“Toby’s a horse thief? How in the world did he expect to get away with that?” Jake asked.
“When we searched your barn, we found a can of gasoline and some old rags. I have a feeling he was going to set the barn on fire and make it look like the horses had run away.”
“Since he had already trailered Flame and was going after Shadow, it’s possible he was going after some stud fees on the black market,” Max said.
Jake’s eyebrows lifted. “There’s a black market for stud fees?”
“I’ve had my suspicions for a few years now,” the sheriff said.
“How, exactly, would something like that work?” Hannah asked.
“There are a couple of options. One is to breed a champion in the hopes of getting another. The other possibility is naming another horse as the sire and when the offspring performs well, the stud fees for the breeding horses go up.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Hannah said.
Sheriff waved a hand in Jake’s direction. “And I suspect you would have offered a reward for the return of your horses if you thought they really had run off.”
“Oh, yeah. And it would have been substantial,” Jake agreed. “My question is why he would do something like this in the first place. His parents’ farm is one of the largest in the area, and I got the impression he was doing well in the racing circuits.”
“That’s the image he portrays, but I’ve had some run-ins with bookies trying to collect gambling debts from him in the past. My guess is he was going to use the stud fees to dig himself out this time.”
“Unbelievable.” Jake shook his head in disgust.
“He’s been pulling these kinds of stunts since you guys were in high school.”
“What do you mean?”
“I had my suspicions that Shadow’s bloodlines weren’t accurate. He’s a full hand taller than he should be if you look at his heritage, and he’s the first champion ever to come from either line.”
Jake’s eyes lit with awareness. “And Bellingsworth owned both of his parents. You think he manipulated the records and Toby found out about it?”
“Or Toby got involved in the breeding and told Bellingsworth about it after the fact. It would explain why he sold Shadow to Toby instead of to your father to protect his reputation and the integrity of his farm.”
“What will happen to Toby now?”
“That’s for the judge to decide, but I suspect he’ll do some jail time.”
“I appreciate your help, Sheriff.”
“You all have a good night.” He looked out the window at the sky beginning to lighten over the horizon. “What’s left of it anyway.”
As soon as the sheriff left, Jake turned to Hannah. “We need to talk.”
Her voice was husky from lack of sleep, and he sensed her wariness as well. “About what?”
“What you said tonight. You said someone is trying to kill you. Who?”
Hannah took a step back and raked her fingers through her hair. “I don’t know.”
“You never told me your dad was killed. What happened?”
Hannah sat down, her shoulders slumping as she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her expression was almost blank, as though she had chosen not to feel anything.
“I was in the kitchen making lemonade for my dad and his assistant. All of a sudden, I heard gunshots.” Her voice was steady, even. “It wasn’t until I heard more shots that I realized there was a strange car parked outside. A minute later, a guy I’d never seen before came out of the barn. He must have seen me through the window, because he started after me. I freaked out and took off.”
“And you’ve been running ever since.” Awareness seeped through him, the many unexplained pieces of who Hannah was, the past she refused to talk about coming into focus. “You didn’t just decide to explore the countryside. You’re hiding out.”
The truth of his words showed in her eyes. “I don’t think anyone would be able to trace me here, but if you want me to leave, I’ll understand.”
“What kind of trouble are you in?” Jake’s writer’s brain spun dozens of possible scenarios, most of them ones he wouldn’t want to hear about.
“There’s a lot I can’t explain, but I promise you I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Hannah, you’re only twenty-four years old. Who could possibly want you dead?”
“I’m still not sure. When I meet with my friend in a couple days, I’m hoping he can give me some of the answers I’m looking for.” She fell silent while Jake absorbed her words. When he said nothing, she asked, “Do you want me to leave?”
“Of course I don’t want you to leave. The last few weeks, I’ve started thinking of us as a couple. Now I find out that I know even less about you than I thought I did.” He sat beside her, taking her hands in his. “I want to know you. I can’t go on like this, pretending our relationship is normal when you won’t share things with me. I want to know everything about you.”
“Jake, I care too much about you to put you at risk. Anything I tell you would make you vulnerable. I can’t do that to you. I won’t.”
“Until you can trust me completely, I don’t know what we have.”
“I guess I should go pack up my things.”
“Hannah, that’s not what I meant. I’m not kicking you out . . .” Wearily, he rubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t know what I think.”
A door opening and closing sounded upstairs, followed by footsteps on the stairs. When Kennedy walked in, Hannah stood up. “I’d better go check on your grandmother.”
“Was it something I said?” Kennedy asked as soon as Hannah left the room.
“It didn’t have anything to do with you,” Jake replied. “It’s nothing.”
“That didn’t look like nothing.” Kennedy’s expression was unusually sincere. “What’s going on, Jake? Talk to me.”
“Toby showed up around midnight and tried to steal a couple of our stallions.”
“What? Toby was stealing?”
“Actually, we think he was borrowing.” Jake explained the sheriff’s theory. “Either way, it looks like he’ll be doing some time in prison.”
“Are you really going to press charges?”
“I don’t think I have much of a choice. If someone doesn’t stop him now, he’s going to keep doing stuff like this and think he can get away with it.”
“I guess, but it’s not like he hurt anyone.”
“We found a bunch of gas cans by the barn. He planned on burning it down to cover up what he was doing,” Jake told her. “Eventually, someone is going to get hurt if he thinks he’s untouchable.”
“Poor Desiree.”
“Desiree? What does she have to do with any of this?”
“She and Toby just started dating,” Kennedy said. “I think she finally gave up on the idea of the two of you ending up together.”
“I’m glad about that, but I’m sorry she ended up with Toby.”
“Not everyone can find a real prince charming.” Kennedy reached out and gave his arm a squeeze. “Scott and I were thinking about going to the country club for lunch. Why don’t you and Hannah join us?”
“I don’t know,” Jake began. “Neither one of us got any sleep last night, and who knows what rumors are flying around town by now.”
“Which is even more reason for you to come. You don’t want people making up their own facts. It’s easier to face rumors head-on.” Kennedy waved toward the kitchen. “Besides, I’d like the chance to get to know Hannah better. I think she’s good for you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I do.” She smiled. “Whether you believe it or not, I really do want you to be happy.”
“I believe you.” Jake returned the smile. “I want the same for you.”
* * *
Charlotte didn’t know how she was going to get through the day. Her lack of sleep was an irritation she could handle, but the emotional exhaustion plaguing her was nearly unbearable.
> Abigail, who had slept through all of the excitement the night before, was rested, refreshed, and eager to spend her day helping in the kitchen. She’d already managed to turn up the heat on the hash browns when Charlotte wasn’t looking, and she’d changed the temperature on the oven twice. Why couldn’t today have been one of the days Abigail wanted to stay in her room and listen to music and knit?
Despite Abigail’s “help,” Charlotte only had to throw away a small portion of burned potatoes. They were setting the table for breakfast when Kennedy and Jake walked in, followed by Scott. Jake greeted his grandmother with a kiss on the cheek and followed suit with Charlotte.
When they all settled down at the table a few minutes later, Jake said, “Kennedy and Scott invited us to go to lunch with them at the country club today. Any chance we can convince you to come?”
“I don’t think so,” Charlotte said. “I’m pretty wiped out after last night.”
Kennedy looked up from her bagel. “I can hang out with Grandma this morning so you can take a nap.”
“Really?” Jake asked before Charlotte could respond.
“Sure. You both could use some sleep.” Kennedy set the jelly jar aside and scooped up a serving of scrambled eggs. “If Scott didn’t have appointments scheduled for tomorrow, I would suggest going another day, but unfortunately, we have to leave this afternoon.”
“I can change our reservation to one so there’s no rush,” Scott offered.
“What do you say, Hannah?” Jake asked. “Will you come?”
“I guess . . .”
“Scott and I will clean up the kitchen,” Kennedy offered. “You go rest for a while. I’ll find someone to stay with Grandma, and we’ll leave around twelve thirty.”
“Okay,” Charlotte said, surprised to find herself agreeing. “Thank you.”
Kennedy nodded. She took a bite of her eggs and closed her eyes. “These eggs are amazing. If you stick around here for long, I may have to come home more often.”
Jake and Charlotte exchanged glances, uncertainty in both their gazes. Jake answered, staying neutral. “You know you’ll always be welcome.”
* * *
The dining room at the country club looked completely different from the first time Jake had brought her here. Charlotte glanced around the room; only half of the linen-draped tables were currently occupied. Businessmen and golfers appeared to be the customers of the day, with a large table of stylishly dressed women adding a splash of color and elegance.
When Charlotte had awakened from her nap, she had nearly let exhaustion win over her desire to come today. She didn’t like to think that this might be her last real date with Jake. They had chosen to avoid their earlier discussion about the secrets she was keeping, but she didn’t miss the effort Kennedy was making to get to know her and bridge the gap between her and her brother.
The hostess gathered four menus as soon as she spotted them, then showed them to a table near the center of the room. They were nearly there when a woman at another table noticed them and excused herself from her friends. She appeared to be in her fifties, her attire and tanned skin indicating she spent a good deal of time on the golf course, and she greeted Kennedy warmly, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“It’s so good to see you back in town,” the woman said. She turned her attention to Jake and added, “And how is my favorite author doing? I absolutely loved your last book.”
“Thank you, Dorothy. I appreciate that.”
“Now, I hate to impose, but would it be possible for me to get a photo with you? My old college roommate has been pestering me about knowing you since I bragged about you two years ago.”
“For you, anything,” Jake said graciously.
Scott reached for the cell phone in the woman’s hand. “Here. I’ll take it.”
“Oh, thank you.” She handed over the phone and moved to stand beside Jake.
Charlotte shifted to the other side to get out of the photo. Scott took several pictures before handing the phone back to Dorothy.
“Thanks for indulging me,” Dorothy said, already scanning through the photos. She glanced up. “You all enjoy your lunch.”
Kennedy took her seat and grinned at her brother. “I keep forgetting you’re famous.”
Jake sat beside Charlotte. “I guess you can’t take me anywhere.”
“Is it always this bad?” Kennedy asked Charlotte.
Realizing Kennedy assumed she had started dating Jake while he was still living in New York, Charlotte said, “Oh, I don’t know. When we went to Charlottesville, the only person talking about Jackson Clark was me.”
Jake chuckled at her reference to chastising him for not being as sensitive as her favorite author.
“What’s so funny?”
“I guess you could say I don’t have any doubt that Hannah likes me for the real me.” When Kennedy continued to look questioningly at them, Jake added, “We were dating for several weeks before Hannah learned about the name I write under.”
“Now, that’s funny.”
Jake reached over and took Charlotte’s hand in his. “It’s definitely a memory that’s getting sweeter with time.”
Relieved that the earlier tension between them had dissipated, Charlotte laced her fingers through his. “I’m sure I’ll never forget it.”
“Or live it down,” Jake added with a grin.
Chapter 35
Jake already had Sahara trailered when Hannah came out of the house at five o’clock in the morning. He didn’t know why she had insisted they bring her horse with them, especially since he had offered to have the mare delivered to her if she decided not to come back home with him.
He knew when she had agreed to work with his grandmother he’d promised to drive her to Raleigh and leave her there if that was what she wanted, but now that she was approaching him with all of her belongings, he wished desperately he could retract his promise.
He couldn’t fathom what life would be like if Hannah walked out of his world for good. She reached him, her gaze dropping to the ground as though she too didn’t want to face what might come next.
“Stella came over a few minutes ago,” Hannah told him.
“Are you all ready?”
“I think so. Did you put my bridle and saddle in the trailer?”
“Yeah. They’re back there.” Jake took her bags and put them in the backseat of his truck before holding the door open for her to climb inside. She slid in, but instead of closing her door, Jake stood there waiting for her to look up at him. “Are you sure about this? This friend you’re meeting couldn’t be involved in your dad’s death, could he?”
Hannah shook her head. “I trust him.”
He took her hand. “You can trust me too.”
“I do trust you,” Hannah said softly.
He wanted more, more than what she was willing to give, but he didn’t know how to voice the words or even what words to say. Instead, he leaned closer and captured her mouth with his. The kiss sparked a fury of emotions inside him, a longing for some deep need that had yet to be met, an ache to put his future in place.
He laced his fingers through her hair, holding her head as he changed the angle of the kiss and let himself dream of Hannah being part of his tomorrows. The thought shocked him, and he pulled back, stunned. He wanted this woman in his life more than anything he had ever wanted before. How was it that he had avoided facing the truth until this very moment?
“Don’t go.”
“I don’t have a choice.” She whispered the words, and he saw the moisture in her eyes.
Words he wanted to stay caught in his throat, and he stepped back. He saw a tear spill over when Hannah watched him close the door between them.
* * *
Charlotte felt like she was drowning in the silence. Since Jake had climbed into the driver’s seat of the truck, he hadn’t spoken a word to her. That had been over an hour ago. She finally had to say something. “Jake, I hope you know I don’t want to leave the farm.
I don’t want to leave you.”
“Then why do you have all of your belongings with you? And why did you insist we bring your horse?”
“Because this is one of those times that I don’t know if what I want and what is required of me will be compatible.”
“You know, I’m getting pretty sick of you always speaking in riddles.”
“I wish I didn’t have to.”
“You don’t have to do anything. You can make your own choices,” Jake said with a sense of panic and desperation in his voice. “I can hire security for the house. If that won’t make you feel safe, we can go to New York for a while or somewhere else, for that matter. I wouldn’t want to find someone else to watch after Grandma, but I could for a little while if that would help you change your mind.”
Charlotte fell silent once more, her heart feeling like it had been pierced by the possibilities she couldn’t consider yet. He couldn’t understand, she reminded herself. He had no idea the information she carried inside her head could mean life or death for dozens of intelligence operatives. He wasn’t in the tiny circle of people trusted to run the guardian program, and she was bound by the secrets she had sworn to keep, the promises she had made to her father and those who had trained her within the NSA.
She hated knowing this time together—what could be their last moments together—was being spent with angry words between them. Couldn’t he understand that she loved him?
The thought, the startling truth of it, shocked her.
What would her dad say, she wondered, if he was still here to talk to about her dilemma? Would he give her permission to share the truth with Jake? Normal circumstances required permission before she could tell anyone who she really worked for, but these weren’t normal circumstances.
She glanced down at her watch. Only another thirty minutes before Jake would drop her off at her initial destination. She would make her way to the meeting from there, making sure he didn’t know where she really went. That thought alone reminded her that she had sworn to protect the guardians.
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