Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Emma
M y hand ran over my stomach as the baby gave a good kick, and I smiled, pausing as I wiped down the top of the glass display case. Between Mason and I, things were better than ever, and it was the perfect timing. I was now at the halfway mark…
And there was no hiding my belly.
But now if we could just figure out how to save the ranch…
I pursed my lips as it came back to mind. Mason was still enraptured by the investigation, and he wasn’t even out in the field yet. I felt for him, knowing that he wanted to see it through to the end—and that he wanted to return all the cattle that had gone missing.
“I think I’ll have one of those cinnamon rolls,” a voice said from behind me. “They always were my favorite.”
A chill ran down my spine as I turned around, meeting two very familiar hazel eyes. “What are you doing here?” I glanced around, searching for Sarah, who had stepped out on a break. There were a handful of patrons still here, and I noticed their eyes shifting to the man, too.
Derek.
“I just thought I’d swing by and see how things are going for you in this little Podunk shithole,” he grunted, running his finger along the top of the counter that I had just wiped.
I swallowed hard as I stared at my smirking ex-boyfriend. “Things are fine.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but my heart was hammering in my chest—and not in a good way. Derek was a loose cannon, and you never knew when he might explode. He had never done anything dangerous, but he was still intimidating nonetheless…
Especially since I had broken up with him nearly ten months prior.
“Are they now?” He chuckled as I placed the cinnamon roll on a plate and handed it over to him. Derek gave me a long look as he took it from me, his eyes not stopping until they made it to my stomach—and then his perfectly shaven jaw dropped. “What the…”
“Yeah, I’m pregnant,” I snapped, shaking my head and backing away from him. The counter was in between us and provided a little comfort for me. “And no, it’s not yours.”
“Obviously,” he shot back. His dark hair was nearly the same color as his suit, which made him stand out like a sore thumb in the town. “I’m just surprised by your lack of judgment. I always thought better of you, Emma. I never thought you were the type to go getting knocked up without a marriage.”
“You’re being incredibly rude,” I leveled with him. “You need to leave my store.”
He raised an amused brow. “You really gonna try to throw me out? That’s not very welcoming of you. I thought you always said this town was full of kind people.”
“Get the hell out of here,” a voice shouted as soon as the doorbell chimed. I turned to see Lily storming in, her eyes like a laser on Derek. “You’re not supposed to be anywhere near Emma—and she doesn’t want you to be, either. Get out.”
He glared at her, but unlike me, there was always something about Lily that he respected—like the tiny blonde might actually kick him right in the balls or something. “I’m not done talking to her.”
“Yeah, you are,” she barked, pointing to the door. “Get out.”
Derek’s eyes narrowed. “I haven’t paid.”
“It’s on the house,” I chimed in, joining forces with Lily. “Please leave.”
He let out a long, exaggerated sigh, and left, the door slamming behind him. Lily and I both watched in silence as he climbed into his car and sped off down the street.
“I don’t know why he showed up…” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “I thought he was over it.”
“He’s just a pest is what he is,” Lily muttered, shaking her head. “Maybe now that he saw you’re pregnant, he’ll move on. I seriously can’t stand him. He’s just a narcissist. He’s always out to have control over you.”
I let out a sigh, pushing my hair out of my eyes. “I know that, and that’s why his presence here is just that much more unnerving…”
“He won’t bother you.” Lily placed her hand on my shoulder from where she’d joined me on the other side of the counter. “We should probably tell Mason though, and I have no doubt if he knows, he definitely will make sure you’ re safe.”
I shook my head adamantly. “I don’t want to burden him with that. He has enough on his plate. If I tell him about this, it might just tip him right over the edge.”
Lily pursed her lips. “I don’t think that’s how he would take it. I know that you’re worried about him, and I understand, I do… But what if Derek doesn’t stay away? I don’t know…” Her voice trailed off, thick with worry as she let out a sigh.
I couldn’t disagree with her. As much as I hoped that Derek was gone… I knew that there was a chance he’d still hang around—and that made me nervous. “I’ll tell him when I have a chance,” I finally said, plopping down onto the stool. I was exhausted, and just taking care of the café was starting to be a big chore.
“You’re gonna get through this,” Lily said softly, just as the doorbell chimed. We both looked up to see Mason and Jackson walking through the door, big smiles on their faces…
But I didn’t feel the same.
“What the heck are you doing out and about?” I folded my arms across my chest, irritation oozing from my tone. “You’re supposed to be home resting.” Jackson snickered at the response, while Mason cringed.
“I know, I know,” he held up his hands halfway in surrender. “But we had to check on a lead. I couldn’t sit on the sidelines for this one.”
“Well, it better be good, because you’re going against the doctor’s order, Mason,” I snipped, raising an eyebrow at the two of them when they both looked more amused than threatened.
“I’m sorry,” Mason said quickly, but then continued. “Anyway, it was a good lead. We located John and Annie Calvin’s cattle at some Podunk sale just across the border. We already got a truck headed up there. ”
I nodded, excited and relieved, but still frustrated with him. “So… What about Lucas?”
Jackson shook his head. “It doesn’t look like they’re at the sale. I don’t quite understand how the hell all of his cattle seem to have vanished into thin air. I’d think they’d be easier to see because of the brands.”
“They’re probably removing them,” Lily remarked, saying something for the first time since they walked in. “We all know that’s what they do. I’ve watched it in a million westerns.”
“Yeah, just a lot of cattle to do that to,” Mason grunted, removing his hat and running his fingers through his dark tresses. “That’s what I don’t get. It would have to be so damn sophisticated.”
“Not necessarily,” Lily said carefully, her eyes bouncing between them. “Just a few solid cowboys could handle rebranding all those cattle. I don’t think it would have to be that sophisticated.”
“No, not in that way,” Mason agreed, nodding. “But taking them in a way where they basically just vanish from thin air requires a certain level of skill.”
“Or just knowing the area,” I added, thinking aloud. “If they knew this area, and all the farmers and ranchers, they would be able to move under the radar without any problem, really. No one would think anything if they saw them.”
“She’s got a point,” Lily said.
“Yeah, but a big-ass cattle truck would catch someone’s attention,” Jackson countered, leaning against the counter. “There’s no way that you could ignore a semi-full of cattle running down the highway. At this point, we’ve been stopping every single one that we come across.”
Lily and I both nodded, and my head was swimming with ideas and possibilities. It felt like they were just… mi ssing something. I had a feeling the answer was right under our noses…
“We have to celebrate this win though,” Jackson’s voice broke the silence that had settled between us. “I can’t wait to see the look on Annie Calvin’s face when her precious cattle are returned to her. Lord knows the woman might just fall over with excitement.”
“Yeah, and then maybe she won’t hate us so much,” Mason chuckled, making a funny face. “She’s a cantankerous thing.”
“That’s being nice,” Jackson laughed, before nodding to one of the muffins behind the glass. “Can I get one of those? All this success has me starving.”
“Of course,” I beamed, reaching in and plucking the blueberry muffin from where it was sitting in the case. “On the house. Would you like anything?” I turned to Mason, my eyes studying the pale look on his face.
He doesn’t feel good.
“Um, nah, I have the privilege of getting to eat your food every day and?—”
“And you don’t feel good right now,” I cut in, my voice growing chiding again. “You really shouldn’t be overdoing it. You look like you’re about to be sick.”
His face hardened. “I had work to do, Emma. I needed to go put eyes on those cattle, and make sure they would get back home to the Calvin’s.”
I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to argue with him right then and there. “If you say so.”
Jackson chuckled, biting into his muffin. “Dude, you’re gonna be in the doghouse when you get home tonight.”
“Well, I think I might just stay at my own house tonight,” I said, watching Mason’s face fall. “Unless you head on home and get some rest. ”
“Well played,” Mason grunted, shaking his head at me. “I’ll go home, but only if you promise to come over.”
I laughed, a smile tugging at my lips. “Okay, I promise.”
“Deal,” he shot me a wink, and then leaned over the counter, kissing me on the cheek. “Thanks for not killing me.”
“I haven’t said that I won’t,” I teased, as the two of them headed for the door. “You make sure he gets home, Jackson,” I called after them.
“I’ll escort him myself,” Jackson looked back over his shoulder, a smirk on his face. “You ladies have a nice afternoon. Don’t work too hard.”
Lily and I watched as they headed out, climbing into Jackson’s patrol car and pulling away. I wondered if they’d actually go home like I asked, or if they’d take the long way, making sure the cattle got back to the Calvin’s. I couldn’t blame Mason for wanting to be a part of it…
But I was still worried about his health.
“He’s a stubborn man,” Lily mused, grabbing the broom and sweeping. “But I do get why he went to double check the cattle himself. I think this investigation is personal for him with everything going on with Lucas. He needs his cattle back in order to make the payments and not lose the ranch.”
I nodded, sympathy creeping in. “I know, and I can’t believe they haven’t found any of Lucas’s cattle. So many have gone missing… You’d think a load would be bound to turn up.”
Lily shrugged. “I don’t remember much from the last time that we had a stent of rustlers, but I remember that it took my grandparents’ cattle. Crippled them, really. They never found them.”
My shoulders slumped. “Really? ”
Lily nodded. “But that was before all the technology they have now. Those missing cattle are blasted all over the internet and what not. You’d think they’d show up somewhere.”
I paused, my brow furrowed with thought. “Unless someone is hiding them.”