Hearts Aflame Collection II: 4-Book Bundle

by Melissa F. Hart

  “Not to worry Deputy, I can handle me self. I’ve been doing it for the greater part of thirty-five years.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d let the Sheriff’s Department know if you see anything illegal or suspicious going on.”

  “Of course. I’m sure the Winters would be happy to loan me the use of their telephone.”

  Jade nodded in agreement, and started to head back toward the Winters’ house when Conall stopped her with a barely perceptible touch to her hand. Compelled to turn, Jade saw something different in the biologist’s expression, something profoundly sad. His voice softened to a murmur as his fingertips whispered across the curve of her face, “Did you know, Deputy Lundgren…your eyes…they’re the exact shade of green as that of some wolves?”

  ***

  The strange encounter with Conall left Jade feeling a little breathless. She held the mug of hot coffee in both her hands, trying to steady her nerves—unwillingly to let Harlan see her so out of sorts. He didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, though, as he retrieved the half-n-half from the refrigerator and splashed a little in her cup. Jade brought the rim to her mouth, blowing at the steaming brew.

  “Your cheeks look a little flushed. You feeling okay?” Harlan took a sip of his coffee, leaning casually against the kitchen counter.

  Jade shrugged. “Probably just a little wind-burn.” She found herself pacing in the spacious kitchen, and pulled one of the well-worn, ladder-back chairs away from the table, forcing herself to sit down. “You didn’t tell me you had a biologist working on your property.”

  “Oh, you ran into the wolf guy…Conall. Yeah, he’s a little…peculiar, but nice enough.” Harlan laughed a little, “I guess an Irishman in the middle of Wyoming is peculiar. He definitely knows a lot about wolves.”

  “So who exactly is he working for? Fish and Wildlife? A university?” Jade’s curiosity was piqued, and she wanted to find out everything she could about the sexy stranger.

  “You know, I never thought to ask him. He seemed…legitimate. I told him about that old cabin because there’s a spring box there for fresh water. He said he’s monitoring the hunting and trapping activity as well as what the wolves in the area are doing. He believes that if there’s plenty of wild game, there’s less likely to be livestock loss.” Suddenly Harlan’s tone of voice hardened as a half-formed notion bubbled up, “He didn’t do anything…inappropriate, did he?”

  Jade shook her head, “No, no, he was very polite. I asked him to keep an eye out for anything suspicious going on.”

  Harlan relaxed, “Yeah, he was the one that brought us the piece of pant leg and told us what a good job Sargent did scaring them off. Frankly, I didn’t think the old hound had it in him any more. The Aussies were barking their heads off, but I could have sworn I heard a wolf right before Conall showed up with Sargent.”

  “Why didn’t you mention that before? What time was it, anyway?”

  “Oh it must have been around four, four thirty this morning.”

  Jade tapped at the side of her mug, thinking, “So what was Conall doing out at that time of the morning?”

  “He said this time of year, wolves are most active at daylight and dusk, so he is too.”

  Taking a final swig of her coffee, Jade stood up. “I better get back to town…but keep your eyes open, and call me the minute you notice anything odd, okay?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Harlan smiled, before clearing his throat a little nervously. “You have any interest in going to the rodeo in Jackson Friday night? Yours truly is going to be wrestling some steers.”

  Normally, Jade loved going to the rodeo, and back in high school she had barrel raced. She froze, though, as an internal struggle broke out between the sensible Jade who wanted to say yes, and the Jade who was fantasizing about a little-bodice ripping action with the mysterious Mr. O’Faolán. Stalling, she took her mug to the sink and rinsed it out.

  “Do you mind if I call you tomorrow and let you know? I think I promised Nicolette I’d do something with her on Friday. Maybe…we could meet you there?”

  “Sure, let me know.” Harlan tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice, “But after I win, I was going to take you for a Buddy Burger and a mint chocolate chip milkshake.”

  Jade gave Harlan a quick peck on the cheek, laughing, “You certainly know how to make it tough for a girl to keep her promises.”

  Harlan’s arm snaked around her waist, giving her a little squeeze, “That was pretty much the plan.”

  “Tell your dad I said bye. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  But on the drive back to town, Jade kept wondering what it would be like to kiss Conall O’Faolán.

  ***

  Dusk was falling as Jade wandered along the little stream. It was unusually warm for early fall, and the mildness of the evening made her feel lazy. The gurgling of the brook over the stones was a pleasant backdrop, and an earthy smell of leaves and grass filled her nostrils. The sky had a reddish-golden glow, and it made her think how her mother used to always say, “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.” She missed her parents; they’d been killed the summer between her junior and senior years of high school, and the Pages had unofficially adopted her since she didn’t have any close family. The life insurance had been enough to get her through college, and she moved back into her family home when she graduated. Despite all the love the Pages and the little community of Broken Wheel had shown her, though, there was always a space that she could never seem to fill, and every romantic relationship she’d ever had always imploded. Maybe, she mused, that’s why she didn’t want to get involved again with Harlan; maybe she wanted to spare them both the inevitable.

  A soft rustle captured Jade’s attention, and when she turned, she saw Conall. He said nothing as he extended his hand to her, merely smiling that same sad smile he’d left her with earlier. She took his hand and he pulled her to his chest, the warmth of his body radiating through her as he cradled her head against him, softly stroking her hair. Then, he tilted her face up to his, just as she’d imagined so many times on the drive back to town, and his lips took hers, first softly, then more greedily. His tongue made a sensuous inspection as she parted her mouth, and then his arm tightened around her waist, pulling her against the hard swell of his manhood. A little gasp escaped from her, encouraging him, and Conall began to divest Jade of her mannish deputy’s uniform, starting by kneeling down and untying her boots. He kissed her soft bare feet, then stood to peel off her jacket, shirt, and her pants, with far less care and much more urgency, until finally, she stood before him, naked.

  Emboldened by his gaze, Jade pulled Conall’s t-shirt over his head, revealing his muscular chest and the little ruffle of soft hair between the swell of his pecs. Her hands traced down his body, following the trail of downy curls until it disappeared into the top of his jeans. She looked into his face as she unbuckled his belt, the sadness seeming to fade from his eyes. Finished with the buckle, she reached up to caress his cheek, their eyes locking in a gaze more passionate than any gesture…

  Jade groaned as she flopped over in the bed, her arm flailing as she tried to stop the monstrous ring of the alarm clock. She rubbed her face; her beautiful dream faded, even as she heard a lone wolf howling mournfully in the distance.

  ***

  “It was horrible, Dad. I can’t believe we have neighbors that would do this.”

  Nicolette was visibly shaken; the color had drained from her face, and she had twisted the tissue in her hands until it was completely shredded. Jade wanted to give Nicolette a comforting hug, but something about the possessive way her new boyfriend, Nate Vanderville, stood over Nicolette put Jade off.

  “Sheriff Page, I expect that you are going to punish the perpetrators.”

  There was a note in Nate’s voice that was like fingernails on a blackboard, Jade thought, despite the careful Ivy League modulation of his tone. Granted, the head of the Wild Organisms Liberation Front—better known as W.O.L.F.—was easy on
the eyes, and he had that way of looking like a man of the people despite wearing Prada hiking boots and a $200 flannel shirt. Rumor had it that his father was some kind of Wall Street wonder who’d made gazillions in the stock market and had encouraged his children to “give back” to society—since apparently they’d never have to work a day in their life. Still, Nate did seem to care about both Nicolette and the wolves, so Jade decided to withhold judgment on her friend’s choice in men. After all, who was she to criticize anyone’s romantic choices, when she was definitely a confused mess?

  Wilson expelled his frustration with a puff of air. “Unfortunately, Mr. Vanderville, in the state of Wyoming, it’s not against the law to be a vicious asshole if your target is a wolf you claim has been preying on livestock.”

  “Surely you have statutes to guarantee the humane treatment of animals?”

  Jade watched as Nate’s jaw set in a hard line and his hands clenched into tight little fists.

  “Yes, we do. But most of the statutes are for the protection of domestic animals. If Biggy and Frank had done this to a horse, or a dog, or someone’s pet ferret, I could indeed throw their dumb asses in jail, but as it stands, my hands are tied unless there are witnesses who will testify that they tortured or mutilated the wolf while it was alive. The fact that the Lemmons cousins are going around crowing that they did it isn’t going to get a conviction.”

  “So you’re saying that seeing the dead wolf isn’t enough?” Nicolette sniffed a little.

  “Honey, in these cases, the pen is mightier than the sword. You splash it all over the front page of the Gazette and the Lemmons will get skewered in the court of public opinion. Not even the ranchers who’d shoot a wolf on their property are going to approve of this kind of vile nonsense.”

  “Your dad’s right,” Jade chimed in, “They aren’t real ranchers, anyway. They can’t have more than a half dozen head of cattle. Hit ’em where it hurts—tell people to boycott their garage. Slim Mires and his daughter Delia are way better mechanics, anyway.” Jade bit her lip, “Maybe we should all chip in and buy Slim and Delia a bigger ad in this week’s Gazette.”

  Wilson couldn’t help but chuckle. “Economic warfare and public shaming. I like it.”

  It wasn’t what Nate Vanderville had in mind, though.

  “Do you really think this petty small town crap is going to help the wolves?” He looked at Wilson dismissively, “At least Nicolette wants to do something substantial. W.O.L.F. is going after real justice since clearly local law enforcement isn’t going to get off its ass. Come on—” Nate grabbed Nicolette by the arm, a little too brusquely for Jade’s taste. “We’re going to write a story about W.O.L.F.’s manifesto, and how rancher-law enforcement collusion is responsible for these murders.” He kissed Nicolette on the top of her head, but the display of affection seemed too calculated to Jade.

  Nicolette threw her father an apologetic glance, but said nothing as Nate hustled her out of the Sheriff’s Department. After their departure, Wilson turned to Jade, “Tell me my daughter has the sense that the good Lord gave a goose. Something about that boy just ain’t right.”

  “You remember how excited Nicolette got that time you took us to Idaho Falls to go to the circus?”

  “What, you two must have been seven or eight?”

  Jade nodded, “And after a few hours of elephants and spangles and cotton candy and corn dogs, she couldn’t wait to get home to Patsy the Shetland pony and her mom’s vegetable soup?”

  “Yeah, I do remember. So you’re saying Nate is a corn dog, and she’ll come to her senses?”

  “Something like that.” More like a horn dog, Jade thought. “You know, Wilson, it’s hard not to get swept away by bright shiny objects when you’ve spent most of your life in rural Wyoming. But right now, local law enforcement is going to get off her ass to have a chat with Biggy and Frank.”

  “Thanks, Jade.” Wilson gave her a pinched smile, “I’m glad you’re on this. Dougie is still piecing together that meth thing…literally…and Tim is on the other side of the county looking into some stolen horses. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the hardest working deputies around.”

  Jade zipped up her jacket, “Don’t flatter us, we’ll get spoiled.”

  A twinge of guilt poked at Jade as she turned the key in the ignition of the Bronco. Her lurid fantasies about the Irish biologist were basically in the same category as Nicolette’s fascination with Nate. Except Conall wasn’t bossing her around. Still, she thought of Harlan’s invitation to the rodeo for Friday night, and decided she should call him and accept.

  Before she could pull out of their tiny parking lot, the radio on the Bronco crackled.

  “Jade, it’s Wilson. I have a Mr. O’Faolán on the phone, I’m going to patch him through.”

  “Sure thing.” Jade felt her stomach flip over with an entire colony of butterflies at the thought of Conall.

  “Deputy Lundgren? Conall O’Faolán. I’ve found something that I think you should see. Can ye meet me at the Winters’ ranch?”

  “I’ll head that way now, give me twenty minutes.” Biggy and Frank would just have to wait, Jade thought.

  “Alright then, bye now.” The Irishman’s voice clicked off and the radio went to dead air.

  Jade did her best to mind the speed limit as she headed out to meet Conall. She tried to convince herself that her hurry was due to the case, but she knew better. The dream memory of Conall’s strong hands on her body, and the tingle between her legs that it elicited, was evidence she couldn’t ignore.

  Things seemed strangely quiet when Jade pulled up at the ranch; the Aussies were nowhere to be seen, and neither Carson’s nor Harlan’s pick-up truck was parked out front. Sargent seemed depressed, she thought, barely raising his head to take note of her when she climbed out of her vehicle. Conall was sitting cross-legged on the porch next to Sargent, stroking the old hound dog soothingly.

  Jade quickly surveyed the scene, “What’s going on? Where are Carson and Harlan?”

  Conall stood up gracefully, stretching unconsciously as he did. Jade almost expected him to give a canine shimmy as he unfolded his limbs.

  “Apparently Harlan left early this morning to go to a tack shop in Idaho Falls, and Carson, unfortunately, is at the veterinary hospital in Jackson.”

  “The vet’s? Why?”

  Coming down the steps, Conall pointed to a blue plastic tarp on the ground. Gingerly, Jade knelt down and lifted the corner up. Her heart fell.

  “Oh for god’s sake.” The still body of the Aussie was smeared with blood, and one of the dog’s feet was completely missing. “Wolf trap?”

  “Aye. A wolf trap.” There was a darkness in Conall’s voice, a simmering anger, that Jade didn’t recall from their previous conversation. “I found them early this morning…I picked them up and ran here after I tried to put a tourniquet on this one’s leg. She had already lost too much blood, though. The other one looked like he’d been beaten with something—he was probably trying to help the trapped one. Carson rushed him to the local vet, who sent him on to Jackson for surgery. He called me here, and told me to call ye.”

  So it hadn’t been Conall’s idea to call her. Jade shook it off; it really was not the time to be indulging in romantic fantasies. “People…who’ll do this to animals? More than likely, they’ll hurt people, too.” Jade pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to concentrate, as she dropped the edge of the tarp and stood up. “You better show me the trap.”

  As they walked through the fields, Conall was quiet, and Jade followed suit. Conall’s eyes seemed to dart about warily, as if he might see things that she didn’t…or couldn’t. More than that, there was something about his response to the situation that seemed…personal, she thought. It had a different quality than her own reaction as someone who loved animals and simply felt awful for the Winters and their dogs.

  Finally Jade broke the silence, “Was the trap on the Winters’ property or on BLM land?”

  “It’s defi
nitely on the Winters’ side of the line. There are ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘No Hunting’ signs posted everywhere, so some arsehole knew exactly what they were doing.”

  Jade quickened her pace to walk ahead of Conall, wanting to put a little distance between the slow smolder of the Irishman, and her own disorganized thoughts. The graffiti and the trap had to be related, but how? Were the Winters just a random target? Or was someone using the wolf problem as a smokescreen in order to remedy a grudge? Jade spun the bits of information she had like a mental Rubik’s Cube, trying to find a pattern in the chaos.

  “It’s just up there.” Conall pointed to a pleasant-looking grove of trees near a small brook running down the hillside.

  The day was beginning to get quite warm as it approached noon, even in the shade of the trees. Conall leaped easily across the stream, then extended his hand to help Jade across. The clean smell of grass and dirt scented the air, and as Jade began to stretch out her hand to take Conall’s, every detail of her dream flooded back: how Conall pulled her to his chest and disrobed her, how she was ready to give herself completely to a stranger. She blinked hard as she fixated on his hand. Save for the fact it was midday, not dusk, every nuance of the scene seemed identical. Should she take his hand? But she never answered the question, as in that instant she slipped on a wet rock, ending up on her backside in the shallow stream.

  She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. The handcuffs attached to the back of her belt dug painfully into her tailbone. Fortunately, her gun was out of the water, and her submerged flashlight was waterproof. How was it that every time she came in contact with this man, she managed to make a total fool of herself?

  Conall regarded her position with a bemused smile as he reached down, easily pulling her up, then setting her on the bank with his hands about her waist. Jade was sure that his hands lingered longer than necessary, even as he repeated his question from their initial introduction.