Cooper’s Redemption (Crimson Romance) (22 page)

“Is oil the reason they’ve kept trying to force me to sign my land deed over to them?” Lillian stood and came over to Elizabeth. Sitting beside her, Lillian took her daughter’s hand and kissed it.

“I’d say so,” Cooper replied. “Because they didn’t want you to catch on that there’s oil out here. With a large oil deposit on your land, the value would increase by millions.”

Elizabeth sat up, holding her head with one hand, the other twined in her mother’s. “Why didn’t they just buy it for a large enough amount of cash that we would’ve taken it? Enough that we would’ve gone quietly away?”

“I can answer this one,” Sabrina said weakly. “When I went to town to search for the missing deed, I found out that one of Cooper and Henry’s property lines was surveyed wrong. Some of Henry’s land is actually Cooper’s. To legally control that land, Lassiter would’ve had to buy Cooper’s too. He didn’t want to sell.”

“Who says? Did anyone think to ask him?” Elizabeth still held her head.

“His wife did.” They all looked at Rufus. “That’s right. Cooper bought out his wife rather than split their property in their divorce. He made it clear his land wasn’t for sale.”

“So you’re admitting you’ve held Mrs. Adams here to try and coerce her into signing the deed without having a survey done?” Cooper looked like he could spit nails.

“Yeah.” Rufus’ shoulders slumped. “Lassiter figured if he could gain control over the Harper land, he could continue the operation as planned. He didn’t want to draw unwanted attention. Mrs. Adams insisted he get an appraisal. That was out of the question. So we brought her here to try and bargain with her. But she won’t listen to reason.”

“How did Lassiter know there was oil out here in the first place?”

“He had someone out here searching as much as two years ago. It’s not oil they found, but natural gas. He lucked out and found one of the biggest deposits in Colorado. The potential income is worth a fortune.”

“But it wasn’t your land to mine,” Cooper said.

“If your ex-wife hadn’t gotten involved, things would’ve been fine,” Rufus said, ignoring the comment.

“Esperanza? What does she have to do with all this?” Cooper’s gut clenched.

“When Lassiter’s guys originally found the deposit, he approached Henry Harper with a generous offer to buy him out. The old fool refused. Lassiter asked around and found out you’d likely have the same reaction. A month or so ago, he found out Esperanza is a waitress living on a low income. Lassiter offered her a generous amount if she’d help us get you to leave. She knew you wouldn’t sell your land, and she came up with an idea on how to force you off it.”

“How could Esperanza know about the oil?” Cooper shook his head. None of this made sense.

“She didn’t until I told her.” Rufus smirked.

“What did she suggest?” Cooper’s heart sank. He had an idea of what was coming and he braced for it.

“She said if something went wrong with your cows you’d go bankrupt and Lassiter could buy you out with a minimum of fuss.”

“So you rustled my heifers at her suggestion.” Cooper’s voice went deadly.

“Yeah.”

“Where are they?” Cooper stood up. His fists curled into balls.

Rufus shrugged. “In one of Lassiter’s pastures.”

“He’ll be returning them.” Cooper never wanted to strangle someone as much as he did at that moment. If Esperanza walked through the door, he wasn’t sure he could control himself. “What did she get out of it?”

“Who knows what Lassiter gave her,” Rufus answered. “Maybe a little action. Maybe some money.”

Cooper felt Elizabeth’s hand on his and he took a deep breath. Esperanza had gotten a big settlement check from him. What had she done with it? He couldn’t believe that she would sell him out like this. Another thought occurred to him. “Who ran Elizabeth and me off the road?”

Rufus smirked. “You shouldn’t have punched me.”

“Who opened all my windows?” Elizabeth shuddered. “I was scared half to death.”

Rufus looked puzzled. “I don’t know.”

“Tom Harper? Is he part of this?” she demanded.

“Not as far as I know.”

“My cousin,” Elizabeth said, “has been horrible ever since I came to town.”

Lillian looked appalled. “All of this is insane.”

“I think Tom’s actually been working on his own,” Cooper commented. “But who killed Lyle and why? He was just a harmless old guy who didn’t ever do anyone any harm. Someone knocked him off.”

“Someone killed Lyle?” Lillian looked between them. “Why?”

“He was found dead in Henry’s barn, and the cops are trying to pin his murder on me. If I didn’t kill him, and if Lassiter didn’t have him offed, then who did?”

“The cops think Cooper did it,” Elizabeth said.

“Cooper?” Lillian interrupted. “My goodness.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “But he didn’t do any such thing.”

Lillian touched her daughter’s face again. “Baby, you’ve been through so much — ”

Rufus grunted, interrupting. “Touching scene.”

“Because of you, Elizabeth thought her mother was dead.” Cooper wanted to slug him again. He took a deep breath. “Back to the subject, we better figure out who killed Lyle Pritchett, or I’m headed for the big house.”

Elizabeth scooted to the edge of the seat. “I think Lyle saw something he shouldn’t have, and was murdered because of it. But by who?”

“I think we need to talk to Lassiter,” Cooper suggested. “Same with Tom Harper. We need to pin him down on a few things. I bet he’ll be happy to turn tail rather than go to jail.”

“Can we go home now?”

“I don’t think Rufus is going to argue about it.” Cooper bound Rufus’ hands behind his back, then took Elizabeth’s arm and stood up. “Ready, ladies?”

Together, they walked out of the cabin, Rufus in front of them.

“Get in the SUV and start it,” Cooper instructed Elizabeth. “I’m going to get our tack. The horses will come home, if they aren’t there already.”

After stowing their saddles in the rear of the SUV, Cooper walked around to the other two trucks and took the keys. Finally, Cooper got in the driver’s seat and started the engine. He headed for the ranch.

The three ladies didn’t speak. He supposed they were all too shell-shocked by their ordeal to chat. He wasn’t feeling so great himself. Esperanza had sold him out. They hadn’t made their marriage work, but he didn’t think she hated him either. He stole a glance at the woman next to him. Elizabeth wouldn’t do that to him.

No matter.

Now that her mother was safe and sound, she’d be heading back to L. A.

His chest tightened at the thought, and he gripped the steering wheel with both hands so hard his knuckles turned white.

Chapter 17

“Are you warm enough?” Elizabeth tucked another blanket around her mother’s shoulders. Cooper had dropped them off a couple hours ago, calling briefly when he’d gotten home to tell them the horses had arrived safely. Elizabeth had barely been out of her mother’s sight for a minute.

“Yes. That long bath helped. Dinner smells good. I’m starving.” Lillian looked like her old self. Her dark red hair was styled in its normal fashion, she’d applied a bit of makeup and she wore her signature scent. Fancy curled up in her lap, purring contentedly. Elizabeth’s pup, which she had yet to name, slept on Lillian’s feet.

Elizabeth sat by her mom. “It’ll be ready in a few minutes. I didn’t make anything fancy, just salad, wild rice, and broiled lemon chicken breast.”

“You have no idea how good that sounds. If I had to eat one more can of beans and peaches, I was going to commit a crime myself.” Lillian took Elizabeth’s hands in her own. “Honey. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“Oh, Mom. Don’t talk like that.” Elizabeth leaned over and hugged her as tight as she could squeeze. The cat jumped out of the way.

“You saved me, baby.” Lillian’s voice wavered. “If you hadn’t come out here and found me, who knows what would’ve happened. I think they would’ve killed me.”

“Why didn’t you just sign the papers?”

“Because they wouldn’t have turned me loose afterwards. Stalling is what kept me alive as long as it did.”

“I’m so sorry you were so frightened,” Elizabeth said, her eyes misting.

“Me, too.” Lillian smiled. “But it’s over now.”

“Yes. We can get back to our normal life,” Elizabeth said. A pain in the vicinity of her heart accompanied her words. Cooper wasn’t part of her normal life. In a few days she’d be back in L. A., and he’d be a memory.

As if she could read Elizabeth’s thoughts, Lillian said, “Tell me about this Cooper.”

Elizabeth avoided her mother’s gaze. “What about him?”

“Is it serious?”

“Serious?”

“You know, the man you’re head over heels in love with? And does he feel the same way?”

Elizabeth took her hands back and stared at her un-manicured nails. “I don’t know how he feels about me. I’m crazy in love with him, but he has some secret past he can’t seem to leave behind. Whatever the issue, it keeps him from me.”

“He’s the one?”

“Yes.” Realizing she hadn’t hesitated, Elizabeth knew it was true. Cooper was the only man for her. If only she could make him see that. But how? She’d thrown herself at him twice and it hadn’t made any difference.

“Then tell him, darling.”

“I can’t. I have to go home with you. Back to work.”

Lillian stroked Elizabeth’s cheek with the back of her hand. “One thing this ordeal has taught me is not to wait to live your life. All I want is for you to be happy. If that means you staying here with a cowboy, then that’s what I want, too.”

“Oh, Mom.” Elizabeth threw herself in Lillian’s arms and buried her head in her shoulder. “I love you so much.”

“I know you do. Now tell Cooper you love him, too.”

• • •

Three days after they got home, a group of people, including Cooper, Elizabeth, Lillian, Sabrina, two of her brothers, and Russ Stone, all sat in Elizabeth’s living room facing a federal agent, Mitch Fairfield.

“I’d better start from the beginning,” Fairfield said. “First, I know who’s responsible for Lyle Pritchett’s death.”

Elizabeth leaned forward. “Who did it?”

Fairfield consulted a notepad. “One of the cattle rustlers by the name of Kirby Daniels. We picked him up this morning in Las Vegas. Apparently Pritchett was hanging around when they brought Mr. Cooper’s cattle through your pens. The idea was to haul the cattle from here, not realizing the place was occupied. They left before you got here, but Lyle witnessed the whole thing. The rustlers didn’t take time to deal with Pritchett then. But Daniels came back on his own and hit Pritchett to shut him up. The blow caught him just right and it killed him instantly.”

“Poor old man. I’m so relieved Splash didn’t do it,” Elizabeth said. “Thank goodness.”

“Who?” Fairfield flipped through his notes.

“My horse.”

“Right. The horse. One of them, Rufus Taglioni, rode him, by the way. I guess he couldn’t resist trying out such a fancy animal.”

“I knew it,” Elizabeth cried. “That jerk.”

Sabrina spoke. “Kirby’s the one who hit Mrs. Adams and me, too, when we tried to run.” Her eye and lip still looked terrible.

Next to her, James, her older brother, clenched his fists. “You better find that S.O.B. Before I do.”

Making a note on his pad, Fairfield ignored that and said, “Mr. Cooper, your stolen cows are penned at Lassiter’s ranch, waiting to be transported home at his expense. We just need an affirmation from Mr. Stone that the brands and paperwork match.”

“I’ll do it first thing in the morning,” Stone assured Cooper.

“What about the local police?” Elizabeth asked. “Have they been arrested?”

“We interviewed them yesterday. Marlowe took a deal for his cooperation. He found Lassiter’s oil pump one day while on patrol and he knew Lassiter couldn’t have permission to be out there. Everyone knew Henry Harper was a bit of an environmentalist. He wouldn’t have agreed to drilling on his property. Lassiter paid the sheriff off to keep quiet about his operation. If anyone got too close, he ran them off.”

“Like Rose, the florist?” Elizabeth bit her lip. “I know she saw my mom but wouldn’t admit it.”

“Yes. Marlowe threatened her. He scared her so badly she’s packed up and left town. Rose was one of the few people who spotted Mrs. Adams. Another was Preston down at the gas station. After Miss Frazier questioned Preston, Marlowe went in the next day and told him to keep his mouth shut. Preston didn’t run, although he wouldn’t help tow Mr. Cooper’s truck when it was wrecked. He’s confirmed that Marlowe threatened him if he did.”

“What about Tom Harper?” Cooper glanced at Elizabeth. “Was he the one who terrorized Elizabeth?”

Again Fairfield consulted his notes. “Deputy Harper is basically innocent in this. He had no knowledge of Lassiter’s and Marlowe’s dirty dealings. He admitted to leaving a slip of paper in Miss Adams’ back door lock and coming back later and opening all the windows to scare her away.”

“Why?” Elizabeth asked in a strangled voice. “I don’t understand.”

“He feels that it’s unfair for your mother to inherit Henry’s property. The way he sees it, you came out of nowhere and took what he felt was rightfully his. His plan was similar to Lassiter’s — to make things uncomfortable enough that you’d go away and leave the ranch to him. Basically, we can get him on breaking and entering, but that’s about it. You’ll have to press charges.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Hopefully, he’ll come to his senses, and realize we’re family.”

Fairfield stood. “Well, if I’ve answered all your questions … ”

“Not quite.” Cooper stood as well. “Do you have Lassiter in custody?”

“We did.” Fairfield swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “But he’s already posted bail.”

“He kidnapped my mother,” Elizabeth cried. “Isn’t he going to pay for that? Not to mention he had his thugs beat up Sabrina.”

“When he goes to trial it’ll all come out,” Fairfield said. “But with the kind of high-powered attorneys he can afford, well it’s anyone’s guess whether he’ll see any real jail time.”

“And my ex-wife?” Cooper asked. “What’s her punishment?”

Shaking his head sadly, Fairfield said, “None, I’m afraid. She didn’t really do anything except suggest to Lassiter that he have your cattle stolen. Unethical, yes. Criminal, no.”