Betrayal in the Badlands

by Dana Mentink

  “You wanted Nora gone because she wasn’t suitable, and you helped cover up the crime because you wanted to save Dad’s career.” He spat out the words. “You had Cassie killed because of your own ambition. I loved her, and you had her killed.”

  She held out a hand. “No, it wasn’t like that, please, honey.”

  “It was exactly like that. It’s always been like that. You’ve never been happy as a rancher’s wife or a rancher’s mother. That’s why you pushed Dad into politics, that’s why you shoved me into law school and that’s why…” His voice broke. “You’re responsible for killing the only two women I ever loved.”

  Sheila’s mouth moved but she didn’t speak.

  John turned to Logan and Isabel, a look of utter defeat on his face. “I’m sorry. I was wrong about everything.” He stroked the horse tenderly and walked away.

  “Wait, John,” Sheila cried. “I’m so sorry, honey. Please don’t leave. I need to make you understand.”

  John continued on until he was swallowed up by the darkness.

  She looked at Logan. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Me, too, Sheila,” Logan said. “I trusted you both and we almost died for it.”

  With a pained look on his face, Bentley pulled Sheila’s arms behind her back and snapped the handcuffs into place.

  Isabel made sure Blue Boy was settled comfortably into the barn with extra feed and a blanket, along with Echo and Striker, who had been brought home by the Moonlight Ride volunteers. They’d left a note tacked to the front door that, in spite of everything, the Quinns wanted to discuss buying the horses when Isabel was feeling up to it.

  The bandage applied by a chagrined Dr. Lunardi at the clinic chafed against her sleeve. He hadn’t exactly apologized for missing the real cause of Cassie’s death, but he took gentle care in cleaning her wound.

  Despite her meticulous attention to the exhausted Blue Boy, she returned twice that night to check on him, passing by Logan’s trailer. The second time she’d heard him on the phone. She knew he was making preparations to leave.

  She wasn’t sure why he hadn’t already taken the trailer back, since Autie was arrested and Carl and Sheila Trigg were, too. He loved her, she knew, and the thought brought her a bittersweet comfort. She would have that to hold on to for the rest of her life. He loved her and she loved him, but love didn’t always keep two people together.

  Poor John, she thought as she sat sipping tea in the front room of the tiny house, waiting for the sun to rise. He really had loved Cassie. Maybe if things had been different, she would have grown to love him, too, and they could have settled down and made Cassie’s dream come true together.

  The sky swirled with a myriad of purples and reds.

  If she could bottle this moment, the perfect sunrise, the stirring of the horses in the stable, the nearness of a man she loved desperately, if she could gather it all into a place where she could draw the feelings out and steep herself in them, she knew she could find joy in each day God had in store for her.

  The knock at the door didn’t startle her. It seemed as though all her fears had been left behind in the Badlands. She found Logan on the step.

  “Morning. I saw the light on. Figured you were up.” He avoided looking at her, hands shoved into his pockets.

  “Come in for some coffee.”

  He followed her into the kitchen. “Feeling okay?”

  “Sore and banged up, but the hot shower was better than any medicine. Where’s Tank?”

  “With Bill.” He chuckled, turning the mug in his hands. “I’m gonna miss that dog.”

  She blinked. “Bill’s going to keep him?”

  Logan nodded and she thought she saw a tiny quiver in his mouth. “Yeah, Bill’s his master, really, and Tank loves him. Dog’s good for Bill. He only gave him to me on loan while he got his head together after his partner’s death.”

  She sighed. “Tank loves you, too.”

  He took a breath. “All for the best, anyway.”

  It was. He wouldn’t be able to take Tank with him back to the Air Force. God was tending to all the details for Logan to leave. Her heart squeezed. “I’m glad it’s all working out.”

  “Look.” He let out a sigh. “I need to apologize to you. I thought I knew the Triggs. I really never conceived they were capable of what they did. I was blinded by my friendship with them.”

  “No need for an apology. Even their son had no idea.”

  “I believed them and it put you in danger. I’m sorry.”

  She wanted to erase his sorrow. “Really, there’s no way you could have known. Don’t punish yourself.” She handed him some coffee. “The Quinns want to take the horses.”

  “That’s great,” he said, voice flat.

  She took a deep breath. Saying it out loud for the first time would make it real. “But I’m not going to let them.”

  He stopped with the coffee cup halfway to his mouth. “Why?”

  “I’ve decided to stay here and keep the ranch. I’m going to make it what Cassie wanted it to be.”

  His looked shifted from amazement to concern. “You don’t have to do that, just because of everything that’s happened.”

  “I know. It’s not out of guilt. I love the horses and I feel like I’ve been given a gift, a dream that I can embrace, a place where I finally belong. Too bad I had to find that out the hard way.” She tried a laugh, but his face was so serious. “Logan, what are you thinking?”

  He put the cup down carefully. “I’m thinking that I’m the luckiest man in South Dakota.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I made a phone call.” He cleared his throat. “I turned down the trainer job.”

  She gasped. “Why? It’s your dream.”

  “It started out that way. When I was injured, I couldn’t accept it. I focused my entire life on getting back what I felt was taken from me. Until now.”

  She was too confused to speak.

  The excitement in his voice was electric, his eyes shone. “It took being lost in the Badlands and being almost blown up and watching you suffer so badly to open my eyes, but now I finally see it. I didn’t want to trust again after Nancy, didn’t want to take responsibility for my failings, but I’ve got a new dream now, and it’s better than anything I’ve ever imagined.”

  Hardly daring to believe it, Isabel whispered, “Tell me, Logan.”

  He took her hands in his. “I’ve decided to stay here, to really commit my whole heart to this wild state. Maybe I’ll make the contractor business work, or maybe I’ll find something else to do, but I’m not going back to pararescue. I was hoping I could change your mind about going back to L.A.”

  His hands were warm, face close to hers.

  “And there’s one more thing, the most important thing. God showed this stubborn solider the blessing he had right before his eyes. I love you, Isabel. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone or anything in this entire crazy world. I want us to get married and build a life together. If that means helping you run this ranch, then I’ll sign on for that, too.”

  “But…” she managed. “You—you said you’d rather ride a tank than a horse.”

  He grinned. “Did I ever tell you my nickname? The one I got from the guys on my squad?”

  “No.”

  He laughed. “They called me Cowboy. Now if that isn’t a sign that I should learn to love those ridiculous animals, I don’t know what is.”

  She pulled away, body shivering, hands pressed to her flushed cheeks.

  Logan moved to her. “What is it? Did I move too fast? Did I misunderstand?”

  Through her tears she saw his face, lined with worry, scraped and bruised from their adventure, the perfect face. “I love you, too. So much. Forever.”

  The smile lit up his eyes as he bent to kiss her.

  Dear Reader,

  The Badlands of South Dakota appear to be a desolate place, harsh and unforgiving. It is here that Logan and Isabel will fight for survival against a
man who wants them both to disappear. But the Badlands are also a place filled with life, an environment so completely unique that it proves to be a crucible where Isabel and Logan will discover the essence of who God meant them to be.

  As I researched this area, I was amazed at the way God created such a breathtaking landscape and uniquely fashioned his creatures to flourish there. It reminded me that we are designed by Him to live here, to lift each other up and walk through this dangerous world together, under His watchful eye.

  Thank you for taking your time to read this book. I pray you will find it entertaining and uplifting. I treasure contact with my readers. If you would like to send a comment or question, please visit my Web site at www.danamentink.com.

  Fondly,

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  Isabel regrets her strained relationship with her sister. Why is it sometimes harder to mend broken relationships with family than with friends and acquaintances?

  The bond between animal and human can be a strong one. Do you have an animal that has enriched your life?

  Logan helped Cassie’s mother, a complete stranger. Have you ever received help from someone you didn’t know? How did they reach out to you?

  Autie says, “The truth will hang around your neck like the heaviest of stones.” How would Autie’s worldview be different if he accepted Jesus as his savior?

  Logan prays, “Lord, You know that’s the answer for me.” What do you think about Logan’s prayer?

  Nancy’s betrayal hurt Logan deeply. Have you ever experienced betrayal? Were you able to overcome the hurt? How?

  Both Logan and Isabel made choices that pulled them away from God. How can we know if our own choices are staying within the boundaries of God’s plan for us?

  Logan feels that horses are more humane than humans, in the way they integrate outsiders into their world. What do you think about this statement?

  Isabel comes to believe that if you keep people shut out, you pay a terrible price. What are the ways we keep other people at arm’s length?

  What do you feel is your God-given mission in your own corner of the world?

  Will Isabel be able to make peace with the loss of her sister? Why or why not?

  How can our relationship with God help us reconcile unresolved conflicts in our lives?

  What challenges are ahead for Logan and Isabel?

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-6945-7

  BETRAYAL IN THE BADLANDS

  Copyright © 2010 by Dana Mentink

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.

  ® and TM are trademarks of Steeple Hill Books, used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

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