Hidden Threat

by Connie Mann

  Eve sucked in a breath as red-hot fury raced over her skin, burning up the bone-deep chill that froze her heart. The scumbag had been in Mama’s hospital room. And now he was involving Sasha? No. That Eve would protect Mama with her dying breath went without saying. But scaring her family went too far. “I’ll take care of this, Sasha. I can’t believe some slimeball threatened her,” she muttered, mind racing.

  “Whatever is going on, whatever hornet’s nest you’ve stirred up this time, somebody just brought the fight to the marina’s front door.” Sasha’s voice rose with every word. “Mama and Pop have been through enough. They can’t deal with this, too, Eve. You need to stop whatever it is you’re doing and make this go away.”

  It took every ounce of Eve’s self-control to keep the fury out of her voice. “I didn’t ask for it to begin with, Sash. Come on, give me a little credit here. Do you think I would deliberately put them in the line of fire?” Just the idea made her angry enough to wonder if there was steam coming out of her ears. She glanced up and saw Cole watching her, concerned, so she turned her back and kept walking.

  “I don’t think you intended to, no. But you did. So what are you going to do about it?”

  Eve didn’t care for the bossy tone any more than she had as a teen. “If I remember right, you brought plenty of it to their doorstep when you first came to town. I don’t recall us blaming you for that.”

  There was silence. “Touché, sis. Look, I’m worried. You need to make it go away before whoever this crazy person is decides to try to hurt Mama in some way.”

  Eve felt like she was in the shed again, with the air being squeezed from her lungs. That wasn’t going to happen. She’d never let something bad happen to Mama Rosa, something that was her fault. She’d never be able to live with herself. “I’ll figure something out. I’ll be in touch.”

  She hung up and started pacing, arms wrapped around her middle. Not Mama. Please, God, don’t let anything happen to Mama. But how to stop it? Especially when she didn’t know what it was about. But by threatening Mama, whoever was behind this had just lit up every single warrior instinct Eve possessed.

  On her next pass by Cole, he stepped up behind her and pulled her back into his arms, stopping her momentum. She felt antsy and twitchy and tried to jerk out of his embrace to keep pacing, but he simply tightened his hold. “Easy, easy. Slow down and take a breath.”

  He murmured quietly in her ear, and Eve figured he used that same soothing tone on his horses and cows. But she wasn’t an animal to be placated. “Let me go.”

  He pretended he hadn’t heard her as his calm voice tickled her ear. “Talk to me, Eve. Tell me what’s happening.”

  She pulled away, and this time, he let her go. She paced some more, trying to gather her thoughts, to think past the panic that made her want to run to try to escape it. Mama Rosa. Dear God, Mama Rosa. She had to protect her.

  Cole stepped in front of her, but didn’t try to touch her again. His eyes bored into hers, and the worry there, coupled with his obvious concern, made her stop. She took a deep breath. “Someone just called the marina and threatened Mama, if I didn’t stop doing whatever it is I’m doing.”

  “You mean investigating the problem with Celia’s water.”

  “That’s what I’m guessing. They didn’t say. They just asked how important my mother is to me.” Oh, dear God, no. Just saying the words brought a fresh wave of terror, and she stepped around him and kept walking, trying to calm down enough to think, to process. How dare someone threaten Mama? No. No way would she let anything happen to her.

  “Stay here at the ranch.”

  Eve stopped, spun around at his words. “What? No. I need to be with Mama, keep her safe.”

  “How will you protect her while you’re trying to figure out what’s going on? How will you keep looking for answers while you’re at the marina?”

  Eve felt like she was being ripped in two. She had to keep digging, had to figure out who was behind everything that was happening. But if she did, and left Mama alone and something happened to her . . . no. She couldn’t risk that. “Sasha and Jesse will help protect Mama while I look for answers.”

  “Of course. I have no doubt. But Jesse has a marina to run, Sasha is pregnant, and Sal . . . he’s not as young as he once was.”

  Eve swallowed hard. “You’re assuming whoever is doing this would actually hurt her.”

  “Are you willing to gamble Mama’s life that he won’t?”

  She wrapped her arms around her middle, chilled to her very soul. “Of course not.” There had to be a way to do both. “Nick.” She pulled out her cell phone and called him, told him about the threat. He was silent for a few moments, then said, “I don’t suppose I can convince you to stay with Mama while I try to figure out what’s going on?”

  “You know I can’t.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “Where are you now?”

  “Sutton Ranch.”

  “Stay there. You and Cole keep digging from your end. I’ll work from my end and spend nights at the marina with Mama. The rest of the family will circle around her during the day. If this person is working alone, they can’t be in two places at once, and that way we’ll keep you both protected.”

  He’d basically said the same thing as Cole. She still didn’t like it, but it made sense. She couldn’t just sit and watch over Mama. She needed the freedom to be able to figure this out, because Mama wouldn’t be safe until they did. “Let me get back to you, OK?”

  When she hung up, she turned back to Cole. “He offered to spend his nights at the marina, and he’d do what he could from his end. He thought my staying here was a good idea, so we could get to the bottom of whatever is going on.”

  “It makes sense. Nick and Jesse will keep an eye on things at the marina, keep your mama safe.”

  “And Sasha.” Her sister was no slouch in the taking-care-of-people-she-cared-about department.

  “Of course. Goes without saying.”

  Eve bristled. “No, actually, it doesn’t.” She and Sasha had been verbally patted on the head too many times to count by self-proclaimed macho men.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose like she was giving him a colossal headache. “Look, I meant no offense. You and Sasha are some of the toughest, smartest women I’ve ever met, no lie, but I also know that in this world, and especially in a town like Safe Harbor, a strong man is more of a deterrent than a woman. Doesn’t make it right. It just is.”

  Eve couldn’t argue with that because it was true, doggone it. Even though it chaffed like starched panties.

  “I think what happened to Celia’s water and what’s going on here at the ranch are definitely connected.”

  He met her eyes, his own troubled. “I agree. And I think you’re the connection. Or maybe the catalyst. Either way, you’ve made someone very, very nervous.”

  His cell phone rang. “Sutton. Hi, Doc. What? Say that again.” He listened for several minutes, his face getting darker by the second. When he hung up, he turned to Eve. “The vet says his office was broken into while his office tech was at lunch. File cabinets were ransacked. But when they put everything back, only one file was missing: the one with all the records from the Sutton Ranch herd.”

  Eve snapped her jaw shut, absorbing this latest news. Someone clearly had an agenda. But who? Did it really just come down to someone wanting Cole’s ranch? She opened her mouth, closed it again.

  Cole didn’t say anything, either, just stared off into the distance. Eve could see him thinking through the possibilities, just like she was. He finally looked at her. “I’ll follow you back to the marina to get your stuff, then get you settled here.”

  That got her back up. Even though she’d already decided to stay, she didn’t like him thinking she’d meekly fall in line. “I didn’t say I was staying.”

  He met her gaze, eyes hard. “You’re not stupid, Eve. Don’t play games. Whoever this is, they’re escalating.”

  Eve lifted her chin a
nd waited for him to continue.

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  Eve wasn’t sure what she’d expected him to say, but this blunt admission of his feelings shocked her all the way to her toes. This was Cole, high school football hero and the guy most likely to have girls throw themselves at his feet. But now, he was worried about her, the girl most likely to get arrested for protesting something.

  She cleared her throat, but still had no idea what to say, so she simply nodded and got into her car.

  Chapter 24

  Eve couldn’t deny the relief on Sasha’s face when she’d said she would be staying out at the ranch and Nick would be spending nights at the marina until they figured out what was going on. Back at the ranch, Eve stood on the porch and felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. She’d made the right decision.

  Alice could not have been more welcoming, and even Buzz hadn’t looked like he hated the idea. After supper, he and Cole had talked about taking shifts to keep watch, but Alice briskly dismissed the idea as ludicrous. She’d keep her shotgun by the bed, as always, and suggested they do the same.

  Eve wasn’t sure what to think of that. At first glance, Alice appeared to be a stereotypical southern mama who loved to cook and feed her family, though she turned fierce when it came to protecting the people she loved. But for all that, from what Eve had picked up on, she hadn’t stood up to her husband. Had the shotgun by her bed been Alice’s way to keep Hank in line? Eve shook her head. Alice was a complex woman, though clearly a kindhearted one. And her quilts were works of art.

  Eve looked up and saw a cloud of dust heading down the lane. Gradually she could make out Duane’s dusty black pickup barreling toward the ranch, and, as if on cue, Cole walked out onto the porch and stood beside her. The sight of him here, so completely at home, tugged on her heart in ways she was afraid to examine too closely.

  Duane skidded to a stop and lurched out of his truck. He stomped up the stairs and poked Cole in the chest, the smell of alcohol thick in the air. “What happened to Hector? Who beat him up?”

  Cole stepped out of the other man’s reach, eyes hard. “I don’t know. Hector won’t say.”

  Duane focused in on Eve and stabbed a finger in her direction. “I bet she had something to do with it. Whenever there’s trouble, she doesn’t seem to be far behind.”

  “Did you stop by for a particular reason, Duane?”

  “I came by to check on Hector. Someone has to look out for this ranch, since you’re doing a dang poor job of it.”

  Cole moved faster than Eve would have thought possible. Before the other man could blink, Cole had him by the shirtfront, pushed up against one of the porch’s support posts. “I am doing my level best to take good care of this ranch and everyone on it. You are entitled to your opinion, but I’ll thank you not to voice it in my presence.”

  He let him go, and Duane swayed for a moment before he found his balance.

  “Go ahead and check on Hector,” Cole said. “I was just heading that way myself. Then I’ll drive you home.”

  Duane glared at him. “If I need to go anywhere, I’ll drive myself.”

  “Not when you’ve been drinking.”

  The two men stared each other down. Duane looked away first. With a disgusted wave of his hand, he stormed off toward the bunkhouse. Cole followed, and Eve brought up the rear.

  She tried to give them a bit of privacy and couldn’t quite hear what was being said, but somehow, Cole had his uncle laughing before they made it halfway across road. Amazing, his way with people.

  As she followed them, Eve passed by Duane’s truck and saw some kind of leaves caught between the door and the frame. A quick glance confirmed that Cole and Duane weren’t paying her any mind, so she stepped over and opened the door. A clump of wilted leaves was jammed in the doorframe.

  But as she pulled them out, she realized these weren’t just any leaves. She peered closer and stiffened in surprise. Her brain kicked into overdrive. She was looking at a wilted clump of hemlock. Just like the leaves they’d found floating in the pond. Eve whipped out her phone and snapped a quick picture before she quietly closed the door again.

  Cole heard the sound and sent a questioning look over his shoulder, but fortunately, Duane didn’t seem to notice. Eve made a little “come here” motion with one finger, and Cole raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He and Duane walked into the bunkhouse, and a minute later Cole came out alone and hurried over.

  “What’s going on?”

  Eve thrust the clump in his direction. “You know what this is, right?”

  Cole looked at the leaves and bit back a curse. “Where did you get this?”

  Eve nodded toward Duane’s pickup. “It was caught in the doorframe of his truck.”

  Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “Doesn’t mean he’s responsible for the calves.”

  “Doesn’t mean he isn’t, either.”

  Eve spun toward the bunkhouse. “I want some answers.”

  Cole caught up to her and took hold of her elbow to stop her momentum. She swung back toward him. “Don’t you dare try to stop me with some lame-brained family loyalty garbage. I was there, remember?”

  “I’m not trying to stop you. But I need you to let me take the lead on this.”

  “Give me one good reason why I should.”

  “My property. My problem.”

  They stared each other down. Finally Eve looked away. She didn’t like it, but he had a point. “Fine.” She waved a hand in that direction. “After you.”

  Without warning, he leaned over and planted a quick kiss on her lips. “If you aren’t cuter than a June bug when you’re mad.”

  Eve stiffened at the condescending words, but then she caught his grin and realized he was teasing. Maybe. Since the look he shot her was hot enough to melt paint, she decided he meant it as a compliment.

  By the time she gathered her wits about her, Cole had his hand on the doorknob, waiting for her. As soon as she caught up, he strode through the door and into the living room, earning a startled glance from Hector, whose face was turning more colors with every passing minute.

  Cole walked past him and stopped in front of his uncle, who slouched in a recliner, beer in hand. He thrust the leaves under his nose. “You want to explain this?”

  His uncle sat up in surprise, sloshing beer over the front of his T-shirt. “What are you accusing me of now, boy?” His eyes focused on the leaves, and Eve watched him visibly pale.

  Gotcha, old man, she thought. Now, here comes the part where he tries to explain it away.

  Cole wouldn’t let him look away. “You know what this is.”

  “’Course I do. It’s hemlock. Found some down by my pond and been clearing it out, so no animals get hold of it. Or the neighbor kids, always cutting through my property.”

  “If a cow gets hold of it in early gestation, she can birth a deformed calf.”

  Eve watched Duane’s face, saw the flicker of fear before he exploded out of the chair, clutching the beer can in one hand, pointing with the other. “Are you accusing me of feeding it to your cows, boy? Are you crazy?” He hitched a thumb in Eve’s direction. “Or you just listening to this busybody tree hugger’s nonsense and turning on your own kin? I told you she was trouble from the day she showed up in Safe Harbor.” He stalked toward the door. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

  Eve couldn’t believe Cole just let him walk out the door. She waited until it closed behind Duane before she said, “Seriously? That’s it?”

  His voice was clipped. “If you know of a way to prove it was Duane, I’m all ears. Otherwise, all we have are speculation and circumstantial evidence.”

  “And the look on his face when he saw the hemlock.”

  “I saw it. But it doesn’t prove a thing. Maybe he did it—although I can’t for the life of me think why he would—or maybe he knows who did.”

  “He wants the ranch pretty bad, boss,” Hector said.


  Eve had forgotten about him, all her frustration focused on Cole.

  “And he has been telling everyone around town that he plans to get it, too, and turn it back into the place it used to be.”

  “It used to be on the brink of foreclosure,” Cole snapped.

  Eve felt the puzzle pieces swirling around in her head and tried to fit them together just right to make the whole picture clear, but so far, it was still a random jumble of disconnected information that may or may not matter at all.

  Cole looked Hector over. “You holler if it gets worse.”

  “Sure thing, boss,” Hector said, but Eve suspected he’d writhe in pain before he asked Cole for help. By the look on Cole’s face, she figured he thought the same.

  By the time they left the bunkhouse, Duane’s truck was gone, and so were any remaining hemlock leaves.

  Chapter 25

  The sound of boots pounding down the hallway roused Eve from a fitful sleep. She glanced at her phone and realized two things: it was three o’clock in the morning, and the boots and muttering came from Cole. When she heard him ratchet a shell into his shotgun, she flew out of bed and into the hallway, not surprised to see his mother there as well, pulling on a robe, shotgun in hand.

  “What’s going on?” Eve asked. Her heart rate kicked into overdrive, not just from the jolt out of sleep, but from the rock-hard expression on Cole’s face.

  “Not sure yet. Might be rustlers. Go back to bed. Both of you.”

  Rustlers? Here? In Safe Harbor? This wasn’t exactly the Wild West.

  “I’m going with you.” No way would she let him face this alone.

  Cole stopped, sent her a look that could freeze ice. “Stay here. I have enough to worry about without you underfoot, too.”

  Eve reared back as though he’d slapped her face. “I can help.”