“Speak for yourself.” That caught him off guard, although I wasn’t sure if he was reacting to my words or the tears in my voice. “You can spin it any way you want, Joe, but the bottom line is that you betrayed me,” I said without malice. “As long as I live, I’ll never be able to forget the look on your face as that awful woman manhandled me and shoved me into the back of her patrol car.”

“Rose, I’m sorry.”

“Yet it doesn’t change a thing.” I looked toward the house, wishing things were different. But I’d been wishing that same thing my entire life, and never once had it ever done me any good. “I’m so tired, Joe. I’m so tired of fighting with you. I can’t do this anymore.”

He moved closer to me, standing at my side. “This isn’t what I wanted.”

“Me neither, and yet this is how it is.” He didn’t say anything for several seconds, so I turned a little to look at him. “I think you should go.”

“If I hear gunshots again, I’ll be back to check on you.”

I looked away. I knew I should have thanked him, yet I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Because despite his intentions, he’d hurt me. “You do what you need to do … and so will I.”

“Joe,” Neely Kate said. I hadn’t realized she’d walked up behind me. “You need to go.”

Joe started to get into his car and stopped. “Neely Kate, I’m serious. If you’re gonna start shooting guns, let me know unless you want me to come back again.”

“Fine.” But the word lacked any bite.

As he drove off, Neely Kate put her arm around my shoulders. “You okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fair enough.”

I sucked in a deep breath and pushed it out. I didn’t have time for this. I had to save everyone. God knew, I’d probably end up having to save Joe too. “We need to get back to practicing.”

Her forehead wrinkled with worry. “Maybe we should take a break.”

I shook my head. “Nope. We need to do this before Mason gets home.” I suspected he wouldn’t disapprove, but I wasn’t sure he’d be thrilled either. Besides, the less I called attention to my alternate life, the better.

Chapter 17

A half hour later, I’d improved, but that wasn’t saying much. I still couldn’t adequately protect myself from someone at any distance. Crappy doodles, I only had a one in five chance of saving myself from a can of lima beans. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be an issue.

Neely Kate and I ate a quick lunch and then headed into town to talk to Maeve. We brought Muffy since she was ticked off about being left inside all morning. She curled up at Neely Kate’s feet, facing away from me, as we drove. Neely Kate was unusually quiet too, and I felt liable to choke on the tension in the truck cab. I figured it was as good a time as any to add more.

“Have you heard from Ronnie?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light and breezy.

“No.”

“Are you goin’ to call him?”

She turned to look at me, her eyebrows arched. “And why would I call him? He’s the one who left me!”

“I know, Neely Kate, but I think Ronnie’s in some kind of trouble and needs our help.”

She shook her head and turned away. “He doesn’t want my help. I know all about his boys in his poker group, but when I tried to talk to him about it, he told me to mind my own business.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“You don’t need to know everything.”

I pinched my lips together as I tried to figure out what to do next. Neely Kate might be hurt enough to let it go, but I wasn’t. When we pulled up in front of Maeve’s, I grabbed my phone and texted Bruce Wayne.

I know you’re upset with me right now and you have every right. I’m not insulting you, BW, I’m protecting you even if you don’t see it that way. But you and me aside, I’m worried about Ronnie. He left NK and supposedly he’s thick as thieves with a group of guys at his garage in Pickle Junction who are loyal to Mick Gentry. Can you do some digging?

I was starting to put my phone back into my pocket when it vibrated.

Are you sure I can handle it?

I was tired and cranky enough to consider sending a retort. Instead I sent: Of course.

After several seconds, he sent: Okay. I’ll do it for NK.

“Who are you texting?” There was a suspicious look on her face.

“Bruce Wayne. He’s working at the nursery today. With Anna,” I added brightly, hoping she’d want to talk about the possibility of their relationship. Neely Kate normally thrived on gossip.

Instead, she opened her truck door and climbed out.

Sighing, I grabbed my purse and Muffy and followed her out of the truck. I set my little dog down in the yard to sniff around and do her business, but Neely Kate had already knocked on the door. Moments later, Maeve appeared in the open doorway, holding her worn bulky cardigan across her chest.

“It’s my three favorite girls. Come in! I just pulled a coffee cake out the oven.”

Muffy heard her voice and made a beeline for the front door, jumping up on Maeve’s legs in excitement.

Maeve laughed and scooped her up, leaving the door open for Neely Kate and me to follow.

“It sure smells good in here,” I said, my stomach suddenly growling, even though we’d just had leftover soup and bread.