Chapter Forty
Natalie stood in the corral rubbing down O’Malley and trying her best not to pace when she saw Vaughn’s truck pulling up the drive. She made herself wait patiently, until they’d parked in front of the house before she left the corral and walked over to meet them, swallowing the rising ball in her throat as she did.
Vaughn crawled slowly from the truck and Natalie hurried to her side as Vivian slid out and gripped her other arm. June went ahead and opened the kitchen door as they led her inside.
“Who was here?” Vaughn asked, while wincing in pain.
Natalie didn’t answer. She didn’t want to upset her until she was safely lying down, either on her bed or the couch. But Vaughn didn’t let up.
“We passed him on the way in. He was speeding. Driving like a madman in some expensive SUV.”
Natalie silently prayed as her heart about beat out of her chest. It was happening. Right now. Her time at the ranch had finally come to an end. Oh, God. What would happen next? No matter what, she wouldn’t let anything happen to Vaughn, June or Vivian. Even if that meant she had to take off again, this time for good.
“Natalie?” Vaughn said as they entered the house.
“Do you want to lie on the couch or your bed?” Natalie asked, still trying to put her off.
“I want you to answer me,” Vaughn said. She stopped her progress and looked at Natalie. Natalie motioned toward the couch.
“On the sofa first.”
Vaughn grimaced but listened, walking to the couch where she slowly sat and allowed Natalie to remove her shoes to put her feet up. Once she was settled, she grabbed her hand, not allowing her to walk away.
“Tell me,” she said. “Who was here?”
Vivian and June were looking at her too, with questions in their eyes. Natalie trembled as she removed the paper from her jeans pocket. Still shaking, she managed to open it and hand it to Vaughn, who read it quietly.
“Where did you get this?”
“It was on the door to the guesthouse. I didn’t see it in the dark when I went to change earlier this morning. So, I didn’t find it until after you left.”
Natalie reread the note as Vaughn looked at it. It read: LEAVE OR ELSE.
“So, the man we saw? He did this?” Vaughn asked.
“I don’t know,” Natalie said. “If the man was Allen, I guess so.”
“Wait,” June said. “It was probably whoever slashed the tires. Don’t you reckon?”
“Then who was the man and why didn’t he come to the ranch? He was driving away from it,” Vaughn said. “Like a crazy man.”
Natalie shook her head. “It’s Allen. All of it. That note proves it.”
Vaughn chewed her lip, handing the note back to Natalie. “Not necessarily.”
“Vaughn, come on!” Natalie said. She refolded the note and shoved it in her pocket. She wanted to burn the damn thing, but she held on to it, afraid to destroy it. She might need it to show to the police, if she decided to call them.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s Allen,” Vaughn said softly. “It could be Ricky and Pedro.”
“But why? They don’t even know me.”
“No, they don’t. But they’ve seen you. When we found Miracle. So they know you’re here and they may be trying to scare you.”
“I don’t know,” Natalie said.
“Look, I know you’re scared,” Vaughn said, but let’s not jump to any conclusions.”
Natalie disagreed. “This was a warning, Vaughn. This was serious. I—”
“I don’t want you to go,” Vaughn said adamantly. She rubbed her brow as if her head hurt, but then calmed. “Please, Natalie, promise me you won’t do anything rash.”
Natalie looked from Vivian to June, and they quietly excused themselves, obviously sensing that she and Vaughn needed a private moment. “I will do what I think is best.”
Vaughn cursed under her breath. “Don’t do what you think is best for me. Or June or Mom. Okay? Let us worry about ourselves. We’re fine. And we’re gonna be fine. Allen isn’t going to hurt us.”
“You don’t know that.”
Vaughn reached out for her hand. Natalie took it and Vaughn pulled her closer. “I don’t want you to go,” she said. “Please. Promise you’ll stay.”
“I’m scared, Vaughn. Scared he will hurt you and this ranch. You don’t know him. He’s—crazy.”
“Then I’ll tell the police. I need to call them anyway to follow up on the tires and gate and cameras.”
Natalie thought about arguing but changed her mind. Maybe it was time to talk to them. For everyone’s safety. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll stay. But only if you continue to rest and let me help you. Let all of us help you.”
Vaughn groaned. “If it keeps you here, fine.” She kissed her hand and Natalie exhaled a shaky breath.
“Tell me about your back.”
“I’m probably going to need surgery.”
Natalie’s mouth fell open. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Gosh, Vaughn.”
“I know. So I’m going to be out of it for a good while. Which is why we need you to post the job listing again, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
“Can you do it today?”
“Sure. I’ll do it right now.” She started to head toward the door to go get her laptop, but paused. She didn’t want to admit it but she feared going into the guesthouse alone again. She feared that Allen would be lurking there in the shadows.
“What’s wrong?” Vaughn asked, watching her closely.
“Nothing.”
“Liar.”
“It’s just—I’m a little nervous about being alone in the guesthouse. I know it’s silly but—”
“Stay here,” Vaughn said. “I think that’s the best plan for now. Us all being under one roof.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Natalie nodded. “I’ll go get my things.”
“You want someone to go with you?”
She considered it but knew she was being ridiculous. “No, I’m fine.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
Natalie gave her hand a squeeze and released it to go. She bypassed June and Vivian on her way out. “Just going to go get my things,” she said. They both smiled over cups of coffee. They’d already started lunch, which Natalie could smell cooking on the stove.
“Okay, darlin’” Vivian said with a wink.
“We’re glad to have you,” June said. They’d obviously overheard the conversation with Vaughn.
Natalie returned the smile and walked out the door, already feeling much better.