The Reluctant Rancher~Badlands (Contemporary Western Romantic Suspense) Read online

  ~*~

  Sara Beth was having a good day at the store. Perhaps people had heard about the troubles at her home and wanted to help out. She sold that beautiful old lead crystal decanter she had gotten from the Brady estate along with the four little cordial glasses that went with it. Also a quilt she had taken on consignment from a lady who lived so far out in the country she just came to town once every couple of months. She would be happy to let her know that the quilt had found a good home and pay her for her efforts. But her customers paid with a credit card and a check. No cash in hand. It was probably just as well. She didn’t have anything in the cash box to make change anyway.

  It was getting close to lunchtime. Sara Beth had brought along bottles for Cami Lynn, but hadn’t felt comfortable asking her hostess for food for herself. She usually just made a sandwich or brought some soup to heat in the ancient microwave in the storeroom…but not today.

  The sheriff confiscated her emergency money, but she looked in her billfold anyway. Three dollars and twelve cents. Maybe that will buy something at Tiny’s Diner. It won’t hurt to just look at the menu.

  She flipped the open sign over to the closed side on the front door and carried the baby to the restaurant in the next block. A clangy cowbell clanked against the glass door when she entered. Sara Beth experienced a moment of shyness when a few heads turned her way. The tantalizing aroma of food caused her stomach to growl.

  “Hi, honey. Just one?” Crystal, the heavy-set waitress greeted her. When Sara Beth nodded, she asked, “Want to sit at the counter or a table?”

  “The counter is okay.” Sara Beth opted to be out of the main lanes of traffic. She sat at one end and eased Cami Lynn’s car seat onto the counter.

  “Here, let me help you with that.” A deep masculine voice close to her ear startled her. It was one of the men who worked on Doctor Cami’s ranch. She had seen him the day before.

  He settled the car seat securely on the counter and slid onto the stool beside her. “She’s a mighty cute little thing,” he said.

  “Um—Thanks.” Sara Beth glanced surreptitiously at the young man beside her.

  “I’m Frank Wilson. I work at the Moon Shadows ranch.”

  “I’m Sara Beth Jessup and her name is Cami Lynn.”

  “After the doctor?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Un huh. She delivered her…at my house.” Somehow, those words brought a stab of pain and Sara Beth’s lips quivered. “Sorry…” she mumbled reaching for a paper napkin to staunch the tears.

  “I heard about your troubles,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just name it.”

  She sniffled into the napkin and wiped at her eyes. “That’s mighty kind of you, Frank, but I don’t have any idea what would help.”

  He reached to hand her a menu and she thanked him. Opening the menu she scanned the prices and found that she could afford a piece of pie and a glass of water. That will have to do.

  When Crystal came to take their orders, her eyes lit up when she saw the cowboy sitting beside Sara Beth and she greeted him cheerily. “Hello, Frank. How are things out at the ranch?”

  “Great,” he said. “We have a bunch of new calves, so that’s been keeping me and T-Bone pretty busy.”

  “How did you get to town in the middle of the day?”

  “I came to pick up a part for the tractor at the post office. Thought I’d stop and have some of Tiny’s meatloaf.” He turned to Sara Beth. “You should try it. It’s the Monday special.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t.”

  “Sure you can. It’s outstanding.” He turned back to Crystal and ordered two of the specials. “Put them both on my check.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t accept,” Sara Beth began, but he would have none of it.

  “I would consider it a favor if you would have lunch with me. When is Nick going to be back in town? I haven’t seen him around in a while.”

  She swallowed heavily, not sure what to say.

  Crystal returned and set small dishes of tossed salad in front of them with a choice of dressings in a rotating rack.

  “What do you like, Sara Beth?” Frank asked.

  “Ranch,” she said and he pulled the bottle off the carousel and handed it to her. “Thanks.” She didn’t know why this man was being so nice to her, but she was thankful. The first forkful of salad tasted so good on her tongue. As she chewed the crisp vegetables, she also wondered where Nick was and why she hadn’t heard from him.

  Frank chatted a little during the meal and as promised, the meatloaf was delicious. After they had finished, he paid and took the car seat off the counter. “Let me carry her for you.”

  Sara Beth started to protest and he interrupted.

  “Boy, you sure don’t like for people to do things for you. It’s no big deal. I’m walking that way anyway.” His wide grin was disarming and Sara Beth felt a little flutter of anxiety in her chest.

  She nodded. “That would be nice, Frank.”

  He walked beside her back to the shop and he carried Cami Lynn inside. “Thanks for having lunch with me, Sara Beth. Tell Nick I said hey when you talk to him.” He turned and left.

  Sara Beth noticed that he walked back toward the restaurant. She smiled at his retreating form. Sure you were walking this way, Mr. Frank Wilson.

  ~*~

  Jenna Lewis answered her cell. “Yes?”

  E.J.’s rich male voice chuckled in her ear. “Yes? I haven’t even asked you yet.”

  An involuntary smile spread across her face. “Well, yes. If you want to ask me something, I’m probably agreeable.”

  “That’s good to know. I wanted to have dinner with you tonight, if you’re free.”

  “Let me check my imaginary social calendar…Oh, it looks like I can squeeze you in.”

  “My lucky day,” he said. “I’ll pick you up a little before seven.”

  “Works for me.” She hung up still grinning. How nice to have someone to spend a Monday evening with. She wondered if he was planning on having sex with her again. At least this time, she hoped she would be awake for it.

  ~*~

  Cami picked Sara Beth up at the shop at closing time. They settled the baby in the back seat and she pulled away, heading for the Jessup place. She hadn’t had a chance to call Breck to tell him of her plan to drive out and help Sara Beth gather some of her personal belongings. She imagined that he wouldn’t be happy about it, but it had to be done and she had Sara Beth with her now. So, we might as well take care of it. I’ll have to pay the piper later. “How was your day,” she asked.

  “It was good. I had a lotta sales. More than usual. I sold a big old heavy mahogany sideboard that’s been gathering dust for over a year. I kept polishing it and polishing it and finally this lady comes in today and says she just gotta have it. So she paid me with her credit card and I put a big sold sign on it. She said she would have her husband pick it up in a couple of days.”

  “That’s great,” Cami said. “Your shop is a treasure trove for antiques and quilts.”

  Sara Beth smiled. “I just buy the things that appeal to me and hope that other people like them.”

  “Maybe you should take some decorating classes and add that to your services,” Cami said. “There are a few people around here with more money than taste and you could charge for your services.”

  “I never thought of that,” Sara Beth said.

  “I think you could probably take some online classes if you’re really interested.”

  “Oh, I’m interested, Doctor Cami.” She looked down at her hands and then shrugged. “I don’t think we have enough money for me to take any classes.”

  Cami experienced a wave of sympathy for the young mother whose difficulties were more than she should have to face alone. Where is Nick Jessup? Why hasn’t he checked in with his wife?

  Cami turned off the main highway, onto the caliches road toward the small farm owned by Nick and Sara Beth. The land looked fertile and the house was always neat and ca
red for…but today, when she pulled up in front of the dwelling, she could see the bullet holes and broken glass. She couldn’t seem to catch a breath.

  “Oh, my!” Sara Beth exclaimed, covering her mouth with both hands. “It doesn’t look like my sweet little place anymore.”

  Cami silently agreed. It looked more like a battleground. “You were lucky to have survived with only a nick from the flying glass.”

  Sara Beth nodded touching the bandage on her neck. “I think I’m going to be sick at my stomach.” She opened the car door and heaved onto the ground.

  Cami took the key out of the ignition and put it in her pocket. “You go ahead and get your car. I’ll go inside and get some clothes for you. Just stay with the baby.” She got out and approached the front door that was standing ajar. She turned and waved to Sara Beth, hoping she looked confident as she stepped inside. The house was dark and eerie, although it was still light outside. Glass and debris crunched under her feet as she made her way to the back of the house. She entered one of the two bedrooms. The one in which she had delivered Sara Beth’s baby a couple of months earlier. The walls were marred with bullet holes and the mirror had been shattered. Cami hurriedly opened the drawers and gathered underwear and a couple of gowns. She took a pillowcase and shoved the clothing inside along with simple cosmetics and grooming items. Cami opened the closet and took an armload of things off the female side, tossing them on the bed. I need a bag for all this.

  Her gaze fell on a small khaki-colored duffle in the back of the closet. It was shoved to the back on the side, where Nick’s clothing hung.

  This will do nicely. Cami dragged it out and plopped it on top of the bed. She unzipped the top and prepared to dump the contents out. A gasp of surprise died in her throat.

  The bag was filled with cash and plastic bags of a white substance she guessed might be cocaine. Oh, no! Oh, no! This can’t be.

  Her hands shook as she zipped it closed. This must be what they were after.

  She paused for a moment, turned toward the door and then turned back to confront the bag. I can’t leave it here. I have to take it to the sheriff.

  Cami grabbed the armload of clothing and the pillow case and looped the duffle over her arm. She hurried back to the Lincoln, imagining the gaze of unseen observers hiding in the tree line. Feeling the cross hairs on her neck.

  She glanced back to see Sara Beth hurrying toward her, a stricken look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  Sara Beth’s lips trembled and she covered them with her hand. “Doctor Cami, whoever shot up my house, took a shotgun to my car’s engine. They blasted a big old hole right smack-dab in the center.” Tears gushed from her eyes and she began to shake all over. “Now what am I going to do?”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Cami said. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out something.” She glanced around, wondering if they were truly alone.

  Sara Beth nodded tearfully and climbed back in the car.

  Cami tossed the clothes on the back seat and climbed inside. “I hope I got the right things.”

  “I thank you, Doctor Cami. I don’t think I could have gone in there by myself. I mean, it was just such a happy little house…before…before all this.”

  Cami started the car and pulled away. “I can imagine. No use going inside and breaking your heart all over again.” The eerie feeling faded in direct proportion to the increase in distance from the Jessup farm.

  ~*~

  When Sara Beth had retired to her room with the baby, and Cami was alone with Breck, she told him the entire story about her discovery in the Jessup’s closet and the shotgun blast to her car.

  First, his face turned a dark shade of red and a muscle twitched in his jaw. He swallowed several times and when he spoke, his voice was gravely. “You mean you went out there…to a fresh crime scene…” He stopped abruptly, his face registering anger and dismay.

  “It was broad daylight, and I needed to pick up some things for Sara Beth. The poor little thing has nothing to wear and she has a business to run.” She watched as a vein stood out on his forehead. I sincerely hope I don’t cause him to have a stroke. “Take it easy, Breck. We made it home and Sara Beth has no idea what I found.”

  “Did it ever occur to you that this might be her money and cocaine?” He waved his hands in a futile gesture. “She might just be conning you with this innocent act.”

  Cami pressed her lips together in a firm line. She glowered at her husband silently.

  He drew a breath and expelled it. “Okay, I get your point. Sara Beth is probably one of the few people on this earth who I think is completely innocent. Probably too innocent for her own good.”

  “Amen to that. She’s such a sweet young woman.” Cami shrugged. “I just want to help her.”

  “I understand that, Cami, but dammit…you put yourself in danger and now you brought home a bag of cash and drugs? I just can’t believe it.” He raked his fingers through his thick, dark hair.

  “No, I didn’t,” she insisted. “I left it in the car.”

  He made a snorting noise. “Oh, that’s a lot better! I’ll tell you what.” He grabbed his keys and gave her a shake of his head as he went past. “I’m going to deliver this to the sheriff tonight, so don’t get any more bright ideas about getting involved.” He had reached the front door by this time. Grabbing his Stetson, he jammed it on his head. “You are officially out of it.” He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.

  “Well, wait a minute,” she began, following on his heels.

  He rounded on her, eyes blazing. “No, you wait a minute. The sheriff will handle it. You are out of it, as of now.”

  She watched him stomp down the stairs and remove the bag from her car. He unzipped the zipper and immediately re-zipped it after checking the contents. He got in his truck and drove away, leaving her to stare after him.

  Cami inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. I hope I’m out of it.

  ~*~

  The sheriff stopped by to see Sara Beth the next day, but this time, he came to her store instead of the Ryan’s house.

  She tried to form a smile when he gazed at her, his eyes like talons ripping into her heart. He’s gonna tell me something I don’t want to hear. Squaring her shoulders, she swallowed hard. She braced herself as though for a physical blow, planting her palms on the glass countertop. Glancing at the baby, she gathered her courage around her like a cloak. Whatever it is, I can take it, as long as I can still take care of my baby girl. As long as I have her, we’ll get along fine.

  She turned her gaze on the man facing her across the counter. His grim demeanor sent a chill scurrying across her skin. It occurred to her that he had chosen to confront her when she was alone and not in the company of the Ryans. She wished she had them nearby to offer support, but then again, they weren’t any kin to her and couldn’t be expected to keep propping her up.

  She ran her tongue over her dry lips and attempted another smile. “What can I do for you today, Sheriff?”

  “Mrs. Jessup, I have some questions about the money you say you received from your husband, Nick.” He continued to stare at her, piercing her with the intensity of his gaze.

  “Um, okay,” she answered, uncertainly. “What do you want to know?”

  “How often did your husband bring home cash?”

  “Just twice.” She shrugged. “He hasn’t worked for that company very long.”

  “What company is that?” Suspicion iced his words. Again, the eyes seemed to pin her to the wall.

  Her palms grew moist against the scarred glass case. “I—I don’t know the name of it. Nick just said he’d gotten a job working as a relief driver for some long-distance hauling outfit. He didn’t tell me anything else.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “He didn’t ever tell you who he was working for?”

  She shook her head. “Why are you asking me about the trucking company?”

  The sheriff looked down, his fists clenching and unclenching.
“The cash your husband gave you was heavily contaminated with cocaine.” The dark gaze ripped into her again. “What do you know about that?”

  She stared at him blankly, feeling as though someone had slapped her. “I have no idea how it got there.”

  “Mrs. Jessup, do you and Nick use cocaine or other recreational drugs?”

  “I don’t use drugs at all.” She wrung her hands. “I hardly ever take an aspirin.”

  “Let me be perfectly clear, Mrs. Jessup.” His gaze turned to the baby. “The courts don’t look kindly on parents who use drugs. They’re apt to remove a child from a druggie mother, for the child’s well-being, of course.”

  Sara Beth grabbed her daughter from the carrier. “No! I don’t use any drugs…Ever. I never have.” She clutched Cami Lynn to her chest, her heart thundering against her ribs.

  “How about Nick? He used to be a real hell-raiser. Maybe he still likes to get high.”

  “No!” she whimpered. “We don’t use drugs.”

  The sheriff said he would be in touch and left her store.

  Sara Beth blinked. She was still shaking.

  Nick had never done anything like that since she had known him. But how well did she know him? And why wasn’t he here to answer these questions for himself?

  ~*~

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  On Wednesday, after the last patient had left her clinic, Cami met Breck at his office and he helped her up into his truck. She knew he wasn’t in favor of this visit, so she especially appreciated his willingness to transport her. This was what being married meant. She had been alone so much of her life. The companionship she was enjoying now was of great value. She never took it for granted.

  She buckled her seat belt and glanced across the width of the truck. “Thanks for taking me, Breck.”

  “Well, you were hell-bent on going, no matter what I had to say about it.” He shook his head. “But I love you and I’m going along to protect you.”

  She smiled. “Protect me? Did you think we were going to facilitate a prison break?”

  “Nope. But I refuse to allow that complete asshole to manipulate you. He murdered Silky. He tried to murder you and I still don’t understand why. He’s evil and he may be crazy, but you are not to get involved in whatever scheme he has in mind. Just say no.”