Chapter 21
The day was long, hot, and exhausting, and Dillon was tense and on edge for all of it.
Every sound caused her to jump. It didn’t matter if others surrounded her or not.
Emmett was furious at her for not staying in the house, but as she had pointed out, the structure hadn’t protected her the night before.
Dillon had been ecstatic when the sheriff assigned June to follow Cal and Chet as they tracked. Dillon had known June for almost six years. They got along great. Dillon didn’t mind that so much testosterone surrounded her daily, but sometimes having another woman around was good.
The sun came out early, scorching everything with its heat. The threat of storm clouds moving toward them had Cal glancing at the sky often. He didn’t rush. Instead, he took the time to look at every inch of ground.
The tracks took them a little over a quarter of a mile away and through several pastures.
From what Cal had told her, the shoe impressions were deeper at the fence, a telltale sign that the shooter had jumped it.
Then, to everyone’s shock, they’d hooked a wide left and started running back the way they’d come.
Thirty feet from the road, the first fat raindrop landed. Dillon feared the tracks would get wiped away in the rain, and the fact that Cal picked up his pace told her that he had the same concern.
Just as Cal placed the final flag, and they documented the evidence, the sky unleashed the rain.
Cal took pictures of something else in the dirt beside the road.
The rain dripped freely from the brims of their hats and soaked their clothes.
It was a bit of a hike back to the house, but Dillon had never minded getting caught in the rain.
A honk sounded as a patrol car pulled up beside them. The four of them piled into the vehicle and returned to the house. Dillon wasn’t surprised to see everyone inside her kitchen. No sooner had they arrived than Sheriff Felps wanted to know what they had found.
Dillon wasn’t sure if it was because Cal had mentioned his bad feeling about the sheriff or because Felps was friends with Hank, but she didn’t want to be around him. She stepped to the side but watched the sheriff carefully as Cal and Chet laid out what they had discovered to everyone inside.
“He’s good,” Emmett said and nodded toward Cal. “Maybe one of the best trackers I’ve seen.”
Dillon scratched her neck before crossing her arms over her chest. “We’re lucky he’s here. I’m not sure the sheriff’s department would’ve found the tracks, much less done it before the rain.”
“I keep telling the sheriff they need to get some K9 units,” Emmett murmured.
Morning faded to afternoon, then afternoon to evening.
Sheriff’s deputies stood in the rain, continuing to search, as others went back to the station to begin sifting through evidence from the night before.
The rain persisted. Emmett couldn’t stand to be around too many people and quickly left to get to work with Dusty.
Chet stayed for most of the day before he received a call and left. She wanted to ask him for an update, but she had to remind herself that if Chet had anything to share, he would. Dillon hated that she had to put so much of her faith in others to solve her problems.
Finally, she ushered the last of the deputies, along with the sheriff, out of her house. When she turned around, Cal was waiting for her. “What is it?”
“Something I shared with Chet. He opted not to give the information to the sheriff just yet.”
Intrigued, Dillon walked to him. “What?”
“When it started raining, I saw tire tracks by the road.”
“Is that what you were taking pictures of?”
He nodded. “The rain would’ve washed them away. It might be nothing.”
“But it might be something. Like evidence. It has to help.”
“Only if we can match the tread to a vehicle.”
Dillon leaned back against the island. “Why didn’t Chet share the information with the sheriff?”
“He told me he wanted to look into something first.”
“Hank,” Dillon guessed.
Cal’s lips twisted ruefully. “That’s my guess. If the tires match any of Hank’s vehicles or anyone who works for him, Chet probably wants to talk to them first.”
“Just in case Felps is helping Hank.”
“Precisely.”
Dillon was grateful that Cal was there. She started to tell him that but decided against it at the last second. She looked outside, shifting in the awkward silence.
“I should probably go and help Dusty and Emmett,” Cal said.
She hastily nodded. “There are things I need to do, too.”
They walked out of the house together and sprinted to the stables. Dillon slipped in the mud, and Cal grabbed her hand, balancing her. The touch of his hand shot warmth from her fingers all the way up her arm and then through her body.
“That was close,” he said with a smile once they were inside the barn.
She nodded, unable to find words. He released her hand and turned away. Dillon watched him for a few moments before shaking herself and getting to work. She didn’t stop until it had turned dark. Even then, she didn’t want to halt, but she was drained.
“That’s enough for the day,” Cal said as he walked up. “You’re dead on your feet. We’ll catch up with everything over the next few days.”
She didn’t have the strength to argue. After the shooting and getting little rest afterward, she just wanted to curl up and sleep. Dillon looked around for Emmett and Dusty but didn’t see them. At the house, she took her muddy boots off outside and made her way indoors.
“I’m going to get out of these wet clothes,” she told Cal.
Except when she reached her room and stripped, her eyes landed on the bed. Her body yearned to relax. She just wanted to rest for a minute. The next thing she knew, it was morning.
Dillon rose and removed her bandages before jumping into the shower. To save time, she decided not to wash her hair. She quickly dressed and made her way downstairs to find Cal in the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.
“I heard you moving around,” he said.
She smiled and accepted the cup. “I apologize for last night.”
“No need,” he said with a smile. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t come back down. I found some bread, and your toaster survived the attack.”
Dillon laughed and opened the freezer to pull out a box of breakfast sandwiches. “I think the microwave came away unscathed, as well.”
“I like your idea better.”
She tossed him a sandwich for each of them.
There was a comfortable silence between them as they ate their breakfast before heading outside.
And for the next four days, things went back to normal at the ranch.
She worked outside during the day but started the kitchen cleanup at night—and Cal was right there with her, helping.
They’d tossed broken dishes and removed the busted doors so she could get the kitchen in some semblance of order. They’d even had the window replaced so the plywood could be removed.
Despite all of that, Dillon kept waiting for someone to fire more shots. Her wounds were healing, but she would always know they were there. Cal was true to his word and was never far. If she wanted to use any kind of mechanical device, he used it first to make sure nothing was malfunctioning.
Another thing that had her wound up was that they hadn’t heard from Chet in days. She had left him messages, and he had texted her that he would be in touch when he had information. But there had been nothing else from him.
Dillon walked from the stables after putting up her mare. She and Cal had moved one of the herds of cattle from one pasture to another, checking fence line along the way. She spotted Emmett rocking in one of the chairs on the porch, wearing a starched shirt—something he usually saved for church.
“You’d better hurry,” he told them.
Dillon frowned and then glanced at Cal, who shrugged. “For what?”
“The dance tonight.”
How could she have forgotten about it? It had always been the highlight of Dolly’s year. And Dillon had to admit, she always had a good time when she attended. But she wasn’t sure about this one. “No.”
“What dance?” Cal asked.
Emmett smiled, his eyes twinkling with merriment. “We have an annual summer dance. It’s a grand event for our fair county. Dillon always attends.”
“Let’s go,” Cal told her.
She hesitated. “I don’t know. I’m tired. It’s been a long week.”
“Maybe this is what you need,” Cal suggested. “Get away from the ranch and the problems here. Cut loose for a night.”
It didn’t sound like a bad idea.
“I swear I won’t drink,” he told her with a smile.
Emmett stopped rocking. “Dillon, it’s been four days without anyone trying to harm you. Cal will be with you. Hell, even Dusty and I will be there. You’ll be surrounded by people. No one would dare to do anything.”
She bit her lip, unsure of what to do. A part of her wanted to go and have fun, especially after the last week.
It was the other half of her, the part that recalled the horror of being shot at, that cautioned her.
Yet, would it be good to be here alone? Cal would stay, but being at the ranch would still make her an easy target. “All right.”
Emmett let out a whoop. “Showers. Hurry!”
Dillon found her steps light as she traded a smile with Cal and rushed into the house to get ready.
He sprinted off to do the same. She rushed through her shower so she could take her time drying her hair and putting on some makeup.
Dillon then stood in her closet and let her eyes scan the garments.
She ended up choosing a long, flowy, tan lace skirt and paired it with a faded chambray button-down that she tied at her waist. She added a wide, brown leather belt with large, silver conchae to rest on her hips.
Dillon then selected the dressy, cognac leather boots Dolly had given her one Christmas.
Next, she went to her jewelry box and picked two wide silver cuff bracelets for each wrist, silver earrings that dangled nearly to her shoulders, and a simple silver necklace with a tiny compass.
Dillon stepped back and examined herself in the full-length mirror. She usually wore one of her dress hats, but she decided against it for tonight. She turned from side to side and checked herself from every angle. Once she made sure that everything was in place, she walked downstairs.
She found no sign of anyone inside. Peeking outside, she saw Cal on the porch, sitting in a rocker. She opened the door and stepped out. Cal’s head jerked to her, and his eyes widened as he let out a soft whistle.
“You look stunning,” he said as he got to his feet.
Dillon smiled, pleased with his response. She took in the dark blue button-down he wore and the slim, retro vest in a pale gray that fit him like a glove. He wore dark denim and a granite gray Stetson that matched his eyes. “You clean up nice, cowboy.”
His grin made her stomach flutter. “Thank you.”
“I especially like the vest. Did you have that custom made?”
Cal glanced down, running his hands over the material. “It was my grandfather’s.”
“It fits you perfectly.”
“Shall we go?”
Dillon glanced around. “Are Emmett or Dusty riding with us?”
“Both headed out separately. It’s just you and me.”
For some reason, that sentence made her mouth go dry.
Dillon couldn’t seem to catch her breath.
Maybe going to the dance wasn’t a good idea if she was reacting this way.
But . . . how could she not? Cal had saved her like some white knight and tended to her wounds like a protective lover.
Of course, her thoughts would head in that particular direction, which wasn’t at all practical.
Then there was the fact that they were pretending to be a couple. Something she’d forgotten about until that very instant.
She needed to remember that they weren’t together. He was her employee. Nothing more.
“Right. Nothing more.”
Cal quirked a brow. “I’m sorry? What did you say?”
Dillon could’ve kicked herself. “Nothing. Ready?”
“If you’re all right with it, I’ll drive us.”
She spotted his truck next to hers. Was this a date? No, this wasn’t a date. He’d have to ask her out. They were simply going to a dance. Together. Dressed up. In the same vehicle. That he drove. While pretending to be a couple.
It wasn’t a date.
Was it?
“Dillon?”
“Yes,” she quickly answered. “That’s fine.”
He studied her for a moment before motioning for her to go ahead of him. When she reached his truck, he grabbed the handle and opened the door for her. Yeah, she could certainly get used to such treatment.
They sat in silence on the way to the dance. The only words spoken were her directing him to the location. When they reached the building, the doors were open, music wafted outside, and stringed lights hung inside and out, giving the place a romantic air.
She really needed to stop thinking along those lines. Romantic or not, he was her employee. Nothing more.
“It’s going to be fine.”
Her head jerked to Cal. Had he said something, and she hadn’t heard? “What is?”
“I promised I wouldn’t leave your side. That means tonight, as well. No one will harm you.”
The sincerity in his words struck her in the chest. “Thank you.”
He smiled and winked at her before climbing out of the truck. Dillon took a deep breath, wondering what the night would hold. She loved to dance. And she planned to do a lot of it tonight.
Especially with Cal.
Her door opened, and he held out his hand, his warm smile greeting her. Oh, yeah. She would definitely be dancing with him tonight.