Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) (18 page)

The next morning
Becca woke to the smell of frying bacon and coffee. She stretched like a cat,
and then took a quick shower before joining Jake in the kitchen. “Something
smells good.” Becca wrapped her arms around him as she curled herself against
his back. He turned and kissed her forehead.

“Morning,
darlin’.”
He kissed her again for good measure.

 
“I’ll need to head home after breakfast.
I have to pick Liv up at the airport today,” Becca told him.

“I’m glad she’s
coming back to be with you, but you could just stay here, you know.”

Becca sighed. “I
know but as I said before, I’m not going to be run out of my own home.” She
hugged him. “We can still be together.”

“When?”
Jake asked with a slight frown.

“When do you want?”

“That’s a crazy
question, Red. What about tonight?” Jake raised an eyebrow.

“Sounds great,
Stone, I’ll be back at six.” Becca stood on her toes, kissed him then sat at
the table and ate her breakfast.

Chapter Ten

May arrived and
brought warm weather with it. Becca decided to go horseback riding while Olivia
went to town. They’d been keeping a lot of late hours working on getting the
house ready as a bed and breakfast. Becca wanted to relax and taking a quiet
ride seemed like a good idea.

Ted saddled a horse
for her and she took off at a run out of the yard. The sun was high in the sky,
promising a beautiful day. She threw her head back, enjoying the warm rays that
felt so wonderful against her skin. As she rode the range, her eyes strayed to
the Glacier Mountains. The rugged terrain still capped with snow was
incredible. Being in North West Montana, the weather stayed cool well into May
but today was a spoiler as the temperature was in the low seventies. The brown
grass was beginning to fade and green was peeking through. Becca saw a few
daffodils popping up and their sunny beauty made her smile.

She knew without a
doubt that she was going to stay in Montana after her six months were over. There
was no way she could leave Jake. He hadn’t said he was in love with her but she
hadn’t spoken the words either. When she’d first told him about turning the
house into a B and B, Becca had been afraid of his reaction but he seemed to
like the idea. Possibly because it meant she was staying. She hadn’t thought
about what she would’ve done if he hadn’t like the idea. The community seemed
to favor the idea also, although she wasn’t sure how they’d found out about it.
Yet, being a small town, everyone seemed to know everyone else’s business.

She spurred the
horse and rode home. When she arrived at the barn, Ted met her and helped her
unsaddle the mare, wiping her down. She was about to go into the house when a
truck came up the driveway. Becca waited as the tall man got out of his truck
and walked toward her.

Good Lord!
What was it about Montana? Here
was yet another gorgeous hunk. As he approached, he tipped the edge of his hat
before removing it. He stopped in front of her and grinned. Like the Stone
brothers, he towered over her. He had shaggy black hair, a straight nose, a
strong chiseled jaw covered in a shadow and the most astonishing moss green
eyes.

“Ms. Daniels?” he
asked in a deep voice.

Man, if she wasn’t
in love with Jake… “Yes?”

He stuck his hand
out. “I’m Ryder Wolfe. Emma Conner mentioned you might have some Paints for
sale?”

She shook his hand
and smiled. “I’m so sorry. I forgot all about Emma telling me about you,” she
apologized. “Come with me, I’ll show you the horses.”

“Yes,
ma’am.”

“Please, call me
Becca,” she told him as they walked into the barn.

“Can I ask why you’re
selling them?”

“I want to buy some
trail riding horses.” At his questioning look, she explained. “I’m turning the
ranch into a B and B and I want to have trail rides for guests and camping.”

Ryder nodded. “I
see. I know where you can get some real nice horses. Gentle as they come. Old
man Jones is selling his. I can give you his number.”

Becca smiled. “Great,”
she replied feeling like things were really starting to come together. She led
him through the barn, showing him each horse. Her mare, Daisy, being a Quarter
Horse was not for sale. Besides, Becca couldn’t part with her. “They’re all
micro chipped too.”

“Good. I make sure
all of mine are. It’s just the smart thing to do.”

Becca watched as he
ran his hands over the horses and spoke to them in a soft voice. Each horse
seemed to lean into him. She could understand why. The man probably spoke that
way to a woman he wanted and by the looks of him, he could have just about any woman
he wanted. Becca felt her cheeks flame. She loved Jake but as Olivia said, she
wasn’t dead and could still appreciate a good-looking man. What would Olivia
think of Ryder Wolfe? The idea made her smile. It was too bad she’d gone into
town with Emma.

Ryder came out of
the stall. “I’d like to buy them all from you.”

Becca’s eyes
widened.
“Really?
That would be great.”

“I promise you,
they’ll get a good home. If you need references….”

Becca waved him
off. “If Emma recommended you then I have no problem with selling to you.” She
bit her lip knowing she had to talk money now. “What can you give me for them?”

When he mentioned
his price, she did everything she could not to gasp. It was a good bit more
than what Sam had told her they were worth. “I don’t need that much, how about eighty
thousand instead?”

“Miz…Becca, these
horses have great bloodlines and they’re in excellent condition. Getting twelve
horses for what I asked is already like stealing them. I could never get horses
at auction this nice, and it would cost me a lot more.” He shook his head. “No,
you don’t have to give them to me,” he said with a grin, showing straight white
teeth.

“I won’t take a
penny more than what I’m asking. If you don’t want them…” Becca shrugged.

He burst out
laughing. “You’re a tough businesswoman.” He stuck his hand out. “You got a
deal.”

Becca laughed and
shook his hand. He told her he’d be over the next day to pick them up, and give
her a check. Happy, she agreed and he went on his way.

Becca went inside.
Everything was really coming together. She took her jacket off and hung it up.
She planned to take a shower and relax the rest of the day. As she entered her
bedroom, a frightening chill hit her like a tsunami.

Her room was in
shambles. The bedclothes were off the bed, and the mattress lay slashed into
ribbons and tilted half off the bed. Every drawer was hanging open and the
curtains ripped down. The clothes that had been in her closet were scattered
about the floor. Her underwear lay spread out in the open. It looked as if a
tornado had gone through it.

Becca started
shaking. Stumbling to the bathroom, unsure her legs would hold her she found it
a mess too. Across the mirror, again in lipstick, were the words,
YOU DIDN’T GO BACK TO MARYLAND. NOW YOU’VE
PISSED ME OFF!

Time seemed to fade
away as she stood there shaking, feeling cold, and then she heard Olivia’s
voice downstairs. She heard her come up the stairs and heard Olivia’s gasp when
she saw the room.

“We need to go
downstairs, Becs, and call Sam…right now!” Olivia grabbed her arm leading her
from the room. “This shit is really beginning to piss me off.”

Becca laughed, the
sound rising in her ears as her hysteria broke loose.

Olivia looked at
her strangely.

“The bathroom
mirror said basically the same thing.”

“The son of a bitch
wrote on another mirror?” Olivia growled between clenched teeth. “I’m going to
kill the bastard.”

Becca allowed
Olivia to lead her to the living room. Once there, she insisted Becca sit on the
couch while she called Sam. After hanging up the call, Olivia sat beside Becca,
putting her arm around her.

“How does this
prick keep getting in? How does he know when we’re gone?” Olivia gasped. Becca
saw realization dawn in her friend’s eyes. “Shit! He’s watching us.”

Becca nodded. “I
had that same thought the last time.” She felt tears rolling down her face but
couldn’t stop them. “I don’t know who it is but I want him…or her, caught. I’m
getting tired of this. Does someone in this town really hate me that much?”

Olivia shook her
head. “I don’t know. You don’t think
it’s
Jake anymore…do
you?”

“No, no way.” Becca
picked up her cellphone and dialed Jake’s number. “I need him,” she told Olivia
and waited for Jake to pick up.

“Becca?
You’re not calling to cancel tonight are you?” Jake said in a way of answering.

“No…Jake,” her
voice splintered. “Someone tore up my bedroom. I…please come, please…”

“I’m on my way.”

Becca heard the
connection break. She sighed. Everything would be all right. Jake was coming.

 
Becca thought she heard Jake arrive, but
wasn’t sure. She’d never felt so tired. She wondered where Olivia was and tried
to lift her head from where she sat on the couch with her arms wrapped around
her stomach, but she just didn’t have the energy. When she heard heavy
footsteps enter the living room, she assumed it was Olivia.

“Becca.”
She thought she heard Jake’s voice speaking softly as if he crouched down in
front of her. She lifted her eyes, looking at him for a brief moment, and then
launched herself into his arms. He caught her, held her to him, then turned and
sat on the couch with her across his lap.

“Now, will you stay
at my house? You and Olivia, both of you…she’s really beautiful, by the way.”

Becca raised her
head and narrowed her eyes at him. He laughed. She smiled, knowing he was
trying to distract her. She lightly punched his arm and shook her head.

“I’m not leaving
here. I called Emma. She’s coming to stay too. We’ll be fine.”

Jake sighed and
shook his head. “No, I don’t like the idea of you all staying here alone.”

“Jake. He only
comes in when we’re all out somewhere. We think he’s watching the house,” Becca
explained. “Whoever it is has to be. It’s what makes sense. What doesn’t make
sense is how they keep getting in.” She sighed. “I changed all the locks and
even put a chain on the back door, and the mudroom door.”

“Okay, but I’m only
a phone call away.” Jake took her chin in his hand and tilted her face up. “Call
me, Red. If anything happens, anything. Call me.” He kissed her hard. Standing,
he pulled her up with him and held her for a few minutes before leaving.

Olivia came into
the room. “Did Jake leave?”

Becca nodded and
smiled sadly. “He’s worried about us staying here. He wanted us to go to his
place.”

Olivia snorted. “Oh
hell no, if you think I want to be where I can hear you two having sex, you’re
crazy.”

“Liv!”
Becca blushed.

“What? You can’t
tell me you wouldn’t have sex with that gorgeous cowboy every chance you got.”
Olivia snickered. “And to think I thought cowboys were nasty. All the younger
ones I’ve seen are gorgeous.” She grinned. “I want one.”

Becca laughed at
her as she walked past. Thank goodness for her best friend. Olivia was able to
lift her spirits even at the gloomiest of times. “Let’s get something to eat.
Emma should be here soon.”

A deputy from the
sheriff’s office finally arrived, took pictures, and dusted for prints. He
informed Becca that there was no forced entry evident on any of the doors or
windows. When she asked where Sam was, the deputy told her the sheriff was on
vacation but the department was aware of the other break-ins. He was just
leaving when Emma arrived. She walked in, her eyes wide.

“So what happened
this time?” Emma asked.

“My room was torn
apart worse than the last time.” Becca blew out a breath. Emma put her arms
around Becca, and hugged her. Olivia wrapped her arms around both of them.

“Let’s make up our
beds here on the floor again and I’m hoping the asshole comes back. I want a
shot at him this time,” Olivia muttered.

“I think we’ll have
some wine tonight,” Becca informed them. “I know I need some.”

The phone rang and
the women looked at each other.

“Let me get this,”
Olivia exclaimed as she reached for the phone.

“Hello?” She
listened. “No Deputy, this is Olivia. Hold on.” Olivia held the phone out to
Becca. She frowned at Olivia, but took the phone.

“Yes,
Deputy.”
Becca listened to him talk then gasped. “No. The chain was on…yes,
I’m positive. Thank you.” Becca was shaking when she hung up. She glanced at
Olivia and Emma who moved to stand near her.

“Becs?
What was that about?” Olivia asked with a worried frown.

“He said he forgot
to ask me about the chain on the mudroom door. It seems the chain was off, and
I distinctly remember putting it on. They can’t be getting in that way with the
chain on…”

“Maybe they just
went out that way,” Emma suggested making Becca gasp.

“You’re right, Em.
They could’ve just left that way. If the chain were on, the door wouldn’t open.
But how are they getting in?” Becca shuddered.

She so wanted this
to end. Her determination to stay was beginning to fade away. When someone
knocked at the back door, all three women jumped in reaction. Becca moved
slowly toward it and saw Stan standing outside. Letting out a sigh of relief, she
let him in.

“Becca…I saw the
sheriff’s car here. Is something wrong?” He had his hat in his hands.

She nodded. “There
was another break-in, Stan. It was my bedroom this time.”