Chapter Twenty

Trig

Over the next few weeks, I make a point of staying away from Maggie. I haven’t been over for dinner in a month. Jane’s called several times to check on me. I assure her I’m fine, just busy. The last time she called I asked about Maggie and even if she’s met anyone at school. Yes, she tells me. Maggie says she met someone but it was over before it started.

I guess I don’t need to hunt the guy down, but the memory of the mark on her neck still makes me see red.

Why and how that girl wormed her way into my thoughts, I can’t understand. She’s nothing like the women I’ve gone out with in the past. I prefer women my own age, sometimes even older. I like a woman who has a little experience. Now, instead of going out on Saturday nights, I stay home. It’s fucked up, I know that. I tell myself I don’t want Maggie, but I don’t want anyone else either. Now if I could just get her out of my head.

My favorite way to clear my thoughts is either a Saturday night fist fight down at Duncan’s Bar or a round or three of rough sex. Brawling and fucking are the perfect combo, but I don’t feel like either these days. Instead I saddle up my horse, Tex, the gelding I’ve had for years.

He’s a surly bastard and he’s not happy. When I swing into the saddle he tries to get his head down and pitch me off. It’s been months since I’ve ridden him and he likes to pretend he doesn’t know what a saddle is. After a few bucks, he settles down and we ride the fence line, checking for broken wire or downed posts. It takes a couple of hours to ride the perimeter of the two hundred acres.

When I get back, Wes waits for me on the porch.

“Tried to call you,” he says, following me to the barn.

“I don’t take my phone when I’m on the horse. No reception in the pastures.”

His lips thin and he shoves his hands in his pockets and leans against a support beam. I untack my horse and wait for him to tell me what’s on his mind. Wes might come to the garage every so often, but he rarely comes to my house. This is our grandparent’s house and coming out here reminds him of our parents and sister. He never says the words aloud, but I can see it in his eyes. Today there’s something more in his expression. Worry.

I set the saddle on a rack and face him. “You going to tell me what’s on your mind or did you want to take one of the horses out for a ride?”

Wes shakes his head. I can’t remember the last time he rode. Now he’s a family man he doesn’t have time to work the ranch. I know that, and I’m just pulling his leg, but he doesn’t smile.

“I need to borrow a little money.”

He’s never asked me that before. “Sure. How much?”

“Five grand.”

The amount surprises me a little. I can lend him five grand. Hell, I’ll give him five grand. What bothers me is the way he won’t hold my gaze. He rubs the back of his neck and blows out a stream of air.

“Five thousand’s no problem.” I lead Tex to the barn’s back door and put him the back pasture. He trots off to join the other horses.

“I need it today. Now, actually.”

I take off my chaps. “Is everyone okay?”

“Oh sure. Fine. Fine.” He smiles, only it’s not his usual smile. It’s more like a grimace.

“What the fuck’s going on?”

He shrugs. “Nothing. I just need money.”

My chest tightens. Wes is the world’s worst liar. Jane is the second worst. Something’s wrong and it’s got to be pretty bad if he won’t tell me.

“I can’t tell you,” he blurts out. “I promised I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Who?”

He blinks. “What?”

I’ve never hit my brother. Sure, we wrestled and sparred before, but I’ve never struck him in anger. The wave of fury that comes over me shocks me and I have to force myself to stay back from him.

“Who did you promise?” I say, quietly.

He frowns as he mulls my question, wondering if he can say the name without breaking the promise. A moment passes. I pull off my leather gloves and shove them into my pocket. If he doesn’t start talking, I’m going to have to convince him. I don’t like the notion, but that won’t make much difference.

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “Maggie made me promise.”

I push back the dread, collecting inside me. “Is she sick? Hurt?”

“No.”

My worry eases, but only a little. Something’s happened to Maggie that they need five grand for, today, and I can tell it’s not good. It’s not something like tuition fees otherwise he’d tell me.

“Is Maggie okay?” I manage.

The color drains from Wes’s face and I swear it takes every bit of self-control to keep from throwing him against the wall. He’s a big guy, six-foot, but I’m six-five. He works at a desk and I work in a garage. I would never hurt him, but something’s happened to Maggie and I’m two seconds away from losing my shit.

“Maggie got arrested last night.”

The words float in my mind but I can’t really understand their meaning. Maggie? Arrested?

“It wasn’t her fault. I’m sure of it.” Wes steps closer. “They say she shoplifted. Maggie would never steal.”

“Shoplifted…?”

He straightens and looks offended, like I accused him of shoplifting. “It’s just a misdemeanor and Gwen says we should be able to get deferred adjudication. If Maggie doesn’t have a record.”

“Where is she now?” I’m praying Wes tells me she’s at home, but I can tell from his expression she’s somewhere else. Jail. That’s why he needs the money. For bail.

“She’s being detained. Until I post bail. I would have done it first thing this morning but I don’t have the cash. Things have been a little tight lately. I had to write a check for her tuition because the Lion’s grant won’t come till March.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll give you the money.”

He shakes his head and I can see how hard it is to ask for a loan. He’s about to argue, but I wave him off. “Let’s not talk about it. I’ve spent a night or two in that jail and I want her out of there. Now.”

Returning to the house, I try not to think of her sitting in a jail cell. On a Saturday night. Shit, why didn’t they call me right away? Probably because Maggie made them promise right off the bat not to tell me. And what the hell did she lift? Wes doesn’t think Maggie’s a thief, but she’s stolen from me. When she ran away, she’d taken things from his house to fund her trip. She put them back, but the fact remains, she’s done it before.

Despite the cold, a trickle of sweat rolls down my neck. God, I hope she’s okay. I stand in the quiet of my house and I picture her, alone and scared. Locked up. And in a single instant I’m certain this is a mistake. She may have stolen from me and Wes too, but whatever they’ve accused her of, she didn’t do. I’d stake my life on it.

Grabbing my wallet, I take a moment to make sure I have my credit card. I have a twenty-thousand-dollar limit, so I can post Maggie’s bail a few times over. I tuck my check-book into my back pocket just in case, and a moment later, Wes and I are headed downtown to the county jail.