Chapter 15
The entire event left a bad taste in Cal’s mouth. Something was off with Hank. Or was he seeing things that weren’t there? Like Dillon had said, people changed. It had been well over a year since Cal had seen or spoken to Hank. Maybe he remembered Hank differently than he truly was.
“I want to be there,” Dillon said.
Cal put his hand on her to stop her, and the look she gave him halted him in his tracks. He lifted both his hands in apology and stepped back.
“It’ll be better if you stay on your land,” Chet calmly told Dillon.
Behind the ranger, Hank smiled as if he had just gotten his way.
“I know my horse,” Dillon argued.
Chet motioned for Hank and his men to remain on their side of the fence.
The ranger then walked to Dillon, Cal, and Emmett.
Chet glanced at all of them before stopping at Dillon.
“I understand there’s bad blood between the two of you.
I don’t know who started it, and I don’t care.
I’m here to find your horse. In order for me to do that, I need to carry out my investigation.
That means I need to concentrate on Mr. Stephens, everyone who has access to his ranch, and the ranch itself.
I can’t do that if I’m pulling the two of you apart every other minute. ”
“Fair enough,” Dillon conceded. “My apologies. I know better.”
Chet shook his head, his lips pressing together briefly. “I understand your distress. You’re attempting to locate a valuable animal. You have every right to what you’re feeling.”
“Don’t trust him,” Dillon warned.
A crooked smile appeared on the older man’s lips when he said, “Ma’am, I don’t trust anyone.”
“We’ll return to the house,” Emmett said as he climbed into the UTV.
But Cal hesitated. He looked at Chet. “I know Hank. Or, I used to know him. Maybe I should go with you.”
“Why?” Chet asked.
Cal glanced at Dillon and then shrugged. “I just explained why. I could help determine if he’s lying or not.”
“Or you could be working with him.” Chet swung his head to Dillon and hooked a thumb at Cal. “Do you trust him?”
Dillon’s powder blue gaze slid to him. Cal studied her as she stared at him. He knew she didn’t trust him. All he wanted to do was help, but every time he tried, something stopped him. Not that he could blame anyone. But how could he prove his trustworthiness if he couldn’t help?
“He saved my life,” Dillon finally answered.
Chet made an indistinct sound. “So, he did.”
“I’m not sure you should be doing this investigation alone.”
“Who said I’m alone?” Chet replied pithily.
Dillon grinned in return. “How will you get back to your truck?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
She nodded and walked to the UTV. Cal started to follow her when Chet called his name.
The ranger moved close and lowered his voice. “If your truck was at Ike’s, how did you get to the Bar 4?”
“I don’t know.”
“If I were in your shoes, I’d want that answer.”
Cal nodded. “I intend to find it and others.”
“A lot of unanswered questions involve you. You seem to want to help Ms. Young. Get the facts, son. One way or another, I’ll find them.”
Cal took the threat to heart and nodded at the ranger before pivoting and climbing into the back passenger seat of the UTV.
“What was that about?” Emmett asked.
Cal briefly met Dillon’s gaze as she glanced over her shoulder and started the engine. “He wanted to assure me that he would look everywhere for Legacy.”
“I like him,” Emmett said. “First time I’ve ever met one of the special rangers. Hope it’s my last.”
Dillon said nothing as she drove away. Cal watched Hank and Chet over his shoulder until the vehicle descended a hill and put them out of view.
The ride back to the house was silent, which allowed Cal time to think over what the ranger had said.
Cal had been so wrapped up in finding Legacy and protecting Dillon that he had set aside something important that he needed to do—find the truth.
There was no way he could’ve walked from Ike’s to the ranch. It was at least five miles from town. Not to mention, he’d been drunk. Unfortunately, he had no memories of most of that night. Blacking out only made things more difficult for him because he couldn’t prove anything to Dillon.
Cal had never had his honor or word questioned before. He didn’t like that he couldn’t provide proof to Dillon to ease her mind. His gaze lingered on the back of her head. She’d tied her brunette locks at the nape of her neck, but he remembered how they had flowed freely the night before.
Dinner had been delightful. The company amazing. The food delicious. He’d hated when they parted ways because he’d wanted to remain with her. Dillon was witty, and her smile was sublime. She shouldered a lot running the ranch, and she did it effortlessly—even under the current pressure.
When they pulled up to the ranch, all three got out and walked in different directions, returning to their work.
Cal kept close to the stables and paddocks where Dillon worked with the foals.
All the while, Cal’s gaze moved about the property, wondering how someone could have gotten onto the ranch to shoot Dillon.
It must not be difficult since he had walked onto the ranch without anyone stopping him.
Was someone out there now? Were they looking through a scope, lining up the crosshairs with Dillon? The thought chilled Cal.
Why did Hank want the Bar 4 so badly? Why had he suddenly stopped making offers to Dillon? Why would there be so many accidents around the ranch that either potentially hurt Dillon or someone else—or caused the ranch to lose money? Why would anyone want to kill Dillon?
Everything came back to harming her.
The accidents had slowed her down or stopped her, but nothing had put an end to her work. So, drastic action had been taken yesterday. If someone were willing to kill her, they wouldn’t stop after one attempt. There would be another.
Cal fisted his hands. He needed answers, but he wouldn’t find them on the ranch.
He needed to go to town and get them, which wouldn’t happen until the day was done.
Yet, the thought of leaving Dillon unprotected wasn’t an option.
Which put Cal in a tough position. He needed to find the truth more than anything because that was the only way he’d untangle the situation around him.
Lunch came and went without any sign of Chet. Hank’s ranch was large, with a lot of ground to cover. It could easily take a couple of days before they completed the search of Ivy Ridge. Dillon was strung tightly, her gaze moving to the drive as she searched for any signs of the ranger.
It was finally nearing the end of another hot day.
Cal removed his hat and wiped his forehead with his forearm.
As he placed his hat back in place, he saw the glint of sun off chrome a second before hearing an engine start.
He lengthened his strides to get a better look at the drive and spotted Dillon driving away.
“Hey!” Cal yelled, but she never saw or heard him.
Emmett was on the porch of the house, glaring at him. “I thought you were supposed to watch her.”
“I can’t do that if she doesn’t tell me what she’s doing.”
“Son, if you haven’t noticed, she has a mind of her own. She’s not going to tell you anything.”
Cal fought to keep his temper in check. “Do you know where she’s headed?”
“Town for some supplies.”
Cal turned and ran to the bunkhouse to grab his keys and jump in his truck.
Once on the road, he pressed the accelerator to the floorboard, but it did no good.
He couldn’t see Dillon. It wasn’t until he crested a hill that he spotted her at the bottom and breathed easier.
He let up on the gas and slowed his truck.
When they drove through town, he stared at Ike’s. As much as he wanted to return and see if anyone had seen who he’d spoken to the other night, he stayed behind Dillon. She pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store and got out, only to turn and look right at him. Cal parked beside her.
“Are you really following me?” she asked.
He shrugged as he climbed out of the truck. “With everything going on, don’t you think that’s the smart thing to do?”
“Come on, then,” she said with a sigh.
The trip was quick, and they both walked out with bags. Cal put his in the cab of his truck and looked down the street at Ike’s flashing sign.
“Go.”
He turned at the sound of Dillon’s voice. “What?”
“If you want a drink, go.”
“I don’t want a drink. I want to remember the other night.”
She placed her arms on the truck bed frame with a thoughtful expression. “You think you’ll find them there?”
“I won’t know until I try.”
“Then let’s go.”
Startled, he asked, “What?”
“You said I can’t be alone. And you want answers. We’re in town. Makes perfect sense to me,” she replied and opened the vehicle door to get in.
Cal had no choice but to climb into his truck and start the engine. He followed Dillon to Ike’s, just down the street. Now that he was here, he knew he’d rather do this alone, but he suspected that he wouldn’t get rid of Dillon that easily.
She was already at the door of the bar when he slid out of his vehicle. She didn’t wait for him to reach her before entering the establishment and walking to a table to sit. Cal looked around as he slowly made his way to her.
“Remember any of this?” she asked.
He shook his head as a country song ended, and another began through the speakers. The smell of stale beer, yeast, and musty upholstery wasn’t particular to Ike’s, so the smells couldn’t help dredge up memories of that evening.
A leggy blonde with a tight-fitting, low-cut shirt over her impressive breasts stood behind the bar. She gave him a nod when she caught him staring.
“Remember her?” Dillon asked.
“Vaguely,” he answered and motioned her over.
The blonde approached with a smile. “You’re alive. I’m relieved after the other night.”
“You remember him?” Dillon asked.
She flashed Cal a dry look. “In my line of work, you remember the ones who get as drunk as you were. I stopped serving you.”
“Then how did I get so drunk?”
Her lips flattened in distaste. “Your friends had liquor of their own. You went with them to keep drinking.”
“Who were they?” Cal and Dillon asked in unison.
The bartender looked between them. “I don’t know their names. Sorry.”
“What about their faces?” Dillon asked.
Cal nodded. “Anything.”
“Did you kill someone or something?” the bartender asked with a frown of concern.
Cal held her gaze. “I can’t remember that night. I have missing time, and I don’t know who I was with or how I got to where I was found.”
The bartender glanced around the bar to the few patrons before moving closer and lowering her voice. “I don’t know their names, but I recognized one guy. He does odd jobs for Isaac Gomez.”
“The attorney?” Dillon asked.
“The very one,” the waitress replied.
Cal rose and pulled some money out of his pocket to hand to the woman. “Thanks. Is there anything else you can think of?”
“They approached you. You’d been here for a bit. I’d just cut you off and offered to call you a cab when they showed up. They went straight to you as if they were expecting to find you here. They told me they were going to take care of you and that I didn’t need to worry about getting you a ride.”
Dillon stood and pushed her chair in. “You didn’t happen to hear where they were headed, did you?”
“No, but the look they shared didn’t sit well with me,” the bartender answered.
Cal frowned at her words. “What kind of look?”
“The kind that said they’d found exactly what they wanted.”