Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
He wanted to be there with them, but he knew when to step back. Not because they wouldn’t welcome him. They would. But this was something Keane had to get through. They would always have each other, but they also needed to know they could have individual relationships. Olivia had to learn to navigate Keane’s limited insecurities.
And she would. Because she was the one.
“It was Jessica Fellows,” Abby said.
Sam’s head shook. “I never liked that girl. She was one of those who was always sweet in public but nasty when she thought no one was looking. She tried to play Livie and she wasn’t having it. She fell on purpose and tried to blame Livie. That dumbass Jimmy bought it for a minute, so our daughter decided if she was going to do the time, she might as well do the crime and bitch slapped the shit out of her. I mean that girl will be lucky if the handprint ever goes away.”
“So what you’re telling me is that this woman who hurt Olivia before happens to show back up in town at the precise time when a whole lot of bad shit is happening around Olivia.” Garrett’s brain was working overtime.
“You’re not worried about that conversation that’s happening right now?” Jack looked surprised.
Garrett waved the thought off. “I’m relieved. I know Olivia. She wouldn’t go to these lengths to tell Keane off. She would be done and walk away clean. She’s going in there to tell him he’s a dumbass if he thinks she can’t love him. Now I am worried there’s going to be some jailhouse loving I won’t be able to get in on, but sometimes one of us has to step back. It’s a complex relationship.”
“And now we know who the Sam is.” Sam Fleetwood was grinning from ear to ear. “I always knew I was the logical, reasonable one.”
Jack snorted and drew the other man in, an arm around his waist. “You are that.” He was quiet for a moment and then he looked at Garrett. “Tell me everything I need to know.”
“You’re not going to fight this relationship anymore?” Life would be so much easier if this man wasn’t against him.
“I think my daughter is ready to kick my ass. I would like to avoid that. It would help if you didn’t mention our conversation before,” Jack offered.
Garrett saw a whole lot of opportunity in Jack Barnes’s eyes. “Fine. I can do that, but I want something in return.”
Jack’s jaw hardened. “And what is that?”
“I want a cube. Everyone else has a cube. I think Keane’s truck is held together with spit and his pure willpower.” That cube would mean they were accepted. “We bought it for 750 bucks seven years ago. When we had the money for something new, he insisted I buy one for myself so I wouldn’t have to rely on Lucas to get into Dallas if I needed to go. I’m going to buy my Master something new. I’ve saved, but I want you to present him with a cube.”
Jack seemed to relax. “We’ll go down to the dealership together and I’ll show you everything he’s going to need.”
Sam snorted. “And he’ll have spent some time with Keane by then and will buy it himself. You just watch.”
That wasn’t the point. The point was Jack needed to make Keane feel welcome, and oddly, putting his broke-down truck through a compactor and then displaying it like a trophy would do the trick.
“All right, let’s give them some time and I’ll tell you everything I know about what’s happened since we got to Willow Fork.” Garrett sat back down. It was time to figure out what was going on. “I have some suspicions. This is either about one person being incredibly jealous. Or it’s about money. A lot of money.”
Jack sat across from him, and Abby and Sam joined them.
“Maybe this is something I should sit in on.” Deputy Morgan stood in the doorway. “I was wrong about your friend. I’ve got a call in to the bartender. Apparently he’s out with some friends, but he’ll come in tomorrow and make a statement. I’m doing the paperwork to let Keane out. I want to solve this. I need to know.”
Garrett nodded, and Deputy Morgan took the last available chair. Garrett leaned in and began to speak.
He wasn’t the only one with a lot to say. Olivia was making her play. He hoped that somewhere in a jail cell, Keane would listen.
Chapter Fifteen
Keane heard the door lock behind him and felt bile rise in his throat. He wasn’t going to embarrass himself here. Here, any weakness was taken advantage of and harshly punished. Here, the world was a dark and desperate place.
He thought this place might be his real home, the one he was always going to come back to. As if being there the first time stained him in a way he could never recover from. The last few years had been the dream, and this was the reality.