Drake parked the truck and reached in the back to grab the lightweight blanket they’d just bought. He put his arm around Janice’s waist and guided her through the trees to the river’s edge. He spread the blanket in the shade from the overhanging trees.
Janice took off her boots and put her feet into the water. “Oh, it is cold.” There were little rocks and sand under the swift-moving, shallow water. Several birds chirped in the trees and the sound of the river gurgling across rocks added to nature’s symphony. Overhead, a few clouds drifted across the blue sky. Drake sat on the blanket and watched her.
“Come sit with me,” he said.
She stepped out of the water and joined him. He grasped her hand and pulled her down beside him.
“Will you be happy here?” He threw out his hand to encompass the empty land around them.
“Six months ago, I’d have said no. I never understood Samantha’s love of the wide open spaces, and I’m not much of a cowgirl. I won’t be until I learn to ride better.”
Drake laughed. He ran his finger down her forehead and nose, then kissed her lips. “What changed your mind?”
“You, and realizing I didn’t want the life my parents had, or the one I’d visualized for myself with my first fiancé. We were goal-oriented. No children for at least five years, and then only one. Jobs first, always. Then I watched Samantha and Jackson with their family, the happiness they’d created.
“And a lot of other things. I’ve felt especially lonely since the phone calls started. There is no lonelier time than the middle of the night when you are either sick or scared, and no one is with you to comfort, cuddle, and reassure you.” She stopped talking and stared into the distance for a minute, and then turned to face Drake. “What about you and your flying all over the world doing business?”
“I signed off last week in Washington. My last trip convinced me where my priorities are.” He put his arms around her and lowered her to the ground. “This is the perfect spot to celebrate our life beginning together.”
“We did that earlier in our new bedroom.”
“What can I say. I want to do it again.” His dark-chocolate eyes sparkled at her. He rubbed his hand along the side of her face. “I want to start here.” His lips lightly brushed her forehead, then her temple. He took a deep breath. “The air is scented with wildflowers and your hair smells of violets.” He pushed her hair back and nipped her earlobe. A shiver of desire stirred down below. His lips trailed along her neck to the place where her heart had begun to beat faster.
Drake unbuttoned her blouse. His lips caressed the curve of her breast, and her nipple hidden by her bra. He kissed each spot he uncovered. She lay with her eyes closed, letting the warmth and all the sensations created by his mouth sink into her.
He raised her into his arms and removed her shirt and bra, before returning her to the blanket. His mouth suckled on her nipple, drawing a tight, hot feeling from between her legs.
She rolled him on his back. “It’s my turn.” Her hand reached to unbutton his shirt.
* * * *
Her body straddled him, her crotch rubbing against his cock. Soft hands brushed his skin as she went along his shirt, undoing the buttons. Distracted by the desire ratcheting upwards, he almost missed the slight vibration under his head. Forcing himself to focus, he pushed the back of his head harder against the ground.
No, he wasn’t mistaken. A vehicle moved along the dusty path toward them. A prickle washed over his skin. He put his hands on hers, halting her enticing progress.
“Grab your shirt and bra and run for the truck.” Momentarily stunned, she stared into his eyes. “Now!”
She blinked then moved quickly. Drake took hold of the blanket and had circled the truck, thrown in the blanket, and was in the driver’s seat by the time Janice closed her door.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“Maybe nothing, but a car is headed this way on a road that hasn’t been used in a long time except for you and me.” He knew if he kept going straight he’d come out on a two-lane road that ran on the other side of the ranch.
“You think it might be the person who’s trying to kill us?”
“Probably not. But I’m not taking any chances. I’m sorry about back there. I was stupid to relax my defenses and take a chance on you getting hurt.”
“Apparently they weren’t too relaxed. I didn’t hear anything. How did you know?”
“A reverberation under my head. I could be overreacting.” He turned onto the paved road. “There’s a gas station up ahead,” he said. “I’ll retrace my steps and check on my suspicions.”
“No. I want to go back with you.”
“Not going to happen.” He stopped outside the door to the gas station store. “Here.” He handed her a small handgun. “Put this in your purse. If anyone strange drives up, go to the back of the store, open your purse, and hold onto the gun until they leave. You can pretend to be shopping.”
“I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I. Get out, honey. I won’t be long.”
Drake watched her reluctantly go in the store before he pulled away. If the man was smart he’d go back the way he came. He’d know there was only one way out going straight and Drake might be waiting for him. Drake’s best bet was to take his chances on circling back to the front. He might make it before the other car, but Drake was further away from the main entrance to the ranch. He had a longer way to go around.
His foot pressed on the gas pedal, sending the truck screeching around several curves. When he hit the straight part of the road, he increased his speed even more.
He’d been a fool to forget for one moment. The guy had planned good. Lulled me into a sense that he had decided to wait for us back in Houston and then strike. If Drake hadn’t noticed the vibration, their stalker, killer, whatever he was, might have succeeded.
Drake slowed for the last curve. Coming around on another straight stretch, he saw a gray car in the distance. Could that be him? He’d have made very good time. Drake hesitated, then slowed and turned in to the entrance. He parked the truck to the side of the road and reached for the high-powered rifle he’d borrowed from Jackson earlier. He got out and moved into the bushes. Slowly, he made his way through the wooded area surrounding the road.
There was hardly enough breeze to move the leaves on the trees and all the birds seemed to have found someplace to hide from the heat that shimmered across the ranch. In the quiet, a single twig breaking would echo. Drake removed his shoes and stepped carefully across the pine-strewn ground.
* * * *
He wiped his arm across his face to keep the sweat on his forehead from getting into his eyes. Hot air hung heavy and he found himself breathing hard, as though through a thick curtain. He hadn’t expected them to be here.
When he found no car around the house, he’d driven further, scouting out the area for tonight. How had the asshole known he was around? He’d heard the engine start and guessed no one else would be on this road but them. He turned immediately to leave, but then afraid Drake might catch him at the entrance, he’d hidden his car in thick brush and hunkered down to wait for nightfall.
As he sat, his mind whirled with thoughts. Damn the man for ruining his plan. He’d be watching for him around here. In fact, he might be hunting for him now. I’ll leave the car. Hitchhike to the next town and fly back to Houston tonight. Better to live another day and have another chance to succeed. He took his small bag out of the back seat and scurried across the road. Then, he followed the stream to a small, gravel country road. He moved faster, heading east, hoping he’d find a highway and a sucker driving alone. Maybe he wouldn’t hitch a ride—he’d take the ride for himself and ditch it at the first opportunity.
* * * *
Drake treaded lightly through the brush. Nothing. No sound, and no sight of any human. He quickened his step, heading down the dusty lane in the direction they’d taken.
Darting behind a tree, he took a swig of wa
ter from the bottle he’d stuck in his pocket. He wet his bandana and wiped his face. He sensed the man had gone. But how had he gotten away?
He hiked quicker through the brush. His rifle ready in his hands. Something silver shone in the sunlight and caught his attention. He turned toward the left, and being very cautious, he crouched and waited. Then he saw the rest of the car hidden partially behind a stand of trees.
“Come out with your hands up,” Drake called out. No one answered. “If you don’t show yourself, I’m going to shoot toward the car,” he warned.
A single bird flew out of a bush, heading toward the clear, blue sky. Drake knew instinctively he was too late. Whoever he was, he’d gone. Still, he moved carefully to the car and checked the area, but didn’t touch anything. He’d ask the sheriff’s office to check for prints. He’d better go to Janice. Hopefully whichever direction he took, he didn’t go to the gas station.
Hurrying now, Drake ran back to his car and swung around to go to Janice. As he swerved around the curves he expected at any moment a sheriff’s deputy’s light to go on behind him. He’d pay the fine. His heart pounded, fearing he’d make another wrong decision and the stalker would have found Janice. When he stopped and she came running through the door, relief washed over him.
* * * *
“You didn’t find him?”
“I found his car. He must have taken off on foot shortly after we left. Did you see anyone hiking along the road?”
She shook her head. “No one came by at all except for one car. A man and his wife, lost. They were looking for a highway east of here.”
“Let’s go to Jackson’s. I’m not taking a chance of you staying at the house tonight. Jackson and I will hide out there and hope the guy returns.”
She studied his face as they drove off toward Jackson and Samantha’s ranch. “You don’t think he will return, do you?”
“No. Temporarily, we’ve frightened him off. But he’ll try again.” He glanced across at her. “My guess is he has a love-hate type of obsession about you. He won’t give up until he’s stopped, but he’ll go back to familiar territory.”
“Houston?”
“Yes.”
“When do we go back?”
“Tomorrow. I’m going to end this so we can concentrate on our wedding.” He smiled at her. “Got any ideas?”
“A few,” she said. Drake turned into the drive to the house. “There’s Samantha waiting at the door.” Janice waved and got out as soon as the car stopped.
“Did you like your surprise?” Samantha asked her.
“Both the ranch, and this.” Janice held out her hand.
“What a lovely ring. I love the older setting.” Samantha gave her a hug. “I’m so happy. I can’t believe we’ll be neighbors.”
“Neither can I. I never saw myself on a ranch, but I’m beginning to think I’ll like it.”
“Come in and have a glass of tea. I see Drake is headed to the barn. Jackson must have waved at him. We’ll have time for a cozy talk.”
Janice glanced over her shoulder at Drake. He and Jackson were talking. Drake nodded and pulled out his phone, punching a number.
Samantha tugged at her hand. “Let them do the worrying. They’ll work out the problem.”
“I hope so. I’d looked forward to staying the night in the ranch house until Drake realized we had company.”
“The stalker? Jackson told me about him this morning.”
“Drake thinks so,” Janice said. She wanted to tramp across the dusty barnyard and demand to be included in whatever they were discussing. But Samantha kept tugging at her hand until she followed her inside.
* * * *
“Brent, our guy was here. He left the car he’d used to get to the ranch, and took off before I could catch him. You find any new info?”
“We’re getting close. I think I’ve identified the mole. We’ve been checking into the guy who used to work at Janice’s office. Seems her company has cameras in different spots around the building. I got hold of their old tapes and checked the day Janice got the paper with the note on it. Our guy came in early that morning with a paper under his arm and left without it.”
“Wouldn’t he have known about the cameras?”
“No. They put them in about six months after he left. There’d be no reason for anyone to mention them to him. Most of the staff probably forgets they are even there. Where they’re placed isn’t real obvious.”
“That doesn’t seem like much though. He’ll say it was a coincidence.”
“True, but in talking with some of the staff at his office we found out he hates Judge Dedrick and his daughter. He says she got the promotion he should have been given. They say he blames her father and her. Giving this guy information to harass her gets his revenge and keeps his hands clean.”
“Sounds good. What’s the next step?”
“We’ve been working with the police. They’re getting ready to take him in and interrogate him.”
“Maybe if he gets worried enough about himself, he’ll give you all the stalker’s name. We’re heading back tomorrow. I’ll see you then.” Drake snapped his cell phone shut.
“I take it Brent’s closing in on someone?” Jackson asked.
“A man that used to work with Janice and has kept close ties with some of the people at Janice’s workplace. He may have given out information to get back at her because of a promotion she got instead of him. Brent and the police are going to confront him.”
“Why not leave Janice here until things are more settled? Samantha would love her company.”
“One, can you see Janice staying behind? And two, he might circle around and try to get her instead of me.”
“I’d be watching, and my men. You’re right though, it’s a moot point, she’d never agree.”
“In my past I’ve dealt with a few men similar to our stalker. He must be boiling about now, and an angry man makes mistakes. We’ve got to be ready to take advantage of them,” Drake said. They strolled toward the house. “She accepted my ring.”
Jackson stopped in his tracks. “Well damn, I’m going to have new neighbors.” He shook Drake’s hand. “Let’s go have a toast. This calls for barbecued steak and a bottle of my best wine.”
* * * *
The old man had been easy. He’d been the first car to pass by. When the car stopped, he’d immediately pulled his gun and shot the old geezer, dragged him into the weeds, and was headed to the big city, Austin.
Good thing he had his bag. He’d packed a disguise and false identification. The guy that did the ID was a professional in his line of work. It had cost him, but was worth it. He’d fly out of Austin under a pseudonym, and wear the wig and makeup. They’d never track him. He was too smart for all of them.
They’d try to find his prints on the cars, but he’d worn gloves whenever he touched the door handle or anywhere inside.
The hot air blew in the window. Crappy car, the old man didn’t even have air-conditioning. Well, he’d dump it in the next town and steal a different one to get him into Austin, then park at a business close to the airport. He’d find a way, bus or taxi, to get the last few miles.
When he drove into the nearest small town, he found a side street, donned his disguise, and left the car. He strolled along a shaded walkway and stopped at a convenience store, where he bought a drink and sandwich. Taking the bag the guy at the register handed him, he headed out the door, glanced both ways, and began to walk. This time he’d find a car that had air. If you were going to steal, you might as well take the very best.
He could hardly wait to get home. They were nearing the end of this game. His blood pulsed with excitement. The old man had been too easy, but Drake was a challenge. He planned to win the next round.
Chapter Eleven
“Did you and Samantha make all the wedding plans?” Drake teased her as they flew toward Houston.
“We didn’t. I must warn you, Mother and Father will insist on a big wedding in our l
ocal church. I’d prefer to be married in a small church near the ranch, but since I’m marrying someone they won’t approve of, I need to at least let them have their way in the plans.” Janice smiled at Drake’s groan.
“All right, honey. But I want you to know I’d never go through this for anyone but you.”
“Well, I hope not.” She leaned across the separation of their chairs and kissed him. “I’ll make it worth your effort later.”
Drake raised his eyebrows, “I’m keeping you to that promise.”
Janice laid her head back and closed her eyes. They’d left early. Drake wanted to see Brent, and Janice had to visit her parents. They would not like her news. Instinctively, she knew Drake was not the type of man either of them would have chosen for their daughter. Her father especially wanted her to marry a lawyer that was settled and on his way up. The idea of one that quit the law to run a ranch would be completely incomprehensible to him.
She glanced at Drake. He was reading a magazine on ranching. His dark brown hair fell across his forehead. He’d dressed in a blue shirt that stretched tight across his wide shoulders, and jeans that emphasized his long, muscular legs. Heat began to build in her just observing him. And then he looked up, that sexy twinkle in his eye, a smile softening the hard contours of his face.
“I felt you staring.”
“I love you,” she said.
He got up and came to her chair, lifted her into his arms and settled on the couch with her on his lap. “You’re worried. What’s the matter?”
“Not really, more concerned about my visit to my parents.”
“Why not wait and I’ll go with you tonight? Call and tell them we’ll be by. Don’t mention my name. We’ll do this together. I haven’t told you about the time your father and I met. He isn’t going to like you marrying me.”
Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Rancher Buys a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 11
