Shades of Grey (8 page)

So she’d keep the change in their relationship quiet for now.

Until it became clear Travis was around to stay.

If that ever happens…

After the last disaster with a boyfriend—which had seen her father threatening the guy with a shotgun—Sarah had taken no more chances. His words stuck with her even today.

“Sarah, I know you want to understand what goes on between a man and a woman, and for some folks it’s all right to do it with everyone they meet. But I want you to remember something. When you give yourself to a person, you’re with them for life. They will always hold a part of you. If that man turns out to be a man you don’t love, you’ll have to live knowing he still holds a part of you. Be sensible, Sarah, and don’t settle for second best. I didn’t and I’ll love your mama until the day I die.”

He’d rarely spoken so many words at one time in all of her life, especially words about sex and boys, but those had struck a chord. From that day on, Sarah had stopped running with the pack of girls and didn’t make out in the backs of trucks. She’d left school with her virginity intact, while her friends had been pregnant or thinking about settling down and getting married.

The man she would spend the rest of her life with would have every part of her. Old-fashioned views for a modern-day woman, but it was how she would live her life. Travis was the first man she’d ever got so close to wanting. She had urges like every other woman—she’d just learnt to push those urges into her work. Some would say her daddy didn’t mean for her to stay a virgin forever, just for a while, but she wasn’t old. Twenty-five wasn’t old at all.

Was Travis the one? Men had come and tried, but she wouldn’t allow just anyone past the wall of ice she’d erected. Her heart was her own, as was her body. Her parents had had a love that lasted a lifetime and she wanted the same.

Which was why she had to go to Macy Jo’s tonight, to show the town that she was afraid of nothing and that she was still the same Sarah French who had turned them all down in high school, and would turn them all down now.

The clock struck six, and Sarah moved to the window. Darkness was swallowing up most of the ranch, and she knew how hectic and long the foreman’s job was. Travis would be lucky to get back before nine at least. He was nowhere in sight—her plan to be rid of him had worked.

“I’m sorry, Travis, but a woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do.”

* * * *

An hour later, Sarah went back downstairs dressed in a denim skirt and a tight, white shirt. Using the mirror in the hallway, she painted her lips and puffed out her hair to give it some lift, even though it fell straight back down. Her eyes, already smoky, were now highlighted by black mascara and a small amount of brown eyeshadow—minimal makeup to enhance the beauty, not detract from it. From her working out in the sun all day, her skin shone with a lovely golden tan.

She wrote a short note to Travis, and left a casserole in the oven and some beers chilling in the fridge. Deep down she knew he would follow her, but fingers crossed she’d be back in time before he even knew she’d left. If Clark hadn’t broken in, if Travis had gone home at the end of the day as usual, she might have visited Macy Jo’s alone anyway.

Ten minutes later, purse in hand, she climbed into her old beat-up truck and took one last look over the fields, wondering if she’d see Travis. The darkness was too thick. The start of winter was fighting back. She smiled at that.

Just like me. Damn straight I’m fighting back.

She started up the truck, the engine growling—another job on her endless list, to get the goddamn truck fixed—and paused, hands on the steering wheel.

Why was she hesitating? She glanced back out at the fields and then to the house. She took a deep breath and went to open the door, the engine still running, thinking she ought to do as Travis said and wait for him.

“What the hell am I doing?” she muttered. “Fuck it!” She slammed the door and revved the engine. “My life, my rules.” This was her fight, and she was going to have it sorted once and for all.

She buckled her seatbelt, put the truck in gear, and was on her way.

She refused to look at her rear-view mirror.

This was her life, and she would fuck it up as much or as little as she wanted.

The drive into town was uneventful, the roads quiet at this time of evening. Sarah waved at a few people she recognised while stopping off at the mini-mart to pick up another pack of beer as an apology to Travis. She met a few friendly faces and a couple not so nice, but unfortunately every town had a mix and theirs was no different. Within no time at all she was back in her truck and on the road to Macy Jo’s. The popular bar was situated on the outskirts, so not only local folk visited but a few from other towns, and some travellers stopped by for beer and entertainment.

Macy, one of the owners, tried to keep things up and running, hosting events such as birthday parties and novelty events. Sarah was sure Macy had even hosted some rodeo shows.

By seven-thirty it was already busy, and she struggled to find a parking space. She decided to park along the upper bank on the main strip of road, figuring she’d be able to walk the short distance and leave quickly after her mission was complete.

Mission? Was she starting to think she was in some kind of action flick?

She passed men who whistled and did the usual bids for attention. She showed them her precious middle finger and walked into the bar. Beer, sweat and smoke were the smells that invaded her senses. Any other time she would have walked out but instead she took a seat at the bar. Country music blared, and she scanned the room to see if Clark was already here. He wasn’t. At least she had time to get herself settled.

Within seconds of her getting comfortable, a guy hit on her.

“Hey, beautiful…”

“Fuck off.” Sarah knew how to talk to unwanted suitors.

The man sloped off, not even giving her a second chance to reject. Some men were harder to be rid off and she was in the mood for a fight tonight.

“Well, Sarah French!” Macy squealed as she ran along behind the bar, leaning over and embracing Sarah in a bear hug. “My God, girl, it’s been a millennium.”

“How are you doing?” Sarah asked once she’d managed to breathe again.

“I’m pregnant again, but me and John are happy.”

Macy Jo and John Baines had been high school sweethearts. She knew John was on the same level of cruelty as Clark at times, but with Macy he was like a little teddy bear. Even scary, evil men had their weaknesses.

“Where is John tonight?” Sarah asked.

“At home with the kids. He wanted to be here but the babysitter called in sick. Something to do with the change in the seasons. Anyway, what can I get you to drink?”

“Just a bottle of still water for me, Macy.”

Macy’s smile dropped.

“What’s the matter?” Sarah asked.

“Please… Water? Shit, Sarah, I should have known you’d be here to cause trouble. Whenever you come here and drink water I know you’re cruising for a fight. Shit.” Macy cursed again, closing her eyes, her lips moving as if in prayer. “I’m calling John.” She moved to leave and make the phone call.

“Don’t, Macy. I just want some water and some company tonight. I’m not looking for trouble.” Under the bar, Sarah crossed her fingers. It was only a small lie. Not really a lie—she wasn’t looking for trouble, more like giving out a warning to a creep. Sarah had no intention of ruining everyone’s evening or causing any damage to the bar.

She could see Macy didn’t believe her so tried her best I’m-a-good-girl-and-all, innocent smile.

It didn’t work.

Macy frowned. “I can’t afford you messing up my bar. Like I said, you drinking water tells me you’re here for trouble. Did you think I’d forget that? With this recession and shit, there really is no money. I’m tied to fuck with this place, and with a baby on the way and all the medical bills…”

“I own a ranch, Macy, and the last I checked I wasn’t raking in money. Fuck, I can’t even afford to fix my house. I’m not here to cause trouble.”

How she hated lying, but it would be up to Clark to decide how things went down.

Macy left to fetch her a bottle of water, giving Sarah time to pace herself. It had been over a year since she’d been here. In fact, the last time had been when her daddy was alive. She understood Macy’s concerns. She and Daddy had once caused a little trouble with an outsider who hadn’t understood the word no.

“So, now I know you’re not causing trouble and are here on a purely chill basis, tell me about that hot little stud Travis Williams. Been a while since I’ve seen his face in my bar.” Macy handed her the water and stayed put.

Sarah was sure she was only staying to keep an eye on her, to watch as she finished her water and left.

“He’s good. A good worker.”
He’s fucking gorgeous, and every time I’m around him I want to forget all my good intentions, drop my panties and fuck his brains out.

“Yeah, a good worker. All you see in those hard, thick muscles and tempting ass is he’s a good worker? Shit, girl, jump on and ride that man. If you don’t, other women will be lining up to take him.”

Sarah couldn’t help but chuckle. It had been some time since she’d felt comfortable enough to laugh. “You’re a married woman, Macy Jo. You should be quaint and at home with your husband.”

“Why? John admires all the ass in this place. I just know who he keeps coming home to. Looking is not the problem—it’s when they start touching that you scream and chop their balls off.”

Sarah coughed her water out on the counter, apologising to the people closest. Macy, laughing, handed her some napkins to clean up her mess.

A guy approached Macy and whispered in her ear.

“Oh, shit,” Macy said.

“What? What’s the matter?” Sarah asked, concerned.

“My life is about to turn to fucking shit,” Macy said. “Clark James and some of his group just walked in with a minor.” She pointed to the back corner.

Squinting through the layers of smoke, Sarah spotted him. She also spotted Sheriff Laurie. “Why is the sheriff with them?”

“I don’t know but I’m getting John here. His mother will have to watch the kids. I have a feeling in my gut things are about to get ugly and I’m not talking about the baby moving, either.”

Sarah left the woman to make the phone call and sat watching the group of repulsive men. They all talked amongst themselves, the sheriff looking all goofy as if he belonged with the group. Shit, she’d known not to tell him anything about whom she suspected had broken in to her place. Her instincts had been spot on.

Macy returned, coming out from behind the bar. She stood with Sarah, leaning against it to watch the enemy.

“Why do you think Stephen is with them?” Macy asked.

Sarah knew. She didn’t know how, but she had a feeling Clark had found out about the note.

“My house got busted into last night, a sick possessive note left on the refrigerator. Stephen has the note, which is the only piece of evidence left that anyone was even there.” Sarah continued to watch the group, her nerves on edge. “Come on, Stephen, walk away,” Sarah whispered.

“What the hell is going on?” Macy asked, nodding at the men.

Stephen took the young girl on to the dance floor, getting a little too frisky with the touching and stroking. He was falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book, and Sarah couldn’t stand back and let it happen.

“Get the deputy on the phone, Macy. Tell him that Clark James is trying to get Stephen in trouble. Possibly blackmailing him for that note.”

“How do you know?”

“That’s a minor, and Stephen has evidence which, if proven, can cause problems for Clark. You must have seen something similar to this before? Blackmail with a minor?”
Or maybe I read too many damn crime novels.
“You’ll probably find they’ve got the hotel pre-booked and everything. Just call whoever can help and I’ll distract him.”

Sarah left her and went on to the dance floor.

The girl was pretty much fake-fucking Stephen on the stage, gyrating against him and pressing her chest into his. Sarah couldn’t believe no one was prepared to intervene. She wished she had one of her pistols—she’d show Clark a thing or two, limey bastard that he was.

“Baby, I think it’s time you danced with a real woman,” Sarah purred. She pulled the minor off and moved into place, Stephen’s wobbly arms surrounding her. The alcohol and smoke fumes came off him in waves, the stench overpowering. 

“Hello, Sarah,” he yelled into her ear.

He really was drunk, possibly even drugged. The guy was sweating something bad.

“Hello, Stephen.” She smiled but looked around for Macy or John. Neither was in sight, so she continued to dance. “What are you doing here?”

He started to lean to one side, and she had to use both arms around his waist to hold him steady.

“Wanted a drink.”

In other words, Clark had coerced him down here. So he was being manipulated just like all the other times before he’d become sheriff. Where were this guy’s balls? Clark was probably twiddling them in his fist.

“I’ve lost your letter…evidence,” he slurred.

There’s the answer.

Sarah chanced a look at the back of the room. Clark was still in the same place. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, everything about the situation telling her to retreat.

“Clark wants you bad,” Stephen said.

“He can’t have me, and Stephen—you’re the sheriff. You should protect me. Not be standing here drunk and dancing with a minor. Don’t you see what he’s trying to do?”

“A minor? Damn well looks old enough. She wanted my company.”

“The girl attends the local high school, you should know that. You carry on with her and you’ll be in jail or worse. Blackmailed by Clark, right? For fuck’s sake, Stephen, think!” She struggled to hold her panic in check. It seemed she couldn’t handle this situation on her own, and it hurt to admit that even to herself.

A rasping voice Sarah hated broke into her thoughts.

“I think I should cut in here, buddy.”