certificate.” She handled the paper like it was made of fragile glass. “You…he sent me papers to be notarized in my country of my identity and I mailed them to him. He sent me this certificate as proof so I could be admitted to your country, married to an American citizen.” Lucia crumpled in front of him. “I’m going to have to go home. I have made enemies…” She began to cry.
Rogue stood, lifting her up. “Don’t cry. We’ll figure this out, I promise. And until then, I’ll make damn sure Zane finds a way to keep you in the country.”
* * *
Kit checked her phone. Rogue’s name showed up in missed calls. She hadn’t answered. At the time she’d been moving her horses to the barn, having left her phone in the truck. Whether or not she would’ve answered, Kit didn’t know. As she worked, she’d spent time thinking. Like a movie reel she’d replayed her time with Rogue. She closed her eyes and recalled their wedding, the times they’d made love. If she hugged herself, she could remember his arms around her, his lips on hers.
Shutting the barn door, Kit resolved to go talk to him. Surely this was all a mistake. Her love for him was stronger than her doubt.
Hurrying back into the house, she grabbed the note from the pillow, wadded it up and threw it into the trash.
Rogue Walker was worth fighting for.
Back at Osprey House… Marliss brought everyone a piece of Rogue’s favorite chocolate pie. “Here, this will make everything easier.”
Rogue knew she was right. He got up to hug her. “Thanks, Marliss. Could you wrap up Kit a piece for me to take her when we’re through?”
“You’ve got it, baby.” She shuffled around and picked up empty dishes, bringing in fresh ones. While she was working, Lucia walked up to whisper in her ear. Marliss listened, then hugged her. “Come with me, I’ll show you where it is.”
Rogue realized he was a poor host, the woman had needed to use the restroom and didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask him. Zane’s phone rang and he walked to the window to answer it. Elijah took the opportunity to come sit by Rogue. “Hey, this is crazy, isn’t it?”
“Yea, it is. And I still don’t know what the hell is going on.” Rogue admitted. “What happened that caused you and Zane to fly up?” He hadn’t had a chance to get an answer.
Elijah looked at Zane. “Well, he’s the expert. But I got a phone call from one of the banks day before yesterday. Somebody’s taken out several loans in your name.” Even though Rogue’s eyes widened and his face blanched white, Elijah kept talking. “They couldn’t touch Lone Wolf, but your ranch is up as collateral. The loans are huge and short term. When the bank VP called the office to talk to you about them, I got suspicious and called you. I finally found out you were out of the country, so I called Zane.”
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Rogue slouched in his chair. “I’m the victim of damn identity theft.” The reality coalesced in his mind.
“Well…” Elijah dragged out the word. “It can’t be that simple, not if you consider Lucia.”
“You’re saying I’m being specifically targeted.” Rogue spoke up.
Zane spoke from behind them, having apparently heard the bulk of their conversation. “Yes, I think this is personal and I’m not sure it’s over. I can’t prove it yet, but I have a feeling the same person that fucked up your finances, tied you in the bonds of unholy matrimony.”
The ramifications were baffling. “Is it binding?”
“We’ll get it nullified at the County Clerk’s Office, but we’ll have to find the notaries and also provide enough information to convince the court that you’re you and…he’s not.”
“Surely that won’t be hard to do,” Rogue stated. “I hope we can keep this quiet. I don’t want it to get out in Red Creek and I’d rather my brothers didn’t know anything about it.” He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head. “I’ll have
Rogue stood, lifting her up. “Don’t cry. We’ll figure this out, I promise. And until then, I’ll make damn sure Zane finds a way to keep you in the country.”
* * *
Kit checked her phone. Rogue’s name showed up in missed calls. She hadn’t answered. At the time she’d been moving her horses to the barn, having left her phone in the truck. Whether or not she would’ve answered, Kit didn’t know. As she worked, she’d spent time thinking. Like a movie reel she’d replayed her time with Rogue. She closed her eyes and recalled their wedding, the times they’d made love. If she hugged herself, she could remember his arms around her, his lips on hers.
Shutting the barn door, Kit resolved to go talk to him. Surely this was all a mistake. Her love for him was stronger than her doubt.
Hurrying back into the house, she grabbed the note from the pillow, wadded it up and threw it into the trash.
Rogue Walker was worth fighting for.
Back at Osprey House… Marliss brought everyone a piece of Rogue’s favorite chocolate pie. “Here, this will make everything easier.”
Rogue knew she was right. He got up to hug her. “Thanks, Marliss. Could you wrap up Kit a piece for me to take her when we’re through?”
“You’ve got it, baby.” She shuffled around and picked up empty dishes, bringing in fresh ones. While she was working, Lucia walked up to whisper in her ear. Marliss listened, then hugged her. “Come with me, I’ll show you where it is.”
Rogue realized he was a poor host, the woman had needed to use the restroom and didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask him. Zane’s phone rang and he walked to the window to answer it. Elijah took the opportunity to come sit by Rogue. “Hey, this is crazy, isn’t it?”
“Yea, it is. And I still don’t know what the hell is going on.” Rogue admitted. “What happened that caused you and Zane to fly up?” He hadn’t had a chance to get an answer.
Elijah looked at Zane. “Well, he’s the expert. But I got a phone call from one of the banks day before yesterday. Somebody’s taken out several loans in your name.” Even though Rogue’s eyes widened and his face blanched white, Elijah kept talking. “They couldn’t touch Lone Wolf, but your ranch is up as collateral. The loans are huge and short term. When the bank VP called the office to talk to you about them, I got suspicious and called you. I finally found out you were out of the country, so I called Zane.”
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Rogue slouched in his chair. “I’m the victim of damn identity theft.” The reality coalesced in his mind.
“Well…” Elijah dragged out the word. “It can’t be that simple, not if you consider Lucia.”
“You’re saying I’m being specifically targeted.” Rogue spoke up.
Zane spoke from behind them, having apparently heard the bulk of their conversation. “Yes, I think this is personal and I’m not sure it’s over. I can’t prove it yet, but I have a feeling the same person that fucked up your finances, tied you in the bonds of unholy matrimony.”
The ramifications were baffling. “Is it binding?”
“We’ll get it nullified at the County Clerk’s Office, but we’ll have to find the notaries and also provide enough information to convince the court that you’re you and…he’s not.”
“Surely that won’t be hard to do,” Rogue stated. “I hope we can keep this quiet. I don’t want it to get out in Red Creek and I’d rather my brothers didn’t know anything about it.” He rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head. “I’ll have
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