Page 38 of My Cowboy Salvation
I shake my head, trying to find the words, but it’s like I’m in some bad dream, and I’m frozen to the spot. I look past Parker’s shoulder again, to see the man who has been hovering like a shadow in the back of my mind for too long.
But the figure that had been standing at the corner is gone. I stare frantically outside the window, scouring every face, every figure, trying to find him again, to determine if I still have time to run before he reaches me, but the figure in the coat is gone.
I don’t notice Parker at my side of the table until he places his hand around my waist, telling me something, but I can’t understand him, my mind racing and my lungs squeezing tightly as I try to draw breath.
Simon. Simon has found me.
* * *
Logan
“I wantany security footage you can put together. There has to be something on this guy,” I say to Mark Slater, my deputy chief, who’s back at the station. “Let me know if you find anything.”
I end the call and return to the front room, where Dylan is curled up on the couch. Even with a blanket wrapped around her and the fire roaring in the hearth, she’s shivering.
I kneel in front of her, putting my hands over her cold ones. “If Simon is here, we’re going to find him, okay? This is a small town. A guy like that will stand out like a sore thumb.” I debate asking this next question, but push forward. “How sure are you it was him? Did you get a look at his face?”
She pauses and stares over my shoulder as she remembers. “He had on a long wool coat, which seemed out of place up here. His hair was dark and slicked back, just like Simon wears it, but he was so far away I couldn’t see his face clearly. But… there was something about how he was standing that was so familiar.” She closes her eyes. “I just don’t know. I’ve been sort of jumpy all week. Maybe I let my nerves get the best of me.”
I would like to believe that, but Dylan doesn’t seem to be the type of person to get overly emotional. I turn to my son, who is pacing the room. “And you didn’t see him?”
“I fucking wish I had. I would have ripped his head from his shoulders. By the time Dylan could tell me what happened and I ran outside, he was gone. Have you heard anything from your buddy? The one who was going to look into this guy, dig whatever shit up he has to end this.”
“Not yet.” Which is half true. I heard from his tech guy earlier, but as he explained, it was going to take a few days. But with this possible new threat, I’m definitely going to be placing a call tonight to push things up. I’m not risking Dylan’s safety.
Dylan sits up and pulls off the blanket. “I think I’m going to take a shower and lie down in my room. I’m pretty beat.”
We watch as she slowly climbs the stairs, not looking back. My hands flex, and I fight the urge to punch something.
“I really hate this guy. Do you think if he’s in Castle Falls that Dylan should stick around?” Parker asks.
“If he is here, I can’t think of a better place to smoke him out. The town is small, and strangers don’t go unnoticed. I’ll put a word out with my deputies to keep an eye out for this guy—unofficially, for now. And this place?” I look up and around the house. “I’ve updated it with a few extra security measures since I moved here. He’s not going to be sneaking in without being detected. My opinion is Dylan won’t be safer anyplace else but here.” I pause and study my son, who’s looking shaken. “You doing okay?”
He offers a quick dry laugh that doesn’t have any mirth. “Just great. Today has definitely not gone as I hoped.” I wait for him, knowing he’ll tell me if he’s ready. He barely meets my eyes. “I still love her, and I decided to tell her today at the cafe.”
Ah. I wondered about the meeting, but because of the Simon threat, I haven’t had a chance to give it much thought. “How did that go?”
He plops down in a recliner, appearing almost defeated. “Not great. She was pretty clear that she still loves and cares about me. As a friend.” He sighs and rubs his face. “It wasn’t what I was hoping to hear. Kind of like a knife to the gut, to be frank. She seemed so… certain about it that if it weren’t for the fact she’s been dealing with this Simon guy, I would wonder if she’s found someone else.”
I’m not going to touch that one, so I decide to change direction. “Maybe it’s for the best you know now. No sense pining over someone who can’t return your feelings. You told her how you felt. Now you can move on.”
“I guess so. I just don’t know if it’s going to be that easy. She’s pretty special.”
I nod. “You are too, though. I know you’ll get another chance with someone else. You’re still young.”
“You should take your own advice.” He grins. “I hate to think of you alone up here. You know there are dating apps if you’re trying to find someone not in Castle Falls. I can hook you up with a few.”
“Not on your life,” I say, shaking my head at my son, who laughs.
“All right.” He checks his watch. “I can’t sit around here. I’m going back into town. I’ll pick up something for dinner.”
I look sharply at Parker. “Just be careful. If you see this guy, don’t approach him. You call me, and I’ll handle it.”
“Yeah, I know.” He gets up and goes to the front door, pausing to look up the stairs, a telltale sign of where his thoughts are.
“I’ll get the alarm behind you,” I say and start to the door. With a nod, he heads out. I stand in the doorway for a few minutes, watching him back up from the driveway. Stepping onto the porch, I take my time looking around, as if trying to detect any signs of movement. Nothing as far as I can tell.
It’s been years since I’ve been a Ranger, years since I’ve had to rely on that natural gut instinct for sensing danger, so I’m rusty. But right now, I’m pretty sure that wherever Beaufort is, he’s not around my place.
