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He remembered her uncertainty then. She hadn’t known whether he was coming to help find her missing brother…or make trouble. She’d greeted him while clutching a hammer beneath the counter, ready to defend herself if necessary.
Bridger approached the register, boots echoing on worn floorboards.
“Hey.” He rubbed his neck, gears turning.
Her cordial smile remained firmly in place.
He detected no hint of anger. Or anything else. “Surprised to see me?”
She busied herself straightening a display of wrenches. “Not entirely. I heard your team bought the Gaffney place. Plus, Tai and Fenn have been in practically every day.”
Her tone gave nothing away. Was she happy he’d kept his word about staying or not? For an expert in nonverbal communication and interrogation, he was batting zero about now.
“The place is perfect for us, but it needs a lot of work.” He grabbed a box of framing nails from a shelf. “Figured you’re the best person to help me get the supplies I need.”
She met his eyes then, the hint of a smile on her lips. “You could have sent one of the others.”
He met her gaze. “No. I couldn’t. I wanted to see you.” He flipped the box end over end. “Jane, I––”
She slammed the drawer beneath the cash register shut, making the loose change jingle. “No need to explain.” She rushed to the far end of the counter and turned her back, straightening a display of summer yard art. “You’re busy. I get it. It would have been nice to get updates on the search for Jason, though.”
He waggled his aching jaw. “I wish we had some. Your brother’s still radio silent.”
She shrugged. Even from the back, the hurt was clear. “Guess I didn’t expect any miracles. I know he’ll contact us when he thinks it’s safe. It’s just… Waiting is hard.”
“Yeah, it is.” Bridger wanted so badly to locate Jason, but if his former teammate didn’t want to be found, it wasn’t going to happen. Jay-man would contact them when he was good and ready.
Hopefully before the man took down their enemies. Bridger wanted in on that fight. So did the rest of the team.
Jane whirled back around, serious now. “When are you planning to check out that airstrip?”
Rosalind. The name they’d found scrawled in Jason’s handwriting. The only clue they had to follow. He should have expected her to bring that up. He and the team planned to check out the abandoned airstrip as soon as they had their surveillance hardware up and running.
No way they’d approach any site that might be connected to the Consortium without first doing proper surveillance.
“I’m coming with you,” Jane announced. “That’s non-negotiable.”
Oh, boy. He hadn’t been certain he’d gather the courage to tell her how he felt about her, but he sure hadn’t planned on getting into an argument on his first day back. But no way she was going anywhere near the place Jason’s clue led.
If the Consortium didn’t kill him, Jason would.
His thoughts must have shown on his face. Jane crossed her arms, her mouth flattening into a tight line. “Got that list of supplies for the ranch?”
“Right here.” Bridger handed over the list.
He glanced around the tidy store. He was the only customer, but most folks in the Creek worked long days. Early mornings and weekends were more popular shopping times. “How’s business these days?”
She scanned his list, punching numbers into the register with a practiced ease. “Can’t complain. That was great of Tai and the team to help Mrs. Lewiston with that patent situation. She’s been through enough since Harv died.”
“It’s exactly what Jason would have done if he was here.” Would do, once they brought him back, Bridger added silently.
The mention of her older brother earned him a sad smile. “Yeah. It is.”
“Helping people like Mrs. Lewiston is exactly why we’re setting up our headquarters here.”
A lifelong resident of Redemption Creek, the elderly widow has only recently realized that one of her late rancher husband’s inventions, a unique irrigation system, was making millions for a big corporation. A week of work, and a few intimidating talks with the corporation’s top guys and Mrs. Lewiston had a hefty check for ten years of back payments, and the promise of regular royalties from now on.
“Total comes to $3,453.28,” Jane announced, offering him a tight-lipped smile.
