Chapter Twenty-Three
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Katy had found the moment titillating, and as she drove the short distance to the Moonshine Campground to visit Jim a sassy smile curled her lips. She found the vet looking better, and though he still appeared to be tired his eyes were brighter. When they talked about the new sighting of the alleged Bigfoot she discovered he was as skeptical as she was.
“I’m tempted to go over there and check it out myself, but Doug would have my head!”
“And rightly so,” Jim remarked with a grin. “There are dangers in those woods, and I’m not just talking about the wildlife. It’s easy to get lost. Where I was above the ranch getting my bearings wasn’t a problem, but it’s easy to lose track of where you are in the forest above the lake.”
“Yes, so I’ve been told. Now you should get some more rest,” she said, giving him a hug. “I’m off to pick up my horse trailer.”
“Drive carefully.”
“Always.”
Leaving the cabin she walked out to her truck, but as she climbed inside her phone rang. Glancing at the screen she was surprised to see it was Annie.
“I’m on my way to your place now,” Katy exclaimed as she answered the call. “Is that still okay?”
“Yes, sure. I’m calling because I just heard from Helen Rutherford. Her parents are in Dallas at the moment, but Helen wants to meet Doug at the estate tomorrow afternoon around four o’clock. Can he get there?”
“Oh, my gosh. That’s fabulous. I’m sure he can make that happen.”
“Why don’t you call her directly and confirm it when you know for sure. I’ll text you her number.”
“Annie, you’re a doll. Thanks a million.”
“No problem! He deserves a break after everything he’s been through.”
“He does. He’s such a great guy. I’ll let him know right away.”
Elated, Katy rolled down the driveway and was about to call Doug when she spotted the man pretending to be Craig Bradley climbing into a car. Slowing to a stop, she waited until he pulled from his parking space, then hoping he wasn’t going far she followed him. When he turned right onto the country road she almost changed her mind. Annie’s was to the left. But a short time later he followed the sign to Lake View Point. Rolling to a stop at the side of the road she considered her options.
She could drive in, walk in, or leave.
Deciding the best thing to do was walk in, she climbed out, locked her truck, jogged across the road, and staying close to the native brush on either side, she moved briskly down the rocky path. When his car came into view she could see it was empty, then she spotted him making his way over the jagged rocks towards the forest.
“Dammit,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t go over all those boulders. He’ll see me in a heartbeat.”
Suddenly a thought occurred to her. Pulling out her phone she videoed him until he disappeared into the trees, then ran back to her truck.
* * *
Doug had watered the indoor ring and was busy dragging it when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. It was impossible to hear over the sound of the tractor so it was set to vibrate. Turning off the heavy machinery and lifting it from his pocket, he saw Katy’s name and quickly accepted the call. When she told him about the proposed meeting at the Rutherford Estate the following afternoon he felt his heart skip.
“That’s great news. I’ll get in touch with Billy right away. He’s usually available late in the afternoon.”
“Super. I’ll be home shortly. I picked up the trailer and I’m on my way.”
Hastily sending Billy a text asking if he could be there around three-thirty the following day for an hour or so, Doug held his breath waiting for the response. When Billy texted him back saying it wasn’t a problem, Doug felt a surge of excitement. He hadn’t been inside the Rutherford Estate, but he’d driven past it many times. The prospect of living and working at the beautiful property was almost too much to hope for. In spite of the unknown outcome he felt buoyed, and continued his work with a renewed sense of optimism. He had just finished when Katy walked into the arena.
“Hey,” he called, jumping from the tractor and hurrying over to her.
“Hey, yourself, handsome. Can Billy make it?”
“Yes. Time flies, but the next twenty-four hours will take forever.”
“I know!” she exclaimed. “We just have to keep busy.”
“I’ll unhook your trailer for you.”
“Thanks, I always scrape my hands when I do it,” she said as they started walking down the driveway.
“How’s Jim? Is he feeling any better?”
“He is…and…uh…I’m not sure if I should tell you.”
“Now you have to,” he retorted, pausing his step. “What happened?”
“Craig Bradley—or whatever his name is. I saw him as I was leaving, and I, uh…crap.”
“Katy! What did you do?”
“Don’t shoot me.”
“Tell me.”
“I followed him.”
“Because…?” he asked, keeping his voice even.
“Why do you think? I wanted to see if he was up to no good, or if he was heading into town, or…you know…whatever.”
“Whatever?” Doug repeated, shaking his head. “I sure hope he didn’t see you.”
“He didn’t. He drove into Lake View Point, so I parked on the road and walked in.”
“You did what?”
“Don’t worry, he didn’t see me. He was making his way over the rocks heading towards the forest. I wasn’t about to do that, so I—”
“Do you remember the last thing I said before you left?”
“Uh…”
“I said If I have to protect you from yourself, I would, and if you did something you know you shouldn’t you’d find out how. Now you will.”