Page 52 of Reckoning with the Cowboy
As she started to rip the top sheet off the notebook and put it back in its spot, she noticed that someone had doodled on several of the symbols. Her heart was again in her throat, making her jump when her office door swung open.
* * *
AmySue stoppedin the office doorway. “Didn’t mean to scare you,” she said to her sister, surprised how jumpy Josie was. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You haven’t been gone from the farm that long that you don’t remember me, have you?”
“Were you in my office earlier?” Josie demanded.
“No,” she said, frowning. She’d known her surprise visit probably wasn’t going to go well, but she hadn’t expected her sister to already attack her. “I haven’t been in your office. Did someone move your plant a quarter inch from where you normally keep it, neat freak?”
“Someone was in my office while I was down at the café,” her sister said.
“Well, it wasn’t me. I just got to town, and I wanted you to be the first to know.” She stepped in to her sister’s desk and held out her left hand. The diamond caught the light from the window and shone like a star. “Shane and I are engaged!” She couldn’t help how excited she was. Not even her sister’s weirdness could ruin this for her. “And don’t say that it’s too quick. I’ve known him over a year, writing back and forth all these months.”
Josie’s mouth opened, then closed like a fish out of water.
Amy Sue rushed on, hoping her sister would see how happy she was and not say anything hurtful. “I know you’ve been skeptical about Shane’s intentions. But this should put your mind at ease. We’re getting married!” She giggled, wanting Josie to be happy for her as she waited for her reaction.
“You can’t marry him.”
Amy Sue stared at her as her heart fell and disappointment filled her. “Stop. Just stop!”
“He’s after the farm.”
She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes as she took a step back while Josie got to her feet and came around the desk toward her. “Of course, I should have known. Shane couldn’t possibly want to marry me because he loves me. It’s about the farm. Do you hear yourself? The farm’s not even in my name!” she cried. “You and Nana saw to that.”
“That’s why he has to marry you and kill the two of us to get his hands on it.”
She blinked at her sister. “Have you lost your mind? Shane’s not a murderer! He’s made some mistakes but he’s not—”
“I’m sorry, but I just found out that Shane and the man who almost killed me, Roger Grimes, knew each other. It’s too much of a coincidence that they both had pen pals in this area. Don’t you see? They were both planning to get out at the same time, but Shane’s paperwork got held up. Shane and Grimes set this whole thing up.”
Amy Sue raised her hands to ward off her sister. She couldn’t believe this. She’d known Josie wouldn’t be happy about the engagement, but she couldn’t believe how far she’d go to try to split up her and Shane.
“I refuse to listen to any more of this,” she said as she stepped back until she felt the door behind her. “Why do you want to poison this for me? I’m in love for the first time in my life with a man who wants to marry me.” She was crying and hating that she couldn’t stop. “He loves me, and he wants to make a life with me, have babies, farm… It’s the life I’ve always dreamed of.”
“I’m so sorry, but that is never going to happen,” Josie said and started to reach for her again, but she waved her off.
“Stay away from me and Shane, you hear me? Stay away from us.” With that, she opened the door and fled.
* * *
Josie’s heart brokeas she watched her sister leave in tears. She wished she could take it all back, to pretend to be happy for Amy Sue, but how could she knowing what she did?
Of course Shane wanted to marry her. Now there was nothing stopping him. He would want to move quickly, not waste any time. He had her sister right where he wanted her.
At a knock on her door, Cordell peeked in. “Ready to go?” He seemed to see the expression on her face and came on in. “I know. Shane told me and then Amy Sue came by to show me the ring.”
She rose and he held out his arms and she rushed into them. “He had a key to my office. While I was at lunch, he left me a note.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t anything. Just some doodles so I’d know he’d been here. He wanted me to know that he can get to me anytime he wants.”
As he hugged her tighter, she breathed in his scent, never wanting him to let her go. But he did as he pulled out his phone.
“Which is why we are leaving for the weekend.” He began to tap on his cell phone. “I’m having the locks changed on your office and apartment right now. I’ll have the locksmith leave the keys with Goldie. You can tell her to guard them with her life.”
For the first time today, she felt better. She wasn’t alone in this. “I have my bag packed.” She motioned to it by the door.
Cordell picked it up, set it on her couch and opened it.
“If you’re looking for my black swimming suit—”
