Colton rubbed the back of his neck. His hair was longer than shed ever seen it, but back in junior high, his father had taken clippers to all six of the boys, giving them buzz cuts. That was probably why she hadnt remembered the color, a combination of ripe wheat and sunshine that brought out the gold flecks in his blue eyes.
She felt that old quiver inside as her gaze me his. Colton Chisholm had been adorable in grade school.
It shouldnt have surprised her that hed grown into a drop-dead good-looking man.
He reached into his jean jacket pocket and brought out a worse-for-wear looking, age-yellowed envelope. He held it as if not wanting to relinquish the letter to her, then finally handed it over.
Halley noted the postmark and the return address before opening the envelope. She quickly read what Jessica had written on the single sheet inside. The writing was young,
girlish. She remembered Jessica Granger only too well. Jessica had been one of those annoyingly silly, all-girl girls while Halley had been a daredevil, tree-climbing, ball-throwing, horse-riding tomboy.
The letter, she noted, had been mailed fourteen years agoonly a few years after Halley had left Whitehorse brokenhearted because of Colton Chisholm.
Her gaze slid up to his again. He looked damn uncomfortable. Guilt? What was it she had to tell you?
He shook his head. I didnt get the letter until today.
Youre saying you didnt meet her that night?
No. How could I since I never got the letter? He sounded both angry and upset and she could see that he was more than a little shaken by this. He turned to get a United States Postal Department manila envelope from the pickup cab. He thrust it at her. You can check with Albert if you dont believe me.
Halley wasnt sure what she believed. She was having a hard time separating the boy hed been from the man standing before her. As a boy, hed been too cute for his own good. Now he had a rough, sexy look about him that was enhanced by what was clearly a strong, worked-hard, ranch body.
She was sure women found him irresistible and wondered how many hearts hed broken. It made her think of her own fragile, small one that had taken a beating all those years ago because of him.
Jessica didnt phone you when you didnt show up? Didnt try to contact you?
His golden gaze met hers and held it. I never saw her again. I was told that she left town, just like she said she was going to do in the letter. I tried to find out where shed gone, but He wagged his head and looked down at the toes of his Western boots. Her family wouldnt tell me anything. Her dad didnt like me.
Imagine that. You have a fight?
He looked away toward the foothills, his face filled with a pain that could have been guilt. Or she supposed it was possible hed really cared about this girl. It amazed her that the thought could still hurt.
It was just a stupid disagreement, he said finally.
Over ?
Nothing, just dumb high school stuff.
He was lying. Halley wondered what the fight had been about and whom he was trying to protect. Jessica Granger? Or himself? Jessica had said in the letter she wanted to tell him something that night.
Would you have gone away with her?
He swung his gaze back to her as if surprised by the question. I was in love with her. I would have done anything she asked.
Halley nodded, unable to hide her surprise by his impassioned responseor her quick flash of jealousy. Thered been a time she would have given anything to have the boy Colton had been feel that way about her.
Why do I get the feeling there is a whole lot more to this? Maybe she just wanted to believe it because this was Colton Chisholm she was dealing with.
He didnt answer. The look he gave her said he feared she was incapable of believing anything he told her. He could be right about that. Clearly, she wasnt the only one who remembered their history. Call it puppy love, kid stuff, whatever, those old hurts lasted a lifetime.
Why a letter? Why didnt she just call you and ask you to meet her?
Colton hung his head, studying his boot toes again. I dont know. Maybe her father wouldnt let her call.
Or maybe she thought you wouldnt take her call.
He shot her an angry look. We had an argument. Her dad didnt want her seeing me. It was complicated. None of that has anything to do with anything.
Halley lifted a brow, unconvinced.
Look, I dont care what you think about me, I just need to know what happened to her.
What do you think happened to her?
Colton shifted, anger making his broad shoulders appear even broader. He looked ready to take her on, just as he had when they were kids. Except that he appeared to have already been in a fight. He was favoring his ribs and there was discoloration around one of his eyes. This time it hadnt been some skinny, spunky tomboy in the school yard whod given him the shiner, though, she suspected.
Lets cut to the chase, he said, a muscle tightening in his jaw. Jessica wouldnt have left without her purse that night.
So you think shes still out there, Halley said and felt a chill snake up her spine. I think youd better show me this secret place of yours and Im going to have to keep this letterat least until we get this cleared up.