CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
LAUREN PULLED HER LONG, straight hair out of the ponytail she’d tied up when working earlier at her pop’s office. A curtain of sunshine danced over her shoulders.
She’d been waiting just off the county road leading to Indigo Lake for what seemed like hours. She didn’t know this land very well. She could see the two houses that faced the lake. One was a low mission design with thick walls, the other a two-story. Behind the Davis home were barns and what looked like a small cottage with a sleeping garden on one side.
The two farms were separated by the water, but they didn’t look like they belonged together. The lake had always been beautiful in a dark, brooding way. Neither house seemed to welcome visitors.
No one had lived at the Hamilton Acres farm for years. The land was too rolling and rocky to farm. One side bordered Ransom Canyon and another side bumped its rocky cliffs against the Collins land.
Blade Hamilton had come out to have a look at the place he’d inherited and Pop put him to work. Her father said this latest Hamilton had no plans to stay and from the looks of the place, he didn’t live there now. She’d expected to see a house-and-land-for-sale sign out, wired to the fence.
She relaxed back in her seat. It felt good just to be silent for a while. Working in the office with Tim was tense. When nothing was happening, he made up what-if scenarios. When Lucas called on her cell, Tim had been frustrated that she wouldn’t tell him who called.
Then he’d been more frustrated when she’d said she had to run an errand. He’d even offered to go, but she’d rushed out, saying she’d be back soon.
In truth, she hadn’t known how long it would take Lucas to get here. He’d just told her where to meet him. Strange place he’d picked, but Lucas seemed full of secrets lately. Wanting to be in jail. Telling her to keep a key safe because it was his future. Hiding out in Tim’s house.
Maybe he was right. He wasn’t the man she thought he was. She’d always put him on a pedestal, thinking he was more than a normal guy. He’d saved her life when she was fifteen. He’d set his goals and gone full-out to reach them. And now, he was a powerful lawyer fighting for justice.
Only, when she looked into his deep brown eyes, Lauren didn’t see happiness or peace. She had a feeling Lucas still hadn’t gotten what he wanted out of life and until he did, he wouldn’t have time for her.
A tap sounded on the passenger window and she jumped. All she saw at first was his hat, and then, he turned and smiled at her. His worried eyes didn’t match the slight smile on his lips.
She unlocked the door and he slid in quickly as if someone was chasing him. Her Lucas was in Western work clothes the color of the earth. She heard the tiny clink of his spurs, and his legs were wrapped in chaps.
He’d been riding. The smell of leather and horses and the wind seemed to surround him.
“Thanks for meeting me,” he said as he put his hat on the dash. “I didn’t know if you would come after the way we parted last night. I’ll say I’m sorry as soon as I figure out what I did wrong.”
Lauren didn’t think a few words could fix what stood between them, but now wasn’t the time to argue. “I assume that you want the key back. Since I’d promised not to tell anyone about it, I didn’t have much choice but to come.” She pulled the chain off and offered it to him. “Want to tell me what’s going on? You owe me that.”
He didn’t take the chain or the key, and he didn’t leave. He just leaned back as if he needed to draw one deep breath before he could speak. “I don’t want the key back, Lauren, and I don’t want you mixed up in what is about to happen.”
She almost laughed. “You don’t want me at all.” For a moment in the silence of the car she was back in high school. The skinny girl with glasses. The only child of an overprotective father who just happened to be the sheriff. The girl no one asked out or invited to any party.
“That’s not true,” he said. “I want you so badly there’s a permanent ache inside of me. You’ve got to believe that, Lauren. I just want it to be the right time for us. With you, I’d like it to be perfect.”
It occurred to Lauren that he might not see the real her. Maybe they’d both been seeing each other through a tinted lens formed years ago.
“Lucas, if you want there to be anything between us, then start by telling me what’s going on.” She gripped the steering wheel. “Tell me the truth or walk away. There may never be the perfect time, but this could be the last time. Let me into your world or leave now.”
He looped the chain with the key over her head. “Keep this. It’s the future. We’ll talk about it later. I’ve got to help your father with the mess at the Collins place first.”
Lucas reached for her hand.
She pulled away. “The whole truth,” she whispered.
Lauren thought he’d leave, but this time he didn’t. His jaw was clenched so tightly she feared he’d break his teeth. They both knew they were one moment away from goodbye.
“Fine. I’ll tell you everything I know but you have to swear you won’t tell anyone. Not your pop or Tim O’Grady.”
“I swear.”
Lucas took a deep breath and seemed to relax. His voice came slow, matter-of-fact. Like he was testifying. “Charley Collins and I are riding onto the Bar W tonight. Your father told us not to even think about going in. He wants to wait for the warrant. In fact, he’ll lock me up for real if he catches us, and Reid Collins will file trespassing charges on both me and his brother. Only, Charley is as set on this plan as I am. We’re riding in tonight.”
Lauren’s logical mind didn’t bother with the whys or wasting time telling him how dangerous it might be. She just waited, wanting to hear it all.
“Dice Fuller is riding with us. He told Charley a few hours ago that he knew of a place way back on the ranch where there is a boulder the size of a car. When the moon rises, the rock casts a shadow that looks just like a conquistador’s helmet. That’s the starting point on an old map that’ll lead us to a box canyon that might have the answers to all the trouble happening at the ranch.
“Dice didn’t know it, but he’d just given us the one clue we needed, the way that might lead us to answers. Your dad is getting a search warrant and plans to ask questions tomorrow, but in daylight, the helmet’s shadow can’t be seen. We have to go tonight. We’ll get in and out fast, then in the morning the sheriff can go in all legal and he’ll know exactly where to look for evidence. We believe they’re doing something against the law. Smuggling maybe, or drugs. Maybe men have even been killed because they found out what it was.”
She turned to him. “The ranch has posted no-trespassing signs at all their gates. You’ll be the ones breaking the law. You could be shot for being on another’s land.”
“We know. That’s why you can’t tell your dad. He’d never go along with this plan, but Charley and I have to figure out the truth. We find the spot tonight where they’re hiding something, get the hell off the land before anyone notices us, and drive in tomorrow with the sheriff. It’s a simple plan. None of Reid’s hired thugs will even know we’re there.”
She took his hand as if needing to hold on to him. “Rumor in town is that Reid is being forced out. Some say he’s losing the ranch because of gambling debts. Maybe everyone is trying to make something illegal out of just his poor judgment. The fires might have been set to hurry the sale along. After all, the two barns that burned were pretty well worthless. The burned man might have just been trapped.”
“What about the second body, Coffer Coldman?” Lucas interrupted. “What about someone shooting Blade? This is far more than poor judgment. I might have believed Reid needed quick money, except for Coffer. He wasn’t just killed, he was dumped in the ashes where the killers knew he’d be found. Blade may have been shot because he was mistaken for me.”
“Why you?”
“My father’s been feeding me information for months. Not just the ranch business, but the strange improvements on back roads no one uses and supplies shipped in that seem to disappear. I’ve done checks on the ranch manager who Reid had hired to act as the new ranch foreman. He’s thought to be the strong arm for some pretty shady characters.
“Charley and I both agree that Reid is not in charge, but what we’re dealing with is much bigger than gambling debts. The Bar W is like an island. No one will ever know what is there unless we go in.” He covered her hand with his. “This isn’t about Reid firing men, or the loss of control of the ranch, this is about more. Something far darker. A secret that has to be kept even if it means killing people.”
Lauren nodded. “Pearly called and said my dad was looking for an entrance to the ranch that no one knew about, but he didn’t find it. I don’t think he knows what’s wrong, but he’s been sheriff so long he can smell trouble.”
He laced his fingers through hers. “With luck we’ll be in and out before anyone sees us. We all three know the trails inside. On horseback we can avoid any land where four-wheelers could follow, and the men with Reid don’t ride horses. They won’t be able to follow us into the trees or along the breaks at the border between the Bar W and part of both Kirkland’s land and Hamilton Acres. There’s not even a road out that far.”
“You should let Pop know.” Lauren didn’t like this plan. It was too risky. Too many things could go wrong.
“No. It would mean his job if he were in any way involved in this ride tonight. You can’t say a word, Lauren. Not to anyone. Our safety will depend on no one knowing about our midnight search. We’ll be back before dawn.”
“And if you’re not?”
“Then call your dad and tell him we’re being held against our will at the Bar W. If I’m guessing right, two men have already been killed for stumbling on the secret there.”
Suddenly all the arguments didn’t matter. Lauren leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck.
For a moment she just held him as if she could keep him safe by never letting go.
“You remember what you said after I saved your life in the old Gypsy House a dozen years ago?” he whispered against her ear.
“Yes. I said I owed you a blood debt. I swore that someday I’d pay you back. I’d save your life.”
He kissed her cheek. “Well, here is your chance. We need someone to stay out of sight but near enough to pick us up. We’re not sure where we’ll ride off the ranch, but when we do someone has got to be there. We’ll help you hitch a trailer to that old Ford Explorer of yours. Then you’ll be ready to drive to where we’re heading and pick us up. I’ll call you with the location.
“I didn’t want to ask you, Lauren. I didn’t want you involved, but when it got right down to it, you’re the only one I can trust with my life. Reid’s new crew at the ranch might think some of my family was involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re watching the house where my parents were staying. But you, the sheriff’s daughter, could say you were just doing a friend a favor and had no idea what we planned to do.”
She rubbed her forehead against his shoulder, breathing him in, fearing that she was collecting a memory.
“You’ll find the horse trailer parked on Kirkland land where we watched the stars. I’ll call you when I know where we’ll be riding off the ranch. All you have to do is meet us if we switch locations.”
“Am I doing something illegal? It sounds a little like I’m driving the getaway car.”
“No. The only thing we’re guilty of is trespassing, and that would be hard to prove since Charley is the owner’s son and I’m his lawyer.”
“What about Dice?”
“Reid told him he could search for his friend if he wanted to waste his time. I don’t think it occurred to Reid that he’d be doing it at night, but the old guy is the only one who has the owner’s permission to cross the fence tonight.”
She knew this was going to be far more than a ride over land they grew up on. She also knew it would be dangerous, very dangerous, or they would have told Pop.
“I’ll do it,” she said.
“It’s not going to be a big deal. If anyone stops you just say you’re picking up a friend who went horseback riding and must have gotten lost.”
“I’m worried,” she whispered against his shoulder.
“We’re just checking out a few things. We’ll be careful, I promise.” He slid his hand along her cheek and into her hair.
Then he kissed her full-out as if he truly loved her. This time there was no hesitation, no holding back.
“When this is over,” he whispered against her ear, “we start over. I’ll show you what that old key goes to. Until then, hang on to our future for me. Try to believe there might be an ‘us’ for just a bit longer.”
Before she could answer, he was gone.