by Sheryl Lynn
He turned a baleful glare at the row of prescription bottles lined up on the bedside table. The pain in his back had settled in one spot, finally, but it was a doozy. No matter how he adjusted the brace and his position in bed, it felt as if a fist-sized knot pressed against his spinal cord. Prescribed pain killers dulled the pain, but also depressed his psyche. His mood was in a downward spiral, worsening by the hour. He could hear his uncle bustling around the kitchen, banging pot lids and cabinet doors.
Walt appeared in the doorway. “You want cornbread or sourdough?”
“I don’t care.”
“You barely touched lunch.”
When Walt was at work, neighbor ladies dropped in to feed Ric and tidy the house. They also gave Walt full reports about what Ric did or did not do. “Wasn’t hungry.”
“This moping of yours is turning stale, boy. I’ll do up a skillet of cornbread.” Shaking his head, he turned away.
Ric called Elaine’s house again. This time the answering machine picked up. He waited for the beep. He didn’t know what to say or how to say it.
He knew what he wanted. He wanted Jodi to forgive him, to tell him she loved him in spite of everything. He wanted her happy. He hung up without leaving a message.
RIC PLACED the cane tip squarely on the floor, then took a step. His lower back ached, but his legs didn’t protest. He took another step, then another. He concentrated on his footing. Once he reached the kitchen, he felt ridiculously proud of himself. He allowed himself to believe the doctors who claimed Linda’s attack hadn’t worsened his back.
He figured in two or three days, four at most, he’d be able to drive. He hung the cane on the back of a chair and set about making coffee.
The doorbell rang. He cursed. The neighbor ladies with their fussing and cooing made him feel silly. Plus, they wanted to stuff him like a turkey. He was going to end up with twenty pounds of flab around his gut.
“Ric?” Elaine called. “Are you decent?”
Pleasant tightness filled his chest. She’d been gone all weekend to attend her sister’s college graduation. He hadn’t even been able to talk to her on the telephone. On Monday he’d called her house dozens of times without success. He’d been waiting for a decent hour to call her this morning.
He raked his fingers through his hair and plucked at his T-shirt, hoping it wasn’t as grimy as it felt. “Come on in,” he called.
She stopped in the kitchen doorway and scowled at him.
He’d never realized how much he could miss a person. How much he’d missed her face, her bouncy walk, the heady scent that followed her in an alluring trail. He missed talking to her, listening to her, making her laugh. He missed Jodi.
Some lone wolf, he thought in disgust, moping like a whipped puppy when Elaine wasn’t around.
“What are you doing out of bed?”
“I feel great. Boy, you look pretty.”
“Don’t try sweet talk.”
“Real pretty.” He stretched a hand toward her. Her expression dampened the urge to laugh.
Tate loomed behind Elaine. He seemed grim as well.
Ric took two, nonlimping, steps to the chair where he’d hung the cane. He gave the cane a jaunty twirl. “See, I’m fine. Want some coffee? It’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
It sank in that Tate was in full uniform. Ric had been under the impression that the sheriff had suspended Tate.
“Get back in bed.”
“Not a chance.” He pulled a chair from the table and sat. “I’m fine.”
Eyeing him askance, she entered the kitchen. He pleaded silently for a kiss. If not for Tate, he’d pull her onto his lap and kiss her senseless.
“Sorry I haven’t been by, ranger. Been busier than a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest.” Tate laughed while he pulled a chair from the table. “You won’t believe what’s going on.”
“Has Linda given up Cross?”
Elaine blinked rapidly, as if not quite believing what she was about to say. She rearranged the salt and pepper shakers on the table, and straightened napkins in a wooden holder. Her fidgeting made Ric wary.
“The county commissioners and the town council held an emergency meeting last night. A closed-door session.” She lowered her gaze to her hands. Her fingers twisted against each other. “Tate and I told them everything. Uncle King had to account for his actions.”
“And?”
“They told him he had a choice. Either, he quietly accepts an undetermined suspension and cooperates with an investigation. Or, the commissioners will bring in the state police and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. They didn’t say it out loud, but what they meant is that Uncle King would be the target of the investigation.”
Ric breathed an incredulous curse. “Does your mother know?”
“Mama sits on the town council. She spearheaded the meeting.” She passed a hand over her eyes. “Uncle King is furious. He’s holed up in his house, won’t talk to anybody. It was terrible, Ric. I thought he was going to break down and cry.”
“So the council appointed the under-sheriff as the acting sheriff until this matter is resolved,” Tate said. He fingered the badge on his khaki shirt. “I’m on full-time, with carte blanche to do whatever needs doing to solve Bobby’s murder.”
Ric was dumbfounded. Then, wondered why he should be. As Lillian had claimed, she was a force to be reckoned with. “So where do we stand on the investigation? Has Linda talked yet?”
Tate exchanged a look with Elaine. “Cross bailed her out of jail.”
An unpleasant sensation slithered down Ric’s spine and his gut jumped. “Then they are in on it together.”
Tate shook his head. “Doesn’t prove anything. She’s essential to his business.”
“What about the insurance? Cross’s handgun?”
“The insurance angle is a bust. Turns out the warehouse fire in San Francisco started in an adjoining building. Arson was ruled out. As for the partner in Denver?” He shook his head. “Even with the insurance, Axton had to declare bankruptcy. No profit, no motive.”
“The handgun?” Ric asked, but knew he was about to be disappointed.
“Without probable cause, can’t get a search warrant. We have zippo on Cross.”
“What about fingerprints?”
“His fingerprints are all over the plat map, but no hits off the lodge itself. I’m going back up there to see if I can lift some more. The district attorney says the map doesn’t give us probable cause. I haven’t found anybody who can testify Cross ever threatened Del. No witnesses can place him anywhere near the lodge. I’ve pulled phone records, but nothing looks promising. On top of that, his attorney has warned him not to speak to anyone official. Anything he says can be used against him if there is a civil lawsuit.”
“Sounds hopeless.”
“Not yet. The .44 slug had traces of blood on it. The lab is running DNA tests. If it matches Bobby, then I can get a warrant.”
“Is there enough to run a test?”
“Keep your fingers crossed.”
Ric passed a hand through his hair. Forced bed rest had given him plenty of time for thinking. His thoughts had returned time and again to Linda Pallo—a woman with solid standing in the community, steady employment, and no criminal record. Anyone, male or female, was capable of violence, given the right set of circumstances. Even so, he couldn’t imagine the circumstances that would drive Linda to attack Tom Greene with a pry bar.
“What about Linda?” he asked. “There must be a way to convince her to turn Cross.”
Tate displayed his empty palms. “She’s sticking to her story that Tom forced her off the road, and she defended herself.” His eyes narrowed. “Considering how much noise Tom’s been making, a jury might buy it.”
“Unbelievable,” Ric muttered.
“Hate to say it,” Elaine said, “but I sort of wonder if she isn’t telling the truth.” The men swung incredulous gazes at her and she sat straighter on the chair. “Well, Tom is obsess
ed. He’s been making threats. Him going after her makes a lot more sense than her going after him. I don’t excuse what she did, but if Tom assaulted her, he should have known she’d defend herself.”
“She defends herself then kidnaps Jodi?” Ric swung his head in emphatic denial.
“She’s always been prickly, not too trusting. Maybe she panicked. She doesn’t have many friends. She could have thought no one would believe her side of the story.”
“I don’t believe it,” Ric said. “Don’t you have any leverage to break her story?”
“Actually,” Tate said with a grin. “Elaine’s already agreed to wear a wire.”
“Isn’t that entrapment?”
“We’re not encouraging her to break the law.”
Merely imagining Elaine being alone with Linda Pallo gave Ric the willies. “That woman is dangerous.”
“I’m not afraid of her,” Elaine said. She wouldn’t look him in the eyes. “Not too much, anyway. Tate promises to stay less than a shout away.”
Tate checked his watch. “I have to run Del’s .38 to the lab. I’ll give you guys a shout when I get back.”
Elaine saw Tate out. When she returned, she poured coffee into two cups.
“I don’t want you anywhere near Linda.”
“It’s a done deal,” she said, giving him a wan smile. She pressed a finger against his lips, halting his protests. “I’ll be perfectly safe. Change the subject.”
Ric grumbled into his coffee cup, but she was unmoved. She met his glowers with bland patience. Stubborn. Brave. Irresistible.
He touched her hand, sliding his fingers over hers. “I’ve missed you. You really do look pretty this morning.”
“Thanks.”
He waited for her to say she’d missed him, too. Instead, she wore a distracted expression. He suspected something other than a murder investigation was going on. Sunshine streaming through the kitchen highlighted the weariness in her face.
“Jodi got into a fight at school,” she said.
“What? Why?”
“Some boys were tormenting her. Calling her names. Teasing her about you. She bloodied a boy’s nose.”
He closed his eyes, haunted by memories of his own school days when he’d been the target of bullies. He’d been quick and strong. Necessity had made him handy with his fists. A few scraps in the schoolyard had earned him a reputation as a boy who didn’t tolerate physical abuse. Words hurt, too—often times worse than punches or slaps.
“I’ve convinced the school not to suspend her for the last few weeks of the year. They do require she gets counseling. I tend to agree. I made an appointment with a therapist.”
“It’s me, isn’t it?”
“Oh, Ric, don’t blame yourself. Things are just too much for her right now. She keeps having nightmares about Tom and Linda. She had a crying fit the other day, saying it was her fault Tom got hurt.”
He ached for his daughter. He hated himself for being unable to help her.
“Getting away this weekend helped a lot. She just adores spending time with Marlee. But then this thing at school happened. I had a huge fight on my hands getting her on the bus this morning.” She sipped from the coffee cup, her eyes downcast. “She even told me she wants to cancel her birthday party.”
He’d turned her into the butt of cruel jokes and malicious gossip. It wasn’t only children who’d taunt her, either. Some adults never outgrew senseless impulses to pick on the vulnerable or the different.
He picked up Elaine’s hand and kissed her knuckles, one by one. Then he pressed her soft palm against his cheek. “I wish she’d talk to me, but she won’t. Can’t say that I blame her.”
“If only I knew what to do for her.”
His throat felt thick. He had to clear it. “It’s me.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter. Eventually she’ll have to forgive you. She needs you too much. And she’ll find some way to forgive Bobby, too. No matter what, he was her daddy. But me?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m just the guy who wrecked her world.”
“You’re underestimating her.”
“I’ve been playing this game all my life. There are never any winners.”
Chewing her lower lip, she studied his face. “I spoke to Walt. He said you’re depressed.”
“I’m not depressed.”
“Then why does it sound like you’re giving up on Jodi?”
“I’m being realistic. I embarrassed her in front of her friends. Hell, I humiliated her in front of the whole town! She isn’t going to forgive that.” He tried to hold on to her, but she pulled away. “I won’t shirk my responsibilities. I’ll pay child support. But we can’t force her to accept me. She’s suffered enough.”
Cupping the mug in both hands, Elaine leaned back on the chair. “In a few days Jodi will be thirteen. The terrible teens. She’s always been given to dramatics and high emotion. Toss in raging hormones, and, well, there goes the neighborhood.”
“This is a lot more than hormones. This is the ultimate betrayal. It’s better if I step out of the picture.”
“How wonderfully noble of you.” The dry sarcasm matched the arch of her brows.
Anger rose. He was being noble, damn it, putting his daughter first. “We can’t be good together if Jodi is dead set against me being a part of her life.”
She hung her head. Her shoulders shook with silent laughter. “You’re such an idiot,” she murmured. Her big, beautiful eyes snapped with heat. “We messed up, Ric. Now we have to deal with the consequences. We can’t do that if you run away.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“I wonder. I really do.”
“I love her! I want the best for her. If that means staying away from her, then that’s what I have to do.”
“Who are you really protecting?”
“Jodi! I’ll do anything for her. I’d die for her.”
She passed a hand over her face. “What about us?”
A stumper of a question. He tried a smile, knowing it was weak, even pitiful. “We’ll work things out. Quietly. Keep a low profile. People will eventually find something else to talk about.”
“Fourteen years ago we tried to hide from Daddy. We blew it big time. If I’d stood up to him, hadn’t been such a coward, none of this would have happened. I’m going to carry those regrets the rest of my life. I don’t intend to make the same mistake again.”
“It’s the only way. Every time Jodi looks at me, she’s going to remember what I did to her. When people see us together, they’ll be reminded.”
“If our relationship has any chance at all, then you’re going to have to face Jodi. Because I’m sure not going to sneak around behind her back.”
“She won’t talk to me!”
“Little known fact about parenthood, Ric. Sometimes your kids don’t like you. Tough.”
“I’m not talking about my feelings.”
“Like hell you aren’t!” She slammed the mug on the table. “You’ve been a good pal to her. But being a father means doing the hard stuff, too.” She pointed a finger back and forth between them. “If you and I are going anywhere, it’s going to have to be as parents. We don’t have another option.”
“But she hates me.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Will you stop being so selfish!”
“I’m not—”
“Good Lord, that poor child has suffered more in thirteen short years than most suffer in a lifetime. She lost her father and her grandfather. Her other grandfather has practically lost his mind. She was kidnapped, for Pete’s sake! Then she finds out that we’ve been lying to her. And you’re whining because she hates you?”
Deeply offended, he crossed his arms. He was being both reasonable and realistic. She didn’t need to go ballistic on him.
“You’re the one who said we have to set a good example. Well, there’s a whole lot more she has to learn than just how a man is supposed to treat a
lady on a date. It’s up to us to show her that, yeah, life can be unfair. We get hurt, get our hearts broken. But we still have to get up and go on. If you chicken out on her when she needs you most, what kind of example are you setting?”
“It’s real hard to set an example when she won’t even talk to me.”
Slumped, she shook her head and sighed heavily. “Fine. We’ll talk about this when you aren’t so depressed.”
“I am not depressed, damn it!”
“Then there’s really no hope for us at all, is there?”
Chapter Fourteen
Elaine rested her arms on the fence rail. She watched Jodi work Savvy on a longe line. The fat Morgan was blowing and sweating from the workout, but he gamely went through his paces. Elaine wished Ric could see the girl being so diligent about caring for his horse. Sure, Jodi was confused and she was hurt, but deep down inside she loved Ric. She needed him. The way the girl was moping around lately said she missed him, too.
Lillian boosted herself higher on the fence and whistled to catch the girl’s attention. When Jodi looked, Lillian called, “Make him pick up his feet on the lead changes, honey!”
“Why the big sighs?” Lillian asked Elaine.
“I’m tired.”
“Well, this is the first real breather you and I have had in a week.”
Between handling paperwork to satisfy EPA and Board of Health requirements, consulting with the ranch manager about cattle breeding and pasture use, and running supplies to various round-up camps, Lillian and Elaine had been putting in dawn to dusk days.
“It’s not the work, it’s…everything. I’ve made such a mess of my life.”
“Ah, honey, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself. How about a nice cup of herb tea?”
Elaine followed her mother back to the big house. The temperature hovered around fifty. In the sunshine, it was warm enough to sit outside on the veranda. From there was a panoramic view of the barns, corrals and lower pastures. Mist from rapidly melting snow wreathed the mountain peaks.
Elaine watched a stock truck rumble and rattle on a dirt road. It headed for a high pasture corral where yearlings were being held for transport to market. A pang of grief tightened her diaphragm. This was the time of year for rounding up cattle in order to brand calves, castrate young bulls and doctor the herds. It had been Bobby’s favorite time of year.