Her eyes widened a fraction. “O-okay. Thanks.”
I nodded and ignored the mischievous grin on Hadley’s face, heading for the door. As I drove to the station, I swore I could still feel the silk of Everly’s hair and smell the hint of jasmine that always seemed to float around her. I was screwed. And not in a good way.
As I passed the hardware store, a familiar truck caught my eye, and I hung a quick right. I parked a few spaces down from the older vehicle, turned off my engine, and stayed seated, waiting. It didn’t take long for him to appear. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that Ian was alone. Maybe without Allen whispering in his ear, I’d finally get the truth.
I slid out of my SUV and started towards him. Ian caught sight of me in seconds and scowled. “I’m starting to think you’re stalking me.”
“Was just driving by and saw your truck. It saves me from having to drive out to the ranch later this morning.”
He balanced a bag in one arm. “What now?”
“Where were you between nine and ten last night?”
Ian stiffened. “You’ve got no right to ask me that. I don’t buy into your authority. I don’t answer to—”
I held up a hand. “Save me the spiel. I’ve heard it all before. Just tell me where you were, and I’ll leave you alone.”
“No.”
“I’ll take that to mean you don’t have an alibi.”
“It means I don’t tell pigs shit.”
I dialed in to everything about Ian at that moment. His fingers wrapped tightly around his keys. The set of his jaw. Anything that might give me any sort of clue when I relayed the next bit of information. “Someone attempted to abduct your sister last night.”
His eyes shifted to the right, his hold on the keys tightening. “What are you talking about?”
“Someone tried to grab her outside the vet’s office a little after nine.”
A muscle in Ian’s jaw ticked. “That’s what happens when women go out on their own, unprotected. Maybe a little scare will finally show Everly her place.”
“You think it’s your job to give her that scare?”
Ian’s eyes narrowed on me. “I do whatever I want, whenever I want. I only report to God and my family.”
“Somehow, I don’t think God would be too pleased with some of the things you’ve done, Ian.”
He set his bag on the hood of his truck. “What did Evie tell you? Whatever it was, she lies. Invents all sorts of stories.”
There was a slight edge of panic to his tone. That simple fact had ice sliding through my veins. “Everly hasn’t told me anything. But why don’t you share what would have you running scared, all of a sudden?”
“I’m not scared of anything. Not her. Not you. No one. Fuck off, pig.” He grabbed his bag and jumped into his truck, the tires squealing as he pulled away.
Everly had something on Ian. And the fact that she was back scared him. I just needed her to trust me enough to tell me what it was.
26
Everly
“I’m not going to lie. I’m relieved to have you back, and not just because it means you’re feeling better.”
I winced as I watched Miles rise from our break room table and throw away what remained of his lunch. “I’m sorry I left you in the lurch for a few days.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I’m just so sorry this happened. And right outside, too. I had some new floodlights installed. That should help discourage any lurkers. And you and Kelly aren’t to lock up alone anymore.”
“I hate that you had to go to all of this extra trouble.”
Miles met my gaze. “It’s not trouble when it comes to keeping you and the rest of my staff safe. You’re an asset to this team, Everly, and I’m lucky to have you.”
“Thank you. I love working here.”
There wasn’t a dishonest word in my statement. Even two days away had left me twitchy. But the way Hayes had set Hadley and Shiloh on me, I hadn’t had a chance to do anything but watch movies or play cards. When my forty-eight-hour prison sentence was up, I’d practically run back to work.
Miles gave me one of his warm smiles. “I’m so glad you do because we’ve been a little lost without you. And I think Kelly was ready to throttle Tim and me.”
A small laugh escaped. The other vet tech and I had really found our stride and made a great team. “I owe her a cup of coffee, at least, for covering for me.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind that. I’m going to get a jump on paperwork before our next patient. Enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
“Thanks, Miles.”
I turned back to the salad and chips I’d packed this morning. It wasn’t an egg salad from Spoons, but it did the trick. I reached into my bag and pulled out my small bottle of Tylenol. I had the stronger prescription but didn’t want to take that while working. Acetaminophen would have to cut it. Swallowing two pills down, I rubbed at the back of my neck.
Dr. Balicanta had told me that, even though my concussion was mild, it could take weeks for the symptoms to go away completely. It was mostly a dull ache running through my skull, but I sometimes got dizzy if I moved too quickly. And I didn’t have weeks for that. I needed to be back to helping Shiloh build some shelters for different animals.
A knock sounded on the door. “Come in.” It slowly swung open, and a familiar face peeked in. “Addie?”
She hesitated in the doorway. “Hi, Evie.”
“Come in. I’m just having lunch. You can sit if you want.” I was doing everything in my power to keep from pushing. The last thing I wanted was to scare her away again.
She stepped inside but didn’t take a seat. Instead, she stood twisting her fingers into intricate knots, then untwisting and starting the process all over again. “Are you okay? I heard someone attacked you.”
“I’m fine. Just a bump on the head.”
Addie studied the bandage near my temple. “That doesn’t look like a bump.”
“A few stitches.”
Her fingers bleached white as she knit them tighter together. “You hurting?”
“Not bad. Just a headache. That should go away in a week or so. How are you? Everything okay?”
She ignored my question. “Ian’s really mad that the sheriff talked to him again. You need to be careful.”
As much as I didn’t think the attack was my brother, I had to ask… “Was he around the night it happened?”
Addie stiffened, the manic acrobatics of her hands stilling. “I don’t know. I go straight to my room after dinner. I don’t want to be around if they’re drinking.”
“Addie…”
“I’m fine. I know how to take care of myself.”
Taking care of herself was one thing. Having to play a constant guessing game for when your father or one of his ranch hands might lose his temper was another thing altogether. I would’ve given anything for Addie to trust me in that moment. For her to come stay with me. I wanted to protect my baby cousin how I’d failed to all of those years ago.
“I know you can, Addie. I just wish you didn’t have to.”