Lies That Bind (21 page)

She cast her gaze heavenward.
Forgive me, Derek.

“Here you go.” Ethel eased the box from its slot, placing it into Tessa’s hands. “Pick a cubby. Ring the bell when you’re done.”

“I won’t be long.” Barely a minute, but she wasn’t going to tell Ethel that. Once Ethel walked off, Tessa opened the box and scooped the contents from it. There was no way all of this was going to fit inside her little purse. She stuffed Derek’s letters and the insurance papers inside. The rest could go in the shredder, then the fire once she got back to the ranch.

Clutching the documents close, purse on top, she closed the empty box and rang for Ethel. The woman wasted no time returning. Her eyes bugged out at the pile of papers in Tessa’s arms.

“Honey, you can’t be haulin’ all that. Let me get you a bag.”

Tessa muttered a thanks. Refusing would have only drawn attention to the removal, and she did need a bag. Ethel hustled through the actions of returning the box to its slot, then led Tessa back to the counter before she dashed off in search of a bag. She returned triumphant, waving a folded paper sack.

“Here you go, sweetie.” She slid the sack across the counter. “Put everything in there. We can fold it into a nice pouch for you and tape it up.”

“A bag is good enough.” Time dragged by. Being calm took a toll on Tessa’s nerves, especially with the constant interruption of phone calls only Ethel could take, each one seeming to distress her more than the one before it. Finally, Ethel returned with a paper bag. Under Ethel’s watchful eyes, Tessa settled the papers in the bottom and folded it over. Everything was done. She tucked the bag and purse against her chest, thanked Ethel once more, and aimed for the parking lot. She’d just slid behind the wheel of the car when Ethel rushed her way, her big purse banging against her side.

“Tessa honey!” she called out, not even winded from her jog. “I was wonderin’ if I could get a ride home from you.” She curled her fingers over the open window, big eyes hopeful. “My car’s in the shop, and the person I usually ride with had to take her daughter to dance class. It’s right on the way.”

Odd request. Why couldn’t someone else from work take her home?

“The girls from work go to happy hour at Joe’s. They don’t appreciate having to go out of their way.”

Considering how fast the words came out, Ethel must have seen the indecision on her face.

“Sure. Get in.” She unlocked the passenger door. Ethel wasted no time getting in. Tessa gave her time to fasten the seat belt, then pulled away. The sooner she dropped Ethel home, the sooner she could get home.

She spied the men outside the sheriff’s station and wondered why they were still standing there. But the broad smile on Tito’s face told a story she hadn’t expected.

Rex and Tyler lifted waves her way. Smiles turned to frowns when they saw Ethel in the passenger seat.

Ethel’s world-weary sigh filled the car. “So it’s true.”

How did Tessa respond to that? “You heard rumors?”

“Sugar, you have no idea. My daddy made sure I never carried my baby or any other. Didn’t want bastard Ford blood taintin’ the Turnbauer line. Said he shoulda drowned me when my mama pushed me out because I was nothin’ but worthless.”

Tessa’s heart went out to the woman. “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Ethel.” And she was too.

“Sorry doesn’t begin to cover it!” She shoved as close to Tessa as the seat belt allowed. “I was going to be a doctor until my daddy cut me off. Two years of medical school wasted. He shamed me before this town. I’ve spent years trying to show him and everyone else how worthy I am. I gave up my dreams, my
baby
, to protect this town and its dirty little secrets. Because that’s what Turnbauers do.” She thumped her chest for emphasis.

“I’m going to need those papers, honey.” Ethel pulled a swordlike letter opener from her purse. “Now drive on.” She pricked Tessa’s side for extra measure. “You give me those papers, and we’ll have no problems.”

Tessa doubted that. Considering the trail of destruction Ethel had left in her wake, this wasn’t going to end well for her.

Some measure of relief seeped in when she saw Rex and Tyler following behind. Maybe they were better at communicating than she thought. There was hope for them yet…if she could get out of this predicament.

“All right. So I give you the papers. You kill me to keep me quiet. You don’t think suspicion will fall right to you? I can’t count the number of people who saw you leave with me.”

“Honey, I’ve been hidin’ this town’s secrets for years. You don’t think they’ll cover my ass? You’re an outsider, an abomination born of sin, a reminder of things best left buried.” She snickered. ”I’m a Turnbauer, and no one’s ever gonna know different, ’cause my daddy sure ain’t gonna let anyone know my mama let the devil in, and I got rid of the proof that I spread my legs to Mike Ford. I proved myself.”

“By killing Derek.” Not to mention the baby she’d carried, but Ethel’s father hadn’t given her a choice in that. Ironically, it would have been his true claim to the land he’d been coveting for so long—a child with Ford blood.

“Never shoulda stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.”

Tessa watched the men close the distance. “Derek wasn’t interested in you. He only wanted to protect me and see that the ranch stayed in my hands.”

“And how is that dirty business back there helping you?” She jerked her head toward the sheriff station.

“And how is it hurting you? Are you Justin’s mother?”

“Haven’t you been listening?” she screamed. “They took my baby. Sent me to a man who messed me up so bad inside I could never have another. My daddy said it was a fittin’ thing for the bitch dog he claimed I was! Do you really think I was going to let anyone else bear a child from that place? Sinners all.”

Tessa felt sick to her stomach. “You killed their babies?”

“I did what I had to do to protect this town’s reputation. I’m a Turnbauer. They came crawling to me for help. ‘Help me. Save me. Get rid of it.’ Yeah, I was important enough to them then. And they got a hell of a lot better than what I did. At least they could still bear children afterward.”

Her whining sneer tore at Tessa’s heart.

“They never asked questions. Abortion or stillborn, they didn’t care as long as the problem went away. Abominations all.”

Like you?
Tessa kept that thought to herself. “Yet Justin lived.”

Ethel snorted. “Wasn’t much I could do about those who came out squallin’.”

“You could have gone to Derek when you learned what he was doing. Told him what happened. He would have protected you. Your secret would have been safe.”

That gave Ethel pause. Her hold on the letter opener faltered, but not for long. “Speed up. You’re going too slow.”

Tessa accelerated. So did the men behind her. “Did you lie in wait for Derek?”

“I knew his habits. I saw the reports he put in his safe-deposit box. After Dog Days, he left me no choice. I had to take action. The whole town was in danger. How was I to know he’d be coming to that shack with a storm coming on? I’d been watching and waiting for the perfect time to destroy his little collection. Parked down the road just in case and barely got out of there when he came up on that old horse of his. He saw me, though. I know it. So I did the only thing I could. I went after him. Good thing I had my bow in the trunk. Wasn’t counting on the wind to throw off my aim, though. I got lucky when that horse startled at the lightning and fell. He was so focused on putting his horse out of her misery, he never saw me coming up behind him.”

“Nate wasn’t a threat. Why shoot him?”

“Now that was an accident.” She tapped her weapon on the console to make her point. “He came up on me when I was looking for the watch I’d lost. My daddy gave me that watch, you know. Been in the family for years. Your friend scared me. I thought it was a javelina, rustlin’ through the brush noisy like he was.”

“Tell me, Ethel. How did you manage to retrieve that arrow from Tyler’s quiver?”

“By wasting yet another of my casseroles on you people. I had to have an excuse for being there. I was hoping no one would see me, but your housekeeper stuck her nose over there. Here I thought I was free and clear with all of you at the hospital. I thought I was free and clear when I took the casserole over the day you arrived too. I didn’t expect Tyler and your friend to be out snooping.”

“You won’t be able to pass off my death as an accident,” Tessa told her.

“Once the last of the Fords is dead and my daddy can swoop in to claim the land he’s always wanted, he’ll be all over himself to protect the daughter who helped him get it. No one will believe outsiders against a legacy. After all, who’s done more for this town? Your whoring with those two cowboys, or me, who’s always been there for everyone?”

“You’re not a legacy, Ethel. You’re a bastard just like me. And I’m not the owner. My cowboys are. I gave it all to them.”

Tessa caught her grimace, her move to strike, and jerked the steering wheel hard to the side. The jolt knocked the letter opener from Ethel’s hand. She scrambled to find it on the floor. Tessa jerked to the other side, banging Ethel’s head against the console. Then she skidded to a stop on the shoulder, half-in, half-out of the drainage ditch, and jumped out.

Right into Rex’s and Tyler’s arms.

Chapter Sixteen

Despite the heat, Tessa felt there was something magical in a bonfire. This one burned bright, purging the past and lighting the way to a new future.

It wasn’t enough to chase away the image of Ethel being hauled in handcuffs to the sheriff’s station, screaming her head off that she was going to be taking them all down. She’d quieted real quick, though, when the truth came out, then started spilling her guts when her parents turned their backs on her.

Tessa glanced toward the right side of the half circle surrounding the bonfire. Family swarmed Justin—Tito’s and Margaret’s. Justin’s wife and children would be arriving soon. Shortly after that, Robert was going to start working with the registry to find a marrow donor. Maybe Tito and Margaret would finally find happiness now too. Neither had married. Where once they had avoided each other like the plague, now they seemed inseparable. It turned out Margaret had made a deal of her own. Her father would see her baby placed in a good home as long as she agreed to never associate with Tito Llano again.

“Hey.” Nate sank down beside her on the grass. “Cooper and I need to head out at first light. We’d like to fly, but with my shoulder, I’m going to have to ask you to do that for me.”

“Not a problem. I can do that.” It’d be a good opportunity to start the ball rolling for her move back to Texas. This was where she belonged. She never should have left.

“Thanks.” He slid a narrow box her way. “Coop has a little gift for you. Or should I say for
y’all
.” He kissed her cheek, then scrambled to his feet and took off.

Tessa lifted the lid for a peek. Heat rushed her from head to toe. Then she smiled and closed the box. This treasure would go a long way to help what little remained of the rift between them.

Speaking of rifts.

Tessa picked up the present and walked toward the ranch house, dialing her parents as she went. Her mother picked up on the second ring. Tessa wasted no time.

“Hi, Mom. I owe you and Dad some major apologies. I was wrong on so many levels. I want you to know I understand. I do hope you can forgive me.” Her heart pounded a mile a minute.

“Of course we forgive you, sweetheart. You’re our daughter.” Her voice trembled with tears. So had Tessa’s.

“Mom, Derek’s gone.”

“We know, sweetheart. Kevin’s been keeping us updated.”

Of course he would. Derek would insist. “You’ll be at the memorial service?”

“Of course. Sooner if you’ll have us.”

“There’s always room for you.” Tears trickled to her chin. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed her parents until now. “And, Mom…there’s someone I’d like you and Dad to meet.”

“Really?” Joy filtered through the grief. “What’s his name?”

She smiled. “Rex Williams and Tyler Coltrane.”

“I like them already.”

“See you soon, Mom. Love to you and Dad.”

“Love to you too, sweetheart. Always and forever.”

“Always and forever.” And she’d never forget it.

Tessa ended the call and stuffed her cell back into her jeans pocket as she wiped away the tears.

“You’re leaving the party a little early.”

She jumped at the sound of Rex’s voice right behind her.

“That smile on your face for us?” Tyler asked from the other side.

Caught in the middle, just the way she liked it. “The smile isn’t, but what’s in the box is.”

“Really?” They pressed against her for a look.

“Not here,” she whispered, then ducked ahead. They trotted after her. “I’ll be flying out to California in the morning, taking Nate and Cooper home.”

They jerked to a stop, pulling her with them.

“You’re leaving us?” they asked. Devastation raked their expressions.

Tessa let the box fall so she could cup their cheeks. “Never. I love you. I was hoping you could come with me to help me pack up.”

They pressed their foreheads against hers, forming a triangle. Deep sighs pulled them closer until their arms were entwined.

“As if we’d let you go without us.” Rex nuzzled her neck.

“We’re never letting you go again,” Tyler added. “We love you.”

“Always and forever?”

“Always and forever,” they said.

She kissed them both, then picked up the package. Deep chuckles rumbled through her. That heat only they could generate built to furnace-like intensity.

Tessa scooped the leather cuffs and flogger back into the box and headed for the house. “Coming?” she asked over her shoulder.

“You have to ask?” Tyler jogged up beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

Rex landed a solid whack to her backside, snagged the box, and danced ahead. “But not before you… Over and over again.”

Laughing, Tyler lifted her into his arms and carried her home, Rex leading all the way.