by R. C. Ryan
“Him?” Big Jim looked toward Quinn. “What’s this about?”
“Deke Vance.” Quinn’s tone was flat as he fought to keep the anger from his voice. “When Cheyenne and I stopped in Paintbrush today, there was an ugly confrontation. Deke found out from Austin Baylor that he was a suspect in the fire at Cheyenne’s ranch. He was furious that it was made public knowledge, and told her she’d be sorry.”
Cheyenne stood very straight and still, fighting to keep her tenuous emotions in check in front of these people. “And now I’ve made all of you a target of his anger, as well.”
“You haven’t done anything. This isn’t your fault.” Big Jim crossed to her in quick strides. He took both her hands in his and held them tightly when she tried to pull away. His voice lowered with feeling. “We’ll turn this over to Everett Fletcher and let him take it from there.”
She shook her head. “You’re a hundred miles from town. Chief Fletcher can’t be here to see that it doesn’t happen again.”
“No, he can’t. That’s our job. The chief’s job is to find out where this Deke Vance was tonight. If he doesn’t have a clear alibi, the chief can let him know his little game is over.”
Quinn’s voice was low with fury. “This was no game, Big Jim.”
“It is to the guy who tried it. Whoever decided to play this sort of deadly game has to be out-of-control crazy. Crazy enough to think he can win.”
The old man led Cheyenne to her place at the table. Beside her, Quinn caught her hand, holding it firmly while the others began passing the platters of food.
She felt the warmth of his touch and was oddly comforted by it.
As the others ate she sipped strong, hot coffee and willed herself to relax and let go of the ripples of tension that still throbbed at her temples.
“You haven’t eaten a thing, Cheyenne.”
At Phoebe’s words she gave a shake of her head. “Sorry. I’m not hungry.”
Quinn spooned a small helping of scrambled egg and ham on her plate. “A little food will settle the nerves.”
“You think so?” She managed a weak smile.
“Yeah. Now eat.”
“Yes, sir.” In silence she managed a few bites.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, the food helped. Her energy was restored, and with it a renewed sense of purpose.
It would be, she realized, a relief to report this to the police chief and let him deal with it.
While she ate, the others talked in low tones about their plans for the coming day. It seemed to ease tensions around the table to consider it as just another workday.
Cole glanced at his family. “I think it’s time we all try to get some sleep. We’ve got a full day ahead of us.” He pushed away from the table and the others followed suit.
Quinn, Josh, and Jake held back for a moment. After a whispered conversation, Quinn caught Cheyenne’s hand and walked with her up the stairs.
At the door to her room he opened it, then paused. “Are you going to be able to sleep?”
“I’ll try. What about you?”
“I’ll be fine.” He brushed a quick kiss over her mouth.
For a moment he seemed about to gather her close and draw out the kiss. Just as quickly he took a step back.
When she walked past him, he pulled the door shut.
She listened to his receding footsteps and told herself that she wasn’t disappointed. What they’d shared earlier had been spontaneous and wonderful. And though she was greedy enough to wish he would have wanted to stay long enough to offer her the warmth and comfort of his embrace, she knew it was best this way. They both needed time to clear their minds.
Though the Conway family had been vehement in their argument that she wasn’t responsible, a lingering trace of guilt remained.
She shivered and hugged her arms about herself as she paced the length of the room and back.
The fire at her ranch could have been an accident. But a second fire was no coincidence.
She thought about the things her father had said after Deke was caught with the money in his pocket. There was a fine line between love and hate, and the ones we trusted the most were also the ones who could cut us deeply by betraying that trust.
Today in Paintbrush, Deke’s anger had been palpable. He’d been humiliated publicly in front of friends and neighbors. That would cause anyone to want to lash out.
But to burn a neighbor’s barn? A neighbor whose only offense was to offer her shelter? That was much more than simple betrayal. This seemed more an obsession. A deep and abiding hatred.
Was Deke capable of such searing, hateful emotions?
He had been Buddy’s friend and had been welcomed into their home like a member of the family. He had also, when they had been much younger, let her know that he’d wanted more than her friendship. When she’d gently told him that she didn’t feel the same way about him, he had accepted her rejection like a gentleman.
At least she’d believed so at the time.
Had this all been building inside him? Was that why he had betrayed her family by stealing from them?
And now this.
She paused, staring into space, before coming to a decision. First thing in the morning she would have to tell Chief Fletcher about her latest suspicions. It didn’t seem possible that a long-ago teenage crush could escalate into something so hideous, but until this was resolved the police had the right to know everything.
Because the thought of lying quietly in bed wasn’t possible, she continued pacing while her mind worked through the various knots and tangles tormenting her.
Quinn descended the stairs in the dark and made his way unerringly to his father’s office at the far end of the house.
Inside, Josh and Jake were waiting. Without a word the three brothers headed toward a locked cabinet, where they removed rifles and ammunition. In the mudroom they dressed for warmth before heading out to the barn.
Once inside the barn Quinn withdrew a coin from his pocket. “Call it.”
“Heads,” Josh said.
Quinn flipped the coin and the three of them stared.
Josh climbed to the hayloft and took up a position beside the tiny window that overlooked the snow-covered range. From there he had a clear view of anything that dared to move across the far side of the ranch.
“Again,” Quinn said tersely.
“Tails.”
Quinn flipped the coin a second time, and Jake climbed to the rafters, settling himself beside the window overlooking the foothills of the Tetons.
Quinn closed the big barn door, leaving it open just enough to give him a view of anyone approaching from the front.
With their rifles cocked and ready, the three brothers were prepared to watch and wait throughout the long, dark hours until morning light.
As the silence of the night stretched on and on, Josh’s voice drifted down from the hayloft.
“ ”Okay, Bro. So what’s with you and Cheyenne?”
“Yeah.” Jake’s voice sounded even more distant. “The two of you are looking really cozy.”
Quinn sucked in a breath. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“You want me to make this simple?” Josh’s voice was warm with laughter. “Do you like the way she looks?”
“What’s not to like?”
“I’ll take that for a yes. Your turn, Jake.”
Their younger brother’s voice drifted down. “Do you like her personality?”
“She’s funny. She says what’s on her mind. She knows her way around a ranch. And she’s sexy as hell.”
“Another yes.” Josh paused. “Okay, we know you like her. The question is, do you more than like her?”
“I think so.”
“You think so?” Jake’s voice sounded incredulous. “We’re talking the l word, Bro.”
That had Quinn snorting with laughter.
“Don’t laugh. I’m serious. Do you love this woman?”
Quinn went perfectly still. �
��I hadn’t planned on it. But now…” He shrugged, determined to deny what he was feeling. “We all know I’m a loner. My lifestyle doesn’t exactly lend itself to being half of a couple. I’d say it’s way too soon.”
“Too soon for what?”
“Hell. We haven’t known each other long enough to even learn our favorite colors, foods, hobbies. I don’t think it’s supposed to happen this way.”
“Maybe it runs in the family.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Josh’s voice drifted down from the loft. “Jake’s right. We’ve all heard the story about Pa and his Seraphine. He took one look at this exotic dancer, and said it was all over. He’d never be able to look at another woman. And he never has.”
“Yeah.” Quinn gave a snort of disgust. “Well, if it runs in the family, we’d better run the other way.”
Josh shifted in the hay. “Okay, so they didn’t get their happy ending. But I’m just saying, it was love at first sight, and I doubt that either of them would have it any other way.”
Quinn stared out at the darkness and thought about how Cheyenne felt in his arms. With one touch she could set him on fire in a way no other woman ever had before. They’d been a heartbeat away from falling into her bed.
Just thinking about it had him aching with need. Given the choice, he’d be up in her room right now, doing exactly what they both wanted.
He liked being with her. Loved the sound of her voice. Even enjoyed the fact that she hummed while she ate. It was one of those small, endearing traits that really got to him.
“Quinn…”
At Jake’s voice he shouted, “Shut up and keep watching.”
“I was just going to say that I like her. I think having a sexy hot babe in the family wouldn’t be hard to take.”
“Do you want me to come up there and shut your mouth for you?”
Jake and Josh fell silent. But they both knew from Quinn’s tone that there was no fire in that threat.
A sure sign that their big brother had his mind on something other than temper.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Cole and his sons were holding a morning meeting in his office.
This room was as oversize as the rest of the rooms in the house. Located on the far end of the main floor, it had once been used as a playroom. After Seraphine went missing, Cole noticed that his children avoided going near the room. Not that he could blame them. Everything about it exuded the essence of the woman who had poured her heart and soul into it. From the hand-painted stars on a sky-blue ceiling, to the makeshift stage where she’d taught her children to dance and put on little plays, to the trunks of costumes, many of them worn by their mother when she’d been a professional dancer, it was a fantasyland for a woman-child and her students.
All the world was Seraphine’s stage. But this room, more than any other in the sprawling house, bore the stamp of the woman determined to remain active in the arts that owned her heart, even though she was hundreds of miles from civilization.
Now the playroom had been converted into Cole’s retreat. It hadn’t been an easy decision but, rather, a necessity.
The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling oak shelves and cabinets. A massive stone fireplace with an oak mantel dominated one wall. In the center of the room were a desk and a leather chair. On the desktop was a framed photograph of Seraphine and her three children in younger, happier days. It was the first thing Cole looked at whenever he sat down. The last thing he looked at before turning off the light and leaving.
Facing the desk were four wing chairs upholstered in muted brown and gray tweed. Deep, manly chairs, suitable for discussions about ranch business.
This was where Big Jim and Cole and his sons spent endless hours each month discussing the operation of the ranch, as well as the coal mines and the oil wells that dotted the western range of their land. Those businesses were operated by companies that leased the land from them for huge sums of money. Though ranching was their great love, they were well aware that the bounty extracted from the earth paid the bills and made it possible for them to have one of the most successful ranches in the country. But no amount of money would persuade them to abuse the land they loved. That was why they insisted on carefully monitoring the mining and oil companies, to assure that the environment was treated with respect.
Cole sat behind his desk, facing Quinn and Josh. “After Big Jim and Jake left this morning for the high country, I had a nice long talk with Everett Fletcher.”
“And?” Quinn, freshly shaved, his hair still damp from the shower, studied his father with interest.
Cole’s words were clipped. “He intends to get to the bottom of this.”
Josh gave a nod of his head. “The sooner the better.”
Quinn nodded before saying with a laugh, “I’m not sure how many nights I can go without sleep and still carry my weight around here doing my chores.”
Cole studied his sons. Despite their all-night vigil, they showed no sign of sleep deprivation.
“I appreciate what you did. I had half a mind to guard the barn myself.” He gave a wry laugh. “But this old body just won’t do the things it did twenty or thirty years ago.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” Quinn’s smile faded. “If Chief Fletcher doesn’t come up with an arrest of the guilty party, we’ll just have to rotate some of the wranglers to keep watch during the night.”
“Not an efficient way to run a ranch,” Cole muttered.
“It might not be cost-efficient, but it’s better than the alternative. After seeing what might have happened, we can’t afford to be careless.” Quinn stood and began to prowl the room. “You realize that Cheyenne was right last night.”
They stared at him.
He jammed his hands into the pockets of his faded jeans. “This was no coincidence. A blaze nearly destroyed her house. Now someone tries to burn our barn.” He looked from his father to his brother. “How many fires have we heard about in the past year in this area?”
Josh shrugged. “I can’t think of one.”
“Exactly. Now, within days, we have two.”
“That’s exactly what Chief Fletcher said.” Cole steepled his fingers atop his desk. “So, the next question is why?”
“It’s what I’ve been asking myself all night long.” Quinn gave a slow shake of his head. “Like I said, no answers yet.”
Cole lifted a hand. “The chief had an interesting theory. What if the target is you, Quinn?”
Quinn looked up with a frown. “What’s that supposed to mean? Why would I be targeted?”
“As Everett pointed out, there are ranchers in Wyoming who resent the fact that you’ve become something of a champion for wolves that are considered dangerous predators.”
Quinn nodded. “All right. That makes sense. But how would a rancher know that I was spending the night at Cheyenne’s ranch? Don’t forget, I was there by accident.”
“You could have been followed.” Cole stared pointedly at his son. “Can you think of any rancher you may have offended recently?”
Quinn shook his head. “Probably a few dozen.”
Cole sighed. “Everett wants you to be careful until he gets this resolved.”
“I will. And if I’m not the target, we’re back to Cheyenne. But if somebody is after Cheyenne, it may just be—”
Cole cleared his throat and Quinn looked over just in time to see Cheyenne standing hesitantly in the doorway.
“Sorry to intrude.” She looked embarrassed, as though she’d heard more than she cared to. “Phoebe told me where to find all of you. And the door was open.”
“Come on in, honey.” Cole gave her his best smile. “We were just having a little talk—”
“About me.” She paused on the threshold, much as she had the night before, after they’d battled the fire.
Quinn’s heart went out to her. She looked like a deer run to ground by a hungry wolf.
“As a matter of fact, we were.” He crossed t
he room and caught her hand. In one smooth gesture he led her across the room and to one of the chairs. “We’re tossing around a few theories, and we’d like your take on them.”
“Theories?” She sank into the chair beside Josh.
Cole smoothly took up the thread of their conversation. “You said last night that you believe you’re the target of these fires.”
She nodded.
Cole studied her across his desk. “So the question really should be, if you’re the target of these fires, why?”
“Because…” She licked her lips. “Last night, after the fire, I started thinking about Deke. I think I should tell Chief Fletcher that Deke had a crush on me when we were younger and I didn’t return his feelings.” She flushed and looked down when she realized they were all staring. “I hadn’t thought about it before, and it seems like a really foolish reason for revenge, but,”—she shrugged—“it’s all I can think of.”
Quinn turned to his father. “I hope you’ll pass this along to Everett.”
“I will.” Cole nodded. “When I spoke with the chief earlier, he said the first thing on his list today will be to check out Deke’s alibi for last night.”
Cheyenne sighed.
Cole looked over. “What else is troubling you, honey?”
She gave a slow shake of her head. “Just thinking about all the things that have gone wrong in my life. My brother. My father. The fire…”
Cole shoved away from his desk and walked over to lay a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve had more than your share, Cheyenne. But you have to hold on to the thought that better days are coming.”
She looked up, eyes shiny. “You mean, if you ruled the universe?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “If I ruled. In the meantime…” He glanced at his sons. “I figure by now Phoebe and Ela should have something amazing ready for breakfast.”
“Oh.” Cheyenne jumped up. “That’s what I was supposed to tell you. Breakfast is ready.”
“Come on, then.” Cole put a hand under her elbow, and together they strode from the office, with Josh following.
Quinn trailed at a slower pace, his mind clearly not on the menu.
