by R. C. Ryan
Meg circled the table and put an arm around Annie’s shoulders. “Now that I’ve heard your story, I’m so glad Jonah had the sense to bring you here.”
“Thank you, Miss Meg. I’m so thankful to be here.”
“Well.” Chief Crain nodded to Annie. “I’ll get back to town and get the state police started on this. You call me whenever you and your uncle have decided on a time for that meeting.”
He turned to the others. “Thanks again for that fine meal.”
When he was gone, the others paused beside Annie to touch a hand to her arm or to say a few words of comfort before heading off to their work for the day.
Ham paused beside her and fixed her with a look she couldn’t discern. Though his eyes were slightly narrowed and his tone was firm, his words were measured. “Trust Noble and the state boys to get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I’m wondering how your uncle will take the news.”
“When I told him I was in trouble and needed a job and a place to stay, he was very supportive.”
“That’s good. But he doesn’t know the extent of your trouble?”
She shook her head. “That’s why I need to meet with him today. When he hears everything, he may regret inviting me here. After all, his bank is his great pride and joy. If he believes that I’ve done anything to tarnish his reputation, he may turn on me.”
Ham started to say something, then seemed to think better about it and walked away.
Annie turned to Jonah. “Before I call my uncle, I need to know if you’re free to drive me to town.”
He nodded. “Whenever you say.”
“Thank you.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll call now and see when Uncle Des is available.”
Chapter Twelve
Jonah drove the truck along the curving ribbon of asphalt that led to the highway. In the back of the truck was Annie’s luggage. She’d insisted on packing her belongings and leaving a note of thanks for the night she’d spent with his family.
Seeing her hands twisting in her lap, he reached over and put a big hand over hers. “How’re you doing?”
She tried for a smile. “I’m a mess.”
“It’s going to be okay, Annie.”
“I wish I could believe that.” She sighed. “Just telling it all to the police chief made me realize what I’m facing. This isn’t some little misunderstanding. I’ve been set up by someone who must have known I would panic when I discovered a million dollars in my name. Maybe Arlen thought I could be controlled by threats, or maybe he thought I would simply trust him to take care of me. When the chief said the state police might be calling in federal authorities, it hit me like a building had fallen on me. Whoever Arlen is associated with, I’m guessing they have to be professionals who have probably considered every angle before any of this started. They probably went over every scenario, to plan what they would do if I went to the authorities or if I fled California. They’ve probably been watching me right from the beginning. I never had a chance to hide from them. For all I know, my office, my apartment, could be bugged. Maybe they have a camera watching me right now…”
“Hey. Don’t do this to yourself, Annie. You have to confide in your uncle and trust in the police…”
“And what if they can’t help? What if I did exactly what Arlen and the others expected? Devil’s Door isn’t exactly a teeming metropolis. That stranger found me in a matter of days.”
“Don’t sell our chief and our state police short. They’re professionals, too. And if they invite federal authorities into the investigation, they’ll bring in even more smart guys.”
“Oh, I hope so, Jonah.” She turned to stare at the passing countryside. “But even if the authorities are up to it, this meeting with my uncle has me tied in knots. What if he doesn’t believe me? What if he does but believes that I’ve brought shame on his good name?”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Annie. When you told him you were in trouble, he invited you to come here and even offered you a job. That doesn’t sound like someone who would toss you to the wolves.”
“That was before he knew the full extent of my troubles.”
As they drove slowly along Main Street, Jonah pulled into the newly paved parking lot of the Devil’s Door bank. Des Dempsey had added a new glass-and-chrome façade to the hundred-year-old brick building just a year ago, and the big windows gleamed in the late-morning sunlight.
Jonah brought the truck to a stop beside the entrance and circled around to open the passenger door for her.
Annie stepped down and paused.
They were so close their bodies were touching. He felt the heat of her through his shirt and had an almost overpowering desire to wrap her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right.
She looked up at him, and he absorbed the jolt through his system.
“Will you come in with me?”
He shook his head. “Nobody named Merrick has been inside this building since I was a toddler. There’s no need to add to your uncle’s discomfort today. But I have plenty to do while you meet with him. I have a list of supplies to pick up. Why don’t you text me when your meeting is over and we’ll have lunch at Nonie’s.”
She put a hand on his arm, adding another rush of heat through his system. “Thanks. I’d like that.” She sucked in a breath. “Wish me luck.”
His tone lowered. “All the luck in the world.”
He watched as she lifted her head and marched determinedly into the bank, the expression on her face both resolute and resigned.
“Hi, Nonie.” Jonah sauntered into Nonie’s Wild Horses Saloon and headed toward a back booth.
She looked up from the grill. “Ready for a chilled longneck?”
“Make it two.” He kept on going and settled where he could see the door.
Minutes later, Nonie set two bottles of beer in front of him. “You must be having some kind of a day.”
At his questioning look, she chuckled. “Two beers before lunch?”
“Oh.” He smiled. “The other one’s for…” His smile grew as he caught sight of Annie stepping through the doorway.
Nonie followed the direction of his gaze and nodded. “Leave it to you to snag the prettiest new woman in town.” She leaned close to whisper, “You realize she’s a Dempsey.”
“Yeah. That she is.” He got to his feet as Annie threaded her way through the crowded tables. “And as you said, the prettiest woman in town. Except for you, of course, Nonie.”
“Liar. But a sweet liar.”
They were both laughing as Annie walked up to the booth. Jonah took her hand and waited until she was seated before taking the seat across from her, all the while staring intently at her face, hoping to read her mood.
“You two need a little time before ordering?”
Neither of them acknowledged Nonie or even looked at her.
“Yeah. Well…let me know when you’re ready.” With a knowing smile, she walked away.
Jonah searched Annie’s face. “How are you?”
“I’m…okay.”
“And your uncle?”
Annie shrugged. “To his credit, he listened without comment, though I could tell he was getting more upset with every detail. He agreed with Chief Crain that if bank fraud is involved, the state police will have to call in federal authorities.”
“What about your job?”
She looked down at the scarred wooden tabletop, as though memorizing every initial carved there over the years. “He doesn’t think I should be working in a bank while the investigation is ongoing. He said if word got out about my involvement in some kind of million-dollar theft, his regulars would leave in droves.”
“How would they hear about it?”
“Uncle Des believes it will make the headlines sooner or later.” She sighed. “I hope he’s wrong, but if not, I hope it’s much later. I don’t think I’m ready to have my life laid bare for everyone to pick over.”
“Did Des at least invite you to stay with him?�
�
“Aunt Bev is in poor health. He said she was ‘delicate,’ so he doesn’t think it’s a good idea. But he said he’d make arrangements for me to stay in a bed-and-breakfast just outside of town. He knows the owners and said they’re good people who would be able to keep an eye out for any shady characters while keeping me safe.”
Jonah made a sound of disgust. “He’s right about one thing. Mandy and Jamie Ward are good people. They also have a big spread, four little kids, and they just opened their ranch as a bed-and-breakfast to help pay the bills. Jamie’s in the fields all day and Mandy’s cooking and cleaning for guests while raising her little ones. Those two are hardly equipped to do all that and watch out for strangers who may or may not be a threat to your safety.”
She sat back, looking defeated. “The chief wants me to remain here in Devil’s Door. I don’t know what else I can do.”
“You can stay out at my family’s ranch.”
“That isn’t an option.”
“I see it as your only option. We’re off the beaten track. Anyone attempting to get to you would be spotted by one of the dozen or more wranglers working the herds, or one of us.” Seeing the way she was about to protest, he added, “You may have noticed that there are a lot of us. Some might say too many. But that’s all in your favor. If you found yourself in any sort of trouble, the odds are half a dozen of us would be there for you.”
“You said yourself that no member of the Merrick family has set foot in my uncle’s bank since you were a toddler. What makes you think he’d sit still for his niece living with the Merrick family?”
“Unless he has a better offer, why should he have a say in the matter?”
“Jonah, he’s not only worried about my safety. He’s also worried about the reputation of his bank if even a hint of scandal should be leaked to the public.”
“And his idea of keeping you safe is to put you up in a bed-and-breakfast that welcomes strangers?”
“He’s a good man, Jonah. But I could see how torn he was between worrying about me, Aunt Bev, and his precious reputation.”
“Which is why your wisest course of action is to stay at my place until all of this is resolved.”
“This investigation could take weeks. Months, even.”
He adopted a drawl. “Then it looks like we’ll have time to make a real cowboy out of you, little missy.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Listen to the man.” At Nonie’s voice, they both looked up. She was smiling. “I’ve been standing here for ages waiting to see what the two of you want for lunch. Right now, I’m thinking you’re both ready to eat fire and brimstone.”
Jonah managed a grin. “Chili. Hot.”
“Two, please,” Annie said.
“Done.” Nonie walked away just as Noble Crain took her place beside their booth.
“Nonie wasn’t the only one listening.” He shot Annie an apologetic look. “Sorry,” he said as he slid in next to her. His voice lowered. “But I came over here to let you know that the state police are on the case and have already involved the feds. It won’t take them long to determine where the million dollars came from. That kind of theft doesn’t happen every day. Once they have that information, they’ll start to move on the people involved, starting with Arlen Lender. I’ll let you know once I hear anything more.”
He started to get up, then seemed to think better of it and sat back down. “And for the record, Annie, I agree with Jonah. The safest place for you to be while this is being resolved is at the Merrick ranch.”
“I can’t just—”
“Miss Meg is a pro at making folks feel welcome. Just ask Brand’s wife, Avery, or Casey’s wife, Kirby. Miss Meg will do the same for you, Annie. And I’ll tell you this. I’ll breathe a whole lot easier knowing you’re there. There’s no tougher family I know than the Merrick family. And even though I don’t always agree with the way they rush in where angels wouldn’t tread, I know this. If I’m ever in the fight of my life, I’d want them to have my back.”
He did stand then, and tipped his hat. “I’ll be contacting you whenever I have any news. You two have a good lunch now, you hear?”
As Noble strolled away, Jonah reached across the table and caught Annie’s hand. “There you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth. The Merrick family is one kick-ass bunch. You stick with us, and we’ll see you through this, ma’am.”
She couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Or the feeling that he was right. If last night was any indication, his family, despite knowing her last name, had been able to put aside whatever feelings they had for her family to make her welcome. And the toughest of them all, old Hammond Merrick, who had seemed none too pleased at first, had even begun to soften, at least a little, when he realized she was in trouble.
When Nonie served their bowls of steaming chili along with a tray of chopped onions, shredded cheese, and thick slices of garlic toast, she crowded into the booth beside Jonah and studied Annie closely. “I can’t say I’m surprised that this cowboy made a move to cut you out of the herd. After all, the Merrick men have an eye for pretty women. But how in the world did a Dempsey agree to eat lunch with a Merrick, when your families haven’t spoken in years?”
Annie exchanged a grin with Jonah before turning to Nonie. “Maybe it’s time the two of us decided to break the ice.”
“Ice? Honey, it’s been more like a wall of steel between Des and Bo Merrick.”
Annie shrugged. “The truth is, I have no clue about their feud. I’m hoping someone will fill me in.”
Nonie put a hand on Jonah’s arm. “I’ll leave that to the man who makes his living using all those big, fancy words.”
As they shared a smile, she got to her feet. “Next time you come to town, bring that handsome father of yours.”
“I’ll give it my best, Nonie.”
Annie watched as Nonie walked away. “‘That handsome father of yours’?”
Jonah chuckled. “She’s had a thing for him for years. It’s the worst-kept secret in town.”
“Does he share her feelings?”
“Pop plays his cards close to the vest.” He winked. “But he stands a little taller whenever he walks in here.”
The two were smiling as they bent to their lunch.
As Annie took a cooling sip of beer, she surprised Jonah by saying, “After lunch, I’d like to visit a florist shop.”
At Jonah’s arched brow, she grinned. “I want to bring Miss Meg the biggest bouquet of flowers I can find. Not that it will make up for the extra work my presence will cause, but maybe it might ease the burden a little when she learns that she’s about to have a boarder who has no exit plan. I could end up being there so long you’ll see moss growing on me.”
Jonah merely smiled.
She gave him a long look. “What’s that for?”
“I’m glad you agreed to stay with us. And I’m just thinking that even draped in moss, you’ll be the prettiest girl around.”
Chapter Thirteen
As Jonah and Annie walked out of Nonie’s, he led her across the street to a little shop nestled between the bakery and the hair salon.
He pointed to the gorgeous display in the window. “Let’s see if Melissa has some kind of lavish bouquet that will soften up Gram Meg—not that you need it.”
Annie paused outside the shop, her brow furrowed. “The doubts are creeping in again. As much as I’d like to feel safe, I just can’t imagine asking your family to put up with me for an unknown length of time. Jonah, I don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“Hey, you two.”
At the feminine voice, Jonah and Annie turned to find Avery and Kirby walking toward them. Behind them strolled their husbands, their arms filled with handled bags.
“I told you it was them.” Avery turned to Brand, who was shifting a heavy bag from one hand to the other. “We’d just stepped out of Stuff and thought we’d spotted you.”
While the others gat
hered around, Kirby touched a hand to Annie’s arm. “How did your meeting go with your uncle?”
“To say he was shocked would be putting it mildly. But he said he supports me and just wants the whole thing cleared up with as little publicity as possible.”
Avery linked her arm through Brand’s. “Will you be staying with him?”
Annie shook her head, avoiding looking at them. “My aunt isn’t well, and he thinks I’d be more comfortable somewhere else.”
Avery put a hand on Annie’s. “Oh no. So where will you stay?”
“With us,” Jonah said firmly.
“Perfect.” Avery, Brand, Casey, and Kirby spoke in unison.
“It isn’t that simple.” Annie was shaking her head. “I was trying to explain to Jonah how complicated this could be. Until the investigation is complete, I could be in a kind of limbo for weeks, or even months.”
“But you can’t be alone. That stranger found out where you were staying. You said yourself when you tried to close the door in his face, he pushed his way inside.” Avery looked at Kirby for confirmation. “Jonah’s right. There’s safety in numbers. Come stay with us. We’ll see to your safety until this matter is settled.”
Brand added, “I’d like to see that guy try to force his way into our house. He’d be in for the fight of his life.”
Annie looked at Jonah’s brothers and their wives, then up into Jonah’s face.
He was grinning as he lifted his palms in mock surrender. “Before you start accusing me, I give you my word that I didn’t pay them to say all that.”
After a moment of laughter, Avery felt the need to explain. “Annie, both Kirby and I lived through some really terrifying situations, and both of us are here today because of the Merrick family.” She glanced at Kirby before saying, “Remind us to tell you about it one day.”
Annie’s smile spread slowly as she caught Jonah’s sly grin. “You did warn me that there are a lot of you. And apparently you all stick together.” She glanced around at the brothers and their wives. “You all can be very persuasive. I promise to think about what you’ve said.”
