Wild Horses (19 page)

Castaña staggered back. “What? When?”

“A couple weeks ago, the government put out a public contract on the horses. It was a live auction where anyone could bid. Highest bidder could do what they wished with the horses after they were rounded up. The consensus was that they would all go to slaughter. Stallions, mares, and even the littlest foals.” He reached for the gelding’s hoof. “There was a huge deal about it. People took sides and everyone had an opinion. Things got real ugly for a while. Every horseman between here and New York City had something to say about it. Even some big TV people came out here and reported the whole thing.”

“What happened when Martin heard this?” Castaña felt like she might be sick. Her dinner rushed up her throat and she fought to hold it all down. A white hot rage filled her at the thought of any horse going to their end that way. She didn’t think the horses were worth giving up one’s entire life for, but she didn’t want them to be rounded up and killed for European and Japanese people’s Sunday dinner either. Martin would have been violent. The possibility of him killing to stop the carnage suddenly seemed very real.

Tom filed the hoof, shaping the toe. “He bid, of course. But someone outbid him, which upset Martin a lot.”

“When did this happen?”

“About two weeks ago I guess.” Tom looked up. “When did you say Martin went missing?”

“About two weeks ago,” she repeated bleakly. “I wonder why the ranger didn’t tell me about this.”

“Maybe he didn’t know. The BLM and fire rangers aren’t the same branch of the government.” Tom ran his hand over the horse’s smooth hoof. “Looks good. That ought to do him for a while.”

Barely able to focus, Castaña forced herself to look at the workmanship. “Great. Thanks, Tom. I wonder why Patty didn’t tell me about this auction.”

Tom began gathering his tools. “Patty who?”

“Patty McRae. Know her? She came with the S&R team.”

He froze. “Redhead?” He held his hand a little above his own head. “About this tall?”

“Yeah, that’s right. She’s ridden with me every day.”

He snorted. “Unbelievable.”

Castaña’s heart sped up. “Why? Who is she?”

“She’s the person who bought the contract on the mustangs.”

Chapter Fifteen

“That’s not possible.” There had to be some mistake. Castaña gave her head a small shake. Why would Patty lie to her? Why would she pretend to be helping in the search? Was she involved in Martin’s disappearance?

“What’s not possible?” Jake filled the doorway. He turned to the other man and held out his hand. “Jake Brown.”

“Tom Sullivan. Good to meet you.” Although Tom didn’t ask, his expression showed his curiosity about Jake.

“Tom’s an old friend.” Castaña didn’t feel like filling in Tom right now about Jake’s role in her life. She repeated what Tom had told her. “Patty isn’t here to help. I don’t know what she’s doing.”

Jake didn’t say much, just listened with an intent look. “Man, that’s off the charts.”

“She’s got a few questions to answer when I see her.” Castaña untied Gato and led him into his stall, and giving his neck a quick pat, took off his halter. She faced Tom. “What do I owe you?” He named his price and she said, “My checkbook’s in the truck.”

The three of them walked to her pickup where she retrieved her checkbook from the glove box, wrote the check and handed it to Tom. He took it, folded it and placed it in his shirt pocket. “I’d better be getting on down the road. I have early morning appointments.” Giving Castaña a hug, he said, “Come by and give a shout to Mom and Dad. They’d love to see you. And let me know what happens with Martin.”

Her eyes filled with unexpected tears. “I will.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” He nodded at Jake. “Nice meeting you.”

Jake held up a hand. “You, too.”

With one last wave, Tom wheeled his truck around and drove away.

“Nice guy,” Jake commented.

She could’ve sworn she heard a hint of jealously in his tone. Was he envious of Tom? He had no reason to be. Tom was nothing more than an old friend. “Yes, he is.”

They walked up the porch steps and sat at the table where Jake poured them each a glass of lemonade. “So you didn’t know Patty when you lived here?”

“No. The day she showed up with the S&R team was the first time I’ve ever seen her. She’s insisted every day since that she has nothing better to do than look for Martin.” She sipped the cold drink without tasting it.

Jake voiced Castaña’s thoughts. “I wonder if she has something to hide?”

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” A wave of frustration washed over her. No one seemed to be who they said they were — Briar Rose, Nascha, Patty. All of them had secrets that circled around Martin. Why wouldn’t everyone just tell the truth? What were they all hiding? Starting in the morning she was going to get to the bottom of all of it. Or die trying.

Jake broke into her thoughts. “Where do you want the crib?”

She’d forgotten all about it. “I don’t know. In Briar Rose’s room, I guess. Or we could clean out the room I’m in since it’s across from hers. Yeah, that makes more sense. There’s not enough room in Mama’s old room for her big old bed and a crib, too. If Briar Rose wants Arielle close by we can move the crib in there tomorrow.”

“I’ll take the sofa,” Jake said. An undercurrent of desire swirled around them and it would be all too easy to suggest they sleep in the same bed. He hefted the box. “Let’s do it.”

Together, they took apart the bed Castaña had been sleeping in, and stored it in the attic. Jake carried in the boxed crib, took it out and began assembling the pieces while she unwrapped the tiny sheets and toys. They worked in comfortable silence and had a nursery pulled together within a couple of hours.

With a happy sigh, Castaña stood and took in all they had accomplished. The new crib, complete with pink pony sheets stood along the wall. Plush animals lined up across the dresser, along with diapers and various baby lotions. The farm animal mobile swung in a happy dance above the crib. Mama’s rocker sat next to the crib. All the room needed was little Arielle.

“Like it?” Jake’s breath was warm on her ear.

“Very much.” She turned and slipped her arms around his waist intending to hug him in thanks. But when his lips grazed her hair she tipped her head back and his mouth came down and locked over hers. A quick thank you very quickly turned into something very different as his tongue teased her mouth open. Their tongues touched, retreated. A little spark low in her belly raged into a full blown flame in a matter of seconds. If she didn’t halt this now, there wouldn’t be any turning back. With a low cry of regret, she twisted out of his arms. “We have to stop.”

“Yeah.” He took a step back. “That’s probably smart.”

She didn’t answer. Hadn’t he come back here to see where their burgeoning relationship would go? He’d seemed almost relieved to break off their kiss. The man was a mystery. One she couldn’t deal with right now. She blew out a breath. “Not bad for the last minute. Briar Rose ought to love this room.”

“She will.”

Taking one last look at the converted nursery, Castaña turned off the light then walked down the hall. “I’m going to bed. I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

It took all her willpower to not slam the door behind her. Jake was giving off the most confusing signals she’d ever witnessed. One time she’d swear he was completely into her, the next he pulled back like he had no interest whatsoever. Whatever his game was she didn’t want to play. She had too many troubles on her mind to try and figure him out.

Jake had moved his things out of the bedroom and he headed toward the couch. But halfway there he turned into Briar Rose’s bedroom instead. Someone had stripped the bed and he wondered briefly where the sheets were kept, then decided he didn’t care. He sometimes slept with no covers when the evening air was warm. Flopping across the bed, he waited until he heard the shower come on then he dialed Kelso. His partner grunted a hello.

“I need some information on a woman named Patty McRae,” Jake said. “The BLM guys put out a contract for bid on mustang removal from the forest. She won the bid. If Martin had a beef with someone it would be her.”

“Yeah, but she’s not dead,” Kelso pointed out.

“I know.” Jake heaved a sigh. “Nothing fits in this puzzle.”

“You any closer?” Kelso sounded tired and for once, didn’t sound like he had a mouth full of something fattening. Only eight o’clock at night and he sounded like he’d been sleeping.

“You okay?” Jake countered. Overweight and overworked, Kelso was a doctor’s worst nightmare. More than once he’d complained of chest pains.

“Fine, fine.” Kelso tried to interject a note of joviality into his voice, but Jake knew him too well. Something was bothering him and it was probably work related.

“Spill it, what’s wrong?”

“Nothin’, kid. Let it go.” Jake heard paper rustling. “Tell me this broad’s name again.”

Still worried, Jake knew it wouldn’t do any good to press his partner. When he didn’t want to talk nothing could force him. Pulling out his fingernails with pliers wouldn’t even do the trick. “Her name is Patty, probably Patricia, McRae. Around thirty I’d guess. Maybe a bit older. Strawberry blonde hair, stands about five-five.”

“I’ll get on it in the morning. Where will you be?”

“Payson, then after that I’m not sure. Leave me a message on my cell. I don’t have it on most of the time,” Jake said.

“How’s the girl? You steering clear of any entanglements?” Kelso sounded suspicious, but he always sounded suspicious. Twenty-five years of police work could do that to a guy. Or maybe it was Jake’s own conscience raising its ugly head to bite him in the butt.

“She’s fine. She has no idea I’m a cop.” Jake thought of her warm, soft lips against his and he hoped to hell Kelso wasn’t a good enough detective to hear the telltale guilt in his voice. But of course he was.

“You having any trouble staying undercover?”

“No,” Jake said shortly. “Drop it.”

“Sounds like we’ve both had a long day,” Kelso muttered. “So how about we call it a night?”

“Yeah, good idea.” In a moment of sentimentality Jake added, “Take care of yourself, old man. Get some rest.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Kelso hung up.

With a smile, Jake laid his cell phone on the nightstand. Kelso’s bite was about as bad as his bark, but he was a good cop and a good man. Jake had been lucky to have him as a partner. When most of law enforcement would have liked to see Jake punished over the Kingston fiasco, Kelso had stood by him. At one point, Jake asked Kelso if he wanted a different partner assigned to him, and the older agent had looked at him like he was crazy. “Not on your life,” he’d said. And that had been the end of it. Jake couldn’t let him down again.

• • •

Castaña sat at the table drinking coffee when Jake walked in the kitchen. Instead of staring at her, admiring how great she looked with damp hair hanging past her slim hips, he headed for the coffee pot. “How long have you been up?”

“A couple of hours. I’m anxious to go talk to Patty. But I want to go with you to pick up Briar Rose first and help get her settled. Do you know when she’ll be released?”

“She said early.” He glanced at the clock. “We should be able to get her anytime. I’ll call the hospital and check.” He took the phone from the hook on the kitchen wall and found a phone book under the counter. After finding the listing, he dialed. Someone on the other end answered and he said, “I’d like room 205, please.”

“I’m sorry, sir. That room is vacant. It says here the patient was released a little over an hour ago.”

After a moment he said, “What? Are you sure?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Who picked her up?” Fear began to build in him. What if the Family of the Sun had tracked down Briar Rose and spirited her out of the hospital? Was she back in their clutches? If she had left voluntarily, where had she gone? As far as he knew, she had no money.

“I’m sorry, sir, I’m not at liberty to give out that information.”

“Her sister-in-law is standing right here. Talk to her.” Jake wanted to tell the girl he was FBI, but he knew it wouldn’t do him any good. He’d have to show his credentials. His tone must have alerted Castaña that something was wrong and she watched him with wide eyes.

“Please, sir, I cannot give out patient details over the phone.”

“Okay. I understand.” He hung up with a little more force than necessary. He turned to Castaña. “You aren’t going to believe this.”

“What? Is something wrong with Briar Rose?” Castaña’s face leached white. “Or the baby?”

“No. At least I don’t think so. She checked herself out of the hospital over an hour ago. Because I’m not a family member they won’t tell me any more than that.”

“Maybe she’s on the way home,” Castaña suggested. “Maybe she hired a cab.”

“Did she have any money? And why would she leave? I told her I was coming to pick her up this morning.” Jake began to pace. “I think we need to run into Payson and see if we see her. Maybe she’s in the lobby.”

“Let’s go.” Castaña was already moving toward the door.

• • •

On the way toward the hospital, Jake wrestled with his choices. He either had to let the cat out of the bag and let Castaña know he’d been acting undercover or he had to keep quiet and not get the information he needed. Either way stunk. Still debating, he pulled into the hospital parking lot. Maybe he could pull this off. He turned to Castaña. “You go check her room. See if one of the nurses will tell you something. I’ll try the lobby and the front desk.”

“Okay.” She jumped out and headed through the front doors.

He was right behind her and when she turned to go up the elevator, he headed for the information desk. An older woman wearing a pink smock sat in front of a computer. Her nametag read Eileen. “Excuse me.”

She glanced up at him. He showed her his badge. “Jake Breton. FBI. I need some information about a patient. Her name is Rose Davidson and she was in the maternity wing last night. I called about her a few minutes ago and she had been released.”

Eileen’s eyes narrowed. “Yes?”

He held his impatience. “I need to know who picked her up.”