Ladd Springs (Ladd Springs, Book #1) (5 page)

When
the trail opened to the field, she cantered across the soft meadow grass, her
eye on the trailhead. She never saw Nick Harris pulling into the drive.

Slowing
his vehicle, he watched her go. Where was she off to in such a hurry? Keeping
the books wasn’t accomplished on horseback, and according to the cashier at the
diner, Delaney was due in town today. He glanced at the digital clock on his
dashboard. Mid-morning workout?

Unsettled
by the sight of her riding off on her own, Nick pulled farther into the
gravelly drive, parking just shy of Ernie Ladd’s home. It was time to up the
offer. Easing free from the vehicle, he reached for the envelope and tossed the
door closed. In the bright sunshine, the dilapidated structure looked all the
worse for wear. What a shame. In its day this little cabin was probably quite
the showplace. The materials used were solid, the craftsmanship evident. But
even the finest built homes needed upkeep through the years.

Nick
surveyed the surrounding area, the dense line of trees behind the cabin, the
wildflowers poking up here and there between tufts of grass. There was a
crudely constructed wishing well, very basic, the wood rotting like everything
else. He wondered if it was functional, if it ever had been, or merely there
for aesthetics. This was the land of natural springs, after all. Walking toward
Ernie’s cabin, he could hear the creek, see that it wound around behind the
house, snaking along the line of forest that closed into full-wooded
wilderness. Farther back, he saw the narrow opening for a trail. Briefly, he
wondered where it led. The stables? Another cabin?

There
was plenty of room here to locate his gate house. Flat, level, he’d house the
office and reservations staff here, then create a winding road back to the main
hotel. From the images he’d studied, there was another clearing north of here,
about four acres worth, giving him plenty of space for his project. Add the
river and he had himself a wonderful
al fresco
dining spot. Thus far he
had not been offered a tour of the property. What he did know, he’d learned
from satellite images and topography maps. And word of mouth. Nick smiled to
himself. One thing he’d say about small towns, they were full of helpful people
doling out helpful information.

“Hullo.”
Nick swung around toward the voice. A large pear-shaped man stood on the porch
peering down at him, his body covered by blue jean overalls and dingy white
T-shirt. Stringy black hair hung from around a bald spot, while the shadow of a
beard colored his jaw. Another friend of the family? “Can I hep ya?” the man
asked politely.

Nick
cleared his throat. “I’m here to see Ernie Ladd.”

“What
are you doing back here?” Ernie stepped out the door but held the frame firmly
in his hand. It wasn’t the stance of a man happy to see him.

“I’ve
come to make you another offer.” Nick scaled the four steps effortlessly and
stood face to face with Ernie and the other fellow. If you could call it that. Slightly
hunched, Ernie Ladd was the size of most women, not men, and his friend was
three bodies wider, but not much taller. “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Ladd. But
I respect that in a man. I’m here to up my offer to seven hundred and fifty
thousand.” He held up the envelope.

Ernie
Ladd didn’t blink an eye. “No sale.”

Nick
didn’t even discern the slightest hesitation. “You might want to think about it
a while.”

“There’s
nothin’ to think about.”

Nick
glanced at the man by Ladd’s side. Mute, he wordlessly ambled over to a rocker
and gingerly lowered his heavy-set frame to the seat.

“I
ain’t sellin’ to the likes of you.”

What
did he have against him? People in town called the man ornery, but this was
ornery, obstinate
and
unreasonable. “Do you have a better offer?”

Ernie
blinked.

Maybe
he was getting somewhere... “I’ll beat it. Whatever it is, I’ll beat it.”

The
old man’s eyes narrowed and filled with venom. “I don’t need your money, fancy
man.” He moved inside. “Now go on and don’t come back,” he said through the
dusty screen door. Nick watched him disappear into a back room in a haze of
shadow.

Nick
ran a hand through his hair, wanting to pull thick chunks of it out. The man
was beginning to grate on him. He had investors breathing down his neck. He’d
already been in town for a week. There were other tracts he could use, other
locations that would suffice, but none of them were near as sweet as this one. Ladd
Springs had a reputation for exactly that—springs. The land was said to be
loaded with them and they were the perfect accent to his brand of hotels.

Harris
Hotels were noted for their exceptional settings, built into the heart of the
natural surroundings, making guests feel at one with their environment. His
first success had been a rustic gem in his hometown of Montana. Set against the
Rocky Mountains, it was peaceful, rugged, and partially built into the stone
wall of a mountainside, a natural waterfall cascading yards away into an open
air rock pool. He offered spa services, exercise and yoga, the finest in local
dining and personalized attention, down to his guided tours into the heart of
the countryside. From there his vision had taken him to the Caribbean, Australia
and South America.

Nick’s
gaze drifted over the man in the rocker, out to the fresh spring palette of
flowers and sunshine. This time he’d set his eyes on Tennessee. He’d done
rugged, beach, river and rainforest, but nothing spoke to the heart of southern
hospitality and natural healing like this property could. Yoga enthusiasts and
naturalists from around the globe would seek his springs for rejuvenation. The
fields would be colored by wildflowers, punctuated by labyrinths. Paths would
trail off and lead to renewal falls. Guests would end their day with a
relaxation treatment, followed by a candlelight dinner featuring the culinary
specialties of the region. It would be the premier experience in Southern
hospitality, combined with luxury eco-living. People would pay top dollar for
the experience.

Nick’s
thoughts were interrupted by a truck barreling down the road. He turned and saw
the man from last night speed off in the direction Delaney had gone, the
vehicle bumping and bouncing over the rough terrain. Someone was in a hurry.

The
truck stopped, the man jumped out and headed into the woods. The same direction
as Delaney. Without a word to the man on the porch, Nick took off after her.

Chapter Five

Delaney
slid off Sadie’s back and walked her to the tree line. Stopping in the shade
beneath a heavy section of branches, she pulled the leather bridle over the
horse’s head and loosely tied it to the post. With a light caress to Sadie’s backside,
she said, “I won’t be long.” The Palomino emitted a soft snort and pawed at the
ground.

With
a determined step, Delaney headed into the forest. The trail that began the
width of a car narrowed to accommodate foot traffic only. To her left the land
rose sharply and, to her right, fell away to a tiny creek cutting across the forest
floor. The light was flat, the air held a slight chill. Beneath her feet, a
thick layer of crusted clay and chunks of gravel challenged her stride, but
nothing could slow her down. When Delaney Wilkins was on a mission, stand back
or get hurt.

She
could see a good distance ahead and calculated the trip to the spot in question
to take about fifteen minutes. Ten if she hurried. Kicking up her movements,
curiosity spun her thoughts into a tangle of suspicion and questions. Those men
were up to no good, but what were they after? Over the years the Ladds
experienced their share of squatters and vagabonds, petty thieves and lazy
drunks. Something told her these two didn’t fit into any of the standard
categories. They were too intent in their activities.

As
she neared the site, Delaney slowed her pace. Scanning deep into the woods, she
looked for signs of movement. In some areas the trees were thinned, sunlight
casting slim shafts of light through the tree tops, a few patches making it midway
down tree trunks. Below her, the brush remained dark and damp, mostly covered
by a layer of brown leaves. But she was going straight in. Delaney purposely
wore a long-sleeved jersey to help cut down on scratches from traversing the jagged
brush. Expediency was her word for the day. Pushing branches out of her way,
she made a beeline for her target, detoured several times by massive tree
trunks and insurmountable gray boulders splotched by patches of white fungus. Excitement
mounted as she neared. What would she find? Stolen property? Were they using the
woods as a hideout?

Inundated
by scenario after scenario, Delaney was relieved to finally have the answer at
hand. Slightly winded, she reached her destination and with a cursory glance detected
nothing sinister. No camping gear left behind, no articles of clothing or
personal belongings. If they weren’t living here, then what?

Moving
in closer, she noted the branches and leaves were matted down in areas—most likely
the result of their extended stay from yesterday, she mused. However, the
extent of flattening was significant. More than she’d expect from the weight of
their boots. She tried to recall if she’d seen them carrying anything. Had they
been wearing backpacks? Delaney inspected the ground. Would that have been
enough to lay the small greenery in a perma-flat slate?

She
shook her head. Hard to say. Nick’s unexpected arrival had muddled her ability to
remember. Stepping toward the rotting tree trunk, she grabbed a stick and began
to poke around.

“Dell!”

Delaney
jumped, turning in the direction of the trail. What the hell was he doing here?

“Dell!”

Damn
it
—was
there a bell strapped to her buckle? How did Clem know she was here? And why
was he following her? Heart pounding, she squared her shoulders and firmed her
spine. First Nick and now Clem. What the hell was going on around here?

One
thing for sure, she didn’t have to answer him. She and Clem Sweeney shared a
long history, none of it pleasant.

“What
are you doing?” he called out. Fixing her in his sights, he started to make his
way toward her.

She
blew out her breath in a ragged stream. “What the hell are you doing here,
Clem?” she yelled back. “I didn’t invite you.”

His
tone assumed a friendliness as he replied, “You never were filled with honey,
were you, Dell?” Shoving branches out of his way, he practically jogged the
distance to her. His fetid stench of smoke and body odor arrived before him,
soiling the fresh scent of trees. “Whatcha doin’?” he asked, glancing about.

“None
of your business.”

His
thin lips curled into an ugly smile. Almost forty-years old and practically
bald, Clem wasn’t the picture of vigor and health. “Aw, Dell, you don’t have to
be so mean. We’re neighbors, practically family. Why can’t we get along?”

“We
are not family and nowhere close. I didn’t ask for company. I want to be
alone.”

Clem
stepped toward her and she tensed. “It ain’t safe for girls to be out in the
woods alone.”

“I’m
perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

Shadowed
beneath his ratty cowboy hat, his gaze dropped to her boot, then leaped back to
her face. His eyes took on a nasty sneer. “That you are, aren’t you?”

Years
ago, Clem learned the hard way that she carried a pistol in her boot. They were
teenagers at the time, she hiking along the south end of the property when Clem
snuck up behind her. “Surprised her accidentally” is what he claimed after the
fact, but either way it didn’t change the outcome. She was alone, and he jumped
out from a dense pack of trees. She pulled her gun and shot. The bullet grazed
his shoulder and he screamed like a baby. Called her all kind of sordid names,
all of which she ignored. Leveling her gun at him, she’d ordered him to get out
of her woods. He obliged, but only because he was bleeding and scared senseless
his scent would catch the attention of a nearby bear.

Fool
. No bear would
have anything to do with a rank piece of meat like him. But he had been forewarned
from then on. Surprise Delaney Wilkins and you’d better be locked and loaded. She
held her leveled gaze. Shooting him now would be too easy and probably ensure
Felicity lost any chance to the property. If Uncle Ernie meant what he said
about giving the land to Clem, he’d do it just to spite her if she harmed the
grease ball. “What do you want, Clem?”

His
eyes darted to the area behind her. “Just wanted to come see what you were up
to, is all.”

She
stepped toward a nearby tree, glancing about for signs of the men’s earlier
presence. “And why do you care?”

His
gaze narrowed to a fine point. “Your uncle don’t trust you. He’s asked me to
watch out for you, keep you out of trouble.”

She
stopped suddenly. “Stay away from Ernie. If you think you’re going to con him
out of this property, you’ve got another thought coming. This land belongs to
Felicity, and I have lawyers to prove it.”

“Who
cares what lawyers say when it’s
my
name on the title.” He tipped his
hat back from his forehead and said, “Then it ain’t yours to say nothin’
about,” he jeered.

“It’ll
never happen.”

He
chortled, revealing his crooked yellow teeth. “Don’t be so sure. Your uncle and
I have grown mighty close over the years. I’m the only one he trusts, kinda like
father and son.”

Which
didn’t speak highly of Ernie’s judgment. Clem was on the outs with his own
father. But Delaney understood the connection. Ernie was raised by a hard man
to become a hard man. He had no respect for women or what they thought—except
in the case of Susannah and Felicity. Those two females alone were held free
from contempt. “It’s a misplaced trust that will reveal itself soon enough,”
she said. Normally, she’d let him simmer and boil in his stupidity, but this
time she couldn’t. There was more at stake than the old man’s feelings and
finances. Felicity’s future hung in the balance. “I’m putting you on notice,
Clem. Back off or I’ll make it my personal mission to reveal you for the con
artist you are.”

“There
you go again, callin’ names. Why can’t we just get along?” he whined.

“I
don’t want anything to do with you.”

A
knowing leer snaked through his gaze. “You should’ve picked me, Dell. I
would’ve treated you better.”

Reference
to her ex-husband made her skin crawl. “Go on, Clem. Leave me alone before I
start to get mad.”

He
chuckled and reached out for her. “What are you gonna do if I don’t?”

Delaney
stepped back and Clem lunged for her. “What the—?”

Clem
grabbed her arm and propelled his mouth toward hers.

“Delaney!”
A male voice powered through the trees.

Clem
froze, digging his fingers into her arm.

She
slung her free hand into a fist across the side of his head, connecting solidly
with his ear. Clem yelped.

Nick
Harris charged down through the brush. Branches cracked like twigs as he
drilled through them.

Clem
released her and immediately reached for the side of his head where she’d
slugged him.

Delaney’s
pulse still ricocheted through her veins, thundered in her chest. “Get away
from me!” She shoved Clem hard to the side.

He
lost his balance, sending his shoulder into a tree trunk. He cried out in pain.

“Are
you okay?” Nick demanded, but quickly turned on Clem, yanking his skinny body
to attention like a rag doll.

Delaney
savored the plug of fear in Clem’s eyes. Served him right for making a stupid
move like that—what the hell was he thinking?

“Did
he hurt you?”

She
shook her head and breathed deeply. Straightening, she replied, “I’m fine.” As
much as she would enjoy seeing the burly Mr. Harris pulverize the loser, it
would cause more trouble than it was worth. Her mind quickly zeroed in on Nick’s
unannounced arrival. What was it with these men? Was she leaving a trail of
blinking lights behind her? Not only did they know where to find her, but why
were they interested? Delaney made a hasty mental note.
Next time, cover
your tracks
.

Nick
glowered at Clem, disgust seething in his dark expression, underscored by the
enormity of his physical presence. “If I ever see you touch her again, you’re
mine. Do you understand?”

Clem’s
head nodded like a shaken bobble doll.

“Now
get out of here.” Nick gave him a sharp push. “And don’t let me see you again.”

Clem
scurried away, a scared fawn fleeing an angry bear. Delaney gazed up at Nick. Shoulders
the size of boulders, muscles rock solid, eyes volcanic hot, he exuded an
ominous strength. She had no doubt this man could kill someone with his bare
hands. Finding it an attractive quality, she savored a private smile. “I guess
a thank-you is in order.”

“You’re
welcome.” After checking Clem’s progress, Nick returned his focus to her. His dark
gaze smoldered. “Does he do that often?”

“No.”
She shook her head. “I’m not even sure why he was out here.” She paused. Nick’s
brows furrowed, dark and dangerous. She cupped a hand to her forehead. “I’m not
sure why you’re out here either.”

“I
saw you head out here earlier, then I saw him do the same. He seemed in an
awful hurry.” Nick shrugged. “I figured I’d come and check on things.”

“Check
on things? What exactly did you expect to find?”

Caught
off guard by her insinuation, he chuckled. “Oh, I don’t know...that’s what I
came to find out.”

Delaney
didn’t believe him for a second. Nick Harris had already demonstrated his propensity
for rescuing damsels in distress. Did he think she wanted him to hover about
her? Though his interference did take the bite out of handling Clem herself. But
still...

Delaney
glanced about them and wondered why he really came. She was no neophyte when it
came to people’s true intentions. Rarely were they as they appeared on the
surface. No, people usually played one hand above water while the other was
dabbling beneath the surface into places it didn’t belong. Delaney took one
last look around and sighed. No sense in trying to investigate with
him
looking over her shoulder. She’d have to make yet another trip. Delaney grunted
and took off for the trail.

“Hey—where
are you going?”

“Home.”

“On
your own?”

“Same
way I came in.” She pushed wayward branches out of her path and headed for the
main trail. “I’m sure you can find your way out.”

“What
about that fellow, that—”

“Clem?”
She continued to press forward, appraising the terrain ahead as she trekked
over roots and rocks and leaves. She heard Nick crunching over branches behind
her.

“Yes.”

“I’m
not worried about
him
.” She grabbed a nearby branch and hauled herself
up a narrow path between rock and tree, but hands at her waist stopped her
cold. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, shock shooting through her body. She turned
around.

“I
just saved your butt back there.” A small smile pulled at his mouth, but his
eyes held a hint of tease. “Don’t you think it would be nice to show me the
trail back?”

Face-to-face
with a man she hardly knew, Delaney’s heart thumped against her ribs. The steel
grip on her hips made it impossible to move. The rise of his cologne drifted
between them, a gleam built in his eyes. She glanced at the hands on her waist
and said, “If you don’t mind...”