by Elle James
Even though she’d said she wasn’t what he needed, she still wished she could be. But the thought of getting naked and climbing into bed with Viper scared her more than she would admit. What if he was turned off by her stump? How would she feel?
What did her concern matter? She wasn’t getting naked with Viper. He was her partner, not her lover.
Around three a.m. Dallas finally fell into a fitful sleep. When she woke, the sun was halfway up in the sky. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and flew out of bed. Ten-thirty? Holy hell. How had she slept so long? Why hadn’t anyone roused her? She had work to do.
After dressing in jeans, boots and a T-shirt, she hurried toward the kitchen. As she passed Viper’s room, she glanced in—empty and the bed was neatly made. Damn, she’d missed him.
Cookie had left a note on the counter.
Sleeping Beauty, should you wake, your breakfast is in the refrigerator. I’ve gone to Bozeman for supplies.
Dallas skipped the cold scrambled eggs and cut some thick slices of ham to make a sandwich. She wrapped it in a sandwich bag and headed for the barn.
Gavin and Percy were nowhere to be found.
Franklin and Vasquez worked together in one of the stalls, mucking the soiled hay into a wheelbarrow.
“Where is everyone?” Dallas asked.
“Blackstock and Pearson headed to Bear Creek Ranch to help lay the floor in the barn for dancing.”
“I thought you two were going with Cookie to get supplies?” Dallas said.
Franklin pitched a forkful of hay into the wheelbarrow. “We decided to stay and work on the chores.”
Vasquez winked. “They won’t get done by themselves.”
“And if you’re looking for Viper,” Young said from behind her, “he left an hour ago and said to tell you he’d be back at lunchtime.”
She glanced around at the interior of the barn. “What’s left of the chores?”
“Not a damned thing. We’re considering going into Eagle Rock to the diner for lunch.” Franklin grinned. “Wanna come?”
Dallas smiled. “Thanks, but no. I packed my lunch. I thought I’d take Little Joe out for a ride.”
“Good, he could use some exercise,” Vasquez said. “Young’s been feeding him too many sugar cubes.”
“Shut it, Vasquez. So, Little Joe has a sweet tooth. What’re a few going to hurt him?”
Vasquez set aside his pitchfork. “You want one of us to go with you?”
“Thanks, but I’d like some time alone.” Dallas appreciated that the men cared enough to offer to accompany her. But she needed time to think and sort through her growing feelings for Viper.
While the men flung good-natured insults, Dallas caught Little Joe, saddled him and slipped a bridle over his head. Wanting to get away on her own, Dallas hurried on the off-chance Viper returned early.
Less than fifteen minutes later, she rode out into the pasture, heading toward the Crazy Mountains. The sun beat down, making her hot. After several cooler days, she was ready to ride, sweat and soak up the rays. Summer didn’t last long in the mountains.
Dallas took off at a gallop, letting the warm, late summer air blow the cobwebs out of her mind and clear her thoughts. Eventually, Little Joe settled into a smooth trot and then a steady walk as he climbed into the hills.
She didn’t stop until they’d reached a stream. Dallas dismounted and walked along the banks, leading Little Joe by the reins and letting him stop to drink when he wanted.
When she reached what Hannah had called the fairy pools, she looped Little Joe’s reins over a low-hanging branch and sat on a rocky ledge near the water’s edge.
Hot, sweaty and alone with her thoughts, she tried to expel the ones of Viper and how being kissed by such a handsome man felt. How she wished he was there, kissing her again.
The sun found her on the rock, baking her body until the cool, clear water called. With most of the guys in Eagle Rock and nobody around, she figured, what the hell?
She yanked her top over her head, slipped out of her boots and jeans and unstrapped her prosthetic. Down to her bra and panties, she debated whether to keep them on as a kind of bikini, but she nixed that idea and slipped out of them, too. Then she scooted to the edge of the rock and slid into the stream, gloriously naked and loving how cool and refreshing the water was when it enveloped her.
While swimming, she didn’t have the added weight of her fake leg. She floated in the dappled shade, finding an occasional patch of sunlight to warm her skin.
Her therapist had been right. Brighter Days Ranch had been exactly what she needed. She hadn’t felt this relaxed since she’d been medically released from the Army.
Here in the pool, no was judging her, no one could see her deformity. The trees, shadows and sunshine didn’t care if she had one or two legs. The water wrapped around her like she belonged.
Dallas swam until she tired and then turned onto her back, closed her eyes and floated. The only thing that could make the day better was if Viper was in the water with her.
* * *
Viper had peeked into Dallas’s room earlier that morning to see if she’d risen before him and headed out to do chores early.
When he’d seen she was still sleeping, he smiled, closed the door, grabbed a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. He left the house and the ranch, heading into town to find Tim Fuller. Hank had provided the address while he’d been trying on tuxedoes in a men’s store around the corner from the bridal shop.
Fuller lived in the apartment above the warehouse where he stored the tables and chairs he rented to local groups for weddings, funerals, revivals and other gatherings. The warehouse sat on the northern end of Eagle Rock next to an auto repair shop with cars and trucks crowded into a tight fenced space.
As Viper pulled up to the warehouse, a man waved from the front of the auto repair shop.
Viper parked the truck and glanced at the Fuller’s Party Rental building. The door stood open but no movement was evident inside.
The man at the auto repair shop started toward him. He wore faded blue jeans and had tattoos from his wrists all the way up his arms into the sleeves of his T-shirt advertising a name brand of motorcycles. The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, his dark, shaggy hair having a hint of gray at the temples. He stuck out an oil-stained hand. “Rusty Benton.”
Viper took the man’s hand and shook it. “Vince Van Cleave.”
“Looking for Tim?” Rusty asked.
“Yes, sir,” Viper said. “Know where I can find him?”
The man smirked. “He’s in the office of the warehouse, where he’s been sleeping since his wife kicked him out.”
Not wanting to discuss another man’s business in front of a complete stranger, Viper gave the other man half a smile and turned toward the warehouse.
“You know, I wouldn’t go in there right now, if I were you,” Rusty said.
“Oh yeah,” Viper countered, glancing over his shoulder. “Why?”
Another grin followed. “He ain’t alone.”
About that time, Melissa Fuller emerged from the warehouse, adjusting her shirt inside the waistband of her slacks and calling back over her shoulder, “Don’t you forget to pick up milk and orange juice. I’ll be working late—”
A man Viper recognized as Tim stepped out into the sunshine, grabbed Melissa around the waist and pulled her back against his front, kissing her on the neck. “I won’t forget.”
She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Love you, babe.”
“Love you, too.” Tim kissed her full on the lips.
The couple seemed completely oblivious to their audience.
“Guess they’re back together,” Rusty commented.
Viper smiled. “Appears so.”
“I’ll be by later with lunch.” Tim swept a hand across Melissa’s tummy. “Gotta take care of my sweetie and our baby.”
“Umm. See you in a few.” Melissa cupped his cheek and kissed him again before tur
ning toward her car. At that point, she noticed the two men standing nearby. “Oh. Hello, Mr. Van Cleave.” Her cheeks bloomed with color. She gave a little wave of her hand, ducked into her car and drove away.
Tim rocked back on his heels, his fingers hooked in his belt loops, a smile spreading across his face. When he turned to Rusty and Viper, his smile widened. “She took me back.”
Rusty grinned and hurried over to Tim, reaching out to shake the man’s hand. “Glad to hear it. You two were meant to be together.”
“I think so. And apparently, Mel does, too.” He chuckled and shook his head. “And she’s pregnant with our kid.” He turned to his friend. “I’m going to be a daddy.”
Again, Rusty shook hands with Tim and clapped him on the back. “That’s great, man. So happy for you.”
Tim finally noticed Viper standing nearby. “Can I help you?”
Viper closed the distance between them and held out a hand. “Vince Van Cleave. I came by to discuss the table settings you were supposed to deliver to Bear Creek Ranch yesterday evening.”
Tim nodded. “You’re the groom, right?” He smiled, stepped forward and shook Viper’s hand. “Congratulations.” His smile faded. “Did you need more tables than Daisy requested?”
Viper shook his head. “No, but we found one in the middle of the highway last night. We nearly wrecked our SUV with six people inside. Had we been in anything smaller, the crash could have been fatal.”
Tim clapped a hand to the side of his face. “Holy shit.” He frowned. “I don’t know how that could have happened. Billy Joe and I delivered all of the tables I took with me yesterday, along with one-hundred and fifty chairs.”
“You weren’t short one table when you set up?” Viper asked.
Tim shook his head. “I had fifteen on my work order. I loaded fifteen and delivered fifteen. I would have noticed then if one was missing.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you sure the table was mine?”
Viper nodded. “Your company name and logo were printed on the underside of the table. It’s still lying on the side of the road where we moved it out of the way.” He gave Tim the general location.
“Let me check my inventory.” Tim disappeared into the warehouse, calling out over his shoulder, “You’re welcome to come inside. I have nothing to hide.”
Viper entered the warehouse, followed by Rusty.
Tim walked to a stack of rectangular tables similar to the one they’d run over the night before. He counted them once. Then he counted again. “I should have a total of fifty rectangular tables. Less the fifteen I delivered yesterday, there should be thirty-five here.” He looked up, frowning. “I only count thirty-four. But I know I only took fifteen with me.”
Viper crossed to the stack of tables and counted them for himself. He came up with thirty-four as well. “Do you keep the warehouse locked?” He studied the interior, noting the number of doors and windows.
He nodded. “Mel thinks I’m crazy for locking it, but I do. I spent too much of my hard-earned cash on buying all of this inventory.”
“Any sign of a break-in? Tampering of the locks on the doors?” Viper asked.
“You can come look for yourself,” Tim offered, leading the way first to the front door and then to the rear.
The locks were intact, with no signs of forced entry. “Who has keys?” Viper asked.
“Only me and Mel,” Tim said. He pulled his keys out of his pants pocket. “I keep mine in my pocket. Mel has hers locked in a safe in the bakery.”
“I have one,” Rusty said. “Tim gave me a copy once when he locked himself out. I keep it hanging on a hook in my office.”
“Who would steal a table and leave it out on the highway?” Tim scratched his head. “The action doesn’t make sense.”
“Teenage pranksters?” Rusty offered.
“Yeah, but why would they drop the table on the way to Bear Creek Ranch?” Viper asked.
“To make me look like I was careless.” Tim’s lips formed a straight line. “That table could have gotten someone killed. I would have been responsible.”
If Viper was at all superstitious, even he would think anything to do with weddings in the area was jinxed. But he wasn’t superstitious. Someone was sabotaging his wedding to Dallas. The circumstance was what he’d wanted in order to lure the saboteur out of hiding, but it still pissed him off.
Tim seemed genuinely concerned and upset that one of his tables might have hurt someone. Yeah, he had anger issues related to who his wife was seeing, but it didn’t mean he was out to hurt anyone else.
Viper considered himself a good judge of character. From what he’d observed of Tim, the man wouldn’t have deliberately left a table in the road. What would doing so have accomplished? Other than destroying his business.
“I’ll have to report the incident to the sheriff,” Viper said.
Tim’s jaw hardened. “I understand.”
“If you come up with a name or motivation someone might have for stealing one of your tables, will you let me know?” Viper asked. “I’d like to keep an eye open for whoever did this.”
“I will.” Tim shook Viper’s hand again. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll retrieve the table and dispose of it properly. I’ll change the locks on my building.”
Viper and Rusty left the warehouse.
“Nice meeting you, Vince. If you ever need any work done on your truck, I’d be happy to help. I give a discount to veterans. I served in the Army. I know what coming home is like.”
As Viper climbed into his truck, his gaze followed Rusty as he strode toward his shop.
A brown-haired young woman dressed in an oil-stained coverall exited the building and stopped to talk to Rusty before slipping into a full-sized pickup and driving away.
As she passed Viper, he remembered where he’d seen her. She was one of the waitresses at the diner where Daisy worked. He almost didn’t recognize her in the coverall. What was her name? Lisa?
Who was she to Rusty? Business partner? His girlfriend? She looked too young. Daughter? Too old. Sister?
Maybe.
Not that she had anything to do with the case, but she made Viper curious. He’d have Swede run a background check on Rusty and the employees of the diner. As small as Eagle Rock was, he was bound to run into the same people over and over. Her appearance might not mean anything, but then again, some connections meant everything. But was it only coincidence that Lisa was something to Rusty, the next-door neighbor to Tim Fuller’s warehouse? And Billy Joe, also from the diner, helped Tim deliver the tables and chairs. Had he loaded one extra onto the truck and conveniently knocked it off on the way?
As Viper pulled away from Fuller’s warehouse, he called Swede and gave him what little information he had gleaned, asking him to check on Lisa and Billy Joe, as well as Rusty.
Viper checked his watch. At half past ten, he figured Dallas would be up and mad that he’d left without telling her. He wouldn’t be surprised if she left the ranch on her own mission to solve the case without him. Much like he’d done by interviewing Tim without Dallas.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched in the numbers for Brighter Days and let it ring seven times before he ended the call.
Viper told himself that just because no one answered the phone, didn’t mean anything was wrong. Everyone on the ranch worked. They could be outside tending to fences and animals.
Once he cleared Eagle Rock city limits, he pressed the accelerator to the floor and raced down the highway back to Brighter Days. More specifically, to Dallas. The closer he came to the ranch, the more worried he became.
If someone was trying to ruin his and Dallas’s wedding and was willing to throw a table in the road the group would be driving down, what else might that person try to stop the wedding from happening?
Taz and Hannah had almost died in the crash on their wedding day.
Viper glanced at the clock on his dash. He’d been gone for almost two hours. Anything could have happ
ened to Dallas in those two hours.
As he bumped across the cattle guard at the Brighter Days Ranch gate, he tried to tell himself Dallas was okay. She could take care of herself. And she had other trained military men around her if she needed help.
Despite his self-coaching, Viper couldn’t help worrying. He skidded to a stop in the barnyard and leaped out of the truck.
“Hey, Viper. What’s wrong?” Young called out. He’d forgone the wheelchair, preferring to propel himself across the ground using his gloved hands and the denim-encased lower half of his body. The man was fast for someone with no legs.
“Nothing.” That he knew of. “Dallas around?”
Young shook his head and tipped it toward the pasture. “She took off an hour ago on horseback.”
“By herself?” Viper asked, fighting the panic entering his tone.
“Yup,” Young said. “Said Little Joe needed exercise.”
Viper didn’t wait for Young to finish speaking before he took off at a jog.
He was halfway to the barn when he heard Young say, “Take Blondie, the buckskin mare. She’s the fastest, and she’s been pacing since Little Joe left. Those two are inseparable. If you hope to find Dallas, let Blondie find Little Joe. She has a way of sniffing him out.”
“Thanks,” Viper called over his shoulder. He caught, saddled and bridled the mare and was out of the barn in less than five minutes.
Blondie danced sideways as Viper maneuvered through the gate and out into the pasture. Once he had the gate secured, he gave the mare her head. She shot off like a rocket, galloping across the fields, up over a rise and down into a valley.
Viper hoped the mare knew where she was going, because he sure as hell didn’t. He committed landmarks to memory in case he had to find his own way back. Other than that, his gaze panned the horizon, the shadows and the gullies, searching for Dallas and Little Joe.
He’d begun to think the mare was out for a joy run when he spotted Little Joe tied to a tree branch near a creek. He reined in the mare, bringing her to a begrudging walk.
