by Donna Grant
“It’s something big, isn’t it?” Diana asked.
Naomi licked her lips. “Yeah.”
“We always urged you to stand up for yourself and those who needed you, so I’m not going to ask you to step out of this. But, baby, you need to be careful.”
“I will, Mom. I promise. Now that I know what kind of people I’m up against, I know what to look for.”
Her mother snorted loudly. “You’re smart, Naomi, so you know that the kind of people who could push a woman into an arena to be run over have no scruples. They will do anything to anyone to achieve their goals.”
Naomi swallowed as unease churned in her stomach. “True.”
“I heard a rumor that Brice Harper was also in a bit of an accident.”
“He was hit over the head, and his hand stomped on. The culprit also got away with the photos I printed.”
“Hm,” her mother said. “I was hoping you’d caught something on film. Can you print more?”
Naomi grinned. “Of course.”
“Then do it. Put them up everywhere. Make it so that if anything else happens to you or the Harpers or anyone else, everyone will know where to look.”
“But you can’t see anything in the picture.”
“Someone will recognize something.”
Naomi considered her mother’s words. “Momma, have I told you what a wise woman you are?”
“Not nearly often enough.”
“I’ll get it on a plaque for you,” she replied with a grin.
Diana laughed softly. “It’s so good when you come home. I’d hoped to see more of you this trip.”
“I can’t keep up with you,” Naomi exclaimed. “You run rings around me.”
“You should take some pointers from me. I could find you a man quick enough.”
Naomi shook her head, laughing. “Thanks. I’m doing fine on my own.”
“Obviously, if you’re at the East Ranch. Just promise you’ll stay in touch daily. If not, I’ll come out there myself.”
“I promise.”
“Good,” Diana replied. “Now go have fun and live a little. You deserve it since you’re always working so hard. And don’t tell me you don’t work too much,” she said before Naomi could argue. “I’m your mother, the wise and all-knowing.”
Naomi laughed again. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Love you, doodlebug.”
It had been forever since she’d heard her mother’s pet name for her. “Love you, too, Mom.”
The call ended. When she rose and looked at the door, Whitney was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest, her hair up in a messy bun, and a smile on her face.
“I don’t even need to ask how that call went,” Whitney said. “Diana always did have a way with words.”
Naomi rose and walked to her friend. “You look better this morning.”
Whitney wiped her hands over her face. “It feels really good to not be sitting down and putting on makeup. It was the smell of bacon that woke me.”
“Well, I’ll warn you that Ms. Biermann wanted to get you up earlier so y’all could leave.”
“Why?” Whitney asked with a frown.
“I don’t know. I don’t like that woman.”
Whitney’s lips twisted. “She’s not that bad.”
Naomi didn’t bother to argue. “I know you don’t have anything until after lunch. Do you think you’ll stay here until then?”
“I don’t think so,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’ve got to get home and start the long process of getting ready.”
“Then let’s get down for some breakfast before the guys eat it all.”
Whitney laughed as she linked her arm with Naomi’s. “You obviously haven’t been around many pregnant women if you’re concerned about the men. Abby is liable to take all of it for herself.”
“Oh. Good point.”
They raced from the room and down the stairs to come to a laughing stop with everyone in the kitchen looking at them.
Naomi pressed her lips together in an effort to stop laughing. “We were hungry.”
“Good thing I’m cooking for an army then,” Clayton said with a wink.
But Naomi’s eyes were only for Brice.
Chapter 18
There were just some days that remained in a person’s memory forever. Not a single event from that day. But that day itself.
Naomi’s excitement built during breakfast. Whitney laughed and acted like her old self. No one mentioned the accidents or that they knew about her assault. And Naomi would be forever grateful to everyone for that.
Well, everyone except Ms. Biermann. Naomi really didn’t like the woman, and the longer she was around her, the more she detested the chaperone.
For a short time, Naomi forgot that they were immersed in a conspiracy of epic proportions. She forgot that her friend had been raped. She forgot that Brice had been attacked. She forgot that she’d come close to being killed.
It was an enjoyable breakfast with an old friend and new ones. And Ms. Biermann.
When the chaperone asked Cooper to drive her back into town, Naomi was all too happy to see the woman leave. However, that meant Whitney was going with her.
“You sure you can’t stay?” Naomi asked one last time. “Play hooky and all that?”
Whitney looked at the clear sky and laughed. “I wish. I did some thinking last night. I’m through with pageants. I’ll finish my duties over the next month, but after that, I’m out.”
Naomi halted them and stared in shock at her friend. “What about winning the USA crown? What about the money?”
“Well,” Whitney said and rolled her eyes. “There is this old friend of mine who reminded me of who I was. It seems I needed a jolt back to reality.”
She threw her arms around Whitney and hugged her tightly. “Are you sure it’s what you want?”
“It’s what I need.” She leaned back and looked at Naomi. “I also plan to out the group who has … done those things to me and the other girls.”
“That’s good.”
Whitney’s smile was wide. “I thought you might like that.”
“Tell me who they are so we can help you.”
“No,” Whitney said and shook her head. “I’m going to do this on my own. Once I release their names, I’ll come to you and Brice and all the others affected by these monsters. Until then, leave things to me. Can you do that? I need to do this myself.”
Naomi hesitated. She didn’t want to walk away from this. Not because she didn’t think Whitney would carry through with her plan, but because she wanted to support her friend.
“I can do this,” Whitney assured her. “I have years of dirt on them. I know their names. And I have proof.”
Naomi’s eyes widened. “Proof.”
“And I’m going to use it,” she proclaimed proudly. “But I won’t tarnish the last weeks of my reign with it. I get to choose the time.”
“What if they come to you again?”
Whitney glanced over at the truck where Ms. Biermann waited. “I’ve thought of that. I plan to make sure I have cameras recording.”
Naomi nodded, impressed. This was the girl she’d grown up with. “Now I want to help.”
“You did,” she said. “You pushed me to see that what was done to me isn’t my fault. You made me realize just how far I’ve strayed from my path. I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror last night. I had a good cry, and I took a long look at myself. It’s time for a change.”
“Good for you.” Naomi was so proud of her.
They continued walking to the others, and Naomi noticed that Brice was staring at her. She pretended she didn’t see, but she was giddy for the day to continue.
When she was washing the dishes, Brice had come up behind her and leaned close to her ear before asking if she was still up for a ride.
“So,” Whitney said. “I gather you’re not coming back with us.”
Naomi pulled her eyes away from Brice. “Huh
? Oh, no. I’m staying for a ride.”
“On a horse or that cowboy who can’t keep his eyes off you?” Whitney asked with a knowing grin.
Naomi lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I haven’t decided.”
Whitney let out a loud laugh. “Oh, you most certainly have.”
They stopped next to the crew cab truck. Cooper and Jace were laughing with Clayton, Caleb, and Brice. Ms. Biermann was already in the front passenger seat.
Whitney turned her back to the woman and rolled her eyes before whispering, “Apparently, I’m being punished and made to sit in the back.”
Naomi stifled a giggled. They embraced once more before Whitney waved to Abby, who stood on the porch, and then she thanked everyone one last time before climbing into the truck.
Naomi turned away when Cooper drove off and came face-to-face with Brice.
“What are y’all going to do?” Jace asked as he looked between Brice and Naomi.
Caleb dragged Jace away, saying, “Let’s go.”
“To do what?”
“Something,” Caleb said.
Naomi smiled at Clayton as he followed Caleb and Jace into the house. Then her gaze slid to Brice.
“Do you know how much control it’s taken me not to drag you out of the house?” he asked.
She rocked back on her heels. “How much?”
“Everything I had,” he replied.
“It’s just us now.”
“Thank God,” he said and turned her toward the barn.
They walked in silence. There was a crazy mix of excitement and nervousness inside her. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to do a jig or throw up, and she was afraid she might do both.
It wasn’t as if other men hadn’t asked her out. She just hadn’t accepted any offers. But from the instant she’d seen Brice, she’d known there was something different about him, something that kept drawing her attention.
He brought her to the tack room, where rows of saddles were laid out before her. “Pick whichever one you want.”
Since her family had boarded horses, they had also kept the tack, but their room was never this impressive. She picked a well-worn saddle, blanket, and bridle, while Brice did the same. Naomi then carried them to London’s stall and placed the saddle on the ground as she grabbed a brush.
She walked into the stall, talking softly to the buckskin mare before she started brushing her. Naomi may not have been around horses for years, but they had been her life from the time she could walk until she left for college. It wasn’t something she would ever forget.
After checking the mare over to make sure there were no injuries, Naomi placed the saddle blanket onto the horse’s back. She carefully lifted the saddle and set it on the mare. One of her pet peeves was when people just threw the saddle on a horse.
Naomi took her time cinching the saddle before she adjusted the stirrups. Then she slipped the bridle over the mare’s head, happy to see that it was one without a metal bit.
By the time Naomi led London from the stall, Brice was waiting for her. She shrugged. “It’s been a while.”
“You were being careful. Nothing wrong with that,” he said. “Ready?”
She watched as he mounted a big bay gelding. Naomi patted London on the neck before she put her foot into the stirrup and reached for the saddle horn as she swung her other leg over the saddle.
Her right foot slipped comfortably into the stirrup as if she hadn’t stopped riding. She gathered the reins in her hand and took a deep breath.
“Where can we go?” she asked.
Brice shrugged and looked around. “Pick a direction.”
“Take me to your favorite place.”
“I can do that,” he said.
He clicked to his horse to start walking. Naomi hurried to follow him. After they had passed through a couple of gates, Brice nudged his horse into a trot. Not wanting to be left behind, Naomi quickly came even with him.
She was the one who let London shift into a gallop. Naomi laughed as the wind whipped through her air and the ground moved swiftly beneath her.
How in the world could she have given this up? Who in their right mind would leave behind something so freeing? And who wouldn’t quickly return home after seeing the error of their ways?
Certainly not Naomi.
Brice looked at her and grinned before he leaned low over the gelding’s neck. His horse leapt into a run.
“Come on, girl,” Naomi said to London.
The mare’s ears swiveled back to Naomi as she spoke. Naomi bent low as the mare quickly lengthened her strides into a run. Within moments, they caught Brice. He hadn’t been joking when he’d said that London was fast.
Naomi was in love with the mare. Her gait was smooth, her hooves fleet of foot, and her attention focused.
Suddenly, Brice halted his horse. Naomi sat up and tugged on the reins as she said, “Whoa, London.”
Naomi turned the mare around and trotted back to Brice, who had moved to an ATV driven by Caleb. There was something about the look Brice gave her that caused a chill to race down Naomi’s back. Caleb nodded before he drove off.
She reached Brice and frowned. “Everything okay?”
“We need to head back.”
“What is it?”
He studied her a long, silent minute. “There’s been an accident.”
“Let’s go.”
It wasn’t until they were running the horses back to the house that Naomi realized she hadn’t asked what kind of accident or who was involved. Her mind raced with possibilities. Was it her mom? Abby’s kids? Abby?
When they reached the barn, Brice jumped from his horse and came to her as she dismounted. “Leave the horses.”
“What?” she asked. “No.”
“Look,” he said and nodded to a man who walked up and took the reins of both animals.
Naomi swung her head back to Brice. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“Let’s go into the house with the others.”
She shook her head. “No. Tell me. If it was Abby, you’d already be inside.”
The back door of the house flew open as Jace rushed out. Caleb was right behind him. They jumped into Caleb’s truck and drove off so quickly that dirt and rocks kicked up.
Naomi’s eyes were drawn back to the house when Clayton came outside. He came to a stop when he spotted her and Brice. That’s when she knew. Whoever had been hurt was someone close to her.
“Tell me,” she urged Brice.
He held her gaze, his blue eyes full of sorrow and regret. “About a mile from the house, someone hit Cooper’s truck.”
“Okay,” she said with a nod. Car accidents happened all the time. “How bad?”
Brice took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Ms. Biermann was killed on impact.”
Naomi let that register as she struggled to pull air into her lungs. He hadn’t said Whitney was dead. That was a good sign, right?
“And?” she prompted.
“Cooper and Whitney are being rushed to the hospital now.”
Naomi tried to swallow. “Were either conscious?”
“No.”
“Are they critical?”
The fact that he hesitated was all the answer she needed. The world began to spin, but his arms quickly came around her.
“I can drive you to the hospital.”
She focused on his blue eyes and nodded. “I have to see her. And her parents. I need to call them.”
“Already being done,” he said as he led her to the truck.
She blinked, and they were driving down the road. She didn’t remember getting in the truck or leaving the ranch, but that didn’t matter.
She’d already lost one best friend to a car accident. She couldn’t lose another.
“Hang on, Whitney,” she whispered.
Naomi felt something tighten on her hand and looked down to find Brice’s injured fingers linked with hers.
Chapter 19
Brice sped down the road
on the way to the hospital. As soon as he’d seen Caleb drive up on the ATV, he’d known something had happened. He just hadn’t thought it would be something so … awful.
He glanced over at Naomi, who stared out the windshield, her face ashen. There was no telling what was going through her head, but he could take a guess. Because they were the same thoughts going through his.
“Where did the accident happen?” she asked.
“About a mile from the ranch.”
She nodded. “Right. You said that already. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he assured her.
Naomi licked her lips. “What happened to them exactly?”
“I don’t know specifics.”
“But you know more than you’re telling me.” Her head turned to him. “You’re taking us the opposite way.”
He shot her a quick look. “I am.”
“Because it’s that bad.”
“Because it’s that bad, and the road is blocked.”
She drew in a deep breath. “Knowing is better than the scenarios that keep running through my head.”
Brice hesitated, but he gave in despite his reservations. “A dump truck hit them.”
“How?” she pushed.
Damn. She was relentless. She’d pull it all out of him eventually, so he’d be better off just telling her. “They were t-boned. Danny said—”
“Danny?” she asked.
“He’s the sheriff and a family friend.”
Naomi nodded. “Go on.”
“He got the call about an accident and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Whoever had driven the dump truck was long gone, and to make matters worse, it was stolen.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. A moment later, she shifted in the seat to face him. “It’s these men, isn’t it?”
“We don’t know that.”
“Brice,” she said sternly.
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. It could be.” He slammed his free hand on the steering wheel. “Shit. It probably is.”
“They were trying to kill Whitney.”
Brice slowed to turn off the road and glanced at Naomi. “We don’t know that yet.”
“You mean you don’t believe that.” Naomi straightened and turned her head to look out her window. “I know it.”
