by Stone, Ciana
Not to mention Mikayla Morgan.
“Yes, when are we doing to deal with that one?” The voice came from behind her.
Deidre turned to find Sara standing in front of the fireplace, her hands outstretched to the fire as if warming them in the flames.
“We’ll deal with her when the time is right.” Deidre replied. She was getting a bit tired of the way Sara tried to call the shots in this relationship. Sara should be damn grateful that Deidre had agreed to help her in her revenge. Without Deidre, she’d just be another aimless wandering ghost.
Sara turned, as if reading Deidre’s thoughts. “And where would you be without me?”
“Exactly where I am. Don’t forget who’s in charge here, dear.”
Sara smiled sweetly. “Never.”
Deidre’s smile was smug as she turned her back on Sara. The ring of her private cell phone drew her attention. Her contact on the Nash ranch. Eagerly she answered.
“Yes?”
Her smile vanished and her eyes took on a hard glint. Jed Nash had made a mistake taking up with Mikayla Morgan. He should have continued to heed the curse and remain alone.
“Keep me informed,” she barked and ended the call.
Her mind started to whirl, possibilities presenting themselves. With Dalton securely boxed in it was time to turn her attention to refining the details of her plan to make the Nash family suffer.
Her smile returned.
*****
It was a somber group that sat around the kitchen table in the main house of the Rocky River Ranch. At present, everyone’s attention was on Jesse. Mik could feel the tension rolling off Jed and knew he was holding his temper at bay with sheer will power.
She didn’t blame him. She was mad enough to bite a ten-penny nail in half. The thought that someone would deliberately poison the water and cause Jed and his brothers such trouble had her ready to round up a lynch mob.
If only she knew who it was that needed to be lynched.
“The analysis showed a near lethal level of fluoride in the water.” Jesse announced. “With that we have enough to warrant an investigation but so far we don’t have a lead. I’ve had casts made of tire tracks we found near the pond as well as casts of footprints. The forensics team found flakes of what appears to be plastic but so far haven’t determined the source or whether that’s connected.
“In short, we don’t have much to go on. We’re contacting every manufacturer and distributor of fluoride in the state to see if we can determine the origin of the chemical but that’s going to take a while.”
No one commented. Jake looked at Jed who was sitting with arms crossed and eyes hard as flint. Mik reached out and put her hand on Jed’s arm. After a moment, he turned to look at her. Some of the hardness in his eyes faded when her fingers tightened in a slight squeeze.
Finally, he blew out his breath. “Thanks, Jesse. I appreciate everything you and the Sheriff’s Department are doing.”
“Yeah, me too,” Jake added. “Although it’s still downright strange to think of you as Detective Nash.”
Jesse smiled. “Well, you know I’d always planned on putting that degree to work. Now seemed as good a time as any.”
“Yeah?” Jake asked. “Now when you’ve got three gold buckles and a damn good shot at another?”
“Ever hear of going out on top?” Jesse asked and winked at Mik. “Ask her, she’ll tell you.”
Mik smiled. She and Jesse were kindred souls when it came to the rodeo. And she understood completely. If you walked away a champion, you never had to face what some endured who hung on past their prime. Namely, the hurt and disappointment that came when your day was done and you started to lose out to the younger, faster, and stronger. Yeah, it was an ego thing, but it was also a smart thing. Not only for the sake of winning. Rodeoing wasn’t the safest line of work on the planet.
But then neither was being a detective. “I think you’ll make a fine, detective, Jesse.”
“Thanks, beautiful. You sure you don’t want to ditch the old man and hook up with a younger, better-looking Nash?”
“Naw, I’m fine. But thanks for the offer.”
Their banter helped ease the tension but only for a moment. Jed blew out his breath and pulled the laptop on the table closer. “Well, this is how it stands. With what we’ll have to pay out to the owners who lost animals, what we’ll lose on the cattle and having the pond drained we’re gonna be lucky to be left with our hats.”
“That bad?” Jake asked.
“That and more,” Jed replied. “Couple of the folks who lost horses they boarded with us are threatening to sue.”
“With it being a criminal act, we may be able to stall that,” Jesse remarked.
“Not according to our lawyer, Melvin. We’re still liable for the well-being of the animals entrusted to us.”
“Shit on a stick!” Jake slammed his fist down on the table. “I’d like to get my hands on the sonofabitch behind this."
“We all would,” Jed agreed. “But that’s not going to solve our problems.”
“What will?” Mik asked.
“I’m going to go to the bank tomorrow and see if I can get a loan.”
“Not a good economy for borrowing,” Jesse pointed out. “Banks aren’t keen on lending right now.”
“Unless I can put up the ranch as collateral,” Jed said.
There was a long silence. Mik knew what the ranch meant to all of them. It wasn’t just a job, or a place to live. The ranch had been in the family a long time. It was the one constant in their lives. The thought of losing it had to cut hard and deep.
If only there was something she could do to help. She looked around at the men and suddenly she couldn’t take it. She had to get out of the room or she was going to display a moment of purely female weakness and bawl like a baby.
“Excuse me. I’ll be back.” She gave Jed a kiss on the cheek then hurried out of the room.
Ellen was sitting in the den, in a padded rocker by the fireplace. The television was on, but the older woman wasn’t paying attention. Her expression seemed far away as she stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace.
Mik took a seat on the hearth and Ellen turned her eyes to Mik. “Are they going to lose the ranch?”
Mik shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t look good, Ms. Ellen.”
Tears spilled onto Ellen’s cheeks that she made no move to hide or wipe away. “When I first realized Jed was in love with you, at first it worried me. Nash men aren’t good at marriage.
“But I watched the two of you and realized that you’re like him in a whole lot of ways. Not just that you love animals and ranch life, but you’re like him and the rest of the boys. You have that way.”
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Mik didn’t know Ellen well, and wasn’t comfortable discussing her abilities.
“Whispering. You have that way with animals. And with Jed.”
Mik smiled. “Yeah, I guess. Only with Jed I’m not sure if I have that way with him or him with me.”
“Maybe it’s some of both.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Mik turned and picked up a fire tool to poke at the fire. “I wish there was something I could do. I can’t stand the thought of them losing this.”
“You got any money socked away?”
Mik barked a laugh. “I wish. I had to sell the family farm and take this job so my sisters could have what they needed to start new lives here in North Carolina. I’m afraid all I have was what I showed up here with.”
“You sold your family home and didn’t take a cut?”
“They needed it more,” Mik said and replaced the tool before facing Ellen again. “I’d do it again.”
“More to you than meets the eye isn’t there, Mikayla?”
“More to most of us that meets the eye, don’t you think?”
“I suppose.”
Jed stepped into the room. “I wondered where you got off to.”
“Just enjoying a mome
nt with some female company,” Mik said as she stood. “You have a good night, Miss Ellen.”
“You too, child.”
The response surprised Mik. She put her hand on the older woman’s shoulder and squeeze lightly then strode across the room to Jed. “Sorry to bail on you. I thought maybe you and your brothers needed some time alone.”
He took her hand and led her outside to the back porch. He stopped at the railing and propped both hands on it, staring out into the dark sky. “Things don’t look good, Mik. I don’t know if we’ll weather this.”
“You can’t think like that!” She pulled him to face her. “You can’t Jed. You’re a fighter and you can’t give in.”
“I didn’t say I was giving in, honey. But in every battle you have to face the possibility that you may not win.”
Mik had forgotten that Jed had spent a good part of his adult life as a soldier. She wondered if he missed that life. “You ever wish you’d stayed with the Rangers?”
He shook his head. “Life has a way of taking you where you’re supposed to go, I reckon.”
“Oh?”
He smiled and cupped her face in his hands. It never failed to surprise her how someone so big and strong, so fearsome, could be so gentle. “Look at you, Mik. You gave up your home and walked away with nothing. And that was a loss, honey. No matter what you say, it had to hurt. But you did it. And it brought you to me.”
“That it did.”
“Do you regret it?”
“Not for one second. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Even though it means you might end up on the street with me, a horse, and an old trailer?”
“Hey, at least we’ll have transportation.”
“You’re a hell of a woman, Mik.”
“Yeah? You think so.”
“That I do.”
“Well, now, you know I’m more of a show-me gal, stud. So why don’t we mosey on down to the lake house and I’ll introduce you to hellacious Mik.”
“Hellacious?”
“Hmmm, ummm.”
“Well, hell, darlin’ let’s get movin’.”
Mik smiled and took his hand. They both knew the lightness was a façade, but at the moment, they both needed it —to throw a blanket over the worry and escape. Tomorrow was soon enough to rejoin the battle.
Chapter Fourteen
Mik was mucking out a stall when one of the ranch hands yelled to her. “Mik! Hey Mik, some fella’s here to see you.”
She couldn’t imagine who would want to see her. She peeled off her gloves as she headed outside.
“Rob? Hey.” It was quite a surprise to see Rob Manning. She hadn’t spoken with him since the sale of the farm. “Everything okay at the farm?”
“Yes, fine, thanks.”
“Then what brings you here?”
He stepped away from the shiny Porsche. “Is there somewhere we can speak in private?”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, I’d just prefer a more private setting.”
“Well, okay. Let’s go to my place.”
She turned, intending to walk but after a few steps realized she was alone. She stopped and turned. “You coming?”
“I’d prefer to drive, if that’s all right with you.”
“Okay, whatever, just follow me.”
“Don’t you want to ride?”
Mik laughed and lifted one foot. “You might not want this in your car.”
He grimaced as he looked at her boot. “You may be right.”
“Come on,” Mik gestured. “I’ll walk fast and you can drive slow.”
She walked alongside the car, chatting with him about the farm, whether he’d made any changes and teasing him about learning to ride. When they reached the lake house, she took time to clean her boots, and then kicked them off before entering through the kitchen.
“Want something to drink?”
“Yes, that’d be nice.”
She opened the refrigerator. “Well, I have beer, juice or … actually that’s it.”
“A glass of juice would be fine.”
Mik poured two glasses of orange juice and gestured toward the table. “Have a seat.”
Rob took a seat and she, beside him. “So what’s up?”
He took a sip, then set the glass down and slid it away. She hid a smirk. He really was such a spoiled rich boy. Guess all his juice came fresh squeezed.
“I debated whether to come,” he started. “And had almost convinced myself to just forget it, but my conscience wouldn’t allow it.”
“That’s clear as mud,” she replied.
He smiled and reached over to put his hand on top of hers. “I know there’s been some trouble here, Mikayla.”
Mik pulled her hand free and sat back in her chair. “And just how’d you come by that knowledge?”
“Word gets around.”
“Does it? Funny, but I wouldn’t think you’d run in circles where news about a ranch would be anything of interest.”
“Let’s just say that I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open. Mikayla, I know the sale of your family farm was difficult for you, and the reasons you did it. I feel… well I feel partially responsible for your current predicament.”
“I don’t have a predicament, Rob. And I’m fine about the sale. I’m fine where I am and if there was a problem, the Nash family is more than capable of handling it.”
“Not according to the bank.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Jed Nash tried to get a loan and was turned down.”
“And just how the hell would you know that?”
“Mikayla, my family has fingers in a lot of pies. Particularly financial ones.”
She crossed her arms and stared at him. “And?”
“And I want to help.”
“Really? How?”
“By buying the ranch.”
She jumped up so fast that he started in his seat. “Then you’ve wasted your time. Far as I know the ranch isn’t for sale.”
“As far as you know,” he repeated and reached out to try and take her hand. “Mikayla, I just want to help. The Nash’s need money and I have it. I could buy this place and you could run it. We’d be partners.”
“I’m not interested and I think you should leave.”
He stood. “I’m trying to help.”
Maybe he was, but he sure had a misguided notion of what constituted help. “Look, Rob, I appreciate you being concerned about me, but I’m fine. And the ranch will be fine.”
“Are you sure, Mikayla? Is working for a failing operation what you really want?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t believe that. You had dreams, Mikayla. We talked about it. I can help make those dreams come true.”
“Again, I appreciate the concern, but I don’t need help. I’m happy just the way I am.”
“And if Nash loses this place?”
“I’ll still be fine. I’m a big girl. I can look out for myself.”
He nodded and looked down. “I apologize. I—I think of you as a friend and… well, I just wanted to help.”
“Thanks. But everything’s okay.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“Well then I suppose I should let you get back to…whatever you were doing.”
She smiled and walked with him to his car. Rob turned suddenly and grabbed her by the arms, leaned down and kissed her.
Mik was too shocked to react. What the hell had brought that on? She didn’t respond to the kiss. She just stood there frozen in surprise. Rob smiled and released her. “You take care, Mikayla. And if you need me—for anything.”
“You take care too, Rob. I’ll be fine.”
Before he was in his car, she was heading back for the barn. Talk about a strange visit. She was so busy pondering what had inspired him to come with such an offer that she never noticed the two hands sitting at a picnic table by the lake who watched.
****
*
Mik gave Cherokee one last pat, closed the stall and headed for the main house. By now, Jed should be finished. Maybe she’d talk him into building a fire by the lake and spending some time under the stars.
As she stepped up on the back porch, she heard the sound of angry voices. Hurriedly kicking off her boots, she walked inside.
Jesse and Jake were seated at the table and Jed was pacing the floor, his hands bunched into fists and fury rolling off him like waves in a storm.
“No way in hell that fucker’s getting his hands on my ranch!”
“Who?” Mik asked.
Jed whirled on her. The rage in his eyes had her taking a step back. “Like you don’t know.”
“Obviously, or I wouldn’t have asked.”
“Dalton Manning,” Jake supplied the answer.
“Manning?” Mik was stunned. “Rob Manning?”
“Yeah, your boyfriend.” Jed barked.
“Come again?”
“You heard me.”
“Yeah, but I figured either my ears weren’t working right or you’d developed a brain aneurysm. He isn’t my boyfriend, just the guy who bought our farm.”
“And is trying to buy the ranch,” Jesse said.
Mik’s heart sank. She’d felt sure Rob would let it go and steer clear of the ranch. Why had he lied?
“Just because he wants to buy doesn’t mean you have to sell.”
“You knew about this.” Jed’s voice had gone low and lethal. Mik faced him, knowing that he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.
“Yes. He showed up here this morning and said he’d heard about the trouble. Said he was thinking of making an offer.”
“And?”
“And I told him if there was trouble it was none of his business and I was certain the ranch wasn’t for sale.”
“And?”
“And that’s it.”
“Oh, sure you aren’t leaving anything out?”
“No. Yes. He said he’d buy it and let me run it. I told him I wasn’t interested.”
“And?”
“And nothing.” She was starting to anger. Why was Jed interrogating her like this? She tried to open up, touch his feelings. And met with a wall as impenetrable as steel.
