Chapter Fifteen

Maggie woke early the next morning. She had enjoyed smelling Aiden’s cologne on her sheets when she’d climbed into bed, but she really missed him. She was happy to think that soon Rossington would be out of their hair, and they would be able to concentrate on being together as a normal couple. That day couldn’t come soon enough.

She made herself some toast and coffee once she was ready, because she still had plenty of time to kill before she left for work. Her gaze fell on her bookcase while she sat enjoying her breakfast, and she thought about Aiden checking out her collection yesterday. He must have been taking another look at her own book, A Modern Guide to Social Etiquette, since she remembered it was one of the books that she had straightened up last night. She smiled at the thought. That book had been a fabulous personal triumph for her, and she had planned to continue her writing afterward.

Pulling open a drawer from the coffee table, she found a large notepad that she used to collect her ideas. A flutter of excitement ran through her when she leafed through the pages, and she recalled the joy of writing her first book.

“I’m going to do it again,” she told herself aloud. “I’m going to write the next book in the series, and I’m going to get it published, just like the first.” A sense of pride filled her, and she sat a little straighter in her chair. She was determined to get back on her feet with or without the money Robert had stolen from her.

She quickly turned to a fresh page and started to write. At first it was just the odd word or idea, but very soon she found herself finishing the page and continuing to the next, and the next.

When she finally looked up, she was horrified to see that she had made herself late. Quickly she put the notepad on the coffee table and went to grab her coat and bag.

It was raining again, so she pulled her hood over her head and shot down the street as fast as she could. She didn’t have time to worry about whether she was being followed or spied upon today. All she could think about was that she wouldn’t have to do this for much longer—no more early starts unless she really wanted them, no more running through the rain because she couldn’t afford a car and no more feeling of dread as she reached the café where she would spend the whole day being unappreciated.

She managed a weak smile as she unlocked the door and let herself in. To be fair, the customers were often quite friendly and the few locals who came in did actually seem to like her. It was just the long hours, little pay and the knowledge that the owner, Mr. Burton, would come in every night and snoop around, checking that she had left everything as it should be and taking the money and cash-register readings from the safe, again ensuring that she had everything in order. She always had the feeling he didn’t trust her, although he could never complain that anything was ever out of order.

The morning started with its usual steady trickle of customers who came in for a quick coffee. They hardly ever ordered the complete breakfast, which was a shame, as she enjoyed cooking the eggs, bacon, waffles and all that went into a full English breakfast. The smell of disinfectant soon mingled with coffee and fresh bread as she set about clearing out the kitchen cupboards and giving them a good scrub.

She felt determined that she was going to write her book and get out of that dang job as soon as she could, and the thought spurred her on to give the whole place a good cleaning.

She giggled to herself when she finally stopped for a break and took a good look around the spotless café and gleaming kitchen. She knew she would have to work there for a while longer yet, but she somehow felt more positive about her future today.

Her good mood only lasted until lunchtime when Aiden’s brother, Ben, dropped by to see her. His gloomy face instantly told her that something was wrong, and she felt a thud in the pit of her stomach.

“Coffee, thanks.” Ben hoisted himself elegantly onto the stool opposite her at the counter.

She eyed him warily, unsure whether to acknowledge their acquaintance. There weren’t many customers left, as the lunchtime trade—such as it was—had all but finished and left by now.

Ben sighed heavily.

“You having a bad day, cowboy?” she asked softly.

He looked up at her with a grimace. “You could say that.”

She frowned at him, moving a bit closer to the counter. He was studying her.

“You’re Maggie, right?”

She nodded slowly.

Ben looked around the room surreptitiously. “Rossington’s planning on marrying Lorraine Parry this Saturday,” he murmured.

She felt as though someone had just socked her in the gut. Her mind whirled, and she grabbed for the counter to hold herself up. “B-but that’s two days away. How?” Her heart pounded, and she felt herself getting hotter.

Ben scowled. “He’s got it all worked out. One of those huge marquee-tent things is being erected as we speak, right on the field we’re hoping to buy off of them, just to rub salt into the wound.”

Maggie shook her head in disbelief. She knew Ben had taken a shine to the beautiful bombshell, and he would be hurt as hell if she went ahead with the nuptials. Trouble was, she might not have much choice in the matter, knowing Robert. She felt herself tremble with dread. If Lorraine really was going through with the marriage, she must have a really good reason—or rather, a really bad reason, if Robert Rossington was behind it.

“He’s got all the legalities in place already. He must have been planning this for a while, just in case his attempt to get the land off of her failed, which it did.” He huffed triumphantly, clearly pleased that something hadn’t gone Rossington’s way.

“But she still doesn’t want to marry him.” Maggie frowned.

Ben shook his head. “Nope. She’s been stringing him along until she could prove what he’s been up to. It was the only way she could keep a close eye on him while gathering her evidence. She also needed to make sure he didn’t disappear before she outed him. He’s been kidding about how he wanted to wed her just so he could get the land off of her. Frank Crowthorne found out the bastard’s had some attorney trying to find a loophole in the old man’s will that would allow him to get his hands on the land without following through with the wedding.”

“I take it they didn’t find anything?” Maggie pursed her lips.

Ben shook his head. “Nah. It’s a double-edged sword in a way. If he’d found a way, he would have tried to get the land out of her long before now.”

“But why the hurry? Why now?” She noticed more of her customers leaving. Now there was just an elderly couple still in at a window table.

“That’s what we’re all wondering,” Ben confided with a shake of his head. “Frank’s got his friends trying to ascertain if the guy’s in some sort of debt.”

“You mean someone might be leaning on him for money?”

Ben shrugged. “It would explain his sudden rush to marry the poor girl.”

Maggie sighed.

“There’s something else you should know.”

Bile rose from her stomach as she stared at him.

“He’s invited your parents.”

Her mind reeled. “What? Why?” She felt sick. She had no idea Rossington would still be in contact with her folks.

Ben shook his head. “He told Lorraine he wanted to show them how much better he could do for himself.” He gulped, looking apologetic. “I–I didn’t mean…”

She swallowed hard, trying to stop herself from trembling. “You might not mean that, but he sure does.”

“He suggested that Lorraine ask Josie about getting you to wait on them all. She didn’t, of course. We just thought you should know. That’s all.”

Tears stung the edges of Maggie’s eyes, and she was relieved when the last couple got up and left just then. She could just imagine Robert flaunting his new wife in front of her parents—and thinking he could have her wait on them all was just the last straw. A recollection of the horrific scene at the Fieldings’ party flashed through her mind as heat rose in her cheeks.

“Look… I’m real sorry. Me and my big mouth… I didn’t mean…” Ben was on his feet in a second and he put his arms around her.

“You shouldn’t be seen with me,” she snapped at him as her whole body tensed.

“Don’t worry. Rossington’s far too busy shouting orders about wedding arrangements to come around here,” Ben replied with scorn.

“Even so. We don’t want to ruin our chances of exposing him now, do we?” She sniffed hard, trying to stop the tears from escaping from her eyes. It was no good. As a massive boulder settled in her throat, the floodgates opened and huge, hot drops of despair meandered down her flushed face, like lava from a raging volcano.

Ben hugged her tightly, despite her efforts to shrug him off. She knew that the more kindness he showed her, the more she would weaken and give in to the emotions that were running riot through her whole body. With several hours’ work ahead of her, she still couldn’t afford to fall apart right now.

“What’s Aiden doing?” She wiped her face with her tissue, suddenly wishing it was Ben’s brother who was standing so close to her.

“He’s gone out with Frank,” Ben said. He went back around to the opposite side of the counter, obviously realizing that he wasn’t making the situation any easier for her. “Said something about another fact-finding mission.” He shrugged.

“I’m really sorry.” She noticed how miserable he looked and guessed it must have been hard for him to come out and tell her all this. Aiden had told her how much his brother liked Lorraine Parry, and to have to watch them marry on the land he wanted to own himself would be awful. “There’s got to be something we can do.”

Ben shook his head. “That’s what I’d hoped. I haven’t been able to get near Lorraine all day, so I don’t even know whether she’s got enough evidence together yet. It would be great if we could just expose the bastard before he gets chance to make her walk up that dang aisle.” He glanced at her hopefully. “I don’t suppose you’ve…”

Maggie shrugged sadly. “I never got anything concrete against him. I mean, I knew he was lying about the burglary, but I couldn’t prove anything with that Taylor guy backing him up.”

Ben tutted. “That’s what I figured,” he admitted.

They both looked up as the door opened, and the local sheriff, Dyson Shearer, sauntered in.

“Wondered if I might find you here,” he said, nodding at Ben.

“Is everything okay?” The cowboy frowned as Dyson slid onto the stool next to him while Maggie poured another cup of coffee.

Dyson peered around and seemed glad, though not surprised, to see there were no customers about. “I had a tip-off that there was some kind of row between Rossington and Taylor last night,” Dyson told them gravely. “Sounded quite full-on from what the neighbors were saying.”

“What neighbors? Was Robert back in Pelican’s Heath last night?” Maggie’s heart hammered at the thought that he might have been close by while she had been on her own.

“Tell me he wasn’t with Lorraine?” Ben’s face tightened as he fumed.

Dyson shook his head. “It happened over in Almondine.”

They both visibly relaxed a little.

“I thought Robert was meeting up with Taylor the night before?” Maggie frowned. It sure looked as though Rossington had been reluctant to give up that necklace.

Dyson pursed his lip. “I guess they could have. They were definitely together last night, though. Witnesses saw them having a good ‘ole fistfight on some wasteland behind the bank. Taylor hadn’t reported it, though.”

“So he’s not claiming it was in the line of duty?” Ben scowled.

Dyson shrugged. “Wasn’t sure if either of you might know anything. That’s all.” He took another sip of his coffee.

“I know he’s planning on weddin’ Lorraine Parry this Saturday,” Ben replied, his lips tight with anger.

Dyson didn’t look surprised as he nodded. “Seems he’s been hoping to get her money out of her without actually marrying the girl, but that ain’t gonna happen. It still doesn’t explain why he’s in such a tearing hurry.”

“I don’t like it, Dyson. That fuckwad’s up to something. I just know it.”

“Something’s sure lit a fire under his ass,” Dyson agreed.

“Do you think maybe he knows Lorraine’s not so keen?” Maggie mused.

“Then surely rushing her into a last-minute arrangement is more likely to have her turn tail and run?” Ben sounded annoyed, and it wasn’t hard to see why.

“So he’s taking one hell of a chance on it.” Maggie nodded. “He must be dang desperate to risk losing her altogether.”

“Well, if it’s just her money he’s after, he must be in a real hurry to make some easy cash.” Dyson was already getting up, putting his hat back on. “I’ll do a bit more snooping, see if I can find out just what the heck he’s up to.”

“I’d be obliged if you could keep us in the loop, Sheriff,” Ben said. “If there’s any way I can stop Lorraine from walking up that aisle, I intend to do it, you know?”

Dyson nodded. “I know.”

Maggie and Ben stared at each other for a few moments after the deputy had left.

“I’m gonna get back over to the ranch, see if I can keep an eye on Rossington,” Ben announced. “I feel happier knowing exactly where he is at all times.”

Maggie nodded as they both stood up. She felt better knowing someone had an eye on her ex, too. There was just no telling what the bastard would do next, left to his own devices.

* * * *

The rest of the day dragged by for Maggie. Her mind whirled as she tried to imagine what Robert might be planning—and what hold he might have on Lorraine that would make her marry him, even though she clearly didn’t want to. It was very gracious of her to want to expose him for the fraud and cheat that he was, but surely it wasn’t worth marrying the scumbag over?

Her heart leapt a little when Aiden called her a while later. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed him, but, since the other night, she couldn’t get him out of her mind.

“Maggie, are you okay?”

“Yeah, of course.” She slid into the kitchen to take the call.

“Ben was worried he’d upset you earlier. He can be a real dumbass at times.”

She could hear the concern in his voice. “No, I’m fine. Where are you?”

“I’m at the sheriff’s office. What time do you finish work?”

She glanced up at the clock. It had only been a couple of hours since Dyson had left them. Had he unearthed something already? “About an hour’s time.”

She heard him muttering something at the other end of the phone, and her stomach churned. “Aiden, is everything all right?”

“Try not to worry, darlin’. I’ll pick you up in a while.” His voice didn’t sound happy, and she noticed her hand tremble as she clicked off the cell.

Luckily there weren’t many customers the rest of the day and she felt like she was working on auto-pilot as she wiped down tables and forced herself to smile as she served coffee.

Aiden was true to his word, and she was relieved to see his massive truck pull up in the parking lot as she locked up. He took her in his arms and hugged her closely. She could feel the desperation in his body and hoped they were going to spend the night together. The tight furrows on his brow told her it wasn’t the case, though. Something was very wrong.

“We have to get back to your place,” he said, planting a quick kiss on the top of her head. “Sheriff’s waiting for us with a search warrant.”