Chapter Sixteen
Clancy put the key on her necklace chain and tucked it under her sweater.
At a sound, she turned to look out the window.
She’d awakened to one of Montana’s blustery fall days.
Dried aspen leaves hurled themselves into the air as white clouds scudded across the state’s famous big sky.
This morning it was such a brilliant blue it almost hurt to look at it.
She hadn’t slept well, restless and longing for Dub to come down to her room. But he hadn’t changed his mind as much as she’d hoped he would. A part of her knew he was right. She definitely wasn’t at a place in her life where she should be making decisions about her future.
All morning, she’d tried not to think about how much trouble she was in, and not with just the sheriff.
Her cousin Goldie would be furious with her and with good reason.
She hated that she’d made her very pregnant cousin worry.
How did she explain that her life had gotten out of control so quickly that all she’d done was react?
She’d convinced herself that telling Goldie a killer might want her dead wouldn’t have made things better.
“Well, I’m fixing that now,” she said to herself.
Glancing at the time, she realized it was odd that she hadn’t heard Dub moving around the guesthouse.
Earlier, she’d gone down to the kitchen and looked out on the deck.
It was when she checked the parking area that she realized he’d left. She thought he wouldn’t have gone far.
But he should have been back by now. It worried her that she hadn’t heard from him. She hated to think what his leaving and not returning might mean, maybe especially after last night.
Picking up her backpack, she looked around the room and felt sad that she’d never be back here. Just like the fact that she and Dub might be going their separate ways soon. Dub might already be gone.
It would be the last thing she expected from him, but she could understand why he might come to his senses. What guy would want to be involved with a woman wanted by the law with a killer after her?
Straightening, she assured herself she would be fine, just as she’d always been.
She would get her car fixed and leave again, only this time she wouldn’t be running from a murder rap.
No, she’d be running from her feelings, she thought painfully.
Just as she’d feared, she’d gotten too close to the cowboy. Dub had changed everything.
When her phone rang, she grabbed it up, thankful that she’d left it charging last night. But it wasn’t Dub. It was the law.
“I tried to call you yesterday,” she said before Max could tell her how angry he was with her.
“I know,” he said. “I saw your number on my phone.”
“I ran because I had a killer after me. At least I thought I did. It’s rather complicated.”
He sighed. “Things have always been complicated with you, Clancy. But don’t worry, I’m about to go to the hospital and arrest Esther’s and Jane’s killer. Does that uncomplicate your life?”
“Some,” she said, thinking of Dub. “Who are you arresting?”
“Diana Turner.”
“What? The cook?” She couldn’t help sounding skeptical, since she couldn’t imagine Diana killing anyone. “Did she say why?”
“Not yet. She’s in a coma at the hospital.”
“I might know why.” Clancy told him about Esther, the bag of jewelry and what she’d found inside the large pendant. “I think this key is what the killer was looking for, but why would Diana want it?”
“According to what I’ve learned, Mildred Wilson claimed she had a lot of money.
But Vernon said he was doubtful because her sons Luther and Abel were paying her rent at Shady Rest. Also, she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, so who knows if it was true.
But if Diana believed it and was determined to get the pendant and key… I won’t know until I talk to her.”
Clancy hoped it would turn out that the jewelry Esther had tried to push off on her had nothing to do with the murders. She touched the key through her sweater. “So you don’t think this key goes to a safety deposit box full of money?”
Max laughed. “Sorry. But hang on to it. In the meantime, please call Goldie. Your cousin needs to know you really are safe. Then I’ll call you later and we’ll get together to talk.” He seemed to hesitate. “Is Dub Crawford still with you?”
“I haven’t seen him yet this morning. He left for a little while.
” She didn’t know why she was saying this.
Probably because it was what she wanted to believe.
She couldn’t bear the thought that Dub had run out on her.
She could tell Max wanted to ask a lot more questions, but he was getting another call.
She promised to call Goldie as soon as she hung up and they disconnected.
After she got off the line, she looked around the kitchen, thinking Dub might have left a note that she’d missed.
Not finding one, she called Goldie, keeping the call short.
The last thing she wanted to do was worry her cousin even more by telling her everything she was going through.
Clancy was about to pocket her phone after disconnecting with Goldie when it rang again. She was sure this time it would be Dub. When she looked at the screen, though, she couldn’t hold back her disappointment. It wasn’t like him not to call or have left a note. It was Sarah.
“I’ve been so worried about you,” her friend said. “Are you in Billings? Did you find that life you’ve gone in search of?”
“Not exactly,” she said. “I never made it to Billings.”
“No? Are you nearby?” She heard excitement in Sarah’s voice. “Tell me you’re near Grass Range. I’m starved. We should go have breakfast and catch up.”
“I can’t. That is, I’m close by, but I don’t have my car.”
“That’s right. It broke down and they had it towed into town.” Sarah didn’t hesitate. “I can come pick you up. Just tell me where you are.”
Clancy hesitated for only a moment, before giving the directions to the ranch guesthouse.
After she disconnected, she realized that she should have suggested Sarah have breakfast with her here.
There was plenty of food and they could eat out on the deck in the sunshine.
She promised herself that she would pay back the ranch owner who was so nice to let them stay here.
Also, she felt funny about leaving here in case Dub came back.
She knew she could leave him a note—just in case.
But more than anything, she wanted to see him again.
She kept thinking about last night on the deck and couldn’t shake a growing, nagging feeling that something had happened and that was why he hadn’t left a note or called.
As Sarah pulled up next to the guesthouse, Clancy went to the door to let her in, anxious to see her.
She hadn’t known the woman long, but they’d become good friends.
When she’d gone to work at the rest home, Sarah had befriended her right away.
They’d agreed to cover for each other since they both needed the job and the money.
Clancy just hoped that she hadn’t gotten Sarah in trouble at Shady Rest.
* * *
DUB OPENED HIS eyes to bright sunshine and quickly closed them again. His head felt as if someone was beating bass drums inside it. He pried his eyes open just a little. What was he doing back at the ranch? And where was Clancy?
His eyes flew open even though it made his head pound harder. He tried to sit up too quickly but felt so woozy he fell back down.
“Just take it easy,” his father said as he rose from the chair where he’d been sitting to close the blinds. “Can you tell me how many fingers I’m holding up?”
“Four,” Dub said, frowning as he looked around, surprised and alarmed to find himself in his own bedroom on the ranch—and no Clancy. “What am I doing here? How did I get here?”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
He touched the back of his head gingerly, feeling a goose-egg-sized bump.
“Being with Clancy, then… Two men. They dropped me on the deck. I hit my head.” He forced himself to sit up, but had to lean forward to keep from passing out.
“They kidnapped me.” He glanced up. “But why would they bring me here?”
His father cleared his throat. “It was an incredibly stupid thing to do. They could have killed you. I’ve reprimanded your brother and—
“My brother?” He was incredulous. “I’m going to kick his—”
“You’re in no shape to do any butt kicking.”
“Why the hell would he do this?” he demanded, even as he had a feeling he already knew. He thought about their argument yesterday after Tanner had found out Clancy was wanted for questioning in a murder investigation.
“Tanner had this asinine notion that he was saving you from making a mistake with Clancy. He got it into his fool head that she was going to trap you into marriage and the two of you would steal the ranch out from under him.”
“I have to get to Clancy.” He shoved to his feet. “She’s all alone and there’s a killer out there after her. If anything happens to her… Where’s my truck?”
“Easy. They brought your truck back here to the ranch, but you’re in no shape to be driving. I’ll take you to her, but I’m sure she’s fine. I spoke with the sheriff. From what he said, he’ll be arresting the killer this morning. He said he spoke with Clancy earlier and she is safe.”
“She’d better be,” Dub said as he reached for his Stetson and headed for the door. “When you see Tanner, tell him—”
“I won’t be seeing him for a while.”
Dub stopped at the doorway and turned to look back. “What does that mean?”
“I had him arrested. He’s cooling his heels in jail.”
* * *
“WOW,” SARAH SAID AS she took in the guesthouse. That was one thing Clancy and her friend had in common. They’d grown up hand-to-mouth and had gotten through life supporting themselves the best they could because of their backgrounds and the poor decisions they’d made.
“Must be nice,” Sarah said in awe as she stepped inside the place. “And this is just the guesthouse. You know these people?”