Chapter Eighteen
All the way out to the ranch, C.J. could see that Jesse Rose was struggling with the news of her uncle’s death. It was clear that they were very close even though they hardly saw each other.
She also seemed nervous, not that C.J. could blame her. She was about to meet a family she’d never known, come back to a home she’d only lived in for six months as a baby, face a father who had missed her for twenty-five years.
“Did Hank tell you how you happened to be adopted by your mother?” C.J. finally had to ask.
“No, but he said he would explain everything.” Tears welled in her eyes again. “I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
“There’s something you should know,” C.J. said. “Hank didn’t die of cancer. He was killed in a hit-and-run accident,” she said. “One of the kidnappers is still at large and we think he might have...” She reached for Jesse Rose’s hand and squeezed it. “I didn’t know about the cancer. He kept a lot from me.”
“I’m so sorry he kept his family from you,” Jesse Rose asked. “He adored you. He told us such wonderful stories about you. You were like a daughter to him.”
Jesse Rose’s words filled C.J.’s heart to near bursting. “How often did he visit you?”
“Just once or twice a year. He said he was too busy to come more than that. I always asked to come visit him but he made excuses. Mother said it was because of the way he lived, like a pauper.”
“I’m afraid there might be more to the story,” Boone said.
Jesse Rose chuckled. “That Hank was rich.” She nodded at her brother’s surprise. “His family was very wealthy, but he never wanted anything to do with the money. He wanted to find his own way in life without them telling him what to do. I guess my grandparents almost disowned him when he became a private investigator and moved to Butte, Montana.”
“That explains a lot,” Boone said and glanced in the rearview mirror back at C.J.
She smiled at him, also glad there was at least one thing she didn’t have to worry about. The stocks and bonds Hank had left her hadn’t been appropriated by ill-gotten means.
“This is beautiful,” Jesse Rose said as she looked out at the country.
It was nothing like Butte, C.J. thought. Butte sat in a bowl surrounded by mountains. This part of Montana was rolling prairie. The only mountains she could see were the Little Rockies on the horizon. She thought about what Boone had said about the country growing on her. Maybe. Look how Boone McGraw had grown on her.
Boone drove up the lane to the ranch house, white wooden fences on each side of the narrow road. Yesterday C.J. had been driving and too anxious to pay much attention. Now she took it all in. The ranch reminded her of every horse movie she’d ever seen as a girl. Miles of pasture fenced in by white-painted wooden fence that made the place look as if it should be in Kentucky—not the backwoods of Montana.
In the front seat, Jesse Rose let out a pleased sound at the sight of a half dozen horses running beside the SUV on the other side of the fence, their tails waving in the wind.
“I love horses. It’s one reason I’ve always wanted to come to Montana. But Uncle Hank...” Tears filled her eyes again. She wiped them. “I always knew he was hiding something from us, but I just assumed it was his lifestyle.”
Boone pulled up in front of the large ranch house and cut the engine. “Hope you’re ready to meet the family, because they are more than ready to meet you.”
The family had come spilling out the door, clearly unable to hold back. C.J. stood back to watch as Travers came down the steps. He took one look at Jesse Rose and pulled her into a hug. It was a beautiful sight, all of the McGraws and future McGraws welcoming Jesse Rose.
And Jesse Rose seemed smitten with all of them as they quickly ushered her inside.
“Hey,” Boone said, suddenly next to her. “You all right?”
She wiped at her eyes and nodded, unable to speak.
“I’m sorry about Hank,” he said as got Jesse Rose’s suitcase from the back and they stepped out of the falling snow and onto the porch.
“Sounds like the killer did him a favor since everyone said he died instantly. I just wish...”
“I know.” He put his arm around her and she leaned into his strong, hard body. He smelled good, felt good. She thought she could have stayed right there forever.
But from inside the house, his father called to him. “Champagne!”
* * *
JUST OUTSIDE OF WHITEHORSE, Cecil’s cell phone rang, making him jump. He saw that it was Tilly. Now what?
“Hey,” he said, trying to sound upbeat.
“You can’t believe what is happening here,” Tilly whispered.
His stomach roiled. Tilly sounded like she might bust if she didn’t tell someone.
“Jesse Rose. She’s been found. She came in on the train today and Boone and the female private investigator just brought her out to the ranch. Everyone is so excited.”
Not everyone. “Must have been a shock to Jesse Rose.”
“Didn’t sound like it. Apparently she knew—that’s why she came out on the train to meet her family. I have no idea how long she’s known. Travers is beside himself.” He heard her admiration for her boss in her voice and growled under his breath. “Where are you?”
“I’m headed back home,” he said as he saw the outskirts of Whitehorse. But he needed time to think.
In fact, he’d asked her not to mention that they were back together. He knew what Travers McGraw thought of him. A lot of people thought he was a loser.
“There is going to be a huge celebration out here tonight,” Tilly was saying. “The twins have been found. Bless the Lord.”
Yes, he thought, his leg aching.
“When Boone called, did he say who the other kidnapper was?” He held his breath.
“I didn’t get to hear all of the conversation,” Tilly said, sounding so excited she was breathing hard. “But some letters came today from that private investigator I told you about. And a package from the second Mrs. McGraw.”
He heard the distaste in his ex-wife’s tone. “A package from Patty? You sure it’s not a bomb?”
“Very funny. No, it feels like a book. It’s addressed to Mr. McGraw.”
A book? He brushed that away. It was the letters that he was worried about. “Who are the letters to?”
“There’s one for Jesse Rose, one for that young female private eye, C.J. West, that Boone brought back with him and one for Mr. McGraw.”
“Travers?” This was it. His worst fear was coming true. He looked at Whitehorse ahead. He could just keep driving to North Dakota and beyond, but they would eventually find him. Or maybe there was a chance... “So you haven’t given anyone the letters yet?” he asked, praying she hadn’t.
“No, everyone is too excited to see Jesse Rose,” Tilly said.
“Don’t give them the letters! Tilly, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, but why wouldn’t I—”
“You can’t give them the letters.” He racked his brain as to what to do. “Burn them.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Then hold on to them until I get there. Can you do that?” His mind was whirling. If the McGraws knew the part he’d played in the kidnapping, then he would have heard by now. Tilly would have heard. So the little female PI hadn’t found out anything.
Instead, Hank had written letters, letters that would incriminate them both. He swore under his breath. “Tilly, just do as I ask, please.”
“I don’t understand why you would want me to—”
“Tilly, if you love me, if you’ve ever loved me, I’m begging you, hide the letters. I’m on my way out there. I will explain everything when I get there.”
* * *
“SOMETHING WRONG?” BOONE ASKED, making Tilly jump. She had her back to him as she was talking on the phone. She hadn’t heard over the commotion in the other room.
He was still in shock. In his wildest dreams, he’d hoped Jesse Rose would get off that train. But he’d never imagined that she would already know about him and the rest of the McGraws—let alone know about C.J.
Uncle Hank? He’d seen C.J.’s expression. She’d been poleaxed by the news. What they didn’t know was how Hank’s sister had come to have Jesse Rose. Had Hank been involved in the kidnapping?
From everything he’d learned about the man after talking to people in Butte—including C.J.—he found it hard to believe. But the man had known that Jesse Rose had been kidnapped and he hadn’t come forward. Until now, Boone thought. Hank had finally come forward after twenty-five years. Because he knew he was dying?
Travers had insisted they have champagne so he’d come into the kitchen hoping to find their new cook, but had found Tilly instead. When he’d heard the shrill rise of her voice on the phone, he’d been worried something might have happened.
But now she quickly stuffed whatever she’d been holding into her large purse along with her phone before she turned. She put on a big smile, making him all the more concerned that she was hiding something.
“If there is anything I can do...” he said seeing that she appeared to be trembling.
“Oh, you are so sweet. You’re whole family. I... I feel so fortunate to work here. Your father...he’s been so nice to me all these years, and letting me come back to work the way he did...” She sounded close to tears.
“Tilly,” he said, stepping to her to take her shoulders in his hands. “You are family to us. That’s why you can tell me if something is wrong.”
She nodded, tears in her eyes. “It was Cecil on the phone...” She looked at the floor and, taking a deep breath, let it out before she continued. “He doesn’t want anyone to know that we’re thinking about getting back together.”
Boone smiled. “Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?”
“Yes, of course. Cecil is just worried that people will talk or worse, you know.”
He did know. He remembered years ago when Tilly and Cecil had gotten a divorce. Cecil had never been one to work and Tilly had put up with it for years and had finally had enough. Everyone had thought she should have kicked him out a lot sooner. Those same people would probably think she was a fool for taking him back.
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you,” he said. “I just wanted to check and see what room we might put Jesse Rose in.”
“Oh, let me show her.” Tilly started to head toward the living room, but quickly turned back to grab her purse. “I’ll just put this away first.”
* * *
“I’M SURE YOU all have a lot of questions,” Jesse Rose said after glasses of champagne were raised to celebrate her return. “I have a lot myself. But I am so happy to learn about all of you. I always wanted siblings. I can’t believe this.” She smiled as she looked around the room, her gaze lighting on C.J. for a long moment. “I especially always wanted a sister.”
C.J. smiled, happy for Jesse Rose, but feeling like she didn’t belong here. Once it came out about Hank... Boone took her barely touched champagne glass and set it aside. His fingers brushed hers as he did, making her start. Their gazes locked for a moment.
“You okay?” he whispered.
She smiled and nodded, but she felt anything but okay and Boone seemed to sense it. He took her hand and led her down a hallway to a sunroom off the south side of the house. “You should be back there with your family,” she protested when he let the door close behind them.
“I can see that you’re not okay,” he said, stepping to her to lift her chin with his warm fingers. “Tell me what’s bothering you?”
“I shouldn’t be here. This is family—”
“You’re with me.”
Her pulse leaped at the look in his eyes.
“I want you here. I... I want you.”
Before she could move, he pulled her to him. The kiss on the train platform had stirred emotions and desires in her. But it was nothing like this kiss. C.J. couldn’t remember ever feeling such swift, powerful emotions course through her. Desire was like a fire inside her that had been banked for too long. Boone deepened the kiss, sending her reeling with needs that she’d kept bottled up. She leaned into him, wanting...
There was a sound outside the door.
He pulled back, his gaze on hers, the promise in those blue eyes fanning the flames.
“Boone!” His brother Cull stuck his head in.
“Oh, there you are.” Cull looked embarrassed. “Sorry. Dad needs you.”
“Go,” C.J. said as she tried to catch her breath. “I’m just going to step outside for a moment. It’s hot in here.”
Cull was grinning at his brother as they both left.
C.J. grabbed her coat and stepped outside, practically fanning herself with the freezing-cold evening air. Twilight had fallen over the ranch, gilding it and the fresh snow in a pale silver. Cooling down, she pulled on her coat as she looked to the Little Rockies. She thought about what Boone had said about this part of Montana growing on her. It had. Just as Boone McGraw had.
But it was his words just moments ago that still had the fires burning in her. I want you here. I want you. She’d heard how hard those words were for him to say.
Her heart was still pounding at the memory of the kiss, to say nothing of the promise she’d seen in his blue eyes, when she heard a noise behind her.