Chapter 20
20
Rachel
“ W hat do you mean the water is gone?” Wade demanded.
“Exactly what I’m saying. The water isn’t running through the land anymore. That means the folks on the other side of the property line aren’t getting any either. I’m telling you, the people who broke into the house are doing this to sabotage the project.” Hudson paced the Keagan living room with quick, agitated steps. At least everyone in this room knew who the real owner of the property was. It made more sense why they were being asked to help out. Ironically, no one had batted an eye when Rachel had made her confession. Now, they just had to figure out how to keep her and her property safe.
Rachel’s eyes bounced from Hudson to Henry, who spoke up next.
“We have to do something. If the folks who approved the sanctuary find out that there isn’t a water source on the premises, then they could revoke the funding or whatever it is they’re helping with.”
“What can we do? It’s not like I can just turn on the faucet,” Hudson said with derision. “At this point, all I can think of is to follow the creek upstream and try to find out what happened.”
Henry pushed away from the wall from where he had been leaning. “Then let’s do it. We can follow the creek and get the water flowing again?—”
“Are you sure that’s the right decision?” Athena drew Rachel’s attention. She’d been holding Rachel’s hand throughout the whole conversation. The sanctuary had been Rachel’s responsibility, and hers alone—until Hudson had pushed himself into the fray. Now they were involving his family and hers.
Something didn’t feel right about any of this. Why couldn’t they just be left alone? What if the next time these people came back, they actually hurt someone? She’d had a close call once before. She squeezed Athena’s hand, causing their eyes to lock. “Athena’s right. Maybe we should call the sheriff about this one, too.”
Hudson shook his head. “If we do that, they’re going to let the state know. What if they refuse to let you run the sanctuary the way you need to?”
Athena’s focus darted to Hudson. “Do you really think they’d do that? Could they stop the project from moving forward?”
“Anything could happen,” Hudson said. “There is so much red tape around this project. One of the big rules is that the animals have shelter, food, and water. All that would have to happen is for someone to report us and the whole thing gets shut down.”
Henry scowled, his arms folded. “What happened to people being decent? The sanctuary is literally to save wild horses and give them a new life.”
Rachel shook her head. “I don’t want any of you getting hurt because of what’s going on. Checking the perimeter is one thing, but venturing off the premises could end poorly for everyone involved. Besides, there’s no way to access the creek by car. You’d have to ride horses, and there’s no telling how long that would take.”
“We’re not going to get hurt if we’re smart, right guys?” Hudson glanced around the room to where the others had remained quiet. Everyone in the room nodded their assent. “See? We’re here for you,” Hudson said vehemently as he moved across the room and knelt down in front of her. “We’re not going to let you deal with this on your own.”
“And what if it’s a trap? What if someone calls it in right when you get there and you get arrested for something you didn’t do?” Rachel stood and turned slowly so each of the Keagan men understood what they might be getting themselves into. She stopped at the oldest.
Wade gave her a boyish grin. “The sheriff isn’t going to believe for one second that we’re involved. He’s smarter than you give him credit for.” He let his gaze sweep over the room. “Hudson and Henry have the right idea. We should send a couple guys upstream to check it out. Maybe it’ll be nothing. Maybe we’ll find something we can fix. Either way, it would be better for us to figure it out before we decide what should come next. This isn’t just about Rachel and her property. It’s about the horses, too. We’ve found a couple on the outskirts of our borders, but we haven’t had them rounded up yet.” He gave Rachel a meaningful look. “I thought they could be your first tenants.”
Rachel couldn’t help the smile that stretched across her face. “I’d love that.”
“Then it’s settled. We’re going to follow the creek until we figure out what happened. If we can fix it, that’s what we’re going to do.” He motioned for the guys to follow him out the door, presumably to get the supplies ready for their trip.
Athena tugged Rachel back to her seat. “They’re going to be fine. I’ll make sure that Henry takes his rifle with him. The worst that could happen is that they find out they can’t fix the creek.”
Rachel huffed. “That’s not the worst that could happen.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Athena asked quietly.
A flush crawled up Rachel’s neck until it settled in her cheeks and her ears. She closed her eyes, biting back the smile that wanted to make itself known. “It just means…” Rachel let out a heavy sigh. “It means that I would never forgive myself if something happened to your fiancé.”
Athena gave her a pointed look. “Come on, Rachel. I know you know I’m not that dense. I knew something was going on the second I stopped by that night and gave you the wedding invitation. The tension in your house was almost unbearable. Either you two are in love or you’re in denial.”
Rachel gasped with a forced laugh. “How can you even say that?”
Another pointed look from her sister was all it took for Rachel to know she wouldn’t be getting out of this conversation unscathed.
She sighed again. “What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to admit that you have feelings for him. I see the way you look at each other. There’s enough electricity between you to light a rodeo stadium.”
Rachel pressed her lips together tightly. She couldn’t bring herself to meet Athena’s gaze. “Is it really that obvious?”
Athena tilted her head. “Maybe not to everyone. But for Henry and me? I think he noticed it first, mostly because of that night.” She didn’t have to confirm the day she spoke of. Rachel already knew. Her sister smiled warmly. “There are worse things than falling for a Keagan.”
Rachel let out a soft laugh.
“I mean it,” Athena pressed. She squeezed Rachel’s hand again. “And from the looks of it, he loves you just as much. He wants to help, and as much as I agree that something bad could happen, if I know one thing, it’s that Keagan men are stubborn as all get-out. You’re not going to stand in their way if they want to do something.”
What if something happens ? The question clung to her lips, but Rachel wasn’t able to voice it. Maybe Athena was right. The Keagans were an answer to her problems, whether she liked it or not. “I guess we’ll have to see what happens when they find out where the water went. Do you think they’ll get it figured out before it gets noticed?”
Athena shrugged. “As far as I figure, you wouldn’t have found out if you weren’t out there today. No one else will find out without someone reporting it or inspecting the property. You’re probably going to be just fine.” She wrapped her arm around Rachel’s shoulders. “Now, let’s forget all about that stuff. How about you tell me what happened?”
“What happened?” Rachel laughed. “What do you mean?”
“With Hudson. How did he win you over? No one missed the way he treated you when you showed up. Now, all of a sudden he’s your biggest fan. So, what happened?”
Rachel laughed again. “Nothing.”
Athena wasn’t convinced. “Do I have to point out the obvious again? You might as well tell me what he did to win you over. Granted, there’s still a lot about you that I have yet to learn, but the Rachel I know doesn’t trust just anyone. So, beyond the whole being a knight in shining armor…” Her voice trailed off and she grinned. “What is it?”
Rachel rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to get it out of you one way or another.”
“Fine,” Rachel groaned. “It’s Cookie.”
“He gave you a cookie?”
She snickered. “No, he got me a puppy.”
“A puppy? You’re kidding.”
Rachel shook her head. “He wanted to get me a companion to help me sleep.”
Athena let out a soft, exaggerated sigh. “That is so sweet.”
It was. Hudson might have a crusty exterior, but when he started warming up to someone, he was the most generous person Rachel had met. The more she got to know him, the more she realized just how lucky she was.
All the more reason to want him to be careful. Based on their last experience at the creek, she didn’t have a single doubt that he would step into the line of fire for her. He would do anything to keep her safe.
But who would keep him safe?
“Don’t even go there,” Athena murmured.
Rachel jumped and stared at her sister, who was pinning her in place with that knowing look of hers. “Go where?”
Athena waved a finger over her with a shake of her head. “Don’t even go to that place. Nothing is going to happen to him. He’s going to be just fine. The people who came to break into your place probably didn’t cause the creek to dry up.”
There really wasn’t another reason. Athena was just trying to make her feel better, and it wasn’t working. Rachel lifted one eyebrow. “You can’t really believe that.”
“All I’m saying is that we don’t know what’s going on—not really. The people who broke into the house might have left that note, but then they didn’t come back. Why would they change course and mess with the property again? Why not go after you again?”
“Gee,” Rachel drawled with sarcasm, “thanks.”
“But think about it. The people who want you gone… they were brazen. They attacked you while you were home. This? It’s different.”
“You can think that, but it doesn’t make it true. Whoever wants me gone, they’re going to do whatever it takes to make me leave. Who knows the lengths they’ll go to.”
Athena sighed. “Fine. Let’s say that they’re the same people. Regardless, they’re after you—not the Keagans. So, if the guys go out there to figure things out, they’re probably not in any real danger.”
Rachel groaned and got to her feet. “You don’t know that either. They might have been watching the guys when they made their checks around the property. For all they know, the Keagans are part of this mess. I know you’re just as worried about Henry. Why aren’t you freaking out like me?”
Athena stared at her hard. “Because I’m choosing to think positively. Because if I let myself cave to the thoughts of fear and uncertainty, then the bad guys win.”
Her words had a profound effect on Rachel, who slowly returned to her seat. “I guess you’re right. I would rather burn the place to the ground than let them win.”
Their eyes locked, and Rachel heaved a shuddering breath. “I guess all we can do is try to stay calm. Everything will work out, right?”
“Right,” Athena said and gave her head a sharp nod. “Everything will work out.”
Rachel pulled her sister into her arms. Athena was the only one in her family who knew what was really going on. Her folks had no idea. It was nice to have someone to talk to about all of this—a comrade in arms. “Do you think they’ll ever stop? Maybe after the horses get brought out?”
“I don’t know,” Athena said into Rachel’s shoulder. “I wish I did.”