Cowboy Come Home (17 page)

“How’s everything going?” he asked, a cheerful smile on his face.

Griff narrowed his gaze. That smile was certainly a difference from Jake’s demeanor earlier that day. “What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Jake said.

“Why are you smiling? Earlier today you wouldn’t even look me in the eye, much less act happy.”

“I didn’t want to tell you earlier, but BJ. and I were having a little problem.”

“Come on, Jake, everyone in the house knew that. That’s why I told you I had to leave. I’m not going to be the one to break up the happy home.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t tell me that today. You said you needed to go back to Chicago. You said you were homesick. You said a lot of things that weren’t true.”

“So did you,” Griff countered.

Jake gave an embarrassed chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess I did.” Then he looked Griff in the eye. “But I’m not lying now. B.J. and I cleared up our little problem, and it had nothing to do with you.”

“Then why did I hear my name mentioned several times?”

“Because B.J. wants to have another baby. She pointed out several times that your being here hadn’t caused a problem. She didn’t see why another baby would, either.”

Griff blinked several times. “Well, as an adult, I can generally take care of myself,” he declared.

“I know. But we’ve worked out our problem. She’s going to take on a partner and cut back her hours.”

“Good decision,” Griff agreed.

“Yeah,” Jake said, a silly grin on his face as he stared across the room.

“I’m not going to ask what you’re thinking about,” Griff said with a smile. “I think it might be X-rated.”

“Yeah,” Jake repeated, his smile broadening.

“I’m glad you worked everything out.”

“Now all we have to worry about is you.” Griff frowned. “What is there to worry about?” “You leaving. We want you to stay, Griff.” Griffin looked away. He didn’t want his cousin to see how much those words meant to him. He didn’t want them to mean anything. But they did. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” he said slowly.

“Why? You don’t need the money. And you could probably do a lot from anywhere with a computer.”

Griffin said nothing. He’d already had this discussion with Camille.

“Right?” Jake insisted.

“Yeah. But it’s not a good idea. I’m not a family man, like you.”

“Of course not, because you had no family. But now you do. And you might even be tempted to make your own family,” Jake suggested, a twinkle in his eye. “I think maybe you and Camille got close while we were gone.”

“Too close. Lust isn’t love, and you know it.”

“It’s part of love. But you’re right, there has to be more.”

“So that’s why I need to leave.” Because, against his better judgment, it was becoming easier and easier to think Jake might be right. After a pause, he added, “Jake, I want to help her.”

“Who?” Jake asked, his eyes rounded in innocence.

“Come on, Jake, you know I mean Camille. I think I can help track down her ex-fiancé, maybe even recover some of her money.”

“Why do you think you can, if the FBI can’t?”

“Because I know stockbrokers. And I care more than the FBI does. But I’m going to need some information from Camille and I don’t think she’ll tell me anything.”

“Not likely. She hasn’t even told Megan all that much.”

Griffin grimaced. “That will make it difficult.”

“Yeah. But maybe if you tell me what you need to know, I can get the answers out of her.”

“Okay. But you’ll need to write the questions down.”

Jake fetched a pen and paper, and Griffin dictated the questions he’d need to ask Camille.

He was going to pay Camille back for her concern, her care, by tracking down the bastard who’d stolen her inheritance from her.

Then they’d be square.

And he’d be alone.

And miserable.

CAMILLE WAS RELIEVED that no one commented on her sudden avoidance of the sickroom. After their argument, Griffin had been stiff and formal. She’d decided he didn’t want her around anymore. Fortunately, the Randalls went out of their way to ensure she didn’t have to face Griffin.

To the point that it was driving her crazy.

So she occupied her time with the babies. Since B.J. had gone back to her animal patients and Janie and Megan to their regular pursuits, she at least felt needed by someone. Even if it wasn’t Griffin.

Red and Mildred had called. They’d decided the only possible solution to her cousin’s problem was to move her into a nursing home. They were making arrangements and would be back home in a couple of days.

According to Doc, Griffin would be up and around soon, also. Not that she cared, she reminded herself. She had to work hard, however, to keep her mind off of him.

“Say, Camille,” Jake greeted her as he entered the kitchen while she was feeding Torie her baby food for breakfast.

“Yes, Jake?” she asked as she scooped the food that didn’t go in off Torie’s chin and tried again.

“An FBI guy called earlier and needed some more information about your ex-fiancé. I told him I’d get the information and let him know.”

Camille hated even to think about Clay and his actions, but she shrugged, knowing she had to give them the information. “Just give me the number and I’ll call him. There’s no need to take up your time.”

“No problem. I’ve already got the questions here. We can just run through them.”

Somehow his response didn’t make a lot of sense, but she shrugged. Whatever Jake wanted. He always took care of everyone. It probably made him feel he was doing something for her. She gave him the answers he sought

“Great!” Jake said, his enthusiasm a lot stronger than hers. “I’ll get these to him right away.”

“Jake, won’t he want to talk to me?” she asked curiously.

“Um, well, he probably will in a few days, but he’s real busy right now,” Jake said, getting up from the table. “I’m—I’m going to fax these to him, so it’ll be faster.”

“Oh. Okay. But I’m not sure about some of those questions. I already told them who Clay’s friends were. They talked to that broker in Chicago.”

“They’re just double-checking. You know how precise the FBI can be about every little detail. Probably want to be sure you haven’t thought of anything else they need to know.”

“Okay. Tell them I’ll answer any other questions they have.” Though she didn’t believe it would make a difference. Clay had probably left the country with her money.

Jake hurried from the kitchen. Camille heard him going up the stairs and wondered why he hadn’t gone into the office instead. Surely he didn’t have a fax machine in his bedroom?

Torie squealed, indicating Camille had been distracted too long, and she offered another bite of strained peaches to the baby.

At least Torie didn’t reject her after every bite.

GRIFF WAS GETTING stronger, but he still had to pace himself. Jake had brought him his laptop computer, and he’d begun the process of looking for the scum who had stolen from Camille.

He’d gotten lucky because he knew the supervisor of Clay’s Chicago friend, even though he didn’t work at Griffin’s old firm. It seemed to Griffin that a man who’d trained as a stockbroker would likely invest in the stock market. After all, that was his area of expertise.

If he did, and couldn’t handle the account himself, he’d use a friend, even if he had to lie to him. With that much money involved, maybe the supervisor would be able to check out a few things.

Within a couple of days, he’d uncovered the accounts that Clay had opened with his friend, alerted the FBI and had the accounts frozen. Not all of her money was in those accounts, but a half million had been saved. With luck, they might find more.

Doc visited him just after he received a call from his friend in Chicago.

“You seem wide-awake this morning,” Doc said as he entered, Jake right behind him.

“Yeah. Good news, Jake. They’ve frozen the accounts. Camille will get back some of her money.”

“What’s this?” Doc asked.

“Terrific! Want me to call her up here so you can tell her?” Jake asked, then added a quick explanation to Doc.

“No. I think we’d better let the FBI tell her. I’m sure they’ll contact her soon.” Griffin looked away from Jake’s piercing gaze. “When can I get up, Doc? I’ve been in this bed forever.”

Doc took out his stethoscope and listened to his heart and lungs, checked his eyes and ears, felt around on him and then set back. “Hmm, I think you might get up for lunch today. Eat at the table with the adults,” he teased. “But I want you back in bed for the afternoon. You’ll have to build up your strength slowly.”

“Take another nap?” Griffin protested with a groan.

“I think you’ll be glad to do so. You don’t realize how weak you still are.”

In truth, he did. Griffin had been irritated at how little he could do before he had to rest. Phone calls and computer work shouldn’t exhaust a grown man, but it had. -

At least it had been for a good cause.

“Glad to hear about Camille’s good fortune,” Doc added as he put away his medical tools. “She’s a sweet little thing, and pretty as a picture.”

Griffin ground his teeth together, fighting the urge to tell Doc he was too old to be thinking about Camille like that.

“Yeah, she’s a sweetheart,” Jake agreed, grinning at Griff as if he could read his mind.

“Well, I’ll be on my way to patients who really need me,” Doc said, clapping Griffin on the shoulder. “You take it slow now, and come see me in a couple of days. I can’t waste all my time making house calls on you, boy.” With a grin, he eased himself out of the chair, shook Jake’s hand and left.

Jake stayed.

“Why don’t you want to tell Camille about what you’ve done for her?”

“Because she doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“She’ll be grateful for what you’ve, done.”

“I don’t need her gratitude. I was just trying to pay her back for all the care she’s given me.” He stared at the ceiling, wishing Jake would go away.

“Things would go easier on you, Griff, if you’d just accept your future.”

He heard the teasing in Jake’s voice, but he couldn’t resist asking what he meant. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I’m saying that little lady has you wrapped around her finger, and you’re going to be waltzing down the aisle in the end. You might as well quit resisting and enjoy.”

Griffin whipped his head around so he could see Jake. “I told you I’m not going to marry, Jake. I haven’t changed my mind.”

With a sigh, Jake stood. “Okay, do it your way. I’ll see you at lunch.”

Three hours later, Jake appeared in the doorway again. “Well, you still want to come down for lunch?”

“Yeah. Any word from the FBI?”

“Not yet.”

Griffin frowned even as he shoved back the covers and reached for a pair of sweatpants to wear downstairs. “They should’ve called already. I wonder what’s holding them up.”

“They’ve probably been busy. They have more to do than just lie around, like you.” Jake grinned at his cousin.

Griffin chose to ignore his cousin’s words. “Am I too informal for lunch?”

“Naw, we only require tuxes for dinner. Come on, Red and Mildred got back an hour ago, so this will be their welcome-home luncheon, as well as your return. And Brett and Anna will get home this evening. Pete’s going to pick them up as soon as we’ve eaten.”

Griffin leaned on Jake as he descended the stairs, his legs shaky. But when they reached the kitchen door, he straightened his shoulders and walked in alone.

His gaze immediately searched for Camille. He told himself he was only wanting to see her because she’d been an infrequent visitor to his room, unlike the rest of the household. But it was more than that. He was starving for the sight of her.

Red and Mildred greeted him as he rounded the table and he managed to respond, but his gaze never left Camille. She was seated in her regular spot, but he suspected she’d put up a fight about that.

Sliding in beside her, he murmured a hello, but she ignored him. He opened his mouth to greet her again, when the phone rang.

Red answered it and then called Camille to the phone.

“Who was it?” Jake asked quietly.

“The FBI,” Red said just as quietly. They all sat silently, watching her.

When her knees buckled under her, Chad was the closest to her and kept her from hitting the floor. Griff wished he’d been in shape so he could’ve rescued her, but he wasn’t sure he could even stand.

“What’s wrong?” Megan demanded, just behind Chad.

Camille. gave her a trembly smile and picked up the phone again. Then, after a few words, she hung up the phone.

“They’ve found over a half million of my money,” she announced. “The accounts are frozen, and eventually I’ll get it back.”

“How’d they do that?” Red demanded.

“He didn’t explain how they found them. But the stupid man invested in the stock market again, trying to make more money. I can’t believe he was so dumb.” She returned to her seat at the table.

“Why aren’t you jumping for joy?” Megan asked.

“I think it’s hard to take it all in.”

Before anyone asked more questions, they heard sirens in the distance.

Jake frowned. “Sheriff must have something real important going on. He doesn’t use those sirens very often.”

“Maybe he’s chasing some cattle rustlers,” Chad suggested, grinning.

“Maybe,” Jake agreed. “Well,” he said as everyone got seated, “we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. So let’s give thanks.”

Everyone bowed his or her head. Jake led a brief prayer and closed it with a hearty “Amen,” echoed around the table.

But the siren, in the meantime, had gotten louder. Red left the table and crossed to the window over the sink, then turned around.

“I don’t know what you’ve been up to while Mildred and me was gone, but the sheriff ain’t chasing no rustlers. He’s come down the drive with his lights flashing. Whatever, or whoever, he’s after is right here on the Randall ranch.”

Chapter Fourteen

A
ll the men headed for the back porch. Mildred and Janie went to the window while Megan exchanged a worried look with Camille.