by Linda Conrad
He turned a dazed look in her direction. “Are you okay?” His question sounded rough, ragged through his panting breath.
“I’m fine. And you? Any still-burning spots on your clothing?”
He opened his mouth to answer when a jangling sound came from inside his jacket. “My phone?”
“Answer it.”
Pulling his SAT phone free, he handed it to her. “You talk.”
She answered and discovered Travis on the other end. “What happened?” he asked, sounding breathless. “We heard an explosion and can see the flames from here. Are you at Colt’s? What can you see?”
“Colt’s trailer is no more. Someone planted a bomb and we were nearly trapped inside at the time it went up.”
A moment of heavy silence told her Travis was at a loss for words. “Are you sure it was a bomb? You two okay?”
“As for the bomb, I’m positive. It was set with a trip wire to kill us. And as for our condition, I’m not totally sure yet. But I know Colt’s pickup will never be the same. Can you send someone to drive us?”
“Hang on. I’ll be there. Do either of you need a doctor?”
“We’ll need more light to be absolutely sure, but we’re both on our feet.”
She shut off the phone and handed it over to Colt. “Your brother is on the way.”
He took the phone from her but she noted his hand was still shaking.
“Let’s sit somewhere while we wait.” She hoped to hell he wasn’t going into shock.
The fire still lit up the night skies while she turned in circles looking for somewhere flat. She found a boulder that was flat enough and dragged him down to sit beside her.
Colt settled, then shifted to look back up the hill at the slowly dying fire consuming his home. “Son of a bitch. Someone tried to kill us. Twice in one night.”
“Yeah.” She really wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
Apparently neither was Colt. They sat in silence, listening to the fire popping and crackling on the hill above them. But it took only about ten minutes for Travis and his hands to arrive.
Soon the place swarmed with vehicles. Barrett Johnson came first and quickly ushered the two of them into the backseat of his SUV. When other Bar-C hands came roaring up, several of them jumped from the backs of pickups, ready to shovel dirt on the fire.
The Bar-C had its own brand of fire department. But there was nothing left to save.
“Man, someone did a number on Colt’s mobile home.” Standing to the side of the SUV beside their open door, Travis lifted his Stetson and blew out a breath. “You two need to be checked out at the hospital?”
Colt found his voice first. “No. Take us to Sam’s. I have a key and I know the security code. We’ll be okay there.”
Barrett walked up to the SUV, gingerly holding her slightly singed duffel with one hand and Colt’s shotgun with the other. “Not sure these are worth saving, but maybe you can salvage something.”
“Okay,” Travis agreed. “We’ll all go to Sam’s for now. At least to get you cleaned up and checked out.” He spun toward his SUV but then turned back to say, “And I want to know who you think did this.”
Lacie knew Travis was thinking of her stepfather, because he’d never once volunteered to call the sheriff’s department to report the bomb or fire. This investigation of Colt’s had gotten out of hand. But maybe, just maybe, it would be for the best.
Stir a beehive and you could end up with honey. If they’d made people nervous enough, maybe they would finally get to the bottom of the murder. All they had to do was live through it.
*
Several hours later, Colt stepped out of his second shower of the night. Travis had called Sam in California earlier to explain what happened, and their oldest brother volunteered his house and hospitality.
In moments Colt had dressed himself in Sam’s borrowed clothes. He’d had to roll his brother’s jeans hem once and the only shirts of Sam’s that fit him were loose Tshirts. His oldest brother was a couple of inches taller and a lot leaner around the chest. But Colt felt much better because at long last he’d managed to get rid of the pungent smell of smoke that had permeated his entire body since the blast. The clothes he and Lacie had been wearing would be consigned to the trash heap.
By the time he walked into Sam and Grace’s kitchen, he felt better and found Travis cooking bacon at the stove. The smell coming from the perking coffeepot made his stomach growl. Two o’clock in the morning and he’d just remembered he and Lacie hadn’t eaten a thing since early yesterday.
She sat at the kitchen table with Barrett and looked up when he came into the room. “How’re you feeling?”
With a bruise on her cheek and her hair singed at the ends, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He breathed a little easier every time she was close.
“Like someone beat me up. But nothing serious.” He had a bruise on his back the size of a baseball and a small cut on his chin that would make shaving difficult.
Still, they were alive with no broken bones and that was the best he could’ve hoped for.
Before he eased into a chair at the table, he asked, “You need any help, Trav?”
“Got it handled.”
Lacie watched him carefully as he sat down. “He wouldn’t let Barrett or me help either.”
“No need,” Travis said as he brought a couple of plates to the table. “I’m the best bacon-and-egg cook around. You guys can’t compete with my skills.”
Colt nodded as his brother set a plate before him but held in the smile. “I remember your cooking skills, bro.” He turned back to Lacie. “Maybe bacon and eggs are within his range, but don’t ask him for anything complicated.”
After their mother’s death and father’s incarceration, all of the Chance boys had been forced to learn to cook. It was the only way to survive. Oh, they’d taken a few lessons from a bunkhouse cook. But if they’d wanted to eat, they had to feed themselves.
Travis set the last two plates before Barrett and himself then sat down. “Right. So you and Lacie managed to live through two attempts on your lives. You think this was related to your private investigation? Or are you more of a mind that these attacks are coming from the gunrunners we believe are occupying our county?”
Colt could only shrug. “I really don’t know. But if I had to guess, I’d put money on it being the investigation.”
“Hmm.” Travis appeared thoughtful as he chewed his food. “Either way, tomorrow I’m giving my friend Jeff Duncan at the Texas Rangers a call. We need their help.”
“Will they come without the sheriff knowing?” Lacie broke in with a good question.
“Jeff will be willing to conduct a quiet investigation of his own on the gunrunners.” Travis tilted his chin toward her. “We’ll see what he thinks about the other thing.”
Colt wanted to talk about something else. “Barrett, while you’re here, can you tell us what you remember from the time right before my mother died? We understand you were good friends with my father. What do you know about Sheriff McCord during that time? Did he ever come on to my mother?”
Barrett set his fork on the empty plate before him. “I worked for your father, with him, to build up the ranch and save the land he’d inherited. But I also partied with him and Ellen on occasional Saturday nights. I remember the sheriff making a fool of himself lots of times. He was pushy and a bad drunk, especially after he’d married Lacie’s mother. I remember that real well.”
“So you were good friends with our father? You knew him well?” Colt worried about asking this next question in front of Travis, but it had to be done.
Barrett nodded and took a slug of coffee.
“Tell us the truth. Did you ever hear of my father cheating on my mom? And do you think he could have killed her in an angry rage?”
The whole table got quiet and suddenly no one paid any attention to their food.
Barrett hung his head and stared into his coffee mug. “This ain’
t easy to say. But there was a time when Jake, uh, might’ve strayed a bit. Him and your mother went through a bad patch. Happens in every marriage, I understand.”
Barrett shot a glance over toward Travis, whose mouth was hanging open, then looked at Colt. “Your mother knew. I think he must’ve confessed to her. And she forgave him. Can’t say I knew it to happen more than the once.”
Colt’s throat was so dry he had to clear it twice to speak. “And how about the angry rage? Does that sound like my dad?”
“Not a chance. You remember how he was. When Jake was mad about something or someone, he got real quiet. If it was bad, he plotted to get even. I never saw him show his anger. Never.”
Not knowing what to say to that, Colt absently shook his head but couldn’t seem to move otherwise. He was getting some of the answers he needed. But this might be more information than he and his brothers could handle.
Lacie scooted her chair back and stood. “Thanks for telling us, Barrett. Is everyone done? I’ll do the dishes.” She started collecting plates.
Barrett was on his feet in an instant. “Oh, no, ma’am. That’s my job.” He took the dishes from her hand and strode to the sink.
Travis was next up. He put a hand on Colt’s shoulder and gave him a supportive squeeze.
“You’re doing the right thing, brother,” he said in his quiet way. “You need to ask these questions. But you also need to watch your back. It’s all right if we have to give up some of the memories of our parents. There’ll still be plenty good times to remember. But it’s not all right for you or Lacie to become martyrs to the cause. Stop pushing so hard and let the rest of us help you.”
Colt drew in a deep breath and stood. “I can’t stop pushing. Not when we’re getting close. I need to clear Dad’s name.”
He turned to address Lacie. “So he strayed once. That doesn’t make him a monster. Or a murderer. But it’s up to you, Lace. If you want out, for any reason, just say the word.”
Lacie walked over and took him by the hand. “We’ve been through a lot today. I’m not sure we’re thinking clearly. Let’s get some sleep and talk about it more tomorrow.”
Thank God for her. Somehow she always knew the right thing to say. He’d been holding his breath and now released it and stood a little taller.
Travis broke in, saying he’d help dry the dishes and then he and Barrett would let themselves out. “Get some rest. I’ll station a couple of hands as guards. And call me tomorrow. We’ll talk about where to go from here.”
Arm in arm, he and Lacie climbed the stairs he remembered so well from his childhood. “Want to take a spot in my bed?” he asked as they reached the guest rooms. “I’ll rest easier knowing you’re okay.”
“You won’t get any rest at all if we’re in the same bed. I’ll stick to my own for tonight.”
She was right about that. Like she was usually right about everything. But he didn’t have to be happy about it.
But she did say for tonight. It was enough to give him hope. And that would have to do for now.
Chapter 8
Lacie opened her eyes slowly, took a moment for things to orient themselves and remembered she had fallen asleep in a guest room at Colt’s brother’s house—their family homestead. Sitting up, she tried to clear the cobwebs of a nasty old dream out of her head.
But echoes of the dream, nightmare really, refused to die. And she knew why.
They were closing in on her stepfather’s motive for killing Colt’s mother. Being this close to arresting and finally putting the man where he’d belonged after all these years had stirred up her ugliest memories.
She sat at the edge of the bed, gazing out the window to find the first faint glow of bluish light announcing dawn. Too early. But there would be no more sleep for her now.
She couldn’t rid herself of the dregs of a nightmare she hadn’t had for years. Despite her efforts, the sights and sounds of her childhood came back to haunt her in a big way.
Don’t worry, Lacie, her stepfather had said after she’d put her mother to bed one night long ago. Your mother will never remember any of this. But I’m here to take care of you.
Even as a naive preteen, Lacie had known what he’d really meant. That night she’d locked herself in her room and listened terrified a few hours later as he’d tried the door handle.
He would take care of her all right. But not if she could help it. And not if he couldn’t reach her. She’d managed to avoid him for several years after that.
Until the night after graduation when she’d been awakened by the feeling someone was in her room. Lacie. Lacie, were the deep whispers that came through the darkness.
Before she could think, a rough, calloused hand landed on her arm. You graduated from high school today, little girl. And I intend to help you celebrate. It’s past time you had your first lesson in real life.
Lacie would never know how she managed to escape the house that night. Or how she found her way outside with only a blanket around her shoulders. But she’d taken cover in a clump of bushes next door. All through that night and part of the next day she stayed put until she saw her stepfather leaving for work.
Regretting so much. Not saying goodbye to Colt. Not being able to care for her slowly fading mother. She’d had little choice but to sneak back into the house late that afternoon, to hurriedly pack a bag and grab her little bit of savings before leaving Chance for good.
Hitching a ride out of town was easy. Finding a way to live after that, not as much.
But she’d done it. With help from so many people. Thank heaven for the kindness of strangers.
The only way she knew how to pay them all back was to become the best sheriff’s deputy she knew how to be. And she had. So why then had she come back to Chance?
Colt was the reason she’d given herself at first. And he was a big part of it. But deep down, she knew better. She’d come for justice.
But getting justice could not mean risking Colt’s life in the bargain. She loved him. Had always loved him. And she would rather her stepfather get away with murder than cause any serious harm to Colt.
How could she make everything turn out right in the end?
The more she thought of Colt, the more confused she became. All she knew for sure, all she could think about, was that she didn’t want to go one more day without making love to him.
He wouldn’t be her first, the way she’d always dreamed. No, a really good-looking but self-absorbed guy in junior college had taken care of that little chore. Maybe her relationship with Colt wouldn’t last, but the thought of the two of them making love was one dream she wanted to make come true.
Wearing only a sweatshirt and underpants, she tiptoed out of the room and padded down the hall in her bare feet. Colt’s door was standing open and when she peeked in, she discovered his bed empty.
She checked the kitchen and front room and, finding nothing, began to worry. The last place she thought to look was on the wide, covered front porch. She hadn’t expected to find him outside, but there he was, sound asleep in the double-wide swing.
With her heart pounding triple time, she went to him. Had his mind been as jumbled as hers during the night? Was he out here because he couldn’t sleep and sought refuge in the cool early-spring air?
Kneeling beside the swing, she gazed at the man she’d loved for most of her life. They were alike in so many ways. Too bad they weren’t of the same mind on the important stuff.
Still, she refused to spend the rest of her life wondering what it would be like to make love to him. She reached out and touched his shoulder.
*
Colt woke up when someone took his shoulder. Opening his eyes and sitting up, he was ready to clock whatever brother felt it necessary to show up again this early.
But when he focused, he was stunned to find Lacie bending over him. “What’s wrong? Why are you awake?”
He was on his feet with his hands on her shoulders in the next instant. Checking her over in the d
im light, he didn’t notice anything amiss in her expression.
“Nothing’s wrong. I couldn’t sleep. Why are you outside? Are you okay?” She stood gazing at him in her bare feet, sweatshirt and—underwear?
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to understand. “I’m fine. Like you, I just couldn’t sleep in that bed.”
She tilted her head up, and the look she gave him changed everything. Suddenly he wanted her. Lord have mercy. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.
And the expression in her eyes said she wanted him, too. He’d dreamed of this, of the two of them together, since he’d been fifteen years old. Now that the time seemed right, he didn’t know how to make the first move.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to.
She looped her arms around his neck and moved in close. “Last night reminded me of how short life can be,” she whispered against his lips. “Make love to me, Colt.”
He couldn’t have said no if he’d had a gun to his head. Nothing stood in his way now, so he gave in to both their needs and opened his mouth over her plump, sensual lips. Desire. Healing. Giving her everything he had. The growing hunger nearly cost him sanity.
“Please,” she begged while he desperately tried to douse the heat long enough to keep them safe.
Just a moment more, my love. “Come back to bed,” he urged as he pulled her toward the front door.
Somehow he managed to get them inside and lock the door behind them. But their climb up the stairs was a blur of desperate kisses and silken touches. Nothing seemed real as they removed each other’s clothes and made it to his queen-size bed. He even managed to find the condom he’d been saving for just this occasion and suited up before finding himself on his back with her kneeling above him.
He reached hands out to the lush curves he’d needed to touch for so long. The woman of his dreams: warm, naked and more than willing. Vowing to absorb every moment, he reveled in stroking his fingers across her satin skin while watching her expression for any signs of distress.
