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“Nobody died,” Darby agreed. Only her hopes and dreams….
Marta wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed tight. “We learn from our mistakes, and we soldier on.”
Darby gave a sharp nod.
“Maybe you replace Sierra Hotel somewhere else,” Marta continued.
“I can’t afford to replace it.” Darby was going to have to sell. She’d have to sell before construction started and she lost all of her customers and her income.
“Or maybe there’s something else in your future, something exciting, meaningful and positive.”
“I could reenlist,” Darby speculated.
Private psychology practice in an office didn’t appeal to her. And there were certainly plenty of women on the front lines who could use her help.
“They would take you back in a heartbeat,” Marta agreed.
“I’m not going to let him know he did this,” Darby stated with determination. “He might have played me better, but he’ll never know I wasn’t playing, too.”
“That a girl.” Marta approved.
“Rat bastard.”
“That a girl,” Marta repeated with conviction.
Eleven
Seth had waited three days to hear from Darby. At first, he’d hoped she would forgive him. Then he hoped she’d at least come yell at him. Then he wondered if maybe he should make the first move. In the end, he began to fear he should have made the first move three days ago.
He hadn’t wanted to gloat, he’d rationalized. And she’d never been one to keep her thoughts to herself. It had been perfectly reasonable for him to expect her to show up when she was ready to have it out.
He wasn’t sorry he’d won. It was the best thing for the town, and Lyndon was definitely in a celebratory mood over the decision. The detractors had either changed their minds or were keeping a low profile now that the deal was done.
The Mountain Railway brass were in town today for both a celebration and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The press would be out in force, and there would be photo ops along with a formal thank-you to the mayor for making the project possible. Finally, it was Seth’s big moment. He’d done what he’d set out to do two years ago. He’d succeeded. He’d made a difference in the town and in the entire Valley.
Construction would start in the spring, but a lot of the detailed surveying and planning work could take place over the winter.
For now, he tied the bow tie on his tux, glancing at his watch while a regional news show played in the background. He was hosting a VIP dinner at the town hall tonight after the press conference, thanking Mountain Railway and welcoming the senior construction managers to the city.
If he didn’t hear from Darby tonight, he decided, he’d head up to Sierra Hotel in the morning. Or maybe the dinner would break up early, and he could drive up tonight.
Sure, they were adversaries. But he thought she’d understood the rules. He knew she’d understood the rules. If she’d had the same chance as him to win fair and square, she’d have taken it in a heartbeat. She’d have to admit that. She’d also have to admit that they couldn’t simply walk away from what they’d shared in his bed.
He blew the bow tie knot once more, swore out loud and started over.
His suite door opened.
“They’re fifteen minutes away,” said Travis. “You need to get down to the receiving line.”
“I’ll be ready,” Seth confirmed, fumbling and swearing once again.
“You need help?” Travis asked.
“I’m not in high school.” Seth forced himself to slow down and concentrate.
“You heard from Darby?”
“No.”
“You call her?”
“No.”
Travis didn’t even attempt to hide his mocking tone. “You haven’t even tried to apologize?”
“Back off.” Seth didn’t need another condemning voice inside his head.
“I don’t believe I will back off. You’ve been storming around here like a wounded grizzly bear for three days, when you should be celebrating with everyone else. It’s confusing for the citizens.”
“I am celebrating,” Seth insisted. “I’m posing for pictures. I’m making speeches. I’m toasting with champagne. Look at this. I’m dressing up in a tux, for God’s sake.”
“And you seem genuinely thrilled about it.”
Seth finally got the tie right. “I am genuinely thrilled about it. I won. She lost. The woman is going to have to deal with it.”
“You should tell it to her exactly like that.”
Seth turned to glare at his brother.
“Or maybe you should beg her to forgive you for being such an ass.”
“I wasn’t an ass. I’m not going to apologize for winning.”
“You should apologize for sleeping with her while keeping her in the dark about the appeals court,” said Travis.
“It would have been a conflict of interest for me to tell her.”
“You could have kept your hands to yourself.”
Seth knew he could have, he should have. Would things be better right now if he had?
“Do you think she’d like me to apologize?” he found himself asking.
“It might be too late.”
Seth stilled. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, she’s put the place up for sale. Listed it today.”
Seth gave Travis his complete attention. “How do you know that?”
“Abigail talked to her.”
“When did she and Abigail become friends?”
“I don’t know,” said Travis. “But I do know that Darby is selling, and she’s thinking about reenlisting.”
Seth gave his head a little shake. “Repeat that last part.”
Travis gave a pitying shake of his head. “I thought Abigail might call you. Turns out, Sierra Hotel wasn’t a ladies’ retreat. It was a place for female service members and law-enforcement personnel who endure high-risk, high-stress jobs to get a little R & R with their peers before they go back to risking their lives in defense of their country or their community.”
Seth reached out to grasp the back of a chair, several things coming clear to him all at once. The most important of which was that Darby might reenlist.
“She once told me the women came there to get away from loud, sudden noises.”
“I imagine they did,” said Travis.
“I accused them of having delicate sensibilities.”
“Well,” Travis responded. “I doubt that part is true.”
“Why didn’t she say something?”
“Would it have changed your mind?”
Seth knew it wouldn’t have. What was right for Lyndon Valley was still right for Lyndon Valley. Though he was sorry it ruined Sierra Hotel.
“Tell me she hasn’t reenlisted yet.”
“Not that I know of.”
“I have to go talk to her. Right now. Right this second.”
Seth had to go now. Lyndon City and the Mountain Railway brass would simply have to live without him for tonight.
“Why now?” asked Travis.
“What do you mean, ‘why now?’ The woman’s about to rejoin the army.”
It would take her away from Lyndon Valley for years, probably forever. And it would take her away from Seth. And Seth realized he couldn’t let her go.
“So? That won’t stop you from apologizing,” Travis pressed.
Seth stopped cold.
His heart was beating hard in his chest. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his system. Every instinct he had told him to take action. Every instinct he had told him to stop Darby from walking out of his life.
“I don’t want her to go,” he answered lamely.
Travis took a step toward him. “And what do you expect to do with her if she stays?”
It felt like a trick question to Seth. The quick answer was hold her hostage in his bed for about the next year. But he knew it wasn’t that simple. He also realized what Travis was getting at.
“I don’t want to hurt Darby. I don’t want to cause her one minute of pain.” As he said the words, Seth couldn’t help but wonder how long they’d been true. They were so true.
“Then you better make up your mind exactly what you want from her. And do it before you talk to her.”
“I know what I want from her,” Seth confirmed.
He wanted her to love him back. He wanted her to agree to put this mess behind them. He wanted her to figure out the rest of her life in a way that included him.
“Good.” Travis gave a sharp nod. “I’ll help entertain the Mountain Railway people. You go see Darby before she faxes new enlistment papers to the recruiting office.”
* * *
Darby hadn’t decided for certain that she wanted to reenlist, but it was definitely at the top of her options list. She planned to sell the furnishings and equipment, even the linens and dishes with Sierra Hotel. Whether back to the army, or on to someplace else, when she left Lyndon Valley at the end of the month, she’d be traveling light.
