The Lawman Returns (12 page)

TWELVE

S
abrina heard Clay on the other end of the phone. He hadn’t hung up but the sounds were muffled, making her think he’d put the phone in a pocket. She heard words. Was he talking to someone? She eased up from the bathroom floor and unlocked the door.

Cautious, tense and ready to react to any perceived threat, she stepped out into the bedroom. When nothing happened, she crept over to the door that led out into the hall.

“Are you crazy?” Clay’s shout echoed through the house.

Sabrina froze. Should she go out or stay put?

Now that Clay was in the house, her fear ebbed. No bullets had been fired; no one had been hurt. At least she didn’t think so. She moved toward the living area and peered around the edge of the wall.

It was still dark, but she could make out Clay’s form and another man’s. “Sabrina? You can come out now.” Still she hesitated. “Sabrina?” Someone turned a light on. At the concern in his voice, she moved into the den.

And found herself face-to-face with Abe Starke.

“You?” she whispered.

He held up a hand. “I didn’t know you were here. I was just looking for my rifle. I went up to the big house and Seth said you were out with the horses. I decided to come over here and get my gun. I didn’t know she was here. I didn’t.”

Sabrina wilted against the wall. Relieved and furious.

Tears welled and she blinked to keep them from falling. “It’s okay,” she said. “You didn’t know.”

“I didn’t. I really didn’t.” His face darkened and he turned to Clay. “What’s she doing here?”

“I’m trying to keep her safe. Obviously I’m doing a lousy job of it.” He ran a hand through his hair, not hiding his agitation.

“What’s going on in here?”

Sabrina jerked toward the door. Abe and Clay spun, too. Clay’s father stood there, rifle in hand, eyes narrowed. “Abe?”

Abe threw his hands up as Clay glared. “Your gun is safe where it is. I’ll call Ned. I’m sure he wants to question you in the shooting.”

Clay’s father narrowed his eyes. “I’ll take him in. I want to talk to him anyway.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Clay pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Ned’s number. He filled the sheriff in, and Ned promised to head over.

Abe snorted. “That woman got you hog-tied already, don’t she, boy?”

Clay shook his head, and Sabrina watched his neck turn red. She admired his restraint. Personally, she wanted to smack his uncle. Not that it would help the situation. Other than making her feel better. “I’ll leave.”

“You won’t,” Clay said.

“She better,” Abe snarled. He looked at his brother. “If she’s not gone by morning, you can forget saving the ranch. Better start selling stuff off, because you won’t get a penny of my money.”

Ross turned white, and Clay flinched. “What are you talking about, Abe?”

“Nothing,” his father nearly shouted. He took a deep breath. “Nothing.” He gripped his brother’s arm and shot a look back at Clay. “We’ll be outside talking while we wait on Ned.”

“No. We won’t. There won’t be any talking until she’s gone.”

Ross studied his brother, looked at Clay, then Sabrina. Then back to Abe. “Then I guess we don’t have anything left to talk about. Once you’re gone, don’t bother coming back.”

Abe blinked, then frowned. “You sure you want to do that?”

Ross pinched the bridge of his nose, then met his brother’s gaze. “No. I don’t. But I’ll do what’s right. All my life I’ve taught my kids to do the right thing. Do you know how many times I preached that even when faced with hardship, you still do the right thing?” He straightened his shoulders. “So I’m going to practice what I preach. You’re my brother, and I love you. But you get off my land and don’t come back until you’ve gotten rid of that chip of bitterness you got riding your shoulders.”

Abe looked as though he might self-combust. Sabrina held her breath and looked from one man to the next. Had Clay’s father really just done what she thought he’d done?

Without another word, Abe left the cottage.

“Dad—”

Ross held up a hand. “Not now, son. We’ll talk later. Take care of your lady and I’ll see you in the morning.” And then he was gone, following Abe onto the front porch.

Clay stared after his father. Sabrina slipped back into the bedroom and started throwing her things into the small suitcase.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t turn, just continued packing. “I’m leaving. I won’t be the cause of trouble with your family.”

Clay sighed. “It’s not you. I’m not sure, but I think that was a long time in coming.”

She stilled. “What do you mean?”

He glanced out the window. “Nothing. Ned’s here. Let me go take care of Abe. I’ll be back. Please don’t leave yet.”

Sabrina warred with the desire to just run away and the need to hear him out. He won. She left her bag on the bed and let him take her hand and lead her to the couch in his den. He picked up the remote on the coffee table, aimed it at the fireplace and powered up the gas logs.

She stared at the flames, silently wishing she could aim a remote at her troubles and let them go up in smoke. She could hear the four men talking on the porch even though Clay had shut the door behind him. Abe’s defiance carried. Finally, Clay stepped back inside, a frown on his face.

“What’s going to happen now?” she asked.

“Ned will talk to Abe and fill me in tomorrow.”

She nodded. “Your parents are having a tough time. From what Abe said, it sounds like he’s helping your parents out financially. If he cuts that off, they could lose the ranch. I won’t let that happen when all I have to do is leave.”

“Well, you can’t leave tonight. Get some sleep. I don’t have an alarm system on this house, but Seth and I can take turns keeping watch. I don’t think he’s sleeping much these days anyway. Watching this place might be a good distraction for him.”

“How did he break his leg?”

“He got distracted.”

“Seth? Distracted?” She gave a short laugh of disbelief. “He’s the most focused person I know. Seth doesn’t get distracted.”

Clay reached out and ran a hand down the side of her cheek. “I can think of only one thing that might have distracted him.”

Sabrina shivered at his gentle touch. “What?”

He smiled. “A woman.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. You’ve certainly distracted me.”

“I have?”

“Uh-huh.” He moved closer, homing in on her lips. “Have I distracted you?”

She knew if he looked, he’d see her pulse pounding in her throat. “A bit. Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

She reached up and cupped his chin. “You distract me from my fear. When you’re with me, I’m not so scared.”

Tenderness gazed back at her. He pressed a light kiss to her lips and pulled her into a hug. “I’m glad,” he whispered against her ear. “And now I’m going to go.”

“Okay.” She clung to him a moment longer, then backed away. “Thank you.”

“Get some rest.” His jaw hardened. “I promise no one will bother you again tonight. And tomorrow we’re going to find Jordan or Trey. Or both.”

“I sure hope so. I don’t know how much more of this I can handle.”

He paused at the door, hand on the knob. “You know, after all that happened with Steven, I kind of pushed God away. I figured He’d let me down when He let Steven get killed. Like He just didn’t care anymore or something.”

“It’s understandable.”

“Understandable maybe, but it doesn’t make it right. At the time I should have been leaning on my faith more than ever, I discounted it, treated it like it wasn’t important or wasn’t real.” He let go of the doorknob and studied her. “And then He brings me home and drops you into my life.”

She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. “I know. I’ve been nothing but trouble, and I’m sorry.”

He moved fast. He gripped her hands and pressed his forehead to hers. “No. I was going to say God must still care.” He kissed her again, soft and sweet and lingering. “He knew I needed you and I’m thankful that He’s showing me He really does care.”

Wow. Sabrina had no words.

“’Night, Sabrina.”

“Good night, Clay,” she whispered.

She watched him walk away and disappear into his parents’ house. Then she touched her lips and gave a small smile. Which promptly melted into a frown. “God, I know You care. You’re letting some wonderful things happen in spite of the bad. But could You please help us find something that would lead us to the person trying to kill me?” She locked the dead bolt and walked back into Clay’s guest bedroom. “I really don’t want to die yet. I have too much to live for.”

THIRTEEN

C
lay hadn’t slept much last night, but thankfully, he wasn’t feeling the effects of the restless night. He’d spent much of the wee hours watching the cottage, even going so far as to walk the perimeter several times.

Seth had been more than happy to take watchdog duty, had even opened up a little to Clay and admitted he was pining over a woman he’d left behind on the rodeo circuit.

He’d even explained in detail how he’d gotten hurt. He’d just settled himself on Black Death, a bull almost no one could stay on for more than three seconds, when he’d looked up to find her watching. “I was glad she was there, but then Garrett Jackson walked up and put his arm around her and I saw red.” He smirked. “And then I was eating dirt and screaming through a haze of pain.”

“Can you do both at the same time?” Clay asked.

Seth snorted. “I managed. Then I passed out. When I woke up, I’d been in surgery and was in the recovery room.”

“And you never called Mom or Dad.”

“Naw. Didn’t want to worry them.”

But they were worried. Every time they looked at Seth, Clay could see the worry there. At least he knew his instincts were still sharp.

“But you came home to heal.”

“Yeah.”

“What’s her name?”

Another snort and a black look. “Trouble.” And that was all Seth had had to say.

This morning Clay found his brother sitting at the table, casted leg propped up on the chair beside him, newspaper open. A platter of scrambled eggs, bacon and toast sat on the table. He looked up when Clay entered. “You get any sleep?”

“A couple hours,” Clay said. “You?”

“’Bout the same.”

“Where are Mom and the kids?”

“She took Tony to school. Maria rode with her.” He munched a piece of bacon, then said, “Phone rang this morning.”

“I heard it.” Clay went straight for the coffeepot and dumped what had been brewed two hours ago. He fixed a fresh batch—double strength—and stood in front of it with his mug in hand.

“It was Ned. Said to let you sleep if you were sleeping, but when you woke up, to tell you they found Trey Wilde.”

Clay whirled. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Seth lifted a brow. “Because Ned said not to.”

“Since when do you do everything you’re told?” Clay grabbed his cell phone, filled his mug with the brewed coffee and took a seat at the table.

Ned answered before the first ring finished. “Figured you’d be calling.”

“You have Trey?”

“Unfortunately, the coroner has him in Nashville.”

Clay slumped, coffee forgotten, grief for the waste of a young life consuming him. “Ah, man...”

Seth looked up with a frown and a question in his eyes. Clay ignored him for now.

“Knew that boy since he was just an infant.” Ned’s voice thickened and he cleared his throat. “He was in trouble all the time, but—”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.”

A pause. “So how’d he die?” Clay asked.

This time Seth put his coffee on the table and leaned forward as though he wanted to hear the conversation.

“Bullet to the back of the head,” Ned said.

Clay winced. “These people aren’t playing around, Ned.”

“No, they’re not. The medical examiner has him now. He’s being held as a John Doe. Coroner said he was found three days ago. When we put the BOLO out on Trey and Jordan, the coroner saw the news and recognized him. Thanks to the cold temps, he’s still in pretty good shape. But get this—you know that license plate you gave me to run?”

“Yes.”

“I got so busy I forgot to tell you. It’s registered to Travis Wilde.”

“Trey’s father.”

“You get the gold star.”

Clay sighed and pressed his fingers against his eyes as he thought. “All right, so they killed Trey. Did he have anything on him that might tell us who his killer is?”

“Nothing. Not a thing. No ID, nothing. The ME’s doing the autopsy. Hopefully, she’ll have something for us soon.”

“Have you notified Trey’s parents?”

“Yes. They’re devastated.”

He could only imagine. He thought about his parents’ grief and then his own with losing Steven. Having a sibling die was bad. Very, very bad. Losing a child? He couldn’t fathom it. “I’m worried about Jordan, Ned.”

“I am, too. Which is why I’ve got everyone looking for him right now.” He blew out a sigh. “How is Sabrina?”

“She’s safe for now.” He got up and looked out the window at his little cottage on the small hill. “But I have to say, I’m more scared than ever for her at this point.”

“I can’t say I blame you. Just keep an eye on her. Don’t let her go anywhere alone.”

“I won’t, but you know we’ve got the Christmas barbecue coming up on Saturday.”

“Would your parents consider canceling it?”

“What do you think?”

“Right. Then she’ll just have to stay out of sight.”

Clay rubbed his chin and realized Seth still hadn’t taken his eyes off him. He was going to have to fill his brother in on a few more details when he hung up.

The light in the cottage kitchen went on, and he figured Sabrina was up and fixing coffee. She’d want to go to the hospital to check on her grandmother.

“What did you do with Prescott?”

“Convinced him to check into a rehab facility in Nashville.”

“Voluntarily?”

“It was either that or jail.”

“Ah.” Ned. The man who always believed in second chances. Clay wasn’t so sure that had been a good idea. “He had Steven’s wallet, Ned.”

Seth’s good foot hit the floor. “What?”

Clay held up a finger.

“Yeah, he had it, but there weren’t any of his fingerprints on it.”

“So he wiped it clean.” Clay volunteered the words, but his heart wasn’t in them. He didn’t believe Stan had anything to do with Steven’s death. Not really. But if not him, then who?

Whoever killed Trey and whoever had Jordan on the run, that’s who. “Has Lance uncovered anything on where Jordan might be?”

“No. Trey’s body was found not too far from the abandoned mill. I’ve got Lance staking the place out today. If Jordan’s there, we’ll nab him.”

“Right. In the meantime, I’ve got a lady to protect.”

“How are the kids?”

“They ask about Jordan every day but seem to be pretty happy here.”

“Good.”

“What did Abe have to say about his whereabouts when Sabrina was catching a bullet?”

“A lot. And...I don’t think he was shooting at you or Sabrina.”

Clay frowned. “What makes you say that?”

“He took me up to the caves. There’s a tree up there with his initials carved in it—his and Sabrina’s mother’s. Apparently, he goes up there all the time and talks to her.”

“That’s...sad.”

“Yeah. Plus he let me examine all of his weapons. None matched the bullet the crime scene unit found. My other line’s ringing. We’ll catch up later.” Ned hung up.

“Tell me what’s going on. Who had Steven’s wallet?” Seth demanded.

Clay took the next ten minutes to drink his coffee and fix Sabrina a plate for breakfast while he filled his brother in. His father walked into the kitchen, and Clay snapped his mouth shut. He picked up his coffee cup and drank the last drop. Seth buried his nose in the paper.

“Everything all right in here?” his father asked as he helped himself to the coffee.

“Just fine, Dad.” He looked out the window. Sabrina stood on the front porch. Clay grabbed a piece of toast and Sabrina’s plate and headed out the door.

* * *

Sabrina paused on the porch and waited for Clay to walk over to her. He wore a frown, and his jaw looked tight. Had he had an argument with someone?

She had her purse slung over her shoulder and her phone in her back pocket. As she watched Clay approach, she swallowed hard. He was definitely a very good-looking man. He was rough around the edges but had a gentle heart. Old-fashioned but confident enough to let his woman be herself. Just the kind of man she wanted. Needed.

His woman.

What would it be like to be his? Just the thought sent blood rushing into her cheeks.

“You feeling all right? You look a little flushed.”

Sabrina cleared her throat. “I’m fine.”

“You should have waited for me to come get you.” He looked around. “I don’t like you being out in the open like this.”

Sabrina returned his frown. “I can’t hibernate, Clay. I need to get to the hospital to see my grandmother.”

He gestured with the plate. “I brought you some breakfast. You hungry?”

“Starving. I was going to ask if we could go through a drive-through, but this’ll work.” She opened the door and stepped back inside. Clay followed, his eyes on the area behind them.

They settled themselves at the kitchen table, and Sabrina helped herself to the plate of food. “Have you talked to your dad about your uncle and the ranch yet?”

“Nope. Not yet. Nothing to talk about, really. We’ll figure something out.” He swiped his hand across the table, his brow furrowed.

“If I leave, it would make things easier, wouldn’t it?”

He looked up. “Easier? Maybe. But us Starkes have never been known for taking the easy route, so let me worry about it, all right?”

“You know that’s not my personality, don’t you?”

He eyed her. “Yes. I know.” He cleared his throat. “I’m going to take you to see your grandmother, if that’s all right. I really don’t want you driving by yourself. I just don’t think it’s safe.”

She toyed with the fork. “Ned’s giving you an awful lot of leeway when it comes to protecting me. Don’t you have a shift you need to be working with the department?”

He shrugged. “Ned likes you.”

She smiled. “I like Ned, but you’re getting paid to do a job. Protecting me 24/7 isn’t exactly what the county is paying you for.”

“Of course it is. You’re a tax-paying citizen, too.”

“Well, that’s true enough, I suppose, but you know what I mean.”

“I do. And in all seriousness, I’m basically doing the job as a favor to Ned. And I’ve already told him I was going to keep you safe. He agreed.” He carried her empty plate to the sink. “What about your job? Have you talked to your boss?”

“Yes. Thankfully, she’s being understanding about it. I have several days of vacation I can take if I need to. Right now I’m looking for Jordan, and that’s working. Sort of.”

“Good. I’d hate for either of us to lose a job over this.” He picked up the coat he’d shed when they’d walked in. “You ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.” He placed a hand on her back and walked with her to his cruiser. The frown stayed on his face. Tension rolled from him.

“Is something else wrong? You’ve been distracted and tense since you walked over here.”

He opened the door, and she slid into the passenger seat. Clay buckled himself into the driver’s seat before he answered. “I got a call from Ned. They found Trey Wilde, and he’s been killed.”

She gasped. Sorrow hit her, and her throat tightened. She fought the tears clouding her eyes. “Oh, no. His poor parents. Why?”

“We don’t know yet for sure, of course, but it’s obvious someone thinks he knew something. On top of that, the truck that tried to run us off the road is registered to Trey’s father.”

“So whoever killed him stole his truck?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

Sabrina closed her eyes and said a prayer for Jordan. Clay drove to the hospital, and she kept an eye on the rearview mirror.

When they reached the hospital without incident, Sabrina pulled in a relieved breath. She made her way to her grandmother’s room, where she found the doctor just coming out. “How is she?”

“Still sleeping. We’re taking good care of her, but it’s going to be a long road to recovery.”

Sabrina nodded. Already her mind clicked with everything she needed to start doing.

Call her boss and ask for a leave of absence.

Check on the boarders at the B and B.

Call Daisy Ann to see if she could continue to provide the meals and be available should one of the boarders need something.

What was she forgetting?

A hand fell on her shoulder. “Lance can watch over you two while I go check in at the station.”

“Thank you, Clay. For everything.”

“Sure thing.” He smiled.

Lance arrived fifteen minutes later, and Sabrina settled herself in to wait for her grandmother to wake up.