Page 19 of Mystery at Rescue Ridge

And if it was too late to find out why.

Evie triedto focus on the warm water sluicing over her sore body.Carrying around a one-year-old activated muscles she had yet to fully develop.No wonder Simone had looked like she’d worked out after having the kids.She’d bounced back from her pregnancy body within months and had often joked she hadn’t sat down once Luca started walking when Evie had asked what app her sister had been using to get into shape.Her sister had laughed at the question.

The thought of never hearing Simone’s voice again struck like a physical blow.Tears welled and then fell, mingling with the warm running water.

Standing there for what felt like half an hour but was probably not more than a couple of minutes, she let the tears flow.She hadn’t really cried since hearing the news.Instead, she’d gone into “fixer” mode.She’d packed a suitcase and headed toward Saddle Junction.On the road, she’d called her boss to provide an update and then had taken a call from HR to activate short-term leave.

Even then, she’d realized how impossible it was going to be to return to Dallas, to her apartment, and to her job.But she’d been in too much shock to make any real decisions.Hell, part of her had expected to receive a call saying there’d been a mistake.She’d even called her sister’s cell just to see if Simone would pick up.It might have been delusional, but she’d been given a pamphlet at the hospital that explained the stages of grief.Denial was the first stage.The information she’d received on the topic checked out with her experience so far, so she’d held onto the leaflet.

For the first time since Simone’s death, Evie allowed herself to feel the loss.Keeping busy had built a hard shell around her heart.One that could easily crack with the slightest touch.Denial had immediately been followed by shock.She was still there, having only moments of anger because she couldn’t let herself fall apart in front of the children, and she was too exhausted to cry when the lights turned out and she face-planted on top of her sister’s bed.

There’d been moments, of course, that were more like flashes where anger threatened to consume her.No amount of fist pumps toward the sky would bring her sister back.

The man in the next room had added to tonight’s onslaught.Having Owen around calmed her in some ways and lit up parts of her she’d long since believed to be dead and buried.The brief kiss they’d shared as eighteen-year-olds had imprinted her in both heart and soul.Or maybe it was just Owen.

Could she contain those old feelings and become friends again?Did he plan to stick around Saddle Junction and the family’s horse ranch operation?

The out-of-control emotions from her past shouldn’t affect her now.Should they?All those old feelings might be resurfacing, but weren’t they like rediscovering a treasure from your childhood?All the nostalgia might strike hard at first, but hadn’t she outgrown them?

Besides, she didn’t have time to think about much more than putting one foot in front of the other right now.Any complications would have to be set aside until…

When?The kids were off to college or starting their lives somewhere else?

As unrealistic as that might sound, she couldn’t imagine having time for much else, at least until the kiddos had some independence.How many years would that take?Evie had no clue.

Plus, Owen had changed over the years.Everyone did.After the two got reacquainted—if she could make time for that—wouldn’t he be different now?Not the same person she’d fallen madly and deeply in love with?

Evie sighed.

She could hope he’d turned into a self-centered jerk, except that he’d been nothing but kind to her so far.He’d gone out of his way to ensure her safety, just like he would have years ago.Just like he had when a teacher had threatened to tell her parents if she made the tiniest infraction.It had been common knowledge that the Ashworths were tough on their daughters.Simone hadn’t developed the disdain Evie had for their punishments.Then again, Simone had walked a straight line.She’d gotten good grades in school without looking like she was trying.Her sister had often remarked that Evie’s life would’ve been much easier if she’d just studied harder and gotten better grades.If Evie hadn’t gotten lost in daydreams, she wouldn’t have been punished nearly as much.

Simone had often expressed how much she’d hated the fact that Evie got into trouble so often.And then Simone had married a handsome and decent person, who had loved everything about her.Simone had given their parents a beautiful grandson before they’d been in a car crash that had claimed both of their lives and before they’d found out about their second grandchild.

At least they’d died happy, Evie thought.She was never going to be the one they were proud of, despite how hard she’d worked in Dallas.She’d “turned her back” on the family by moving to Dallas and had become an outsider to them.She hadn’t attended weekly church services.She hadn’t attendedanychurch services.Not Easter.Not Christmas.The last thing Evie had wanted to be was one of those “holiday believers” as her parents had called them.

The lights flickered and then cut off mid-shower.

Evie felt around for her towel and found it.An involuntary shiver racked her as she thought about Size Eleven being outside her windows.Was he a voyeur?Someone in search of a cheap thrill?She’d been scared to death by the mountain lion.It had never occurred to her that an animal stalking her might be the only reason she had ended up alive and was able to walk out of the woods.

How long had Size Eleven been following her?How long had he been standing outside Simone’s house?

The lights flicked on again as the storm raged, battering the roof and windows with what sounded like hail.She wished she could run to her phone to check the weather channel to see if a tornado was heading her way.Anything was possible with the weather in Texas, except maybe chilly summer days.The heat was guaranteed to melt your flip-flops.

A soft knock at the bathroom door startled her, causing her to clench her towel like she was hanging out on a ledge about to drop a hundred feet to her death.

“You okay in there?”Owen’s deep timbre sent all kinds of sensual shivers racing across her skin.Goose bumps formed on her arms.

“I’m good.”She heard the croak in her own voice as her heart thundered in her chest.“I’ll be right out.”

“Okay.I’m heading out to my vehicle to get my overnight bag.The door will be in plain sight the whole time.I didn’t want you to come out and be scared.”

Did he have to be so damn considerate?He wasn’t helping her maintain a safe emotional distance with moves like that.

“Sounds good,” she croaked.“Take Simone’s weapon.”She certainly wasn’t qualified to use the gun, considering her hands shook while holding it, and she could barely get the bullets in the chamber.“It’s on the counter near the charger.”

“I saw it earlier,” he confirmed.

Good.Go.Get out of here before my knees buckle.She leaned against the counter to steady herself and grabbed a second towel for her hair.

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