My Favorite Cowboy

by Donna Grant

  “I have an idea about that, but first, let me call David and find a place for you to work.”

  He walked away, her eyes following him. Caleb wasn’t just a badass, he was also kind and bighearted. He hadn’t belittled her sorrow at losing the gelding or berated her for not finding the source before the animal died. And he’d comforted her.

  When Caleb disappeared around a corner, Audrey turned back to the horses. “I need y’all to stay with me. Help me. We’ll work together and sort this out,” she told them.

  Audrey reached for her phone and called Maddy. Her sister answered on the fourth ring, her sluggish voice alerting Audrey to the fact that she’d been asleep.

  “I know it’s early, Maddy, but one of the horses just died.”

  Maddy quickly asked, “What do you need?”

  “Get a pen and paper. There are a few things I don’t have quite enough of here to do the testing.”

  They went over the list several times. Audrey added a few more items, wanting to have them just in case.

  “Let me get dressed and get this, and then I’ll be on my way,” Maddy said.

  Audrey smiled into the phone. “Thanks, sis. Would it be too much to ask for you to get everyone food?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. Just tell me that the night was uneventful. Because if you’d caught the jerks, you would’ve called me.”

  Audrey almost didn’t want to tell Maddy because she knew her sister would be pissed that she’d not only missed out on catching the men but also that Audrey hadn’t called her before now. “Two men came. One put something in my bag. Caleb hit him, but he got away when Brice shot at the other one, who released the horses. Neither was caught.”

  “Well, that just … sucks.”

  Audrey laughed at her sister’s outrage that resulted in such a calm reply. “Yeah, it really does.”

  “Hang tight. I’ll be there soon.”

  Audrey hung up and blew out a breath as she walked back to her SUV to gather everything she’d need for the necropsy. Audrey often got irritated with Maddy for not having a career and doing more with her life, but she couldn’t ask for a better sister. When the stakes were high, or Audrey needed her the most, Maddy never let her down.

  That’s why, when there was still no sign of her sister an hour later, Audrey knew that something was wrong.

  Chapter 10

  Caleb watched as Jace used the bucket loader of the tractor to lift the dead horse and take it to the back of the property where David had told him about an empty section of a building.

  “I know that look on your face,” Brice said as he walked up. “You think there’s trouble.”

  Caleb’s gaze swung to Audrey as she paced the parking lot behind her SUV. Every few minutes, she’d bring her cell phone to her ear as she tried her sister again.

  “I don’t believe in coincidences. Maddy not answering her phone isn’t a good sign,” he said.

  Cooper drained a bottle of water as he walked to them. “I agree with Caleb. Too many things happening.”

  Brice leaned an arm on the metal fence of the corral. “Someone really wants to do David harm.”

  “Or not.” Caleb looked between his brother and his friend. “After last night, those men know we’re on to them. Even if we don’t know why they’re hurting the horses, they’ll realize we’ve figured out the sick horses didn’t get that way on their own. That puts David in the clear.”

  Jace grunted in confusion. “Does it? I don’t see that.”

  “In my mind, David is their target. This is his auction house. He’s responsible for the animals,” Brice said.

  Caleb pulled his keys from his pocket, his anxiety over finding out why Maddy wasn’t there yet high. “We can debate this later. I’m going to go look for Maddy.”

  “Want some help?” Brice asked.

  Caleb shook his head. “I’d rather everyone stay and guard Audrey as well as the rest of the horses. I expect the men to return.”

  Jace’s smile was anything but nice. “Let the fuckers come back.”

  “I’ll give Danny a call to fill him in. Be careful,” Brice said.

  Caleb gave him and Jace a nod, realizing that the sheriff should be there. “Always.”

  He strode to Audrey, who stopped pacing when she saw him. The apprehension in her expression made his chest tighten. Brice notifying Danny would put everyone on alert.

  “Something’s wrong, Caleb.”

  “I know. I’m going to look for her,” he said.

  “And I’m coming with you,” she stated.

  He saw the stubborn tilt of her chin. Nothing would stop him from looking for Brice. How could he ask Audrey to stay behind while he searched for her sister? “All right.”

  Relief filled her eyes, and she fell into step with him. Her strides were long, her back straight as they walked to where his truck was hidden behind some stacks of hay in a covered area. He didn’t try to talk to her. There was nothing he could say that would make any of this better.

  Once they were in his truck with the A/C cooling them, Audrey told him which way to go to her house. He lowered the volume of the radio and sped down the road.

  Audrey’s gaze searched for any sign of her sister’s red convertible. “She was going to get us food.”

  “Do you know where? We can look there,” he offered.

  She shook her head, her frustration and worry evident. “Let’s go to my place first.”

  He did as she asked. Audrey gripped the truck door all the way to the house. As they turned down the long gravel drive to her place, Caleb noticed the thick woods and how set apart the building was from anything else.

  A perfect place for someone to sneak onto the property and break into the home. Tension filled Caleb as he heard Audrey gasp, right before his gaze landed on Maddy’s car. The door was open, but there was no sign of Audrey’s sister.

  “Oh, God,” Audrey whispered.

  Caleb slammed on the brakes and threw the vehicle into park as they reached the house. Audrey was out of the truck before he could stop her. He drew his weapon and rushed to her side, grabbing her arm before she could barrel into the house.

  When she parted her lips to talk, he put a finger over his mouth. He listened for any indication of Maddy in distress or pain, as well as sounds of anyone else that might be there. Audrey parted her lips to argue, but she kept silent.

  Once Caleb knew Audrey would remain where she was, he looked around. The building on the side of the house must be the clinic she’d told him about. He grimaced when he saw the door hanging off its hinges. That combined with Maddy’s car door being open had him scanning the trees for signs of intruders.

  After several tense moments, he looked down at Audrey and pointed toward the clinic. As soon as she saw the state of the door, her face went slack. With her eyes wide, she stared up at him.

  He leaned close and whispered, “There’s another pistol in my glove box. Get it while I keep an eye on things.”

  She nodded and numbly took a step back. Caleb waited until she had the weapon before he waved her up beside him. Together, they cautiously walked toward the clinic door. There were no sounds coming from within, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone still inside.

  He pressed his back against the building and carefully peeked into the window. He saw the contents of drawers and cabinets spilled out and smashed everywhere.

  Caleb ducked beneath the window and came up on the other side. Creeping slowly toward the door, he glanced at Audrey to make sure she was still with him. She held the gun securely, her breathing even.

  After a quick look inside to make sure no one was waiting out in the open, he spun around the entrance, pistol aimed. He stepped over broken glass and smashed containers as he made his way through to the back room with Audrey right on his heels. He spotted the blood samples smashed on the floor, but he didn’t stop.

  The door to the storage area was ajar. The closet was just as ransacked as the fr
ont of the clinic. Caleb walked farther inside and saw Maddy lying on the ground. Her upper body leaned against the shelving as if she had been shoved down. Maddy’s lip was busted, her cheek cut and bruised from an obvious fist to the face. Her shirt was torn, and one of her shoes was missing.

  Caleb hurried to her and searched for a pulse as Audrey went to Maddy’s other side. Relief surged through him when he felt the steady, strong beat of her heart. He looked up and gave Audrey a nod to let her know that Maddy was alive.

  Caleb got to his feet and took another look around. “Stay with Maddy while I call the sheriff and an ambulance. Then I’m going to check out the house.”

  Audrey nodded as he spoke, her hand gripping Maddy’s tightly.

  He made his way to the house and walked through every inch of it. No one was inside, and as far as he could tell, nothing had been messed with, which meant the attackers had wanted something in the clinic.

  Or they wanted to stop something from happening.

  Was it the blood from the horses Audrey had tested? How could they know about that? She hadn’t told anyone but those at the auction house and Maddy.

  And no one even knew that Audrey was going to do a necropsy on the horse. How could anyone know to stop what they didn’t realize had occurred?

  Unless they were aware.

  Caleb briefly closed his eyes and sighed. The poisoners knew that the horses were going to die, and it would make sense that Audrey would do testing to find the reason.

  Caleb sent a quick text to Brice, Clayton, Jace, and Cooper to update them. Then he sent Danny Oldman one, as well. There were many perks to having the sheriff as a friend.

  He walked back to the clinic to find Maddy awake and holding her head with one hand. The woman looked worse for wear, but she was alive. That’s what mattered. Audrey looked up at him. For the first time, there was fear in her eyes. Before this, she had barreled into the situation with determination and a little frustration. He didn’t like seeing the distress in her gaze.

  “Maddy said there were two attackers. They were wearing black ski masks.”

  Just like the guy Caleb had seen at the auction house. He squatted before Maddy. “What else can you tell us?”

  Her face was swelling rapidly from the hits. She visibly swallowed and slowly lifted her head to him. Pain shone in every inch of her countenance, making anger churn within him. He’d begun this by helping David, but the deeper he sank into this web of intrigue, the more he found himself becoming emotionally involved.

  “I got dressed and came to the clinic,” Maddy said. “I unlocked the door and began to fill a box with part of Audrey’s list. I took it to my car.”

  She looked out the door and pointed. Her eyes teared up, and she lowered her hand to her lap.

  Caleb caught Maddy’s gaze. “Take your time. They’re long gone.”

  “And we’re here,” Audrey added with a reassuring smile.

  Maddy nodded despite the tears. “I heard something behind me after I put the box in my car. I was on my way back in here to get the rest when I looked over my shoulder and saw them. I ran inside and tried to shut and lock the door, but they were too strong. They kicked it in, sending me flying backwards.”

  Audrey stroked Maddy’s back as she talked. With each word, Audrey’s anger became more palpable.

  “Then what happened?” Caleb asked.

  “One came at me, while the other started opening cabinets and tossing everything out,” Maddy explained.

  Caleb smiled at her. “You’re doing great, Maddy. Can you tell me if they said anything?”

  She blinked through her tears and sniffed. “They didn’t say a word.”

  That didn’t sound right. Obviously, they had come for something. “Did they take anything?”

  “They could have after one of them shoved me against the shelves. I hit my head, and everything went black. They didn’t want me. They wanted something here.” Maddy cried harder as she looked at Audrey. “I’m so sorry.”

  Audrey shook her head vehemently. “This isn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong. Everything here can be replaced. You can’t. All that matters is that you’re okay.”

  “The ambulance will be here soon to take a look at you. That’s a nasty bump on your head,” Caleb said.

  Maddy instantly pulled back. “I don’t need that.”

  “At least let them look you over,” Audrey quickly said.

  Maddy sighed loudly. “Fine. I’d rather be helping you.”

  “I need to make sure you’re okay first,” Audrey replied with a smile.

  Caleb helped Maddy to her feet and started walking her to the truck to await the ambulance. He got to the door of the clinic and looked over his shoulder to find Audrey standing near the vials of blood he’d stepped over earlier. Something was on the floor.

  “These are the ones I took from the sick horses,” she said as she met his gaze. “I didn’t find anything. Why would they destroy all of this if I didn’t find anything?”

  “That’s a very good question,” he said.

  Audrey stood and walked to Caleb and Maddy. “I need to run the blood again.”

  “I’ll help,” Maddy said.

  “First, we need to get you seen to,” Audrey stated firmly.

  Caleb walked out of the clinic. The crunching sound of tires on gravel filled the air. He looked up to see a patrol car. It stopped beside his truck, and Danny climbed out. The sheriff started toward the clinic. Right behind Danny was an ambulance.

  Caleb relinquished Maddy to Audrey, who walked her sister to the ambulance. He watched them as he greeted Danny. “Thanks for getting here so soon.”

  Danny’s hazel eyes swept the area. “Sure thing. I’ll let the paramedics take a look at Maddy. In the meantime, want to walk the scene with me?”

  Caleb nodded, and for the next fifteen minutes, he walked Danny through everything that had happened since he and Audrey had arrived.

  Danny made notes in the little black notebook he carried, the expression on his face grim at what he found. “Maddy is lucky she’s alive.”

  “And unmolested.”

  The sheriff gave a sad shake of his head. “That, too. I’m sure they would have done more if they’d believed they had time for it.”

  “Do you have any idea who might be responsible?” Caleb asked.

  “I sure as shit wish I did.” Danny closed the notebook for a moment. “I was on my way to the auction house when you texted me.”

  “There’s a lot to tell.” Caleb ran a hand down his face. His worry over the horses was now mixed with the possibility that Maddy and Audrey were in danger. If only he could figure out who the men were after. And why.

  Danny caught his gaze as more squad cars pulled up. “We’re going to go through the crime scene to pull prints, but if the men wore masks, I doubt they’d be so kind as to leave a fingerprint.”

  Suddenly, Danny nodded his head and said, “Ma’am.”

  Caleb shifted to see Audrey walking up.

  Audrey’s smile was forced. “Sheriff.” Then she turned her gaze to Caleb. “It doesn’t look as if Maddy needs to go to the hospital. They’re cleaning her up now.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Caleb replied.

  Danny nodded. “Very.”

  “She is determined to return with us to the auction house,” Audrey continued. “So, Maddy stopped the first deputy she saw and is giving her statement now.”

  Danny grinned. “Good.”

  Caleb saw the question in Audrey’s eyes regarding how he had Danny’s private number to get ahold of him. “I’ve known Danny for years. He’s helped Clayton keep me and Brice in line.”

  Danny laughed, the lines crinkling around his eyes. “Oh, Clayton had that handled all by himself. I just stood back and watched the mayhem.”

  Caleb smiled in return. “As only a friend does.”

  Danny blew out a breath and turned to Caleb. “I’ll be at the auction house as soon as I wrap this up. Then, I want
to know everything.”

  They shook hands, and Caleb walked Audrey to the truck where Maddy already waited. The three rode in silence back to the others, just as the sun came up.

  Chapter 11

  Audrey couldn’t stop shaking. It didn’t matter the training she had with guns or the self-defense classes she had taken. Nothing could have prepared her for finding her sister lying unconscious on the floor.

  It was everything she could do not to turn and look in the back seat where Maddy was huddled. Her outgoing, always-smiling sister was subdued, withdrawn. Fear was etched in every line of Maddy’s face, and she had drawn herself into a ball.

  It was a good thing the intruders weren’t still there, because Audrey wouldn’t have hesitated to pull the trigger.

  She didn’t know why they hadn’t killed Maddy, but she was thankful for that at least. But the attackers had done enough damage to her sister. It wasn’t just Maddy’s face and body that were bruised, it was her spirit, as well. Her bright, shining soul was dimmed, and Audrey feared that it might never glow again.

  And Audrey didn’t even have her father to turn to. She would have to weather this alone. The thing was, she wasn’t sure she was strong enough.

  Something warm covered her hand where it rested on the center console. Her gaze locked on Caleb’s long fingers curling around hers.

  She lifted her eyes to his profile. He glanced at her, giving her hand a little squeeze. There were no words needed. The gesture told her that he would be there for her. A man she barely knew had risked his life for her already.

  Audrey wasn’t too proud to accept help. Whatever mess David had pulled her into was too deep for her to wade through on her own. She needed help.

  No. She needed Caleb.

  She leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. The weight of the ill horses, her sister’s attack, and the time constraint of figuring out the poison felt like she was carrying the heavens upon her shoulders like Atlas.

  The truck jerked as it rolled over the cattle guard at the auction house, and the movement pulled her from the sweet oblivion she had slipped into between waking and sleep. She blinked her eyes, adjusting them to the light.