The Secret (Butler Ranch Book 3)

by Heather Slade

  As far as her relationship with Trey, that was over. She didn’t care if she ever saw or talked to him again.

  “Bradley?”

  “You’re too hard on yourself. There are times you remind me of my father, but you haven’t heard all I love about him.”

  He smiled. “You’re too easy on me.”

  “You’re a good man, Naughton.”

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Sorry,” he said before he looked at it. “Maddox has asked us to come back.”

  Before he put the phone back in his pocket, another text came through. “Sorry,” he said again.

  Naughton gripped the back of his neck and closed his eyes.

  “What is it?” Bradley asked.

  “A text from Brodie. They’ve made an arrest.”

  “Who?”

  12

  “He didn’t say, but we need to leave.”

  Bradley nodded and followed Naughton back up the steps to where Maddox and Alex were waiting.

  “Brodie text you?” Maddox asked him.

  “Yeah, but he didn’t say who was arrested.”

  “He told me the sheriff asked to meet us at the house.”

  Naughton cringed inside. He wasn’t prepared to see his father yet. Instead of getting drunk last night, he and Maddox should’ve come up with a plan for how and when to confront him. One thing he knew for certain, they wouldn’t do it in front of their mother.

  Back in March, she’d suffered a heart attack. While it had been mild, it was one of the reasons he and his brothers kept putting off telling their parents about Kade’s marriage to Lena Hess.

  Whatever his father had been doing in Harmony was something they’d get to the bottom of, without her involvement.

  “I hate to ask this,” Alex began on their ride back, “But do you think your father is having an affair?”

  “No,” both he and Maddox answered at the same time, although the thought had crossed Naughton’s mind. He wondered if Maddox might have considered the possibility too.

  “Sorcha would string him up in the vineyard.” Alex laughed, and Naughton turned to look at Bradley. She and Alex were in the back seat of the Tahoe, and Bradley was sitting behind Maddox, who was driving. She was looking out the window, so he couldn’t see her face, but he could tell from the set of her jaw that she was tense.

  “Where are you going?” Naughton asked when Maddox drove past the Butler Ranch gates.

  “Dropping Bradley at Jenson.”

  “It’s okay, Naughton,” he heard her murmur.

  “It’s not okay. I want you with me.”

  “Naught…” Maddox began, but turned around.

  “We’ll wait in the winery. Will that work, guys?” Alex asked.

  It would be better than having her go to Jenson, although he knew she’d still be stressed, wondering if Trey Deveux was the person who’d been arrested.

  “Go to my place instead,” Naughton said to Alex, who nodded. “Okay?” he asked Bradley, who nodded too.

  Peyton was waiting on the front porch when Maddox pulled up to the main house.

  She walked down the steps and over to Alex, who pulled her into a hug.

  “I’ve felt so far away,” Bradley heard her say. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help with the fire.”

  Alex patted her belly. “You gotta keep my goddaughter healthy and happy. Come with Bradley and me. We’re waiting at Naughton’s.”

  “Hi, Bradley,” Peyton said as they walked over to the cottage. “Brodie told me they wouldn’t have known what to do if you hadn’t come to work for Butler Ranch. He said they might’ve lost everything if it wasn’t for your quick thinking.”

  “That’s right,” Alex added. “You should’ve seen how organized she had it all.”

  “Just did my job,” she murmured and looked back at the house. The sheriff’s car was parked out front, along with the fire marshal’s. What were they telling the Butler family? If Trey had anything to do with the fire, she’d never forgive herself. Worse, she wasn’t sure how she’d be able to live with the guilt of knowing he’d used the excuse of wanting to see her to be in Paso Robles this weekend.

  “Come inside.” Alex ushered her into Naughton’s kitchen.

  “Don’t know about you, but I could use some coffee.”

  “Sure,” Bradley said, and went to the cupboard where Naughton kept his French press.

  “Uh, I didn’t mean you should make it.” Alex nudged Peyton. “But I am curious to know how you know your way around Naughton’s kitchen.”

  “Me, too,” added Peyton.

  Bradley felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “He made breakfast yesterday.”

  “Whoa, back up. I’m really out of the loop. He made you breakfast? Alex…” Peyton stood and slugged her. “How come you didn’t tell me about Naught and Bradley?”

  Alex rubbed her arm. “Jeez, you been workin’ out or somethin’?”

  “It wasn’t what you think. I was here last night because Naughton had too much to drink and asked me to stay. Nothing happened. I slept in the chair upstairs.”

  “Way to over-explain, girlfriend. But take it from me, Peyton, if Naughton has his way, he’ll be making our Bradley a lot more breakfasts.”

  She smiled even though all she could think about was who had been arrested. If it was Trey, not only would Naughton never make her breakfast, he’d probably never want to see her again.

  Alex stood and opened the refrigerator. “Who’s hungry? Damn, look at all this food. Maddox never has any food at his place.”

  “I’m hungry.” Peyton stood and looked over Alex’s shoulder. “But I’m always hungry. Bradley, what about you?”

  “No, thanks. I’m good.”

  Alex was getting food out of the fridge while Peyton looked around for dishes.

  “They’re in here.” Bradley opened a cupboard and took out plates, and then opened a drawer and took out silverware.

  “Sure seems like you’ve had breakfast here more than once. Brodie used to live here too, and I don’t know where anything is in this kitchen.”

  “That’s because he always stayed at your place. Me? Maddox never stayed at my place. He always made me come stay with him.”

  “Aren’t you both living in the house on Old Creek Road now?” Peyton asked.

  “Pretty much. It was mostly furnished, so Maddox hasn’t moved much out of his cottage, but he needs to.”

  “Bradley, aren’t you living with your aunt and uncle?” Peyton asked.

  She nodded. “For now.”

  “Alex, maybe you should talk to Maddox about letting Bradley move into his place once you’re at Demetria full time.”

  “That’s a great idea, although…”

  “Although what?” Bradley asked.

  “Why would you need to stay at Mad’s place when Naughton would happily have you stay here?”

  “I don’t think Naughton would want me to stay here. And as far as me moving into Mad’s place—that’s silly. I’m just across the street.”

  “I’ll talk to him,” Alex said to Peyton. “It’s brilliant really.”

  “Wait. I don’t think it’s brilliant.”

  “Yeah? Well, we’re older and smarter.” Alex pulled her phone out at the same time Peyton did.

  “They want us to come up to the house.” When Bradley sat down at the table, Alex pulled her back up. “All of us.”

  They didn’t know any more than they had this morning, except that arson was conclusive. A migrant vineyard worker had been arrested after a tip came in from one of the other workers who said they saw him start the fire.

  No one believed that was all there was to it, although the man had been questioned for a couple of hours and hadn’t confessed anyone else’s involvement.

  “Someone paid him,” Naughton said.

  “The man had no known connection to Butler Ranch, so that seems likely,” Laird commented, and then rested his hand on Sorcha’s shoulder.

  “Da, maybe
the two of you go back to the beach for a few more days,” Maddox suggested.

  “If Alex doesn’t mind,” Sorcha said as Alex came inside, followed by Peyton and Bradley.

  “Mind what?”

  “If they stay at your place a while longer,” Maddox answered.

  Alex walked over to Sorcha and knelt in front of her. “You can stay there as long as you’d like.”

  Sorcha cupped Alex’s cheek with her palm. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

  “We’ll leave after the sheriff is done talking with us,” said Laird.

  Naughton walked over to Bradley and put his arm around her shoulders. “I was worried you’d gone back to your aunt and uncle’s. I’m glad you didn’t.”

  She nodded and turned when the sheriff asked for everyone’s attention.

  “What was said in this room, stays in this room. “I’ll be in touch when we know more.”

  Once their parents and the sheriff had left, Maddox reiterated what his father had said about agreeing the migrant worker hadn’t acted alone, which led to a lot of questions from Alex about that evidence they’d found and what the next steps would be.

  “Trey could still be involved,” Bradley whispered to Naughton.

  “So could Calder.”

  “I feel so…powerless.”

  Naughton understood. He felt the same way, knowing there was someone out there who was doing their best to take down Butler Ranch and Los Caballeros.

  “What happens next?” she asked him.

  “The sheriff’s office will hold a press conference saying they’ve made an arrest, after which, they’ll let everyone believe the case is closed.”

  “So whoever it is acts again?”

  “Or they find more evidence.”

  “Trey threatened my aunt and uncle. I need to warn them.”

  “Not yet,” Naughton told her. “The collaborative will meet this week, and we’ll make sure everyone is on high alert, but we have to abide by what the sheriff said. What he told us stays in this room. No one outside of the family can know the investigation is still active.”

  “I’m outside of your family, Naughton.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re part of the Butler Ranch family, just like Alex and Peyton are.”

  “It isn’t the same. I just work here.” And not for very long at that.

  “It’s the same as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Do you plan to tell Hawks?”

  “No, we don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Tell her what Calder said to set you off today, Naught,” Maddox said.

  Naughton shook his head.

  “Tell her,” Maddox said again.

  “What did he say?” Bradley asked.

  “It was stupid. I shouldn’t have let him get to me.”

  Maddox refused to budge. “If you don’t tell her, I will.”

  “He told us to mind the new fox in our hen house.”

  Bradley felt sick to her stomach, a feeling that hadn’t gone away completely since she first heard there was a fire at the ranch. “He was talking about me, wasn’t he?”

  “Who knows what the hell he was talking about. Could’ve been Hawks.”

  “Do you really think that?”

  Naughton shook his head.

  “I have to go.” Bradley walked toward the front door, but Naughton wasn’t very far behind.

  “Don’t run,” he said.

  “I’m not running.”

  “Then stop.”

  “I’m going home. I never should’ve taken this job in the first place.”

  Naughton went around her and stopped. “Why not?”

  There were a thousand reasons, too many of which echoed in her head in Trey’s voice.

  Naughton put his hands on her shoulders and forced her to stop walking. “No one puts credence in anything Calder says. He’ll dig his own grave soon enough.”

  “I can’t keep this from my aunt and uncle. Trey threatened them.”

  “Tell me what he said. Exact words.”

  “He said, ‘Even I won’t be able to step in and save Jenson if you refuse to do what I’ve asked.’”

  “That’s what you can tell them. Nothing else about the arrest. Okay?”

  Bradley thought it over for a minute. That was enough to warn them, wasn’t it? Knowing an arrest had been made, coupled with Trey’s warning, would surely lead them to believe there was still a threat.

  “Okay.”

  “Good. Now come back to the house with me.”

  “I can’t. I need to talk to them.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  Bradley shook her head. You need to get back to your family, and I need to get back to mine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Naughton’s hands were still on her shoulders, keeping her from leaving. He leaned in closer and kissed her, but this time he was gentle, not demanding like the other times they’d kissed. He stroked her hair away from her face as his kiss deepened.

  Bradley wanted to cling to him, to let him take her back to his cottage, and make all the terrible stuff swirling in her head go away.

  “Let me walk you back,” he said, and she relented. His hand that rested on the small of her back felt reassuring. She brought her fingers to her lips still tingling from his kiss, wishing things were different, that there’d never been a fire, and she didn’t have to worry about Aunt Jean and Uncle Charlie.

  All she’d ever wanted to do was make wine, and not in Napa Valley where there’d be constant pressure to produce something great, but here, where she’d first learned to love it. Why couldn’t things stay that simple? Naughton may feel as though someone had it in for Butler Ranch, but she was beginning to feel as though someone had it in for her.

  Naughton kissed her again when they got to the front door of her aunt and uncle’s house. She didn’t invite him in, not that he’d expected her to. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed anyway, having held out hope she’d change her mind. He didn’t feel right letting go of the hand he had held as they walked down Adelaida Trail, or saying goodnight to her now.

  In his drunken stupor last night, his need to protect her had come to the surface, and now that it had, he couldn’t push it back down.

  “You probably think I’m crazy,” he said.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to let go of you. I don’t want to be away from you, even for a few hours. Crazy, right?”

  “No,” she said so softly, he had to strain to hear her. “I don’t think you’re crazy at all.”

  When she opened the door and went inside, Naughton felt empty, like he was leaving part of himself here on the Jenson’s doorstep.

  Maddox was waiting for him when he walked up to his cottage. “We need to talk about Da,” he said.

  Naughton knew they needed to, but he just didn’t have it in him today. His father hadn’t said much when the sheriff was at the house. He’d sat, holding their mother’s hand, and looked so sad, it nearly broke Naughton’s heart.

  “He’s hiding something, Naughton, and whatever it is, is weighing heavy on him. I’m worried about him.”

  “Let’s wait until tomorrow, Mad.”

  Maddox shook his head but squeezed his brother’s shoulder as he walked by him.

  “You and Alex going to Demetria now?”

  “Nah. She’s with Peyton at her parents’ place, and I told her I’d wait until she got back. Think it’s better we stay here for a few nights anyway.”

  “I’ll go over and check on the horses, then.”

  “I can go.”

  “I want to talk to Hawks anyway.”

  Naughton had given him a key to the house by the front gate and asked Hawks to stay until they could bring the horses back to Butler Ranch. There wasn’t much furniture in it, but enough that Hawks would be comfortable.

  He went into the barn to get his bike and missed Bradley even more when he put the helmet she’d worn back into the storage cabinet where he kept it.
>
  He pulled the bike out of the garage and got on the road, the memory of her arms around his waist and her body flush against his, fresh on his mind.

  Hawks had heard an arrest had been made, but without Naughton confirming one way or the other, deduced on his own that there was more to it.

  “Someone put him up to it,” Hawks said, and Naughton shrugged his shoulders.

  “I mean it, Naught.”

  “Migrant farm worker, Hawks. Hard to say what he might’ve been thinkin’.”

  “Is that what they told you? They arrested Johnny Vatos.”

  He nodded, Vatos was the name the sheriff gave them, but he didn’t remember the man’s first name. It wasn’t Johnny though, of that Naughton was sure.

  “He ain’t no migrant farm worker, Naught. I’ve known Johnny since we were kids. He got himself in a lot of trouble over the years, but nothin’ like this. Been mostly piddly shit. Stole some cars, broke into houses when he was younger. Got hooked on drugs, you know how that story goes.”

  “How well did you say you know him?”

  “Since we were kids, man. We go way back.”

  “How could a guy you’ve known all your life be mistaken for a migrant worker? Maybe it’s a different Vatos, Hawks.”

  “Not according to what I’ve been hearing from my guys.”

  “You look into it from your end, and I’ll do the same. If you’re sure it’s your buddy, it might be worth payin’ him a visit.”

  “I was thinkin’ the same thing.” Hawks scrubbed his hand over his face. “Naught, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “It’s about your father.”

  Shit. What now? “Go ahead.”

  “I’m not sure how to say this.”

  “Just tell me.”

  13

  Naughton’s head was spinning. Hawks had it wrong. There had to be an explanation for what he told him because Naughton could never believe his father would do what Hawks had accused him of.

  He turned into the gates at Butler Ranch and, out of the corner of his eye, saw a red Alfa Romeo headed in his direction. He pulled the bike over, near the trees inside the gate, and cut the engine. The top was up on the convertible, but Naughton could see well enough to recognize the man driving the car and the woman seated next to him.