Stalked in the Night

by Carla Cassidy

  He laughed. “I think I can handle them. Maybe one evening the four of us could go out for some pizza together.”

  This wasn’t the first time Robert had mentioned an outing including her. “Right now I’m staying really busy, Robert. It’s really hard for me to get away.”

  She’d sensed that the man had a romantic interest in her. She wasn’t interested in him, but she also didn’t want to say or do anything that might mess up the boys’ friendship.

  “But Eva, everyone needs a break once in a while,” he chided. “You know the old saying about all work and no play.”

  “I know, and maybe we can plan something sometime in the future,” she replied noncommittally.

  “I’d really like that,” he replied. “Now, what time do you need your son home tomorrow?”

  “Whatever time is convenient with you. I should be here all day.”

  Within minutes they were gone, and Eva was alone in the house. She ate spaghetti for dinner and then put the leftovers in the fridge and cleaned up the kitchen. Once that was done, she went into the living room and sank down on the sofa.

  With a deep sigh, she reached up and unwound the braid in her hair, then used her hairbrush to stroke through the long strands.

  It had been a long day, starting with the discovery of the two dead animals and the new note. She was exhausted not from any physical activity she’d done during the day, but rather from the simmering fear that buzzed continuously inside her head.

  She’d never felt afraid here. She kept her father’s shotgun loaded and in a gun safe in her bedroom, but she’d never had to take it out. Tonight, however, the silence of the house pressed in all around her as she thought of the notes she’d received.

  She got up and checked to make sure the front door was securely locked and then went to the back door and did the same thing. Being a single woman with a young son, she had invested in good locks on the doors and windows when Andrew passed away.

  The place didn’t have central air, although she had air-conditioning units in the windows of the living room and both bedrooms. She only ran the one in her bedroom when it was really hot and there was no breeze coming into the second window in her room. Eventually she’d love to get central air, but right now that wasn’t in her limited budget.

  She closed and locked the windows in the kitchen and then returned to the sofa and turned on the television to fill the quiet.

  It was a few minutes after eight when her phone rang, and she saw by the identification that the caller was Wayne. “Is it too late to make a house call?” he asked.

  “Not at all, what’s up?” she asked.

  “I just wanted to come by and update you with what I’ve learned today. I’ll be out there in about twenty minutes or so.”

  “Okay, see you then,” Eva replied. She got up and reopened the kitchen windows to allow in the light evening breeze and then put on a pot of coffee.

  She hoped the sheriff was bringing some answers. God, she hoped he was coming to tell her he’d identified the guilty person and that person was now behind bars. That was the only thing that would both answer her questions and halt the simmer of fear that had burdened her since the first cow and note.

  About twenty minutes later, with the sun dipping low in the sky, Wayne arrived with Jake following in his truck right behind.

  She was definitely not happy to see Jake, who was spending far too much time and energy in her business. And yet she had to confess she was grateful he’d initially gotten involved, since it had obviously lit a fire under Wayne’s backside. But it was now time for him to go away.

  “Wayne.” She opened the door wider to allow in the lawman. “Jake, I didn’t expect to see you here again.”

  “Expect to see me around here a lot,” he replied as he followed Wayne through the living room and into the kitchen.

  Now that’s so not happening, she thought to herself as she followed them into the kitchen. But she couldn’t exactly set Jake straight in front of Wayne. She would definitely speak to Jake once Wayne left.

  “Ah, I smell fresh-brewed coffee,” Wayne said as he sank down at the table.

  “I know how much you like your coffee, Wayne,” she replied. No matter the time of day or night, she rarely saw the man around town without a cup of java in his hand.

  “None for me,” Jake said.

  She poured Wayne a cup and then joined the two men at the table. “I hope you have some good news for me, Wayne,” she said.

  He winced. “Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” he replied. “I just wanted to catch you both up on what I’ve done today.” He shot a quick glance at Jake and then looked back at her. “I want you to know I’m taking this all very seriously.”

  “Then what do you have for us?” Jake asked.

  When did she become “us” with Jake Albright? She tried not to look at him, even though she was acutely aware of him. His presence made the room feel too small and without enough air to get a full breath.

  Wayne rose just enough to pull a notepad from his rear pocket. He opened it and flipped the pages in obvious self-importance. “The first person I spoke to this afternoon was Griff Ainsley.”

  “Who is he?” Jake asked.

  “He’s one of the teenagers who have been using my barn to party in,” Eva explained. She’d given Wayne Griff’s name after the first dead cow had been found. “He’s a mouthy, disrespectful boy who has been in my barn with his friends more times than I can count. He seems to be the ringleader of all of them.”

  “So, what did he have to say?” Jake’s jaw muscle tightened.

  Wayne’s cheeks dusted with color, and he kept his gaze on the notepad on the table in front of him. “He said Eva was a crazy woman. He told me that he and a couple of his friends had come out here at the beginning of the summer to see if Eva needed any part-time help. But she greeted them all with a gun and screamed at them to get off her property or she’d shoot them. After that he said he’d stayed away from here.”

  “He’s such a liar,” Eva replied sharply. “That certainly never happened, and the kids were out in my barn as recently as two weeks ago. I cleaned up the trash they left behind, like I always have to do. I’ll admit I’ve confronted them before and I’ve screamed at them all, but never with a gun.”

  “So, what was his alibi on the nights that Eva’s cattle were killed?” Jake asked.

  “He was in bed asleep, and his parents backed him up.” Wayne finally looked at Eva.

  “Are they the kind of people who would lie for their son?” Jake leaned forward in his chair.

  Wayne hesitated a long moment and then finally replied, “Yeah, they’d probably lie for him. He’s their only kid. He’s also the high school’s star quarterback, and they’re very proud of him. They definitely wouldn’t want him to get in any trouble.”

  “So we don’t know if this is the work of a bunch of teenagers or not,” she replied flatly.

  “Not at this point. I also don’t think Ben Wilkins is responsible, either,” Wayne said.

  “He’s the ranch hand I fired six months ago,” Eva reminded Jake. “Why do you think he isn’t responsible?” she asked Wayne.

  “He quit the O’Brien ranch about two months ago and moved to Makenville,” Wayne replied, referring to a nearby small town.

  “That’s only a twenty-minute drive from here,” Jake said. “He could easily drive here, wreak havoc on Eva’s ranch and then drive back. Did you interview him in person?”

  “I didn’t get a chance today, but it’s on my to-do list for tomorrow.” Wayne took a drink of his coffee.

  “What about the notes? Have you been able to pull any fingerprints from them?” Jake asked.

  “Not in the two I’ve checked so far. There were a few on them, but I’m guessing they were Eva’s.”

  “You’re guessing?” Jake looked at
Wayne in disbelief. “Have you taken Eva’s fingerprints so you can rule hers out?”

  “Uh...not yet. Eva, maybe you can stop by the office sometime tomorrow and we can get that done,” Wayne replied.

  “I’ll be glad to,” Eva said. Finally something was being done. Even though Wayne hadn’t brought any real answers with him, she did believe now he would do anything in his power to find the guilty person or persons. If nothing else, he wouldn’t want to displease Jake.

  Wayne took another drink of his coffee and then tucked the small notepad back into his pocket. “Right now I don’t have a lot to go on, but I intend to keep digging for answers.”

  “I would expect nothing less from you, Wayne,” Jake said. “Whoever is behind this needs to be caught and thrown into jail.”

  Wayne finished his coffee and then stood and looked at Eva. “I promise you I’m going to stay on top of this, but if you think of anyone else who could be doing this to you, you need to contact me immediately.”

  “I’ve twisted and turned my brain inside out trying to think of anyone who might have an issue with me, but other than the names I gave you, I can’t think of anyone else.” Eva and Jake also got up from the table, and the three of them headed back to the front door.

  “I’ll check in with you tomorrow after I’ve spoken to some more people,” Wayne said.

  She turned on her porch light, and they all stepped out of the house. “Thanks, Wayne,” she said. “I’ll probably be in sometime tomorrow afternoon to get my fingerprints taken.”

  “That works for me,” he replied.

  She watched as Wayne got into his car, and then she turned to look at Jake, who seemed to be in no hurry to head out. “I appreciate your help in this, Jake. But I told you this morning there’s really no reason for you to be involved with this anymore.”

  “But Eva, I intend to stay involved.” He took a step closer to her, and every muscle in her body tensed. “I’m worried about you, and I intend to be here for you until I know there’s no more danger to you.”

  He took another step closer, now invading her personal space and bringing with him his familiar scent. “It’s just been notes left in the mailbox and nothing more dangerous than that,” she replied.

  “But we can’t know what might happen next, and that’s what has me worried for you.” His gaze bored into hers, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. “Right now it’s just notes.”

  He looked at her now the same way he had then...when she’d been sixteen years old and they had been madly, crazy in love. His dark, sinful eyes beckoned her forward, to take the last small step between them and fall into his arms.

  For just a brief, insane moment she wanted to fall. She wanted to be in his strong arms and feel his lips on hers. She remembered the magic, the all-consuming passion they had once shared, and there was a part of her that wanted to feel that again.

  “I want you, Eva. I’ve never stopped thinking about you.” His deep voice shot a wave of heat through her. Before she knew what was happening, he opened his arms and she fell into them as she parted her lips to receive his kiss...it was a fiery kiss that she’d desperately wanted.

  It was still there...the desire that he’d always been able to evoke in her. It shocked her, and before he could deepen the kiss any more, she stumbled back from him.

  “Jake, I’m not interested in going backward. Our past is gone and there’s no place for you in my life now,” she said.

  His dark gaze held hers, and then his mouth moved into his sexy smile. “That’s not what our kiss just told me. Good night, Eva.”

  Before she could say anything in response, he was gone, swallowed up by the darkness outside the illumination of the porch light. She went into the house and collapsed on the sofa, her body still warmed by the kiss they had shared.

  She’d known Jake was a danger to her because of the secret of Andy, but she’d never dreamed that he’d be a danger to her because of her own desire for him.

  She needed to stay away from him. Right now he felt as dangerous to her as the person who was mutilating her cattle and leaving the hateful notes.

  She had once loved Jake Albright with all her heart and soul. He’d not only been her lover but also her best friend. She hadn’t cared one bit about his family’s money and power. She had loved the sweet, gentle boy who had aspired to ranch and love her forever.

  The truth of the matter was she didn’t trust herself with Jake. She had loved him ten years ago, and she was shocked to realize now that she had never really fallen out of love with him.

  * * *

  SUNDAY AFTERNOON JUSTIN ALBRIGHT was laid to rest. Most of the townspeople showed up to pay their final respects, but Jake had never felt so alone.

  As he stared at the flower-adorned coffin and listened to the preacher drone on, extolling Justin Albright’s life, all Jake could think about were the years he’d lost with his father.

  Even though his father had flown to Italy to visit Jake several times over the years, it hadn’t been enough for Jake to feel the closeness he’d yearned for. And now would never have.

  David and Steph stood next to him, but Jake wished Eva was beside him. Eva knew how much he’d loved his father, how badly he’d wanted a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the man he’d admired and loved. Eva would understand the depth of grief that now pierced through him.

  The funeral seemed to last forever, and once it was over, dozens of people descended on the house with food and more condolences. David and Steph were gracious hosts, while Jake felt disconnected from everyone. He hung around for about an hour, and then he changed out of his suit and into more casual clothes and sneaked away to the stables.

  He saddled up and then took off riding across the pasture, hoping to escape some of the grief that clung to him. His thoughts were scattered as the sun beat down hot on his shoulders. He rode hard and fast until he reached a large shade tree, where he pulled up and dismounted.

  From this vantage point, he could see the herd of cattle in the distance. His father’s will had left everything divided equally between his two sons, with an additional amount of money set aside for any grandchildren. He’d been grateful that David had agreed to let him run the ranching business and continue to manage the winery and David would take care of all the other businesses.

  Jake had already spoken to David about potentially putting the winery on the market. They could sell it at an enormous profit and get out of the wine business altogether.

  Running the ranching side of things was all Jake had ever wanted to do. He felt a real affinity for the land. There had been one man who had understood exactly how Jake felt, and that had been Eva’s father.

  He wished he’d been in town when Tom Taylor had died. He wished he’d been here for Eva, but instead he’d been in Italy, and apparently Andrew Martin had been the man who had helped Eva with her grief.

  According to what he’d heard, it had been soon after that when Andrew and Eva had gotten married and not long after that she’d been pregnant.

  Jake still had questions about that time. One night Eva had professed her deep and abiding love for him and they’d been planning their future together, and the next night she’d told him she didn’t care anything about him and she never wanted to see him again.

  She’d indicated that they couldn’t go back in time, and while Jake would like some answers, he didn’t want to go back for anything other than making love with her one last time. She might act like she’s immune to him now, but the brief kiss they had shared told him much differently.

  There was still something there between them, something burning hot and wild, and he couldn’t wait to explore that again. He would never forget how she’d broken his heart, but he had no intention of ever giving her his heart again.

  Still, he was very concerned about the fact that somebody was targeting her. The dead cattle a
nd the notes worried him, and from what he’d heard around town so far, she didn’t have anyone to support her other than her two ranch hands.

  With Eva still on his mind, he saddled up and headed back to the stables. He’d been gone long enough that all the well-wishers were gone from the house.

  He showered and changed clothes and, feeling too restless to just hang around the house, he grabbed his truck keys and headed into town with no particular destination in mind.

  Once he was on Main Street, he parked and took off walking at a leisurely pace in an attempt to get rid of the restlessness that had plagued him since the funeral. David had been right—the small town was growing, and there were many new businesses open since the last time Jake had been here.

  It was past the dinner hour and not too many people were on the sidewalks, but the few who passed him nodded or offered their condolences about his father.

  He smiled as he saw Benny Adams approaching from the other direction. Benny had been one of Jake’s best friends in high school. “Hey, man,” Benny said as he pulled Jake into a bear hug. He released him and took a step back. “I wanted to talk to you at the funeral today, but there were so many people around I couldn’t get to you. I’m so sorry about your father.”

  “Thanks,” Jake replied.

  “So, what are your plans now that you’re back?” Benny asked. “Are you going to hang around for a while before heading back to Italy?”

  “I’m staying here for good. I’ve had enough of being on foreign soil. But tell me about you. Have you married? Do you have a family?”

  “Yeah, I married Lori right out of high school.” Benny grinned. “You know how that girl drove me crazy during our senior year—well, she’s still keeping me crazy.” Benny laughed.

  “That’s terrific. You have kids?”

  “Yeah, two. I’ve got a boy who is six and a three-year-old daughter who Lori and I are convinced is the spawn of Satan. In fact, I’m on my way to the grocery store because the spawn of Satan wants chocolate milk before bed.”