Brady Remington Landed Me in Jail

"Grandpa did tell me to make memories today."

Deputy Doug smothered a chuckle as peeked through the blinds. "No lawyer's showed up yet. I'm in a pickle of what to do with you."

"I thought you were going to arrest me."

He scoffed, "I should throw you in jail, but I can't arrest Viola Janke's granddaughter. When it comes down to it, I'm more scared of her than Frank Stephens. We all know a poker can take him down, but your grandmomma…I don't think a buckshot would graze her."

"Then why am I here?"

"Because I want Judge Bailor to sweat bullets with me. He's more scared of Viola than me. I don't want just my head on the chopping block."

"When is he getting here?"

Deputy Dog sat down and sighed, "Hells if I know. He went golfing. It might take him hours to sober up."

"Can I talk to Brady? Can't he come back here if you're not arresting me?"

Deputy Doug scratched his head and nodded jerkily. "Sure. What's it to me to keep you two apart?" He moved around the desk and opened his office door. "Brady. Get your bee-hinder back here."

A moment later, Brady sauntered through the door and flashed a grin. "Couldn't bear to be apart from me, Dougie?"

He got a snort in response. "Just don't get all hanky panky on the desk. Viola or not, I will arrest you both."

"Deputy Dog, you know how I feel about challenges," Brady taunted. When he sat the chair next to me, his thigh brushed against mine. "I'd say put the handcuffs on her, but you did say no hanky panky. I wouldn't want to be tempted."

"You're funny, Brady. You're a funny guy." Deputy Doug rolled his eyes before he gave us a stern glare as he exited the office.

When the door was closed, Brady turned to assess me. All laughter faded. He sighed instead and took my hand in his. "It'll be fine, Rayray. Trust me. How many times have I been where you're sitting?"

"I'm not you." I entwined our fingers and held on tight.

"No, you're prettier."

"I mean it." I wasn't smooth or sophisticated. I wasn't what Brady could be at his choosing. He got people to listen to him, strangers even. They followed him, did what he said to do. I didn't have those qualities. I was plain, boring, and sheltered. "I've never done something like this, Brady. I don't know what to do. I don't know what's going to happen to me. I don't know if this'll hurt my future. I don't know what to feel right now except that I'm scared and a little…content."

His eyebrows shot up. "You're content? To be a criminal?"

"No, not that. I'm scared about that, but I'm content about…I don't know, maybe like I was standing up for myself."

"Because you were being hurt by him?"

I wiped a tear away. I was sick of crying.

"What was he saying that was hurting you?"

Could I tell him? He already knew the rumours about my mother, but he didn't know the truth so I shook my head. "I can't explain it. He just said a bunch of stuff about my mom. And he said stuff about how she never wanted me, that I'm a burden to Viola and Neil."

Brady hissed and flexed his knuckles. "It's a good thing you laid him out. You're right, if you hadn't, I would've. No one should say that stuff to anyone, even if it's true. No one should hear that."

I heard an inflection in his voice. Had someone spoken those same words to him? I was about to ask when he suddenly exclaimed, "Wait a minute. Why was your mom at Frank Stephens' house? How does your mom even know him?"

Um.

I had not foreseen this.

"She was there because of my grandmother. You know Frank Stephens hates her." My soul was going to hell.

Disgust flared across Brady's face for a second. It was gone just as quickly, but he stared at me. Then he stared some more at me. No word was spoken from him.

I heard the clock ticking behind us. It was loud, too loud. And I couldn't take the silence anymore, especially from him. "Say something."

"You just lied to me. Why did you lie to me?"

"I…" I had nothing. I wasn't quick on my feet.

"Don't lie to me again, Rayna. Why was your mother there?"

I couldn't look away from his eyes. They were so clear and demanding. It was almost as if this moment was a make-or-break moment. I didn't know what to say so I opened my mouth and uttered, faltering, "I…I…I don't know. He wouldn't tell me."

Brady's eyes snapped shut for a second and then he cursed underneath his breath. At the same time, he shoved his chair back and stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to find out some answers once and for all."

"Wait! Where are you going?" My heart was beating so loudly, I almost didn't hear his response.

As the door closed behind him, I heard him say, "I'm going to see my father."

It took a moment before I realized what he'd just said. Panic slammed inside of me and then I shot to the door. The doorknob was locked so I tried to unlock it from my side. When it wouldn't budge, I pounded on the door. "Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Brady knew.