by B. J Daniels
Megan frowned. “Does this have something to do with Jackson Cardwell? Is he the one putting these ideas in your head?”
“He has a theory about the so-called incidents I’ve been having,” Allie confided. “He thinks someone is trying to make me think I’m crazy in order to take Natalie from me.”
“That sounds...crazy in itself. Allie, I hate to say this, but you are starting to sound like your—”
“Don’t say it,” Allie cried. Wasn’t that her real underlying fear, the one that had haunted her her whole life? That she was becoming sick like her mother? She rubbed a hand over the back of her neck. What was she sure of right now? She’d thought Jackson, but after this morning... “I know it sounds crazy, but if it’s true, I have to find out who is behind it.”
“And Jackson is helping you?” Megan said and frowned. “Or is he complicating things even more? You aren’t...falling for him, are you?”
* * *
JACKSON WASN’T SURE what he was going to say to Allie. He felt like a heel for leaving her alone this morning. She must be furious with him. No, he thought, not Allie. She would be hurt, and that made him feel worse than if she was angry.
He headed for the barn to apologize to her. Once inside, though, he didn’t see Allie.
“She said she had to run an errand,” Megan told him with a shrug.
Glancing outside, he saw her van still parked where it had been last night. “Did she go on foot?”
“Her brother-in-law offered her a ride.”
“Drew?” Jackson felt his heart race at the thought of Allie alone with that man. “Do you know where they went?”
Megan shook her head and kept working.
“You don’t like me,” he said, stepping farther into the barn. “Why is that?”
“I don’t think you’re good for my sister.”
“Based on what?” he had to ask. “We have barely met.”
“She told me about this crazy idea you have that someone is causing these incidents she’s been having.”
“You disagree?”
Megan gave him an impatient look. “I know the Taylors. The last thing they want is a five-year-old to raise.”
“So you think what’s been happening to Allie is all in her head?”
She put down what she’d been working on and gave him her full attention for the first time. “You just met her. You don’t know anything about her. I love my stepsister, but I don’t think she has been completely honest with you. Did you know that her mother spent her last years in a mental hospital? Or that she killed herself?”
“You aren’t trying to tell me it runs in the family.”
Megan raised a brow. “Allie’s been through a lot. She has some issues she hasn’t gotten past, including the fact that she wanted her husband gone. So she already told you about that, huh?” He nodded. “Did she also tell you that she bought a gun just before Nick went up into the mountains? That’s right. I wonder what happened to it.” She shrugged. “Like I said, I love Allie and Nat, but I also know that Allie hated her husband and would have done anything to escape him.”
* * *
ALLIE HAD BEEN on her way to her van when Drew had suddenly appeared next to her.
“Where you off to?” he’d asked.
“I just have to pick up some ribbon at the store,” she’d said, trying to act normal. What a joke. She hadn’t felt normal in so long, she’d forgotten what it felt like. Worse, she feared that Drew would find out about last night. The Taylors wouldn’t hesitate to use it against her, claiming it proved what a terrible mother she was.
Allie felt guilty enough. Her husband had been dead only months and here she was making love with another man. Did it matter that she hadn’t loved Nick for years? She had a child to think about and Jackson Cardwell would be leaving in two days’ time. Then what?
It would be just her and Nat and the Taylors.
“I’ll give you a ride,” Drew said. She started to argue but he stopped her. “It would be stupid to take your van when I’m going that way, anyway. You pick up your ribbon. I’ll pick up the chalk I need next door at the hardware store. We’ll be back here before you know it.”
All her instincts warned her not to get into the pickup with him, but she couldn’t think of a reason not to accept the ride without acting paranoid. Did she really think he would take her somewhere other than the store and what? Attack her?
She climbed into the passenger side of the pickup and remembered something Nick had said not long before he’d left to go hunting that day.
“You’re so damned trusting, Allie. I worry about you. Don’t you get tired of being so nice?” He’d laughed and pretended he was joking as he pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t change. It’s refreshing.”
It also had made it easier for him to control her.
“You want to know something crazy?” Drew said as he started the engine and drove down the road toward Big Sky. “When I got here this morning, your van was where you’d left it last night. There was dew on the window. I checked the motor. It hadn’t been moved and even more interesting, you were nowhere to be found.”
She didn’t look at him as he roared down the road. Ahead she could see the bridge that spanned the Gallatin River. Why hadn’t she listened to her instincts and not gotten into the vehicle with Drew?
“It was like a mystery. I love mysteries. Did I ever tell you that?”
A recent rainstorm had washed out some of the road just before the bridge, leaving deep ruts that were to be filled this afternoon. Couldn’t have the wedding guests being jarred by the ruts.
“I saw you come out of Jackson Cardwell’s cabin this morning.” Drew swore as he braked for the ruts. “You slut.” He started to backhand her, but had to brake harder as he hit the first rut so his hand went back to the wheel before it reached its mark. “How could you screw—”
Allie unsnapped her seat belt and grabbed the door handle.
As the door swung open, Drew hit the brakes even harder, slamming her into the door as she jumped. She hit the soft earth at the side of the road, lost her footing and fell into the ditch.
Drew stopped the truck. She heard his door open and the shocks groan as he climbed out. By then she was on her feet and headed into the pines next to the road, running, even though her right ankle ached.
“Allie!” Drew yelled from the roadbed. “You could have killed yourself. You’re crazy, you know that?”
She kept running through the pines. Her brother-in-law was right. She had been stupid. Stupid to get into the truck with him when all her instincts had been telling her not to, and crazy to jump out.
Behind her, she heard the truck engine rev, then the pickup rumble over the bridge. She slowed to catch her breath then limped the rest of the way back to the barn, telling herself she was through being naive and trusting.
* * *
JACKSON DIDN’T SEE Allie until that evening at the wedding rehearsal so he had no chance to get her alone. “We need to talk,” he whispered in those few seconds he managed to get her somewhat alone.
She met his gaze. “Look, I think I already know what you’re going to say.”
“I doubt that.” She wore a multicolored skirt and top that accentuated her lush body. “You look beautiful. That top brings out the green in your eyes.”
“Thank you.” Something glinted in those eyes for a moment. “Jackson—”
“I know. This isn’t the place. But can we please talk later? It’s important.”
She nodded, though reluctantly.
He mentally kicked himself for running out on her this morning as he stood there, wanting to say more, but not able to find the right words.
Allie excused herself. He watched her head for the preacher as the rehearsal was about
to begin. Was she limping?
All day he’d stewed over what Megan had told him. She was wrong about Allie, but he could understand why she felt the way she did. Maybe she really did love her sister. Or maybe not.
Belinda was busy behind her camera, shooting as they all went to their places. As one of the best men, Jackson was in a position to watch the others. He hadn’t seen much of Sarah Taylor. But Sarah, her mother and brother would be at the rehearsal dinner tonight. He watched Sarah enter the barn and start up the aisle toward the steps to where the preacher was standing along with the best men and the groom.
An overweight woman with dull, brown hair pulled severely back from her face, Sarah seemed somewhere else, oblivious to what was happening. Either that or bored. Four more bridesmaids entered and took their places.
Harlan and Angus broke into “Here Comes the Bride” on their guitars and Lily came out of a small-framed building next to the meadow with her father and mother. Jackson hadn’t met either of them yet but he wanted to laugh when he saw them looking as if in horror. Lily was smiling from ear to ear. So was her brother Ace from the sidelines. But clearly her parents hadn’t expected this kind of wedding for their only daughter.
Jackson looked over at Allie. She really was beautiful. She glanced to the parking lot and quickly looked away as if she’d seen something that frightened her.
He followed her gaze. Drew Taylor stood lounging against his pickup, a malicious smirk on his face as if he was up to something.
* * *
THE REHEARSAL WENT off without a hitch. Allie tried to breathe a sigh of relief. Dana had booked an Italian restaurant in Bozeman for the night of the rehearsal dinner. “I know it’s not the way things are normally done,” she’d said with a laugh. But Lily and I discussed it.”
Dana had insisted anyone involved in the wedding had to be there so that meant Allie and Natalie as well as Megan and Belinda.
They’d just gotten to the restaurant when Allie heard a strident voice behind her say, “There you are.”
She bristled but didn’t turn, putting off facing her mother-in-law as long as possible.
“Sarah thinks you’re avoiding us,” Mildred said. “But why would you do that?”
Allie turned, planting a smile on her face. “I wouldn’t.”
“Hmmm,” her mother-in-law said. She gave Allie the once-over. “You look different.”
Allie remembered that she was wearing one of two outfits that she hadn’t taken back to the store. This one was a multicolored top and skirt that Jackson had said brought out the green in her eyes. She loved it and while it was more expensive than she could really afford, she’d needed something to wear tonight.
“Where did you get that outfit?” Mildred asked, eyeing her with suspicion.
“I found it in my closet,” Allie said honestly.
“Really?”
Allie felt a hand take hers and looked up to see Jackson.
“I saved you a spot down here,” he said and led her to the other end of the table, away from the Taylors.
Dana had insisted that there be no prearranged seating. “Let everyone sit where they want. I like people to be comfortable.” Lily had seemed relieved that she could sit by Tag, away from her parents.
Allie was grateful to Jackson for saving her. Dinner was served and the conversation around the table was light with lots of laughter and joking. She was glad Jackson didn’t try to talk to her about last night.
It had been a mistake in so many ways. But tomorrow after the wedding, they would say goodbye and he and Ford would fly out the next day. She told herself that once the wedding was over, everything would be all right.
A part of her knew she was only kidding herself. There hadn’t been any more incidents, no misplaced keys, no Nick sightings, no “black cat” scares and that almost worried her. What had changed? Or was Nick and whomever he had helping him just waiting to ambush her?
She had a feeling that the séance with the psychic hadn’t produced the results they’d wanted. Now she, too, was waiting. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Just let it drop after the wedding, she prayed. Jackson and Ford would be back in Texas. Whatever was planned for her, she felt she could handle it once this job was over. The one thing Jackson had done was made her feel stronger, more sure of herself. He’d also reminded her that she was a woman with needs that had long gone unmet until last night.
“Stop telling stories on me,” Tag pleaded at the dinner table across from her. “Lily is going to change her mind about marrying me.”
“Not a chance, cowboy,” Lily said next to him before she’d kissed him to hoots and hollers.
Even Sarah seemed to be enjoying herself with the other bridesmaids since they had all worked together at Lily’s brother’s bar.
Allie avoided looking down the table to see how the Taylors were doing. She was so thankful to be sitting as far away from them as possible, especially Drew. To think that she’d trusted him and thought he’d really had her and Nat’s best interest at heart. She’d felt his eyes on her all night. The few times she’d met his gaze, he’d scowled at her.
She glanced over at the children’s table to see her daughter also enjoying herself. Dana’s sister Stacy had the children at a separate table. Allie saw that her daughter was being on her best behavior. So ladylike, she was even using the manners Allie had taught her. She felt a swell of pride and told herself that she and Natalie were going to be all right no matter what happened after the wedding.
To her surprise, her eyes welled with tears and she quickly excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. The bathroom was past an empty section of the restaurant, then down a long hallway. She was glad that no one had followed her. She needed a few minutes alone.
Inside the bathroom, she pulled herself together. Last night with Jackson had meant more to her than she’d admitted. It had hurt this morning when he hadn’t been there, but she could understand why he’d panicked. Neither of them took that kind of intimacy lightly.
Feeling better, she left the bathroom. As she reached the empty section of the restaurant, Drew stepped in front of her, startling her. She could smell the alcohol on him. The way he was standing... She recognized that stance after five years of being married to his brother.
Drew was looking for a fight. How had she thought the brothers were different? Because she hadn’t seen this side of Drew. Until now.
“You jumped out of my truck. What the hell was that? Do I scare you, Allie?” he asked, slurring his words and blocking her way.
“Please, Drew, don’t make a scene.”
He laughed. “Oh, you don’t want Dana to know that you slept with her cousin?”
“Drew—”
“Don’t bother to lie to me,” he said as he stepped toward her, shoving her back. “I saw you.” His voice broke. “How can you do this to my brother?”
“Nick’s...gone.”
“And forgotten. Is that it?” He forced her back against the wall, caging her with one hand on each side of her.
“Please, Drew—”
“If Nick really was out of the picture...” He belched. “You have to know I’ve always wanted you,” he said drunkenly. Before she could stop him, he bent down and tried to kiss her.
She turned her head to the side. He kissed her hair, then angrily grabbed her jaw in one hand. His fingers squeezed painfully as he turned her to face him.
“What? Am I not good enough for you?”
“Drew—”
Suddenly he was jerked away. Allie blinked as Jackson hauled back and swung. His fist connected with Drew’s jaw and he went down hard, crashing into a table.
“Are you all right?” Jackson asked, stepping to her.
She nodded and glanced at her brother-in-law. He was trying to get up, but h
e seemed to take one look at Jackson and decided to stay down.
“You’ll pay for that!” he threatened as she and Jackson headed back toward their table. Allie knew he wasn’t talking to Jackson. She would pay.
“If he bothers you again—” Jackson said as if reading her mind.
“Don’t worry about me.”
“How can I not?” he demanded. “That was about me, wasn’t it?”
“Drew was just looking for a reason.”
“And I provided it.”
“He saw me leaving your cabin this morning,” she said. “I don’t think he’s told anyone, but he will. I just wanted to warn you. I’m afraid what Nick might do to you.”
“Allie, I don’t give a damn about any of that. What I’m sorry about was leaving you this morning,” he said, bringing her up short as he stopped and turned her to face him. “There is so much I want to say to you—”
“Oh, there you are,” Mildred Taylor said as she approached. “I was just looking for Drew. I thought you might have seen him. Allie, you look terrible. I knew this job was going to be too much for you.”
Natalie and Ford came running toward them. Mildred began to say something about giving Allie and Nat a ride home, but then Drew appeared, rubbing his jaw.
“Drew, whatever happened to you?” Mildred cried.
“I still need to talk to you,” Jackson whispered to Allie, who was bending down to catch her daughter up into her arms.
“After the wedding,” she said as she lifted Natalie, hugging her tightly. “Tonight I just need to take my daughter home.”
Jackson wanted to stop her. But she was right. The wedding was the important thing right now. After that...
Chapter Twelve
Wedding Day. Allie woke at the crack of dawn. She couldn’t help being nervous and excited. The wedding was to be held in a beautiful meadow near the house. Those attending had been told to wear Western attire as the seating at the wedding would be hay bales.
Drew had constructed an arch for the bride and groom to stand under with the preacher. Allie had walked through everything with the bride and groom, the caterer and the musicians. The barn was ready for the reception that would follow. But she still wanted to get to the ranch early to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.
