In a Cowboy's Arms (Hitting Rocks Cowboys) (13 page)

“Nothing’s going to happen to him. Have you fed Ryan?” She nodded. “Good. Why don’t I put him to bed and give you a break?”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

“Then I’ll let you, because I haven’t visited Velvet all day.” She hugged both of them. “My horse needs a daily walk around the corral and some loving.”

His eyes danced. “Don’t we all. You’re lucky.”

She grinned all the way to the barn. It appeared that finding a job that appealed to Zane had changed his whole outlook. After a career as a navy SEAL she’d feared he would never find anything as challenging. But this evening he looked and sounded happier than she’d ever known him to be.

Sadie was so glad for him and so in love with Jarod she thought her heart would burst. It must be a bad fire, otherwise he would never stay away from her this long and torture her. She prayed he wasn’t in danger.
Please come home soon, darling.

Chapter Ten

Jarod and Connor, along with Ben, their uncle Grant, two of their cousins plus other ranch workers, stood outside the smoldering heap that had been one of their hay storage sheds until a couple of hours ago. At one point Jarod had gotten out the backhoe to tear down part of the shed so the firefighters could finish extinguishing the flames.

The fire marshall walked over to them.

“It was a set fire.”

“Damn,” Grant muttered.

That wasn’t a surprise to Jarod. There’d been no lightning, no faulty electrical wiring. Just pure arson. Luckily the shed had only been a third full and the fire hadn’t spread to the other buildings. A fifty-thousand-dollar loss. Jarod couldn’t help think of the senseless waste of man hours and valuable hay for the cattle. A new shed would have to be built.

“Have you got any enemies?”

Jarod could think of one and shared a silent message with Connor.

Their uncle shook his head, not saying a word, but he had to be worried his youngest son hadn’t come running when the fire had broken out. Ned, who was supposed to be working in a nearby building, should have been one of the first to see the flames.

But his cousin wasn’t anywhere around.

Jarod knew Ned wanted to buy Sadie’s ranch, but if he’d found out someone had gotten in ahead of him with more money, he would have had plenty of time to light a fire in retaliation against his father and Tyson.

Connor and Jarod returned to the house, and Connor seemed to have read his brother’s mind.

“We need to confront Uncle Grant and Tyson about the fact that Ned was nowhere around. Grandfather will hate it, but this can’t wait.”

“Agreed,” Jarod replied grimly. “Particularly since I visited the beauty shop this morning and learned from Rosie she never dated Ned. He couldn’t have been with her the night of my accident. Your tip gave me the proof I needed that his alibi was a lie.”

“Do you suppose Ned found out he was outbid?”

“I do. Since our bid came in at $720,000, Bree probably phoned him to give him the bad news as soon as possible and Ned lost it.”

“He’s probably at the bar in town getting drunk.”

“Maybe.” But Jarod had a dark feeling and felt a cold sweat break out. “Let’s talk to Uncle Grant right now. We’ll go in my truck.”

They headed for Tyson’s ranch house half a mile away. Grant and his family were on the porch talking as Jarod and Connor got out of the truck and walked toward them.

“Have any of you seen Ned?” Jarod asked the question of all of them, but he was looking at his uncle.

“Not since breakfast.”

“We’re pretty sure Ned lit that fire,” Connor said. “We also know that today he was outbid for the Corkin ranch. Someone else is buying it.”

“Who?”

“Zane Lawson—he wants to be around to help raise Sadie’s little brother.”

“That’s as it should be,” Tyson murmured. He sounded a lot like Ralph just then.

Jarod nodded. “Ned’s rage has been building for a long time, Uncle Grant. I have proof he had something to do with my accident eight years ago.”

“What do you mean?”

He pulled the receipt from his wallet and handed it to his uncle. His cousins looked at the paper along with their father. “Notice the date. Call Owen’s father and ask him about that Ford truck. The police would be interested to see the vehicle that almost got me killed.

“Ned used to follow me when I rode into the mountains to meet secretly with Sadie. His jealousy crossed the line. I never told you about those times. That was my mistake.”

His uncle weaved silently in place.

“Today I learned that the excuse he made up about being with Rosie from the beauty shop in town that night was a lie. She never dated him. For some reason the police didn’t follow up his story with her. You do realize that every time something bad happens, Ned isn’t around and can’t account for his whereabouts. His drinking problem is another indication that something’s off. He needs psychiatric help and has for a long time. You know it, and we know it.”

Grant looked shattered.

“You never had control over him. That part I’ve always been able to handle. But burning down the hay shed has endangered everyone, not to mention the financial loss. Tyson and Ralph are old and failing in health. I don’t want them to be hurt by this.”

Grant looked at his sons in alarm. “Boys? We’ve got to find him.”

“We’ll all help.” Connor had fire in his eyes.

“Let’s go.” Jarod raced for his truck. When Connor joined him he said, “Before we look anywhere, I need to make sure Sadie is all right.” His wheels spun as he took off for her ranch.

“If he has gone after her, at least Zane is there,” Connor reasoned. “Ned would be no match for a former SEAL.”

“You’re right.” Jarod broke the speed limit getting to Farfields. Relief swamped him when he saw the Silverado parked out front. “I’ll be right back.”

He jumped out of the truck and knocked on the front door. After a minute Zane answered. He smiled at Jarod. “You look and smell like you’ve been battling a forest fire, but Sadie will be so happy to see you, she won’t care.”

“I hope not. Is she inside?”

“No. She went down to the barn about an hour ago to exercise Velvet. You’ll find her there or out in the corral. She’s crazy about that horse.”

“Thanks, Zane.”

He ran back to the truck. “Connor? Come with me.”

His brother got out. “Where are we going?”

“To the barn. Zane said she’s there, but it’s getting late. I’ve got a feeling something’s wrong.”

They made their way on foot and checked the corral. No sign of her. Putting a finger to his lips, Jarod walked around to the front of the barn. The doors were closed. On a warm evening like this she would have kept them open. Jarod felt the cold prickle of sweat on the back of his neck as the dark feeling returned.

* * *

S
ADIE
WAS
READY
to leave after walking Velvet back to her stall when she saw Ned standing there, a dangerous glint in his eyes. She’d seen it before and shuddered. There was no reason why he would be here except for a bad one. Aware she was alone, she felt a dual sensation of fear and nausea rise up in her.

“I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you’re not wanted,” she said, trying not to show how frightened she was. “Get away from the doors, Ned. I have to get back to Ryan.”

Jarod’s cousin had a strong physique like his father. She could try to push him away, but she couldn’t stand the thought of touching him. He’d been drinking. She could smell it.

“No, you don’t. Zane’s there. We’ve got this whole barn to ourselves.” His looks were attractive enough, but the way he leered at her made her cringe.

“Jarod will be here any minute.”

“No, he won’t.” He gave her that insidious smile. “He’s putting out a fire.”

The mention of it alarmed her. “How do you know about that?”

“I’m a Bannock, remember? Anything that goes on at the ranch I know about. What I’m here to find out is what you know about the buyer who outbid me for your father’s ranch.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bree called me this afternoon and told me he sold the ranch to someone else for $720,000. That kind of money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Her heart lurched. Zane’s $700,000 bid had never stood a chance.

“I didn’t learn the buyer’s name, but the only person I know around here who can fork out that much cash is my half-breed cousin. He’s a wealthy son of an injun, did you know that?”

“Don’t you ever call Jarod that again.” She almost spat out the words. “If he is wealthy, it’s through hard work, something you don’t know anything about.”

Ned laughed. “O-oh. You’re beautiful when you’re angry, you know? But I’ll do and say whatever the hell I feel like. Looks like he got what he wanted. There’s oil under your land. He knows it, and he’s been biding his time, waiting for you to fall into his hand like a ripe plum. Next thing we know he’ll be drilling.”

Sadie’s body went rigid. There was no oil, but he wasn’t listening. “What did he ever do to you?”

Ned cocked his head. “He got born.”

“Jarod has as much right to life as you.”

“Nature made a mistake.”

Incredible. “Is that why you decided to drive Owen’s truck into Jarod’s eight years ago?”

His smirk faded. “What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly. I can see it on your face. You followed him from White Lodge and picked your spot to ram him.”

“Yeah. I did a pretty good job if I say so myself. He had it coming. But even if he could prove it, there’s nothing he can do about it. The statute of limitations on that hit-and-run case ran out a long time ago.”

She shook her head. “You could have killed your own flesh and blood.”

“Nah. Don’t you know an injun has nine lives like a cat?”

Ned had lost touch with reality.

“The body shop in Bozeman has proof Kevin Pearson’s truck was taken in to be repaired the morning after the accident. Jarod showed me a copy of the receipt. You paid cash. With that evidence, I’ll go to the police and reopen the case myself!”

His cruel smile sickened her. “Well, then, honey, before you do that, I might as well take what you’ve been giving to that no good bum.”

He lunged for her and dragged her into one of the empty stalls, knocking her down.

Sadie screamed at the top of her lungs, upsetting the horses, who whinnied. He covered her mouth with a hand that smelled faintly of gasoline and climbed on top of her.

“You fight like a she-cat. What does that long-haired cousin have that I don’t? Come on, baby.” He’d straddled her. “It’s time you showed me what you’ve got. You need to share. I’ve waited long enough. This is going to be fun.”

With her wrists pinned above her head in one hand, he ripped at the front of her blouse with the other, stifling her screams with his mouth.

Using every ounce of strength, she bit him as hard as was humanly possible. Warm salty blood filled her mouth.

“Ack! You little—” But she didn’t hear another word because he was silenced by someone bigger and stronger who seemed to have come out of nowhere.

Ned spewed his venom, but it did no good. It was Jarod who had pulled him off her and now had him on the ground facedown in a hammerlock.

Connor was there, too. Together they tied his wrists and ankles with rope. The sheriff walked in on them as Jarod looked up at her. She’d never seen such fear in those black eyes. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She tried to cover herself with the torn fabric of her shirt. “You got here just in time.”

“Thank God.” Jarod turned the sheriff. “We’re glad you’re here.”

While Connor guarded Ned, the sheriff took her statement. Jarod led her outside before wrapping her in his arms. His body trembled like hers. “If anything had happened to you...” he murmured into her hair.

“He needs psychiatric help.”

“That’s what I told Uncle Grant earlier. We all knew who set fire to the hay shed. You’re safe now and this whole ugly business is finally over. Come on. Let’s get you home so you can shower and get cleaned up.”

She buried her face against his chest as they made their way toward the house. “I was so terrified.”

“So was I when I heard your scream, but he’d rigged something against the doors from the inside so we had to climb in through the rear window to get to you.”

“Oh, Jarod.” Sadie broke down sobbing. “How did you know where to find him?”

“A strong hunch. He’d lost everything else. Knowing how his mind works, I suspected he’d come after you. Rest assured he’ll never bother you or anyone else again.”

An anxious Zane came hurrying down from the porch. “What’s happened?” He sounded frantic.

“She’s all right, Zane. Ned decided to pay her a visit in the barn, but Connor and I got there in time and now he’s tied up. The sheriff’s with them.”

“Sadie—” The other man gave her forehead a kiss. “I’ll go see what I can do to help.”

While Zane took off at a run, Jarod entered the house and walked her through to her bedroom. “You’ve got blood all over you.”

“I bit him so hard, I don’t know if he has a bottom lip left.”

He hugged her to his heart. “You’re my warrior woman all right.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “He’ll need stitches.”

“He’ll need a lot more than that. My brave Sadie. You had to deal with him all those years.”

“You’ve had to endure much worse, almost losing your life. He admitted to running into you with Owen’s truck, but I don’t think Owen was with him. He’s insane.”

“Shh. That’s all behind us now.” He stopped in front of the bathroom door. She felt his eyes rove over her, searching for marks and bruises. “What can I get for you?”

“Not a thing. My robe is on the door. I’ll be out in a minute. Don’t go anywhere!”

“As if I would. I’ll be in the living room.”

She clung to him until he walked away. After a shower and shampoo, followed by a vigorous brushing of teeth, she emerged from the bathroom feeling rejuvenated. No more Ned. That thought was enough to erase the horror of her experience.

Once she’d dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a cotton sweater, she entered the living room, where everyone had gathered, including the sheriff who needed to bag her clothes for the forensics lab. Jarod reached for her and put his arm around her shoulders.

Now that she was no longer terrified, she saw the soot on his arms and face. The shiny black hair she’d noticed earlier no longer gleamed due to the debris from the fire. Both he and Connor smelled of smoke.

The sheriff nodded to her. “Ms. Corkin? We’re sorry to hear about the assault, but are thankful to learn you’re all right. Mr. Bannock has been taken into custody and his family notified. If you don’t mind my asking you some more questions, I’ll leave as soon as we’re through.”

“That’s fine.” The next few minutes passed in a blur. After statements were taken, the sheriff left.

Sophie’s gaze swept over the man she worshipped. “You and Connor fought a fire today and look absolutely exhausted. This is one time when I want you to go home. You need food and a shower in that order.”