Nothing.
Paul didn’t try to contact her, out of an abundance of caution.Even if he wanted to, he didn’t have her number or a cell phone.His had plummeted to the bottom of Lost Lake.He was off the grid, disconnected from the rest of the world.
The heat of summer faded into warm autumn.Paul increased his activity level gradually.He helped around the stables, brushing down the horses and mucking out stalls.He did the PT exercises Vanessa had shown him.His arm felt stronger, almost normal.He was surprised the muscle hadn’t atrophied.
One afternoon while he was fixing a stirrup on one of the saddles, he heard the sound of a familiar voice.
“You’re not riding again, are you?”
It was Kyle, standing in the open doorway.
Paul straightened at the sight of his fancy-pants brother in an expensive shirt and tie.“I’m following doctor’s orders.”
“Bring it in.”
Paul embraced Kyle with enthusiasm.He made sure to transfer some dirt and dander from his hands in the process.
“Hey,” Kyle said.
Paul laughed at his brother’s fussiness.They walked to the old bunkhouse, where they sat down to have a cold beer.Kyle took in the view, which stretched all the way to the horizon, and included a section of the McPherson ranch.
“You look well,” Kyle said.“Ranch life always suited you.”
It hadn’t suited Kyle, but Paul didn’t say that.They both knew his brother’s ambitions had played out poorly.
“Have you heard from Vanessa?”Paul asked.
“No, but I’ve been out of the loop.How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s fine.”
Kyle removed a letter from his front pocket and gave it to Paul.It was a notification from Houston PD that he was eligible to transfer.He could work remotely if he wished, or he could seek employment in another county.They had done a risk assessment and determined that returning to a public-facing position at Houston PD wasn’t an option for Paul.The letter came with a list of openings throughout Texas.
Paul tucked the list in his own pocket.He didn’t care about working in Houston.His heart was with Vanessa.He hadn’t forgotten her for a single second.“They want me to transfer.Apparently I’m a liability.”
“You don’t have to transfer.You can work remotely.”
“I don’t like remote work.”
“You like it here.”
“I’m not staying here, Kyle.I need to move on with my life.My shoulder is healed, and there’s been no word about Mendez.”
“Actually, there is word about Mendez.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have an update.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vanessa spent therest of the summer trying not to obsess over Paul.
Between her father’s health issues, Bennett’s funeral, and her physical therapist exams, she managed to stay busy, if not happy.
The aftermath of the shooting had been chaotic.Paul and Kyle McPherson had left Lost Lake in a cloud of dust.Kyle hadn’t endeared himself to the local authorities, and no one except Vanessa was sorry to see them go.Wade Hendricks had sat down with Vanessa to share the details about Bennett’s death.She’d listened in shock as Wade recited the story.The assailant was still at large and that was a problem.According to Paul, Aiden Mendez had shown an interest in Vanessa.He’d watched her from a distance, complimented her appearance, and said he might try to “steal her.”
The involvement of the Mendez family in Bennett’s shooting had been kept under tight wraps by the Lost Lake Sheriff’s Department.The story circulated by the media was one of an unnamed outdoor enthusiast who’d misfired.
