Chapter Seven #2
“I’m heading to the Tree Fork to get the trailer. I’ll have my brothers stay until I get back. We can move the horses tomorrow.”
“I’ll put them in the barn for the night. Just to be on the safe side.” She once again hugged her arms around herself. “Too bad I can’t fit all the cows in there, too.”
*
“Tell me this wasn’t the night from hell,” Meg muttered as the truck pulled away with thousands of dollars’ worth of lost breeding income inside. The money they would not see in the form of future calves was not something Lil wanted to think about.
And the horses. They were in the barn, but she was not looking forward to the calls she had to make in the morning.
Then there was Jordan. She’d been surprised first by his embrace, and then by how she hadn’t wanted to let go of the man.
For the first time in a long time, she’d felt like someone other than her sisters had her back.
She wasn’t sure what to do with that feeling, so she circled back to the matter at hand as they headed up the walkway toward the house.
“Someone is trying to drive us off this place,” she said, taking a seat on the front step.
Meg sat beside her. They’d offered his brothers beer and/or coffee, but they’d declined, choosing instead to wait near the barn for their brother to return, giving the sisters space to deal with the crazy events of the evening while no doubt mulling over theories of their own.
The vet was long gone, but the deputy had stayed, saying he was okay unless a call came in.
It made Lil feel better having law enforcement there.
Was someone watching the ranch? Enjoying all this? The thought made her shudder.
“This makes Shane look like small potatoes,” Meg muttered.
“Fucking Shane,” they murmured together before leaning into one another.
“You’re sure he’s in Alaska?” Lil asked.
“Yes, but we can call his work again tomorrow. Kind of funny that we stalk him to make sure he’s not stalking me.
” Meg pushed herself upright and brought her forearms to rest on her thighs, lightly clasping her hands.
“Why did this happen after Jordan backed out of the deal? I mean, what’s the motivation? ”
“Are you asking if he backed out for real?”
Meg nodded.
Lil bit her lip as she considered an unwelcome possibility. “He was open with the deputy about it. Gave up the broker’s name. Of course, he and the broker could have something cooked up between them, but … I don’t believe that’s the case.”
There was a steadiness about Jordan. An intrinsic honesty that she’d sensed from their first meeting.
If the guy was hatching plots, he was damned good at coming off as the good guy.
And why would he be on his way back to stand guard?
Why not let her and Meg freak themselves out until they gave up?
That would be the quickest way to the objective if he wanted them to leave.
“I have to agree,” Meg said. “He doesn’t give off a sneaky vibe, but I thought I’d throw it out there.”
The deputy finally headed up the walk, leaving the Matthews brothers waiting by his SUV.
“Jordan is going to stay here tonight?”
“He is.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll bring my counterpart up to speed before I go off shift in the morning. Meanwhile, call dispatch if you have any issues.”
*
“Of course, I don’t mind if she works her horses here,” Wade said after helping Jordan hook up the trailer.
The past two times women had brought horses to the Tree Fork Ranch, a Matthews brother had got engaged.
Wade enjoyed pointing out the coincidence to anyone who would listen, but tonight he didn’t so much as crack a smile.
“Maybe they should all come here.” Bailey stood near her trailer, a big sweatshirt that Jordan recognized as one of Hayes’s enveloping her.
“That was already shot down.”
“Then I hope they get to the bottom of this soon,” she said grimly.
As did he. The McAllen sisters weren’t the only ones on edge because of the shooting. What if this was aimed at him and his refusal to sell? What if he’d brought this upon them?
“I’ll follow Jordan and give Hayes and Trev a ride home,” Wade said to her. “Shouldn’t be gone long.”
Wade and Jordan started toward their respective trucks, but Wade stopped Jordan with a hand on his arm.
“Like Bailey said, it’d be better if they came here for a few days.”
“I know.”
Worry lines were etched into his dad’s face, and Jordan couldn’t do a thing to erase them.
Wade would have done the same thing Jordan was doing now, but it was obvious that he couldn’t tamp down his concern.
Jordan’s throat tightened. He gave his old man a reassuring nod, then opened the door to his truck.
By the time he crossed the cattleguard at the Willow Creek Ranch and swung the trailer in a U so that the door faced the ranch house, his brothers and the McAllen sisters were crossing the yard to meet him. Wade got out of his truck and limped over to where Lil and Meg stood near the gate.
“I’m sure sorry this happened to you.” He took in both of them as he spoke. “If I find out anything, I’ll let you know. And you’re welcome to bring your horses to the ranch. We have lots of space for you to ride.”
The sisters thanked him and then Wade asked Jordan if he wanted them to come back in the morning.
“I’ll let you know,” he said.
A few minutes later, the taillights of Wade’s truck faded in the distance, leaving Jordan, Lil and Meg standing awkwardly next to his trailer.
“I’m going to bed,” Meg said. “I think Betty can guard the house instead of the goats tonight.” She and the big dog headed toward the walkway, but Lil stayed where she was, hands in her pockets.
“Lock your door tonight,” he said.
“You do the same,” Lil replied.
He gave her points for effort. “Get some sleep if you can. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
Lil looked ready to tip over from exhaustion, but he had a feeling that she was dragging out her departure because she was in no hurry to face the night ahead.
He reached out to tuck the dark wisp of hair behind her ear.
It stayed this time. Her lips parted at his touch, but she didn’t move away.
He wanted to touch her again. Let her know that he was there and that she honestly wasn’t alone in this.
“If you need anything tonight, just text. I probably won’t be asleep anyway.”
“Right. Thanks.” She bowed her head and started across the driveway.
He turned toward his trailer, only to stop when she said, “Hey.” He looked back. “Thanks for the hug.”
He was surprised she mentioned it. “The one you tolerated for two point five seconds?”
A rueful smile tilted her lips. “That’s the one.”
He lifted his chin. “Next time we’ll go for four seconds.”
“I can do five on a good day.”
“Yeah?” Jordan’s gaze strayed to her mouth before he caught himself and Lil’s smile faded.
“Maybe when things aren’t so complicated, we’ll give that a shot.”