A Home in Hill Country (Harlequin Heartwarming)

by Rustand, Roxanne

  By ten o’clock she’d driven back to Nora’s ranch to pick up Cody, and now the two were back on their front porch.

  Vaguely uneasy, she tested the door first—locked tight—then peered through the glass into the darkened living room. Everything was just as it should be, with nothing out of place—the TV and stereo undisturbed. Even her digital camera was still perched on the fireplace mantel.

  Just your imagination. She stepped inside and flipped on the lights with her hand on the cell phone in her bag.

  “Can I stay up and watch a movie?” Cody pleaded. “It’s Saturday night!”

  “Bedtime, kiddo—soon as you take your bath.”

  “Aaaw, mom!” But despite his apparent misery, she’d seen him yawning all the way home and knew he was tired.

  “You and Nora rode for three hours while I was gone. I’ll bet that bed of yours will feel mighty good tonight.”

  After putting away her groceries, she checked the lock on the back door and turned out the kitchen light, then headed to the den, while Cody filled the tub.

  An unexpected, cool draft wafted over her stocking feet as she touched the door. Hesitant, she pushed it open and took a half step back. Across the room, the lace curtains swayed fitfully on the night breeze.

  At a window she always closed before she left home.

  She instinctively took another step back and grabbed her cell phone, hitting the speed dial for 911 in horror.

  There was no sign an intruder was still here.

  But she’d set up a small home office in the corner of the room, and the filing cabinet hung open and askew. Papers were strewn everywhere.

  It hadn’t been the wind, and it clearly hadn’t been some stray animal after food. Someone had been searching for something.

  And if she’d scared him away by arriving late at night, then that person might come back.

  SHE REACHED CODY just before he stepped into the bathtub, and ordered him back into his clothes, pronto.

  He regarded her with frightened eyes. “Why?”

  “We’ll be fine, honey. I just think that someone might have been here while we were gone. I’ve already called 911, so the sheriff or his deputy should be here soon.”

  After debating the wisdom of going back out in the dark and locking themselves in her truck, she figured they were safer inside the house.

  Keeping him at her side, she double-checked the locks on every door and window, shutting every blind and switching on all of the lamps until the house was ablaze with light. Then she stood with him in the living room, her heart hammering in her chest.

  She managed a smile. “Kind of an adventure, don’t you think?”

  He shrugged. “Can I watch TV now?”

  The resiliency of childhood made her laugh. “Yes, you can. Just keep it really low, okay?”

  He put in one of his favorite DVDs and turned on the TV, while she listened for sounds that shouldn’t be there, and prayed that their intruder had long since headed over the hills.

  Within ten minutes the welcoming wail of a siren came up the highway, and soon flashing lights were spinning across the hillsides, painting them an eerie shade of red. A second patrol car arrived moments later.

  Her heart still pounding, Kristin looked gratefully out at the circus of strobe lights and vehicles, then bent to give Cody a loving squeeze. “See, honey? We’re fine.”

  He flipped off the TV and went to stand at the windows, his eyes wide. “Wow!”

  Wade dispatched his deputy to search her house while he started taking a report from Kristin.

  “Any ideas at all?” Wade asked, after taking down general information. “Anyone say anything to you—threaten you in any way?”

  “No one.” She smiled at Cody. “Maybe you should go sit on the sofa for a while and watch your movie. You don’t want to miss the best part, right?”

  She waited until Cody left, then lowered her voice. “I haven’t had any personal threats, Sheriff. I don’t owe anyone money. I haven’t had any bad business deals. There’ve been no difficult patients at the clinic to speak of. I’ve been looking into my Dad’s death, but only you, my aunts and I know about the fender, and that the report came back.”

  “Have you talked to any locals about the accident? Made anyone edgy?” Wade frowned as he jotted notes on his clipboard.

  “Max at the clinic knows I’ve been working on this, but he’s newer in town than I am. Buddy…but he could’ve hidden that fender instead of giving it to me, so he’s just been helpful. And Ryan—but he’s trustworthy.”

  Wade looked at her sharply. “You told a Gallagher?”

  “Inadvertently…sort of.”

  “Ma’am, if someone was after your father, who would be the most likely suspect?”

  Clint Gallagher. But how could she be sure of that…and how could she explain that the man’s eldest son was different? “I…I’m working on it.”

  The deputy came back with his own clipboard and frowned at Wade. “Just as she said, boss. I found TVs, a DVD player and a digital camera, all in plain sight. A jewelry box on her dresser upstairs, and it didn’t look like anyone had pawed through it. But the den—the suspect was trying real hard to find something in those files.” He turned his attention to Kristin. “Any idea what he was looking for?”

  “Money? Credit cards?”

  “Then he would have taken small valuables, too. We’ll check for fingerprints, but that’s a long shot—local troublemakers wouldn’t be in the system, and a pro would wear gloves. If you can figure out what’s missing—or what someone tried to find—we’ll have a better chance.”

  She shivered as she met and held Wade’s gaze. “Evidence about my dad’s accident?”

  He nodded. “Given the circumstances, that’s my guess, too. Now we need to figure out who might have been driving that car.”

  KRISTIN LEFT all the lights blazing for the rest of the night. Long after Cody went to sleep, she worked through the papers that had been thrown about in the den.

  The deputy was right. A random burglar would have taken valuables. Someone was after specific information, but the range of possibilities was frighteningly narrow.

  Ted certainly wasn’t after anything to prove her less than competent as a mother—he wasn’t particularly happy about Cody’s weekend stays anyway and had never pushed for full custody.

  No one could imagine, looking around at her spare furnishings and the condition of the house, that she would have secret treasures hidden away. Even in these days of identity theft and credit card fraud, surely a thief would pick on someone who appeared much more affluent.

  And that left the possibility that her father’s killer knew about her quest…and wanted to either frighten her or take whatever proof she might have found.

  Buddy and Wade had been nothing but helpful. Nora and RaeJean were certainly trustworthy…though RaeJean had a penchant for gossip and didn’t always get her facts straight, so she might have inadvertently said something to the wrong person.

  And then there was Ryan. A man she’d loved all these years, whether she’d admitted it to herself or not. But what would he have to gain? The truth hit her like a fist slamming into her stomach, taking her breath away.

  Millions.

  She sat back on her heels. Years ago, he’d defied his father because of her. He’d lost his inheritance, his future at the Four Aces and his close family ties. Now, facing the possibility of permanent disability and the end of his military career, wouldn’t he want to regain the good graces of his father?

  And if Clint had caused her father’s death, there would be no better way than to stay close to her, keep close tabs on what she discovered and then find a way to eliminate that evidence. Or give her a warning.

  He’d canceled their date. Perhaps he’d watched the house, hoping she would leave…. But surely she couldn’t have been so wrong about him.

  She leaned against her desk and stared at the wall…and wondered if she’d been a fool after all.
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  “CAN WE GO OVER to the ranch, Mom?” Cody begged on Saturday morning, around a mouthful of his favorite chocolate-chip pancakes. “I bet I can find the kittens. Please?”

  “Actually, I got a call from Hayden’s dad this morning.” Kristin refilled his glass of milk. “They did find Target, and said they’ll drop her off around four this afternoon on their way out of town.”

  But she hadn’t heard a word from Ryan…which seemed so strange.

  “Hayden’s going away again?” Cody’s face fell. “I wanted to go over there to play, or maybe have him come here this time.”

  She ruffled his hair. “Sounds like they’ll be pretty busy. They’re packing up for a horse show in Dallas, and I hear Hayden and his sister have to help pack their motor home. Maybe there’s someone else at school you can call.”

  “Na-a-ah.” He pushed the rest of his pancakes around in the sea of syrup on his plate.

  “Want to go riding this morning? It’s such a pretty day. When we get back, we can get ready for that kitten of yours.”

  He perked up. “Can we go on the trail across the highway?”

  They’d been over there once before, but they’d left too late and dusk had sent them home again before they’d gotten very far. According to Miranda, the trail wound through another parcel of the K-Bar-C land destined for new owners under the Home Free program, but it would be the last area developed. “We should have plenty of time, honey. We could even pack some sandwiches and juice, if you’d like. Help me clear up these dishes, and we’ll go.”

  THE CRISP OCTOBER BREEZE and bright sunshine made every mile a delight, as did the endlessly rolling Hill Country, with vistas waiting around every bend. Kristin could have gone on forever, but by two o’clock in the afternoon, Cody was ready to turn home.

  Rebel, who’d trudged patiently down the trail with his nose nearly on the ground and his ears at half-mast, was a different horse the moment they turned back. Ears pricked, head high, he eased into a fast walk that kept Boots at an intermittent jog just to keep up.

  “I think he must be hungry,” Cody said, laughing.

  “Rebel is always hungry.”

  “Can we lope? I bet he’d really go, now!”

  Kristin shook her head. “He’s a sweetheart, but I’d hate to have him get away from you. That highway is coming up.”

  Cody dutifully slumped back down in his saddle.

  She watched him ride. He was so much more confident now and so much happier than he’d been when they first moved to Homestead. Whatever else she had to deal with here, this move had been a good one for him. A place to put down roots, with his great-aunts close by and the wide open spaces offering a taste of freedom, a departure from the urban life they’d had before.

  When they reached their driveway, Cody kicked Rebel into a slow jog and rounded the last bend. A second later, she heard a whoop of delight.

  “They’re here, Mom! They came!”

  By the time she caught up, Cody had dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching rail, and had run over to the Gallagher’s motor home parked in front of the house.

  Garrett stood leaning against a front fender, his legs crossed at the ankles. “Afternoon, ma’am,” he said. “Looks like we made someone’s day.”

  Wearing the biggest smile she’d ever seen, Cody already had the kitten in his arms. “Isn’t she beautiful, Mom?”

  “It sure was nice of you to stop by.” Kristin dismounted and led Boots over to Garrett. “I’m sorry you had to wait for us. You’re probably in a hurry.”

  “I got here a little early.” Garrett shrugged. “No problem. Trevor and the rest of them went on ahead with the big rig, because we figured it might be too tight to turn it around down here.”

  “What do you say, Cody?” Kristin prompted.

  “Thanks a million! Target is the coolest kitten ever!”

  Garrett grinned back at him and touched the brim of his hat. “I think so, too.” He opened the door of the motor home, climbed behind the wheel and switched on the ignition. Resting the crook of his elbow in the open window, he winked at Cody. “A whole lot cooler than having any ole green race cars, right?”

  In a cloud of dust, he headed up the lane.

  “What did he mean by that?” Kristin asked casually, leaning down to scratch the kitten gently behind one ear.

  Cody’s gaze veered away. “Nuthin’.”

  His sudden edginess told her that wasn’t exactly true. “Nothing?”

  He put the kitten back in its carrying cage. “We were just joking around.”

  He went over to the hitching rack and began unsaddling his horse. She watched him struggle with the girth, then went over to help him. With a few deft tugs she released the long latigo strap and hauled the saddle off, handing Cody the saddle blanket.

  “It wasn’t true anyway,” he muttered, his lower lip stuck out in a pout reminiscent of his preschool days. “Hayden thought I was stupid.”

  She untied Rebel and led the horse into the corral, let him loose, then went to unsaddle Boots. “What’s not true?”

  “About that green car?”

  “Exactly.”

  He stubbed his toe in the dirt, the tips of his ears reddening. “I was ’sposed to tell you, but I forgot.”

  She took a deep breath to curb her exasperation. “Who told you, Cody? When?”

  “Aunt RaeJean called. She told me about a green car that someone races. She saw it in town once.”

  “Whose car was it, Cody?”

  “It wasn’t true, anyway.” He was looking up at her warily now, as if he’d realized just how much he’d screwed up, and his voice was defensive. “She said it belonged to a kid who raced it sometimes. I thought it was sorta cool, so I told Hayden. But that crabby lawyer—the one who goes over to Hayden’s a lot—was there, and he heard me. And he said it was a lie.”

  Kristin took a sharp breath as the possibilities became all too clear. She tried for an easy smile. “How on earth would he know that?”

  “Because RaeJean said he was the kid’s uncle.”

  IT ALL FELL INTO PLACE. The Gallagher’s lawyer. Ryan’s attentive behavior. The break-in after Ryan had coincidentally canceled their date on Friday night.

  Ryan had probably told his father about the ’67 Chevy’s fender, and Clint had been stewing about it ever since.

  If Clint had set up her father’s murder, he certainly wouldn’t want any possible proof to surface, but the big question was why he would have wanted Nate dead while the money was still missing.

  What would it gain? If Nate had supposedly embezzled money, his death would preclude any possibility that he could be forced to either reveal its location or make restitution.

  None of this made sense, but dwelling on it kept her from accepting the painful truth that she’d been played for an absolute fool.

  As soon as she got the horses put away and settled Cody in the house with his kitten, she stepped out onto the porch with her cell phone and left a message with the secretary at the sheriff’s office.

  Wade returned her call minutes later, his voice worried. “Is everything all right out at your place?”

  “Believe me, I would’ve called 911 if there was trouble.” She hesitated, knowing it was a long shot. “RaeJean remembers seeing someone driving a blue-green car similar to the color I described. She saw it a couple of times.”

  “Do you have a name? License plate?”

  Kristin paced across the porch, her stomach tightening. “No…but she thought the boy was one of Leland Havens’s nephews.”

  He fell silent. “He could have a different last name.”

  “I know.”

  “And it could be a totally different color, not a match at all.”

  “Right.”

  “And even if it’s a match, the car could have been sold, repainted or junked by now. Just finding this person would be no guarantee.”

  The futility made her stomach tighten even more. “You don’t think it’s wort
h checking out?”

  “It’s absolutely worth pursuing, if this was a homicide.” Wade’s voice was hard. “Leland lives in San Antonio, but I think most of his people come from around here. I’ll see if I can get some names.”

  She rested her head against one of the support posts on the porch. “Thank you.”

  “It’s my job. And Kristin, I promise to keep the case open until we find answers.”

  She leaned against the post listening to Cody playing with his kitten. Such innocence…such joy in simple things.

  It was hard to imagine ever feeling that carefree again.

  But no one at the Four Aces knew anything had changed. Clint would still assume he controlled the universe and everyone in it. The lawyer would assume he’d outsmarted the law by borrowing a different car…and whoever had driven it would still be sure they’d gotten away with murder.

  And Ryan—unless she listened to the small voice in her heart—was still sure she’d fallen for his ruse.

  Garrett had mentioned that “Trevor and the rest of them” had gone to Dallas, so this might be the perfect time to drop over and ask a couple of the Four Aces ranch hands some questions. Flipping open her phone again, she speed dialed Nora and asked if Cody could come over for a couple hours.

  The Four Aces was no longer a safe place for him, right now. But with a little luck, she might stumble across some leads that could prove who killed her father.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CLINT RUSTLED the Dallas Daily News, tried to focus on the fine print, then slammed it down on the table. The headlines wavered and the articles were impossible to read.

  The inexorable progression of his macular degeneration had been a slow and cunning thing. Insidious, lulling him into the belief that he would overcome it just as he’d overcome every other obstacle in his life.

  But sheer defiance wouldn’t change the inevitability of this disease, and the prospect terrified him.

  He pushed away from the table, his anger simmering and his blood pounding in his temples. What was he going to do with the rest of his life—stare off into nothing? Be as useless as a baby, needing care? Listen to the sympathetic whispers of people he would never see?