Ivan backhanded her, relishing the sound as her head smacked into the window. “Speak one more word that’s not an answer to a direct question and I will kill you.”
Her hand cupped her cheek as blood trickled from her lip. Tears rushed down her face.
“Get out and go in the house.” She opened her mouth but remained silent as she followed instructions. “Good girl.” He pushed her toward the door.
She’d get to scream again soon enough.
****
Holly jerked upright and wide awake. Her heart raced as if the fiery-eyed monster in her nightmare had been real. She stretched her arms over her head and took a minute to adjust to her surroundings. A peek at the clock on the nightstand indicated that she’d slept for hours.
The door was slightly ajar and light flooded in from the rest of the house. The aroma of food drifted into her room and sent her mouth watering. Her stomach growled, prompting her to get up and follow her nose. She slipped on her shoes and walked toward the sound of Jake’s voice, stopping in the doorway, hating to interrupt.
Jake turned his head as if sensing she was there. His smile changed his face from handsome to stunning. He stood and pulled out a chair.
“Join us. Alice kept your supper warm.”
“I’ll get your plate.” Alice hurried to the stove and started spooning food onto a huge plate. “I hope you like chicken and dumplings.”
Holly laughed, shaking her head. “It looks delicious but I can’t eat that much.”
“Eat until you’re full. The rest will go in the fridge for the dog’s breakfast.” Alice put her hands on her hips and looked down at the animal next to Jake’s feet. “What the heck is her name?”
“Daisy.” Jake’s eyes sparkled with mischief. The name must have just popped into his head. He leaned down to stroke the dog’s side and was rewarded with a wet kiss.
For a fleeting second, Holly imagined Jake’s fingers trailing against her skin. Would his touch be gentle or demanding? Her cheeks heated. Before anyone noticed, she shook off that thought and popped a dumpling in her mouth.
“Daisy, I like it.” Alice nodded her head in approval. “What made you pick that name?”
“I was getting around to that.” Jake gave his aunt a wide smile. “She sort of dug around in your flower—”
“My daisies?” Alice sat, pinning Jake with a glare. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “You waited until it was too dark to see before telling me, so it must be bad.”
“I’ll fix it in the morning.” Jake hit her with a hundred-watt smile.
Alice stood, picked up a flashlight from the counter. “Holly, will you excuse us for a minute?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Thanks. Jake and I are going to take a look at the damage Miss Daisy caused.”
“Don’t mind me.” She already loved the relationship between Jake and Alice. So much so that she almost left her supper and followed them to the garden. Instead, Holly restrained her laugh and reached for one of the homemade biscuits and the butter. “I’ll be fine.”
The kitchen-dining room was huge. The large, white oak table and china cabinet sat under a wagon-wheel chandelier, giving the room a comfortable feel. She envisioned what it must have been like years ago, when all the Donovan clan converged on the ranch. Mealtime had probably been a help-yourself, boarding-house-reach, everybody-talking-at-the-same-time, event.
Pictures of horses wearing silver and leather show rigs were scattered around the room. Most included a man, sitting straight and tall in the saddle, proudly holding up a trophy or ribbon for the camera. The resemblance between Jake and his uncle Charlie was striking. Both men had broad shoulders, strong jaws, high cheekbones, and an impish look in their eyes that made you wonder what they were up to.
A paw came to rest on her thigh. “You may be in big trouble, girl.” Holly pinched off a piece of chicken and shared it with Daisy. Soulful brown eyes stared up at Holly. “You just watch, Jake’s going to fix things for you.”
By the time he and Alice returned, Holly had finished eating and was washing and drying her dishes. “That was the best meal I’ve had in—well, I can’t remember when. I had one too many biscuits.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Alice caught Holly’s hands. “You have some peach cobbler before you turn in for the night. It makes you have sweet dreams.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m an early-to-bed, early-to-rise woman, so I’ll leave the rest of the dishes to you two and see you both in the morning.” Alice cast Daisy a look. “You and I will have some boundary lessons tomorrow.”
Holly waited until she heard the door close behind Alice. “She’s wonderful.”
“That she is.” Jake spooned cobbler into two bowls and set them aside. “Wash or dry?”
“You know where everything goes. I’ll wash, you dry.”
“I figured you and Alice would get along.”
“I love her already. I’m sure she appreciated you coming to lend a hand.”
“It’s been a good situation for us both.”
They finished the dishes making small talk. Holly caught herself doing most of the talking. Jake put the last dish away. He picked up the two bowls of cobbler.
“Can you eat in the dark?”
Unsure where this conversation was headed, she quipped, “Yeah. I have a pretty good idea where my mouth is located.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “There’s that smart mouth I remember. Follow me.”
This was the first time he’d ever referred to the past without his eyes turning dark and hard. She and Daisy followed Jake through the house, out the front door, and onto the porch.
“It’s warm out here, but there’s a breeze. This is my favorite spot no matter what time of the year.” Jake motioned to the chairs. “Have a seat.”
He turned off the light in the living room, closed the front door, throwing them into total darkness. She felt his presence as he joined her.
“Thank goodness for the partial moon. I can barely see.”
“Give your eyes a minute to adjust.”
Her eyes slowly grew accustomed to the darkness. A beautiful new world opened up. The clear Texas sky had burst to life with millions of twinkling stars that spread as far as her eyes could see. She’d seen starry nights before, but out here, without city lights, skyscrapers and billboards to interfere, the sheer size and magnificence were overwhelming.
A horse nickered in the distance. Crickets called back and forth. Fireflies, something she hadn’t seen in years, flickered in the dark. Daisy jumped off the porch and vanished.
“The fireflies are beautiful.”
“It’s mating season. I’ve been told that the females choose based on the most elaborate display.”
“Survival of the brightest.” The tension between her shoulder blades relaxed as she searched for the right word. “This view is exquisite.”
“When I can’t sleep, I sit out here and listen to the universe.”
Holly’s heart pinched at his words. She hated that the guilt of his past actions had followed him to this peaceful place, and understood why Jake had come here searching for tranquility.
Her situation threatened his quiet world. Her presence posed a threat to everything he and his aunt loved. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’m asking too much from you and Alice.”
“You’re not. I get that you’re scared, but you’re safe here. Even Chief Santos doesn’t know exactly where you are.” Jake set his bowl on the porch, and Daisy came out of the dark to clean up any leftovers.
“People have been killed and wounded. If I hadn’t taken this job, maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
“Alice would remind you that hindsight is always twenty-twenty. Besides, you don’t know what would’ve been.”
The dog jumped to the ground, disappearing into the darkness again. “Will Daisy be okay?”
“As long as she stays out of Alice’s flowers.”
“I’d like to know how Chief Santos and Suzanne are doing.”
“I’m sorry. I talked to Dalton after we arrived, but when I came to tell you, Alice said you were asleep. The chief is in the hospital in Connersville. I didn’t think to ask about her.”
“That’s where she was taken.”
“I’ll ask next time I speak with Dalton.”
“Thanks. I think I’ll follow Alice’s idea and go to bed.” Holly stood and straightened her blouse. “Your aunt loaned me some clothes.”
““So she said. You’ve given new life to Alice’s jeans and shirts.”
Holly stood and mentally debated his comment. “I’ll take that compliment and turn in for the night.” Her cheeks had warmed in spite of her efforts not to react.
“Leave your bowl and spoon. I’ll rinse them.”
“Okay.” She put them on the seat of her chair. “Well, goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
She made her way back to her room and turned on the light. Jake was so darn hard to read. He was distant most of the time, making her feel like a major inconvenience. Other times, he dropped his guard and she felt a connection. Holly hand-washed her underwear, then slipped on a faded T-shirt. She couldn’t wait to crawl between crisp, cool sheets.
****
Holly woke to sunlight streaming through the open curtains. She rolled over and checked the time. Why did she have the feeling that seven o’clock was a late start on a ranch?
In a quick bathroom trip, she washed her face, brushed her teeth with a brand new toothbrush, and tucked her hair into a low ponytail. She removed the sleep shirt, slid on a pair of jeans, pulled on a red cotton shirt, and stuffed her feet into her work shoes.
The scent of cinnamon filled the house, pulling her down the hall to the kitchen. The closer she got to the smell, the louder her empty stomach growled.
A note on the counter instructed her that the coffee had to be reheated and cinnamon rolls were waiting for her under the cake cover. Holly picked one up, breathed in the aroma, and then sank her teeth into it.
“Sit down, child. I’ll get you a glass of milk.”
Holly jumped and whirled.
Alice’s hand covered her heart. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay. I’m just a little jumpy these days.”
“I understand. I came back to change my shopping list.” She pulled a pad and pen from a drawer then handed them to Holly. “I’m making a grocery run to town later. Might as well get you fixed up at the same time. If you’ll jot down your sizes, I’ll pick you up some clothes. A girl needs makeup and toiletries, so add them to the list.”
“I’ll be right back.” Holly fished out all the cash she had and carried it to Alice. “It sounds very cloak and dagger, but I’m betting Jake would tell me not to use a credit card. I’m sorry to be such a problem.”
Alice reached over and folded Holly’s fingers over the money. “You’re not a problem. I know what happened before Jake moved out here. That you’ve forgiven him and trust him with your life tells me you’re a good person. I’m proud to help you.”
Holly blinked back the tears, but one escaped, and she quickly wiped it away.
“Now see here, none of that.” Alice’s tone was warm. “I’m going to warm up the coffee. Jake and I are ready for a second cup.”
“I slept really late to be living on a ranch, didn’t I?”
“We’re up earlier than usual. Jake just happened to wake up and go check on his favorite pregnant mare.”
“Is everything okay?”
“She and the colt are fine.” Alice poured three mugs of coffee and put them in the microwave. “We have time for you to eat your roll before we carry Jake this badly needed caffeine.”
Holly finished her breakfast quickly. “I’m ready. And I want to help out around here. I know very little about raising livestock, but I’m a fast learner.
“We never turn down free labor.”
Licking the remnants of sugar from her fingers, Holly walked with Alice down the path to the barn. “Tell me about your ranch.”
“The barn exteriors are sheet metal and iron. During the hot summer months, you can hear them groan and pop as if in pain. The horse barn on the right is where we’re headed. The one next to it is full of grain and hay with an area for an occasional sick cow. The big one to the left houses equipment and behind that is the corral. The land is sectioned into pastures; some are used for grazing and others for growing hay.”
“It’s a beautiful place.”
“Get Jake to take you up on that rise.” Alice pointed to the left. “You can get a real good look at the property from there. My Charlie cleared trees and hauled rock for years before he had the place exactly like he wanted.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. Jake speaks fondly of your husband.”
“Thank you. He was a good man.”
They entered the barn to a much warmer environment. The morning sun had heated the metal roof, making the ceiling fans appreciated. Jake was carrying an armful of hay into a stall.
“Come see the new colt.” Alice’s pride shined in her eyes.
“Good morning.” He flashed a smile at the two of them as he filled a large rubber barrel with the hay.
“We brought leftover coffee,” Alice said, handing him a mug.
Jake stroked a pretty red horse on the nose and came toward them. Holly’s mind whirled at the sight before her. His shirt, damp with sweat, clung to him, outlining his muscular stomach and shoulders.
A ball of heat settled in her lower stomach. “Good morning,” she said over dry lips.
Alice handed him a mug. “I’m taking the four-wheeler up to the back forty to check on the cows. With your appetite, we’re going to need food. Soon as I get back, I’m making a grocery run.”
Jake stepped out of the stall and closed the gate behind him. “Better get enough for Claude.” Jake turned to Holly and winked. “He has a habit of showing up around suppertime.”
“Stop that,” Alice chuckled. “You’ll give Holly the two-dollar tour?”
“I’ll put her to work.”
“She’s already volunteered.”
“We need dog food,” Jake called out as Alice walked away.
“She’s right about my volunteering,” Holly said. “I need something to do, anything to get my mind off why I’m here and not at home in Dallas. And I want to earn my keep.”
“Holly,” Alice called out from the door. “I’m placing you in charge of the coffee mugs. Jake can’t be depended on to return them to the house.” Alice waved and was gone.
Holly found herself alone with Jake. Her nerves were pinging around in her system. He was standing really close. “What can I do?”
“You can dump out this coffee.” He handed his untouched cup to Holly. “I recommend you do the same with yours.”
“Why?” She pulled her mug to her lips, and Jake caught her wrist.
“I try to fix the coffeepot the night before. Alice can cook better than most, but I recommend you never drink her coffee. That stuff will grow hair on your chest, and I’m guessing you don’t want that to happen.”
“And you don’t want to hurt her feelings.” That statement drew a scowl but no response.
CHAPTER 14
Ivan caught the reporter’s feet, dragged her bloody body out of the house and around the backside of the barn with the others. Lavon had explained that the dead rancher and his wife were buried there, so he’d dumped Lavon and RG on top of the grave. He’d been too fucking mad to think what the heat and rain would do to their bodies. Jesus. The stench had started quickly, and it was sickening.
It was time to move to a new place anyway. The inside of the house was a mess. He wasn’t cleaning up the blood and wasn’t sticking around for the flies.
His anger over his brother’s death had bled into his time with the reporter last night. The bitch had actually believed that he was going to drive her ass back to town. Th
e second he’d slid on a pair of gloves, she’d known just how wrong she’d been. Funny how she’d asked for her mama seconds before she died.
The best and last piece of information he’d obtained from her was the sweetest. His target’s name was Holly. He’d also learned the name of the hospital where the nurse RG had mistakenly shot was recovering. Suzanne Richards worked for the Helpful Hands Organization based in Dallas, which meant she was a valuable resource.
He thoroughly wiped down the furniture, removing all fingerprints and remnants that he might otherwise leave behind for a crime scene unit. He had one stop to make before going to Dallas.
The more information he gathered before he made the drive, the sooner Holly would die.
****
Jake opened the stall, put a halter on Duchess, and then led her out into the walkway. The chestnut colt followed, staying close to his mom.
“He’s beautiful.”
“He has a good bloodline.” Jake stopped to show off mom and son. “We’re hoping he brings a good price at auction.”
“You’re going to sell him?” Holly’s smile disappeared.
“Alice has a good reputation for raising and selling quality livestock, especially horses.”
“May I pet him?”
“Let me get him behind a gate first. Walk with us down to a larger stall.” Jake moved the horse and foal down the aisle to their new home, where he’d spread a clean bed of straw.
The colt nuzzled his mother, ready to nurse again. Jake closed the gate and turned to Holly. “When he finishes eating, hold out your hand and talk softly to him. His curiosity will get the best of him.”
The mare ended snack time by moving away from the colt. Holly did her best to attract the colt, but failed.
“Hang on.” Jake pulled a brush out of the tack room and carried it to Holly. “Duchess loves to be groomed. If you brush her, he’ll get curious and come to you. She’s used to people being around her foals. If you need me, I’ll be finishing up morning chores.”
Daisy followed his every step as he worked. Even though his hands were busy, Jake’s mind was never far from Holly. The image of her stroking Duchess and the sound of her soft murmurs put thoughts in his head that sent blood careening through his veins.
No Greater Hell (Lost and Found, Inc. Book 4) Page 11
