Reunion at Cardwell Ranch

by B. J Daniels

  Sid shook her head and turned away. “Why would you ask that?”

  Zander laughed. “Because you’re young, somewhat attractive,” her sister joked since she was clearly aware how much they resembled each other, “and this place is crawling with rich men.”

  Sid groaned. “We’re not all looking for a sugar daddy.” She wondered now where her sister was staying. It would be just like Zander to have met some man who was letting her stay in his guesthouse—if not his master bedroom.

  “Well, don’t wait too long to find one,” her sister said. “It gets harder as you get older.”

  Sid started to point out there was only seven years between them. But in the bright light reflecting off the snow outside, Zander looked as if the years they’d been apart had taken a toll on her. Her sister lived hard and fast as if that, too, was in her genes.

  Zander walked around the cabin, picking up things and putting them back with no apparent real interest. “So are you almost finished with your diabolical plan?”

  She sighed and gave her sister an impatient look. “Diabolical?”

  Zander shrugged. “You are almost done, though, aren’t you?” She turned to look at her. “You have all the paintings?”

  “Not quite.”

  Her sister nodded. “Then what?”

  “I really don’t want to talk about this with you. Like you said, it’s nearly Christmas. Let’s not dig up the past.”

  Her sister looked angry for a moment, but then nodded. “You’re right. We never agreed on much anyway, but we are still blood. Daddy would have wanted us to be friends.”

  The mention of their father brought tears to Sid’s eyes. He was the one person in their lives they could agree on. They had both loved him in their own ways.

  “I’m not here to keep you from your...work. But if I can help, you’ll let me know. I might be a little rusty at the undercover stuff, but I doubt it would take much to bring it back.” Zander grinned. “In fact, I’d welcome the diversion. Life has been too tame for too long.”

  Sid doubted that. “You didn’t seem to have any trouble breaking into my cabin.”

  Her sister waved that off with a laugh. “Hardly a challenge. You really should consider getting better locks. You don’t even have a security system,” she said, looking around the small cabin and frowning. “Which means you don’t keep anything you value here.”

  Sid had wondered how long it would take her sister to get to the heart of the matter. But she ignored it, determined not to discuss this with her. “If you’re coming back Christmas Eve, I should tell you I don’t like eggnog. But if you still remember how to make nachos like you did when we were kids...”

  Zander’s smile never reached her eyes. “Got the message.”

  Sid doubted she did. Before the holidays were over, her sister would return to her real reason for being in Big Sky. In the meantime, she wondered what her sister might be up to and asked as much.

  “I thought I’d do some skiing and maybe lay around in the hot tub at the place I’m staying.”

  Sid said nothing, but that didn’t sound like the sister she’d known and loved. Since she was fourteen Sid had pretty much been on her own. Growing up with a father who worked all the time and a sister who was a thief, she had learned to take care of herself—any way she’d had to.

  Unfortunately, Zander, the firstborn to the mother with the movie-star looks, had been pampered as a child—until her mother disappeared. After that, Zander had merely taken whatever she wanted—including any money she could steal from their father and, finally, the ranch itself.

  “I have to run, but I’ll be back Christmas Eve with bells on.” Zander laughed as she left, her perfume lingering along with the good—and bad—memories she brought with her.

  Sid listened to the sound of the snowmobile’s motor as it died away in the distance. She couldn’t let Zander jeopardize everything she’d worked so hard for. Sinking into a chair, she put her head in her hands and fought tears of anger and frustration. As much as she loved her sister, she couldn’t trust her. That alone broke her heart.

  She thought of Laramie Cardwell. This house of cards she’d built felt as if it was about to collapse around her. But she had no choice. She had to get that painting back from him. And, knowing her sister, she had to stop Zander from whatever she’d come back to Montana to do.

  Chapter Twelve

  Later that day, Sid stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things. She couldn’t be sure that she would ever see her sister again—that was until she got a call from someone that Zander was in trouble.

  But she would buy a few groceries anyway, just in case. She couldn’t depend on Zander not to show up Christmas Eve with only bells on.

  Pulling a twenty from her purse, she handed it to the clerk. When the clerk hesitated and began to inspect the bill, Sid felt a chill race up her spine. In that instant, she realized that she couldn’t be sure she’d had a twenty in her purse this morning.

  With a groan, she also realized that she’d gotten out of the habit of checking her wallet when her sister was around. But it wasn’t like Zander to take money and leave change.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t take this bill,” the clerk said as she motioned for her supervisor to come over.

  Sid could feel her face heat with embarrassment as other customers began to stare at her. Her stomach roiled. “What is wrong with the bill?”

  The clerk didn’t answer. It wasn’t until the marshal showed up that Sid learned she’d somehow picked up a counterfeit bill.

  * * *

  PARKED IN THE trees so he could see Rock Jackson’s driveway, Taylor West checked to make sure the gun was loaded as he waited. He thought about his wife and took another pull on the bourbon bottle. Jade had called earlier.

  “Where are you?” he’d asked as nice as he could the moment he answered.

  “Bozeman,” she’d said in a small, guilty voice.

  He’d hoped Hank might be right about Jade leaving her car in Rock Jackson’s barn so she wouldn’t have to pay to leave it at the airport. Instead, she was still in the state? Only miles from home?

  “What are you doing there?”

  “Taylor, I have some news that might upset you,” she’d said in that innocent voice she used when she needed money—or now wanted something much worse.

  “You think?” he’d asked sarcastically. “I found your car in Rock Jackson’s barn.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t know it was there.”

  “Taylor—”

  “Jade—”

  “She’s leaving you, Taylor,” Rock had said after taking the phone. “I wouldn’t try to fight her, if I were you. From what she’s told me, she has more than enough grounds for a divorce. To avoid all the bad publicity, you would be smart to give her what she wants.” With that, the bastard had ended the call.

  What had Jade told Rock? The mere thought sent Taylor back to the quart of bourbon he’d picked up at the liquor store. The quick swig hit his stomach like a hot brick. He tried to remember the last time he’d eaten. He’d been a mess ever since Jade had left and now she was leaving him for good? Leaving him for Rock Jackson? Had she lost her mind?

  On top of that, he’d heard that Rock Jackson had been spending money as if he had it. Taylor was familiar enough with Rock’s art career to know that the money hadn’t come from the sale of his paintings.

  Taylor had a pretty good idea where the money had come from, the lying, cheating bastard. Rock hadn’t just stolen his wife, he was jeopardizing everything.

  He told himself to be patient as he waited for Rock and Jade to return. He turned on the car radio to keep him company. A holiday song began to play on the radio. With a groan, he realized Christmas was only days away. “Merry Chris
tmas,” he said bitterly as he turned off the radio.

  Rock would have to come home at some point. He laid the gun in his lap, took another swig of bourbon and listened for the sound of an approaching vehicle.

  When Taylor woke up, Rock still hadn’t returned. Now almost sober, he started the engine and drove home, determined he would be back, though, tomorrow.

  * * *

  SID WAS ONLY a little surprised to find her sister waiting for her at the house. Zander had let herself in, of course, and was unloading into the refrigerator groceries that she’d apparently picked up in Bozeman.

  “I was questioned by the marshal today,” Sid said as she brought in what she’d purchased after the marshal had let her go.

  Zander lifted a brow in alarm. “Does he know—?”

  “No, not about that. Seems I picked up a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill somewhere. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  “Me?” Zander slammed the refrigerator. “Why is it that no matter what happens, you are always suspicious of me?”

  Sid laughed. “Yes, why is that? You haven’t been in my purse?”

  Zander turned to roll her eyes. “You know me so well, do you? Can you imagine me getting into your purse and leaving money? This...plot of yours has clearly destroyed your common sense.”

  “Stop trying to change the subject.”

  “Why? Don’t you think it’s time that we had a talk?” her sister said, coming back into the room and plopping down on the couch. “Come on, sit down and tell me what’s going on. Remember when we used to talk for hours.”

  “About the boys you had crushes on,” Sid said going into the kitchen and putting away the perishables she’d purchased. As she finished she looked into the living room at her sister.

  Zander smiled at her as she patted a spot beside her on the couch. “You can talk to me. Clearly something is bothering you.” Her sister cocked her head at her. “You sure there isn’t a man? I’ve never seen you so...off balance.”

  That her sister knew her so well bothered Sid more than she wanted to admit. She didn’t think she was that easy to read. Clearly, she was wrong. Laramie threw her off balance. He made her heart beat too fast. He destroyed her common sense, because she’d actually been thinking of telling him the truth about the painting—and why she so desperately needed it back.

  Sid sat down on the couch, curling her legs under her, remembering, not the times she’d had to save Zander, but the times her big sister had saved her. When had the tables turned? When they’d lost their father during those months before his death?

  “What would you like for Christmas?” Sid asked, not wanting to confide in Zander about Laramie or anything to do with her so-called quest.

  Zander shook her head, looking disappointed. “I didn’t come back for presents.”

  “Why did you?”

  Her sister rose to pace the cabin floor. “Isn’t it possible I wanted to see you?” She turned to stare at her. “Isn’t it possible I was worried about you?” Sid hoped that was the case. “You think you know me, Sid? Well, I know you.”

  That was what scared her.

  “I wish I could trust you, Z,” she said, speaking her innermost wish at that moment and then wishing she hadn’t.

  Zander smiled as she sat back down and took one of Sid’s hands, squeezing it. “I guess I’m going to have to prove it to you.”

  “I’m sorry I thought you’d put the counterfeit twenty in my purse.” She actually had thought Zander had switched it for a good twenty. “I probably picked it up somewhere without knowing it.”

  “See?” Her sister was all smiles. “So while you’re in this trusting mood—”

  She pulled her hand free. “Z, if this is about money—”

  Her sister laughed. “I love it when you call me Z. It’s been too long. But I wasn’t going to ask for money. I was going to offer my help on your...project.”

  Sid eyed her. “I thought you were against it.”

  “Not really. I thought it was dangerous, a waste of your talented time. I didn’t see the point. And, while I’m being honest, I felt guilty for making things even harder for you before Dad died. But you’ve brought me over to your side. You’re almost done, right?”

  She nodded, studying her sister, wondering if she could trust this. But she felt herself weaken. She had adored Z growing up. She’d missed their connection in the years since.

  As much as she didn’t like to admit it, Laramie Cardwell had become a problem. Her own fault. She shouldn’t have gotten this close to him. That had been foolhardy—and dangerous.

  But she wasn’t quite ready to ask for her sister’s help in dealing with him.

  * * *

  WHEN ROCK AND JADE finally came up for air the next day, they left the condo where they’d been staying. Rock hadn’t thought far enough ahead as to what they would do now. He’d been in a state of happy delirium, but now that he’d come out of it, he began to worry.

  Since her talk with Taylor, Jade had seemed upset, making Rock all the more nervous. For a while he’d been able to forget about his soon-to-be-ex wife, Carla. She’d been looking for ammunition in the divorce. It was one reason he’d borrowed his friend’s condo. He’d been so careful not to give her anything she could use against him—until Jade had turned up at his door.

  All he could hope was that Carla didn’t get wind of this until the divorce papers were signed. She knew he didn’t have any money, but she wanted everything else, including his family ranch. He’d told her he would see her dead first.

  But now that Jade would be able to take half of Taylor’s money according to Montana law, he was willing to give Carla everything just to get his freedom. That would take care of that problem.

  Unfortunately there were other things to be dealt with. He hadn’t liked hearing that Taylor had been on his ranch and had found Jade’s car in the barn. What else had he discovered? Had he been looking for Jade? Or something else?

  He tried not to worry as he looked over at Jade and counted his blessings. She was every man’s dream. Jade had modeled for lingerie catalogs, so maybe she wasn’t a supermodel, but she was a beauty. He’d been jealous of Taylor from the first time he’d seen them together. Everyone knew the only reason she was with that old man was his money and fame, two things that had ruled Rock out from the get-go.

  But then there she’d been, standing on his doorstep and then crying in his arms. It hadn’t taken a lot to get her into his bed, once he’d assured her he would help her take Taylor to the cleaners in the divorce.

  What he hadn’t thought about was his own life. What was he going to do with Jade now? If only his divorce was already final. What if Carla was at the house waiting for him? She’d rented a house up Bear Canyon but she often stopped by the ranch without warning. How was he going to deal with her with Jade on his arm? It could get ugly fast.

  Also, he realized belatedly, he needed some time to clear out a few things at his house. Now that he had Jade and, soon, Taylor’s money, he would be making some changes—more than just getting rid of Carla. But it would be better if Jade never found out how he’d been able to live the past six months.

  He looked over at her, realizing he would have to drop her off somewhere. He couldn’t take her home.

  “I have an idea, a treat for you to make you feel better while I take care of some things,” he said.

  She looked at him expectantly. She’d been moody since talking to Taylor. She wouldn’t be thinking about going back to the old fool, would she?

  “I know of this great day spa.”

  That picked up her mood considerably. Jade liked the finer things in life. Nothing wrong with that, he thought.

  “I don’t have any money,” she said in that little-girl voice he thought charming.

  �
�My treat.” He smiled over at her as he drove toward the day spa. “I’ll pick you up later and we’ll go see this lawyer I know.”

  “Don’t you think I should talk to Taylor before I talk to a lawyer?” she asked. “Maybe he won’t fight me on the divorce.”

  “Baby, trust me. He isn’t going to let you go without a fight. That’s why we need to beat him to the punch.” He just hoped Taylor wasn’t hitting the bottle. No telling what the man would do then. “Trust me, Jade. I’ll take care of you.” And you’ll take care of me, he thought.

  She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  “You’ll never have to find out.”

  Jade still had the body of a model. But sometimes, he wondered about what went on in that pretty head of hers. The fact that she’d married Taylor to begin with had always bothered him. Was it just for the money or had she really cared about him?

  “Just out of curiosity,” he asked as he parked in front of the day spa, “why did you marry Taylor?”

  She frowned. “I was in Mexico, drinking tequila at this cantina. He came in with a painting he’d just finished. I couldn’t afford to buy it, but I really liked it.”

  “You married him for a painting?”

  “That, and he told me he owned a ranch in Montana.” She shrugged. “You know what’s funny. Once I sobered up, I didn’t even like the painting.”

  Rock laughed as he reached across to open her door. “Maybe half of everything Taylor has will make you feel better about it.”

  * * *

  AFTER HER SISTER LEFT, Sid knew she had to end this before Christmas Eve if at all possible. Zander being in town added a new complication to her plan.

  It didn’t take Sid long to find out what new alarm systems Laramie had installed in his new house. She’d used different approaches to get past security systems in the past. But she’d found the best way was the most direct.

  She’d gotten her old friend Maisie French to get a part-time job at the local security company. Almost all of the Big Sky residents used the same firm. She called her now to ask if Laramie Cardwell had contacted her office yet.