Holly for Christmas

by Lisa Prysock

  “No, thanks, I don’t need anything,” the stranger replied to Jed with a curt nod, barely glancing at Jed. “Just enjoying the ranch...”

  “Lemme know if you need anything.” Jed nodded and tipped his hat, but his eyes narrowed suspiciously. If Calvin didn’t know any better, Jed appeared as if he didn’t recognize the stranger from around the ranch, either.

  Cal convinced himself to hang around at the barns astride the horse and continue observing the stranger when the guy finally strode away toward the main parking lot in front of the barn-shaped main house. Something nagged him about the whole situation. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something didn’t feel right. Maybe he’d take the same trail Holly took and linger behind her in the distance to be on the safe side and look after her. He was fairly certain she had no idea she was being followed by someone. Who was this stranger, and what did he want with the beautiful reporter? Maybe revenge for something she’d printed? Was he infatuated with her? Was he a friend from her past? Who was he?

  Six

  ***

  It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

  Proverbs 25:2, NIV

  Three days before Thanksgiving...

  Calvin Davis had more than enough of the stranger tailing Miss Williams almost everywhere she went. He wasn’t sure if she knew she was being followed, but after a while, he had a feeling she now knew by the fear he sensed in her eyes the past few days. She left for the newspaper office every Monday through Friday mornings at about eight-thirty, right after breakfast in the main dining room at the ranch. She usually returned to the ranch in the afternoon, and the stranger followed her home to The Sweetwater at least once to his knowledge.

  The only reason Cal knew this was because he spent a lot of time trying out all of the amenities on the ranch and had recognized the stranger several more times. Lately, the guy appeared to have a car. He’d been sitting in a full-size, black Toyota Camry at the ranch main parking lot during breakfast hours. Had he rented the car, or did he own it?

  The guy started his vehicle and followed Holly two business mornings in a row, but he never came inside to eat breakfast at the ranch dining room. Since he never ate meals or rode the horses at the ranch, Cal’s guess was he wasn’t a ranch client or guest.

  Here they were, a third day of this creep lurking around. After finishing his breakfast and seeing Holly finish hers and exit the dining room, it was happening again.

  He was beginning to think he should take some sort of action to protect the reporter lady. Why was this guy following her around? Was it his imagination, or merely coincidence? He could call the police, but then what? He’d have to convince a judge that the stranger was not only trespassing on private property, but also some kind of creep.

  He could possibly confront the guy and tell him to bug off, but he wasn’t sure it would work. Maybe he could hire some body guards to follow the guy around and make sure Miss Williams was kept safe, without telling her. What if she found out and became angry with him? Was it really any of his business? Then again, what if she was in very real danger? What if he had a gun?

  What if the stranger turned out to be a concerned friend, or maybe a private investigator? Should he involve Logan Haven at this point? Did Holly Williams know this stranger was following her to work, and likely other locations?

  Finally, Calvin decided he’d follow the stranger in his purple pick-up. He’d driven the fully restored antique beauty to breakfast that morning and parked in the parking lot across from the main house on the ranch—in case he decided to finally act on his impulse to follow the stranger. Besides, he could test out the air conditioning, even though it was a cold November day. It was so cold, he wouldn’t be surprised if they had more snow flurries that afternoon. It wasn’t like he had to be anywhere else, at least not until his date with Brenda for later that evening. They were going to try out Whip’s Steakhouse for dinner when she finished her shift at the department store she worked for in the mall. He was on vacation, and other than working out at the gym today at some point, he had nothing else on his schedule. So why not follow the guy? He might be saving the reporter’s life. Besides, the situation bugged him a whole lot.

  Following the red Miata and the black Camry on the way into Lander wasn’t too difficult. After Holly Williams parked and went inside The Lander Chronicle five-story office building around the corner from Main Street, the dude parked directly behind her vehicle. His parking choice seemed a bold move. Now, even if he wanted to, Cal didn’t see how he could leave. Holly might decide to go somewhere for lunch, maybe the new café or Bubba’s Burgers. He needed to be prepared. There was the chance she could exit the building to investigate a lead on a story, too.

  He decided he needed to be prepared for anything, starting with parking as close to Holly’s car as possible, while being able to observe the stranger. He chose a parking space one row behind the guy in the Camry, but over by one space so he could have a better chance to observe the stranger’s profile and movements. He still hadn’t had a very good look at the man’s face.

  Waiting for Holly to come out of the building gave him little to do, so his thoughts wandered to what little he knew about the reporter. She spent most afternoons at the ranch. He’d seen her around last week often enough. She’d taken walks, ridden the horses, sometimes pausing to speak to other guests. She’d visited the indoor pool and water park once when he’d been there. He’d noticed her interacting with the Haven kids at the petting zoo. His dislike and wariness of reporters meant he kept his awareness of her within his personal radar. He certainly didn’t want her to write a story about him in the Lander paper after hearing about his mother’s bitterness in being torn to shreds by the media. The local Billings newspaper had printed details about the marriage of his parents as it fell apart in the society gossip column. Although years ago, his mom still struggled with the memory of the fiasco. As much as he wanted to steer clear of the reporter, he was genuinely concerned about her welfare.

  He’d seen Miss Williams at the workout room once. He saw her coming out of Anastasia’s Sweet Shop once from his log cabin window, and he almost always noticed her around at meal times—all inside the main house now that the weather was quickly turning to winter. If he didn’t know any better, she either had extremely flexible hours or she was working on a story about The Sweetwater River Ranch Resort itself. She was often scribbling notes in her green spiral notebook. Sometimes, she’d capture a few photos with her expensive camera.

  He studied the side profile of the stranger while waiting for him to make his move. He had a strong feeling that something was going to happen today. Then it hit him! He knew exactly where he’d seen the dude before. Blake’s lodge in the Tetons at Yellowstone! This was the same guy who’d been running away from the lodge. Cal had been taking a leisurely walk from Blake’s home to check out the new potential investment property. It was owned by his friend Blake, and he was always happy to hear about solid investments like those his friend recommended. It’d been during that walk as he neared the lodge when he’d encountered the man running from the scene. Not long after, the sheriff had arrived, and Cal had observed two frightened women who’d experienced some sort of confrontation with the stranger. The police had interviewed him for a short while, but he wasn’t so sure he’d been able to be helpful. He hadn’t had a very good look at the dude who seemed to have mastered laying low. The incident still bothered him.

  He pressed a button on his cell which automatically dialed Blake’s number and made sure his windows were rolled up so he couldn’t be overheard.

  “Hey, good to hear from you Calvin. What’s going on? Enjoying Wyoming?” Blake asked, sounding happy to hear from him.

  “I am, but you’ll never guess who turned up at The Sweetwater.”

  “I have no idea,” Blake replied.

  “That guy I saw running away from the lodge who scared those ladies.”

  “You’re kidding!
I was expecting you to say Nicole Beaumont-Colten, Renee Zweller, or Ophelia Loren. Maybe Chuck Norris...”

  Cal chuckled. “No, just the creepy stranger. Nicole’s husband works here at The Sweetwater as a wrangler though. Say, did the sheriff ever find anything out about him? He’s been following one of the ranch guests around in a black Camry for three days, so I’m tailing him right now.”

  “Nothing turned up that I know of,” Blake replied. “It’s my personal opinion that he had a getaway car parked somewhere around the lodge because it was as though he disappeared from the whole region almost immediately. Say, I have to go into a board meeting soon. I’ll have to call you later, but be careful. He could be armed. Expect the worst, and have a backup plan. Remember when you were swarmed by people after that magazine interview published? This might be the time to call your body guards back on duty. They might be able to follow him around and protect this ranch guest person, too.”

  “Exactly. I’m more worried about her, but I don’t know if she’d object. She’s a reporter and she’s very independent. I’ll be fine, but it might not be a bad idea. Having my body guards in place again has crossed my mind.” He sighed, dreading the attention having body guards drew him, not to mention the constant round-the-clock presence, creating less privacy. “Plus, you know my doctor thought I should get away from everyone on this vacation. No secretary, no cooks, no housecleaning staff, no body guards, just me. I cancelled all my projects and told Pippa, my secretary back in Billings, to handle all my calls. My accountant is keeping our accounts paid on time, payroll is taking care of employee paychecks, and my second in command is handling what I can’t cross off the list. The only person who is here at the ranch with me is my pilot, Leon, and he’s staying in his own cabin.”

  “I can understand that, but you should at least consider body guards,” Blake urged. “Wait, did you say she, and she’s a reporter? She’s with the press?”

  Cal nodded, though he knew Blake couldn’t see him. “Yes, I know I have always said I despise reporters, but it’s not what you think. She seems different, a little higher caliber of scruples than most—classier. I’ll call you back later since I know you have a meeting. Don’t be late to it.”

  Seven

  ***

  Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

  Psalm 82:3-4, ESV

  Something was definitely up. Holly was completely unable to concentrate on writing her article even though she’d gathered enough information to finish the story. She swiveled her leather office chair around and peered out of her new office window at the parking lot.

  She had the creeps from being followed for days, maybe longer. Looking between the slats of the office blinds, she could still see Lexie’s ex-fiancé sitting in a black Toyota Camry. She could also see that billionaire’s antique purple truck. He probably had tons of antiques tucked away in some warehouse in Billings. What a waste of good money. She liked trucks, but couldn’t he think of better things to do with his billions?

  She’d seen Mr. Davis from Montana around the ranch, and he’d followed her on a trail for a long time the first time she visited the stables at The Sweetwater. Of course, she kept running into him at various locations on the ranch, but at least Cal was an actual resident there. Cole, on the other hand, was not!

  She was definitely being followed by both of them at this point, and Cole had been tailing her for at least a few days. She had half a mind to go outside and offer them coffee, if only to let them know their presence wasn’t going to get under her skin.

  Her cell rang, interrupting her steady gaze at the parking lot as she peeked through the blinds in her office. Why was Aunt Myra calling? Was Dad all right? Had Chad run into trouble taking care of him? She certainly hoped things were going well back home in Ohio.

  “Hi Aunt Myra. Is everything okay?” Holly answered the phone, doing her best to sound cheerful.

  “Everything’s fine. Your dad is actually doing well. We all miss you, but that’s not the reason for my call, Holly dear,” her aunt began.

  “I’m glad to hear everyone’s okay,” she replied. “It’s great to hear your voice.”

  “I’m calling to confess I may have made a terrible mistake.” Aunt Myra’s voice sounded a little shaky.

  “A mistake?” Holly asked, a sinking feeling coming over her that she now knew part of how Cole had found her in Wyoming.

  Myra Jacobs, her mom’s only sibling and sister, continued. “Remember that 4th of July picnic when you brought your best friend, Lexie, and her date, Cole?”

  Holly nodded. “Yes, I remember. The whole family was there.”

  Aunt Myra continued. “Well, this Cole called me out of the blue one day, fishing for information, only I didn’t realize it until after I’d hung up the phone. Said he wanted to invite you and Lexie to a surprise birthday party for Lexie. I don’t know how he got my number. He probably called someone else to get it. Maybe he looked me up in the phone book. I am listed, you know.”

  “Oh no! Did you tell him Lexie and I are both in Wyoming?”

  “I’m not sure, but I know I mentioned you were in Wyoming. It’s been bothering me ever since. Honestly, I should have called you sooner. I may have put you all in some kind of awkward situation—or maybe even danger—without thinking.”

  “It’s all right, Aunt Myra. It was bound to happen sooner or later. If not you, he might’ve called someone else we both know. I’m glad you gave me a heads up.” Holly squeezed her eyes shut. Great, just what Lexie needed, a creepy ex-fiancé hunting her across the country.

  “Thanks for understanding, Holly. I offer my sincerest apologies. Please call Lexie Donoghue and tell her how sorry I am. I’ve got to hang up now. I’m on my way to my weekly book club at the library. Take care now, you hear? And be extra careful. Bye for now. Keep in touch.” Her aunt hung up, leaving Holly to wonder what might happen when she left the office to go to her car. She had to go home to the ranch where she could concentrate on finishing her story, but not before a quick text to Lexie to let her know she’d spotted Cole in Wyoming in the Lander area. She’d leave out the fact he was camped right outside her office for the moment so as not to frighten Lexie too much.

  She texted: Hey Lexie. It’s me, Holly. My Aunt Myra made a mistake a few weeks ago. Cole contacted her under the pretense of inviting you and I to a surprise birthday party for you, fishing around for where we went. She believed him and told him I was somewhere in Wyoming. And now he’s here, in Lander, following me around, I think looking for you.

  Lexie didn’t reply. Did she receive the text? Maybe it hadn’t gone through. And at this point, with a deadline looming, Holly didn’t have time to figure it out. She’d have to follow up with her friend later.

  She held onto her cell phone tightly while sending a copy of the electronic file containing a start on her story to her email address. She’d finish it at the ranch where it was nice and quiet...away from the men following her. She thought about the handsome billionaire guy, wondering again why he was also following her. It didn’t make any sense.

  She couldn’t stay and hide in her office forever. She needed to get away from these crazy men so she could do her job properly. Since her boss, Al Redford, had made it clear he didn’t care what hours she kept at the office as long as she turned in a fabulous article each week, she was free to leave the distracting situation going on right outside her office window. She grabbed her purse and slung it over one shoulder. Walking through the busy news room past a few other offices, she stopped at Maxine’s desk.

  “Hey Maxine, if the boss needs me for any reason, I’m going to my home office to finish my story on time. I can’t seem to get anything done here today,” Holly explained as the receptionist popped another huge pink bubble with her chewing gum.

  “Makes no difference to me, sweetie. As long as he has that story on his desk by
the deadline, he’s a happy camper. The reporters come and go all day long.” Maxine pulled out a mirror and a tube of hot pink lipstick from her top desk drawer. Then she began outlining her lips. She pressed them together and smiled at her. “Go write and see you sometime tomorrow. I’ll let the boss know if he asks me anything, as if anyone cares what I think or know around here.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. You’re a doll,” Holly said, relief flooding through her. Now all she had to do was make a mad dash for her car with her head held high. She couldn’t let that Cole intimidate her, or Mr. Billionaire.

  She stepped through the foyer, praying, asking the Lord to protect her from whatever trouble might be ahead. Once outside, her keys in hand and cell phone in case she needed to call the sheriff or the police, she walked briskly toward her red Miata. However, Cole stepped out of his Camry and beat her to the driver’s door, effectively blocking her from getting inside her car and making her escape. It took some nerve for him to have parked directly behind her car.

  She leveled her eyes at him, stopping a few feet away from him in case she needed to run. He really didn’t know who he was messing with. She’d grown up with a rambunctious brother and knew how to fight.

  “Cole, what are you doing in Wyoming following me around?”

  “Holly, we need to talk...” he began, holding up his hands as if to say hold on a minute.

  She was vaguely aware of Calvin Davis in the corner of her eye. She heard his truck door open and close and she could tell he was taking calm, quiet, slow steps towards them. Maybe Cole didn’t realize Calvin knew her from the resort, or maybe Cole hadn’t seen the purple truck. In an odd way, she felt some comfort that someone else was present who vaguely knew her. At least she could start screaming if things got out of hand, and the newspaper staff would hopefully hear her. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but all of this ran through her minds in seconds.