A Cowgirl's Pride (23 page)

“Thanks, Michael. I owe you one.”

“No problem. Glad to help out. I need to mosey
on up to the house and do my job. Anything you need before I go?”

“Not with Cookie fussing over me.” He smiled as
the man brought him a huge mug of coffee and a plate of cookies. “I’ll be
fine.”

Cookie covered Cal’s legs with a quilt then
passed him a book to read, and Cal settled in for a relaxing evening. He hadn’t
asked for this mini-vacation, but he’d enjoy it just the same.

When the wranglers came in for their dinner, he
took a lot of good-natured ribbing. Pete even brought him a couple of books
from his private stash.

“Thanks, Pete! It’s great to have something new
to read. Which reminds me, I haven’t thanked you for sounding the alarm when I
went missing, so thanks for that as well.”

“No problem. It’s not like you to miss a meal.
With the storm and all, I knew something was wrong. Glad you’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

He joined the men for their evening meal then
decided to turn in early. It had been one hell of a day.

****

Leah and her Uncle Cam drove to his place in his
truck after the ambulance left with Cal. She helped shovel the path and the
front deck, trepidation filling her insides with dread as they stepped inside.
What if he spied Cal’s boxers? She stifled a giggle.

She ushered him past the living room. “You have
a beautiful home, Uncle Cam. I’m impressed,” she said as she walked with him to
the foot of the stairs. “You go straight up to bed. I’ll put the food away and
get fires going before I start cleaning.” She ran a hand over the newel post.
“The place
has
gotten a little dusty
since you’ve been gone.”

“It feels good to be home, girl. I’ll be happy
to sleep in my own bed for a change. If I’m not up by lunchtime, don’t worry
about it. I need sleep.”

She smiled, gave him a big hug and then a gentle
shove. “Go. Sleep.”

“Here are my keys in case you need to go back to
the ranch house for anything.”

“Thanks, but I doubt it. Michael would have my
head if I ventured out alone.”

“I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through, girl.
We’ll talk later. Right at this moment, my brain isn’t functioning on all
cylinders. Lock up and make yourself at home.”

“I will, thanks. Sleep well.”

He nodded and yawned as he climbed the stairs.
Leah let out a relieved breath and went to the living room. She opened the
drapes and did a quick once over, but the boxers were nowhere in sight. Where
on earth were they? She shrugged her shoulders in temporary defeat, then picked
up the bags of groceries and carried them through to the kitchen. After that
was done, she lit a fire in the kitchen cook stove, rummaged around to find
cleaning supplies and back to the living room she went.

She’d dusted the entire room, but it wasn’t
until she moved furniture to damp mop the floor that she found them—hanging on the
lever to Cam’s recliner. She stuffed them in her bag and finished cleaning the
downstairs. The second level could wait until he woke up.

She started a fire in the fireplace and her
stomach rumbled, telling her it had been a long time since breakfast. She went
to the kitchen, made a sandwich and brewed a cup of tea. Cam had a breakfast
nook in front of the kitchen window, and she crossed the room to sit at the
pine table. It had a perfect view overlooking the snow-covered meadow and
creek. The scenery would be breathtaking during the summer. He’d picked a great
spot for his house. Leah found it so peaceful and quiet after the cacophony at
Luke’s.

She tensed when she heard the front door open.
She’d forgotten to lock it in her hurry to find Cal’s underwear. Oh, no!

Quiet as could be, she stood, grabbed a butcher
knife from the knife rack beside the stove…and waited, barely breathing. She
heard soft footfalls heading her way and moved behind the dubious protection of
the island counter.

“Leah, are you in there?” called Michael before
he came through the archway, gun in hand.

“Michael, you terrified me half to death!”

“Not half as scared as I was when I found the
door unlocked.” He returned the gun to its holster. “Geesh, girl! You need to
be more careful.”

 
“I meant
to lock it, but I got busy cleaning and forgot. Besides, anyone coming here has
to pass the main house, so it’s safe enough.”

“If anyone lurked about and saw you head this
way with Cam, they could’ve followed the trail from the creek. Always,
always
lock doors behind you.”

“Okay, Michael. What brings you here?”

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “I took
Cal home and had a feeling I should check on you. Guess my instincts are still
intact.”

Cal. The mere mention of the man’s name was
enough to send her insides all a flutter. She’d worried about him all
afternoon. “How is he?”

“No permanent damage, but he has to stay off his
feet for a few more days.”

“He’ll hate that. How did you get him in the
house?”

“He rented a wheelchair. He’s in the bunkhouse.
It was a struggle to get him in the door, but at least it’s at ground level, no
stairs.”

“That's good. Cookie will make sure he doesn’t
overdo.”

He smiled and leaned his hip against the
cupboard. “Yep, fixed him a snack as soon as we got there.”

“Speaking of which, you want a coffee?”

“If you’re having one.”

“I had tea, but the kettle’s still hot. I can
make you an instant.”

“Sounds good to me.”

She made coffee and set out a plate of sweets
from the stash Zakia had given her.

“A man could get used to the quiet back here.”

“Yes, it’s a lovely spot.”

“I stopped by the station when I was in Fort
MacLeod.” He picked up his cup and took a swallow of the hot beverage as if he
needed the fortification.

“And?”

“Trent’s files turned out to be a goldmine.
Every person he located for Kendall turned up dead or missing.”

“Oh, my, God! How many people are we talking
about?”

“Twenty-four so far, including the ones we
already knew about, all from the greater Vancouver area. Forensics is gathering
all the files and doing comparisons. So far, it looks as if seventeen of the
twenty stabbing victims were killed with the same type of knife.”

“My God! And the other four?”

“Shot, same ammo every time. Perp used a Ruger semi-automatic,
which connects to the real Sheriff Rawling’s death, so we’re assuming those
murders were performed by Jeffery Dennis, Kendall’s hitman.”

Leah got up to pace the room. “Why didn’t I
suspect any of this? I lived with the man and only once did I see that side of
him. Of course, that was enough for me.” She turned to look at Michael. “Do you
think I intentionally turned a blind eye to what was going on?”

“No, not at all. Kendall is a sneaky devil. It’s
possible you knew some of the victims, but if they’d quit coming around, you
wouldn’t necessarily miss them or wonder why.”

“Michael, is my statement about Alex enough to obtain
a warrant to search Roddy’s estate?”

“Normally, yes, but we still don’t know how many
officials he has in his pocket. Until we have enough evidence to make all the
arrests, we don’t want to alert him to the fact that he’s being investigated.”

“I can understand that, and I’m well-protected,
but what if I’m not his only target? What if someone else dies before those
arrests are made?” She hugged herself to ward off a sudden chill and stepped
closer to the wood stove.

“Leah, there’s nothing I’d like better than to
see his ass behind bars, but if we don’t get all of them, your life remains in
danger.”

“I’ll be fine once he’s in jail.”

“I wish that was true, but Kendall has more than
one way of dealing with people who have displeased him. For starters, he could
hire another hitman.”

“Right. I hadn’t thought of that.”

He stood and crossed the room. “Trust me to
protect you while my old department works up a solid case against him and his
cronies.”

“I do trust you, Michael, but I’m so afraid.”
Her emotions got the best of her and tears ran down her face. She brushed them
angrily away, and then found herself wrapped in strong arms.

“It’s okay to be afraid, Leah. We’re only human.
Rest assured, I’ll stay with you twenty-four seven until this is resolved.
You’re safe.”

She felt his lips brush her hair and knew she
was in deep trouble. She should move away, out of his arms, but his embrace was
so warm, so comforting. She didn’t want to give him the wrong idea here, so she
angled her body backwards to glance up at him warily. Instead of letting her
go, he took her upturned face as invitation and captured her lips in a kiss.
For a moment, she stood still in deep shock, but when the kiss deepened, became
passionate, she pulled away and took a step back.

“Michael, I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not, although I should apologize. I make it
a rule never to mix business with pleasure. What can I say? You’re just so
damned beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

He shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big
deal, but she knew her rejection must sting.

“You’re not still hung up on Kendall, are you?”

“No.”

“Then why?”

“Michael, you’re my step-brother.” Her voice
pleaded with him for understanding.

“No blood relation.”

“Maybe not, but that’s how I think of you—as my
brother.”

He ran a hand through his sandy-colored hair
then looked at her. “Words no man ever wants to hear. Can I have the chance to
change your mind?”

“No, Michael. I’m sorry. You and I, together,
just doesn’t work for me.”

“Well, that’s certainly blunt and to the point,
but I appreciate your honesty. I’ll head back to Luke’s now. Lock up behind
me.”

She followed him to the front door. “What's that?”
she asked, pointing to a covered dish on the side table.

“Zakia sent dinner for you and Cam.”

“Thank her for me.”

“Will do.”

She stood back as he opened the door, turning
back one more time.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

He hit the remote start for his car as he stepped
out into the dark of early evening. The resounding blast turned Cam’s yard into
a blazing inferno. Michael dashed back inside and closed the door fast as hot
metal flew through the air.

“Stay back!” he ordered. He pulled the curtain
aside and watched out the window.

Cam appeared at their side. “What’s that noise?
Sounded like a rocket taking off.”

“That rocket was my Camaro. Someone just blew it
to kingdom come. Better call the fire department, Cam. Too many trees back here
for my liking.”

“I didn’t have the phone turned on yet.”

Michael thumbed his cell open. “No signal. Our
only hope is that Luke or someone at the main ranch heard the explosion and
called it in.”

“We can take my truck; go for help.”

“Not until it can be checked for explosives. My
guess is that they’ve wired it, too. Someone knows Leah is here and wanted to
make damned sure she didn’t leave in one piece.”

Leah's entire body trembled in reaction, and Cam
put his arm around her.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Cam. Trouble seems to follow
me around these days.”

“Don’t apologize, girl. If I hadn’t thought you
were safe here, I would’ve left you at Luke’s.” He turned to Michael. “What
about the ranch vehicles?”

Michael shook his head. “I don’t know, but I’m
thinking this incident was confined to the vehicles currently in this yard. You
have your gun?” he asked Leah.

“In my purse.”

“Cam?”

“I’ll get mine.” He walked to the locked cabinet
in the front room and removed a handgun, which he stuck in his waistband, and a
rifle.

“Stay away from the windows. I’m going to make
my way to the ranch and get help.”

“What if they’re still out there?” Leah asked.

“Then hopefully, I’ll see them before they see
me.” Michael grinned and ducked out the door, keeping close to the building.

“I’ll watch your back until you’re out of
sight,” said Cam, moving into the open doorway.

“Thanks. Be back as soon as I can.”

Leah stood behind Cam and watched him go, his
car burning brightly enough to light up the night.
Please let him arrive at Luke’s safely.

“I can’t see him anymore. He’s on his own. Step
back so I can close the door.”

She took a couple steps back as he closed and
locked the door.

“Are you all right, girl?”