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I looked at Sawyer, who was now looking down at the gravel, shaking his head.
I stepped forward to speak to the couple. “I’m Emma, Dane’s daughter.” I used deductive reasoning to conclude this was the couple who had been robbed. “Can you tell me what happened?”
The snotty princess clucked her tongue. “Are you even in charge here?”
“No, she’s not,” Josephine answered.
The princess’s man looked like he was embarrassed by his wife or girlfriend’s reaction. He put his arm around her. “Honey, she’s just trying to help.”
Princess pointed at Morgan. “We already know who did it, so fire the creep before I call the police.”
“Wait a minute, please. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding.” I tried to reason with her.
Ashton stepped forward proudly, looking like a cowboy. “I found her diamond earrings in Morgan’s bunk.”
“I didn’t take them,” Morgan swore with a crack in his voice. “I don’t know how they got there.” The poor kid was scared stiff.
“Did you see Morgan near your cabin?” I asked the man, hoping his partner didn’t go off. It didn’t work.
“Of course we didn’t see him; that’s how crimes are committed, you idiot.”
“Hey,” Sawyer chimed in. “We don’t need to call anyone names.”
Sawyer’s defense of me didn’t sit well with his mother. “Emma, we have this handled here. You should have never been called.”
That did it. Frankie had hit her limit. “Someone with some sense needs to be here.” Frankie faced me. “Emma, I swear to you on your mother’s grave that,” she turned and pointed, “I saw Ashton sneaking out of their cabin yesterday evening. And it wasn’t the first time.”
“She’s lying.” Ashton’s face turned red, but he kept his cool.
Oddly though, I caught a glimpse of the princess and her cheeks had turned a few shades of pink. “That couldn’t be,” snotty girl said, “I was there all evening.”
I bet she was. “Were you by yourself?” I asked.
Princess’s eyes popped. “Why does that matter?”
“Yes, Emma, why does that matter?” Josephine seethed. “You wouldn’t be accusing my son of something would you?”
“I’m just trying to get the facts.”
“Emma,” Marlowe whined, “Ashton is totally innocent. He turned in the earrings.”
The princess’s partner squeezed her tighter. “I don’t think I like what you’re implying about my fiancée.”
Dad finally stepped in. “Listen folks, I will take care of any cash you say was stolen, as well as refund your entire stay.”
“Oh, you better,” princess snotty snarled, “but I’ll still be leaving a scathing review on Trip Advisor telling people they better not pack any valuables if they stay here. I may still call the police.” She turned and marched off with her man trailing behind her with his tail between his legs. If he was smart, he would run far away.
The fact that she hadn’t called the police in the first place spoke volumes to me. I think if we called them now, their investigation would show a much different picture than the one trying to be repainted.
There were two camps left, though I really only cared about one person’s reaction at the moment. Sawyer was looking at me with disbelief as if begging me to do the right thing. The problem was I think we had much different opinions on who was right and who was dead wrong.
“Emma, I can’t believe you are blaming Ashton for this.” Macey frowned.
Josephine took that as her cue. “Oh, she doesn’t really believe Frankie, now do you? She would never take the word of an employee over her family, right?” A triumphant smile blazed on her face as she looked between me and Sawyer. It became painfully clear who had invited Sawyer and why he was here.
Frankie took my hand and squeezed it.
I looked at Dad who closed his eyes and shook his head. No surprise there. Where was the man who had always been my champion?
Tears filled my eyes for the loss I had incurred and the one that I knew was about to happen. I stared straight at Sawyer. “I believe Frankie. I know Morgan would never do such a thing.”
“Are you saying I did this, sis?” Ashton used the term of endearment with such a snake-like hiss. It was enough to make me shiver in the warm evening sun.
Sawyer’s brows raised waiting for my response. His incredulous look was killing me. I was losing another champion.
I turned from Sawyer and faced Ashton. It was as if I was looking at him for the first time. Where I used to see a warm, kind face, I now recognized it was an act. He looked like Josephine now more than ever. Conniving and vicious. She had put on the same act to catch my father. Now the façade was long gone. Ashton’s was too.
“Ashton, I’m not your sister and you better stay away from mine.”
“How dare you talk like that to my son.” Josephine whipped her head toward Sawyer. “Do you see what I’m talking about now? I’ve done everything I can.” She started to cry. “She wouldn’t even help me plan the dance, when all I’ve tried to do is be a friend to her.”
