the bearer. I am just the delivery man,” he pointed out.

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