The Ranger's Passionate Love (16 page)

Kyara was on Jan's porch before she knew it, bundled in her winter coat. Though there was no snow right now, it was bitterly cold, the wind slicing through her pants and stinging her face.

Just one more thing he has to pay for
, Kyara thought, knowing it was nasty and a little unfair, and in no mood to care or try to change.

She pounded on the door, secure in the knowledge that Jan would be in bed with her hearing aid out, and unable to hear a thing.

At the third rattling knock, Jason finally opened the door, blinking blearily. He wore only his boxers, his well-muscled chest reflecting the lamplight in the freezing air... His hair stood at attention, forming a crest on his head like some sort of exhausted cockatoo. He blinked at her, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Kyara?” he asked, clearly trying to pull himself together. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“Yes,” said Kyara, her voice hard. “Something's wrong.” She advanced on him, and he stepped back into the fire-lit interior, his eyes going wide with alarm at her tone.

“Apparently, I am dating someone who thinks it's not only acceptable, but important to meddle in my life. Someone who thinks they know better than I do, and can make decisions for me. Someone who thinks they should just meddle in my business without even telling me so I get blindsided by my brothers showing up out of nowhere. That. Is. What's. Wrong.”

Jason retreated backwards at each statement, Kyara advancing to not give him an inch.

“But, you seemed so sad when you talked about not seeing them,” Jason tried to defend.

“Don't,” spat Kyara. “Just don't. Don't try to defend. Don't try to justify. You just made the decision without even talking to me about it first. Without getting all the information, or knowing what you were doing. You. Had. No. Right. But you did it anyway.”

Kyara sagged, her energy draining away.

“It can't be this way, Jason. You can't just decide what's best for me. You're not some white knight sweeping in to save the day. I'm not your pet, or your slave.”

“That's not how I meant it,” said Jason softly. “I just wanted to make you happy.”

“And you didn't think to ask me what would do that?” responded Kyara.

“I was trying to surprise you. I just ... if someone managed to bring my parents home, I know I would really appreciate it,” he said.

“Well, maybe that's the problem. Maybe you never got used to thinking about what other people would like, just what you would. That's why you try to take change. That's why you keep things from people. That's why this ... whatever we have, it's why it isn't going to work.” Kyara's voice remained steady. She'd cried enough tonight. She didn't have tears left for this.

“No, Kyara, I didn't mean, it wasn't like that,” said Jason.

“You never mean to,” said Kyara. “But you never think it out either. And that's not good enough for me. Not any more.” Kyara turned, and went to the door.

“They can stay at my place still,” scrambled Jason. “We can work this out. I know you want to see them, so maybe, once you calm down...”

“I appreciate the offer, replied Kyara. “My place is a little small for three of us. But I am calm, Jason. More calm than I have been in a long time. And what you did was out of line, and dangerous. More dangerous than you know.”

“Then why don't you tell me?” he said.

“Goodbye, Jason,” she said, completely out of energy.

“I don't want this to be over,” he said, sounding wounded, his pride hurt.

“I didn't either,” said Kyara, closing the door behind her. The wind pushed it closed, sealing it tight behind her.

The next day was hard. She hadn't slept much that night, though if she'd dreamed, she didn't remember. Getting up to start the morning prep had never seemed so difficult. But she did it, as she always had.

This is the life I made for myself. I won't let Jason Waite, or anyone else, take that away from me. Not with meddling or anything else.

So downstairs she went, never more grateful for the friends who were keeping her brothers out of her hair for the morning.

As usual, once she started working she lost herself in the flow of the everyday tasks. Preparing the food, making sure everything was clean, teaching Crystal how to ready that day's sides – all the little things which made her business run – each was a familiar dance to take her out of her troubles. By the time lunch came and went, she felt much better. Tired, but better.

The phone rang. Kyara ignored it. People had started trying to call in their orders to go. She didn't mind, but wasn't really set up for it, at least not yet. Crystal crossed to deal with it as best she could.

Maybe once Crystal graduates I can put her on that? Assuming she's even staying in town, of course. I should really check with her about....

The tone of Crystal's voice pulled Kyara out of her thoughts.

“It's OK. I'll tell her and she'll be right down. No, Ashley, it's fine. She'll be right there. Just hold on.” Crystal's voice was trying to be soothing, but held an undercurrent of real worry.

Kyara rushed up behind the teenager.

“What's wrong? What happened?” asked Kyara.

Crystal turned, holding the phone out for her.

“Um, your brother has been arrested. Ashley's down at the sheriff’s office trying to get him out.”

Kyara snatched the phone from her assistant's hand.

“Ashley? What's going on? What did Marcus do?” Kyara tried not to yell into her friend's ear, but it was a near thing.

Ashley's voice on the phone sounded concerned and upset.

“I don't know. We stayed up pretty late last night talking. When he didn't show up for our, I mean, when he didn't come see the place, I figured he'd overslept. But then I went to drive to wake him up, and I saw his rental car on the side of the road. Kyara, when I got there, Marsh was loading him into the back of the cruiser. He looked ... pretty pissed.” Ashley's explanation came in a desperate, worried rush.

Shit. Marcus and Marsh. That's ... shit.

“Tell me he wasn't resisting arrest,” said Kyara.

“I thought he might be going to, but I got him calmed down, told him I'd get you and your brother. He seemed okay after that.”

She got Marcus to calm down? Will miracles never cease?
Thought Kyara, her mind still trying to catch up with the situation.

“Alright, I'm on my way to the station. Call Caitlin and have her get Trip down there. And Ashley ...” said Kyara, “Thank you. This could have been way worse without you.”

By the time Kyara had hung up the phone, Crystal had already moved over to the stove, neatly sliding in behind Kyara to continue the work.

“It looks like I'm going to have to shut down for lunch today,” said Kyara, but Crystal was already shaking her head.

“You already got everything going and seasoned, Ms. B. I can take it from here.” The perky Goth didn't even break stride as she slipped from stove to counter, checking each dish.

I'm not sure, but I don't have time to argue it. Time for trial by fire, I guess.

“OK, but you know where I'll be. Don't hesitate to call, or take things off the menu. I'm sure everyone in town will know before the lunch rush starts, so no one will expect us to be open. They'll understand if we're not, but not if we compromise on quality, got it?” Kyara was already heading upstairs as she spoke.

“I'm on it. You just go take care of your family,” came Crystal's voice up behind her.

The dash around the apartment and the drive to the sheriff’s office went by in a haze of horrified “what-ifs.”

What if Marcus really did do something wrong? It's all Marsh will need to go crazy.

What if Marsh goes off on him like he did on me? Marcus will lose it.

What if Marcus gives him an excuse to add charges? We'll be caught up in the legal system forever.

What if... what if ... what if?

Kyara got to the tiny station just as Caitlin and Trip pulled up, her massive brother barely fitting in the passenger seat of Caitlin's tiny car.

“Do you know what this is about?” asked Kyara as they all piled out.

“No,” said Trip, “but he's supposed to name me as his lawyer, and I haven't gotten a phone call, so something's off.”

“I filled him in about Marsh” said Caitlin a little breathlessly.

“We'll deal with that if and when it's an issue,” said Trip as they reached the door. “Right now, let's just find out what happened.”

They entered the station together.

Officer Marsh sat at his desk, his normally slouched posture ramrod straight as he moved papers around his desk. Ashley sat across from him, her jaw clenched.

Trip's long strides carried him easily across the floor.

“We aren't having visiting hours just now,” said Marsh, his mouth twisted in a nasty smirk. “As I've explained to this misguided young lady. Feel free to take her home, though.”

Trip slowly eyed the pudgy sheriff behind the desk.

“As excellent policy, Officer Marsh, particularly as my client hasn't seen his lawyer yet. I'll need you to let me in to talk to him right away.”

Marsh leaned back in his chair, a look of disrespect shooting across his face.

“Boy, I know every lawyer in the area, and unless you spent yesterday getting it taken care of, I don't believe you're licensed in the state of Vermont.” The sheriff kicked both feet up on the desk, muddy heels pointed at Trip.

Trip nodded his head slightly, acknowledging the point.

“An excellent point, officer. I'm glad to see that you are so careful about following the letter of the law. I'd hate to think the young man in there had been taken into custody with anything other than the finest attention to detail. If you'll give me just one moment.” Trip stepped back from the desk.

Kyara, Caitlin, and Ashley watched this exchange with astonishment. Ashley seemed angrier by the second. Caitlin almost seemed to be taking notes.

I know that look
, thought Kyara as she studied her brother.
He's got something.

Kyara's eyes swung back to the painfully smug look on Rich Marsh's face.

I almost feel sorry for him,
she reflected gleefully.
This is not going to be pretty.

Trip walked outside, Ashley, Caitlin, and Kyara trailing along behind him. Once out in the cold, he flipped open his phone and hit speed-dial.

“Hi, Nancy?  It's John. John Bell. I'm up in Vermont and I have a bit of a situation. Who do we know in the area?”

Trip stepped farther away from the three young ladies as he talked. Kyara tried to follow, but Caitlin nudged her towards Ashley.

“Kyara, I'm so sorry about all this,” said the blonde.

“Not your fault,” pointed out Kyara, trying to stay calm. “Do we know anything else?”

Ashley snorted, her face growing stormy.

“I think Rich was trying to show me what a bad guy your brother is. He left the door open when he harassed him so I could hear everything. At first he said he matched the description of someone with a warrant out? Then he said he'd refused a breathalyzer?”

Kyara snorted.

“That sounds like Marcus. He doesn't have much patience for anyone on a power trip, never mind cops,” said Kyara. “Honestly, it's a miracle he wasn't taken in for resisting arrest, too.”

“He's changed a lot in the last year,” said Trip as he came up behind her, his phone now off. “He still has a temper, but he's reigning it in. This time, I think, it's probably because he knows this cop is full of it. We've got him dead to rights.”

“We may have an issue if your brother refused a breathalyzer,” chimed in Caitlin. “That alone can lose him his license.”

“He didn't refuse,” insisted Ashley. “I was there for that part. He just said he wanted to call his Lawyer first.”

Trip's eyes locked on Ashley.

“And the officer wouldn't let him?” asked Trip, his tone measured.

Ashley shook her head.

“Rich said there was no way he'd get cell reception out here.”

“But he wouldn't even let him try,” Trip followed up.

“No.”

Trip shook his head.

“Then we have him.”

It wasn't that easy, of course. It took hours for the Trip's lawyer friend from the ACLU to show up. When he did, a short, rounded man with large glasses, Marsh looked like he'd swallowed something slimy. The lawyer, who introduced himself as Mr. Buckner, then had to go in and talk to Marcus, and then came out to confer with Ashley as well. The others all waited in the lobby to see how everything would play out.

As they waited, Jason showed up.

He bustled into the lobby, brushing a faint dusting of snow from him coat.

“Kyara,” he said, rushing over. “I'm so sorry about this. I'm sure it's all a big misunderstanding. Let me talk to Rich, I can get this all worked out.

Kyara stared at him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him, her voice cold.

“I came to help,” he said. “Your brother wouldn't even be here if not for me.”

“No need to remind me of that,” she replied flatly. “But we have it under control. You aren't needed here. Nor are you wanted here. I told you last night: I don't need a white knight.”

Jason stared at here. Everyone else looked anywhere but at them. Then, without a word, Jason turned and left.

Kyara turned to her brother.

“That reminds me, I'll put you and Marcus up in a hotel, unless you want to try to jam into my apartment.”

Before he could reply, Marcus came out, his face unreadable. Mr. Buckner came behind, talking with Sheriff Marsh. The tension between them was clear, but the lawyer had a determined smile on his face.

“I'm glad we could come to an understanding, officer,” Buckner was saying.

The sheriff nodded once. His squinting eyes moved to lock on to Kyara as he spoke.

“Bullshit. Threatening lawsuits. It's a dangerous game you're playing,” spat Marsh. He turned to face the people in his lobby directly.

“I live in this town, and I wouldn't want police being afraid to investigate for fear of having to wade through some shit outsiders ride into town and stir up. Otherwise they might not want to show up when they're needed.” His eyes never left Kyara, making it clear what he meant. Marcus and Trip both started to bristle, but Buckner was already on it.

“I'm sure the sheriff's record will speak for itself,” shot back the lawyer before turning and herding the group in the lobby out into the cold.

They reached their cars before anyone said anything.

“That man,” declared Buckner, “is a jackass. We'll put him on the watch-list and see if we can't find someone to run against him next fall. In the meantime, you should be free to go about your lives.”

“Thank you so much for coming out,” said Trip, shaking the other lawyer's hand.

Buckner shook his head, his dark curls bouncing around his face.

“I'm just sorry I can't do more. We got the charges dropped, largely based on the fact that Marcus here didn't get his phone call, but we should be able to nail him for profiling. If we do, though, it could mean years of legal fights on a slim chance of winning. Like I said, we'll see if we can't beat him at the ballot box next fall.”

Contact information was exchanged and goodbyes were said. Kyara noticed right away how close together Ashley and Marcus stood, and Caitlin happily chatted with Trip, huddling close to him in the cold. She couldn't focus completely on the couples which seemed to be forming, though. Her eyes kept drifting to the pair of footprints, walking off in the snow to where Jason had briefly parked his car.