Page 32 of Final Escape
Internet service atWolf River was painstakingly slow. Halfway through trying to get something done online, she often found herself disconnected and needing to start all over again. The only people she’d likely hear from outside of Granite Falls were Trace and Kris at any rate, and they’d call her cell phone before bothering to type out a message.
But now, given the emails she’d received from Billy last night, the antiquated internet connection was more frustrating than ever, and it was past time to leave for school. Carrie drummed her fingernails on her kitchen table as she glanced through the first few messages, forwarding each one to Sam before she deleted them.
We need to talk...
Things have been tough. About that bank loan I had...
You’ll be seeing me soon. You owe me...
You’re in real trouble...
The internet disconnected. Again. Exasperated, she hit the off button on her laptop and slammed the cover shut. The emails were just more of the same, and her lawyer could deal with him. She’d send the rest later.
There’d been few assets to divide during the divorce. No real estate. No investments to speak of. Billy had actually tried to go after her for support, since she was the only one of them who had a regular paycheck. He’d hammered home the fact that she had a brother who owned a “fancy ranch,” as if it meant she had access to money that Billy deserved.
Her fear faded, and renewed anger took its place. No harassment, subtle or otherwise, was going to help him win anything from her. He was welcome to try.
Though still, a small voice of warning niggled at her, chipping away at her flash of bravado and reminding her of what it had been like to live with his volatile temper...
And of the fact that she was out here very much alone.
* * *
WHEN HER RAFTING CERTIFICATIONclasses were canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday, Carrie reported to the raft company office. Penny, Tina, and Logan were booked solid into the evening, so Carrie’s own afternoon flew while she handled the customers, collected liability release forms and outfitted each set of passengers with the appropriate gear.
While waiting for the final float trip to return, she set up her laptop in the office and finished forwarding Billy’s emails to Sam without bothering to read them. She hadn’t heard back from Sam about the first set, but still felt a flash of relief when the task was done. “So there, Billy Danvers,” she muttered under her breath. “Takethat.”
“You don’t sound happy.” A low laugh rumbled from the door of the office, and Logan walked in. “You always talk to your computer in that voice?”
“It isn’t the computer. It...was just some business I had to take care of.”
Lifting an eyebrow, he sauntered up to her desk and settled into a chair. “The only time I’ve heard that edge in your voice has been over that ex-husband of yours. Is he causing you any trouble?”
“Long distance. Which is enough. So how did your raft trip go?” She glanced at the open schedule book on the desk. “Since you had the white-water group this time, it had to be more fun.”
“Yep. Good set of folks, too. They loved it, and not one of ’em did anything crazy. Half said they were coming back again next week.” Bracing his elbows on the arms of the chair, he studied her. “So what’s this about Billy? Are you expecting trouble?”
“He’d like me to think that.”
“Did he call?”
“Emailed. Quite a few times, and he ought to know better.”
“It has to be tough, dealing with this.”
“It isn’t exactly how I expected my marriage to end, believe me.” She sighed. “I really meant the ‘till death do us part’ passage of my marriage vows. I made them in church, before God and my family. It was supposed to be a lifetime bond. And now here I am, divorced and worrying about my ex-husband showing up.”
Logan nodded. “Sometimes life just throws us a curve.” He looked as if he wanted to say more, but held back.
“It’s strange. My marriage was a mistake, I know that now. I fell for charm and a devilish smile, not substance. But I’m not angry anymore...it’s more like deep sorrow. Guilt, too. Could I have done something better? Tried harder? If I’d given it more time, could I have changed him? Maybe I failed him as well as myself, you know?”
“If he didn’t change just being married to you and wanting to make you happy, then you couldn’t havemadeit happen.”
She considered his words. “I did learn that if I ever follow my heart, it will only happen with someone who is a good, solid man who shares my faith.”
“No more wild and crazy cowboys, then.”
“Exactly. It won’t be the excitement of some bad boy who lives on the edge of danger, and risks his life every day. And it won’t matter if he’s not tall, dark and handsome, either. It will be all about what he’s likeinside.”
