by Dana Mentink
Mara nodded her agreement.
Jude continued. “If she’s bent on staying close, I’d say she’s safer on the ranch with you, Levi, and that annoying mountain of a dog you’ve taken in. He still doesn’t trust me, even though I gave him part of my cheeseburger last time. Plus you’ve got Austin, Beckett and Willow close by, and they know the ins and outs of Furnace Falls. Lots of eyes, and all three are excellent shots, I might add.”
He made one more attempt. “Your parents will want you close to them here in Las Vegas.” Even as he said it, he realized the flaw. If Mara was a target, that would make her mom and dad vulnerable also. What else could he say? He was sorting through ideas when Mara stopped him by grasping his wrist. Her fingers were dainty and cool, so soft compared to his calloused, leathery paws.
“Levi, I appreciate your concern, but the fact is everyone I love is here.” Tears appeared in her eyes. Her voice broke on the last word. “I promise I won’t be stupid and put myself in risky situations. I’m smart, and I’m not reckless.” She paused again as if to gather herself. “The only way I can help Seth is to help you, so that’s what I am going to do.”
Jude cleared his throat tactfully. “I’ve got a phone conference with the Las Vegas PD right now. Talk to you both later.” He disconnected.
Levi hung around as long as he could. The guard was installed, and the police were keeping close tabs on Mara, but he found it was hard to leave.
Finally, she made the decision for him. “Thank you for being here, Levi, but there’s no need for you to stay. My parents will drop me at your ranch tomorrow when I’m released.”
He felt the sting of it in Mara’s words as he said goodbye to her at the hospital. She didn’t quite look at him, her gaze roving over the blankets. Your ranch. The slight emphasis on the your told him exactly what she thought of the Rocking Horse, which rankled him. It was their ranch, his and Seth’s. And yeah, it wasn’t the slickest property, and there were scant amenities, but it was so much more than the sum total of its dusty acres. Aside from the barn and horse shelters, there were precisely two structures on the property, the main house and the small cabin with a scant hundred fifty feet of dusty land between them. Mara would probably despise it.
Ease up, Levi. Consider what she’s just gone through. She’d almost been killed, and her brother might very well not make it. She could identify the would-be assassin, and that might put her life in continued danger. Plenty of stress to go around. And anyway, they both wanted the same thing...for Seth to survive and for the ranch to succeed. God willing, the two things would come to pass.
The landscape morphed into the softly undulating foothills, not the drab brown that people expected, but tones of silver, bronze, gold and burnt orange. Every now and again, a vein of rich green was evident, colored by the decomposition of the mica in the rock, a taste of what visitors flocked to see in Artist’s Palette in Death Valley. To his mind, this spot on the globe was blessed with beauty beyond measure—it was just a different kind of beauty than other, less severe landscapes. Still he couldn’t help feeling trepidatious about Mara’s reaction to the accommodations at the Rocking Horse. It was one thing for Seth to bunk in the old cabin which until recently had been filled with damaged saddles and unused blankets. His own siblings wouldn’t stay in such accommodations. Willow rented a house in town, and Austin lived in an apartment above his carpentry shop. Levi lived alone on the ranch, and the amenities seemed sufficient. With Mara staying there...well, that was a horse of a different color altogether.
As he pulled onto the drive that led to Rocking Horse Ranch, he waited for the peace to overtake him. The long stretched-out driveway seemed to beckon him. The horses were meandering contentedly, their water trough full, thanks to Austin, enjoying the milder afternoon sun. Banjo appeared, ears stiff and posture tense, barking up a storm. Levi idled the engine and cranked down the passenger window.
“It’s me, ’Jo. Remember?”
Banjo stopped in midbark, and then with a single bound, he vaulted through the open window into the passenger seat and set about slavering every square inch of Levi that he could reach.
“All right,” Levi said, pushing away the dangling tongue. “I got it. You were just doing your job.” Banjo would be a formidable opponent to anyone sneaking onto the property to harm Mara. “Good boy. You are the newly appointed head of ranch security.”
Banjo seemed pleased with his new accolade. He escorted Levi around the property, checking on the horses, especially Fancy, a senior citizen whose eye problem was responding well to treatment. Tomorrow he would empty the trough and refill it with clean, fresh water. Hydration was ultra-important in the ferocious Death Valley climate, even in the cooler months. They continued the endless round of chores interrupted by repeated calls to the hospital until he was assured Mara was resting safely. His query to Jude met with the information that the LVPD was reviewing the video footage, but the man had been masked so identification would be tricky. Thoughts chased each other around his skull until he tumbled into bed.
The next afternoon just after one, his sister Willow drove up as he was heading to the cabin for a bottle of water and a snack. Her hair glinted in the sunlight like the palest fall leaves, a tamer shade of his own rusty red. She greeted Banjo who, Levi noticed, had only barked twice before he applied his tongue greeting. Women were okay in his doggy brain. She waved with one hand, the other holding a box balanced on her hip. She squeezed Levi in a hug.
“How’s Mara?”
“I called again this morning. Quiet night. No problems.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” she demanded, getting right to the point, as usual. “Should Mara be coming here if she’s in danger?”
“No, but I don’t think anything short of a platoon of Marines is going to stop her.”
Willow cocked her head in that birdlike way. “Really? She was always so quiet in high school.”
Still waters, he thought. “She’s not a kid anymore.” Something about that statement made his stomach tighten. She was no longer the object of his teen infatuation. Nothing little girl about Mara Castillo. They weren’t friends...and not exactly enemies. Not romantically connected, for sure. And he didn’t think they qualified as partners in business. Or maybe they did. He felt stymied and uncertain.
Willow did not appear to notice his discomfiture as they opened the door of the stifling cabin where Mara would stay. “I cleared off the cot when you called last night, and put fresh linens on it. It didn’t help much. It would be better if she stayed in your room at the main house and you bunked here. Your digs aren’t much better, but you have paint on the walls, even if it is an ugly shade of beige.”
“That’s exactly what I thought, but that’s another argument I lost.” He gazed at the miniscule cabin. At least the roof was sound: he’d fixed that up last winter, and the plumbing worked to supply the tiny bathroom. There was no way to fix the warped wood floor or even to paint the dingy interior before she arrived. He’d have to get a minifridge so she could at least have access to cold bottled water and maybe bring in a little table. It was definitely not the place for a lady. His mother would concur.
Willow offered the box. “Here’s the portable air conditioner you asked me to buy for you. You owe me forty-two dollars.”
He sighed. Forty-two dollars that should have gone toward fence repairs. Disregarding the instructions, he put the unit on the floor and fiddled with it until he got it working. “Maybe I can get a rug or something. At least put up some curtains and—”
“Umm... I don’t think there’s time for that,” Willow said, inclining her head in the direction of the window. “Look.”
Banjo started up a clamor about the approaching vehicle. Levi gaped at the sight. Jude drove his police car, and Mara sat in the passenger seat.
“How could she be here already?” he said. “The doctors let her go?”
&nb
sp; “Maybe she got that platoon of Marines to help convince them.” Willow poked his arm, and he realized he was standing there with his mouth open, while Banjo circled the squad car.
Ready or not, his new ranch resident had arrived.
* * *
Mara watched the big dog approach Jude on high alert. Jude stayed still until the dog had got a good sniff, tossed him a biscuit and then opened the door for Mara. In a matter of moments, Banjo had approved both Jude and Mara. She put down her bag and crouched with a twinge of pain to rub the dog’s ears, fingering the tattered one. “Hello, you handsome animal. You’re thin, very thin.”
“We’re working on that. His name’s Banjo,” Levi said. “How is Seth?”
“No change for worse, or for better. I left after visiting hours, and Jude was there so he offered me a ride.”
“I left a message on your phone telling you we were en route,” Jude said.
“Sorry, I lose track when I’m taking care of the horses. Any progress?”
Jude rolled his shoulders, stretching his tall frame. “So far we haven’t found any witnesses to the shooting or the hospital attack except the janitor. He’s real nearsighted, so I don’t think that’s going to go anywhere.”
“So where does that leave the investigation?”
Jude’s radio crackled, and he quieted it with a twist of a knob. “Still looking at the crime scene here in town. There are no prints on the spent cartridges, so we don’t have anywhere to go with it at the moment. Hank’s niece down the road a piece said she saw a motorcycle headed out of the valley. The driver may or may not have matched the description Mara provided.”
“I’m still not convinced she’ll be safe here,” Levi said.
Mara straightened. “Don’t talk as if I’m not here. We’ve been through this. Until my brother is okay to be transferred, I’m not leaving, and neither are my parents.”
“This is the best option at the moment,” Jude said, eyeing Banjo who was sitting with tail wagging as if he was involved in the discussion. “Keep it quiet that she’s staying on the ranch. I’ll have an officer drive the area twice a day just to be sure, but it’s easy to spot a stranger here, and since she’s insisting on helping out with the ranch—”
“But—” Levi said.
“Insisting,” Mara said firmly. “I’m subbing in just to get through the Camp Town Days. It’s the only way to save this place.”
Levi’s sharpened look told her she’d not been wise in using the phrase this place. She would have to work harder to keep her emotions in check. There was nothing to be gained by being at loggerheads when they were trying to save the ranch her brother had staked his future on.
Willow checked her phone. “Gotta go. I’m taking some publicity pictures.” She gave Mara a curt nod. Was it Mara’s imagination, or was there a brusque quality to Willow’s voice? She was protective of her brother, no doubt. That they had in common. “Talk to you later, Levi,” she said more warmly.
“I’ll be leaving, too,” said Jude. “Text me anytime.” He handed Mara’s bag to Levi. Jude followed Willow down the long drive.
Mara swallowed back a swell of nerves at being left alone on a dilapidated ranch with Levi Duke. Just for a few weeks, for Seth.
Levi opened the door of the cabin for Mara. “I’m sorry, it’s not much. I really think you’d be more comfortable in the main house. I...”
Mara walked past him and took it all in, the tiny room, the sliver of a bathroom, piled boxes in the corner, the one and only picture on the wall, a black-and-white photo with a crooked frame showing the ranch in earlier days. It was hot and stuffy. Sweat prickled her neck. “It’s completely fine.”
“I’ll hook up the air conditioner, but really, I—”
She turned. “Levi, quit fussing. I don’t require much. I invited myself here, and I didn’t expect it to be the Ritz.” Her gaze raked the neatly made cot and hand-sewn quilt. “And for now, it makes me feel closer to my brother to be here.” An unexpected lump formed in her throat.
That stopped him from whatever he’d been about to say. He touched her shoulder, and she bowed her head, emotion rolling through her body like a storm across the desert.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am that this happened, Mara.”
She shuddered and then pulled away, reinserting the distance between them. “He’ll get better. In the meantime, I’m going to do what I can here.”
“You don’t have to. I can handle it.”
She straightened. “There’s a meeting tomorrow, if I’ve got the details correct. It’s a planning session to work out the details about the Rocking Horse’s participation in Camp Town Days, right?”
“Yes, along with the vendors and the mule-team relay. Lots of people will be there.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“Lots of people means that whoever took a shot at you could sneak in, too.”
“As Jude said, I’m as safe here as anywhere, and I don’t intend to go wandering around on my own. I’m stubborn, but I’m not stupid.”
“I know. I remember when you tried to help me with an algebra test.”
She’d had a suspicion back then that he hadn’t cared much about the outcome of the test, but he had enjoyed Mara’s tutoring instruction. He would bring a bunch of peaches pilfered from his mother’s fruit bowl as a study snack. Fruit had never tasted as delicious before or since.
“You should have gotten an A.”
He smiled. “Trust me. I was happy as a lark with the B.”
She laughed and for a moment, it lifted her spirits. “That was a long time ago.”
He fell silent for a moment. “Holler if you need anything,” he said heading out.
She watched him through the dust-covered window. How in the world were they going to save this ranch? And what if her decision to stay here would mean the bearded man would find her?
Courage, Mara. This is for the best.
Wasn’t it?
* * *
Levi was surprised to find Jude still on the property. He was leaning on the bumper of his car, boots crossed at the ankle. Levi recognized the look. He had something to say.
“It’s just you and me. Do you really think she’s safe in Furnace Falls?” Levi asked.
Jude was slow to answer. “Tolerably.” When he started to object, Jude raised a palm. “You’re not going to persuade her to leave. Everyone she loves is close—brother, parents. She’s not the kind of lady to walk away from that for her own self-preservation. Not a coward. And you’ll have eyes on her, Levi.”
“My eyes didn’t keep Seth from getting shot.”
A moment of silence crept up between them until Jude spoke. “You told me you thought your accident months ago was meant to kill Mara. Still think so?”
“Yes. I was driving Mara’s car, and I’m more and more certain that someone checked out the wreck and left me there, realizing they’d got the wrong driver.” He paused and told Jude about the postcard Mara had received about that same time.
A vulture winged across the gold of the late-afternoon sky, and both of them watched it go.
“Keep your rifle handy,” Jude said. “Beckett is alerted, and your brother will notice anyone asking around about Mara. Willow, too. Good thing about her staying here is we have allies all over this town.”
Levi didn’t point out that there hadn’t been much help for Beckett when his wife was being terrorized. Then again, until recently, the townsfolk had believed Beckett was a serial killer. “So you aren’t convinced the bearded guy has taken off?”
Jude shrugged. “This doesn’t smell right. I believe what I said earlier. I think she’s safer here with your eyes on her than in a hotel somewhere. Could be I’m on the wrong track entirely, but I feel better knowing you’re gonna be watching out for her...if she’ll let you,” he added with a wry grin.
As Jude drove away, Levi went to load his rifle. He didn’t need to ask Mara’s permission. He was going to look out for her whether or not she wanted him to.
“I promise, Seth. She’ll be safe.”
FIVE
Mara put the bag on the wooden chest of drawers. She had to force the top one open to install her meager belongings so she left it a tiny bit ajar in case it got stuck again. Not much to unpack. All she had was a change of clothes and toiletries for one night. The memory of that bullet fracturing the window, of Seth’s soft cry, made her dizzy. An overwhelming sense of panic began to ripple up her spine. She sat on the cot to catch her breath. Her wrist and shoulders ached, and she longed for a leisurely soak. There was no tub in the bathroom, only a cramped shower behind a new curtain printed with audacious orange poppies.
She smiled. One of the quick additions Levi had asked Willow to provide, probably. Had she been too pushy demanding to stay here? Was it even wise to be living alone on the ranch with only Levi for company in the ramshackle main house? But it was the only thing she could do for her brother, her only living sibling and best friend.
She squirmed into the wee shower and let the tepid water rinse her troubled thoughts away. Putting on clean clothes lifted her spirits. She pulled her wet hair off her face with a hairband and grabbed her phone. There were no new updates on Seth.
Lord, please... Tears choked off the rest of the prayer.
It was barely six, and she longed to take a walk, to explore this run-down property that Seth had sunk every last penny into. It wouldn’t be smart to do any solo walking. She opened her laptop, which had fortunately survived the crash, to read up on the details of Camp Town Days. It was indeed the largest organized event in Death Valley. The hotels would be full, and guests would enjoy a number of amenities from tours of the Salt Flats and the Borax mine to moonlight chuck-wagon feasts and even jeep tours. Somehow during her time in Furnace Falls, she had never experienced Camp Town Days, thanks to her father’s aversion to crowds and the fact that they traveled every November to visit their grandparents for Thanksgiving. She was impressed by the level of planning and forethought that had obviously gone into the event. Still, she thought with a sigh, one megafestival wasn’t going to be enough to drag the ranch into profitability. She wasn’t sure anything would be enough, but she was determined that when Seth woke up, the ranch’s situation would have at least improved.
