Page 27 of Reckoning with the Cowboy
“Have a seat,” Grimes said, pointing to the worn wooden floor next to an old radiator as he pulled a couple of zip ties from his jacket pocket. Josie knew that arguing the point would be a waste of her breath. She could feel the gun biting into her waist as she sat down, hoping he didn’t notice her grimace.
As he came over to her, she held out her wrists to make the job easier for him. She could see him watching her suspiciously. He used the second zip tie to attach her wrists to the radiator with no slack. She had no chance to draw the gun unless she could free herself from the radiator.
“You think you’re tough, don’t you?” Grimes said when she didn’t flinch at how tight he did the zip tie. “Just like your friend. Probably need to be because of those two worthless boyfriends of yours.”
Josie didn’t take the bait, but Goldie started to respond, then caught herself.
“I need to make a call,” Grimes announced. “You two stay right here. Don’t do anything that will make me angry. You really don’t want to see me lose my temper.” He laughed. “My stepsons can tell you what happens when I lose my temper.”
With that, he pulled out his phone and left them alone.
“Are you all right?” Josie asked her friend the moment he was gone. She didn’t know how much time they had before he returned. Goldie only nodded.
“Is Grimes acting alone or is there someone else he’s working with?”
“Alone, at least I think so. He makes a lot of calls. Max and Cordell are coming, aren’t they?”
Josie couldn’t tell if Goldie was hoping they would come and save them or stay away so they weren’t harmed. She understood that feeling since she was experiencing it herself. “I don’t know what is going to happen, but I don’t think he will harm us.” At least not yet.
“Unless he can’t get his hands on them,” Goldie said and looked away as her eyes filled with tears. “All I’ve ever wanted was to marry Max, have his babies, make a life for the two of us in Dry Gulch.”
“I’m sure that’s what he’s always wanted, too.”
Goldie didn’t look so sure about that. “I guess he really did break up with me to try to protect me, for all the good it did.”
“Roger Grimes already knew about you and Max, about me and Cordell. Esther. She became his pen pal while he was in prison. She told him everything about everybody, but especially the four of us.”
“That horrible woman.”
“That’s putting it kindly,” Josie said. “Can you see Grimes?”
“He’s outside on his phone. You think the reason Max hasn’t asked me to marry him is because of his past?”
“I suspect so.” She also thought it was why Cordell had left town, left her, and why he’d come back. Josie knew that he loved her, but sometimes love wasn’t enough.
“Grimes still has the phone to his ear,” Goldie said. “He’s pacing. He doesn’t look happy.”
* * *
Max had beenlost in the past as he drove toward Rawlins, Wyoming. For years he’d held the awful memories at bay, fighting desperately to put them far behind him. He’d known that Grimes had killed their mother, but now that her grave had been found just past the homestead—
He started when his cell phone rang, pulling him out of the past. He saw that they were almost to Rawlins and shot a glance over at Cordell, who appeared to be sound asleep, curled in the corner of the pickup. His brother stirred as the phone rang again.
Not recognizing the number, Max let it ring another time before he picked up. “Sheriff Lander.”
Silence. Then he heard a low familiar laugh that made his blood run cold.
“Weren’t expecting a call from me, I take it?” Grimes asked.
“You used your one phone call from jail to talk to me?” the sheriff said, trying not to let Grimes hear his shock. “I’m honored.”
Again, all he heard was that miserable laugh. “Afraid the new deputy picked up the wrong man, though my friend Dave looks enough like me and is a hardened criminal, so you can understand how the young deputy made the mistake, especially with Dave driving a van with Florida plates,” Grimes said. “Knowing Dave, he had no trouble getting arrested, especially since he gave the cop my driver’s license.” Another laugh. “Once they run his prints, they’ll let him go, so don’t worry about Dave.” The line seemed to crackle. “What? Nothing smart to say?”
Max hit the brakes, knowing as his heart sank what was coming next. Cordell sat up and looked around in surprise as Max pulled off the road. The only reason they’d left Dry Gulch was because Max had believed Grimes was behind bars. If it hadn’t been him…
“Let me save you some brain cells. Yes, I have Goldie and her good friend Josie. They’re fine—at least temporarily. Their safety will depend on you and Cordell. We’ll be waiting for you at the homestead. But Max, don’t be foolish enough to call the Rawlins cops or I will kill both women. I think you know I will enjoy it. You and Cordell need to come alone. If you don’t—”
“Got it, Grimes.”
