Love.
Her heart ached when he drew back. “Amber,” he whispered against her lips. “You’re one amazing woman.” He kissed her again quickly then stepped back and took her hand in his and turned to stare up at the moon.
Amber couldn’t begin to explain the emotions running through her. They stood there for the longest time not saying anything, just sharing the beauty of the night.
And after a while they climbed back on Nugget and made their way back along the moonlit trail.
Amber knew that that trail had led to her heart. But she couldn’t believe or trust what she was feeling. Not this soon.
Chapter Eighteen
Chase was in the kitchen with Ty and Dalton the next morning when Amber marched into the room punched her fist to her hips and declared she’d had enough.
All three of them stopped what they were doing and gave her their full attention.
“Enough of what?” he asked.
She glared. “Of this coward disrupting my life. Where is he? He’s fallen off the face of the earth. He hasn’t called, he hasn’t shown up—what’s he doing? Trying to drive me crazy? Well he’s succeeded. I need space.”
Ty glanced at Chase and so did Dalton who hiked a brow at him that pretty much said this is your rodeo. He stepped forward.
“Now, Amber, you know we’re just waiting this out.”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m done waiting it out. I want my life back. And I’ve thought about it all night long. He’s going to call and he’s going to call soon because it’s been too long and I think he’s here somewhere waiting to see me sweat.”
That made sense. “Only I’m not sweating. We went to a party last night and then for a moonlit ride. And if he’s watching then he’s probably realizing that I don’t go anywhere without an escort. Or without a crowd.”
The moonlit ride comment had instantly gotten him more hiked brows but no words of interruption. He figured the chickens were scared to jump into the middle of a woman on a tirade.
He laid down the spatula that he’d been flipping bacon with and took a step toward her. “You might need to calm down,” he wasn’t sure what to do with a woman having a—well he wasn’t sure what to call it. But he wasn’t used to it and clueless about what to do for her.
“No, I don’t need to sit down or calm down. I’m tired of waiting, Chase. I’ve called Sheriff Brady and told him to get ready because I’m coming to town. If y’all want to catch this dude as much as I do then we’re going to throw him some bait. Me.”
“No! We are not going to throw him some bait.”
“Oh yes I am. And you don’t have any say in it, Chase.”
His eyes narrowed. “Wanna bet? You just try to head out that door and get in your car without me...” What had happened between the time she’d gotten off Nugget and gone to bed and now?
“I’m going, Chase. I’m going to town at ten and I’m hanging out and you and Brady and Zane can figure out where you want to be but it won’t be with me. I’m going to draw him out and then when he comes after me we’ll get him.”
“Not in a million years,” he growled.
She glared up at him. “This is still my life and I’m an adult so yeah, this is the way it’s going to be.” They were toe to toe as he tried to intimidate her into letting go of this insane idea. But it didn’t work. Even Ty and Dalton spoke up finally but she shot them down too.
“I’m doing this,” she said. “Deal with it.”
Amber had been too tempted by Chase out in the moonlight. She’d been ready to toss everything and fall into his arms and into his life. It was so unlike her. It didn’t make sense and it scared her. Scared her far more than Ned Talbert.
She chalked it up to the fact that she needed her life back and she was going to get it. When ten o’clock rolled around she drove her little sports car into town and parked in front of Ashby’s dress shop. Today she was going window shopping. Eating lunch with the girls at Sam’s like she’d been planning to do all week and then she’d go check out Adela’s apartment house that set at the end of Main Street. And if ole Ned didn’t bite today she’d do it all over again tomorrow.
Chase had thrown a fit but in the end after Brady and Zane agreed that it was a way to bring him out. She knew they were all hiding out somewhere but she’d left that up to them.
She’d called in the troops and town was going to have just enough women to keep suspicions down.
She was getting out of her car when the posse came out of Pete’s Feed and Seed and hurried toward her.
The posse came hustling across the street.
“Well, have you seen anything yet?” Esther Mae asked, leaning in close as she whispered. “I’ve got my big pink container of mace right here in my purse.” She patted her purse with her fingertips. “You draw him out and I’ll spray him till he’ll cry for his momma.”
Norma Sue bumped her with a hip. “Stop patting that thing. You want to alert this bozo that you’ve got something in that thing you call a purse. From the size of that suitcase you wouldn’t be able to find the mace before he kidnapped Amber and hauled her off to who knows where.”
“I can pat my purse if I want to and I can find it when I want to.”
“Ladies,” Adela said sweetly as she stepped in between them and Amber. “Focus. Tensions are high, hold it together. We are here to help Amber not fight over some mace.”
Norma Sue looked alarmed. “Right. We’re going down to see Lacy and Sheri. We’ll talk to you in a bit.” She winked and Amber was glad they were here but also glad to see them head toward the salon. She entered the dress store and a few minutes later she went into the candy store and visited with the ladies there. A little while later she came out with a bag of candy and stood right there on the sidewalk and ate a piece of caramel. Her phone rang. Her heart began running away as she tugged the phone from her purse. It was from Sadie.
Amber answered the call wanting very much to talk to her friend.
“Hey, Sadie, so good to hear from you.” The phone line crackled with a bad connection but she could still make out Sadie’s familiar voice. “How are Mr. and Mrs. Masterson doing?” she asked teasingly.
“We’re doing wonderful. We’ve had the best week, oh so romantic...” the line crackled but the joy in Sadie’s voice couldn’t be denied.
“I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“How are you? I’ve tried to not worry but I’m anxious to know if they’ve caught your stalker?”
Amber had started walking down the sidewalk toward Adela’s boarding house. The phone lines were coming and going and she hoped to get a better signal but it wasn’t improving. She also wasn’t sure how much to reveal to Sadie at the moment. She was still technically on her honeymoon until she arrived at her front doorstep. Right? She just couldn’t put a damper on that.
“It’s going okay, Sadie. I’ll tell you about it when you get home. How much longer?”
“We’re not sure. We’re stuck in traffic so it may be this evening before we get there.” The connection nearly gave out.
“I can’t wait to see you, and hear about everything.” She just couldn’t bring herself to tell Sadie that Ned was still lurking out there somewhere. Before she could say more the line died.
Pocketing the phone she halted on the sidewalk. To get to the older home at the end of the street she crossed over a small crossroad and then walked to the front porch of the old home that had been turned into apartments. This, she was told was where Adela had grown up as a child. It was a huge home with gingerbread trim, turrets and stained glass panes in the upper portions of some of the windows. The front porch wrapped around and invited one to sit and enjoy the day. She could imagine sitting on that swing with her beau and being courted.
She glanced around and felt as if she were being watched...which was silly since she knew she was being watched by any number of eyes. Those eyes were probably all wondering why she’d left the hub of town and isolated herself he
re at the edge of town. It wasn’t the smartest thing to do but she’d been talking to Sadie and had just been drawn in this direction. Now, she wanted a closer look. She noticed there were several vehicles parked on the other side of the building in a shaded parking area. One of the trucks held furniture. Someone was moving in or out. There was an apartment for rent sign in the yard. As she walked up the steps the door opened and a young woman came out carrying a potted plant.
“Hi,” Amber said. “Are you moving out?”
The young woman smiled. “I am. I’m all packed up I just need to put this plant in the truck and then lock the door and I’m done. Are you interested in renting? It’s a great place.”
“No, I’m not but...” she thought about that statement. “You know, now that I’m here, would you mind if I took a look at your apartment?”
“Oh not at all.” She fished a key from her jeans pocket. “Matter of fact, if you want to look and then lock up when you’re done you can just drop this into the key drop box on the inside of the door. Adela wouldn’t mind I’m sure.”
Amber took the key ring with two keys on it. “Thanks.” She was shocked at the trust the woman was placing on her but then had to remind herself that she was not the city. This was Mule Hollow and she was realizing that this little town was safe. The danger that was lurking somewhere for her had been led here by her.
“Apartment 3B. Thanks,” the woman said and then hurried down the steps to her truck.
Amber entered the historic home with its dark wood floors and staircase carved with intricate carvings on the railings. Excitement filled her and despite knowing she had just veered from the plan she headed up the creaking stairs.
She was on the top landing when she thought she heard a door open somewhere in the building...
Chase couldn’t see Amber any longer. The woman had totally gone against what they’d discussed and instead of staying in the main area of town where he and Brady could watch her she’d headed off toward the apartment house. And she’d been talking on the phone.
Was she talking to Ned? His gut was feeling like a block of concrete as he eased from the vacant building beside Pete’s Feed and Seed. Across the street the door of Heavenly Inspirations opened and an entire herd of women came outside. The group included the posse, Lacy and Sheri they all had baffled expressions. Esther Mae led the pack as they hustled across the street.
“Where did our girl go? We lost her.”
He’d been on the opposite side of the street so had a better view to watch Amber. “She went to your apartment house, Adela.”
“Oh, that’s too far away.”
There had been a barn fire at one of the ranches and Zane had had to respond to that and Brady had begun receiving calls that fences were cut all over the main roads. Herds of cattle had escaped causing havoc on the main roads into town. He’d called Chase and told him what was happening and that he had to respond. Chase was to call him the minute any sign of trouble started.
Ty and Dalton called to say fences were down and cattle were everywhere on their main rode too.
Chase knew Ned was here. And he’d caused this...
“Ladies, stay put.”
Moving fast, he cut across the street and jogged down the alley taking the back way to the apartments. He had no way of knowing if she was okay or not but his gut was churning and every cell in his body was telling him something wasn’t right.
Amber entered the apartment and smiled. It was dark wood floors and pale butter walls with dark wood trim. The apartment had an oval sitting area in the turret adding an extra layer of charm to the space. She moved to look around the corner at the small but neat kitchen and then she crossed the hardwood floors and entered the bedroom. It was decorated in much the same way as the living space with the dark wood floors and pale blue walls. She pushed open the bathroom door and spied the beautiful claw footed tub surrounded by white tile. There was so much about the apartment that she loved. The thought crossed her mind that she could live in this place.
She’d turned to go back into the bedroom when she gasped and dropped her phone. Ned Talbert stood in the doorway blocking her escape.
He looked angry. Wild eyes and unshaven. When he’d followed her before he’d been clean shaven and wearing business attire. Now his shirt was rumpled, dirty and he had a stubble on his jaw. He glared at her and she saw his fist clench.
Amber was trapped.
“I told you you’d be sorry. You took something of mine. Now I’m going to make you pay and take something of yours.”
His words didn’t really make sense. What of hers was he going to take?
Amber willed her heart rate to back down and breathed evenly as she strove to remain calm. She glanced around but she’d effectively trapped herself because she’d gotten distracted by the beauty of this apartment. What had she been thinking in the first place?
“You don’t scare me,” she said, despite the truth that yes, she was a little worried. Ned wasn’t a small man but that didn’t really matter, she could do this. Her mouth went dry when he pulled a gun from his jacket. That changed things up a bit.
He smirked. “You thought you could hide from me but you were wrong. When I want something I don’t stop until I get it. Patricia was mine and you put ideas in her head and made her leave. I find that offensive. Now move,” he waved the gun and stepped away from the doorway to let her walk through. “And if you bolt I’ll shoot and I’m a very good marksman.”
Amber complied moving into the front room. He followed close behind and poked the automatic into the small of her back. “Downstairs we’re going hunting.”
Uncertain where this was going she did as she was told. The stairs creaked with each step and her nerves were rattled when they reached the first floor. The door was opened and she walked out onto the beautiful porch. Getting shot here wasn’t exactly what she’d envisioned when she’d first entered the building. Crazily she’d been toying with the idea of exploring new possibilities for her life. She was young. She could recoup and reevaluate if she made a change and didn’t like it.
She had not been thinking...this.
When Chase stepped out from the back of the building and called out Ned’s name she nearly fainted with fear. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Ned’s unstable grin.
“Right on time. I told you I was going to take something of yours.”
Amber gasped. He was going to shoot Chase.
“Let her go, Ned,” Chase demanded.
“Chase,” Amber called a warning but before she could process the word she almost anticipated Ned’s move as the gun moved from the small of her back and aimed toward Chase.
Amber swung her arm up and kicked at the same instant. The gun exploded as she made contact with Ned’s arm.
Ned stumbled back but she was looking at Chase. The bullet spun him, and knocked him to his knees and then he fell forward and hit the ground.
“Chase!” she screamed, and started for him. Ned slammed the gun against her temple knocking her to her knees, she was dazed. Ned grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet, then drug her toward a car only a few feet away. He stuffed her inside as she tried to clear the fuzziness from her throbbing head. He climbed in behind the steering wheel and gunned the car as he pulled out of the parking lot. Amber’s forehead was pressed against the glass and her dizzy eyes were focused on Chase...he hadn’t moved from where he lay.
Amber shook her head. She could not pass out. She had to get back to Chase. She shook her head trying to rid it of the cobwebs as she forced herself to dive for the steering wheel.
They heard the gun go off and immediately everyone started moving. Norma Sue had been a ranch woman all her life and she’d handled her fair share of rustlers and rattlesnakes. Trouble had come calling to her quiet town and she didn’t take kindly to it.
“Get back everyone,” she bellowed and strode to her truck.
“Sheri, call Brady,” Lacy yelled as she raced off the boardwalk and r
an toward her beloved 1958 pink Cadillac convertible.
Norma had her truck door opened and was reaching inside as Esther Mae hustled from the boardwalk.
“Wait for me, Lacy!” the redhead screamed trotting behind the beauty operator. Sheri had her phone out and was dialing numbers as she followed Esther Mae. Lacy didn’t bother to open her door but, instead hopped over the door and plopped into the seat as if she hadn’t just had a baby a month ago. She fired up the engine as Esther Mae wrenched open the door and fell into the back seat. Sheri followed as Norma Sue pulled her double barrel shotgun from behind the seat and grabbed her box of shells. One never knew when a rattlesnake or a coyote was gonna come calling and she never went unprepared. She was standing in the middle of the road when Lacy gunned the caddy and backed out beside her. Yanking the door open Norma Sue hopped into the front seat shotgun propped on the armrest.
“Hang on girls let’s roll,” Lacy called.
“Be safe,” Adela called. “I’ll check on Chase.”
Norma Sue knew if that boy was okay he’d have already been in pursuit. So Adela was thinking straight—he probably needed her.
And Amber needed them.
They passed App and Stanley hustling to App’s truck and Norma hoped they were going to follow.
“You’re gonna have to step on it, Lace,” Sheri called from the backseat.
Lacy shot her a look. “You got that gun loaded yet, Norma?”
Norma dropped two shells into the barrel and snapped the barrel in place. “Hit it, Lacy. You get me close enough and I’ll blow his tires smooth off that car.”
“Norma, don’t you miss,” Esther Mae yelled above the roar of the huge caddy engine as they all were pressed back against their seats the instant Lacy floored the gas pedal. They shot forward like a rocket.
Chase: (Contemporary Western Romance) (New Horizon Ranch Mule Hollow Book 3) Page 12
