Oregon Outback (34 page)

“I know you’re surprised to see me.”

“After five years of nothing, I admit, I’m a little surprised. But I’m glad you’re okay.”

He sat on the chair kitty-corner to the sofa where she sat. Justin plopped next to her, but not too close, sitting on the edge of the seat. His expression had grown serious.

“So what brings you here after all this time?” Justin asked.

Darrow gave him a sidelong glance. She hadn’t invited him to stay to interrogate her brother.

Benson stiffened, clearly not happy with the tone in Justin’s voice. Maybe she should ask him to leave after all.

“I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for not staying in touch. For not being a good older brother, a good example. For all the trouble I caused before I left.”

Darrow’s chin trembled. “You came here to tell me that?”

“Yes. I’ve changed, Darrow. Changed for the better. I even have a wife now.”

A wife? A vise squeezed Darrow’s throat. He’d not invited her to his wedding? “Where is she? Did you bring her?”

“No.” Benson looked down at his hands. “Something happened.”

Oh no. Here it comes
. “What?”

Benson squeezed his fists then opened them.

Closed.

Open.

“Nothing for you and your fiancé to worry about. I love you, Darrow. I only thought to protect you when I left. I wasn’t any good for you.”

“We’re not engaged,” Justin said. His gaze bore into Benson.

“Then what’s going on?” Benson looked at her ring, then at Darrow.

He had no idea.

“Who are you?” he asked Justin.

“I’m a bail bond recovery agent.”

“A bounty hunter?” Veins pulsed at the man’s temples. He couldn’t know that Justin was after him, but he could strongly suspect.

Justin had waited for Reed to tell Darrow what he had to say. His sister needed to hear the words, though they were severely lacking as far as Justin was concerned. All he had to do now was keep everything low-key. Keep Reed from getting defensive, or going on the lam, or worse, turning violent.

Darrow’s eyes grew wide as she watched her brother, looking from him to Justin. She didn’t have a clue. How Justin wished she weren’t caught in the middle. He knew she didn’t trust her brother, otherwise she would have asked Justin to give them some time alone. He would have obliged, looking on from a distance. He sensed she wanted him there for protection as much as anything.

Reed slowly stood, his face turning red. “I’ll ask you again, who are you? What are you doing here?”

Darrow rose, too. “Benson, you’re being rude. My relationship with him is a little complicated, but now isn’t the time. He’s … wait a minute …” Darrow turned a questioning gaze on Justin.

If Darrow realized her brother was running, if she put the pieces together …

“The phone call,” she whispered.

Justin braced himself against the look of betrayal that was sure to come. But it was no use. She’d already shattered any hope he had of protecting himself. He’d let himself fall for her.

“I think you should leave now, Darrow.”

“What? I’m not leaving.”

Justin recognized the crazed look in Reed’s eyes—the man knew Justin was there for him.

“You can’t arrest me.” Reed clenched his fists. “This is Oregon.”

“I could get a warrant, tell the police you’re a wanted man, ask them to arrest you.”

Darrow gasped, glaring at her brother. “What are you running from? What have you done?”

“You realize this man used you to get to me.” Reed pulled a gun from behind him.

Darrow jumped, her hands at her throat. “Benson, no …”

Justin spread his hands out and rose slowly. “Put the gun away. You’re not helping your case.”

Reed’s hand shook as he aimed the gun at Justin. He’d handled this all wrong. Never figured Darrow would be standing between them when Justin faced him.

Darrow stepped in front of the gun.

“Get out of the way, Darrow.” Justin’s pulse rocketed. “Let me handle this.”

“Benson, please …”

Reed reached forward and tugged her around, pinning her against him, and pointing the gun at her. “Or, maybe you set me up, little sis. Maybe you were entertaining the bounty hunter, making plans to help him grab me.”

Justin shook his head slightly.
You sorry …

“That’s crazy. I didn’t know who he was.” Darrow pleaded with her eyes.

“You think I’m an idiot? You two were really close by the fireplace. You’re not the kind of person to kiss someone you don’t even know.”

“She’s telling the truth. I never told her why I was here or what I did for a living. And you can put your gun away. This isn’t going down like that. I came here to give you a message. I have no intention of taking you back to Florida.”

Still holding Darrow at gunpoint—
his own sister
—Reed began backing toward the exit. “I have no intention of going to jail for something I didn’t do.”

Justin moved forward, maintaining his distance.

God, please keep her safe. Please forgive me for botching this. Help me make it right
.

Reed watched his surroundings, but the lodge was dark and quiet, except for them. Everyone else was asleep. He continued to back his way to the door. No doubt, he hoped to flee to the wilderness a few hundred yards away.

“Your wife sent me here to find you.”

“Why that—”

“It’s not what you think. She’s pregnant. You’re going to be a father. She wants you to give yourself up, give up a life of running, and in turn she’ll stick with you through the trial to prove your innocence.”

Reed’s jaw grew slack, and the gun wavered in his hand. “You’re lying. Why—why would she send you to tell me that?”

“Because she couldn’t get in touch with you, she knew you wouldn’t contact her for fear someone would locate you. She bargained with me. Made me give my word that if she told me where you were going, I wouldn’t arrest you. As it turns out, I couldn’t. But I can give you the message and leave it at that, as much as it pains me.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Think about it. The chances of me getting paid for you getting arrested in Oregon are next to nothing.”

Reed released Darrow, who ran from him and stood at the far wall, watching. “That doesn’t explain why you’d wait for me here. You could have left me a message. She could have left me a message.”

“Would that have convinced you?” He took a step toward Reed, ever conscious of Darrow’s presence. She had to be terrified. Had to hate him now.

“I’m not sure you’ve convinced me either. I don’t get it. What’s in it for you?”

“It’s time to stop running. For both of us. Before I became a recovery agent, I was a cop. Years ago I failed to look in on someone for a friend, and my lack of vigilance resulted in a death I could have prevented. It never should have happened. I knew when your wife asked me, I had to do this. See it through. While I can never bring back the life lost, maybe I can help return you to your wife and child.”

Reed stood next to Justin and replaced the gun in the holster at his back beneath his shirt. Justin resisted the urge to land a few punches in the guy’s face for holding his sister hostage. He also resisted the urge to cuff him. That wasn’t why he was here. He didn’t know if that was the gun purportedly used in the armed robberies or not. For Reed’s wife’s sake, he hoped the man was innocent.

“I’ve never heard a story like that before. It’s weird enough, it has to be true.”

“I won’t lie to you. I was close to leaving tonight, if you didn’t show up. Are you going to do it? Are you going back to turn yourself in?”

Scratching his unshaven jaw, Reed seemed not to hear him. “I’m going to be a father.”

“Yeah, and Darrow an aunt. I think you need to explain your actions to her.”

Realization dawned in his eyes. “Oh man. I didn’t mean anything by that. I’ve been so desperate. What was I thinking, holding her hostage?”

Together they turned to Darrow.

She was gone.

J
ustin stood outside the door to Darrow’s cabin. Muffled crying left no doubt she was inside. He couldn’t blame her for wanting to flee the scene, considering everything had slammed into her at once.

Justin had kept a devastating secret from her. Her brother had held her at gunpoint because of Justin.

He lifted his hand to knock on the door but paused. Should he give her time to catch her breath? The problem was, he’d checked out of his room and now his unofficial business here was done. He should just leave now.

But he and Darrow had left much unsaid between them. Justin dropped his hand and moved away from the door to stand on the steps of the porch. In the early hours of the morning now, exhaustion weighed on him. After a good night’s rest, he might see things with clarity. Know what to do about Darrow. He could sleep in the Tahoe. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d spent the night in a vehicle.

The door creaked behind him. Justin turned around slowly, fearing she’d skitter back into the cabin. But he was wrong.

Light spilled from the doorway, illuminating her dark eyes. She marched onto the porch. “Why are you still here? You did what you came to do. I want you off my property.”

Justin couldn’t believe it. He didn’t think she had that in her. “Fine. I’ll go, but not before I explain.”

“I think I’ve heard enough.” When she crossed her arms, he noticed the engagement ring was gone. Maybe she took her jewelry off at night. “You used me, Justin. How could you do that?”

“You don’t believe that, do you?”

“I don’t know what to believe. You should have told me why you were here.”

“I think you know why I couldn’t.”

With a slight shake of her head, Darrow turned her back on him. “Just go.”

Justin couldn’t give up. Not yet. “This has all been a shock for you. Sometimes we say things we don’t mean when we’re angry or hurt.”

“I don’t need psychoanalysis. I just need you to leave.”

“I will. But not before I tell you what needs to be said. I knew your brother was headed here to see you so I waited. But I never intended to get involved with you. If you recall, I tried to avoid you. But now I’m in love with you.”

When she didn’t respond, he continued, desperation burning his words. “I thought Smit would be the best thing for you, but not if you don’t love him.” He paused, waiting. “Earlier tonight I asked you to have a little faith, and I’ll ask again. Have faith in us. If you love me, Darrow, wait for me. There are things I have to take care of, but then I’ll be back.”

Again, he paused, hoping for something from her. “Wait for me,” he said at last.

Darrow crept inside and shut the door, leaving a deep slash across Justin’s heart. He left her alone and went back into the lodge, finding his duffel bag waiting where he’d left it before everything exploded. The fire had almost gone out. He glanced around the lobby, committing it to memory. At some point, he might wish he could forget. But he’d hold on to the hope that Darrow loved him. That she’d wait for him. He’d let her make her decision about Smit, about whom she loved.

He climbed inside the Tahoe and started it, then backed from the parking lot. He’d find a place up the road to park and sleep for a couple of hours before the sun rose.

He had more to do in Oregon. He had to face his past and seek forgiveness from an old friend—a man who lost his wife to a crime that Justin could have prevented when he served as a police officer. After telling Reed about what was driving him, he realized he needed to see his one-time friend and tell him how sorry he was.

Instead of apologizing years ago like he should have, he’d allowed anger at himself to fuel him. He’d resigned and left the state. That was when he ended up in a job as a bounty hunter.

He’d come back, wanting to make amends. He thought God had sent him here, but now he was having serious doubts. Recovering Reed for his wife and baby, restoring a family, wasn’t enough to ease the pain Justin had lived with. Now, he’d hurt someone else.

Finding a small roadside park, Justin pulled the Tahoe over and shut it off, then leaned the seat as far back as it would go. He allowed sleep to take him far from his troubled thoughts.

A noise disturbed him.

Justin woke up, but didn’t open his eyes. Light told him morning had come too fast. His temples pounded. His back and shoulders ached. A knock came on his window. Justin jerked up, completely awake, now, though groggy.

A man wearing a Stetson stood at his window.

Carver?

Justin wasn’t prepared for this. Swiping a hand down his face, he opened the door and stepped out to face off with his older brother, the head of the family, as it were. Justin squinted at Carver, who stood with his back to the rising sun.

“Sorry to knock on your door so early in the morning. You look like a man in need of some coffee,” Carver said.

Justin had expected something much different. “At least you didn’t tell me I look like a homeless alcoholic.”

“I figured you knew that already.” Carver grabbed his shoulder and squeezed hard like always.

Justin cringed. “Your grip is as strong as ever.”

“Let me take you somewhere for breakfast, and then you can explain to me why you’re in Oregon and didn’t tell anyone you’re here.”