When Petals Fall: A Cowboy, Second Chance Romantic Suspense (Chance Creek Book 1)

by A. L. Mercier

  "You took my scarves." It was more of a statement than a question.

  "The stem from a flower was tied in a knot around the three scarves."

  Jake's, "Motherfucker," about summed it up so she said nothing until a thought hit her and she frowned.

  "Wait. There were four scarves."

  The sheriff met her frown with one of his own. "We went over the room thoroughly twice and there were only three."

  "He must have taken one."

  The two men looked at one another.

  "What color was the scarf?"

  This was embarrassing. "There was a pink one, a lavender one, a teal one, and a yellow one."

  "The pink one is missing."

  Damn. Her favorite.

  "You've got someone who does forensics in town?" Jake asked breaking the silence.

  "Yeah, the new doc. Dr. Whitaker, the one helping out Doc Harris? She's got forensics experience, so she'll also be helping us with investigations like this. But even with her experience, some of this is going to have to be sent out. We don't have the technology to deal with this sort of thing."

  The paramedics stood up with their gear. "You'll need to keep the wound covered, clean, and dry so as to avoid any infection. Also, if you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last five to ten years, you'll need one of those."

  "I just had one a year or so ago."

  "Then you're all set. Just be sure to make an appointment with your doctor for follow up."

  "Thank you." They nodded and then turned and left as the Deputy Rivers walked in.

  "What's up?" the sheriff asked.

  "I found the two dogs unconscious out in the barn."

  "Oh God!" Bailey!

  "They've been drugged. I suspect a tranquilizer of some sort. I called Doc Baker to come out and take a look and she just got here as I was coming up."

  The sheriff nodded. "Good."

  She didn't recognize the name. A new doctor and a new veterinarian in town, so many things had changed in the last seven years. As Deputy Rivers turned to leave the room, she grabbed his arm.

  "The dogs. They'll be okay?"

  "I think they were just knocked out. The vet will know better."

  She had to wait. Again. Another question without an answer.

  "Thank you, Deputy Rivers."

  "You bet. I'm going to go check around some more."

  Sheriff Brooks focused his attention on Lizzie and Jake. "Do you folks have any questions before I head down and help my men with the investigation?"

  "I've got a few questions, Sheriff."

  She knew what it meant when Jake had that tone in his voice and she mentally cringed. He was about to piss off the sheriff. This was so not good.

  "What's up, Kramer?"

  "If you looked around before you came in here, that means you had to have been pretty damn close to here when I called you. What exactly were you doing?"

  Sheriff Brooks just looked at Jake, his face devoid of any emotion. There was no reading the man. "I was on a call."

  "Where and what for?"

  "Jake!" She was mortified.

  "It's alright." Sheriff Brooks then directed his gaze to Jake. "I had a call, I went out on it, and by chance it was just down the road from here. I can't get into specifics."

  Jake's, "Hmm," was rude, so Lizzie covered with a, "Thank you, Sheriff Brooks."

  "I advise you change the locks and stay at the main house or somewhere you won't be alone until we figure out what's going on." He tucked his pad of paper in his shirt pocket. "If you think of anything else, any minor detail, don't hesitate to call." He handed her his card and closed the loft door behind him.

  Lizzie turned to Jake. "What were you thinking?"

  "What?"

  "Questioning Sheriff Brooks. God, you all but accused him of being the guy."

  "How do you know he's not? It was awful convenient how he just happened to be on a call right down the road."

  "My gut tells me he's not the one." Lizzie walked to the bedroom and started packing clothing and other items into her bag.

  "Well, my gut tells me not to rule anyone out. Including the sheriff."

  She threw the last of her clothes into the bag, then headed to the bathroom for toiletries. "I've got to get to the main house. My mom and dad have probably already each popped an artery by now."

  "Alright, let's go." As Jake closed and locked the door behind him, he grabbed Lizzie's hand. "Darlin', do me a favor."

  "What?"

  "Don't rule anyone out until you can be one hundred percent positive."

  "Okay." She wanted it to be a simple open and shut case, but Lizzie just knew things weren't going to be that easy. They never were.

  31

  Lizzie

  Who knew mucking stalls could be so invigorating? If Lizzie subtracted the stench, which was tamped down reasonably well with the bandana she'd put scented lotion on then tied around her head to cover her nose and mouth, all in all it was a pretty rewarding experience. And with Matt clearing away the wheelbarrows of crap, pun intended, she'd worked steadily for the past three hours clearing out stall after stall, then power-washing them as Brand instructed, and spreading fresh straw.

  She needed this. The escape. The physical exertion to exorcise the fear that still lingered from the break-in two nights ago. Honestly, how was she supposed to get past it if people kept bringing it up?

  For the last two days people stopped by, checking to see how she was doing, but more than that, they were looking for an accurate version of what happened. Then this morning Brand gave her the out she needed. In spite of being the worst chore on the Bar T and one she'd normally pass up, she thanked him for the offer of helping out mucking stalls. She jumped at the diversion from the nosy gossip mongers.

  She'd thoroughly cleaned six stalls and as she threw the last pitchforkful of straw, she felt a sense of accomplishment and more than that, peace.

  Matt walked up. "All done?"

  Lizzie handed him the pitchfork. "Yes."

  He peered around her into the stall. "Looks good. Nice job."

  "Thanks." Her stomach growled and Matt chuckled.

  "You work through lunch?"

  "I guess I did."

  "Well, you go ahead get something to eat and I'll finish cleaning up here."

  "Cool. Thanks."

  Lizzie walked out of the barn, then stopped and tipped her head back, the hot July sun bathing her face. Any longer than a few minutes in the sun without sunscreen and her pasty Irish skin would burn, so instead of lingering, she headed back toward the house.

  She'd shower and change her clothes, then grab something to eat. Horses whinnied in the distance, and there was the occasional moo from the cows. Birds chirped, the sun shone brightly, and she felt light-hearted.

  As Lizzie neared the far side of the barn, she passed by Brand's truck, then hers on her way to the main house, and that's when she saw it. There was a piece of paper tucked under one of the windshield wipers.

  Her heart stopped as she lifted the paper. Would it be from the man who broke in? She opened the note and her heart resumed its normal beat when she recognized the writing. Jake.

  Darlin',

  It's been two days.

  If I don't see you by the end of the day, I'm going to have a discussion with Tiffany Phillips about your fetish for silk scarves and racy magazines.

  J~

  He wouldn't dare! Tiffany Phillips was the town gossip that thrived on little tidbits like this, and worse, she was Amber Worthington's best friend. She would have a field day exposing her tentative exploration with very light bondage and turning it into some freak fetish that would very likely included whips and chains.

  She rubbed a hand across her sweaty forehead. Well, shit. She wasn't sure if he meant it or if he was teasing, and that type of gossip was the last thing she needed right now. He had to be kidding.

  She looked at the note one more time and saw there was more scrawled at the bottom.

&
nbsp; P.S. No, I'm not kidding.

  Oh boy. The man was very good with threats.

  If she was going to see him, she needed to change clothes. She smelled like the back end of a horse. She smiled inwardly. It would serve him right if she went over there smelling like a heaping pile of horse shit. Then she sighed in resignation. A few minutes of satisfaction were definitely not worth the stench that would linger in her SUV for months.

  Bailey came bounding up, barking and leaping, and Lizzie dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck, then closed her eyes. Her heart hurt and her eyes stung with unshed tears at the thought of losing him. He was more than a pet to her, he was her best friend. He had helped pull her through the depression after the accident.

  If it weren't for Bailey, she would have gone crazy with grief. She needed to tell Jake what happened. Soon.

  She walked in the main house with Bailey hot on her heels and her anger kicked up a notch. She was ticked off at the fact that she had to live in the main house with her parents, all because some freak was playing mind games with her.

  She sat on the bench in the mudroom and unlaced her work boots. She gave Bailey a quick kiss on the top of his head and then went upstairs to her bedroom to get some clean clothes before heading to the bathroom for a shower. Her emotions were running rampant, anger seemed to be at the forefront, yet no matter how hard she tried, getting a handle on them seemed a near impossible task.

  Lizzie turned on the shower water and undressed then stepped under the warm spray and closed her eyes. She pushed her hair back out of her face as she let the water wash away the dirt and sweat, easing her aching muscles in the process. Too much was going on lately and she wanted some answers. No. She needed them. After her shower she'd call Sheriff Brooks for an update. Then she'd go see Jake.

  An hour later, as she drove down the access road to the Rocking K, she still didn't have any answers and she was in one hell of a foul mood. Whatever Jake wanted had better be good because the fact the sheriff didn't have any new information had escalated her earlier frustration to a full blown pissed off.

  As she approached the Rocking K ranch house, she noticed a lone figure sitting in a corner on the porch in a rocking chair. Her stomach dropped and she ground her teeth in frustration. Great. Just what she needed. There sat Leo Kramer, the man who'd never approved of her dating his son. The man who made no secret of the fact that he never thought she was good enough for Jake.

  She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and got out of the SUV.

  "Hi, Mr. Kramer," Lizzie said, climbing the steps to the porch.

  "Well, well. Elizabeth." Just the tone of those three words had her cringing. "I see you finally found your way back."

  "Yes, sir."

  "'Bout damn time too."

  What the hell did that mean? "I'm sorry?"

  "I heard about that mess the other night."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Damn shame when people can't feel safe in their own home."

  Exactly. Leo totally got it, and that surprised the hell out of her. "That's a fact."

  "You stayin' with your parents?"

  "Yes, sir, I am."

  Leo nodded. "Good, good. Well, you know Jake can't—"

  Leo was abruptly cut off as the screen door opened and Amy, Jake's younger sister, stepped onto the porch, actually frustrating Lizzie rather than relieving her because, for the first time ever, she was curious to see what the older man had to say. This was their first real conversation that held no hostility, sarcasm, or disdain.

  "Hi Lizzie." The two women embraced in a tight hug before they stepped back to assess one another. The changes that Lizzie saw in Amy were amazing. She looked so grown up at twenty-one, and nothing at all like what she remembered.

  "Wow, Amy, look at you! I still can't believe how much you've grown up."

  "Well, when you left, I was twelve," Amy noted with a wry grin.

  "Yeah, it's been a long time."

  "It has," Amy said with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

  "Yeah. Um…," Lizzie trailed off with a glance at Leo.

  "Daddy, have you been giving Lizzie a hard time again?"

  "No, young lady, I have not. I was starting up a conversation when you interrupted."

  Amy snorted. "Yeah, and I bet the tone you were using gave Lizzie a warm and fuzzy feeling."

  Actually it had.

  Leo stood up from the rocking chair. "I don't do warm and fuzzy, and I don't have to listen to this. I'm going inside."

  After Leo ambled into the house, Amy smiled. "Sorry about that."

  "He's a handful."

  "Lizzie, he doesn't mean things the way they come out. That's just how he is. Old and grumpy."

  An, "I heard that," came from within the house and both women laughed.

  "So, you're here to see Jake?"

  "Yep. He beckoned." Lizzie showed Amy the note.

  Amy's eyes widened and she laughed, then quickly stifled it with a clearing of her throat. "He's just evil."

  Lizzie nodded. "And then some."

  "I think he's in the barn," Amy said with a smile. "Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation."

  "Hmmm," Lizzie replied with a glint in her eye. "I'm not so sure you'd want to hear this one, Amy."

  Amy nodded with a grin. "Maybe you're right."

  "Did you want to come in for some lemonade before you castrate my brother?"

  "I think I'll just head down to the barn and take care of business." As curious as she was about Leo and how different he was toward her, she was still a coward, and she wanted to deal with Jake and his little note. Too much time around the man, and his ornery side might kick in again. Lizzie could tell that Amy was disappointed, but she just wanted to take those few minutes of camaraderie with the old man and relish them.

  "Okay. It sure was nice seeing you again, Lizzie." Amy's voice held just a smidgen of sarcasm that had Lizzie wanting to laugh, and the it'll be very interesting to see how this one comes out was implied in said sarcasm.

  "Good seeing you too, Ames."

  "Nice talking to you again, Mr. Kramer," Lizzie said through the screen door, and the, "Don't be a stranger," she heard in reply shocked her to her toes.

  She turned back to Amy who shrugged and smiled. "He's mellowed in his old age."

  Lizzie shook her head. "I guess." She waved. "See you later."

  Lizzie turned and headed down the steps toward the barn. Maybe the old man was warming up to her. And all it took was seven years of absence and someone breaking into her home.

  She didn't see anyone outside as she approached the barn, so she went inside. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the dimness of the barn. Still she didn't see Jake.

  "Jake?" Someone stepped in front of her and she slammed right into a hard chest. She screamed.

  A pair of hands gripped her arms before just as quickly letting her go. "Easy, Lizzie."

  "Logan!" Lizzie brushed a stray hair from her forehead. "You scared the crap out of me!"

  "Sorry. I didn't mean to especially after the other night."

  "How do you know about that?" Dumb question. With the gossip vine in Chance Creek everyone knew about that.

  "Jake told me. We're all dedicating some spare time to helping the sheriff find the guy."

  She didn't know how to react to that. Logan wasn't one of her favorite people. So she did what her mother's manners taught her and said, "Thanks. Is Jake around?"

  "He just went up to the house."

  She wasn't sure what to make of the way he kept staring at her with those grey eyes that seemed to see everything. "I was just there, and Amy said he was here."

  Logan's laugh sent shivers down her spine. The man just made her feel uneasy. "His house."

  His house? "I'm not following. What do you mean his house?"

  Logan looked at her in surprise. "Just what I said. His house. The one he had built out about a quarter mile down the work road to the south pasture."

  S
he couldn't hide her shock. "He built a house?"

  "Yep. A few years back. You didn't know?"

  She shook her head and her, "No," was nothing more than a whisper. She'd been home over a month, and she'd had no clue. She stood there for a minute, feeling as ridiculous as she looked. "Thank you."

  She was almost out of the barn when Logan called out.

  "Lizzie?"

  She stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

  "Here." He tossed a set of keys to her and she caught them midair. "You can take my truck. It's on the other side of the barn. That way you won't have to walk back up to the main house." She stood mute for a minute. The Logan she knew wouldn't share anything.

  As if he could read her mind, he asked, "Surprised?"

  "Well… yes."

  "People change, Lizzie."

  "So it would seem," was all she could think to say, and she hoped it was true. Then with a quick, "Thank you," she turned and exited the barn. Walking to his truck she realized she didn't know anything about the man Logan had become, but that didn't make her any less wary of him. For all she knew, Logan could be the man threatening her.

  Grateful she didn't have to take her SUV down the rough work road, she got in the beat-up white truck with the Rocking K emblem on the side. Lizzie scooted the seat forward, adjusted the mirrors, and started the engine. The work road was just over the ridge ahead, veering to the left, a road she had taken many times, though when she traveled it this time, she was surprised to see that what had once been a rutted dirt road with potholes galore, was now paved over. Lizzie drove south on the work road that would lead her to Jake's house. Why hadn't he told her he built a house? What was the big mystery?

  As she rounded the bend, she saw it. Her lips parted in awe as she pulled the truck to a stop. It was their dream house. The one they'd talked about all those years ago. And it was gorgeous. It was a two-story log home with a wrap-around porch that indeed appeared to wrap around the entire house. So many windows. The light inside had to be amazing.