Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) (14 page)

He didn’t want her
ranch. He had his own to run.
Damn, what
were you thinking, Hattie?
He already knew the answer though. She didn’t
want her ranch going to a stranger. If Becca hadn’t wanted the ranch, Hattie
wanted Jake to have it. Hattie had known that even though he didn’t need it, he’d
buy it and take care of it. He needed to make sure Becca understood that. He
didn’t want her ranch, but he did want her.

* * * *

After leaving the
diner, Emma went back to work while Becca and Olivia rode home. Olivia was silent.
Becca glanced over at her. “Are you okay? You’re so quiet.”

Olivia nodded. “I’m
fine.” She looked over at Becca. “What are you planning to do here?”

Becca didn’t have
to ask what she meant. “I don’t know yet, Liv. I—I don’t want to think about
going back to Maryland yet.” She blinked back tears. The thought of leaving
Jake made her heart ache. She shook her head. “I just don’t know.”

Olivia nodded. “It’s
because of Jake, isn’t it?”

Becca nibbled on
her bottom lip and nodded. She didn’t look at Olivia but heard the sadness in
her friend’s voice. “I don’t think I can stay here, Becs,” Olivia said.

“I know.” Becca
reached for Olivia’s hand. “But I don’t know if I can go back.” She glanced
over at Olivia. “I can always sell you my half of the shop, if I decide to stay
here.”

As the truck made
its way along the country road, both women were silent with their thoughts.
Becca wanted to cry. Did she stay with the man she was falling in love with and
never see her best friend again? Or go home and never see Jake again? Her heart
felt as if it were breaking into shards. Pulling the SUV up to the back door,
she parked. She shut off the engine but neither she nor Olivia made a move
until Becca sighed. She threw open the door and stepped out. Olivia followed a
moment later.

As soon as Becca
stepped inside the back door, she knew something was wrong. She hurried into
the living room and gasped. Someone had slashed all the cushions and tossed the
stuffing throughout the room. Becca couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “Oh.
My.
God!”

Olivia came into
the room behind her. “What’s wrong?” Looking around, Olivia muttered. “What the
hell?”

Becca shook her
head. “I have to call Sam.”

“Who’s Sam?”

“The
sheriff.”

Becca took out her
cellphone and dialed him direct. After describing what she’d found, Sam told
her he’d be at the house within fifteen minutes. He reminded her not to touch
anything, and to get out of the house and go to another location. Becca and
Olivia got out of house then drove the SUV down to the road. Becca pulled over
to wait for Sam. Fifteen minutes later, they heard the siren. Becca saw the
cruiser pull into the drive. She waited a few minutes then drove to the house.
She pulled up behind the cruiser and hopped out. Olivia was right behind her.
Sam came toward them.

“You didn’t touch
anything, did you?” Sam asked her.

“No. We left like
you said and waited down the road for you to arrive.”

“We?”
Sam asked glancing around.

“My best friend,
Olivia, I told you about her. She’s here with me.”

Sam nodded. “The
house is clear but I still have to get prints and go through some things.” He
entered the house again. Becca and Olivia followed a few minutes later. He
pulled on latex gloves, and after taking pictures of the mess, he dusted for
fingerprints. Glancing up when Olivia walked in, his eyes widened a little
before he got back to his work. Becca introduced them.

Olivia elbowed
Becca, and whispered. “He’s hot.”

Becca nodded her
agreement, but her mind was running at full speed trying to figure out why this
was happening to her. She watched as Sam crouched down to move the stuffing.
Becca and Olivia watched him as he stood and came over to them. “I’ve checked
all the rooms and this is the only one ransacked.” Sam told them. “Do you have
any idea who would do this?” Becca shook her head.

“Why would
she
have any idea?” Olivia put her hands
on her hips and glared at the sheriff.

“Calm down, Miz
Roberts, it’s normal protocol to ask the victim that question.” Sam towered
over her friend.

Olivia locked eyes
with him and apparently saw something there, because she nodded at him.

“I don’t know what
to think, Sam.” Becca sighed.

“You don’t still
think its Jake, do you?”

Becca knew to an
outsider, it would be the only logical answer. “He’s the only one that has
something to gain from it…but no, I can’t believe Jake could’ve done this.” Her
heart wouldn’t let her believe anything else but her mind was overriding it.

Sam nodded as he
took out his pad of paper and wrote something down. Olivia tilted her head. “You
don’t use an iPad for that?”

Sam smiled. “I like
things the old fashioned way. My luck, I’d put something in an iPad and erase
it or something. This way, I have it right here.” He tapped his shirt pocket.

Becca saw Olivia
smile up at him, making him clear his throat nervously. He turned his gaze away
and looked to Becca. “I’ll run the prints when I get back. It may take a few
days for something to come back, but I’ll let you know.”

He walked to the
door with the women following him. “I’m sorry this happened, Becca.” After
putting his hat on and nodding to both women, he left.

Olivia leaned back
against the door. “What’s in the water around here? Just about every man I’ve
seen is sexy and gorgeous.”

In spite of the
situation, Becca laughed. “I know. I thought the same thing after seeing the
Stone brothers and then Sam.”

“Mmmm, he really is
dreamy,” Olivia said licking her lips. “Those blue eyes are beautiful.”

Becca put her hands
on her hips and narrowed her eyes at her friend. “I thought you were interested
in Wyatt?”

Olivia laughed. “Oh,
I’m more than interested in that man but, sweetie, I’m not dead. I appreciate a
gorgeous man when I see one and that sheriff is definitely drop-dead gorgeous.”
She tilted her head watching Sam climb into his SUV.
“Great
ass too.”

“You do have good
taste, I have to admit. But neither one of them can hold a candle to…” Becca
wasn’t able to complete her thought, even if she’d wanted to before Olivia
turned on her and interrupted.

With her eyes
narrowed, Olivia placed her hands on hips. “Speaking of Jake…how could you
think Jake would do this? Especially after you two have been over every inch of
each other.”

Becca shrugged. “It
made sense at the time. If he could get his hands on the ranch, he’d gain the
extra land. Ranchers always want more land.” She glanced out the window, deep
in thought. “I just don’t have any idea who could be doing this to me. And,
whoever it is stole from Jake too. It has to be someone with an agenda but for
the life of me, I don’t know who it is.” She shook her head.

As a distraction
from the unsettling conversation Becca started cleaning up the room and after
only a slight hesitation, Olivia moved to help her. After restoring some order
to the room, they had a quiet meal and spent the rest of the evening watching
television.

Becca called Jake
and left a message when he didn’t answer. She didn’t go into detail but just
asked him to call her back. The two recliners hadn’t suffered much, so that’s
where they sat, using blankets as padding. When it came time for bed, they both
hesitated before going upstairs.

“I don’t suppose
you’d be interested in sleeping down here in the living room?” Becca asked.

Olivia blew out a
breath. “I was hoping you’d suggest something like that. I hate the idea of us
being in separate rooms even though they’re close to each other. It’s kind of
creepy knowing someone was in here.” She gave an exaggerated shiver.

Becca sighed. “I’m
glad we’re on the same page. Let’s go up and get some more blankets and
pillows.”

They started up the
stairs when Becca’s cellphone rang. It was Jake. She answered and explained
what happened.

“Are you all right
alone?” Jake asked her.

“Liv is here. We’re
going to sleep in the living room on the floor. We want to stay close together.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ll admit we’re a little shaken up over this.”

“I’m so sorry, Red.
Is there anything I can do?” Jake was concerned.

“Not really. Sam is
going to run the prints, but he said it could take a few days.” The initial
shock was over and anger was setting in.

“I don’t know who
it could be, Becca.” Jake hesitated. “I know what you think, but it isn’t me. I
swear it.”

“I don’t suspect
you anymore, Jake. There’s no way you could touch me the way you do and then
try to hurt me. And what kind of woman would I be if I slept with you while I
had those
kind
of suspicions?”

“I can understand
why you would think it at first. But remember this…I’m crazy about you, Red.
Why would I want to run you off?”

His low-toned plea
made her want to cry. Becca heard him sigh and her heart clutched a bit. Before
she could respond, she heard him continue. “Call me if you need me for
anything. I’m closer than Sam is. I can get there faster.” Then he hung up.

Becca’s mind was in
turmoil. She felt guilty for even suspecting Jake. When he offered to come to
her if she needed anything, she wanted to tell him that she needed him all the
time. Instead, she said nothing. Becca’s feelings for him were strong. She
could admit that and wanted to believe there was no way he’d ever do anything
to hurt her. So why had she hesitated?

Olivia came down
the stairs with the blankets and pillows. “I got yours for you.”

She dumped them all
on the floor. “Let’s get a fire going and have a pj party.” She laughed. “Although
I normally sleep in the nude, I’ll wear pajamas tonight.”

Becca laughed. “Please
do. I sure as hell don’t need to see your bare ass first thing in the morning.”

Olivia laughed as
they made up their beds. Once they lay down and the house got quiet, they laid
there in silence. The wind started picking up outside and something, probably
tree branches, scraped against windows. Almost in unison, Becca and Olivia
scooted closer together and finally fell asleep, each with their own Montana
man on their mind.

The next morning,
they folded up their blankets and set them in the recliners. It was an unspoken
given that they would continue to sleep on the floor for a few nights.

“I think you should
call Emma and have her join us. I like her,” Olivia said.

“That’s a great
idea.” Becca picked up her phone and called her newest friend.

Emma was excited
over the idea and said she’d be there later that afternoon. Olivia and Becca
made a big breakfast then decided to take a walk around the property. Once
outside, Olivia stood looking at the house.

“It really is
beautiful. Like I told you before, it would make a gorgeous B and B and I bet people
would come from all over for a chance to stay here and enjoy horseback riding
and camping.” She shifted her gaze to Becca. “You could have some riding trails
made and sell riding lessons. I think you could have a gold mine on your hands.”

Becca’s smile was
sad. “What about you? Would you stay and help me run it? You could do the books
for me like you do for The Daily Grind. You know I can’t do them. I suck at
accounting.”

Olivia rolled her
lips inward and shook her head. “I don’t think I could do that.”

“I understand. I
feel like I’m being ripped in two here, Liv. I don’t know what’s going on with
Jake and me but I do know that at least for now, I don’t want to leave him.”
Becca’s voice broke.

Olivia put her arms
around her. “I think you’re in love with him and if I’m right, then you need to
stay here.”

They were hugging
each other when they heard a car coming up the drive. Emma had arrived. She got
out of her car but hesitated before joining them.

“Is everything all
right?” Emma asked.

Becca and Olivia
nodded.

“Let’s go inside
and we’ll talk,” Becca said motioning toward the door.

Emma followed them
inside. After she put her duffel bag of clothes in the living room, she joined
them in the kitchen. Becca was already making coffee.

“Emma, would you be
interested in working here if I make this place into a B and B?”

Emma grinned and
her eyes flashed with excitement. “Yes. I’m one hell of a cook and I love doing
it.”

Becca laughed. “I
hadn’t even thought of that. We’d have to serve meals, wouldn’t we? I would
only be open from May through October, but Liv and I were talking about having
horseback riding and camping trips. What do you think?”

Emma chewed on her
bottom lip. “The thing is, with horseback riding you’re going to need to have
gentle horses. I’m not saying the Paints aren’t gentle, but they’re not used to
strangers. I think you’d need to purchase some horses made for trail rides. I
know a few people. I could probably find you some at a good price.”

Becca frowned. “I
never thought of that. If I ever get my horses back, what should I do? I can’t
keep all of them.”

“I also know
someone who’s interested in buying Paints. Ryder Wolfe is looking for a few
more. He has a ranch just down the road from Wyatt’s ranch. I know he has three
mares and one stud. I heard he was looking for more. You could probably sell to
him.”

Sarcasm laced Becca’s
laughter. “If I ever get them back,” she reiterated.

They all fell
silent.

Chapter Eight

It had been almost
a month now and still no word on her horses, or Jake’s. It was as if they’d
disappeared off the face of the earth. Becca hoped no harm had come to them.
She still didn’t understand how someone had taken them right from under their
noses. The culprits had rounded up Jake’s horses in the field and put them in a
trailer, but no one had any idea what happened to hers. Someone had to know
Stan and the men hadn’t been in the area. That meant the ranch was under
surveillance.