Mustang: A Rough Romance (Montana Bad Boys Book 3)

by Piper Stone

  How many times did I need to hear that?

  I waited until she left before opening up the envelope. As I gazed at the information, an unsettling feeling roared to the surface. “What the hell?” There was some kind of game being played, but my question was which players were on what sides of the board?

  I shifted the papers again, the flurry of butterflies in my stomach shifting to a lead weight. Creepy-crawlies had snaked their way to my skin, making sitting out in the open uncomfortable as hell. Why did I have the feeling I was being watched? I shoved the envelope into my purse, curtailing my emotions. The entire situation had a bad smell to it.

  After tossing the bitter coffee, I headed toward my car. Snow had already begun to fall lightly, the air invigorating. As I unlocked the door, another vehicle grabbed my attention.

  One big mother of a black Dodge Ram, the windows tinted.

  I slipped inside my car, pulling the gun to the mouth of my purse before starting the engine. Grabbing my phone, I shifted to the photographs, finding the one I’d taken outside Sandra’s house. The truck was a dead ringer. As I backed out, I kept my eye on the rearview mirror. There was no movement of the vehicle that I could tell.

  Exhaling, I kept both hands on the wheel as I headed out of the city, constantly glancing into the rearview mirror. While there was traffic following me, none of the vehicles were the size of the Ram. While I didn’t know the city very well, I was able to return to the clinic using a slight detour.

  The apprehension remained, especially given the snow was falling rapidly. Time to get home and lock myself behind closed doors. Then I’d figure out what the hell to do.

  I’d also determine whether I could trust Mustang. I hated not knowing, loathed being used by anyone. However, Sandra was right in that coincidences were tough to buy, especially when millions of dollars were at stake.

  The tension started to ease as I turned onto the road leading to the clinic, even though my grip on the steering wheel was white-knuckled. It was starting to get dark, the late afternoon light adding to the gloomy feel. Snow had already accumulated, pellets slapping against the window almost faster than the windshield wipers could keep up with.

  Only a mile to go.

  That’s when I noticed a brand new set of headlights behind me. From the amount and direction of the light coming in through my back window, there was no doubt the vehicle was much taller than a typical passenger car. As the lights began to creep closer, another wave of fear rushed into my system.

  The asshole had followed me.

  I pressed on the accelerator, determined to get home as quickly as possible, the tires jerking slightly until I let off the gas. “Shit.” A layer of ice had accumulated over the light snow, making the road slippery as hell. Another glance and the truck was even closer. Goddamn it. I carefully pressed on the gas pedal once again, doing everything I could to ignore the asshole behind me. I was almost there. Almost.

  Suddenly, the car jerked to the right. Oh, my God. I was skidding out of control.

  Chapter 10

  Mustang

  Danger.

  I’d known about danger my entire life. Hell, I’d been the one to create it of my own free will while living in Montana growing up. The fact I’d been able to enlist in the Marines had been a feat in itself. I’d spent more nights in lockup than my parents would admit to anyone.

  For some crazy reason, the thought was almost comforting.

  I’d learned to harness all my pent-up anger, turning that rage into improving my skills. Although I’d been considered happy-go-lucky by a lot of the other guys, I’d always harbored a significant amount of frustration.

  I’d gone back to work, doing everything I could to pass the time. And all the while, my thoughts drifted to the assholes who’d attacked her, anger remaining just below the surface. What kind of deal had been made around the ranchers? Was there some asshole trying to abscond with money or was one of the bigger ranchers attempting to hone in on business, absorbing the smaller ones? So many ranchers had seen brutal times, forced to sell off their cattle for a reduced price.

  I hadn’t talked to my father in over a month, but I’d made a promise to Danni. Maybe I didn’t want to face the fact his health was failing. Maybe talking to him was too much a reminder of the past. While he continued to work at the shop a couple of days a week, he’d allowed the majority of the business end to be handled by someone else.

  And he still groused over the fact I hadn’t returned to take over as he’d always wanted.

  However, I’d called him for a favor, asking if he’d send one of his mechanics out to Danni’s place to replace her tires. I’d been surprised at his reluctance at first. His reaction had further fueled the anger that had been increasing since I’d returned.

  There’d been no way of predicting how I’d feel accompanying Snake’s body back to the US. The truth was, I’d felt drained, the requirement to wear my uniform more difficult than I would have imagined. Snake’s death had affected all of us in different ways, the remaining five in the posse retreating into heightened levels of sorrow. Why I’d been tasked with the honor was beyond me, but I’d accepted the task without question.

  My angst was being forced to return to Montana at all. I’d shut the door on that part of my life, promising never to return. It was funny how fate intervened.

  I yanked one bale of hay out of the back of my truck after another, tossing them into place. When I walked out of the barn, I glanced back toward the sky, the lightly falling snow and brisk chill a reminder that I was definitely back in Montana. As the ice pellets fell against my face, I closed my eyes.

  “Looks like you haven’t seen snow before,” Tanner said from behind me.

  “Been a long time. Kinda missed it.”

  “Well, this storm is going to be a doozy from what the weather forecast says.”

  “Fabulous.”

  “Guess we need to get the horses locked down,” he encouraged.

  I nodded, realizing the snow was indeed picking up fast. “I’ll shift to the other barn.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Tanner, wait a minute. You mentioned some guy when we were at the auction. While I know you said the story wasn’t worth talking about, there was something about him I didn’t like.” Almost immediately he tensed, barely able to look me in the eyes.

  “Just something that happened a long time ago when Drake was running the ranch. The guy is a real snake. That’s it. Your instinct was spot on.”

  Uh-huh. Was everyone keeping secrets? “Okay. I just wanted to make certain there wasn’t something I needed to hear, especially since accusations were thrown around.”

  “I doubt that has anything to do with him, Mustang. He’s not that intelligent. For me, I just don’t like lying assholes.”

  I chuckled as I wiped my gloves on my jeans. “You and me both.” The asshole had something to do with Hawk’s brother, huh? Maybe that’s why Hawk had remained tight-lipped.

  Grinning, Tanner waved me off, heading deeper into the barn. I didn’t like his reaction at all, the look in his eyes telling me the story had been troubling for the entire ranch. Finding the guy’s identity might be difficult, but he’d certainly been the one following Danni around. Unfortunately, I hadn’t seen the man’s face, only the back of his head. Was I making something out of it, trying to put pieces together?

  The nagging remained. I’d learned a long time ago that I needed to trust my instincts. They’d never let me down.

  What I did know is that Tanner had been around since Hawk and Drake’s father had been alive, working his way up from tending to the horses to foreman. If anyone would know about rumblings with the locals, Tanner certainly would.

  I tossed the last bale of hay, longing to talk with Danni. I couldn’t help but grin as I too left the barn.

  As I moved toward the truck, I heard my phone. Seeing Hawk’s number pop up, a bad feeling crept into my mind. “You found something.”

  “Maybe, but we
definitely need to talk. Where are you?”

  “Heading to the south barn now.”

  “Then stay there. I’ll meet you there in about thirty minutes.”

  I narrowed my eyes, my instinct working overtime. Things were about to get difficult.

  Or worse.

  Violent.

  As I drove toward the other barn, I was surprised just how fast the snow was coming down. There would be a thick blanket of white in the morning. I parked the truck near the fence, jumping out to help the other ranch hands corral the horses. While it took some time, we finally got them all in and secured.

  “When you guys finish, get the hell out of here before the storm gets any worse,” I said in passing as I glanced at my watch, expecting to see Hawk at any time. The snow was really coming down, darkness settling in and for several reasons I remained uneasy.

  “You got it, boss. Could be a doozy,” one of them said.

  “That’s what I’ve heard.” The thought of getting snowed in with one feisty lady wasn’t too bad. As long as there was wood for the fire and the rest of the bottle of bourbon, I might enjoy getting to know her better.

  Every inch of her voluptuous body.

  Kissing.

  Touching.

  Licking.

  Feasting.

  I heard the sound of another truck and walked toward the entrance, waiting as Hawk jumped out. After hesitating for a solid ten seconds, he stepped just inside, waving toward the others.

  “Gonna be raw tonight,” he said casually. “This won’t take long.”

  “Any reason you came down to the barn?”

  “Well, truth is I didn’t want Bryce to overhear the conversation. She loves a good story and I don’t want the ranch to possibly become front page news.” Although Hawk grinned, he meant the words. Bryce Myers was one tenacious reporter, the kind who refused to give up on a story.

  Given his concern, my guess was that there was a real story, one I doubted I would like. “There’s some truth to what I told you.”

  “I don’t know for certain how connected the situation with Ms. Brexton is, but after making a few inquiries, I had an interesting phone call from one of the auction houses. It would appear that they were awaiting payment for a lot of prized Angus they’d been holding onto.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “None at all since I just authorized purchase of a different lot the other day. At this point I wouldn’t have the cash available and I’m not putting the ranch up as collateral. When I laughed at the man, a guy who my brother evidently used to do some business with, thinking it was a joke, he sent me the paperwork. Lo and behold, a near duplication of my signature was on the damn forms.”

  I waited as three of the ranch hands walked by. “Someone forged your signature.”

  “It would appear that way. The gentleman went on to say that you made a phone call to him personally, ensuring him the money would be in his account the next morning. That was two days ago.”

  “Like hell I did. What in the fuck is going on?”

  “That’s what I want to know. You need to have a heart to heart with the lovely doctor. She’s stumbled into the middle of something. We just might need her help. At minimum we need to hear exactly what she knows.”

  “What the hell are you going to do about the steer?” I asked, my hackles raised. Why was it starting to feel like the ranch was being attacked?

  “Not entirely certain at this point.”

  “There’s an auction almost every week.”

  Hawk exhaled. “Not like the one where I supposedly purchased the Angus. A tristate event where some of the highest prices were paid. And trust me, I supposedly paid a pretty penny, half again more than normal and certainly more than what we paid recently. I’m going to see what I can do, but I don’t like being used. If someone is out there impersonating either one of us, I would bet the event is just the beginning.”

  “Someone is intent on implicating Big Meadow with fraud.”

  “That’s what it would appear.”

  I yanked the phone from my back pocket but before I had a chance to make a call, it rang. “Hey, Pops. Can I call you back?”

  “Sure, son, but I just wanted to tell you that I sent one of the guys to that address you gave me. He even had the right tires, but that doctor you talked about wasn’t there.”

  “Wait, she was in her clinic.”

  “He tried that too. It was locked, no lights on.”

  What the hell?

  “Fuck. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll get back to you and schedule another time.”

  “Not a problem,” my father answered, ending the call before I did.

  “Is something wrong?” Hawk asked.

  “Maybe nothing.” Maybe Danni being Danni. Disobedient. But when her phone rang four times, going to voicemail, my gut told me that there was something wrong. I moved toward the truck, throwing open the door and reaching behind the seat.

  “Okay, what is going on?” Hawk watched as I yanked my weapon into the light of the cab, checking the ammunition.

  “Danni isn’t answering her phone and she’s not at the house or clinic.” Jesus Christ. What in the hell had happened to her? I would kill anyone who laid their hands on her.

  He gave me a harsh look. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

  “Nope, but I’m also not going to allow her to be placed in the middle of this shit either.”

  “Maybe you need to figure out whether or not that girl is a part of this.”

  Huffing, I climbed into the truck, curtailing another round of anger. “You don’t know her, Hawk.”

  “And neither do you. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “I’m not certain I know you.”

  Stunned, Hawk took a step backwards before inhaling. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means I can tell you know more than you’re telling me. Is this about Drake somehow?”

  “Drake?” He seemed genuinely surprised. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Maybe you should ask Tanner about some incident and the reason he warned me about some jerk at the auction.”

  Hawk exhaled, inching closer. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Uh-huh. I thought we were partners.”

  “Yeah? Well, I thought so too. You pissed at me for something? Do you need to get some shit off your chest, Mustang, cause you’re been acting real funny for the past couple weeks,” Hawk asked, his tone demanding.

  I hesitated, hating my impetuousness, the gnawing remaining in my gut. “I gotta go.”

  “Wait a minute. I’ll go with you. You need backup.”

  “I can handle this by myself, Hawk.” I slammed the door, starting the engine and flooring it in reverse.

  Hawk glared after me, shaking his head and holding out his arms. While he didn’t deserve my wrath, he was right that I needed to say a few things when the time was right. What in the hell was going on?

  I felt sick as I roared out of the ranch, ice crunching beneath the tires. Maybe her phone died. Maybe she took a walk.

  What the hell was I thinking. Something had happened to her.

  I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, the force enough I skidded slightly. “Goddamn it, Danni. What aren’t you telling me?”

  As I headed toward the clinic through the now blinding snow, I tried her a second time, leaving a message. “Danni. You need to give me a call. Now.” I tossed the phone, the adrenaline rush almost instantly giving me a headache. If anything happened to her, I wasn’t certain exactly what I would do. I knew I shouldn’t have left her alone.

  The darkness was oppressive, the drive longer than I’d remembered. As I rounded the corner, it was even difficult to find the gravel driveway, yet as soon as I did and even through the overhanging forest of trees, I was able to see the house was lit up like a Christmas tree.

  Only the lights weren’t coming from inside.

 
I floored it, screeching to a halt and immediately grabbing my gun. There were a solid six trucks parked in front of Danni’s house, every one of the license plates blocked off by some kind of substance. All six had their headlights pointed in the direction of her house.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I snarled as I approached, hissing as I noticed they were all wearing masks. The fucking cowards. I stormed closer, checking for weapons. They all had souped-up trucks and even in the limited lighting, I could see evidence that at least a couple of them had worked on a ranch given the equipment. However, on this night, they were nothing more than hired guns, although at this point, I didn’t see any evidence of a gun.

  Danni stood on the front porch, one hand trying to control Zorro as he snapped and growled, doing his best to jerk out of her hold. The other was wrapped around a gun. What the hell did she think she was doing?

  “I can handle this,” she barked, not a quaver in her voice.

  “Like the lady said, you need to get the hell out of here,” one of the assholes shouted.

  I walked closer, the weapon firmly planted in both hands. “My suggestion is that you get in your trucks and get out of here before things get ugly. If you leave right now, I won’t call the sheriff.”

  All six of the jerks laughed, two moving outside their tightly knit circle, as if they were going to attack me. They had another think coming.

  “Get back inside the house, Danni. Do it now,” I commanded, taking several careful steps to the side. While I wasn’t able to see any weapons, that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden in their jackets. Whatever their intent, someone was going to get hurt. “I’ll have a nice friendly chat with our visitors here.”

  She retreated, her gaze shifting in my direction, the headlights allowing me to see a single glimpse of fear. “All right. Come on, Zorro. Let’s get back inside.”

  “We just came to have a friendly chat ourselves with the doctor,” the first guy said. “We need to help her to understand that she needs to mind her own business. Nothing more than that, at least unless you get in the way, cowboy.”