Dangerous Intentions (3 page)

Chapter Six

We drove mostly in silence, the cloud of my confession hovering over our heads.

Eventually, Dustin slowed down in front of a wooden gate bearing a sign that read
Brannon Ranch
. He hopped out of the car and went to push it open, then climbed back in and drove through the opening, following the wide dirt road that would take us to the house.

“Wow. This is amazing,” I breathed as I took in acres and acres of wide open fields and admired the trees showing off lush green leaves. We drove past a large barn and stacked hay bales, and then along a winding brook. My heart clenched; as a child I dreamed of someday living on a farm. I opened my window and listened to the calming sound of rushing water.

 “This is my oasis,” Dustin said softly, glancing over at me. “Nature reminds me what life is all about: living.”

We drove along the brook for quite a while until I caught slivers of light reflecting off glass in the distance. As we approached, a large house emerged through the trees.

Someone stood on the porch—a woman. She peered in our direction, holding up a hand to shade her eyes. Could it be Dustin’s mother, Rachel? I had only met her twice, at birthday parties, but I remembered her as a warm-hearted woman. It would be nice to see her again, but would she feel the same way about me after all these years? Would she approve of her son sheltering another man’s wife?

“Is that your mom?” I asked to make sure. My stomach was already knotting up.

Dustin glanced at me and turned back to the road. “No, that’s Grace. She and her husband Travis take care of the ranch. My mom never spends the night away from her house in Serendipity. She feels she’s closer to my father there.”

I sighed, the tension melting from my shoulders. “I understand that.” Dustin’s father died when he and his brothers were small.

Dustin parked and Grace rushed over to meet us, her salt-and-pepper pigtails fluttering in the wind. She had to be in her sixties, but looking at her soft, round face, it was easy to imagine how she must have looked as a small girl.

She hugged Dustin tightly and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I thought you wouldn’t come and see us for another month. Imagine how happy I was when you called.”

“I know how much you like surprises,” Dustin said, chuckling. “Grace, this is Haley. I told you about her on the phone. She’ll be staying here for a while.”

“Oh, yes.” Grace turned to me. “Very nice to meet you, dear. You’ll love Brannon Ranch.” She kissed me on the cheeks as well.

I bit my lip and smiled. My eyes flitted to Dustin’s face. I tried to determine from his eyes exactly what he had told her, but he blinked and I couldn’t read them. I turned back to Grace. “I’m sure I will. Nice to meet you, Grace.”

Grace placed a hand on my back. “Come on inside.” She ushered me up the porch steps and into the house, wrapping me in the smell of vanilla that swirled around her. Dustin followed us in.

Like Jude’s mansion, the house was spacious and full of expensive furniture. But unlike Jude’s, it felt like a home. The furniture was all browns and creams, and the reclaimed oak floors and natural stone walls radiated warmth. So did the throws and homemade pillows on the couches of the Tuscan-themed living area. What I loved most were the photos above the cast stone fireplace. I recognized the faces of Dustin’s mother and some of his brothers. There was also a picture of Grace with a man, who I assumed to be Travis, next to her.

I caught a whiff of something meaty. Stew, perhaps. Dustin must have too, because he said, “I smell something delicious, Grace,” and opened the glass doors that led out to a patio. “What are you cooking? Trying to get me to stay longer, are you?”

“Just making your guest feel welcome. And of course, trying to get you to visit us more often.”

Dustin obviously didn’t come to the ranch often. I couldn’t understand how he could own this paradise and not live here permanently. When Grace left us to go and check on the stew, I asked Dustin.

“You’re right, I only come here a few times a year,” he said. “I thought of selling it six years ago, but Grace and Travis lost their home to a fire around the same time. They lost everything they had. I told them to make the ranch their home.” He pushed his hands into his pockets and his gaze took in the room. “To be honest, I’m glad I didn’t sell it. Coming here, even for a short time, helps me unwind.”

“It’s so kind of you to do that for them.”

“They make this place a home for me.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and laid one on my back, between my shoulder blades. “Come, I’ll show you to your room.”

I nodded and followed him up the beautiful floating wooden staircase. Just like the rest of the house, my room was spacious, bright, and homey. It featured a large bed covered with white sheets and pillows, and it had its own luxury wood and natural stone bathroom that took my breath away.

“I’m glad you like it,” Dustin said. “I’ll let you settle in. Come down to eat when you’re ready.” He strode to the door, but hovered in the doorway for a moment as if he wanted to say something else.

“Is everything all right?” I dropped down on the double bed, sinking into the welcoming mattress.

He moved back into the room and sat down beside me. “Please don’t feel offended by this question. I’m asking because I care about you.”

I had already told him my deepest, darkest secrets. What could he ask now that would offend me? “Okay. Go ahead.”

“Do you… have any money? Again, I’m not trying to—”

“No. No, I don’t.” I looked at the floor as shame washed over me.

“Thought so.” Dustin stood, not meeting my eyes. I knew why. He didn’t want to see my shame, didn’t want me to be more embarrassed than I already was. “Would you allow me to give you some?”

I wanted to say no, but knew I didn’t have a choice. As much as I didn’t want to depend on another man, I would have to take some money, at least for now. “Is there anything I can do around here? You could… I mean, I could earn my keep.”

“You’re not my servant.”

“I know.” I sighed and gave him a weak smile. “I’m scared, Dustin. I’m terrified of depending on another man for everything. It cost me so much before.”

“You’re my friend. I’m trying to help you out as a friend. Please allow me to, and don’t feel guilty about it. I’m not Jude. You know me, Haley. I can never do to you what he did.”

I bit back tears. “I know. Thank you. I only need enough for a few pieces of clothing and toiletries.”

He pulled his wallet from his pocket. He took out all the bills nestled inside it and handed them to me.

I looked down at my hand, a tear trickling onto the top of the pile of cash.

“If you need more money,” he said, pushing his wallet back into his pocket, “please don’t be ashamed to ask.”

I nodded. “I only need your help for a while. As soon as I’m free of Jude, I want to learn to stand on my own two feet again. I want to start over.”

“And I know you will.” Dustin smiled, squeezed my shoulder, and left the room.

I placed the money on the nightstand and buried my head in my hands. Then I wept the fear, anguish, and disappointment out of my body.

I grieved for my friend Diana. I still couldn’t forgive myself for the fact that she was dead. How did Jude sleep at night, knowing he had robbed two small children of their mother? The bastard. He clearly didn’t have a conscience.

Chapter Seven

Dinner was a pork roast, homemade bread, and rice. I enjoyed the meal at a beautiful reclaimed wood table, while Dustin went to his office to make a call.

As I chewed, I realized it had been a long time since I’d enjoyed food so much. In the past months I’d eaten expensive food, but it had always left me hungry in some way. There was a void inside me that no amount of Beluga caviar or olives imported straight from Greece could fill.

“This is delicious,” I said to Grace. “I can’t get enough.”

Grace laughed out loud and ladled another helping of stew into my bowl. “That makes me very happy to hear.”

I smiled. “I heard you live here with your husband. Is he around? I’d love to meet him.” Talking about her would keep the conversation from turning to me and my disaster of a life.

Grace pulled out a chair and reached for the bowl of rice. “Not here, exactly. There’s another house not far from this one. Also on the ranch.”

“Oh, so no one lives in this house when Dustin is away?”

She shook her head. “No one but Dustin when he’s in town. He insisted on us staying in the ranch house, but he has done so much for us already. We couldn’t ask for more. The house we live in is just as beautiful. My husband, Travis, is a bit under the weather today, which is why he’s not here for dinner.” She paused. “Dustin told me you knew each other as kids. I’m glad he’s stepping in to help you with… your problem. He’s a good man.”

“Did he tell you?” I put down my spoon. “About my problem?” Grace seemed like a nice person. I would have been surprised and embarrassed, but not offended, if Dustin had told her.

“No. He just said you were in a bit of trouble and I should make sure you’re well taken care of. I intend to do just that. Starting with taking you shopping tomorrow. This is a very small town, but you will find some basic clothing. Nothing fancy.”

I nodded, somewhat relieved to hear Dustin hadn’t spilled all my beans. Sure, Grace would find out soon enough, but I would be the one to tell her—if I decided I wanted to.

Dustin walked in then. “Sorry to disrupt your dinner,” he said. “Haley, can you come to my office for a bit? There’s someone I want us to give a call.”

***

Cole Brannon was a private detective and Dustin’s brother, who lived in Serendipity. Dustin had thought it might be a good idea for me to talk to him about Jude.

I chewed the inside of my lip for a long time and slumped onto a battered leather couch, crossing my legs at the ankles. Dustin sat opposite me in an armchair.

I drew in a shaky breath. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to talk to the cops or private detectives.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Jude has the power to turn the tables on me. If his crimes are exposed, he’ll make sure mine are as well.” My eyes welled up.

Dustin leaned forward and grasped my hands. “His crimes are worse than yours. Given what you told me about that… Leon guy, you probably acted out of self-defense. Cole is a great PI. He might find evidence to prove it.”

“I don’t see how he’ll be able to do that. The only two people who should know what happened that night are myself and Leon. He’s dead, and I can’t even remember any important details. In the eyes of the law, I will look like a murderer. I don’t want to go to jail, Dustin.”

“I don’t think you will. Look, I really think you went through a terrible ordeal that forced your mind to block certain events… to protect you.” He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I think that man did terrible things to you and you just defended yourself.”

I closed my eyes and traveled the road back to the past—the past I could recall. Whatever happened before I woke up with blood on my hands was a blur, a dark hole, but I remembered something small. A sensation. Amidst the fear I’d felt that night, there had been pain. My cheek and wrist had hurt, and there had been a lot of pain between my legs. I opened my eyes again and saw hope in Dustin’s eyes—hope that I would let him and his brother help me. I sighed. “Self-defense or not, I still killed a man. I wish I could remember.”

“If you want to talk to a psychiatrist, my brother Garett can help you. He can drive up here any time. Maybe a few sessions with him will jog your memory.”

I gave him a surprised look. “Garett is a shrink? Wow, your family is just everything I need, isn’t it.”

When we were kids, Dustin’s brothers had kept a distance from him, the nerd. They were embarrassed of him, as teenagers often can be of their siblings. But I clearly remembered Garett, captain of the high school football team, and every girl’s fantasy boyfriend. Girls other than me, anyway. I only had eyes for Dustin. I thought Garett would go on to become a famous football player or something that put him in the spotlight. Definitely not a shrink.

“Garett is good at his job. He’s helped a lot of patients.”

“What if I remember what really happened?” I rubbed my temples, trying to stave off an approaching headache. “I might not end up going to prison for murder, but I committed another crime by not turning myself in sooner.” My stomach churned with anxiety. “I didn’t come forward.” I did try to, once, during my marriage with Jude, on one of those days when guilt overwhelmed me but Jude had stopped me. “I can’t. I can’t risk it.”

Jude had gotten away with the murders of his mother and wife. By killing Diana, he proved his confidence in being able to get away with murder again. If we went the legal route, he would use his charm, money, and power. He’d escape justice and make sure I ended up in jail. “I can’t make a decision now,” I continued. “Can I think about all this?”

Dustin sighed but nodded. “Of course. Take all the time you need.” He paused. “I’m here, Haley. If you need me, I’m here. I am right here.”

I took his hand and squeezed it. “I know.” How did I ever let him get away? If I had told him how I felt, chosen him, my life probably would have taken a different path. But no one knows what the future holds. Maybe Jude was my destiny, and there would have been no way for me to escape him.

“For now, just feel at home and relax. You deserve it.” Dustin kissed my forehead. “Whatever you did in the past doesn’t make me see you differently. You did what you had to under the circumstances.”

“I appreciate that,” I said.

***

I went to bed early and woke up several times with my heart pounding out of my chest. I swore I could smell Jude’s cologne, feel his presence in the room. Just like that night at the Drawbridge Inn. But it was just my imagination playing tricks on me.

I drew my legs to my chest and lay on my side, keeping my eyes closed. I wanted to enjoy the safety of this place just in case it was snatched away. I couldn’t help wondering how long I had before Jude figured out that I’d escaped with Dustin, and found out where he was hiding me. The thought of him doing anything to Dustin made my heart ache. I’d never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to Dustin because of me. Maybe talking to Cole wasn’t such a bad idea. I’d thought about it all night. What kind of life would I have if I had to constantly look over my shoulder? And how long did I intend to let Dustin babysit me?