Chapter Two
“Vaughn, how you been?” Harry Townsend asked as he handed her her receipt.
“I’ve been getting by,” she said as she took her bags full of saddle butter, coat conditioner, and horse treats. Normally she would’ve said she was fine. Most folks said they were just fine. But Vaughn was aware that Harry knew better, and she wasn’t one to lie.
“Yeah?” he said, raising a bushy white eyebrow. “Anything you wanna share?”
Vaughn had known Harry Townsend all her life. He’d owned the feed and supply store in the Deer Valley area for over fifty years. He was a longtime family friend and she knew he was only asking out of concern.
She sighed as she adjusted her cowboy hat. “I suppose you heard about Ricky and Pedro.” They were her two latest hires, and as of this morning, they were MIA.
Harry looked beyond her to where his grandson Riley had just entered the store. He nodded toward him. “Say, Ri. You hear anything about those new ranch hands over at Vaughn’s?”
Riley sauntered over to the counter and pulled off his John Deere ball cap to scratch his head.
“They’re over at the Cherry Blossom.” He blushed, as if just saying the name of the run-down strip club was somehow sinning.
“The Cherry Blossom?” Harry let out.
Riley’s blush deepened. “Yes, sir. They been there since lunch according to Bobby Dillinger.”
Harry cleared his throat as if the name Bobby Dillinger had somehow choked him. “I wouldn’t put too much on that now, Vaughn. Dillinger’s no good.”
“He’s no good,” Riley said. “But he wouldn’t make something like that up. Besides, I seen Ricky’s old pickup in the parking lot of the Cherry Blossom when I went to fill up across the street.”
Vaughn sighed. “I should’ve known.” She shouldn’t have hired two men without decent references. But she’d been in a bind and needed the workers desperately. Now she was paying the price for taking such a risk while they were at the Cherry Blossom, eating cheap wings from the lunch buffet and drinking way too many cheap beers.
“It waddn’t your fault, Vaughn,” Harry said. “You were just trying to find some workers.”
“I’m afraid it’s a little more complicated than that, Harry. I been suspecting they were abusing drugs for some time now, the way they been acting on the job you see, so I told them I wanted a drug test. They refused and I threatened to fire them if they didn’t comply.”
“You did, did ya? Well, I don’t blame you none for that, Vaughn. But it looks like they decided to save you the hassle of firing them.”
“Seems so. They were mighty pissed when they left yesterday. So I can’t say I’m too surprised that they didn’t show today.”
“I reckon not.” He stroked his stubbled jaw. “You ain’t the only one hurting for good workers neither.”
“Yeah, I know.” Truth was, every business around was looking for people who were still willing to put in a hard day’s work. But they were few and far between since the COVID pandemic. At least that had been Vaughn’s experience.
“I’ll keep my ear to the ground for ya, Vaughn,” Harry said. “See if I hear as to what their plans are, if anything.”
“I appreciate that, Harry.”
“I’ve got you all loaded up,” Riley said, gesturing toward the door. He’d put the rest of her supplies in the bed of her truck, and she couldn’t have been more grateful. It was hot as hell out and her back was already sore from all the chores she’d done earlier at the ranch.
She gave Riley a firm pat on the shoulder and pushed out the door. It jingled shut behind her as she glanced up at the darkening sky. Thunder rolled softly in the distance, due north. If she was right, and she usually was when it came to summer monsoons, her place would be getting hit soon. She piled her remaining supplies into the extended cab and crawled in behind the wheel. She mulled over what all she needed to do when she got home as she drove back toward the ranch. The chores seemed never-ending as of late and she was plain old exhausted. Add to that the fact that the ranch was in financial trouble, two of her best broodmares had run off that morning, which she had yet to locate, and she was damn near ready to collapse she was so overwhelmed. And she wondered, not for the first time, if Ricky and Pedro had anything to do with the missing mares. If they did, there would be hell to pay. Not showing up for work was one thing, but stealing from her was a whole other thing completely.
“What a day,” she said with a sigh. And what was she going to do about Ricky and Pedro if they showed back up for work tomorrow? It had happened before. A guy named Zane she’d had working for her would no-show for a day or two and then miraculously reappear as if nothing had happened. She let it carry on for as long as she could tolerate before she finally let him go. She’d hurt for help after that for a good while until she’d found somebody new. Now she was in a similar quandary with what to do. Should she really fire their sorry asses if they returned and refused the drug test? Or give them a stern warning and allow them to continue to work? She was rubbing her tired eyes as she drove down the private road toward her ranch when she saw it.
She leaned forward in her seat, trying for better focus. But it was what she’d originally thought. Smoke. She slowed as she grew closer, panicked that it was the beginnings of a wild fire. But it wasn’t a wildfire. It was a small yellow car parked off the side of the road, facing her. She crept alongside it, not expecting to see anyone, not out in this heat, and not with such heavy smoke billowing out of the vehicle. But there she was. A woman. A lone woman sitting behind the wheel crying.
Vaughn braked and reversed. She pulled off the road and killed her engine.
“What in the hell are you doing out here?” Vaughn whispered, hesitating to ask her that directly. After a short inner debate though, she eventually decided to climb out of her truck and cross the road to do just that. Her boots kicked up dust as she walked, and the woman hurriedly wiped at her face as she saw Vaughn approach.
“I’m fine,” the woman let out, startling Vaughn. “I’m okay, really. No need to bother.”
Vaughn stopped next to the car, grimacing at the irritating pungency of the smoke. “You aren’t a bother,” she said, searching her face for clues as to who she was and why she was on her private road. But none seemed to be forthcoming, leaving Vaughn with nothing to do but take in her short, raven-black hair and captivating green eyes. She was a beauty.
“Really,” the woman said. “I’m okay.”
Vaughn forced herself to focus, and as the woman turned to look at her again, Vaughn noticed what looked like bruising on her neck. Vaughn wondered what it was from, or rather, who it was from. “It doesn’t look it,” she said, shifting her gaze back to the smoking hood. The woman followed her line of sight.
“Oh, it’ll be fine.”
The woman was being ridiculous. “I don’t think so.”
“It will,” the woman insisted. “I’m just going to wait it out.”
Vaughn checked the surrounding desert, concerned that maybe whoever had left those marks was hiding somewhere nearby. But she saw no one. “Really?”
“Sure.”
Thunder cracked loudly overhead. Vaughn looked up just as fat drops of rain began to fall and slap the dry earth. Vaughn held out her palms, enjoying the feel of the cold droplets but worrying about her mares. She needed to get home; she didn’t have time to wait on this beautiful but battered stranger. Still, something told her to stay, that the woman needed help even though she wasn’t directly asking for it.
“Yeah, well, just so you know, no one else is likely to come by here this evening.” She leveled her gaze at her. “No one besides me.”
The woman seemed to think that over and, for a second, Vaughn thought she’d caused her enough concern to concede that help was needed. But then she put on the plastic smile again. “That’s okay.”
Vaughn glanced back at the engine. Orange flames were now tickling the edges of the hood. She reached for the door handle.
“Enough small talk,” Vaughn said. “It’s time to get out of the car.”
“What?” She appeared alarmed. “No.”
“Ma’am, the car is on fire. It’s dangerous to remain inside.”
“On fire?” She looked through the windshield, trying to see. “I don’t—”
“Come on, you’ve got to get out now.” Vaughn opened the door and reached for her arm, but the woman pulled away from her.
“I can do it,” she said.
Vaughn held up her hands. “Okay.”
The woman reached into the passenger seat to grab her purse and some grocery bags. Vaughn eyed the burning engine, worried she wasn’t moving fast enough.
“Come on, now,” she said. “You’ve got to hurry.”
The woman stood with the bags in tow. Vaughn tried to help her, but the woman pointed at the hatchback instead. “My bag,” she said. “And my laptop. They’re in the back.”
Vaughn hurried to the back, popped the door, and retrieved the bags. And just as they began to walk away from the car, there was an enormous bang and the woman smashed into Vaughn in sheer fright, careening them both onto their backs on the dirt road. Heavy drops of rain pelted Vaughn as she blinked for focus. Once up on her elbows, Vaughn could see that the hood had blown and the entire front end of the car was now engulfed in flames. She secured her hat and crawled to her feet, already able to feel the pressing heat from the fire, and helped the woman stand.
“Come on, we need to get away from the car,” Vaughn said as she led the woman toward her truck. They grabbed the bags and stood watching the car burn for a moment, the white smoke now churning black, rising into the dark blueberry sky.
“I don’t understand,” the woman said, tearing up again. “It was running fine yesterday. And today, just out of nowhere, it started to overheat.”
“It’s hard telling,” Vaughn said. “Just be thankful you’re okay.”
“Yeah, that’s a bit hard to do right now. That was my only mode of transportation.” She wiped her tears with the back of her arm, lifting the grocery bags to do so. Vaughn gently took the bags from her, now carrying them all.
“I’m Vaughn, by the way. Vaughn Ruger.”
“Natalie Brewer.”
“Hi, Natalie.”
Vaughn went to place the bags in the extended cab of her truck.
“What are you doing?” Natalie asked.
“I’m loading up your goods.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m giving you a ride. Figured you’d just come with me to my place to wait for help. I’m just up the road a ways. ’Less you want to wait for the fire department. They’ll probably arrive soon enough.”
“I thought you said no one else would be out this way.”
“That was before your car blew, ma’am. Now with the heavy smoke and flames, the fire department will surely be notified. The wildfire risk is too high for them not to respond. So, what do you think? You want to come with me, or wait for them?”
Vaughn stared up at the sky again as she waited for Natalie to decide. Thunder boomed and more lightning veined the sky. Vaughn held onto her hat as small pellets of hail began to fall. She tried to lead Natalie to her truck by the elbow, but Natalie remained still, looking down at the hail as if in complete disbelief.
“This can’t be happening,” she said.
“You coming?” Vaughn asked as she crawled inside the safety of her truck.
Natalie glanced back at her and, after giving her a defeated look, finally rounded the truck and joined her. She crawled in next to Vaughn and slammed the door and they both sat in silence for a moment, gathering their thoughts. Vaughn grabbed a towel from the cab behind her and handed it over. Natalie took it eagerly and wiped her face while Vaughn rubbed her own face with her damp hands.
“Some storm, eh?” Vaughn said, turning down the radio.
“Mm.” Natalie appeared to be lost in thought, staring out through the hail-assaulted windshield. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Bad day?”
“The worst.”
Vaughn started the truck. Natalie swung her head around. She looked back to her burning car. “Ah, shit, my phone!” She started to reach for the door handle, but Vaughn stopped her.
“Wait, you can’t go.”
“I need my phone!”
Vaughn tightened her grip on her arm. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Let me go!”
But another loud bang shook the truck and they both crouched in response. When they looked back over at the car, Vaughn saw that the entire thing was now burning, leaving no room for debate about going for the phone.
“No!” Natalie said. “No, no, no!”
Vaughn tried to comfort her, but Natalie wanted no part of it. She just kept saying no and crying, tears streaming down her face. Vaughn, clueless as to what to do with the beautiful woman sobbing in her vehicle, did the only thing she could do. She drove away, leaving the burning Chevy on the side of the road to be consumed by the fire.
Natalie watched out the back window for a long while before she faced front again. She wiped at her tear-stained cheeks and sniffled.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it’s going to be okay,” Vaughn said softly, more worried about the marks on her neck than the burning car.
“Please don’t speak of things you can’t possibly know.”
Vaughn tried again. “The car, it’s replaceable and—”
“I didn’t have full coverage,” she stated. “I couldn’t afford it.”
“Oh.”
“See? It’s not all going to be okay. None of it is.”
Vaughn remained silent. Natalie looked at the surrounding desert as the storm carried on, strong winds now jostling the truck.
“Are you okay?” Vaughn asked. “Did someone…hurt you?”
Natalie touched her neck but didn’t speak right away.
“Because you’re safe now. And we can call the police when—”
“No!”
“Okay,” Vaughn said, not wanting to frighten her.
“I can’t let him know where I am,” Natalie said, almost to herself. “I can’t let anyone know.”
Vaughn let the comment go, sensing that she was more like a scared, cornered animal than a rational human being. One wrong move and she’d scamper, never to be seen again.
“How far to your place?” Natalie asked.
Vaughn pointed. “Just right up here.”
They pulled onto the ranch road, this one leading them to the broad wrought iron entryway with the words Midnight Mine Ranch spelled out overhead. Vaughn climbed out briefly to open the gate below and returned to the truck.
Natalie mouthed the words of the ranch aloud as they drove through.
“Neat name,” she finally said.
“Thanks.”
“It’s yours?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am. Been in my family for three generations.”
“Wow.” She looked at her. “What kind of ranch is it?”
Vaughn slowed the wiper speed as the hail stopped falling. She drove down the front drive, through the countless cottonless cottonwood trees and the large corrals that flanked them. And beyond those, stood the stables. “Horse ranch,” she said. “We breed the finest quarter horses around.”
Natalie’s eyes grew wide and she stared back out the window, presumably to look for said horses.
“You like horses?” Vaughn asked, once again thinking about her missing broodmares. She’d put a good portion of her horses in the stables before she’d left, knowing a storm was due to blow in. But a few remained turned out, and according to what she could see, her missing broodmares still weren’t among them.
“I love them.”
“Really? You ride?”
She shook her head.
“Ever?”
“No. I uh…never got the chance.”
Vaughn found that bit of news particularly sad. She wanted to offer her some lessons, but she thought better of it. Natalie was already upset at having to come to her home. She didn’t want to push things.
Vaughn slowed as they came upon the main house, which was a Spanish-style hacienda, with white stuccoed walls and a red-tiled roof. The walls were in bad need of a paint job and the roof needed some repairs, but money had been tight as of late and she hadn’t been able to afford to get those things done. She hoped, when the cooler weather came, that she’d be able to do most of the repairs herself.
“Who’s that?” Natalie asked as Vaughn’s grandmother, June, walked out through the courtyard to wait next to the driveway.
“That’s June,” Vaughn said. “My gram.”
Natalie looked at Vaughn in disbelief. “Your grandmother? She’s looks great.”
Vaughn chuckled. “That she does.” They watched as Gram sank her hands into the back pockets of her jeans as she waited for them to climb out of the truck. She was dressed similarly to Vaughn, in a T-shirt and jeans and cowboy boots. Her wild white hair was blowing in the wind, and she had that all-too-familiar look upon her face as she silently questioned who was riding shotgun next to Vaughn.
“I hope I look that good when I’m her age,” Natalie said.
Vaughn killed the engine and opened her door. “We should all be that lucky.”
Natalie climbed out the passenger side as Vaughn secured her cowboy hat on her head and gave a nod to Gram. “Those mares come back?”
“Mojo did,” she said. “I stabled her up.”
“Great,” Vaughn said, inhaling the fresh scent of rain and recently watered earth. “One down, one to go.”
Thunder rumbled overheard, though it sounded farther away now. Maybe the storm was letting up. Summer monsoons didn’t usually last very long, so she was hoping she was right. The sooner she could get on the four-wheeler to go looking for Hazel, the remaining broodmare, the better.
“Who’s this?” Gram asked as Natalie joined them.
“Hi, I’m Natalie.” She extended her hand.
“June Ruger. Nice to meet you.”
Natalie gave a shy smile. “You as well.”
Vaughn watched as Gram sussed her out. Though Gram was eighty-five, she was every bit as fit as Vaughn was, and that included her mind, which was still sharp as a tack. So Vaughn wasn’t surprised when she focused in on Natalie’s bruises right away, but didn’t speak of them.
“What brings you out this way, Natalie?”
“My car—uh—it kind of blew up.”
Gram’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh?”
“It actually did,” Vaughn clarified. “We left it on fire up by the turnoff.”
“Well, my goodness,” Gram said. “Do I need to put in a call to the fire department?”
“Wouldn’t hurt,” Vaughn said.
Gram looked back at Natalie. “Are you okay, darlin’?”
“I—” She crumbled into tears as if she’d been holding in the real pain for far too long and could no longer contain it. Gram embraced her and looked curiously to Vaughn.
Vaughn knew then that it was going to be a long night and that Hazel might have to just wait.