Ladd Springs

by Dianne Venetta

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Nick pulled into the drive for Ladd Springs, slowing his car to a stop alongside Ernie’s truck. He slid the gear into park and turned to Delaney. He made a striking picture, with his white shirt collar opened at the neck, black curls of hair poking up through the V of his shirt. She basked in the familiarity of his cologne, his raw maleness, the concern stirring deep in his eyes. “You okay?”

  Riddled with tension, inundated by doubt, she nodded. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”

  He reached over and took her hand, resting it on her thigh. His long fingers were strong and gentle, his skin warm and soft to the touch. It was a reassuring gesture. A silent motion that said he stood with her, they were in this together. Drawn to the old homestead, Delaney peered at Ernie’s cabin with renewed courage. She had her proof. Willie had agreed to testify against Jeb and Clem in exchange for lesser charges. Ernie would finally understand she had been telling the truth about Clem all along.

  Delaney repressed the urge to stare at Nick. They had barely spoken during the ride back home. She had been on the phone with Felicity, he content to drive in silence. But Jeb’s words lingered. Did Nick know about more gold on the property?

  Nick gave a light squeeze to her hand, then rose from the vehicle and rounded the hood to open her door. With a quick calming breath, she took his hand, placed boot to ground and allowed him to help her from the seat. She doubted it. This time, the two of them were on the same side. Her shoulder ached, her head maintained a mild throb, her knees were bruised, but she was okay. She was ready to face Uncle Ernie. Delaney cleared her throat and said, “Let’s go.”

  “Mom!” Felicity called out, sprint flat-out across the tiny bridge in a bee line for her mother.

  Tears welled in Delaney’s eyes. “Felicity...” The afternoon’s events melting away at the sight of her daughter, Delaney took off running. Careening into Felicity, she lifted her from the ground in a powerful bear hug.

  “You’re okay,” Felicity whispered ferociously, hugging Delaney hard.

  “I’m fine.” Great, now that she had her child in hand. With Clem out of the picture, her baby girl would be okay. She would be okay.

  Delaney continued the squeeze, the two swaying back and forth as they reconnected, the late afternoon showering the grounds in soothing streams of golden light.

  Releasing Felicity at last, Delaney took her hands in her own. She gazed into her child’s eyes, thankful for the ease she saw in them. She had not shared the details of the day, only that she was fine and the two of them were going to be okay. “Sweetheart,” Delaney said. “I need to talk to Ernie.”

  Felicity nodded.

  “Are Travis and Troy here?” she asked.

  “No. Mr. Parker rode home with me.”

  Of course he did. Morton was that kind of man, that kind of father. “Okay. Sit tight, will you?” Delaney didn’t want Felicity learning about the gold find this way. She wanted to sit down with her later and go through everything. All of it. Just the two of them.

  Delaney joined Nick cabin side and briefly wondered how Ernie would take the news. No one wanted to hear their trust had been broken, even a cynical old man like him. But he had to know, and it had to make a difference. Her heart lurched. It had to.

  When Delaney stepped up onto the porch, the door swung open. Beady eyes took her in with menacing suspicion behind the lens of his glasses. Ernie walked out and raked her with a once over. “What happened to you?”

  “I had a run-in with Clem.”

  Ernie addressed Nick. “What kind of run in?”

  “Clem tried to have me killed today,” she replied, but as she said the words, the shock of reality finally set in. Clem tried to have her killed. Killed.

  “What are you talkin’ about?” he demanded, clearly annoyed by the accusation.

  “He’s been working with men to steal from you, Ernie.”

  “He ain’t stole nothin’ from me,” he said, as though she were a silly child, then headed for his rocker.

  Bolstered by Nick’s presence, Delaney followed, keeping a few steps behind the old man. “He found gold on the property, Ernie. He’s been mining it for himself, unbeknownst to us.”

  “Gold?” His small eyes widened within the black rims of his glasses. “We ain’t got no gold around here.”

  “Yes, we do. We have a vein in a rock over by the west end of the property, just off the trails that run parallel to park land.”

  We may have two sources. Sharing a glance with Nick, Delaney maintained focus on Ernie. It was a sentiment she wasn’t willing to voice. Delaney had no way of knowing whether or not Jeb was lying. She could only trust her instinct. She trusted Nick. “I saw it for myself,” she continued. “It’s legit.” In the few words she and Nick had exchanged in the car, he claimed to have discovered the gold only this morning. Which made sense, especially in light of their conversation last night.

  “You’re lyin’.” Ernie waved her off.

  “She’s telling you the truth,” Nick said. “Two men were arrested today on kidnapping charges with the intent to commit murder. They kidnapped Delaney per Clem’s instructions. The police are looking for him now.”

  Ernie whipped an angry glance at Nick. “You set this all up, did you? Think you’re so smart?” he rambled on, ignoring the reality at hand.

  “I had nothing to do with it,” Nick replied quietly.

  “Fillin’ her head with lies about Clem, about gold on the property.”

  “I saw it for myself, Ernie,” Delaney interjected. “Ladd Springs has gold!”

  “I don’t believe you.” He turned away from them. “And I’m tired of you startin’ trouble where there ain’t none.” Ernie pushed off from the ground, rocking to and fro as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

  Albert emerged from the house. “What’s all the fussin’ about?”

  Ernie glared at him, then returned his attention to the wood railing. “Nothin.’”

  Nodding, Albert plodded over to his chair and took his seat alongside Ernie. “Okay.”

  Delaney couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was Ernie insane? In denial? “Ernie, I can prove it to you. I have pictures.” Had them, but could get them again. Once she recovered her backpack—the one Clem took from her. “I have photographs of the rock and the gold in it.”

  “Don’t matter to me.”

  Delaney and Nick exchanged a stunned glance. “You don’t care that the value of this land has just skyrocketed?” she asked. “And that you were considering giving it to a man who was robbing you blind?”

  Please, God—tell me I’m not having this conversation! At the sound of the car pulling into the drive, Delaney turned. Relief flooded her body at the sight of Ashley Fulmer’s SUV. If anyone could talk some sense into Ernie, it would be Ashley.

  The four waited in silence as Ashley made her way to the porch. Wearing turquoise cowboy boots and sequin-covered dress to match, she was toting an oversized basket of fresh garden produce, with carrots, collards, okra and more.

  “Hey, darlin’.” Ashley waved cheerfully.

  “Hey,” Delaney murmured in return.

  Ashley pounded up the steps and announced, “Ernie, I brought you some vegetables.”

  “What am I gonna do with those?” he grumbled.

  “Boil them. Eat them fresh.” She came to a stop before him. “I don’t care what you do with them, so long as you swallow them. Ask Albert, he can help you.”

  At the mention of his name, Albert smiled. “Course I can!” he replied good-naturedly. “I got me a ham hock, too.” From his rocker, he surveyed her basket. “You got any beans in there?”

  “You know I do!” Ashley sang out, then seemed to notice Delaney’s appearance for the first time. Her blue eyes became saucers. “Good Heavens, darlin’! What happened to you?”

  “It’s a long story, but it ends with Clem Sweeney going to jail,” Delaney returned flatly, a fact that brought no small measure of satisfaction.
>
  “Jail?” Ashley balked. “What in tarnation has the boy done now?”

  “We have gold on the property and he’s been stealing it for himself.”

  Ashley could have been hit with a cast iron skillet. “Gold?”

  “Gold.” Delaney waved a hand toward her uncle, then crossed her arms over her chest. “But Ernie won’t listen to a word of it. Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”

  “Not now, honey.” She glanced at Ernie. “I need to get these to the kitchen.” Without another word, she disappeared inside.

  Delaney stared after her, dumbfounded. Her loyal ally abandoned her for a trip to the kitchen? Had the world tipped upside down?

  Delaney checked on Felicity. Sitting near the wishing well, her daughter seemed frozen in place, like a stone statue. Delaney searched Nick’s expression for direction.

  “How about we come back?” Nick suggested. “Let the news sink in for a while.”

  “C’mon back with some cornbread, Delaney.” Albert smiled broadly. “I’ll make up some collards and we’ll have some real fixins’ for supper!”

  Delaney felt as if she stood in a time warp. No one was connecting the dots from one conversation to the next. It was as if each and every one of them were living in their own world, existing in their own universe of reality. She was stumped.

  Ashley breezed outside and chirped, “Okay, then. You boys enjoy your veggies. I’ll be back tomorrow with some more.”

  “Do you have any pie, Ashley?” Albert asked shyly.

  “You know I do! I’ll bring you some tomorrow, honey.” To Delaney, she said, “It’s getting late. Let’s leave them be, and you come tell me all about this gold you’ve been talking about.” Ashley took Delaney by the elbow and steered her toward the stairs.

  Dully, Delaney allowed herself to be removed from the porch and ushered to the cars. She glanced at Felicity, who instantly rose and came over to meet them.

  Ashley continued her hold on Delaney’s arm even as they came to a stop.

  “I’m not sure what just happened up there,” Delaney muttered.

  “Listen, honey,” Ashley said. “Your uncle hasn’t got much time left.” She glanced up at the cabin. “He’s real bad off and you need to know about it.”

  Delaney gaped at her. “What are you talking about?”

  Nick and Felicity were intent on Ashley continued.

  “Yes, darlin’. It looks like he only has months to live, if that.”

  What was Ashley talking about? Delaney flung her gaze to Ernie’s cabin. The cancer didn’t look like it was making a dent—the man was as ornery as ever!

  Ashley’s blue eyes were serious, intent. “It’s moved to his pancreas, darlin’, and his doctor said he’d be surprised if the old man made it through the summer.”

  “Summer? How do you know this?”

  “Well,” Ashley began, a tinge of shame mellowing her gaze, “I’m not supposed to know anything, but Ida heard her niece Mary Beth talkin’ about it to her momma, who said she was plumb crazy over the whole thing. How could it be that Albert didn’t say anything to her ‘bout it, giving her proper notice so she could come pay her respects.”

  Delaney nodded. Ida was Ashley’s hairdresser and Mary Beth’s mother was Albert’s ex-wife’s sister.

  “It’s a shame—even though he is an old coot,” Ashley said. “No one deserves to die alone, with no one to look after them. I can’t imagine what I’d do if it were Booker.” She tossed a heartfelt look toward the house and added, “Bless his heart, but that rascal Ernie didn’t say the first word about it to anyone.”

  Delaney understood the vegetable delivery. It was Ashley’s way of helping. Whether Ernie wanted her to or not, he was Susannah’s brother and Ashley would not let him die alone.

  Tears filled Felicity’s eyes and Delaney suddenly felt the same heaviness in her heart. Ernie was a lot of things, but he was family. He was blood, her mother’s brother. And family came first. All thoughts of gold and Clem and the property fell away. “What can we do?” Delaney asked.

  “There’s not a thing we can do, honey. Just pray the good Lord takes him quick and painless, I reckon.” She wrapped an arm around Felicity’s shoulders and glanced between Nick and Delaney. “What more is there?”

  As Delaney worked through her second glass of wine, she was grateful for Nick’s company. The three of them had retreated to her cabin, absorbing the news in the privacy of their own space—like a family. Felicity had retired to her loft, claiming a need to be alone. Nick and she were parked out on the front porch.

  Nightfall was submerging the forest around them, injecting the air with a crisp chill. Trees emitted their fragrance, the scent accentuated by the hint of humidity. Showered, Delaney felt one step removed from the day. Her body hurt, but the shock was finally wearing off, reality settling in. “Amazing how life can change so drastically in the span of twelve hours, isn’t it?”

  “It is,” Nick agreed. After a trip to his hotel, he too was freshly showered and cleanly shaven. And he smelled good, Delaney mused. He smelled good and he looked good.

  “It doesn’t seem real that Ernie is going to die so soon.”

  “It’s a shocker,” Nick commented bluntly.

  Delaney cradled the glass in her lap and turned to him. Was he being sarcastic? “We knew he was sick, but only months to live?”

  Nick cast a look of reproach. “You knew?”

  “Yes.” But staring down the actuality of his death felt entirely different.

  “I’m surprised you’re so concerned,” Nick said. “It’s not like there’s a whole lot of love between you two.”

  “True.” Delaney considered the observation. Nick didn’t appear to be insensitive on the subject, simply immune to the significance. Could it be they viewed things differently in Montana? “You have to understand,” she said. “Ernie’s family. He loves Felicity,” she asserted. “That counts for something.”

  It counted for a lot. Though she could see how someone might not understand. Delaney sipped from her wine. Unless you were raised in these parts, it did seem kinda strange, this love-hate relationship they shared.

  “Well, Felicity’s an easy girl to love.”

  Delaney smiled. “She is. But she’s his blood. She’s Susannah’s granddaughter, and he’d never abandon her. He could have turned us out onto the streets, but he didn’t. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

  “Does Felicity know about her father?” Nick asked.

  “About the drinking, yes. She doesn’t know that he hit me.” The first hint of disapproval entered Nick’s eyes and she defended, “He’s her father, Nick. I don’t want to tarnish him in her eyes any more than I have to. It hurts enough to know he doesn’t come to see her. Do I really need to add insult to injury?” No pun intended, she mused.

  He hesitated, and she saw a myriad thoughts pass behind his eyes. “I’ve found that honesty is always the best course,” Nick said.

  “You don’t have kids. A child changes things, changes you.” She paused on the thought. “Did you ever want children?”

  “Never seemed a good fit for my lifestyle. I don’t stay in one place very long.”

  Delaney stared into the bowl of her wineglass. The statement cut through the fog of the day with surprising clarity. Nick moved around. He didn’t settle. He didn’t reside in one locale. He went where ever the next hotel was going up. That was his lifestyle. She set the glass on the wooden table between them. Foolish to get tied up with a man like that. Delaney stood abruptly.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, mild alarm in his voice.

  “I’m tired,” she lied. “It’s been a long day.” She tried to inject humor into her tone, but fell short.

  Nick stood and came to her.

  “I appreciate everything you did today,” she said, realizing at once how completely inadequate her words were. She came close to losing her life this afternoon and if it weren’t for this man, she might not be alive this minu
te. Felicity would be without a mother. Tears swamped her lids. “I don’t know how to thank you.” She felt her voice break. “You didn’t have to risk your life for me, but—”

  “I did,” he whispered, and cupped her face. “I would have killed them if they harmed you. With my bare hands.”

  Delaney turned her face into his palm and breathed in the scent of him, the feel of him. His skin was soft, warm. Nick leaned down and kissed her cheek. Slow, supple, his lips sought hers and kissed them. The surprise move buckled her knees.

  “Nick,” she protested, uncertain as to why she felt the need to stop him.

  He gathered her into his arms. “I want you, Delaney. From the first day I saw you, I’ve wanted you.”

  She remembered that first day. Rugged, strong, he was a natural in the forest. At the time she had viewed him more as a threat than an object of desire. But his appeal hadn’t gone unnoticed. Delaney had been drawn to his smoldering dark eyes from day one, the sheer strength of him, the power he exuded. Nick was a big man, all man and she yearned for a connection with him. A lasting one.

  He stared into her eyes, his as black as night. Delaney shivered. It felt as if he could see right through her, could see that she wanted him and planned to take full advantage. “Do you want this as much as I do?”

  Old animosities, old doubts bombarded her brain.

  “Do you want me, Delaney?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Is it that man’s words today?” His eyes searched hers. “Did what he say bother you?”

  “What?”

  “The gold, Delaney,” he said, as though she were playing dumb. “Do you think I know of more gold and I’m not telling you?”

  “No.” Incredibly, she had forgotten about it. But now that he mentioned it...did she?

  “The truth,” he said.

  “I didn’t know you knew about the first location,” she hedged.

  “I told you, I didn’t until today. And if you recall, there wasn’t exactly time to tell you about it.”

  She surrendered to a small smile.

  “Jeb is a liar.” Nick declared. “He’d say anything to save his skin, you need to believe that.”

  “Why?” she asked without thinking. “Why do I need to believe it?”

  Nick’s eyes became hooded. “Because if you and I are going to be together, we need to be honest with each other.”

  Be together? Her lips trembled under his hot gaze.

  “I don’t know about any other veins, Delaney. In fact, I doubt their existence. From what the jeweler told me, it’s a fluke that you have the one.”

  Her research indicated the same, yet there it was. Gold on Ladd Springs.

  “Either way,” Nick said. “I don’t know about any other gold and if the gold that is here, it belongs to the Ladd family. Ernie, you...and Felicity. I’m not interested in plundering you.” He dipped his head down and kissed her. “I take that back,” he murmured, hovering inches from her. “I do want to plunder you—your body.”

  Longing curled her toes.

  “What’ll it be, Ms. Wilkins? Are you up for a night you’ll never forget?”

  Nick was asking to make love to her. He wanted to cross the line from whatever it was they were to lovers. Delaney’s eyes shot to the loft where Felicity was sleeping. He smiled. “I can be quiet.” He pecked her nose. “Can you?”