She was grateful for his silence.
Then he turned into the road to the Sunset. When they finally drove up to the house, he parked, then turned to her. “The Sunset’s not worth it,” he said harshly. “It’s not worth your life.”
“I made out my will at Alex’s today,” she said. “I left my share to Sarah. So it wouldn’t benefit anyone if … something happened to me. It would go back to the status quo.”
“Did anyone know what you planned to do?”
“No. I didn’t even think about it until Alex suggested it.”
His face was cloaked by the darkness. “There are copies?”
“He has one. I have two. I was going to keep one and mail the other to my partner in Atlanta. I left my share of the bookstore to him.”
He moved closer to her and took her hand in his. “I don’t know who would have tried to run you off the road. Or be responsible for the burglaries in Atlanta. I’ve had my problems with some members of this family, but I wouldn’t have thought any of them capable of something like this.”
“I considered going to the police, but there’s no evidence of anything. I thought they might have stopped by the hospital to take a report.”
“Not necessarily. Not if there wasn’t evidence of another car involved. We’ll report it in the morning.”
“Would they believe me?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Did anyone else see what happened?”
“I don’t think so. I told you a couple stopped to help. They saw a car pass, but they didn’t see it hit my car. And the car was pretty badly damaged when it went into the fence.”
“Still, I think we need to notify them.”
“They might blame you.”
He chuckled mirthlessly at that. “I don’t own a dark car.”
“If I were to report it, I would merely be throwing suspicion on every member of the family. I couldn’t do that, and then leave.”
“What about the insurance?”
“I went into a skid.”
He was silent.
“You don’t agree.”
“I don’t know, Jess. I don’t particularly care for the police. But I also don’t like what’s been happening.”
“Damn,” she said.
“Good. Now you’re angry.”
She wondered what prompted that remark. Had she looked cowed before? She tried to wipe away a tear before he saw it. “Rain,” she tried to explain.
He merely nodded, accepting what she wanted him to accept. He got out of his side of the truck and went over to hers. She waited this time, in no rush to descend, to move, to revive that sharp pain in her chest. Then the door opened and he reached out with two strong hands, helping her down. The rain was cold and she shivered, even though it was midsummer.
“I’m going to take you to my house and put you in a bathtub,” he said. “Then I’ll get your dog and some clothes.”
“Tell Sarah I’m all right.”
“You damn well are not,” he growled. “And someone’s going to pay for it.”
She tried to straighten, to walk alone, but she almost slipped in the grass. He put an arm around her and picked her up.
She’d read about a man picking up a woman as easily as a bag of groceries. She’d never quite believed it. She certainly never thought it would happen to her.
But neither had she ever thought that someone might intentionally try to kill her.
Her weight seem to have no effect on him and too soon they were inside his house. She felt instantly comfortable. Safe. She only hoped it wasn’t an illusion.
Ross set her down carefully. Timber had been at the door and now he sniffed the mud on her clothes, then backed away.
“Oh, darn, I repulse a dog.”
Ross chuckled. “Haven’t lost your spunk, have you? That’s what I like best about you.”
She raised an eyebrow dubiously. “Because I don’t run screaming when rejected by a dog?”
“No, because you don’t let anything get to you.”
She wasn’t quite sure how much a compliment that was. It didn’t say much about her femininity. She was shivering again, not quite sure whether it was because of a chill or the recent events.
He led her into a bathroom. It was larger than she would have expected in a ranch house, and she was even more surprised to discover it had a spa bath. She lowered her eyes to hide her surprise.
“After a long day in the saddle, it feels good,” he explained, and she knew he didn’t do that often.
He gave her a huge towel, turned on the water, then leaned down and grazed her cheek with his lips. Much to her chagrin, the tears started again, and he brushed them away. “Everything will be all right,” he said. “I swear it.”
Then he turned toward the door. “I’ll get your clothes and Ben. Timber will stay here with you.”
Guard her, he meant. She relaxed slightly. She would pit Timber against anyone.
The door closed behind her. She slipped out of her ruined clothes, then looked at herself in the mirror. A specter looked back at her. Her face was streaked with tears. Her hair had splatters of mud in it. Her midriff was already turning blue and purple from the blow of the safety bag. She looked dreadful. She closed her eyes and leaned against the sink.
After a moment, she straightened and sank into the bath.
Ross had never been so angry in his life, and he’d fought to keep it contained. He didn’t want her to see it. He didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was.
Those tears had nearly undone him. She’d not shed them when she was lost, nor when she told him about the rape. She’d been so damn determined and strong about everything that he had come to think of her as tough to the bone.
The vulnerability in those tears told him that she wasn’t as strong as she wanted everyone to believe. He’d realized they hadn’t come from fear as much as they had from the realization that someone she knew had tried to do major harm to her. It had been disillusionment, a crash from high expectations. He’d wanted to grieve with her, to share that personal agony.
His expectations had never been high. His disillusionment with life had been firmly instilled when he was little more that a toddler. But her illusions had apparently survived all her past had done to her. He didn’t want them destroyed now.
He wanted to kill someone himself.
The lights were on inside the house, which meant Sarah was waiting up. He was surprised, in fact, that she hadn’t already made it over to his place. The door was unlocked, as it usually was. He made a note that perhaps that should change. But then everyone in the family had a key.
Sarah was indeed up. She was sitting in a darkened part of the room. He was surprised that she hadn’t stood. She was usually all energy. But now her face looked strained and white. Ben had been sitting next to her, but now he padded over to Ross, his tail wagging slowly, not with the enthusiasm that was normal. Perhaps he knew something was amiss.
“She wasn’t badly hurt,” he said. “Bruised ribs, a few other bruises.” He paused. “It wasn’t an accident. Someone forced her off the road at the curve near McNutley’s place.”
“Oh no,” Sarah said, her face seemingly collapsing in on itself.
“She’s going to stay at my place tonight,” he said. “Since that attack in the attic, I don’t think she feels entirely safe in the ranch house. At least at my house she has Timber to warn her.”
Sarah’s mouth twisted. “I had so wanted her to be happy here. I had hoped …”
“I don’t know if she will want any part of the Clementses after this,” he said, his voice hard. “I sure as hell wouldn’t.”
“Does she know who?”
“She only saw a blur of a dark car,” he said. “Alex has that sports vehicle, which would be distinctive. Marc has a dark car, but so does Cullen and nearly every other member of the family.”
“You don’t think it’s one of them?”
“Who else would have an interest?”
<
br /> “Smith. The man trying to buy the Sunset.”
“That’s a hell of a stretch.”
“I prefer that.”
“I don’t,” he said bluntly. “You and I both know it’s someone with a more direct connection.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know, but I sure as hell intend to find out.”
“Are you going to the police?”
He watched her carefully. “What do you think?”
“I think we all have something to hide, but right now Jessie’s safety is more important than anything.”
“They could look back. A long way back.”
Sarah’s face paled.
“And it could wreck Marc’s campaign. Not that I give a damn about him.”
“But it wouldn’t be fair, would it? If he’s not involved.”
“I don’t care about fair as long as Jess is in danger.”
“The police might well look at you, too.”
“That’s a given,” he said wryly. “But I’m more worried about you.”
She winced. “I never meant to put that burden on you.”
“I know you didn’t. But we have to be careful.”
“Do you think it’s the ranch? It’s not worth Jessie’s life. I’ll sell it first.”
“If that is what they’re after, they’ve made a mistake.”
“Why?”
“She made a will immediately. She left her share to you.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open. Then her eyes filled with tears.
“Classy lady, isn’t she?” He said the words with pride.
“The book, then?” Sarah asked after a moment. “Could the attack have something to do with the book?”
“You said she didn’t have it.”
“I don’t think she has it. I asked her if Harding had left her anything and she indicated he didn’t.”
His heart lurched. “Indicated?”
He watched as she struggled to remember exactly what Jessie had told her. Her face told Ross she couldn’t.
“Well, we’ll puzzle it out later. I’ll talk to Jess and see what she wants to do in the morning.”
“I would like to see her,” Sarah said.
“She’s exhausted and hurting. When I left, she was going to take a bath. I think it’s best right now for her to rest. But could you get together whatever she might need in the morning?”
Sarah’s face brightened at the prospect of doing something. Ross wasn’t happy with the idea of her going upstairs when she looked so tired, but she needed something to do, a way to help. She didn’t need to feel the guilt that he knew was building in her.
He went out to the kitchen for ice, then to the liquor cabinet and splashed a measure of bourbon into his glass. He sipped it, welcoming its warmth. He felt cold. So damned cold. Then he looked down into Ben’s anxious brown eyes. He leaned down and ran his fingers through the dog’s thick coat.
“We’ll take care of her,” he said.
He’d just finished the drink when Sarah appeared, a small suitcase in her hand. “I wanted her to love it here,” she said.
“She does,” he said. “That’s why she voted the way she did. I don’t think the last twenty-four hours has changed that. The Sunset is in her blood. I could see it today.”
Sarah held out her hand to him, taking his in hers, clutching it. “Do whatever you must to protect her,” she said. “I don’t matter any longer.”
“You matter a great deal,” he said.
“Just remember what I said. Now take her things and the dog, and hurry back to her. She must be terrified.”
“Not quite,” he said. “Bewildered. A bit frightened. Angry. And, I think, sad that something she had so many hopes for is turning out to be a poisoned well.”
Ben was reluctant to follow him. The house was the last place he’d seen his mistress. He apparently figured that was the place to which she would return. Ross finally shifted Jessie’s suitcase to another hand, then picked him up, receiving an accusatory look for his pains. He liked the dog’s loyalty.
The door to the bathroom was still closed when he and Ben arrived. The dog had run to it, obviously sensing that his mistress was inside. He whined, ignoring Timber, who rose from his guard post just outside.
Ross knocked. He wanted to make sure she was all right.
“Ross?” Her voice was far stronger than it had been a few moments ago.
“Yes. Can I open the door and let Ben inside? He’s letting it be known it’s what he wants.”
Just then, Ben howled his dismay.
Then he heard a chuckle from inside. “Yep,” she said.
He opened the door and Ben squeezed through immediately, barking ecstatically as he saw his mistress. Ross waited a moment until it was quiet, then told her that her clothes were in the spare room.
Ross closed the door and took her suitcase into the extra room, laying it on the bed. Then he went into the kitchen. He poured some water into a pot for tea. He wished he could do more, but she needed rest now. He glanced at the clock. It was already two.
He heard the bathroom door open, then the door to the spare room close. Several minutes later she came out. Her hair was damp from steam, and tendrils curled becomingly around her face. She was wearing a robe with a hint of a nightshirt underneath.
She found his big easy chair and folded her body inside. “Thank you,” she said simply.
“You’re welcome.” He hesitated. “Do you want to talk about it? What you want to do?”
“About the police?”
“Yes.”
She sighed. “If I was going to do something, I should have done it immediately. I didn’t think anyone would believe me.”
“I think they would,” he said grimly. “At least, it would put them on notice.”
“If anything else happens, you mean?”
He didn’t like the way that sounded. But she was right.
“It could hurt Marc’s campaign. Cullen’s career. Your reputation. Whatever Sarah is hiding.”
His head jerked back at that, and it took him several seconds before he asked, “What makes you think she’s hiding something?”
“Your reaction just now.”
He thought he’d been pretty quick. Apparently not quick enough.
He sat down on the arm of the chair. “Jess, this could be about the ranch. It could also be about those damned fifty-year-old bonds.” He hesitated. “Do you know anything? Have you ever seen a book, a primer?”
Her eyes met his. They clouded. He knew she was weighing whether or not she could trust him. Hell, he wouldn’t trust anyone in this family if he were she.
But she hesitated long enough that he knew.
She had the damned primer.
twenty-five
Jessie stared up at him. His face was creased with worry, his mouth in a tight thin line. She sensed a barely contained fury. He looked lethal.
Should she bank everything on him? Including her life? Give up her last ace? But then that ace had done her precious little good. Perhaps it was time that everything came out in the open. And if she couldn’t trust him, if all her instincts were wrong, perhaps it was time to learn it now.
She certainly wasn’t doing very well on her own. And she couldn’t put Sol in danger, presumed or not. She was beginning to feel she was doing just that.
Ben was sitting at her feet. She patted her lap and he crawled up into it, one leg at a time, obviously uncertain whether it was permitted. Then he settled in her lap with a great sigh of contentment.
“Jess?”
“I have a primer,” she finally said. “Seventeenth-century. But I’ve looked through it. I even had it appraised. There’s nothing in it.”
“You didn’t tell Alex about it?”
“I haven’t told anyone until now.”
Surprise crossed his face. It disappeared quickly into a frown. “Why?”
“It’s one of the few things my father gave me. He wanted me to keep it safe. I
didn’t know it was important until recently, and then it was too important. Everyone wanted to know if my father left me anything. I just … well, I felt it was better to say nothing.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“I don’t think it’s the book everyone talks about,” she added hurriedly. “I’ve looked through it many times. There’s nothing in it. My partner looked at it. He said it was as clean a book for its age of any he’s ever seen. And he knows books. I don’t think it’s the book Heath referred to.”
Ross shrugged. “Maybe he never had time to put anything in it. I never put much stock in the tale, anyway. I didn’t think anyone else in the family did, either. But then, it wasn’t my treasure.”
“If the bonds were found,” she said, “wouldn’t they be involved in the trust? Wouldn’t they be split among the family?”
“I’m not a lawyer but I would think so,” he said. “But that’s only if someone admitted to finding them. Bearer bonds are just that. They belong to whoever has them.”
“If they still exist,” she said. “I still don’t think there’s a clue in the book.”
“You said your home and business had been burglarized recently,” he said. “Why wouldn’t someone have found it if that was what they were looking for?”
She had decided to trust him. She might as well trust him all the way. Jessie knew she needed help. Wonderland had become a minefield.
“It’s in a safe-deposit box.”
He looked slightly dazed. Then he chuckled.
She didn’t think the situation amusing at all. She scowled at him.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s just that I doubt anyone thought about that.”
“I think someone has,” she said.
The amusement left his face. “What do you mean?”
“When the bookstore was burglarized, someone took an extra set of keys I kept in the desk. It had the key to the safe-deposit box.”
“But they wouldn’t know which bank.”
“They could guess from my bank statements.”
He pondered that for a moment. “No one would be able to get into it, though.”
“I doubt it. Not unless I’m dead, but then I left my personal possessions, everything but the ranch, to Sol, my partner.” She didn’t say she’d changed the box.
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