To Protect His Own

by Talty, Jen

  She hugged her middle as she sat down on the sofa and waited for Luke, hoping Jake wouldn’t have to work too late. She didn’t want to be alone tonight.

  Chapter 8

  JAKE FLUFFED THE PILLOWS Kenzie’s bed after doing his best to make it the way she liked it, though he was sure he got the arrangement of the throw pillows way off because even he could tell they all looked out of place.

  Since finding out some of their best Thoroughbreds had been poisoned, Jake had been sleeping in Kenzie’s bed. She’d always been a strong woman. Capable of anything and somewhat fearless. But between his father, the baby, and now the horses, it had taken its toll and she was worn down.

  Even though all he did was hold her until she fell asleep, it was enough. Waking up with her in his arms even better. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t want more. Every night he wanted to make love to her, whisper how much he cared for her in her ear, but he wasn’t sure if he could live full time on the farm. It wasn’t because he was attached to his tiny one bedroom apartment in Utica, but he was attached to the life he’d made for himself. He was proud of the man he’d become.

  He leaned against the back door of the cabin staring at her sunning herself in a lounge chair facing the east end of the farm. Tall lush mountains were the back drop to miles of wide-open land. The first thing he’d done when he moved into the cabin at the ripe old age of twenty-one was to add the back patio. It was one of the few places on the farm where all you saw was land and mountains…and horses. Jake had always preferred living here than at the main house. Currently, five majestic Clydesdale horses pranced across the land in the distance. It made for a picturesque backdrop to Kenzie in shorts and tank top rolled up over her swollen belly. Every night she would put his hand across her stomach, following where she felt the baby move, but so far nothing on the outside.

  “I can feel you staring at me,” she said.

  “No better way than to spend a Saturday morning.” Everyone on the farm now knew she was pregnant and he was the father. It was interesting to see the varying reactions of the staff and employees, but it gave no insight into who might have poisoned his father, put a razor in his saddle, or caused five horses harm. “Just appreciating how beautiful you are.”

  She turned her head. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

  He smiled. “I’ve got today and tomorrow off.”

  “How’d you manage a whole weekend?”

  “Jared, the Sargent in charge, has a thing for anyone working too many weekends. And he thinks I work too much as it is.”

  “You do.”

  “You’re one to talk.”

  She rolled her shirt down and sat up. “I’m taking today off. That’s something.”

  “You were up at four in the morning feeding the horses, which I don’t think you should be doing,” he said.

  “I’ll do it until the doctor says I can’t.”

  He decided to ignore her for now. Didn’t want to start an argument. “I told my dad we’d go to the main house and hang out, play cards, have dinner, whatever, later this afternoon.”

  “He’s getting antsy.”

  “I know. But he’s still in a fair amount of pain and he gets tired quickly.”

  “Charlie’s pretty annoyed. He feels like we’re keeping him out of the loop.”

  “I heard his son Trevor was working in the accounting office. Thought he was some kind of painter.”

  “He was until his mother died. She always encouraged him. Charlie thinks being an artist is a stupid profession.”

  “Another controlling father.” He watched as she ran her hands over the small mound in an erotic dance. “I won’t force this farm on our child, I hope you know that.”

  “I know. He or she will either want it, or not,” she said. “But we are raising him or her here.”

  And his official post was in Utica.

  “I’m not going to ask you to leave.” He sat on the end of the recliner, placing a hand on her warm, bare thigh. Her skin was covered with a slight bead of perspiration. “The vet called. Two of the horses infected on the farm died.”

  She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “What’s going on? Why would anyone do this?”

  “I want you to consider leaving the farm for a while.”

  “Without you?”

  He nodded.

  “And go where? Stay with who? Do what?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I’m worried about you and dad here alone when I don’t know what this asshole really wants and why.”

  “When you’re not here, Luke is constantly at my side. He also said you and he both have people coming and going, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.”

  “We do.” But it wasn’t enough. There were no clues. No one but Kenzie and Jake had anything to gain from Ethan’s death.

  “I get you want me and the baby to be safe. So do I,” she said. “But I don’t think leaving right now would be a good idea.”

  “You’re right.” He brought his hands to his face and rubbed his temples.

  “Whenever you do that it means you’re very troubled by something.”

  He tilted his head, looking at her head on. “If my father didn’t have an affair, then why did my mother kill herself?”

  “Please, don’t do this to me again. It’s not that I don’t want you to know or even that I promised him.”

  “What is it, then, because I’m having a hard time understanding where your loyalty is.”

  “That’s not fair,” she said. “I want you to ask him. And if he won’t tell you, I will. But not until I know you’ve at least tried to talk to him about this.”

  “You will tell me everything if he doesn't?”

  “I will tell you what I know.” For the first time in a long time he understood her position and he didn’t hold it against her. He believed this wasn’t about him. Or her. But something bigger.

  A black truck kicked up dust as it rolled down the long driveway. “Stacey and her husband are here.”

  “You seem pretty tight with this Stacey chick.”

  He chuckled. “Are you jealous?”

  “There’s no reason to be, but maybe a little. You talk about her a lot. And you felt her baby move.”

  “Shortly, you will feel her baby too, I’m sure.” He leaned in and kissed Kenzie’s cheek. “I should warn you. She’s had absolutely no filter. Says exactly what she thinks.”

  “I’ve gone from jealous to scared.”

  “Come on.” He took her by the hand. “You need to walk Doug through what you think you want, then listen to him. He knows his stuff.”

  “I’m not as stubborn as you are,” she said. “Besides, a friend told me she’s met Doug a few times and that he’s nothing short of eye-candy.”

  “He makes me feel short, but I think I’m nice piece of eye candy too.”

  She burst out laughing. It was a full belly laugh and for one small moment it erased all their problems.

  As they rounded the north corner of the cabin, Kenzie skidded to a stop. Her laughter abruptly changed to gasp.

  He looked up and saw the smoke billowing from the barn.

  “Sutton!”

  “I see it,” Stacey replied. “Calling it in.”

  He took Kenzie by the shoulders. “Stay with Stacey. I’m going to the barn and see how bad things are and let the horses out.”

  “Hell no,” Kenzie said. “You need help.”

  “I’ll help,” Doug said. “Burning barns are not the place for pregnant women.”

  “Call Kicker. See where he’s at,” Jake said. “Then either call my dad, or go to the main house.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Kenzie said.

  Bang!

  “That was a gunshot.” Jake pointed to the other side of the yard. “Kenzie, don’t argue with me. Go to the main house now.”

  She nodded. “Be safe and please don’t do anything stupid.”

  Jake jumped in his truck, Doug sliding into the p
assenger seat. Jake slammed the truck in reverse. The truck fishtailed as he floored the gas pedal. “When we get there, stay in the truck until I know where that gun shot came from.”

  “It’s not hunting season,” Doug said.

  “And that shot sounded a little too close for comfort.”

  “Where is your closest source of outside water? A hose?” Doug asked.

  “East side of the barn on both ends.” The closer he got, the higher the thick-dense smoke rose, swelling across the blue sky. A normal Saturday morning, Kenzie would be in her office after feeding the horses, but since he’d successfully talked her into putting an addition on, she’d let the work slide until Monday. He shuddered, thinking how close Kenzie had been to being hurt more than once in the last few days.

  “Drop me at the opposite end of the fire—”

  Jake interrupted Doug, “You’re staying in the truck. Your wife will kill me if anything happened to you and with everything that is going on, I don’t trust the gun shot was a coincidence.”

  “She’d kill us both if I didn’t try to save the barn and the horses. With the amount of dry hay you probably have in there, I suspect the fire is spreading quickly. If we attack it from this end, as long as it’s not burning too hot, we’ve got a chance.”

  Boots was at the far end and with the way the flames kicked up, Jake was pretty sure his horse didn’t stand a chance. “How do you know so much about fires?”

  “I don’t really, but I know buildings and we worse case this shit out.”

  Jake turned the truck, skidding to a stop in front of the barn. “I’ll start letting the horses out.” Jake could hear hooves hitting stall doors. The horses grunted and squealed in fear. Just as he opened the truck door, Kenzie’s two smaller horses raced wildly out of the barn. He whistled, trying to get their attention, but they galloped toward the pen.

  Kicker stood at the opening, soot on his face, his hair wet. “I’m going back in to let the rest of the horses out,” he yelled as he turned and disappeared.

  “Let’s get the hoses going.” Jake could hear sirens screaming. They were close. More horses raced by him as he and Doug methodically hooked up the hoses and then stepped into the barn. The overhead sprinklers had kicked in and helped contain the fire. It looked like the majority of it had been in Kenzie’s office and perhaps the first two stalls.

  He continued through the barn, noting the damage as they battled the flames.

  “We need to get out,” Doug said, pointing to the ceiling over the far end. “It could collapse quickly.”

  “No. We can push through, stopping it from spreading.”

  “We don’t have enough water spray,” Doug said.

  A loud crack echoed as a piece of wood dropped from above. Jake knew Doug was right, so he backed up, still dousing what he could. Two fire trucks had pulled in and firefighters were yelling at him anyway. Jake dropped the hose. “I’m going to go around back. Help Kicker round up the horses.”

  “I don’t know much about horses, but just tell me what to do.”

  “Just whistle and hold the gate open.” Jake kept a safe distance from the barn as he whistled, calling the horses, Doug following his lead. Kenzie was so much better with the animals than he had ever been. He loved them. Always liked riding. But Kenzie had a special talent that very few people had. She could break a horse faster than anyone he’d ever seen.

  “Jake,” Kicker called. He was kneeling over Boots, placing a wet blanket over the horse’s massive chest. When Boots saw Jake, he tried to get up, but howled in agonizing pain.

  “He’s hurt bad,” Kicker said. “I’m sorry.”

  Jake felt the sting of a tear in the corner of his eye. He knelt on the ground, putting his forehead to the old horse’s snout. “You have to stay still,” he whispered.

  “You need to look at this.” Kicker pulled back the blanket just above the front legs and Boots twitched. Blood trickled out of a small hole in Boots’ massive muscles. “I heard a gunshot. That is what caught my attention. When I got here Boots was rolling on the ground. I did what I could.”

  Jake stroked the horse’s nose, doing his best to keep him calm. The more he moved, the worse the damage could get.

  “This is a crime scene now,” Jake said, gently rubbing the beast’s belly as he watched Frank and another trooper walk around the far side of the barn.

  “Over here,” Jake yelled, not wanting to leave his horse’s side.

  “Anyone hurt?” Frank stood five feet away.

  “Just my horse,” Jake said.

  “Not sure if you have meet Sargent Josh Burdett. He was just reassigned from downstate.”

  “Haven’t had the pleasure.” Jake held his hand out. “Sargent Jake Prichard.”

  “I’ve heard of you,” Josh said. “SCUBA team leader. Sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances. We’re told you suspect the fire was set on purpose. Why?”

  “Because there is a bullet in my horse,” Jake said. He glanced over his shoulder, smoke still billowing out of the side window where Kenzie’s office was located. Boots grunted a few times as Kicker continued to place cold towels over the horses burns.

  “Excuse me,” Frank said to Kicker, pulling out his phone. “Can you tell me what you saw?”

  “I was over in that barn.” He pointed to one of the barns that housed many of the Thoroughbreds. “I saw flames coming out of the office. I was worried Kenzie was in there since she tends to all the personal horses, almost every day.”

  “What are personal horses?” Frank asked.

  “Any horse that isn’t used for business purposes. All of Mr. Prichard’s horses, mine, a few other higher up farm workers.”

  “Was Kenzie in the barn?” Frank asked.

  “No,” Jake said. “No one was in the barn.”

  “It’s going to be a while before it cools down enough for us to get in there,” Josh said. “Probably take a day or two for the fireman to determine the cause and where it started.”

  “Vet is five minutes out,” Kicker interrupted. “You’re going to have to let him decide if we need to put Boots down.”

  “Boots is a tough old man. He’s going to fine, aren’t you?” No way was Jake going to lose his horse now. “But we need that bullet. Its evidence.”

  “You think this has something to do with your dad being poisoned?” Kicker asked, but it was more of a statement.

  “State CSI unit is on the way,” Frank said. “Looks like the fire is just about out. I’ll go talk with the firefighters. I’ll let you know what they have to say. Make sure the vet sees me. I’m going to need to be present when he removes the bullet.”

  “Will do.” Jake sat on the ground. Boots' big dark eyes stared at him as he took a cool compress that Kicker had given him, gently patting down the burns on the horse’s belly “Who did this to you?” It seems the only witness to the poisoning and now the fire was Boots.

  * * *

  Kenzie stared out the window, but she couldn’t see the barn from the family room. Could only see it from the library, but Ethan decided it wasn’t good for her to be staring out the window the entire time, worrying, so they moved.

  Didn’t ease her worry.

  “Come on, Kenzie. Sit down.” The strong steady timbre of Ethan’s voice still hadn’t returned. He was recovering well, but his esophagus had been so badly damaged from the lye that the doctors were discussing surgery. “Elsie brought in some nice snacks.”

  “You do need to eat,” Jeanie, the nurse who barely ever spoke, said.

  “Standing there stressing isn’t going to make them come back any faster,” Stacey said.

  “I’m shocked you’re so calm. You’re husband just ran into a burning building and he’s not even a cop.” Kenzie hadn’t meant to sound condescending, but she’d texted Jake twice, and all she got back was that the horses were out and the fire was under control.

  “I wouldn’t say I calm,” Stacey said. “Normally, it’s me running into danger, not D
oug. But I know right now, there isn’t much I can do.” She held up her phone. “I’m sure you’re getting the same updates I am.”

  Kenzie glanced at her phone. “It’s been nearly an hour. What on earth could they be doing?”

  “Investigating,” Stacey said.

  “I should head down there. They could use my help with the horses.”

  “Jake told you he had it under control,” Stacey said. “We need to let the firefighters and police do their jobs. We’ll know something when there is something to tell.”

  “I don’t think it’s safe for you to leave,” Ethan said. “I’d feel better if you stayed here.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Kenzie relented and joined Stacey on the sofa. Ethan sat in the rocker, gliding gently back and forth. His face pale and he’d lost so much weight. She feared his days were shorter than the doctors had originally indicated.

  “Let’s lighten the mood,” Stacey said. “Can either of you tell me something I can embarrass Jake with at the station? We know almost nothing about him and I'd like just one thing that will make him squirm.”

  “Call him Goldilocks,” Kenzie said.

  “The picture is on the mantel.” Ethan wheezed. “Kenzie will you get it?”

  “Of course.” Kenzie quickly scurried across the room. “He’s got great hair.” She stood in front of the mantel, staring at the picture for a long moment, before handing it to Stacey and settling back into the sofa, shooting Jake another text.

  I’m going crazy just sitting here. I should be with the horses.

  Jake replied immediately.

  I’m glad you’re with my dad. He needed the company during something like this. The horses are in the pen. Kicker is going to move them to the east barn. Doug was a big help for a guy who knows nothing about horses. Heading to the house now. ☺

  “Oh my, he looks like a girl and he’s got great hair,” Stacey said.

  “His mother and I fought constantly about it,” Ethan said. “I cut it six months after she died. I felt very guilty, but he begged me to chop off those long locks.”