Descent (Steel Brothers Saga 15)

Never again.

“Our time’s up for today,” Dr. Pelletier said. “For next time, I want you to give yourself a break. Stop forcing yourself to remember every single detail of every single moment. I think you’ll find you remember what’s important.”

“All right. I’ll try.” I stood. “Thanks, Doctor.”

“You’re very welcome. Have a good day, and I’ll see you next time.”

I left his office and walked toward my car.

“Daphne, love?”

I turned.

“Ennis!” I ran into his arms. “What are you doing here?”

“Just walking around town a bit. I had no idea you were here.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to town!”

“I didn’t know I was until two days ago. It was a rash decision.”

“Oh?” My heart did a flip-flop. “Is everything okay?”

“I had a nightmare about Patty, and I had to come.”

“Patty? I figured she was still in Africa.”

“She is, as far as I know. But I had this horrid dream about her. That something terrible had happened. Here. In Colorado.”

My heart nearly stopped. I knew well the power of nightmares. Even ones you couldn’t remember, which were the kind I routinely had.

“I’m so sorry. But why would that make you want to come all the way out here? Not that I’m sorry. It’s wonderful to see you. You should stay with us on the ranch.”

“That’s kind of you, but I’ve already booked a room at the hotel. The same room Patty and I stayed in when…”

“Oh. That’s an eerie coincidence.”

“Actually, I requested it.”

A chill raced up my neck. “Why would you do that?”

“I don’t know. I just did. I said the words before I thought about them.”

“Are you still in love with her, Ennis?”

“It’s only been a little over three months. I’ve tried getting over her. Tried telling myself that she left me. That leaving her home was more important than I was. I can’t fault her. The Peace Corps is amazing. But she never once mentioned the thought to me. I’ve always thought it strange that she just left without saying anything to anyone. Especially not to me or to you. So when I had the dream, I couldn’t help but be freaked out by it.”

“It was just a dream, Ennis.” Easy for me to say. I didn’t buy the words for a minute.

“I know that, love. But haven’t you ever had a dream that spoke to you? That felt so damned real you could almost feel it?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I have, actually.”

“Then you know what I mean.”

Unfortunately, I did. “What do you plan to do while you’re here?”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t thought it out yet. I just knew, after that dream, that I had to come.”

“I’m on my way back to the ranch now. You won’t believe how big Jonah is. You should come and stay for dinner.”

“I was going to call you this afternoon,” he said. “Running into you is so much better. I was hoping…”

“Hoping what?”

“That Brad might be able to help. I want to hire a private investigator. I’m just not sure Patty’s actually in Africa.”

“Ennis, you know I adore you, and I know you adored Patty, but her parents corroborated the story, remember?”

He nodded. “Of course I remember. I just have this eerie feeling. I swear, if a PI tells me she’s definitely in Africa, I’ll call it all off.”

Poor Ennis. He was still dealing with heartbreak. “Come for dinner at six, okay? Or you can come home with me now.”

“I’ll be there at six,” he said. “I’ve rented a car, so I have my own transport.”

“All right. See you then. Belinda’s making jambon farci tonight. It’s delicious.”

“Jambon? Isn’t that ham?”

“Yup.”

“You blokes actually eat something other than beef?” He smiled. It was clearly forced, but at least it was a smile.

“When it’s humanely raised, yes, we do. See you tonight.” I waved and walked toward the car.

I was feeling better already. Ennis was here. I had a friend again.

Chapter Nineteen

Brad

After calling my best investigation firm to put a twenty-four-hour tail on Wendy, I drove to the outer edge of the Steel land.

My father waited for me in the old barn where I’d seen Patty’s body. The corpse had long since been moved and cremated and the barn cleaned and sanitized.

This was where my father and I routinely met when necessary. And necessary was on his terms, not mine.

This was only the second time I’d met him here since I came out to find Patty’s body.

I didn’t know where my father was holed up. He wouldn’t tell me. He wouldn’t give me a number to reach him either. He said the less I knew the better. Though he was no doubt right, it still irked me that I had to wait for him to contact me.

He’d done so this morning, with instructions to meet him here.

Either I was early or he was late. I looked at my watch. I was early. I glanced around the barn, long since abandoned.