AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"We need to start back, Brad," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "Storms here can whip up quick."
We remounted our horses and headed back toward the ranch house, the brewing storm on our heels.
As we approached the Circle T stables, Jedediah was waiting for us with a welcoming grin. He was a weather-beaten embodiment of the old west, his hands as rough as the terrain we'd just traversed.
"I was just about to get in the truck and go searching for you. Glad you'll beat the storm," he called out, eyeing the darkening horizon with a knowing look. We dismounted quickly, my body aching slightly from the ride but invigorated by the fresh air and the natural beauty we'd taken in.
Jedediah stepped forward to help us unsaddle Cash and Whiskey, his experienced hands working deftly. As he took the reins from Courtney, she pulled out her phone, furrowing her brow in concentration.
A soft beep indicated that she had a good signal. She quickly texted the deli number etched in her memory, her fingers dancing across the screen with ease. A moment later, her phone buzzed with a reply. She shot me a triumphant look, "The manager says Nanc's at work."
Courtney quickly tapped out another message, asking the manager to have Nanc call her when she went on her break. As she pocketed her phone, a sense of relief washed over her face. For the first time that day, I saw her shoulders relax, a hopeful smile playing at her lips.
We walked inside, the warm, inviting interior of the ranch house a stark contrast to the brewing storm outside. Courtney went straight to the freezer and pulled out a couple of thick, juicy steaks. Our spirits were lifted with the promise of a hearty meal and potentially helpful information from Nanc. There was a sense of normalcy returning, albeit slowly, amidst the chaos of our situation.
Just as she set the steaks on the counter to thaw, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call. She glanced at me, a look of surprise flashing across her face. "It's Nanc," she mouthed, accepting the call.
"H-hello Courtney," Nanc's voice was shaky, noticeably anxious. Courtney put the call on speaker, allowing me to hear the conversation. "I can't talk long. I'm on break. You must have gotten the package..."
"Yes, I got the images you sent me. So, what's going on, Nanc?" Courtney interjected, her concern evident in her voice.
"Do you recognize that man?"
"Yes! His name is Clint Tyree."
There was a long pause, the silence stretching on until it was almost unbearable. And then Nanc dropped the bombshell.
"He was here, asking about you, Courtney. He wanted to know where you were."
Courtney's phone slipped from her hand, clattering onto the counter. Her face paled, her breath hitching in her throat. The news hit us like a freight train, the implications of Clint's inquiry bearing down on us with terrifying clarity.
Suddenly, the room felt too small, the air too thin. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil inside, thunder echoing our shock, lightning illuminating our fear.
Clint Tyree wasn't just a ghost from our past. He was here, in the present, a very real and dangerous threat.
ChapterSeven
Courtney
A thunderous boomechoed through the ranch house, rattling the windows and making me jump. The storm had rolled in fast and hard, its fury matching the turmoil churning inside me. I picked up my phone from the floor and held it tightly, its cold metal frame pressing into my palm, grounding me as Nanc's words spun around in my head.
Clint Tyree. He had been at the deli today! The revelation sent a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the ice-cold rain pelting against the windowpane. I sank into the plush chair behind me, my grip on the phone loosening slightly. The familiar scent of worn leather enveloped me, offering a small shred of comfort in the face of the tempest, both outside and within me.
Brad stood rigid by the window; his silhouette framed against the backdrop of the flashes of lightening. His hand rested against the cool glass, knuckles white with tension. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. His taut posture, the tight line of his jaw, and the flicker of worry in his eyes told me everything. He was as shocked and concerned as I was.
Nanc's voice crackled from the phone's speaker, "Tyree was asking about you, Courtney. He mentioned something about a job offer."
My heart pounded in my chest, echoing the drum of the rain against the roof. A job offer? From Clint? Why? What was he planning?
Brad turned to me then, his gaze meeting mine. There was a question in his eyes, a silent 'what do we do now?' I wished I had an answer. I wished I could make all of this go away. But all I could do was listen to the rain, feel the tension in the room, and try to make sense of the fact that a ghost from our past was reaching out for me.
"I'll... I'll have to call you back, Nanc," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "You can only use the WiFi at the deli; otherwise, our call might be traced. So, do you mind telling me your schedule? I...I really appreciate you getting in touch with me."
I grabbed a pencil and jotted down Nanc's schedule. As I ended the call, I felt Brad's gaze on me, heavy and worried. But I couldn't meet his eyes, not yet. I needed a moment to process, to plan, to prepare for whatever was coming our way.
As the silence in the room stretched out, Brad moved towards me, his hand reaching out for mine. I welcomed the warmth, the reassurance it offered. He gently tugged me towards the living room, our fingers intertwined. The couch, a large, comfortable piece of furniture that had seen many family gatherings, welcomed us. We snuggled up together, the storm outside our window starkly contrasted the intimate warmth we shared.
Brad broke the silence first, his voice a soft rumble against my ear. "You know, out of all of the Rosedale crew, I was the last to find someone to get serious with."
