Chapter Twenty-Nine
By the time they arrived at Chico, Trip was still feeling uneasy about Shelley’s encounter with Gavin this afternoon. He was planning to use the way that asshole had run her off the road as his reason to insist that he should buy her a new vehicle—something bigger and safer. But even knowing that she was driving around in a tank wouldn’t be enough to stop him worrying about her—not with Gavin Sheridan out there.
When they got out of his SUV, she came to him and took his hand.
“I promise you I’m fine,” she told him. “And I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about. It’s like I told Jim this afternoon—if Gavin wanted to hurt me, he had the perfect opportunity when he ran me off the road. He didn’t take it. I’m not the one he’s after. He blames Cash, not me.”
Trip nodded, not wanting to tell her again that she should have called him. He understood why she hadn’t; and it wasn’t her fault that he hadn’t been there for her when she needed him.
She tugged on his hand so that he had to stop walking. When she rested her hands on his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his lips, he relaxed a little.
“I’m sorry, honey.”
His heart started to pound when she said, “You should be.”
That used to be Katrina’s standard response whenever he said he was sorry.
But Shelley was different; she smiled as she added, “You’ve been so hung up on Gavin that you haven’t even noticed my dress yet. Harper’s going to be disappointed that it didn’t blow your socks off—she assured me that it would.”
He rested his hands on her hips as he let his gaze travel over her.
“I noticed. It’s fantastic—it didn’t blow my socks off though, you do that all by yourself.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’re beautiful no matter what you wear, but yeah, you’re a knockout tonight and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that before now.”
She leaned in close, resting her cheek against his, her breath fanning his ear as she said, “It doesn’t matter, I hope you know that. I just want you to be okay—to be happy, and to be able to enjoy tonight with your friends. I hate to think that worrying about me might spoil it for you.” She leaned back to look into his eyes as she added, “Especially when I truly believe that there’s nothing to worry about.”
He kissed her, a longer, deeper kiss than he would normally have allowed himself standing in the parking lot outside the dining room, but he needed her to understand.
The way her eyes shone when he lifted his head made it seem as though he’d gotten his message across.
She confirmed that when she said, “I know; you love me and you’re going to worry about me. But …”
“But I won’t let it spoil tonight.”
“Good. Shall we go in then? I bet they’re all here already.”
He scanned the parking lot. “I don’t see Harper’s car or Jim’s truck. I wish they’d let us go get them.”
“They felt the same way I did—if Gavin had wanted to hurt them, he could have done it this afternoon. He was more interested in going out to search for Cash.”
Trip gave her a grim smile. “I think he’ll regret that if he finds him.”
He kept hold of her hand as he opened the door and smiled when he saw the gang standing around at the bar. It had been a long time since he’d seen Mav and Blane in here, but they were right there with the rest of them.
Mav was chatting with Candy—Trip wondered if that meant that Frankie and Spider were starting to make wedding plans. Blane and Deacon were locked in what seemed to be a serious conversation—although that was hardly surprising. Ace was laughing with Trav, while Retta and Ari chatted with Laney and Brooke.
Trip relaxed a little when he spotted Ford and Brody sitting at the end of the bar, chatting. He’d only had one job—and while he had asked Brody to get Ford to come tonight, like Cash had requested, he hadn’t followed up to make sure he’d actually be here.
He scanned the group, but Cash wasn’t there.
His siblings were. Tanner and Everly were sitting with Ty and Shayna. Kolby and Callie came in from the side door and went to join them. Janey and Rocket were standing chatting with Spider and Wade. He looked around for Wade’s fiancée, Sierra, and smiled when he spotted her. She was coming back from the ladies’ room with her friend, Amelia.
Trip glanced over at Ford again and wasn’t surprised to see that he was tracking Amelia’s steps with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
When they reached the bar, Travis turned to slap him on the back. “There you are! Hey, Shelley, what can I get you to drink?”
Trip stood back with a smile on his face as Trav swept her along, taking her with him as he stopped at each little group to chat. Trip knew what he was doing—she’d already met everyone, so she didn’t need introductions, but she didn’t know some of them well yet, and Trav was making her feel at home. Even back when they were little kids, Trav had been the outgoing one—Trip sometimes wondered if he himself wouldn’t have been much more of an introvert if it weren’t for his best friend.
He smiled at Retta when she came to stand beside him and said, “He’s just doing his thing.”
“He is—and we love him for it.”
She nodded happily. “He told me about this morning. I won’t say anything, don’t worry, but …” She waved her fists in front of her and made a little ‘ Eee !’ sound. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Retta. I’m happy for me, too.”
She glanced around. “Is Harper here yet?”
“I don’t think so. She and Shelley were both disappointed you couldn’t join them this afternoon.”
Retta smiled. “I know—they each told me so. I would have loved to hang out with them, but Callie asked for my help with Levi.”
Trip looked over at Callie and Kolby. “Who’s watching him tonight?”
“Bree—you know the girl who’s working at the bakery for Spider and Rocket now? She’s lovely. I really like her. And she’s so good with him. I was more than a little wary at first—just because she’s new in town, and we haven’t known her for long—but Cash knows her apparently, and he vouched for her so …”
She stopped when Trav and Shelley returned, and Trav handed her a glass of wine and gave Trip a beer.
“I think everyone but Harper, Jim, and Cash is here,” he said.
Trip scanned the room. “What about Emmett? He’s not come and gone already, has he?”
“Haven’t seen him,” said Trav.
“Do you think Cash is all right?” Shelley asked.
Trip curled his arm around her waist. “He’s one person we don’t need to worry about,” he told her.
She nodded but still seemed to look thoughtful.
“And Libby’s not coming?” Retta asked as she glanced over at Mav.
“She said she might come for a drink,” Trip told her.
“But just like Emmett—we know what that means.” Trav shook his head sadly.
“Wait—look,” said Shelley. “Emmett’s over there talking to Deacon and his brother Luke.”
Trip smiled when he saw him, and Emmett lifted his hand in greeting.
“What do you think?” Trip asked. “Should we go and say hi before he leaves again?”
Trav laughed, and Retta nodded her agreement.
Shelley slipped away from him. “I’ll be right over—I just need to …” She gave him a quick smile and turned toward the hallway.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked to the ladies’ room. He really should have made a bigger deal of just how good she looked tonight. The dress fitted her in a way that accentuated her curves, and was cut just low enough in front that …
Trav tapped the back of his head, knocking his hat down over his eyes and making him laugh as he said. “You need to watch where you’re going—you’re in danger of tripping over your tongue. Don’t worry—she’ll be right back.”
~ ~ ~
When Shelley came out of the ladies’ room, she turned at the sound of someone calling her name. For a moment, she couldn’t process what she was seeing, and by the time she figured it out, Gavin had raised the pistol he was holding. Her heart pounded in her chest as he beckoned for her to come to him.
She looked back over her shoulder, but they were at the end of the hallway. She couldn’t see anyone—and no one could see her.
“Don’t even think about it. And don’t think about screaming, because if anyone comes running, I’ll shoot them.”
She inhaled sharply as she imagined Trip appearing at the end of the corridor—and taking a bullet. When she finally found her voice, she asked, “What do you want?”
“You know what I want, and you’re coming with me to help me get it.”
She started to shake her head, but he jerked the pistol toward the door and said, “Your choice, but I have Jim and your friend in my truck. If you don’t come out with me in the next three seconds, I’ll just have to kill her. Go!”
She hurried to him, and he made her go ahead of him out the door.
She hesitated when she saw a man walking across the parking lot toward the main entrance.
“Try shouting for help and I’ll shoot him,” Gavin said in a low voice.
There was no way she’d risk endangering the man, so she kept quiet and kept walking. Gavin caught her arm and steered her toward an older model pickup truck. He pulled open the driver’s door and motioned for her to get in.
“You’re driving.”
She climbed in without a word. She was shaking so hard she didn’t know if she’d be able to drive, but the sight of Jim and Harper in the back seat made her take a deep, steadying breath. They were both gagged, and their hands were tied. The left side of Harper’s face was swollen, and her eye was closing up. Her right eye burned with fury. Jim shook his head sadly as he met Shelley’s gaze.
She wanted to reassure him, more than that, she wanted to rescue him, but… just as it occurred to her to drive away before Gavin could get in, he opened the passenger door and jangled the keys at her.
“Can’t get away without me.”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“For a little ride to a place I know. I won’t keep you long. We’re just going to make sure that dear old Uncle Jim’s original will still stands. Once we’ve done that, you can go.”
She met Jim’s gaze in the rearview mirror, but Gavin tapped her arm with the pistol. “You’ll have the chance to talk later. For now—drive!”
He inserted the key in the ignition, and Shelley put the truck in drive. Gavin gave her directions, and for a while she thought they might be headed back to Jim’s place. But before they reached it, he told her to turn right and head up into the foothills. Her heart sank. She suspected he had no intention of letting them come back down.
She didn’t know if she should tell him that the old will—the one that left everything to him—had already been superseded. If Jim were to die right now… She inhaled sharply—if Gavin were to kill him, he wouldn’t inherit a damn penny. She just didn’t know how he’d react to hearing that. He might get mad and hurt her—or Harper—but the knowledge should be enough to keep Jim safe. Or at least, alive.
It was harder to see Harper in the mirror, but when she managed to meet her eye, Harper nodded vigorously.
Gavin turned to glare at her. “Whatever you and your friend think you’re doing, stop it. I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I will.”
“What exactly do you want?” Shelley asked.
Gavin blew out a sigh. “I only want what’s rightfully mine—what my uncle is trying to stop me from having.” He turned to look at Jim. “I don’t even know why you have a problem with it. When you’re dead, it won’t make any difference to you.”
Jim’s words were muffled by the bandana tied around his mouth, but he protested loudly anyway.
Gavin turned back to Shelley with a shrug. “As I said, it won’t matter to him for much longer.”
Shelley slowed the truck as the gravel road narrowed.
“There’s a sharp right turn coming up… now.”
Gavin reached across and turned the wheel, making the truck swerve dangerously.
He laughed as Shelley corrected it to follow a much narrower, more overgrown track deeper into the trees. It was slow going, and they rode in silence for maybe ten minutes before a small cabin appeared in a clearing.
“Here we are,” Gavin said brightly. Shelley stopped the truck and he jerked the pistol at the driver’s door. “You get out and help Jim. I’ll be right here with your friend.”
~ ~ ~
“They’re so excited to come to your place tomorrow,” Emmett was saying. “They can’t wait to see the ring. They wanted me to take a photo of it tonight and send it to them, but I told them they’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Trip chuckled, wondering if he should admit that he had the ring in his pocket right now. He wanted Tanya and Alana to see it—he thought they’d be proud of him. He hadn’t wanted to leave it at home while he came out tonight. He didn’t think he was going to give it to Shelley yet, but …
Trav pushed at his shoulder and gave him a knowing wink, but didn’t say anything.
“Hey, Trip!”
He hadn’t expected to see Mav’s foreman out tonight—but Trip was glad that he’d come.
“Brad! It’s good to see you; what can I get you?”
“Nothing, thanks. It’s just …” He took his hat off and gripped the brim. “I don’t know if I’m putting my foot in it here, but it seemed off to me, so …”
Trip glanced over at the hallway where he’d last seen Shelley. He’d been telling himself there was no basis for the anxious feeling that had settled in his chest while he waited for her to return. Now, Brad’s words set his heart pounding.
“What? What did?”
“Your lady, Shelley. I just saw her outside.”
Trip took two steps toward the door before Trav caught his arm, asking Brad, “What exactly did you see?”
“It looked like she was leaving. That’s why I didn’t know … She was with Gavin Sheridan.”
“Fuck!” Trip struggled against Trav’s grip. “Let me go! I have to …”
“And we will, bud. But first we have to figure out … Did you see what he was driving, Brad?”
“Yeah, that was the weirdest part—it was an older F-150, but she was driving.”
A heavy weight of fear settled in Trip’s chest. Gavin had taken her? “Did you see which way they went?” he asked Brad.
“Turned north on East River. Shit. I’m sorry. I should have followed them, but I didn’t …”
Trip shook his head. It wasn’t Brad’s fault—it was all his fault.
Trav still hadn’t let go of his arm, and he gripped it tighter as he called, “Amelia, darlin’, we need you.”
Trav’s tone had the others all coming to huddle around them.
“What’s happening?” asked Mav.
Amelia stepped in front of him and asked Trav, “What can I do?”
“Track a phone for me, darlin’?”
“Just give me the number.” She looked down at the drink she was still holding. “Shit—and a ride back to the ranch where my gear is.”
Ford stepped forward. “I’ll take you.” He looked around. “Whose number do we need? Will I have it?”
Trip squeezed his eyes shut when Trav said, “Shelley.”
This couldn’t be happening—but it was. He straightened his shoulders and opened his eyes. “I’ll text you her number.”
Ford nodded as he and Amelia hurried away.
Trav was explaining what they knew to the others.
Blane was scowling. “So, we think he’s taken her to get her to change Jim’s will?”
Trip hadn’t thought this could get any worse, but … “Has anyone seen or heard from Jim? He and Harper should be here by now.”
“Fuck!” Mav spun around and headed for the door, calling back over his shoulder. “I’m going to Jim’s place.”
“I’ll go with,” said Emmett.
“What about the girls?” Trav asked.
“I’ll go,” said Brooke.
“By yourself?” Blane asked with a frown.
“I’ll go with her,” Brody offered.
Trip pulled against Trav’s arm again. “I need to go find her.”
Trav eased his grasp as he said, “We’re going now.” He looked around at the others. “Has anyone called Cash?”
Tanner held one hand up—his other hand clasped his phone to his ear.