by Dana Mentink
“And we’ve got the name Linda Ferron,” Owen put in. “We know she’s local and Reed had dealings with her. Maybe she can help us with some intel.”
“I found a reference to her sister who runs a trailer park in Rock Ridge. I figured she might be able to tell us how to find her.”
“Tomorrow...” He squirmed in the chair.
“Maybe,” Ella put in. “Let’s see how you feel in the morning.”
“You already know how I’ll feel.” His eyes danced with a mischievousness that warmed her inside. “Happy, pleased and proud.”
Keegan yawned. “And sore, let’s not forget that one. I can go with Ella and talk to Linda if you need some downtime.”
“No way,” Owen said. “You have the tact of a charging bull.”
His eyes opened wide in mock irritation. “I am offended.”
“And there’s another trail to follow now.” Tom nodded to his wife. “Right, Detective Evie?”
She giggled. “Yes, now that you mention it. We need to find Reed’s wife, Violet. I’m hoping they’re divorced since he’s galloping after Candy Silverton.” She frowned. “In any case, she has to know enough about his character to give us something to take to the police.”
He nodded. “You’ve got the place they were married. Going to do some records searching?”
“Yes, I am.” She looked at Betsy. “Will you keep me company tomorrow while I search?”
“Yes,” Betsy said, and although it was garbled, the one small syllable brought tears to Ella’s eyes. Every word was precious, every small indication that Betsy was all right made all of Ella’s struggles worthwhile. It’s going to be okay, she wanted to tell her sister. But they were still a long way from proving Ella’s innocence.
And if Bruce Reed had his way, they never would. The thought hitched her breath. But the warm glow from the fireplace illuminated the faces of Tom, Jack, Keegan, Evie and Owen who would all stand up to Bruce Reed to keep Ella and her sister safe.
Thank you, God, she thought, blinking back tears, for this family. She noticed Owen was looking at her, his face bruised, obviously his body ached, but there was something infinitely gentle in his expression as he gazed at her.
Cheeks warming, she reminded herself that Owen was helping her because of Ray and a nostalgia about their shared childhood. What’s more, he would be right back to his marine corps family the moment he could spare her from prison and get his body to cooperate. Duty done, mission accomplished.
She flashed on an image of her father returning home from his long-haul trucking assignments, eating eggs and toast, listening sober faced as she reported on her school progress, on Betsy’s health status, on their church attendance, their lives communicated in neat information briefs. He wanted the facts ticked off like the items on a duty roster. She’d wanted assurance, approval, encouragement, all the myriad emotional desires not delineated on his checklist. He loved her, she did not doubt it, but since he could not be what their mother had been, nor even the type of father she craved, he settled them each into categories, with jobs to be done, reports to be given. It was the only way he knew. She’d bottled up the words that threatened to bubble out.
Why can’t I just be a regular teen like my friends?
Why can’t I have fun and enjoy life like they do? Why can’t you ever say, ‘I love you’?
Sometimes she still wondered, but God had given her a choice. Follow me and give up the life you think you should have because what I offer is so much richer.
And it was. Ella knew that truth in every one of Betsy’s smiles, in the satisfaction she felt at caring for her sister, the joy of living in Gold Bar, tending to her horses, being a part of a community.
Was that sweetness gone now? Would her reputation always be tainted by the shadow of what had happened?
Owen quirked a reassuring smile at her, as if he knew what thoughts were churning inside her. She sent a smile back, brighter than she felt.
We’ll get this mission done, Owen, and you’ll be free to go. No guilt, duty done. With only a small tug in her heart, she wheeled her sister back to tuck her in for the night.
* * *
Owen fought his way out of bed the next morning, grateful that he’d slept better than he’d expected. Maybe that was the benefit to enduring chronic pain—a person learned how to appreciate the small respites whenever they came along.
A hot shower loosened up his muscles and he was inspired to phone his physical therapist to schedule an appointment for the following week. The secretary seemed surprised to hear from him.
“Have you suffered another injury, Mr. Thorn?”
How much time have you got? “Not to my leg. I want to talk to Dr. Von about reenlisting.” There. Second time he’d said it aloud. His new resolve filled him with hope.
“I will relay the message.” She scheduled him for an appointment. Energized, he strode cautiously out to the kitchen ready to tackle their mission.
Find Linda Ferron and get the dirt on Bruce Reed, enough to bury the slimeball for good.
Ella was already in the kitchen, eating some toast alongside her sister. The paper covered with scrawls indicated they’d already had their morning writing lesson.
He tapped the paper. “Good job, Betsy. Your handwriting is better than mine.”
Betsy smiled and he was gratified to see it. Ella’s hair was pulled into a twist, her jacket and a small pack in her lap.
Evie came in and shook her head at Ella. “Toast? Not even an egg or a slice of bacon? That’s not going to keep body and soul together.”
“I don’t want to cause you any trouble, Mrs. Thorn.”
“Scrambling an egg is not trouble. Look, see?” She held up a basket. “Trixie and LouLou are still laying even in the thick of winter. I’ve got eggs and you two need a real breakfast, so sit.”
Owen did as he was told. “A cowboy takes orders from his mama,” he said with a smile. “If he knows what’s good for him.”
In a few minutes the four of them were sitting down to scrambled eggs, fluffy and golden, and strips of crisp bacon.
The kitchen phone rang. Owen waved his mother back into her seat. “I’ll get it.”
The voice on the other end was muffled. “Keep out of my business or you will all regret it.”
Owen’s chest tightened. “Is that you, Bruce? Why don’t you be a man and admit it.”
The color drained from Ella’s face. She stood, staring, hands to her mouth. His mother got up and looped an arm around her shoulders. Keegan and Jack came in, stopping in the doorway to listen.
“You heard me,” Reed snarled. “No more chances.”
“So you’re resorting to the stalker-on-the-phone thing?” Owen snorted. “Coward. If you want to hold someone responsible, blame me because I’m gonna dig up every bad thing you ever did and wave it like a flag for all the world to see, including Candy Silverton. This whole town will know you’re a liar and a con man and someday we’ll prove you guilty of Luke’s murder too.”
“You can’t touch me.”
“Oh, I’m going to do more than touch you. You’re going down. Ella Cahill and her sister are family and you crossed the wrong people.”
The line went dead and he replaced the phone in the cradle.
“What should we do?” Ella breathed.
“Find Linda Ferron, just as we planned. We’ll start in Rock Ridge like you suggested.”
“But...” she said, shooting a worried glance at her sister.
Jack pushed off from his spot on the wall. “We’re here, and we’re going nowhere today.”
Keegan nodded, eyes glittering dangerously. “Personally, I’d love to see Bruce Reed show up here. It would just make my whole day.”
Evie gave Ella’s shoulder a final squeeze. “We will not ask for trouble,” she said, eyeing her youngest son,
“but if he shows up here we will protect ourselves and Betsy.”
Ella gulped in breath. “I guess... I mean, unless I decide to give up...”
“Which you won’t,” Owen said.
“Then the only way to get out of this mess is...”
“To push through the threats and bring Bruce Reed to his knees.” Owen went to the closet and retrieved his rifle. His brothers would have theirs primed and ready also, he knew. As cowboys on a ranch with a thousand acres to protect, they were ready to handle anything from coyotes to bears to intruders and anything in between, and they’d do it in a heartbeat to protect the family.
Semper fidelis, always faithful. It applied just as much to the Thorn family as to his marine brothers. He clapped on his cowboy hat and led the way out the door.
SIXTEEN
Before they left town, Ella called Zeke and turned on the speakerphone. He answered on the first ring.
“It’s Owen and me, Zeke. I wanted to ask if you got a look at Candy Silverton’s horses.”
“Her new broodmares? Oh, sure.”
“I’m surprised because Tony was moving them away from the ranch Monday morning.”
“Yeah. Reed said something about the paperwork hadn’t cleared and Candy couldn’t take possession right away. I met them at a ranch over in Littleton and looked ’em over. Nice bit of horseflesh there. She should get her money out of the young’uns.”
Ella’s heart sank. “So Reed didn’t cheat her into buying worthless horses?”
“Not with these six,” he said.
She blew out a breath. “Okay, well, maybe this deal was legit, but be careful, Zeke. Reed is a wolf. The less you have to do with him and Tony, the better.”
“I know a thing or two about wolves, Ella. Corner them and they’ll sink their teeth into you. Maybe the best way is to make him understand you’re not a threat. He’s a businessman, first off.”
Anger boiled inside her. “He’s a con man and he murdered Luke and he’s threatened me and my sister.”
Zeke was silent a moment. “Then you need to be careful, do what you have to do to keep Betsy safe. Back away from him, Ella. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Zeke Potter was the dearest man she knew, but he was hopelessly naive. “I can’t back away. If I do, I’ll go to prison for murder.”
“It won’t come to that,” he said.
She sighed. “Zeke, I know you never want to see the bad side of people. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You should be the one doing the promising, young lady. Remember what I said about wolves.”
Corner them and they’ll sink their teeth into you. She clicked off the phone.
Owen took her hand. “A minor setback.”
“But I was so sure he was inflating the mares’ value and skimming money off the top for himself.”
“We’ll find out more from Linda Ferron.” He pulled her fingers into his and squeezed.
Butterflies danced in her stomach. “How can you be so sure this bunny trail will lead us to the truth?”
“If it doesn’t, we’ll find a new lead to follow, but Reed’s phone call this morning is a show of desperation, which means we’re getting close.”
“I thought we were close with the thermos.” His grip tightened.
“I’ve been thinking about that. If Reed has the thermos, why would he bother calling the Gold Bar and spouting off threats? I wonder if it’s got him rattled that the cops are on the lookout for Tony. Maybe he fears that Tony will spill his guts if he’s caught.”
“Or Tony might be hiding out somewhere with the thermos, intending to blackmail Reed with it.”
Owen grinned. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Kinda awesome imagining Reed experiencing some stress, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “I suppose you’re right, but why don’t you let me drive?”
“’Cuz you’re a lead foot.”
“I am not and your shoulder’s hurt.”
“It’s okay and I’m driving. Anyone who keeps a row of horse bobbleheads on the dashboard of their van is not to be trusted with transportation needs.”
Owen did not have so much as a paper clip cluttering the pristine interior of the truck he’d borrowed from Jack. “By the way, I’ll have you know, Owen Thorn, that you gave me two of those horse bobbleheads.”
“I did?”
“For my fifteenth birthday.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’m surprised you kept them.”
“They’re my two favorite ones.”
“That right? I...uh... I mean, I thought maybe you might have thrown them away after Ray and I left.”
“I would never throw away something you gave me.” Warmth crept up her neck and she knew she must be blushing. Silly of her to hang onto toys from her childhood.
He wriggled the wallet out of his back pocket. “Now that you mention it...take a look under the license.”
She peeked under the worn leather flap and fished out a half-inch purple wooden heart. Stunned, she remembered inking the piece with Magic Marker. “I gave you a Purple Heart before you left for boot camp.”
“Because you said if I already had one, then I wouldn’t go and do something foolish and get myself hurt and earn a real one.”
She sighed. “It made sense at the time. I didn’t know you kept it.”
“Went with me on every single mission.” His voice went hoarse. “Even the one when I went ahead and earned myself a real Purple Heart.”
Her pulse kept time to the beats of silence that passed. “I wish you had never earned that one.”
“Me too, but I did and I lived to tell about it, and I’m gonna recover fully, which is more than I can say for some of my guys.” He gripped the steering wheel, lost in the horror and grief.
She touched the little wooden piece, a tangible reminder of her childhood innocence, her affection for Owen that was now fledging into feelings which she could not box in, no matter how hard she tried.
“Besides, if I hadn’t gotten myself shot, I wouldn’t be here with you now.”
Her pulse pounded until he finished the thought.
“Helping you out of this mess.”
She looked out the side window to give herself some time for composure. “I would have figured it out myself.”
“Yeah, but I guess God wanted us to do this together.”
“I guess He did.” In spite of everything—her wounded pride, the lick of resentment, her strange desire to have more with Owen than he was willing to give—she was grateful that he was there beside her.
Gently, she slipped the wooden heart back into his wallet and he returned it to his pocket.
* * *
They arrived at the River Gorge Trailer Park just before lunchtime. Owen held his breath and kept quiet as Ella inquired in the trailer park office. He figured the gray-haired woman behind the counter would be more likely to answer the questions of a sweet, freckle-faced redhead than those posed by a banged-up gorilla like himself. The place was sour with the smell of cigarette smoke.
The lady took a sip from her bottle of bubbly water. “I’m Linda’s sister, Dory. What do you want to see her for?”
Ella’s posture straightened a notch and he knew she was as excited as he was at having found a possible lead. “I need to know about Bruce Reed and I believe Linda knows things about him.”
“Things?” Her grizzled eyebrows narrowed into an angry line. “She learned about him the hard way, in spite of anything I had to say, but then, she’s always been like that—thinking she knows better than anyone else. She’d been smarter, more successful than me until she met Bruce Reed. Then she got her comeuppance.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“Why are you interested again?”
Ella took a deep breath and let
it out. “To be perfectly honest, Dory, Reed is targeting me and he’s threatening me and my sister. I need to find some evidence to bring him down before he destroys us both.”
The words died away into ten seconds of perfect silence before Ella added, “Please, can you help me?”
A quick struggle flared across Dory’s eyes until she shook her head. “No, I don’t want to have anything to do with Bruce Reed. I don’t need trouble.”
Ella’s shoulders fell and Owen limped forward to put a strengthening hand to her back, his leg having tightened up during their ride. “We really need your help, ma’am,” he said quietly. He pointed to a picture on the wall in a marine uniform. “That your boy?”
“Yes. He’s deployed to Camp Dwyer and I count the days until he comes home.” She cocked her head at him. “You in?”
“Yes, ma’am. Returned home last year.”
“That where you got the limp?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, keeping his eyes on hers. “A souvenir from my deployment.”
She took another sip of the bubbly water, thoughtful. “I’m not going to tell you anything about Bruce Reed because I’m not sure what’s fact or fiction, but you can ask my sister yourself. She lives in the last trailer, nearest the creek.”
Score one for the team, Owen thought. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Don’t thank me.” Dory hesitated. “I’ve never had much fond feeling for my sister, but she didn’t deserve what happened to her so you’re gonna be nice, aren’t you?” It sounded more like a threat than a question.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, and Ella nodded. “We will not upset your sister unnecessarily.”
They left the office and walked down the paved road, bordered on each side by trailers with well-kept pots of flowers. A few curious residents offered friendly waves, which they returned.
“They probably think we’re a couple looking to buy here,” Owen said.
Ella blushed.
For a second, he wondered what it would be like if it was actually true, if he and Ella were a couple, starting their lives together. That would mean he had given up the dream that sustained him.
