by Tara Rose
Mateo’s cell phone rang shortly before they were preparing to leave. As soon as he answered the call, he excused himself from the room. When he returned, his face was pinched, and worry lines had settled around his mouth. Carma asked him if everything was all right at the ranch, and he gave her a smile that was too quick and placed an arm around her shoulder, nuzzling her neck.
“Don’t you worry, love. Let’s go downtown and enjoy this day.”
Juniper Street was already crowded when they arrived. The day was hot and sticky, and as much as Carma had hoped the weather forecast was wrong, the dark clouds scuttling by and the smell of the wind carried the promise of rain later, with a nice dose of thunderstorms as well. She was glad they’d arrived early.
“You’re kidding,” muttered Blaine as they stood in front of three tents bearing the symbol of a large sleeping cat with the shadow of a snow-capped mountain behind it. Bright orange and gold letters bore the name “Legend of Sleepy Cat Peak” on everything from coffee mugs to key chains.
“Oh, look,” said Carma, picking up a refrigerator magnet. “I don’t have this one yet. It’s a new design.” She handed it to Mateo and caught his indulgent grin as he glanced at Blaine.
“Just go with it, Blaine. Don’t try to understand or argue about it. You won’t win.”
“Oh, I need this,” said Rowena, picking up a wind chime with the cat in a circle on top. Delicate gold chimes hung down and made a soft tinkling sound when she shook it.
“Oh, me too,” said Carma, grabbing one for herself and handing it to Mateo without a second thought.
“This entire town is fucking nuts,” muttered Blaine.
Someone wearing a shirt with the Legend of Sleepy Cat Peak logo thrust a thick pamphlet into his hands. “I can see you’re new here. This will explain the legend.”
“Thanks.”
Carma giggled at the look on Blaine’s face. It was a cross between disbelief and the urge to deck the man who had just shoved the pamphlet into his hands. “Mason, this is Blaine Peterson. He recently moved here from Chicago. Blaine, this is Mason Ruiz. He heads the Legend of Sleepy Cat Peak Society. His great-great grandfather was Ute, and is one of the first Native Americans to have reported seeing the cat emerge from the mountains in the spring of 1836. Is that right, Mason?”
Mason smiled, showing several missing teeth, but his dark eyes twinkled with delight. “That’s right, little lady.” His expression grew serious and he leaned closer to the group. “And you’d best beware this year because when the cat emerged, he was angry. Bad things are coming to this town.”
A shiver ran through Carma despite the hot, sticky day. For reasons she didn’t understand, the phone call Mateo had received while at Rowena’s house came back to her. He’d blown it off, but the worry lines were still there on his handsome face.
“Thanks for the warning,” said Blaine, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Carma took his hand and steered him toward a set of glasses featuring the logo. “I noticed an appalling lack of quality glassware in your kitchen, Blaine. We should do something about that.”
She giggled as he captured her mouth in a molten kiss, and by the time he released it, Van, Rowena, and Mateo were walking down Juniper Street away from them. Blaine leaned close to her ear and whispered. “I’ll forgive you for this because I know how important this legend is to the town, but I’m going to spank your gorgeous ass red for the remark about my taste in glassware.”
Carma shivered again as she wrapped one hand around his arm. When they caught up to the others, she curled the opposite hand around Mateo’s arm as the group made their way toward the games.
Rowena led them toward the football toss game. “Van is awesome at this. He won me a giant cheetah last year, but this time I have my eye on that.” She pointed toward a large stuffed snowy owl.
Van bowed. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”
“What would you like, Carma?” asked Blaine.
Carma eyed the prizes, finally spotting a giant stuffed lobster. “That one.” She smiled.
Blaine’s eyebrows shot up. “A lobster? You want me to win you a gigantic lobster?”
Carma laughed. “I like it. It’s cute.”
He shook his head as he handed the kid running the game several tokens. “You’re so weird.”
Carma already knew that Van was good at the game, but she soon realized Blaine was as well. By the time each had won the desired prizes, a small crowd had gathered around. They clapped and cheered as Blaine presented the lobster to Carma with a huge grin on his face. “I have no idea why you want this, but here you are, love.”
Ian Malloy clapped Blaine on the back. “Well done.” He stood next to Nash Stonecraft. Carma had been so absorbed in watching Blaine rack up points toward the large prizes, she hadn’t noticed the two in the crowd behind them.
“Ian, nice to see you here.” Blaine asked if everyone knew Ian, and they all did. He’d been in the same grade as Van and Mateo.
“Blaine, did you play ball in school?” asked Van.
“High school quarterback for three years.”
Van grinned. “Yeah? Me too.”
Ian smiled. “Van is famous around here. The Cougars retired his jersey number when he graduated.”
Carma grinned at Blaine. “No wonder you’re just as good as Van at that game.”
“Hey,” said Van, his voice full of humor. “I’d hardly say he’s as good as me.”
Carma merely smiled and snuggled closer to Blaine.
Nash eyed the sky. “We were going to wait until later to come, but it looks like it might storm. Ian and I were going to check out the craft displays. One of the couples who come to the club regularly have a booth set up to sell their jewelry. Have you seen it? It’s leather, but very decorative. They’ll custom-make just about anything.”
“We’ll have to check that out,” said Blaine.
“Sounds good,” said Nash. “We’ll catch up with all of you later.”
As the pair wandered off, Blaine turned toward Mateo and Carma. “What’s his story? Ian doesn’t talk much about him at work.”
“The infamous Stonecraft family legacy is as much a part of this town as the Sleepy Cat legend,” said Mateo. The group strolled past the other games as Mateo continued. “Nash was in the same grade as me and Van, but I didn’t know him well as Van did.”
“He kept to himself a lot,” said Van. “I only got to know him in Biology because we sat next to each other.”
Mateo nodded. “I had an English class with him, but he was a loner. I’m not even sure when he got into the lifestyle.”
“According to Ian, it was in college,” said Blaine. “That’s when he and Ian became good friends.”
“Nash’s father died when he was very young,” said Mateo, “and when his mother passed away he was only fourteen. She left him the entire estate. He has a great uncle who managed things for him until Nash turned eighteen. He has no siblings, and I don’t believe he has much family left alive.”
“It’s kind of sad, really,” said Carma. “My house was always chaotic growing up, but I can’t imagine having no one around now.”
“Me either,” said Rowena. “Although, it figures that the only sibling who never moved out of town is Tom, and he’s the one I wish would have left.”
The group chuckled. Rowena’s younger brother was a pain in the ass. As they started down the aisles featuring the crafts, they came to the jewelry display. Mateo began to chat with a couple Carma didn’t know, introducing them to the others as Sandra and Chris Noel.
Carma guessed them to be in their sixties. They were dressed in clothing from the 1970s, including Sandra’s tie-dye skirt and Chris’s bell-bottom pants. Sandra wore her hair long and gray, and Chris sported a beard that both Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top would be proud of.
Mateo picked up a leather necklace laced with delicate crimson beads and held it against Carma’s neck. “This would look amazing on you.�
� The band was short, like a choker, but the pattern cascaded down from it into a delicate swirl of intricately woven beading. When she took a closer look, she realized it was actually two colors intertwined—crimson and amethyst.
“It’s stunning,” she said, wishing she could afford it. Mateo was right. It would be perfect with her coloring, and would match many of her outfits.
“It would make a nice collar,” said Blaine, softly.
“Collar?”
He and Mateo exchanged a glance that Carma couldn’t interpret. “Yes, collar, as in something a Dom gives to a sub to signify that she belongs to him. Of course, that works both ways. When a Dom collars a sub, it also means he’s committed to her, as well.”
“What a beautiful sentiment.” Carma had never heard of anything like that. Did Annalise wear a collar? She didn’t remember seeing one. “Is it always done?”
Blaine shook his head. “No. It doesn’t have to be. Not all relationships have that dynamic.” He took her arm and led her toward the other displays, while Mateo stayed behind to talk to Sandra and Chris.
When Mateo joined them again, Carma was helping Rowena pick out some frames for several prints she wanted to hang in the dining room. He waved a pair of earrings in her face, and she whirled around to face him.
“Are those for me?” They were long, the way she loved them, and featured a delicate pattern of deep blues and greens that reminded Carma of the ocean.
“Yep.” He beamed as though he’d just lassoed the moon for her. “I thought you’d like them, given your preference for sea creatures.”
“Mateo, thank you.” Carma handed the lobster to Blaine then removed the earrings she currently had in. She put them in her pocket and put in the ones Mateo had just given her. “What do you two think?”
“Perfect,” said Mateo. “The colors look good against your hair.
Blaine handed the lobster back to her. “I like them, Carma. Will you keep them on later?”
She cut her gaze toward Van and Rowena, but they weren’t paying attention. “Them and nothing else, you mean?” she asked quietly.
Blaine’s gaze bore into her. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
A shiver ran up and down her spine. “Yes, Sir.” Would she ever grow tired of these two? She couldn’t imagine that happening.
They were all debating on whether to take a chance on the food for lunch, or return to Van and Rowena’s house to eat and then return downtown for the parade, when it began to rain. By the time they sprinted the four blocks back to Arapaho Street and onto Van and Rowena’s front porch, they were soaked.
Once inside, Carma put the stuffed lobster on top of an air conditioning vent so it would dry out quicker, while the group ate lunch and talked about how much fun they’d had in spite of the rain spoiling the rest of the day. An hour later, it wasn’t showing any signs of stopping, and by one in the afternoon, a severe thunderstorm warning had been issued, and one of the local TV stations said the parade had been postponed until the following Saturday.
Carma, Mateo and Blaine decided to return to Mateo’s ranch for the rest of the day. They had just pulled onto the property when Blaine’s cell phone rang. Carma couldn’t see the caller ID, but judging by the look on his face, it wasn’t anyone he wanted to talk to.
They went inside while he answered the call, and when he disconnected it, Carma was distressed to see his face had gone pale and his fingers were trembling. “Who was it? Is everything okay?”
“That was my attorney.”
“Oh no…”
“I have to be in Chicago Monday morning. I’m testifying in front of the grand jury, and Sam told me to prepare for the possibility I may be detained indefinitely.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
A loud clap of thunder woke up Blaine. He glanced around as lightning lit up the room. Carma was curled up on her side next to him, fast asleep. Mateo was on the other side of her, also sleeping. Mateo’s alarm clock said 11:02 p.m. He’d been asleep less than two hours.
Blaine had wanted to return to his own condo earlier, but both Carma and Mateo had insisted he stay. They hadn’t wanted him to be alone. He crawled out of bed and gathered his clothes off the floor where he’d shed them several hours ago.
He glanced at Carma’s sleeping form again, hoping she was okay. He’d made love to her earlier as if he might never do it again, and he was concerned he may have hurt her. He sincerely hoped not. But the enormity of what he faced back home had overwhelmed him, along with the very real possibility he might lose her forever. He hadn’t wanted to let her go, even to let her use the bathroom or sleep. Right now, the urge to gather her in his arms and never let her out of them was strong.
He was so in love with her. It was crazy and completely unexpected, but there was no point in denying it. And he couldn’t even tell her, especially not now. What could he possibly offer her? He tiptoed downstairs and flipped on the TV, but nothing held his interest. The Weather Channel informed him that Rio Blanco County was under another severe thunderstorm warning. He hoped the noise outside wouldn’t wake Carma or Mateo.
Just as he was about to turn off the TV, he glanced up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
“Quite a storm,” said Mateo.
“Did the TV wake you?”
Mateo perched on the edge of the sofa. “No, the thunder did. You okay, Blaine?”
Blaine shook his head. There was no need to pretend for Mateo.
“What can I do? Just tell me.”
“Nothing. There’s nothing anyone can do.”
He and Mateo sat quietly for a few moments, watching an infomercial on a home canning system. The colors of whatever food the presenters had supposedly canned in the blink of an eye reminded him of the earrings Mateo had bought Carma downtown. She’d kept them on all evening, just as she’d said she would.
Blaine tried to remember his day-to-day routine before he’d moved to Passion Peak and met Carma, but nothing stood out. It was as if he’d merely drifted through his life until a couple of weeks ago. What if he never saw her again? It was quite possible they’d arrest him in Chicago. Even if they didn’t, he might have to stick around and wait for a while. What if this evening had been the last time he’d ever make love to her?
“The call I received earlier was from Tommy Farley.”
“What?” Blaine glanced at Mateo while he wiped his forehead. Beads of sweat had collected along his hairline even though the AC was running. He was probably having a heart attack. “What call?”
“The one I got at Van and Rowena’s house before we left for downtown.”
“Tommy Farley?” Blaine was having trouble concentrating on the simplest words.
“He has news on Trace Coleman. And interestingly enough, Beth finally dug up a few things on him just yesterday, but they were such obscure details that I didn’t put two and two together until Tommy’s call this morning.”
“Oh yeah? Spill it.”
Mateo ran his hands through his hair. “Dude has a history around the country, it seems. He’s been accused of manufacturing paranormal phenomena and then investigating historic homes and buildings for ghosts. Only problem is, he’s also been accused of punching holes in walls and digging in basements where he shouldn’t be. The homeowners think he’s looking for things in the house.”
Blaine frowned. “Like what?”
“Well, it differs from place to place. But most recently he was drummed out of a neighborhood in Philly after he investigated a home under restoration belonging to a prominent physician. Seems this physician had inherited the home from some rather shady family members, and there were rumors they’d hidden stolen jewelry in the walls during the fifties. For reasons this physician didn’t know, they were never retrieved.”
“That’s wild shit.”
“Not so wild when you consider the history of this town and Carma’s family in particular.”
Blaine turned off the TV and turned to face Mateo. “Care to elaborate on that?”
“You want the short version or the long version?”
“Long.” Anything to keep from having to tell Mateo that he was in love with Carma.
“Okay. Passion Peak was settled in 1881 by silver miners, although there was an unofficial town here for about fifty years before. Tension grew between unions and mine owners, and the town almost disappeared, but it was saved by illegal booze. After Congress passed the National Prohibition Act in of 1919, organized crime bosses began to move into town because of its isolation. It was easy to hide here.”
“Where did they come from?” asked Blaine.
Mateo shrugged. “Carma would know better than I do, but mostly places like New York and Chicago, from what I’ve heard. The crime bosses opened gambling halls and began bootlegging here in town. It was a perfect opportunity for them. The struggling miners now had jobs, booze and hookers. One Mandanici branch stayed even after the rest of the families moved away. Carma’s family soon owned just about every legit and illegal business in town, served in local government, and became part of the police force.”
“How do you know all this?”
Mateo chuckled. “Are you kidding? Carma’s family history is almost as popular as the Sleepy Cat legend. It’s just that there isn’t a group of citizens keeping her family history alive by passing out pamphlets and selling T-shirts, and I’m sure Carma is grateful for that.”
“So, what happened after her family stayed here? What do they have to do with Trace Coleman?”
“The Mandanici brothers were crooks, basically, and legend has it that they hid stolen stocks and a lot of money acquired from their various organized crime activities inside the walls of their homes, as far back as the 1920s. Carma’s brother Joe once told one of my ranch hands a story about money wrapped up with bricks and covered with aluminum foil, to disguise it as frozen meat. It was marked with a date and something like “leg of lamb,” and then placed in freezers for safe keeping, as far back as the late 1940s when freezers were first invented.”
