Christmas Bodyguard (6 page)

“I couldn't sleep. I kept seeing Abbey's name on her computer. Someone had changed her background so they would terrify her when she booted it up. That was personal. Not a competitor.”

“Yes, and because they have involved you, the person they intended to hurt is most likely you.”

“I agree, but I suppose we can't totally rule out someone just after Abbey.”

“Is there anyone you can think of who might be angry at both of you?”

“I don't think…” He frowned. His eyes took on a faraway look, as if he was remembering something from the past. “I can't believe I didn't think about this. There
was a boy who had a crush on Abbey last winter. When I discovered him trespassing on my property, I called the sheriff. He and his dad weren't too happy about that, but he stopped bothering Abbey. She told me he wasn't at Dawson Academy anymore. I thought they had moved away from Dallas.”

“Who is it? He needs to be checked out. This has a feel of a stalker.”

“Kevin Sharpe. I'll let the sheriff know.”

“Is there anyone else you can think of?”

He shook his head. “At least I don't think so.” He funneled his fingers through his hair. “But right now I'm questioning everything.”

“I know how hard this can be.” She moved closer, drawn by the frustration and pain on his face. “Try not to force it. I find myself shutting down when I do. I'll talk with Abbey about this Kevin guy and see if she's thought of anyone else since we talked last.”

Weariness dulled his eyes like unpolished silver. “What else am I forgetting? I feel like I know something important and can't remember it.”

The anguish in his voice compelled her to cut the distance between them and place her fingers on his arm. She held the files out. “This is a great start. Whatever we find, we can let the sheriff and Captain Dickerson know. You've got a lot of people who want to find this person.”

He covered her hand. The deep look he gave her eroded her composure. For a moment time ceased, her attention traveling down to his lips, slightly parted. Sucking in a sharp breath, Elizabeth severed their tactile connection and backed away.

“I still have the den to check.” Without waiting for him to say anything, she hurried toward the doorway.

“I'll make a pot of coffee. Let's review the files together.”

Like a team
popped into her mind and heightened her concern that she had just crossed into territory that was more dangerous than having a killer after her.

 

Four hours and many cups of coffee later, Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table with the folders spread out as she and Slade made a list of people to check out. Kevin Sharpe topped that list with three of the ex-employees as definite seconds.

Slade collapsed back against the chair. “I think we accomplished something here.”

“It gives the police a place to start.”

“Not us?”

She pushed to her feet and walked to the coffeepot on the counter. “More?”

He shook his head. “I'm wired as it is.”

After pouring her mug full of the strong brew, Elizabeth came back and took her seat next to Slade at the round glass table. “It won't hurt for us to look into these people, too.” It was important for people being threatened to feel they were doing something about their circumstances. And she didn't have a problem with that as long as they weren't put in harm's way. “The internet is a good place to start.”

“You sound like you've done this before.”

“A few times. The more information you have, the less likely you'll be surprised.” She never wanted to be put in that situation again. Bryan's affair shouldn't have astounded her, but she'd been naive, hoping for the best. She didn't do that anymore.

“Who's taken you by surprise?”

Bryan's name was on the tip of her tongue, but she clamped down her teeth and kept it to herself. She didn't
expose her past to others. “You don't need to worry. No one in my job as a bodyguard.” Lifting her cup to her lips, she took a sip, relishing the coffee. “You know, you aren't half bad at making this.” She raised her mug. “Almost as good as my uncle.”

“Almost?”

“I can't see anyone surpassing him. He's got the art of brewing coffee down to a tee.”

“You're really close to your uncle. Did he raise you?”

She pushed to her feet and cradled her mug between her hands as she strolled to the bay window and opened the blinds. The sun peeked over the horizon to the east, promising a clear day. “It looks like the weather will cooperate today, and the workers will be able to fix up the outside with more lights and cameras.”

“And fortify the fence that surrounds the house,” Slade agreed. “When I put that up, I wasn't thinking of keeping people out, only cattle and horses.”

She heard the scrape of his chair across the tile floor and tensed but didn't peer his way. She didn't need to see or even hear his approach. The hairs on her nape sent small electrical signals to her brain that told her he was right behind her. His scent wrapped about her, driving away the heady aroma of coffee that drifted from her cup. “That's why another locked gate will be put up to block the road that leads to the house,” she murmured, desperate to keep their conversation impersonal.

So far during the past four hours, she'd managed to divert any questions about her personal life. But Slade Caulder wasn't a man who gave up easily. Right from the beginning when they had begun to work together at three-thirty in the morning, she'd sensed a curiosity in him. About her.

“I know what you're doing, Elizabeth.”

His whispered words tingled the area right below her ear. As much as she tried not to, she shivered. “What?”

“It's become obvious to me that you don't like to talk about yourself.”

She whirled about, stepping away in the same motion. “And you do?”
Tell me about your wife. Why haven't you taken off your wedding ring after five years?
“I did a little checking and didn't find much about you.”

“Touché. We're both cautious about trusting. But do you blame me? Look what is happening to me and my family. What's your reason?”

Elizabeth laughed, although to her own ears it sounded shaky. She sidled away and faced the entrance into the kitchen. “I can't believe the smell of coffee didn't wake you up before now,” she said to her uncle as he entered.

“I woke up at five to that smell and realized if I got up I'd get a lecture from my niece about not taking care of myself, so I went back to sleep.” Joshua glanced at the table.

“What have you two been doing?”

“Coming up with prospective suspects. We went through Slade's files on fired employees for the past year who live in Texas.” Elizabeth went to the cabinet and took a mug, then poured her uncle a cup.

“Find anything that jumps out at you?” Joshua inhaled deeply the aroma coming from his cup. “Ah, wonderful.”

Slade picked up the list they'd made. “Maybe. Here are the names in order of threat.” He went on to explain Kevin Sharpe's presence on the paper. “The next one is Sam Howard. He was fired for sexual harassment of a fellow employee. He wasn't too happy about that. He was a manager going places. The third one just didn't do his job. He almost cost us a big contract.”

Joshua pointed to the last name. “Why is she on the list?”

“Paula Addison stole from the company. We prosecuted her, and she went to jail. I almost didn't put her on the list since she should still be in prison, but Elizabeth thought we should check and make sure she's there.”

Joshua slanted a look at her. “Good thinking. Never assume anything.”

“There was another person we left off the list. Jay Wilson.” Elizabeth eyed the one folder set off from the others.

“Why?” Joshua asked.

Slade fingered the lone file near his elbow. “Jay Wilson was caught passing information to the competition. He took the plans for a new software program. He denied it, but the evidence was hard to ignore. He had to be escorted out of headquarters by security. I contacted the police and pressed charges. It never came to trial, though, because he died.”

“How?” Joshua sipped his coffee.

“I'm not sure.”

“I'll check into it to see if there was anything suspicious about his death.”

“Why?” Slade's features scrunched into bafflement.

“He's dead. He can't be behind this.”

“I like to check out all details.” Joshua tapped the list.

“I can get this to Ted, and he can have his detectives look into it.”

“We thought we would do our own checking, too.” Elizabeth lifted her mug and watched her uncle for his reaction. Although she'd always done some investigating on her own to help her in her position as a bodyguard, she'd never said anything to Joshua, who was a traditionalist when it came to his former job.

His eyes flared slightly. Then one eyebrow rose. “You are?”

“I can't sit by and do nothing,” Slade said, drawing her
uncle's attention to him. “This is
my
family. While I know the police and sheriff will do what they can, it doesn't hurt for us to do some inquiring, too. All information will be passed on.”

When Joshua swung his gaze back to her, she shrugged, and he shook his head. “What kind of inquiring?”

“I'm good with a computer. There's a lot I can find out sitting right here, so you don't need to be concerned I'll go out and confront anyone. I have a family to think about.” Slade stared her uncle down, making it clear by the hard set of his jaw that he wouldn't be deterred.

“Since I'll be with you, I'll pitch in, too.” Joshua took his mug and walked to the bay window to check the grounds.

“Pitch in doing what?” Abbey asked from the doorway, dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved pink T-shirt and boots.

“We're looking into who could be behind what's going on.” Slade's gaze traveled down his daughter's outfit. “Are you going somewhere?”

Abbey tilted her chin at a defiant angle. “I'm going riding. I've got to get some fresh air.”

Slade straightened. “That isn't your call.”

O
ut of the corner of his eye, Slade looked to Elizabeth.

Abbey shoved her hands onto her waist. “Am I gonna have to stay in the house the whole time? I'm not leaving the ranch.”

“If you can give me a few minutes to change, you can show me the barn. I need to check it out anyway.” Elizabeth wanted to wear something more appropriate to the barn than black slacks and a white shirt. She walked to the counter, finished the dregs of her coffee and set the mug in the sink.

“That sounds like a good idea. I'll tag along.” Slade placed his cup next to hers and turned toward his daughter, his gaze snagging Elizabeth's for a few seconds. Doubt lit those pewter-colored eyes.

“It would help me as well to have a tour of the barn area and meet your cowhands.” Joshua hurriedly downed his drink. “I was going to anyway today.”

“You
all
are coming?” Horror highlighted Abbey's face in an almost comical expression. “Maybe I should have made myself clear. I wanted some fresh air alone.”

“Not an option. Elizabeth is with you whenever you leave this house. Inside, you can be alone, but not outside, even on the ranch.” Slade strode toward his daughter and
paused in front of her to wait for her to move out of the way. When she stepped to the side, he continued. “I'll meet everyone in ten minutes in the foyer. Abbey, you'll have to wait until then.”

As Elizabeth passed the teenager, something in her eye made Elizabeth leery. Elizabeth took the stairs two at a time and changed into some jeans, boots, a shirt and a jacket in record time. When she arrived three minutes later in the foyer, it was empty. Hurrying outside, she caught a glimpse of the teen as she slipped through the gate closest to the barn. Elizabeth jogged toward the girl and cut the distance between them in half a minute, the whole time scanning the terrain around them.

As they neared the barn, Elizabeth placed a call to Slade and told him where they were. The second they entered through the large, open double doors, Elizabeth clasped Abbey's upper arm to still her. The young girl whirled around and jerked away, glaring at her.

“I hate this. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't know why this is happening to me.” Abbey's loud voice drew a couple of wranglers from the stalls.

A rugged-looking man in his mid-thirties wearing old jeans, a flannel shirt and a black hat and boots came out of the tack room near them. His tanned features creased into a frown. “Abbey, what's going on?”

The girl opened her mouth to say something, but instead snapped it closed and folded her arms across her chest.

“I'm Elizabeth Walker, Abbey's bodyguard.” Elizabeth held out her hand to the man.

He shook it. “I'm Jake Coleman, the foreman.”

“Abbey isn't used to having me with her.”

“Slade filled me in on what has been going on. Me and my men will be keeping an eye out for anything unusual.”

“Great.” Elizabeth noticed Abbey's mouth tremble, before the girl dug her teeth into her bottom lip. When tears glistened in the teen's eyes, Elizabeth gave the foreman a smile, then rotated toward the young girl. “Why don't you show me your horse?”

A young man, probably not many years older than Abbey, who looked like a younger version of Jake, stepped completely out of the stall to the left and said, “I'll get her. She's in the pasture behind the barn.”

Abbey started after the young wrangler. “I'll come with you.”

“Why don't you wait here with me?” Elizabeth asked her.

“I can't even go outside right behind the barn? Where am I gonna ride Sassy?”

“Use the indoor training ring,” Jake suggested from the entrance into the tack room before disappearing inside, leaving Elizabeth alone with the teenager.

Chicken,
Elizabeth wanted to shout at the retreating foreman, but she couldn't blame him for escaping. The look on Abbey's face fluctuated between anger and the sense of overwhelming emotions she didn't know how to control. Her eyes still held unshed tears while she'd pressed her lips together so tightly they were a thin, hard line.

Elizabeth approached Abbey. “You have an indoor training ring? Where?” Although she was pretty sure where it was, she hoped Abbey would answer. Maybe if she got her to talk about something other than her lack of freedom, Abbey would accept the situation.

“The big building next to this one,” the teen answered in a surly voice.

“That will be a great place to ride. You don't have to depend on the weather being nice.”

“So bad weather and maniacs make its use necessary?”
Abbey's glare strengthened into an even more furious look.

Patience. Lord, I need an extra dose of it today.
“I understand from your dad you used to show horses. I haven't ridden in years, but I enjoyed it when I was a young girl.” She'd been able to get away from living in a house full of strain and ride as though she raced the wind.

“Well, isn't that nice?” Abbey stared off to the side, her arms still crossed over her chest.

“Look, Abbey, we can either work together to make this situation bearable or we can be on opposite sides. The latter won't change the situation and could make it worse.” Elizabeth spied an older man dressed as a wrangler come into the barn and go into the tack room. She made a note to find out who he was as soon as she could calm Abbey down.

The girl's head remained turned away, but a tear slipped down her cheek. She swiped it away and finally peered at Elizabeth. “I still see my computer screen. What did I do to someone to make them that mad at me?”

“I don't think you did anything. It's more likely your dad, but we still have to consider it might be someone who holds a grudge against you. Like Kevin Sharpe.”

Abbey's face drained of its color. “Kevin? He left Dawson Academy. I haven't seen him in eight months.”

“Is there anyone else who, like him, might have a reason to be mad at both you and your dad?”

“What kind of people do you think we are?” Another tear leaked from her eyes and fell on Abbey's hand as she scrubbed it across her cheek.

But before Elizabeth could explain that a person didn't have to be reasonable in their anger, Abbey pivoted and stomped toward the back entrance into the barn. The teenage wrangler led a large chestnut mare inside. Abbey
grinned at the young man, saying something to him that Elizabeth couldn't hear.

She took a step forward as Joshua and Slade came into the barn. Fury chiseled Slade's features into a hard countenance. He marched to his daughter and demanded her full attention by standing between her and the mare.

“Next time I ask you to wait for us you better wait, or you'll find out what being totally grounded means. I won't let you send Elizabeth on a merry chase to find you. Do I make myself clear, young lady?”

Red blotches popped out on Abbey's cheeks. Everything from her stance to her expression screamed anger. Seconds faded into a minute before she said, “I understand perfectly.”

Elizabeth approached them while Joshua hung back, surveying the barn and the young wrangler still holding the rope to the horse. Abbey spun around to pat her mare, and from Elizabeth's angle, she could see the teen's expression collapse into a combination of anger and embarrassment. She remembered back to when she was growing up and her battles with her father. This could be a difficult time for a parent and child, and with the threat to their safety added to the mix, it could become disastrous.

Abbey took the rope from the wrangler's hand. “Thanks, Brody.”

“Sure.” With a smile deep in his dark eyes, the young man tipped his hat, then jogged back toward the wheelbarrow to get out of the line of fire.

The older cowboy exited the tack room, pausing when he saw everyone in the barn. He shoved his brown Stetson back from his forehead to reveal a tanned face, lines of experience carved into his countenance.

Stroking her mare's neck, Abbey threw a look over her
shoulder at her father. “Can I ride in the pasture near the barn?”

He shook his head. “Use the training ring for now. Too much is going on today. I want this ranch secured first.”

Elizabeth panned the area and realized it would never be totally secured. Not even the White House was. The older wrangler moseyed out the double doors with a rope clasped in his hand.

Joshua came up beside Elizabeth. “I'm going to check around outside and the training ring. I noticed the foreman in the tack room. Have you met him?”

“Yes, when I first came in here. Do you know the older man who went in there and just left? When I met a couple of the wranglers yesterday, I didn't meet him.”

“That's Hank. He's not too much younger than me. I think he's sweet on Hilda.”

“How in the world have you found that out so fast?”

Her uncle grinned. “I'm a good listener. I let people talk. Hank was concerned about what happened up at the main house. He kept asking how Hilda was.”

“Do you know who Brody is?” She'd noticed a sly exchange of glances between Abbey and the wrangler. Was something going on there?

“He's Jake's younger brother. He's living in the bunkhouse since Jake married two months ago.”

“So he works here, too.”

“He does when he isn't in school. He's a senior at Dawson Academy.”

“Has your partner got any background information on the employees at the ranch?” Her uncle worked with another retired police officer.

“Not much. Nothing that sends up a red flag.”

“So Brody is on the list?”

“Yep. Why all the interest?”

“Just a gut feeling something may be going on between him and Abbey.”

She found Brody had returned to Abbey to help her saddle her mare. Elizabeth had the feeling Abbey knew how to saddle her horse and had done it by herself before, but now she allowed the wrangler to brush the chestnut's thick coat, gliding his hand over it to check for burrs, before setting the saddle on the animal's back. Then, after cinching the strap around the mare, he gave Abbey a leg up. A dimple appeared in her cheek as she grinned and thanked him.

“Yep, Beth, I think you're right about that. But why would he be involved in what's going on?”

Elizabeth sent her uncle a sharp look. “Aren't you the one who told me never to rule out anyone?”

Joshua chuckled. “Too true.”

As Joshua ambled toward the back door, Elizabeth moved toward Slade and Jake near the tack room. “I'll be with Abbey in the training ring.”

“I'll go with you,” Slade replied. “Where is Joshua going?”

“To check the area around the barn and the ring. He'll meet us there.”

Jake spoke up. “Me and the men will help out. We'll be keeping an eye out. Anything suspicious, we'll call you.” Jake ran the leather strap of a halter through his fingers.

“I know I can count on you. Jake and I go way back,” he explained to Elizabeth.

“And I don't forget that.” Jake hung up the halter, then thrust his hand into the pocket of his jeans and withdrew a key chain. “I'm heading into town to see about the bad feed. I'll get to the bottom of it.” He started for the barn entrance.

Abbey guided Sassy toward the exit.

“Hon, hold up. We're going with you. I want to see what you've been doing lately.”

Abbey came to a halt near the double doors and twisted in the saddle to peer at her father. “Why? You haven't watched me ride in ages.”

“I'm here today to watch you.”

“Don't feel you have to because of the threats.” Abbey sat forward, turning her back on him, but she waited.

Elizabeth watched the foreman slow his pace and come to a stop just outside. A tall, blonde woman in her late twenties threw herself into Jake's embrace, kissing him on the mouth. The same lady she'd seen yesterday. His wife? “Who's that?”

“That's Cindy, Jake's wife.”

Jake slung his arm around Cindy's shoulder and sauntered toward a black pickup. He opened the passenger door for his wife to get in, then rounded the front and slid behind the steering wheel.

Slade observed his foreman. “I'm glad he found someone.”

“You two are long-time friends.”

“From childhood. I was fortunate when he agreed to be my foreman. He's someone I can trust.”

But not her. There wasn't any reason to suspect Jake, but as she told Joshua, trust no one. “What's this about bad feed?”

He began walking toward the indoor training ring next to the barn. “Part of the last batch delivered was moldy. One horse got sick yesterday. Thankfully Jake discovered it before any other horses got it.”

“Who gave the feed to the horse?”

“Brody.” His brow wrinkled, he slanted a look at her.

“You think there's a connection between the feed and the attempts against Abbey?”

“Could be. They happened at the same time. It could be a tactic to throw you off or occupy your time.”

At the door he paused and faced her. “Nothing will take my mind off protecting Abbey. Horses, I can replace. Not my daughter.”

Her heartbeat reacted to his nearness. He was too close—that could rob her of clear thinking. Shutting down her emotions, she placed several feet between them, holding one side of the double doors open for Abbey to ride through. Her gaze tracked over the yard and road that ran in front of the ring. Nothing out of the ordinary. But still, someone was out there who meant to do harm to Abbey, and probably Slade, too.

 

The next day, Thanksgiving, Elizabeth stared out the floor-to-ceiling window in the dining room at all that Joshua and his contractors had accomplished. When money wasn't a problem, a lot could be done in a short amount of time. The old fence had been reinforced, but new posts were put in place for a taller and stronger one to go up tomorrow. Shifts of three two-man teams with guard dogs patrolled the yard.