Caytie had sent a short email to George the day after she’d left, thanking him for letting her stay. She’d also asked for him to thank Ilene and Kellen for making her feel welcome. She said she was trying to work things out with her dad, and asked George not to try contacting her until she was ready to talk.
“How’d it go today?” Jace asked when Kellen came swinging in on his crutches.
“It sucked.” He took a seat next to Jace and dropped his crutches. “My therapist called the doctor about the pain with the fitting, and I have to go back to Billings for another mold to be made.”
“Yeah, well once you get the right one you can start dancing like Noah Galloway on Dancing With the Stars.”
Kellen snorted a laugh. “Grandma wants to take me to Billings when they come on tour next month. I told her I’d think about it, but I’d be stupid not to go. Have you seen how hot the girls are on that show?”
Jace grinned. “Not as hot as Madeline, though, right?”
“Madeline and I broke up.”
“What?” Jace glanced over at Kellen. “Why? You two were just starting out.”
“If you won’t talk to me about Caytie then why should I talk to you about Madeline?”
The muscles in Jace’s shoulders stiffened. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”
Kellen didn’t say anything for a minute, and Jace continued to brush Moonshine, wishing the kid would just leave.
“Jace, why won’t you go after her?”
“I already told you. She’s got other plans, and I’m not part of them.”
“Her message was lame. It didn’t even sound like something she’d write.”
“Yeah, well, turns out I didn’t know her as well as I thought I did.”
Jace was relieved when Judd Clayton’s truck pulled up. While he and Judd loaded Moonshine, Kellen disappeared back inside the house.
“Thank you, Jace,” Judd said, handing over a check written out to Jace. “I’m real pleased with what you’ve done with Moonshine.”
“Thank you.” Jace felt satisfaction with a job well done, but Caytie’s rejection still hung over him. He wondered if his heart would ever heal.
Jace returned to the barn, and began putting away his equipment. He wanted to avoid going into the house a little longer. An hour after Judd left, he heard the crunch of tires. Not in the mood to socialize, he didn’t venture out to see who had arrived.
He groaned when he heard someone approaching the entrance. Seconds later, Jace glanced up and saw Victoria hovering in the doorway. She’d been avoiding him as much as he’d been avoiding everyone else.
Out of courtesy, and pressure from Mama Ilene, Jace had texted Victoria about their date the day after the auction. It took nearly twenty-four hours before she replied, saying she would get back with him about a good time. He hadn’t heard a word from her since then.
“Hi,” she said softly.
“Hey.” He wiped his hands on the front of his jeans. “What brings you by this evening?”
“I…uh, need to talk to you.”
A knot formed in Jace’s gut at the serious tone of her voice. Even with Caytie out of the picture Jace knew there could be nothing more than friendship between him and Victoria.
“Okay.” He leaned back against the worktable. “What’s up?”
“I did something I’m not proud of.” Her hands twisted together. “I should have come to you right away but I’ve been afraid.”
Jace straightened up, and moved closer. “Afraid of me?”
Victoria’s eyes filled up with tears, and her bottom lip quivered. “Afraid you’ll hate me.”
He sensed he wasn’t going to like what she had to say, but he’d learned a long time ago not to hold onto grudges. “I won’t hate you.”
“You might.” She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m the reason Caytie is gone, and I’m worried she might be in trouble.”
Every muscle in Jace’s body tensed. “Tell me what happened.”
He listened as Victoria explained how she’d searched the Internet to find out more about Caytie, and how she’d found her Facebook page, which led her to a post from Edward Childs. “He said the two of them had an argument after they got engaged, and that if anyone had seen her to please contact him.”
“Edward isn’t her fiancé.”
Victoria’s eyes widened. “You knew about Edward?”
“Yeah, and the guy only wants Caytie for her money.”
“I didn’t know.” Victoria’s eyes dropped down to her feet. “I’m so sorry.”
“Okay.” Jace tried to keep his voice calm. He might not hate Victoria, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t upset with her. “So you called him and told him where she was?”
“Yes.” She looked back up at him and sniffed. “And when he came to get her I helped—”
Jace cut her off. “Edward came to get Caytie?” He swore under his breath. “He came the night of the auction, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Anger swelled inside his chest, making it difficult to breathe. Then his anger turned to concern when he remembered Victoria’s words. “Why do you think Caytie is in trouble?”
Victoria swallowed, her hands clenched into tight fists. “After I left her alone with Edward, I didn’t go right back into the auction. I overheard Edward tell her if she didn’t return to California with him he had proof that Caytie and her father had embezzled money, and she would go to prison for a very long time.”
“When she still refused to go with him he told her that he could easily make it look like George was involved too.” Victoria paused, and wiped a tear from her cheek. “He also said he would make it look like you were involved in drugs like your mother.”
Despite what he’d just heard, a measure of relief washed over Jace. Caytie hadn’t willingly left him, and she’d probably been forced to write the message.
“I’m so sorry, Jace. I was so afraid of what this Edward guy would do to Kyden and me if I told anyone what I’d overheard. I came back into the auction and tried to act like nothing had happened, but I can’t live with myself anymore.”
There was a lot Jace could say to Victoria, but none of it would bring Caytie back. “Thank you for telling me.” He started across the barn floor. “I’m going to talk to George and come up with a plan to help Caytie. I promise we’ll do what we can to make sure Edward doesn’t bother you or Kyden.”
Jace hurried inside the house, and found George, Kellen and Ilene sitting at the dining room table. From the look on their faces he guessed they’d been discussing him.
He pulled out a chair and took a seat. “I’m going after Caytie, but I’m gonna need your help.”
Chapter 23
Caytie couldn’t hear the heated conversation between her father and Edward, but the fact they were at each other’s throats brought her a measure of satisfaction. She’d searched her father’s office several times, trying to find any incriminating evidence against Edward. Every time she’d come up empty handed, except for late last night.
The memo she found in one of the files let her know her father might be every bit the criminal Edward made him out to be, but also learned Edward was just as guilty. The best part was it looked like her father was making sure Edward took the fall if they were ever caught. Between the two of them, she figured the FBI would have enough evidence to nail both men for securities fraud, embezzlement, and maybe more.
The private investigator she’d hired was currently going over the memo and digging a little deeper. Once she heard back from him she would hopefully be free to contact Uncle George and Jace.
A familiar pang of longing washed over when she thought about the handsome and sweet cowboy. Every second since she’d left Snow Valley, she’d been consumed with Jace and what he must be thinking. Part of her had hoped he would ignore the email Edward made her send, and come after her, but the other part of her was grateful he’d stayed away. She couldn’t bear the thought of him getting dragged into her
complicated world and having to defend himself against false accusations.
Honestly, she had no idea if he’d tried to contact her or not. Edward had confiscated her new cell phone as well as the one she’d left behind. The rat had even put a password on all of the computers in the house. Her poor excuse for a father went along with everything, which had been Caytie’s first clue that her father was indebted to Edward. She pretended to accept her fate, mainly to protect Jace and Uncle George, but she also wanted time to uncover their scheme.
What both men didn’t know was Caytie had used the housekeeper’s phone to hire a private investigator. Consuela had always liked Caytie, and never liked Edward or her father and had been more than happy to help Caytie snoop around. She was the one that found the hidden key to the locked file cabinet where the memo was hidden.
The doorbell sounded, and Caytie glanced at the clock. The dinner guests were arriving. She prayed this would be the last night she’d have to pretend to be Edward’s fiancée. She heard Alfred open the door, and greet their guests.
At the same time, Marilyn, her father’s latest girlfriend, came out of the powder room. She glanced at the closed office door and rolled her eyes. “Are they still arguing?”
“Like newlyweds,” Caytie answered sarcastically.
Marilyn giggled. “I like you. You always make me laugh.”
Surprisingly, Caytie liked Marilyn too, if that was her real name. The blonde bombshell looked very similar to the famous starlet of the nineteen fifties. Sometimes she acted just as ditzy as the movie star, but she was genuinely kind.
“Pretty dress,” Caytie said, hoping Marilyn’s voluptuous curves didn’t spill out of the white, low-cut gown.
“Thank you.” Marilyn spun around, making the skirt flare out. “Richard bought this for me. Well, his credit card did, anyway.”
The door to the office opened, and Edward and her father came out. Both of them looked agitated, their skin flushed from the heated conversation.
“Don’t you look beautiful,” her father said, eyeing Marilyn appreciatively.
Caytie was spared witnessing her father kissing his girlfriend inappropriately when Alfred came in to announce the guests had arrived.
Edward took Caytie’s hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “Tonight’s guests are important investors,” he whispered. ‘I’m sure I don’t need to remind you how crucial it is you act like you’re my adoring fiancée.”
“Of course not,” Caytie said sweetly. She bit back a smile when Edward’s brows furrowed with concern. She’d discovered that cooperating and being docile made him more on edge than fighting him.
The small get together would have been boring if not for Marilyn’s cheerfulness. She was so opposite of the type her father usually dated. They’d been seeing each other for three weeks now, which was a new record for her father.
About halfway through dinner, Alfred came in with a large bouquet of wild flowers, and a small wrapped gift. “Excuse me, Miss Catherine, but these just arrived for you.”
“Ooh,” Marilyn said. “Are they from Edward, or does Catherine have a secret admirer?”
One look at the irritated look on Edward’s face let Caytie know they weren’t from him, nor was he happy about it.
“Edward, you shouldn’t have,” Caytie said as she picked up the wrapped gift. She enjoyed razzing him whenever she got the chance.
“I didn’t,” he mumbled before emptying his wine glass.
There wasn’t a card on the flowers, but it reminded her of the bouquet Jace bought her at the Founder’s Day celebration. The package didn’t have a note either, and Caytie had no idea who sent them. With Marilyn’s encouragement, she tore the paper and sucked in a quick breath at what she saw.
“What is it?” Marilyn asked.
Caytie’s finger trembled as she traced the title of the book. Winning the Cowboy’s Heart. It was the paperback from her shopping trip with Jace.
“Oh my,” Marilyn said, looking over Caytie’s shoulder. “I didn’t know you were into cowboys.”
Edward snatched the book out of her hands, his face turning a deep shade of red. “She’s not. This is obviously a joke.”
Caytie searched the room, hoping to find Jace. “Excuse me a moment,” she said, scooting her chair away from the table and standing up.
“Catherine,” Edward said, clamping his hand around her wrist. “We’re right in the middle of dinner. It would be rude to leave.”
“I’d like to ask Alfred who delivered the gifts.”
“I’m sure that can wait.” His fingers tightened when she tried to pull away. “Please sit down.”
The room went quiet, all eyes on them. Still, Edward’s grip didn’t lessen. Caytie winced, but refused to do what he said. If there was a chance Jace had sent the gifts, she wanted to find out. “Edward, let go. You’re hurting me.”
“I suggest you let the lady go,” a low familiar voice said. “Before I do something the federal agents would be upset with me for.”
Caytie’s breath caught at the sight in front of her. There, leaning against the door, was Jace McAllister, looking confident and sexy in a pair of worn jeans, a snug fitting T-shirt and his favorite cowboy hat.
“What is the meaning of this?” Richard demanded. “And what’s this nonsense about federal agents?”
“Well, darling,” Marilyn said, raising the skirt of her dress to expose a shapely thigh. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
“Marilyn, what are you doing?” Richard said, his eyes wide as she hiked her skirt up further to reveal a white holster around her thigh.
“You have the right to talk to a lawyer,” Marilyn continued in her sweet voice as she calmly removed a set of handcuffs concealed within the holster. “And have him present with you while you are being questioned.”
While her father’s girlfriend arrested him, Edward let go of Caytie and shot up from his chair. He bolted toward the doorway, and tried to shoulder past Jace.
“Get out of my way!” Edward shouted.
“Okay,” Jace said, letting him by. “But I’m not the one with a gun or handcuffs.”
Caytie heard a muffled curse word from Edward. She hurried around the table, ignoring her father’s protests of innocence, and came to a stop next to Jace. They both stood in the doorway, watching two FBI agents read Edward his rights, while cuffing his thrashing hands behind his back.
“I asked if I could do that,” Jace said dryly. “But apparently the FBI doesn’t deputize citizens.”
The agents jerked Edward to his feet, and his eyes met Caytie’s. “You’re going to be sorry, Catherine. I warned you what would happen to you and your redneck boyfriend.”
“Yeah, about that,” Jace said without a trace of irony. “Did you know it’s a felony to fraudulently incriminate an innocent person of a crime?”
“I have proof,” Edward spat.
“Actually, Richard was keeping pretty good records of your activities together,” Marilyn said. “I probably wouldn’t say anymore if I were you.”
Marilyn hung back with Caytie and Jace while a couple of the agents took the two men away. Another agent, who cleared the dinner guests to leave, turned and whistled at Marilyn. “Nice dress, Agent Monroe.”
“Thank you.” She twisted side to side so the skirt swished around her legs. “I hope they let me keep it.”
“So do I,” the agent said with a grin before walking out the door.
“Is your name really Marilyn Monroe?” Caytie asked.
The woman laughed. “It’s actually Maryanne Monroe. And before you ask, this is how the good Lord made me.” She patted her hair. “Even the hair color is natural.”
“Monroe,” an older man hollered from the door. “We’re going to need you for debriefing.”
“I’ll be right there.” She turned to Caytie. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but I’ve got to go.” She pointed to a distinguished looking
guy. “Agent Jensen, the special agent in charge, will oversee the team of agents who are going to be here gathering evidence, and will brief you on what he can tell you.” She winked at Jace. “In the meantime your cute boyfriend will fill you in on everything he knows.”
As the agent walked gracefully out the front door, Caytie leaned into Jace. “She’s the only one of my dad’s girlfriends that I’ve ever liked. Go figure.”
Jace wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Me too.” The warmth of Jace’s body, and the familiar scent of his yummy cologne hit her all at once. He had come after her, and had apparently been instrumental in uncovering her corrupt father and ex-boyfriend’s scheme.
She glanced up to find him watching her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I should’ve come sooner, but your message kind of screwed me up.”
“I’m so sorry I missed the auction and then wrote you that horrible email.” She gazed into his eyes. “I didn’t want to leave, but Edward forced me.”
“I know.” Jace leaned forward, and she hoped he was going to kiss her, but the special agent in charge interrupted them to ask Caytie about any hidden safes in the house.
Sighing, she stepped out of Jace’s embrace to face Agent Jensen and told him about the location of the ones she knew about. The agent relayed the information, and then turned back to Caytie.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions. What I can tell you is that we’ve been investigating Richard and Edward for some time now for securities fraud. The memo you handed over to the private investigator gave us the evidence we needed to finally bring charges against both men.”
Before he could say anything more, Bobby Carlson, her father’s attorney burst through the door, demanding to see a search warrant.
Caytie’s head hurt from all the yelling. She glanced up at Jace. “Do you want to go somewhere quiet?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Yeah.” He grabbed her hand. “Lead the way.”
Summer in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance Anthologies Book 2) Page 17
