by Irene Brand
“Yes, I heard the phone. Who was it?”
“Kennedy.” Even in his fear for her, he thought of Kennedy’s reputation. “She’s okay, apparently, but something’s wrong. I’m on my way, but I shouldn’t be over there alone with her in the middle of the night. You get dressed, tell the men where you are, and follow me as soon as you can.” He didn’t wait for her answer but ran toward his truck. In the five minutes it took him to drive to Riverside, dozens of scenarios of what might be happening flashed through his mind. The lights were on in Kennedy’s bedroom as well as the front porch, and he hit the porch on a run. Wilson was still barking.
“It’s Derek!” he shouted. “Let me in.”
She must have been standing beside the door, for it opened immediately. He pushed his way inside, slamming the door behind him. She threw herself at him, and he gathered her close. Her body was trembling, and he detected a deep sob in her throat.
Wilson stopped his guttural barking and curled himself around Derek’s legs, whimpering.
Derek held Kennedy close and tenderly rubbed her back until the trembling lessened. She seemed content to stay in his arms, so he didn’t release her. “Now tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know! I was asleep when Wilson started barking. He was tugging at his leash, and he finally broke loose. He ran from one window to another, leaping up on the panes—just carrying on. I shouldn’t have called you, but I was so frightened.”
“Yes, you should have called me! Wilson wouldn’t act like that unless he sensed danger of some kind. You didn’t hear anything?” She shook her head against his shoulder. “I couldn’t hear anything except Wilson.” She stirred in his arms, and after kissing her on the forehead, Derek released her reluctantly. Automobile lights flashed through the glass pane in the door. “Oh,” she said and clutched his arm.
“That’s probably Mom. I told her to follow me.”
June walked into the room, and her competent and calm presence seemed to soothe Kennedy. With his mother there to care for her and with Wilson tagging at his heels, Derek moved throughout the house, checking for forced entry and to see if anyone was hidden inside. When he came downstairs to report that no one was in the house, Kennedy and his mother were in the kitchen. Kennedy was sitting at the table, her head in her hands, and June had a pot of water heating on the stove.
“Everything is all right here,” he reported, “but I’m going to check outside.”
Kennedy’s head shot up. “Be careful,” she said.
This was the first time that Derek had seen Kennedy when she hadn’t looked as if she’d stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Tonight she wore a knee-length robe tied at the waist. She was barefoot. She didn’t have on any makeup and her hair was disheveled, but Derek was more conscious of her natural beauty than ever before.
He turned away before she caught him staring. “There’s an iron bar on the back porch. I’ll take it for a weapon and look around to see if you’ve had any visitors.”
Carrying a flashlight, Derek walked around the house and the other outbuildings without seeing anything that should have alarmed Wilson. The dog walked beside him, and when he didn’t seem upset, Derek decided that whoever or whatever had bothered Wilson was long gone. When he entered the kitchen, Kennedy looked toward him expectantly. She and June were sipping hot tea, and June poured a cup for him.
“I didn’t find anything out of place,” he reassured her. “Wilson might have heard a coyote or another wild animal to set him off.”
“Does he do that very often?”
He hesitated. “I’ve never known him to,” he admitted.
Her shoulders seemed to slump a little lower. “I’m sorry I bothered you. Go on home and try to get some rest.”
“We’re not leaving. I’m going to stay outside and keep watch.”
“If you’ve got an extra blanket, I’ll curl up on the couch in the living room,” June said.
Kennedy nodded. “There are several in the closet of my room. I’ll find one for you.” She walked out of the room, dragging her feet, and Derek glanced anxiously at his mother, whose eyes were wide with concern.
After Derek and his mother were settled, Kennedy went back to bed, but she didn’t go to sleep right away. She shouldn’t have been so headstrong. Derek had lived in this country for years, and he hadn’t wanted her to stay at Riverside. She should have listened to him. But she hadn’t, so what options did she have now?
She didn’t think she slept but she must have dozed off, for when she woke up, she smelled coffee brewing. She hurried out of bed and dressed in a pair of her new jeans and a flannel shirt before she went to the kitchen. June was at the table drinking coffee.
“Where’s Derek?” she asked
“Outside, looking around,” June told her.
Kennedy went to look for him and saw him in the field between the house and the river, intently studying the ground. He looked up, saw her standing on the porch, and hurried toward the house.
“Didn’t you sleep at all?” she asked.
“No. I’d gone to sleep watching the evening news. I’d had about five hours before you called, so I wasn’t sleepy,” he assured her. “I watched all night, but I didn’t see or hear anything unusual.”
“Did you find anything suspicious?”
Derek hesitated briefly. “I don’t want to tell you, but you have to know. There was somebody here last night. I found fresh tracks in some muddy spots between the house and the river. A man—I’m assuming it was a man—had walked toward the house and then backtracked. I suppose Wilson’s barking scared him off.” Through stiff lips, Kennedy said, “But why?”
“You’ve been in Nebraska for two weeks now, and I figure about everybody in Valentine knows you’re living here alone,” Derek answered. “Most people in this community are good moral citizens, but every area has its lawless element. I don’t intend to scare you, but someone might have intended to break in on you.”
“And that’s the reason you didn’t think I should live here in the first place?” she questioned.
“Partly,” he admitted. “But you don’t know who wants to buy the Circle Cross yet. They might be trying to scare you away. Now that you’ve fixed up the house, the potential buyer may have decided that you’re staying.”
June joined them on the porch with a cup of coffee for Derek. He took a big swallow of the coffee, and Kennedy noted the weariness in his face. He’d been working long hours, and she knew he was tired.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you that Cousin Smith is back in town,” Kennedy said. “I saw him on Saturday and have an appointment with him this afternoon to discuss the Circle Cross. He mentioned selling the ranch. I told him I wasn’t ready to make a decision but that I might not sell at all.” to discuss the Circle Cross. He mentioned selling the ranch. I told him I wasn’t ready to make a decision but that I might not sell at all.” June nodded. “News travels fast in Valentine. That word could have spread and someone may have decided to give you a nudge to get out. Probably didn’t mean you any harm.”
“I should just go home and forget the ranch, but I’m happy to have the house restored and was really looking forward to staying here all summer.” Looking intently at Derek, she said, “I wouldn’t take your advice before, but I’m ready to listen now. I’ll go back home if you think that’s best.” With a grin, he said, “I accused you of being stubborn, but I’m stubborn, too. I’m determined that no one is going to force you off land that belongs to you until you’re ready to leave.”
“I’ll come and stay at night,” June offered.
Derek shook his head. “I know you would, and we may have to do that for a few nights, but that’s no solution for the rest of the summer.” To Kennedy, he said,
“Would you object to hiring someone to stay with you at night? You would have the place to yourself all day and evening. There are a few retired women in Valentine who live alone and would probably jump at the chance to make some extra money
. You could prepare a room for the woman and have her come about bedtime and stay until morning. As long as there’s someone else in the house, I don’t think anyone will break in.” Kennedy smiled broadly. “That would be the perfect solution. I have a housekeeper at home. After Dad died, she stayed with me at night, so I’m not accustomed to staying alone.” Turning to June, she asked, “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I do,” June said emphatically. “Derek and I will put our heads together and come up with somebody reliable.” Kennedy told them what she paid her housekeeper in California. “Will that be a reasonable salary for the woman?” Derek whistled. He and June exchanged amused glances, and Kennedy deduced that Los Angeles’s salary scale was a lot higher than Nebraska wages for the same kind of work.
“That will be a big boost for several of the women who attend our church and don’t have any income except Social Security,” June said. “I’m sure we’ll find someone to work for you.”
“Oh, that relieves my mind so much,” Kennedy said, and she couldn’t stop smiling. “I couldn’t go back to sleep last night for worrying that I would have to leave Nebraska.”
Derek’s eyes locked with hers. “I worried about that, too.”
His face flushed, and Kennedy noticed June’s amazed glance at her son.
“I’ll ask around today, if you want me to,” June said, “and see if we can find someone quickly.”
“Please do. I don’t even have to talk to her, although she might want to meet me before she agrees to stay here,” Kennedy said with a light laugh. “Make any decision you think is right.”
“It’s not likely anyone can come for a day or two, so what about tonight?” June asked. “I can come here, or you can stay at the ranch house again.”
“I’ll do whatever is the least trouble for you.”
“Why don’t you come to Riverside, Mom?” Derek suggested. “This house has stood vacant for several years without being bothered, but since Kennedy has fixed up the place, one of our local hoodlums might have decided it’s a good place to burglarize. It might be better if the house isn’t vacant.”
“That’s fine,” June agreed. “I’ll be here before dark, Kennedy.”
Derek smiled with satisfaction, as if a big load had been lifted from his shoulders. “The men are going to move a herd of cattle today; is there anything you need me to do for you?”
“The mechanic called and said the car is ready,” Kennedy said, “but he wouldn’t have anyone available to deliver it until tomorrow. You can take me in to pick it up, if you don’t mind.”
Nodding, Derek asked, “Ten o’clock suit you?”
“Yes, and I’d just as soon you drove the car home, so let’s take my car.” She laughed lightly. “I’ve never driven a car without automatic transmission, and I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself in Valentine. I can get used to it by driving around the ranch.” He nodded. “And will you want to take your rental car back to Omaha on Sunday afternoon?”
“Not yet. After I had decided to stay here awhile, I called the rental company and extended the length of time I had the car, so I won’t have to return it for a couple of weeks. We’ll wait until then just to make sure I’m comfortable driving Grandfather’s car.” She followed the Sterlings out on the porch, thanking them again for their help.
“June,” Kennedy said, “I wish you’d pray about my meeting with Cousin Smith this afternoon. My father was rather easygoing, and I have a feeling that my cousin made all the decisions and Dad agreed.” With a sidelong glance at Derek, she said, “I’m not like that.” A wide grin spread across his face, and he nodded. “A Morgan trait!”
She ignored his comment and continued, “After working with Dad’s lawyer in settling the estate, I’ve learned quite a lot about finances. I’ll be asking Smith some pointed questions he may not want to answer. I don’t want any trouble in the family, but I intend to make my own decisions about what goes on at the Circle Cross.” Looking at Derek, she demurred, “With advice from certain people, of course!”
“Sure, I’ll pray for you.” June gave Kennedy a friendly hug. “I’ve been doing that every day since you showed up on our doorstep. That was a happy day for me.”
Kennedy met Derek’s eyes over his mother’s shoulder, and he winked at her.
What was she going to do about him?
June said good-bye and drove away and Derek walked toward his truck, but he turned around to look directly at her. “By the way, I like your clothes—you look like a sure ’nuff cowgirl now.”
“But I won’t be one until a certain cowhand gives me some more lessons on how to ride a horse,” Kennedy retorted.
His lips widened in a leisurely smile. “Soon,” he promised.
Chapter Eight
Driving her rental car, Kennedy followed Derek closely as they traveled from Valentine to the ranch. She was happy she’d kept her grandfather’s car. The waxed maroon surface radiated the sunshine, and the car looked like new. The mechanic had assured her that it would be as serviceable for her needs as a new car.
“What do you think of it?” she asked Derek immediately upon reaching Riverside.
“I like it so well that I’ll take it off your hands for the cost of restoring it,” he said, his deep chuckle that she’d come to recognize as his trademark of humor following the remark.
“No, thank you,” she said pertly, “but I will let you drive it once in a while.”
“Like to Omaha when we return your car?” he asked.
“That’s a good idea,” she agreed.
“Do you want to drive it before I leave?”
She shook her head. “I won’t delay you any longer. Just so you have time to show me how to drive it before I turn in the other car.”
“Then I’ll park it in the garage until we both have the time.”
Promptly at two o’clock Kennedy entered her cousin’s office building. He met her with a smile and took her into his private office. Before he closed the door, he said, “Naomi, please hold my calls until we finish.”
“Nice office,” Kennedy commented, idly noting that the furniture was of high quality and that a cabinet near the window held several green plants. The carpet was thick and plush, and Kennedy felt as if she were walking on velvet as she crossed the floor. She sat in the roomy leather chair in front of his desk.
“I spend so much time here that I like to be comfortable,” Smith said.
“Your sign outside indicates that you handle income tax returns as well as being an accountant for businesses in the area,” Kennedy said. “That should keep you busy.”
“The first four months of the year are hectic, but income tax work is seasonal,” Smith answered. “I’m also a licensed real-estate agent and especially busy with that during the summer, so I’m busy all year long.”
“So the reason you received an offer to buy the ranch is because you’re a real-estate agent as well as the accountant for the Circle Cross?” Kennedy asked.
“I’m sure that’s the case,” he said. “And since you’ve brought up the subject, I hope you will consider the offer. In general, ranches are poor investments now—
the price of machinery and operating a ranch gets more expensive every year. It’s hard to make any money.”
“Doesn’t the potential buyer intend to operate the land as a ranch?” Kennedy asked directly.
“Why, I can’t comment on that!”
“Can’t or won’t?” Kennedy answered quickly.
Smith eyed her, and his manner puzzled her. He arched his fingers and looked out the window. Kennedy was aware of the hum of traffic on the street while she waited for his answer. “I have to protect a client if he or she wants to remain anonymous.”
“Don’t you consider me a client?” Kennedy questioned.
“Well, yes,” he said, looking quickly at her.
“Smith, I’ve lived under the cloud of family dissension all of my life,” Kennedy stated, “and I don’t want any trouble be
tween us, but I won’t be pressured into a hasty decision. I’ve been at loose ends since Dad’s death, and I came to Nebraska looking for something. I’m not even sure what it is yet, but when I set foot on the Circle Cross ranch, I felt a tie to my past that I’d never felt before. Can you understand that?”
“I suppose so,” he said reluctantly.
“My parents lived in exile for years because of family differences,” she continued. “Although I may change my mind in the future, right now I wouldn’t sell the Circle Cross for a billion dollars. So if your client has to know in a week or so, tell him or her that I’m not interested in selling.”
“That puts me in something of a bind,” Smith said in a husky voice. “Your parents didn’t seem to have much interest in the ranch, and I had no idea that you would, either. I assured my client that you would sell.”
Kennedy’s eyelids narrowed. “You had no right to do that. Tell whoever it is that the ranch is not for sale.” When he opened his mouth, she assumed that he was going to argue with her, and she said firmly, “That’s final.”
“Very well,” Smith said, and he fiddled with some papers on his desk.
“Dad’s attorney has notified me that he doesn’t have any reports on the ranch’s expenses and income for this year. I need all of that information before we can settle the estate. When can you have it ready?”
Smith looked at his watch as if he was suggesting that it was time for her appointment to end. “I’ll ask Derek to send his accounts to me, and I’ll try to have something ready for you by next week.”
“Derek and I have already gone over the ranch records on his computer,” Kennedy said. “His records are up-to-date, and he sent you a report at the end of April.”
Smith fidgeted in his chair and pulled at the collar of his white shirt. He was obviously agitated at her persistence, and Kennedy knew that her father would have been displeased at her high-handed ways. But it was important for Smith to realize that he was dealing with her now, not easygoing Kenneth Blaine.
“Well, perhaps so,” Smith said. “I’ve been very busy and may have missed some of his posts.”