by Lori Wilde
"Gilbert made contact with me,” she reminded him, "and my house was ransacked. That means I'm already involved."
She was right. But he still didn't want Gracie in the middle of this mess. He'd already come close to losing a partner because of this case. He wasn't about to risk losing her.
"But you don’t have to be," he told her. "I can arrange to have you placed somewhere safe, far away from Pine City until this is all over."
"No way," she snapped. "I can't put my life and career on hold while you go on a wild goose chase. My company is already overbooked, and I need to hire additional staff. I don't have time to go into hiding, even if I wanted to."
It was clear to him that her loyalty to Gilbert—and to her career—would prevent any of his arguments from swaying her. That left him with only one option. "Then let me protect you here in Pine City."
She took a step away from him. "That’s not an option."
"Just hear me out," he said, telling himself this was about the case and not about his attraction to her. "You want to find Gilbert—well, I can deliver him to you—with your help. We can accomplish more working together than we can separately."
He saw the uncertainty in her blue eyes and pushed even harder to convince her. "Let me stay with you— that way you can keep working here while I monitor your house. Both bases will be covered in case Gilbert tries to contact you again. He made a point to tell you he’s in big trouble, Gracie. That means he’s desperate if he reached out to you after all this time.”
Her brow crinkled. "You want stay with me?" Then understanding flashed on her face. "You mean live with me?"
"I'll sleep on the sofa.”
"Forget it."
"I'm not leaving you alone.” He took a step closer to her. “Whenever you're at home, I'm sticking with you. That’s where they attacked before." Sam needed to make it clear he wouldn't back down on this, even if it meant she'd hate him for it. "It's either that or I contact the Pine City police and tell them to place you in protective custody. You know I have connections there. And after that break-in at your house, I think they'll accommodate me."
Anger flashed in her eyes. He wasn't giving her any real choice, but he still held his breath waiting for her answer.
"All right," she finally agreed. "I'll do anything to help Gilbert."
"I'll find him for you, Gracie," he promised, knowing he owed her that much after what he’d done. She’d wanted to kiss Gilbert in the hotel room that night, not Sam.
Now it was up to him to deliver the real thing.
He left her office and was heading toward the parking lot when his cell phone buzzed in his pocket, notifying him of an incoming text message. Sam waited until he’d climbed into his pickup truck to pull the phone from his pocket and check the message. The name on the text made jaw drop.
It was from Ray.
Guilt rushed through him. He hadn’t made a visit out to Ray’s place in over a year. Bounty hunting kept him on the road most of the time, but that was no excuse. He tapped on the phone’s screen to reveal the full message.
I’ve got info about Holloway. Get over here now. There’s no time to waste.
#
Sam sped down the long, rolling country road leading to the Lopez home at Branched Oak Lake. He tried to remember the last time he’d driven this route, but it seemed so long ago. The sun shone brightly in the cloudless blue sky, and he was surrounded by lush green pastures and grazing cattle.
But all Sam could think about was another sunny day in May three years ago, when he’d stood at Ray’s hospital bedside and promised to make Gilbert Holloway pay for what he’d done. Ray had been unconscious at the time, but Sam had still said the words aloud and meant every one of them.
Suddenly, a black-tailed jackrabbit hopped onto the road, directly in front of the pickup. Sam slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting it. The pickup’s tires skidded on the loose gravel, the backend fishtailing wildly over the country road as he tried to regain control. At last, he managed to slow down enough to keep the pickup from careening into the ditch.
Trying to catch his breath, he glanced at his rearview mirror and saw the jackrabbit bounding through the prairie grass, completely unscathed. Relieved, Sam continued down the road, telling himself that at least he hadn’t ruined another life.
Ray had never blamed Sam for the shooting that had put him in a wheelchair. He rarely mentioned it all unless Sam brought it up, the subject obviously still too raw for him. And now that Sam thought about it, he realized it might be closer to eighteen months since he’d last seen his old partner. But he’d sent regular text updates to Ray and his wife about his search for Gilbert. He wanted them to know that catching Ray’s shooter was always at the top of his priority list.
This was the first time Ray had texted him about Holloway, so it gave Sam reason to hope. Had his old partner heard some news about Gilbert or even sighted him? After three long years, that seemed unlikely. Sam just hoped whatever information Ray had for him, it would lead to something concrete.
It was long past time for Sam to finally make good on his promise.
He turned down the short lane that led to Ray’s house and was surprised to see a familiar vehicle parked in the circular driveway. As Sam pulled into the driveway, he saw the front door of the house open and his grandmother emerge. She carried an empty wicker basket in one hand and waved to Sam with the other.
“What’s going on?” he muttered to himself as he watched her walk across the front porch and start down the steps.
He figured it couldn’t just be a coincidence that Grandma Hattie was here on the same day Ray had sent him that text. He parked and switched off the engine. By the time he climbed out of the cab, Grandma Hattie was just a few feet away.
“This is nice surprise,” she said, walking toward him. “What brings you all the way out here?”
“Ray sent me a text that he wanted to see me.”
Grandma Hattie shaded her eyes with her free hand. “My, it’s bright out today! I should’ve worn my sunglasses.”
“What are you doing here?”
She smiled. “Oh, I always stop by to visit Ray and Linnie when I’m in the neighborhood. Today, I wanted to drop off a couple of bottles of my blackberry cordial, since they both like it so much.” Grandma Hattie took a step closer to him. “And how are you doing, Sam? How’s the job going?”
“Great,” he said, anxious to reassure her. “I’ve made some progress.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’m working with someone Gilbert contacted recently. It’s the first lead I’ve had in a long time.”
She arched a silver brow. “I thought you preferred to work alone.”
“Well, I do,” he insisted. “But she’s not officially working with me. Gracie actually has her own career. She’s a successful image consultant and runs her own business.”
“Really? How’d you meet her?”
He cleared his throat. “I ran into her at a hotel in Hay Springs when I was following up on a possible lead about Holloway.” Sam decided not to go into detail about their encounter, quite certain his grandmother wouldn’t approve of his methods.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Grandma said, holding one slender finger in the air. “Nick mentioned a woman named Gracie to me just last night when he and Lucy were over for dinner. He said her house had been vandalized and she’d roughed you up!”
“Whoa, hold on there.” Sam shook his head. “Gracie didn’t rough me up. I mean, she caught me off guard and yes, she did put me on the ground, but it was just a misunderstanding.”
“Oh, Sam!” Grandma Hattie reached out and laid a gentle hand on his arm. “I was afraid you’d get hurt on this job. Are you sure Gracie isn’t dangerous?”
“No, I’m fine.” But even as he said it, he wondered if Gracie just might be the most dangerous woman he’d ever met. Not that he’d ever admit that to Grandma Hattie. She already worried too much about him. Although Sam thought he detected a slight twinkl
e in her blue eyes as she gazed up at him, then he decided it was just a reflection of the sunlight.
“Well, I hate to run off,” she said, stepping away from him, “but I’d better get going. Rachel invited me to join her for a late lunch at Bonnie’s Diner.”
Relieved that she didn’t ask him any more questions about Gracie or the job, Sam walked Grandma Hattie to her car and opened the door. “I’ll talk to you soon. Say hello to Rachel for me.”
“I’ll do that,” she promised. “And give Gracie my best, will you?”
She closed the car door before he could reply, then waved to him before driving off. He suddenly remembered Hank’s theory that Cowboy Confidential might serve as his grandmother’s matchmaking too. Then he shook his head. There was no way Grandma Hattie could have known about Gracie or the tactics he’d use to pry information from her. She hadn’t even wanted him to take the job in the first place.
Hank turned and headed for the front door, eager to find out why Ray had sent for him. The front door opened when he reached the porch and another woman emerged. For a moment, he didn’t recognize her because she was very pregnant. “Linnie?”
“Sam!” Linnie Lopez rushed toward him, the white lab coat she wore flapping in the breeze.
He tried to hug her, but her protruding belly got in the way, making both of them laugh.
“When did this happen?” Sam asked in amazement.
Linnie beamed up at him. “About eight and a half months ago. And it wouldn’t be such a surprise if you showed up here once in a while.”
“I know,” he said, looking into her pretty brown eyes. “My bounty hunter job keeps me on the run, but that’s no excuse. And you look amazing, by the way.”
She laughed. “You always know the perfect thing to say to a woman.”
“Well, I used to.” He winced a little, thinking about his rocky start with Gracie. “But maybe I’m just out of practice.”
“I’d love to stay and catch up,” she said, “but I’m late for my shift at the hospital. Please tell me you won’t be such a stranger.”
“I’ll try to come around more often,” he promised. Then he held out one hand to help her down the steps, but she cheerfully waved off his assistance.
“I’m fine, Sam. You can go around back if you’d like. Ray’s been waiting for you on the deck.”
“Okay. Nice to see you again, Linnie.” Sam waved to her, then headed for the backyard. The towering red oak trees provided plenty of shade and birds whistled among the branches as if announcing his arrival.
But when he reached the deck, he saw Ray sitting in his wheelchair, his shoulders slumped and his chin almost touching his chest as he slept. Neither the birds nor the sound of Sam’s footsteps on the deck flooring had awakened him.
The Lopezes’ bloodhound, Oscar, lay sprawled out beside the wheelchair. He raised his head and started to wag his tail as Sam approached. Sam reached down to scratch the dog behind the ears, happy that he was still familiar to the old bloodhound after all this time.
Then Sam moved closer to Ray and kneeled beside the wheelchair. Ray still had the same short black hair and dark stubble beard that Sam remembered. But the fact that his former partner was fast asleep in the middle of the day worried him. He wondered if Ray had gotten weaker over time and blamed himself for not checking in with him more often.
“Hey,” Sam said softly. “Ray, it’s me, Sam. I got your text.”
Ray’s eyelids fluttered open, then he slowly raised his head. “Sam?” he said weakly, his voice barely audible.
“Yeah, I’m right here, buddy,” Sam said, leaning in closer.
Then Ray lifted his arm and punched Sam hard in the jaw.
Caught off guard, Sam tipped backward onto the deck and landed near the bloodhound. Oscar moved toward him and sniffed. Then the dog started licking his ear.
“Gotcha!” Ray said, laughing. He sat straight up in his wheelchair, shaking his head. “Man, have you lost your edge! I can’t believe you fell for that old trick.”
“Gee, thanks.” Sam rubbed his sore jaw and tried to avoid the dog’s slobbery tongue. “What did you do that for?”
Ray’s laughter faded. “Because I’m trying to knock some sense into that hard head of yours.” He shook out his left hand, wincing a little. “Man, I forgot how much that hurt.”
“So, maybe you’re the one getting soft,” Sam exclaimed. He clambered to his feet, still feeling a little dizzy. “Now tell me what I did to deserve that.”
Ray snorted. “Where do I start? How about the fact this is the first time you’ve been here in almost two years?”
“Yeah, I know.” Sam took a seat in the Adirondack chair opposite Ray. “And I already apologized to Linnie. I saw her out front when she was leaving for the hospital. Why didn’t you tell me she was pregnant?”
“You look surprised.” Ray grinned. “I can’t use my legs, but everything else works just fine.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Sam sat back in his chair, then reached up to gingerly move his jaw back and forth. “Your left hook is as strong as ever.”
“And I’ll show you what my right hook can do,” Ray threatened, looking more serious now. “If you don’t back off this Gilbert Holloway case.”
Sam blinked in surprise. “What are you talking about? Did Grandma Hattie put you up to this?”
“No.” Ray leaned forward in his wheelchair. “But she’s the reason I found out about it. I heard her talking to Linnie and learned my wife contacted that Cowboy Confidential company of hers that’s all the rage around here.”
“Linnie’s the one who hired me?”
Ray nodded, his face grim. “Yes. Although, she had no idea you’d be the one to take the case, or she would never have done it. Linnie knows how obsessed you are about finding Holloway.”
“And with good reason,” Sam snapped. “I owe it to you. If I hadn’t been texting that girl when I was supposed to be watching your back...”
“Hogwash!” Ray interrupted, his voice rising. “Do you know how many times I texted Linnie when I was supposed to be watching your back? That’s just the way it happened, and neither one of us could have predicted it.”
“You want me to just let this go after Holloway ruined your life?” Sam asked, his voice rising. “To forget about finding Gilbert and his accomplices? To forget about the promise that I made to you?”
“I believe in karma,” Ray told him. “I know whoever shot me will pay some day. And despite what you might think, my life is great. I have a wife I adore and a baby on the way. And now I’m working full-time with the state’s cyber-crime unit and loving every minute of it.”
“And I love bounty hunting,” Sam admitted. “I got into it to hunt down Holloway, but it’s my true calling.”
“Then go do that before you screw up again. Or have you forgotten that Sheriff Aldrin took you off the case when you became obsessed with it. And even after that, you wouldn’t leave it alone, working all day and then tracking Gilbert all night. You were a bear to be around and sleep-deprived, putting the other deputies in danger. That’s why the sheriff was ready to fire you when...”
“When I quit,” Sam finished for him, “and became a bounty hunter.”
That part of his life had been a whirlwind of guilt and regret, driving him to the brink. Grandma Hattie had tried to intervene, as well as his brothers, but Sam had refused to listen to them. He’d been so determined to find Gilbert Holloway and make him pay for what he’d done.
Learning the ropes of bounty hunting had saved him from spinning out of control. It took patience and deliberation to be a bounty hunter, and it had honed his tracking skills. Sam had soon learned to balance his new profession with his continued search for Holloway.
“I’m my own boss now,” Sam told him, “so no one can take me off the case.”
“I can,” Ray shot back. “Frankly, I’m just tired of feeling guilty about you feeling guilty. Neither one of us can change what happened to me. I
t’s time to let it go, Sam.”
Sam stared at him. He and Ray had been partners for years, but he’d never seen him this resolute. “How can you say that? You’re in that chair because of Holloway. And because of me.”
“You’re wrong.” Ray shook his head. “On both counts.”
The bloodhound moved toward Ray and laid his droopy head on his knee. “I’m not sure it was Holloway who shot me,” Ray continued. “Sometimes I have flashbacks, and when I do, Holloway’s not in a position to shoot me in the back. It all happened so fast...”
“But it had to be him.”
“No, there were at least two other people there that night, maybe three. One of them shut off the electricity, making it more difficult to see. But Gilbert was running around like a scared rabbit. The guy was literally shaking. Whoever shot me was calm enough to take me down with one bullet.”
Sam wanted to argue. He wanted to convince Ray that Gilbert Holloway was guilty. “If that’s true, then why has Holloway been on the run?”
“Probably because he didn’t want to go to prison or betray his silent partners.”
Sam was still confused. “If Linnie’s the one who contacted Cowboy Confidential, then she obviously doesn’t feel the same way you do.”
Ray didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Linnie heard Holloway might be in the area,” he said slowly. “She thought if someone else caught him, you could start living your life too. For whatever reason, she cares about your big, dumb hide as much as I do.”
Sam’s throat tightened. He thought of Gracie and his promise to her to find Gilbert. “I can’t stop when I’m this close.”
“If you truly believe you owe me something for the night I was shot,” Ray said firmly, “then I’m going to call in that favor now.” He took a deep breath. “You have one week left to find Holloway, Sam. If you don’t, then I want you to give me your word, right here and now, that you’ll stop searching for him.”
Sam couldn’t believe what Ray was asking of him. Now he wanted to punch something. He’d changed careers to find Gilbert. He’d promised Gracie that he’d bring Gilbert into custody safely.