Chapter 33
Chet threw his phone onto the bed. He still hadn’t heard from Cal. And his investigation at Ivy Ridge had wrapped up without any sign of Dillon’s stallion. Despite that, Chet knew the horse was there. The challenge was proving it.
He’d hoped that Cal would find something and report back so he could arrest Hank. It wasn’t only that Cal hadn’t texted or phoned, but he hadn’t been seen, either. Chet had spoken with the motel clerk and learned that Cal had checked out earlier that day.
His head whipped around when his phone rang with a call. He grabbed it and looked at the number but didn’t recognize it. He answered all the same. “Hello?”
“I’m looking for Special Ranger Chet Thompson,” a woman said.
“You’ve found him. Can I ask who this is?”
“My name is Wanda Bennett. Cal is my son.”
Chet sank onto the corner of the bed. “Have you heard from him?”
“I have. The call was short. I didn’t get much out of him other than that he’s at Hank’s,” she said.
“How did you know to call me?”
She chuckled softly. “It’s no secret that I’ve never been a fan of my son’s chosen profession. I was overjoyed when he told me that he’d quit and was working at a ranch owned by a woman. I could tell by his voice that there was something between them.”
“That there is.”
“I didn’t hear from him again until the night he left the ranch, after you stayed up planning. He told me everything. That’s when he gave me your number and said that if he ever mentioned the horse my husband gave me that I should immediately call you.”
Chet blew out a long breath. “Then things aren’t going well.”
“I’ve always known that Hank couldn’t be trusted,” she said, her voice laced with anger.
“He once tried to convince Cal to come live with him. Hank told me he could give Cal a better life than I could. I informed the bastard that money wasn’t everything.
To which he laughed and said that, of course, I’d say that because I’d never had money. ”
“He’s a slippery one. That’s for sure,” Chet replied.
Wanda asked, “What about Dillon? Who is there to watch her?”
“Her ranch manager, Emmett, and another employee.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“As far as I know.”
She sighed. “I’ve never understood what my husband saw in Hank Stephens as a friend. Cal gravitated to him because Hank was a link to his father. But I never trusted him. I lost my husband, Mr. Thompson. I don’t want to lose my son.”
“Ma’am, I’m going to do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“I’m only a few hours away. I can drive down in the morning.”
Chet winced. “I’m not sure what your presence could do.”
“I could stay with Dillon.”
“She believes Cal betrayed her. She wouldn’t accept his mother’s aid.”
Wanda made a sound with her lips. “I suppose you’re right. What about talking to Hank?”
“Cal’s involvement is contingent on Hank thinking that Cal is working with him. If you show up, it might disrupt that.”
Cal stood at the window in his bedroom at Ivy Ridge and watched the big orange ball rise from the horizon, chasing back the darkness of night. He’d waffled between rage and shock ever since yesterday when he’d discovered Emmett’s involvement.
He still couldn’t believe it. Emmett had looked after Dolly and then Dillon. Why had he turned against them? It explained how all the accidents had happened to Dillon at the ranch, though. Yet, that made Cal worry about her safety even more.
He rubbed his eyes. He’d managed to doze for a few hours, but his mind was too rattled to truly rest—and he wouldn’t until Dillon was safe. He turned on his heel and walked from the room, pausing long enough to grab his Stetson and turn the light off behind him.
The house was quiet as he made his way downstairs. The cook and maid hadn’t even arrived yet. Cal went to the alarm and used his code to turn it off. He couldn’t stand to be in the house one more second. He walked outside, softly closing the door behind him before making his way to the stables.
Ranch workers moved about, and Cal greeted them as he passed. When he reached the stables, he found the wheelbarrow and rake and began mucking out the stalls from the horses that had already been let out.
“Um . . . that’s my job.”
Cal glanced up to see a teenage boy with bad acne staring at him. “It’s your lucky day. I’m going to do it.”
“You won’t hear me complain,” the kid said with a smirk and walked away.
The mindless chore allowed Cal to expend the pent-up energy he had while also allowing his mind to work through the problem. His father had often preached that there was an answer to every problem. Cal just had to find it.
He finished the stalls and returned the wheelbarrow and rake to their places when he saw Hank leaning against one of the stalls, watching him. Cal dusted off his hands. “What?”
“You know you don’t have to do that, right?”
Cal shrugged. “I needed to do something.”
“You’re still upset about Emmett, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” There was no point in lying.
Hank pushed away from the stall and walked to Cal. “All that money we’re set to make? I wouldn’t know about any of it if it weren’t for Emmett.”
“Once more, you left something out yesterday. Is there anything else you aren’t telling me?” Cal demanded angrily.
Hank twisted his lips. “I told you about the blue topaz deposits. I just didn’t tell you who told me about them.”
“And the survey you showed me? That came from the Bar 4, didn’t it?”
“Dolly had it done,” Hank replied with a nod.
Cal shrugged as they started walking. “Why did Emmett tell you about the topaz?”
“Dolly refused to give him any of the profits.”
Cal didn’t mention that it was her land, and it was her prerogative to do whatever she wanted with it. “He turned on a boss he’d worked years for. You trust someone like that?”
“I do,” Hank said plainly. “Emmett put us in a position to have the ranch.”
“But you didn’t get it from Dillon.”
Hank smiled. “Catch up, Cal. I’m talking about Dolly.”
“What?” he asked, his stomach dropping to his feet.
“That was all out of my hands, I swear. I had no idea what the plan was until Emmett took care of her.”
Cal’s mind reeled. Dillon and the others all believed that Dolly had died from a heart attack. But if Hank could be believed, then Emmett had killed her. Somehow, Cal wasn’t surprised. He had suspected as much already.
“Like I told you the other day, we thought she would leave the ranch to someone who wanted to sell and profit. Then, Dillon upended our plans.”
“And you couldn’t have two deaths so soon, so that’s why you offered for the ranch.”
Hank held his gaze. “Exactly.”
“That didn’t turn out like you wanted.”
“Nothing has. Dolly was gone quickly. We expected the same from Dillon, but she’s a fighter. Unfortunately, things are out of my hands.”
Cal halted and spun to face him. “What does that mean?”
“It means, son, that decisions were made last night.”
“What decisions?”
“You have a stake in this, Cal, but you aren’t a main player. There’s no reason to run everything past you.”
Cal fought to compose himself. “You told me that no one else would be shooting at Dillon.”
“And no one is.”
“Then what?” he demanded, searching Hank’s eyes.
Hank glanced away. “She’s a complication, son. She already suspects you, me, and Gomez. She brought in the ranger. If any more outside authorities come in, then everything will fall apart, and we could be arrested. I won’t go to prison.”
“You said the ranger’s investigation wrapped up. We know he didn’t find Legacy. You’re free and clear.”
“Not until he’s gone from the area. He’ll stop by Dillon’s today and inform her of what he’s found—or hasn’t found.
She’ll pitch a fit. But, ultimately, nothing can be done.
She’ll then make a call to her insurance agent and get the money for the stallion.
Meanwhile, I’ll be able to bring the stallion out of hiding. ”
Cal frowned. “What if Dillon sees the horse?”
“She won’t.”
“How can you be sure?”
Hank slapped him on the back. “Because we’re going to pay her a visit.”
Cal watched him walk away, a yawning pit of fear and trepidation growing within him.
He couldn’t call Chet because he was being watched.
Hank said that he trusted him, but the fact that he’d forced Cal to move to the house and had left him out of conversations last night said otherwise.
It was obvious that Emmett wasn’t convinced of Cal’s loyalty.
Calling Dillon was out of the question. Not to mention, she wouldn’t believe a word he said.
As for his mom, he didn’t want to involve her any more than he already had.
If he did, it would be just like her to drive to Hank’s and give him a piece of her mind.
And that would only create more of a mess.
The men he was dealing with were dangerous.
Cal had to come up with a plan to stop Dillon from being killed. The problem was, he didn’t know who all was involved or who would do it. He was one man without any backup, going up against an unknown number. Those odds didn’t spell victory.