He flipped on the turn signal and lights, and yelled out the window, “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” she yelled back.
While she loaded the first horse onto the trailer, he returned to the barn for the second one. “Who takes care of the animals when your parents aren’t here?”
“They travel so much now that they had to hire a full-time manager. He lives in an apartment over the barn. His truck’s not here. He must be out running an errand. That’s why the horses haven’t been put out yet.” She took the reins from him and led the horse into the trailer to join the other one. “This is Doc. He’s a sweetheart.”
“As in Doc Holliday, the Arizona gunfighter?”
“What can I say? I told you Dad was a history nut. Holliday was a dentist, gambler, gunslinger, and an icon of the American West. He played a big part in a Colorado railroad war in the late 1800s. Dad has written several articles about the legal battle. After reading his first article, I decided to follow in his footsteps and go to law school.”
“You’re a lawyer, too?”
“Was.”
“Unless you’re disbarred, I think you still are, and I doubt you were disbarred,” Connor said.
“I couldn’t handle being inside all day. I stuck it out for five years, then packed up my stuff and walked out.”
“Must have been hard on your dad.”
“My dad, my mom, and Amber. My parents met at the University of Chicago Law School. My mom intended to return to Denver to practice in her family’s law firm. Her plans conflicted with his, but he finally gave in and moved to Denver with her. I don’t think he’s ever regretted the decision.”
“Have you ever regretted yours?” Connor asked.
Olivia stepped out of the horse trailer, raised the ramp, and closed it up. “Not one bit.”
“What’s the other horse’s name?”
“Cochise.”
Connor laughed. “I take it your dad was a Bonanza fan.”
“Yep. Little Joe, impulsive and quick tempered, was his favorite character.”
“Who could resist his smile and pinto horse. He might not have been as ruggedly handsome as Adam, but the girls fell for his innocent good looks, brown curly hair, and green eyes. My brothers and I had fistfights over who got to play Little Joe when we had stage productions in our basement. Somehow Rick always drew the Little Joe card, and I played Cochise.”
Olivia burst out laughing. “Did your mom take videos? I’d love to see them. I bet they’re hysterical.”
“Yep, she did. But they’re locked in a safe to be used only for blackmail and bachelor parties. When my brother Jeff got married, he hid the key, so we couldn’t show them. One of these days, they’ll see the light of day again.”
Olivia opened the driver’s side door and climbed in. Before she started the engine, she scrolled through the messages on her phone. “This is so unlike Amber. She’s supposed to be in court at two o’clock this afternoon.”
“She won’t make it unless she shows up soon,” Connor said.
Olivia’s shoulders slumped. “I didn’t want to alarm anyone else, but I should probably call her assistant to get someone to cover for her.” She hesitated only a moment before sending a text. “Amber will be pissed, but I had to notify someone. I told the office she’s sick. They won’t believe me, but I had to say something. Amber is never sick. She’s had a few sore throats, but never bad enough to go to the doctor, and never bad enough to miss work.”
Connor reached for her arm and squeezed it gently. “I know you’re worried. The only reassurance I can offer is that I have a friend who can move mountains, and he can be here within a few hours.”
“Move mountains, huh?”
He glanced in the direction of the Rockies and pointed. “See that highest point over there? Mark the point now, because if you need his help, that point will be five miles in the other direction when the job’s done.”
“He must be a superhero.”
“Some say he is. I’ve never seen his cape or anything, but I’ve heard stories.”
Olivia looked off toward the mountains, biting the corner of her bottom lip. After a moment, she glanced back at him. “Did I tell you that Amber and I are twins?”
“I knew you had a sister, but you’ve never mentioned her by name until this morning.”
“We don’t have the same birthday. We’re considered Irish twins.”
“So you were born ten, eleven months apart?”
“Eleven. I don’t think my parents were happy.”
He laughed. “I don’t blame them. So who’s older?”
“I am,” she said. “We try to give each other space. Hang out with different crowds and stuff. But we talk and text several times a day.” Olivia glanced at her phone. “I should have heard from her at least half a dozen times. I’m afraid something serious has happened.”
Even though Olivia didn’t say, “This time,” Connor heard the words in her intonation, and he considered the entire statement—something serious had happened to her this time.
“Do you want me to drive so you can check and send messages?” he asked.
“Are you comfortable pulling a trailer?”
“I won’t get us killed, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“You didn’t. I’ve pulled trailers carrying the farm’s multi-million-dollar stallions many times. Sit back, power down, conserve your energy. We might have a long day ahead.”
“You’re right.” She scooted out of the driver’s seat and climbed into the passenger seat. “In case I get caught on a call, I’ll plug the address into the GPS, so you won’t miss a turn.”
While Olivia tapped in the address, Connor sent a text to Kenzie: Doubt I’ll get back to see the property today. Fax an offer to Olivia’s agency. Let’s get this done. It’s the perfect ranch.
Kenzie would discuss it with Elliott Fraser, Chairman of the Board of MacKlenna Corporation, before she made an offer.
Connor put his phone away and started to drive. “If an offer comes in and you’re not there, what happens?”
“If I can’t be reached, my manager has the authority to present the offer. It’s only happened once. They’ll make every effort to find me. Why?”
“Elliott might make an offer based on the video presentation.”
“Really? I’ll let my office know.” A minute later she said, “All done. But I’d be more comfortable if someone from MacKlenna Corporation sees the ranch in person before extending an offer.”
“If it doesn’t work out, Elliott will sell it and look for something else. Now, don’t worry about the ranch and concentrate on Amber.”
“Thank you.” Olivia’s voice rose slightly. “It’s like you’re reading my mind.”
He checked the side mirrors and made quick adjustments. “You’ll have to meet my sister. Once I figured her out, the rest of the female population was a snap.”
“If you can read my mind, I’ll have to be more guarded with my thoughts.”
“Please don’t. I like knowing you think I’m devilishly handsome.” He glanced in her direction and found her blushing. He’d only been teasing, but the color on her cheeks confirmed what he’d hoped was true.
He changed the subject. “Tell me about Amber. What kind of law does she practice? What does she like to do? And most important, what the hell does she do out in the wilderness by herself?”
Olivia settled back in her seat and put one of her booted feet up on the dash. The leg of her tight jeans accentuated her firm calf muscle. No wonder he liked her in short skirts. She had gorgeous legs, dancer’s legs.
“The cabin is located on my seven-times great-grandparents’ silver mining claim. The mine played out over a century ago, but the family believed there were still silver deposits and refused to sell it. When my grandparents were living, we’d go on weekend camping trips. Dad and Granddaddy would spend the day shoring up loose beams and replaci
ng rotting timbers. Mom and Granny worked in the cabin and tended the garden.”
“When was the cabin built?”
“In the 1870s. My ancestors made enough money on their claim to move to Leadville and open a dry goods store. The store made them richer. Their son, Adam, started a law practice in Denver, and after his son, Andrew, joined him, the name changed to Hughes and Hughes.”
“You’re not a Hughes.”
“My mother was.”
Connor passed a sign that noted it was twenty miles to Leadville, but the GPS said twenty-five miles to their destination. If he kept her talking about her family maybe she wouldn’t worry so much about her sister.
“My siblings and I were fifth-generation New York City cops. I understand the pressure to follow in family footsteps.”
“Did you have a choice?”
“After I left the Marines, I got a degree in criminal justice and considered law school, but Mom died, and everything changed.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. To lose a parent is one of the hardest trials life puts us through, aside from losing a child. It nearly killed me when Granny died, not only because I loved her so much, but because of the pain Mom went through. I couldn’t do anything to make life easier for her.”
“I know that feeling. Losing Mom nearly killed Pops, but he’s got a companion now. I’m happy for him.”
“Where do they live?”
“Usually on MacKlenna Farm, but they spend a lot of time at the wineries in Napa and Tuscany.”
“And your brothers, where are they?”
“My brother Jeff is a lawyer. He handles corporate matters for MacKlenna Corporation. My other brothers, Rick and Shane, are directors of global Security. We’re all based at the farm, but we travel extensively. For the last year, Shane has spent more time in Australia than in the States.”
“I’d like to meet them.”
“No, you wouldn’t. They’re not as handsome as me.”
She took her foot off the dashboard and turned in her seat to face him. “Now I’m even more intrigued. I’ll have to check the MacKlenna Corporation website.”
“None of our pictures are there. It’s a security issue.”
“I thought I saw your picture when I was searching the website.”
He knew exactly where she’d seen his picture. It was at the dedication of the museum in California that housed the artifacts found with the Confederate gold. And that was one topic he didn’t want to talk about. The discovery had made his entire family multi-millionaires and since they were former cops, their wealth put targets on their chests.
“I think you saw a newspaper article.” He changed the subject, asking, “What did you and Amber do during the trips to the cabin?”
“Amber searched for dinosaur bones and I worked in the garden.”
He took his hands off the wheel and seesawed them, as if balancing the two activities before reclaiming the wheel. “Searching for dinosaur bones and gardening. I’m sorry, but neither one sounds entertaining. Does Amber still hunt fossils?”
“She’s an amateur paleontologist. Her idol is Sue Hendrickson.”
Deadpanned, he said, “I may have seen a wanted poster for her.”
Olivia backslapped his arm. “She discovered an intact skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex in South Dakota, which ended up in a protracted legal battle. She now lives on an island off the coast of Honduras.”
“I hope Amber doesn’t follow Sue there. The drug trafficking in Honduras has led to the highest homicide rates in the world.”
“I don’t think that’ll happen. Amber’s satisfied with roaming the Colorado mountains.”
Connor turned off the highway and onto Harrison Avenue in Leadville. “Do you want to stop and grab sandwiches at the grocery store to take with us?”
Olivia thought for a minute. “Amber keeps freeze-dried food at the cabin. We should be okay.”
He made a face, his stomach rumbling. “Sounds very…appetizing.”
“Oh, don’t laugh. Amber is a gourmet cook. She has a large stainless steel freeze-dryer at home. She freezes her meals then seals them in mylar bags. They’ll last twenty-five years on the shelf.”
“Hmm. My mouth is already watering.”
“Just wait. After you taste her cooking, you’ll be begging for more.”
If he ever had to beg, freeze-dried food wouldn’t be at the top of the list. He drove past the grocery store, remembering the MRE’s he’d eaten in the Marines. If he could survive those rations, surely, he could survive Amber’s freeze-dried concoctions. He had to get his mind off food.
“Where does one study paleontology?” he asked.
“Amber studied geology at Yale. Got her master’s degree in paleontology from the University of Chicago.”
“And then decided on law?”
“She was going to return to Yale for her PhD, but she succumbed to family pressure and went to law school instead. She’s got an impressive mining law practice now.”
“With such an exciting career, no wonder she freeze-dries her food.”
“Would you stop it? She’s an interesting person. You’ll like her.”
“I’m sure I will. Tell me about her personal life. Does she have a boyfriend? Maybe she’s in a group of freeze-dried devotees.”
Olivia laughed. “She’s had a couple of relationships that lasted longer than six months, but once the arguing starts, she bails.”
Without missing a beat, he asked, “What’d they argue over? Which package to open for dinner?”
Olivia glared at him, but the twitch in her eye gave her away. “I can see now that we should have stopped at the grocery store. There’s another market up the street.”
“I’m just teasing.” He drove past the second market, ignoring his rumbling stomach.
“Amber has lots of close male friends. She enjoys their company, and although she hasn’t said so, I think one of the guys, a lawyer in Denver, is a friend with benefits. If you know what I mean.”
“Sounds like a lucky guy.”
“Sounds like a coward who’s afraid of commitment,” Olivia said.
“Who? The guy or your sister?”
“Both.”
They rode in silence for several miles until they reached Turquoise Lake. “I’m sure you got some blowback when you quit practicing law. How’d your parents take it?” Connor asked.
“Not well. We didn’t speak for several weeks. They didn’t understand why I couldn’t continue to practice and find something else to be passionate about. I started selling real estate as a side venture, focusing on multi-million-dollar ranches. When I sold my first one and made more in commission than I made practicing law, I quit. I love having my own business, setting my own hours, taking time off—”
“To do what?”
“I travel a lot.”
“Where?”
“I love the UK. I could make repeated visits to Scotland and Ireland. I love Italy, Spain, and Greece, too, but Tuscany owns a place in my heart. How about you?”
“In the last year, I’ve been around the world and back again. I’d enjoy sitting in my own yard watching weeds grow. But I don’t see my travel schedule slowing down anytime soon. How often do you go to the cabin?”
“Maybe once a month, I’ll go with Amber. But I won’t go by myself.”
“Because it’s dangerous, right?”
She folded her arms, turned her head slowly to the side, and glared at him. “Are we backtracking?”
“I couldn’t resist. You walked right into our previous discussion on girls in the wilderness.”
“It’s not like that.” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “It’s not a safety issue. If I enjoyed fossil hunting as much as Amber, I’d go. But going up there just to piddle around isn’t fun, especially when I could be out hustling up new business.” Olivia pointed toward the right. “The campground is that way.” Connor drove down the road, passing numbered plots. “Her truck is over there on the right.”
/>
“The blue Land Rover?”
“That’s it.”
Connor pulled in next to Amber’s vehicle, turned off the engine, and stepped out. “Why don’t you go talk to the campground host. I’ll look around here.”
The doors to Amber’s Land Rover were locked. None of the windows had been broken. The dashboard appeared intact, and the glove box was closed. Magazines on geology and empty water bottles were scattered on mud-dried floor mats in both the front and back seats. The vehicle was messy but not vandalized.
Hoofprints led from the back of the trailer through a grassy area toward a trail about twenty yards away. He followed the hoofprints. Amber must have mounted the horse near the trailer, since there weren’t any footprints. He had to admit though, his tracking skills weren’t anything to brag about, unless he was tracking a perp with blood on his shoes running across a concrete parking lot.
“Connor.” Olivia walked toward Amber’s truck accompanied by a weathered man with former military stamped on his bearing—stiff back, square shoulders, cropped gray hair, and a heavy limp on the right side.
Connor jogged in her direction, reaching the truck shortly before her. He extended his hand to the vet. “Connor O’Grady.”
“Bob Vilines. You a cop? You got that look.”
“Retired,” Connor said. “You a Marine? You got that look.”
“Tet Offensive.”
Connor was also a Marine but didn’t mention his service. “My dad was there. He doesn’t talk about it much.”
Bob shrugged. “Not much to say. It sucked.”
Olivia broke the awkward silence that followed. “When Bob spoke to Amber Saturday morning, she was in a good mood and excited to get to the cabin.”
“Was there anyone around who seemed to take notice or have a special interest in her?”
Bob thought a minute. “Campers on both sides were regulars. She’s thrown back a few beers with both families. I watch who comes and goes around here. Nothing unusual happened all weekend. There was no particular interest in her truck and trailer either.”
“The ground is pretty soft from the rain. I didn’t notice any footprints or other hoofprints at the entrance to the trail. Is there another way to get to the cabin from here?”
The Amber Brooch: Time Travel Romance (The Celtic Brooch Book 8) Page 3
