Page 57 of Somebody to Love

“I will, and you take care now, Joe. This business with Jack is nasty.”

It was, Joe thought minutes later as he sat in his chair staring at the wall. Work forgotten, he wondered what the hell his father was doing back in Ryker, and what connection his appearance had with Jack’s shooting. One thing he knew for certain was that he’d be finding out, and if Tim Trainer was in any way involved, he’d deal with the man himself.

When Angie walked in twenty minutes later, he was hard at work trying to put the morning from hell behind him, and failing.

“Hey there, lover boy.”

For some reason that made him wince. Maybe because of what Fin had told him.

“I thought we were seeing each other tonight?”

“We are... were, that’s why I called. I have to work tonight. A few staff are down with a virus. Can we rain check?”

She was in the Falls Lodge uniform of deep gray skirt and white shirt. The fitted lines of the clothes suited her, but he felt nothing when he looked at her.

“Sit down, Angie, we need to talk.”

“Sure. How’s Jack?” She watched him walk around the room.

“Better. They’re letting him out as soon as all the tubes and wires are removed. He can then come home as long as he takes things easy. The bullet went through the fleshy part of his side. He was lucky.” Joe felt the relief again that his brother had survived, and would show no lasting effects from what happened.

“Have the police found any leads?”

“None. A few tracks, but nothing concrete.”

“Maybe it was someone illegally hunting?”

“I don’t buy that. The first shot took Jack down, the second was aimed at Bailey, according to him.”

“She seemed nice, Bailey.”

She is.

“Angie, I know what we’ve had is casual, but I’m going to have to stop seeing you.” He looked at her, but she’d turned away so he couldn’t read her expression.

“Why?” She looked back at him, and he couldn’t read anything in her face. “I thought we had fun? No strings, no hassles?”

“Sure we did, but it’s over for me now.”

“It’s Bailey, isn’t it? I felt something was going on between you in the stables that day.”

“No, I just think it’s time.” Joe wasn’t bringing Bailey into this.

“I like what we had, Joe.” She got to her feet and headed his way. Joe evaded her hands and went to sit behind his desk.

“I want us to be friends, Angie.”

“Friends.” She laughed, and he saw no anger, which was a relief. “Okay, I can do that, but if you change your mind, you know where you can find me.”

“I won’t.”

She gave him a gentle smile, and left before he could say anything else. Joe did something he hadn’t in years. He had a drink before the bar opened.

Chapter 17

“Hey there, Bailey. You come to watch the parade?”

“Hi Fin, yes I have. Maggie’s meeting me here.”

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