Keelee shook her head, getting out of her wandering thoughts and back to the preacher’s question. “Sure, I mean, I guess I could, but I thought we were going to meet with the wedding planner and the events coordinator next month?”
The pastor coughed or choked on something.
“Nasty cough, pastor. Are you feeling alright?”
His voice came through the receiver a bit breathless and scratchy. “Keelee, I think it’s best if we speak now. There is an issue we need to resolve and I really can’t talk about it on the phone.”
Her stomach dropped, “Excuse me? What issue? I thought you said we were all set.”
“No, we need to discuss one specific thing. Can I expect you in town soon, then?”
Keelee’s eyes pulled up from the floor when her stepmother walked through the door. Keelee smiled at Amanda. If she could have handpicked a wife for her father, she couldn’t have done better. Keelee loved her. A wheezing cough from the other end of the line brought her back to the conversation. “Yeah, I’ll leave here in a couple minutes.”
“Good. Thank you, Keelee.”
Keelee started to say goodbye, but stopped short at the sound of the dial tone.
“Hey, Amanda.”
“Hi, honey. Is your dad out and about with Smith?” The older woman poured herself a cup of coffee. The new foreman, John Smith, had started a few weeks ago.
“Yeah. They went to the Koehlers’. He had a real hitch in his giddy-up about buying that bull from Gerald for some reason. He said to tell you he’d be back by dinner.” Keelee grabbed a set of keys off the hooks in the kitchen. “Aunt Betty, I’ll probably be late, so don’t hold dinner for me. Pastor Richards wants to talk with me. In person. Anyway, he said there was some issue he needed to speak to me about that we could only clear up in person.”
Amanda’s eyes bugged out. “Who are you taking with you to town?”
Keelee shrugged. “Nobody. The twins are busy with training. Chief is working with the contractors over past the airstrip. Dad and Smith are at the Koehlers’. Gregg and Danny are busy mending fences, and I’m not going to bother Adam. The man is slammed trying to get the new staff up to speed and manage his patient load.”
Betty chirped in from the corner where she was kneading dough, “Adam would have a cow if he knew you were leaving without someone going with you.”
Keelee snorted. “I’m going to the church, for goodness sake. It’s in the middle of town on Main Street. Seriously, I’m not a two-year-old who needs her hand held.”
Amanda grabbed a jean jacket from a peg near the entrance to the door and followed Keelee. “Fine, but I’m going with you. Adam’s going to blow through the roof, but that’s your worry. If your dad finds out I let you off the ranch without someone going with you, he will kill me.”
“Amusing. He melts like butter whenever you come into a room. He can’t even pretend to get mad at you. Aunt Betty, would you please call the clinic? The med-tech can usually track Adam down if I need to talk to him, but I don’t want to wait around or bother him while he’s so busy.”
“Sure honey, I got this dough pounded into submission. I’ll call for you.” Betty lifted the mass of flour and plopped it into a buttered bowl to rise.
“Ready?” Keelee plucked two cookies from the plate on the counter and handed one to Amanda on the way out the door. Both women slid into the ranch’s SUV.
“Are you getting excited about the wedding?” Amanda held her cookie in her mouth, speaking around it as she clicked her seatbelt on.
“Excited? No. Stressed, worried, anxious? Yes.” Keelee laughed. “I mean, if it were up to me I’d elope and be blissfully happy. I love that man. He’s a gift from God and I’m blessed.”
“So why are you planning a big wedding? I thought this is what you’ve always wanted.” The older woman frowned in confusion.
“Because, if I’m honest, this whole thing isn’t just about me. This wedding is also for Adam, for my dad, and for the people who mean so much to both of us. My sister Tori—your daughter-in-law. My best friend, Ember… also your daughter-in-law. You know that the daughter-in-law thing is getting to be a trend. Anyway, those two didn’t get to plan their weddings so they are having a blast spinning me in circles. The Google Chat calls we’ve had are insane. I think I should start binge drinking. Not sure how Tori manages her portion of the planning, what with Talon on the go and being twenty months pregnant.”
“Oh my, I know! She’s barely seven months and the poor girl looks like she could give birth to full-grown twins tomorrow. I’ve got tickets to go out to D.C. in two weeks. I’ll let Talon wear me out so Mom and Dad can nest and welcome the twins to the world.”
“I can’t wait to be an auntie again. I’d have never thought Tori would be settled and have a family. She was always such a free spirit. Anyway, this event is a way to include all of our extended family, which, of course, includes all the Kings and most of the management of Guardian.” A soft chuckle joined a slow shake of her head. “I couldn’t think of a better way to reinforce the bond Adam and I have and the circle our families have formed.”
“You’re a remarkable young woman.” The warmth of the smile Amanda gave her made Keelee blush. She could feel the heat raging north to her cheeks.
“Nah, I’m just a rancher… who is freaking out because she’s going on an around-the-world cruise after coordinating the wedding of the century. Nothing remarkable here!”
*
Keelee drove into a small lot adjacent to the brick church and parked. The heavily leaded dark stained glass windows of the massive building gave the town’s largest church a gothic appearance.
“Do you want me to wait in the truck?” Putting the vehicle into park, Keelee shook her head.
“No, I really have no idea why he needed to talk to me in person. But I do know I don’t have any secrets that you can’t hear. Come on inside and we can talk flowers after I get done. I was thinking white roses and lilies, but I’m afraid it may be too much white.”
“Have you thought about a spring flower, or maybe a small spray of heather or lilac? Did you know they can weave colored beads and crystals in the bouquets? The effect is stunning.”
Keelee pulled open the church’s side door and Amanda stepped into the dark hall. “No, I hadn’t. I like that idea…”
She stopped at the pastor’s office door and knocked. An indistinguishable noise from behind the door raised two sets of feminine eyebrows. Amanda giggled and whispered, “Was that a come in or a go away?”
Keelee laughed outright. “Well, since he called me, my vote is for come in.” She twisted the knob on the door and walked in. Her smiling face froze instantly. She heard Amanda’s swift intake of air and felt the older woman’s hand on her arm.
The horror of what she saw took several seconds to understand. Pastor Richards sat in his large desk chair. His face was bloated and swollen, mottled in reds and purples. A noose around his neck pulled him up, but his body was tied to the chair, keeping him from releasing any tension.
Keelee bolted toward the desk, desperate to release the man from the ropes. The office door slammed violently, spinning both women on their heels, but Amanda didn’t move fast enough. Keelee screamed as a violent swing of a man’s arm sent the older woman flying to the ground. Keelee slid to her knees beside the woman, protecting her from the man who continued his attack. A kick to her ribs sent her sideways into the pastor’s desk. Keelee curled into herself and pushed back, moving between the man and Amanda. The distinct sound of a pistol’s hammer being pulled back next to her ear froze her movements instantly.
Rancid breath puffed across her face. Keelee felt his arm move a fraction of a second before a cloth covered her mouth. A menacing voice hissed against her fading consciousness. “Did you miss me?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Dr. Cassidy, here are your messages. The contractor for your house stopped by. He’s waiting for the kitchen cabinet delivery at the main road, and
Sierra Division called. They want to know if we can take on another rehab. Shrapnel injury. The patient is in a civilian hospital overseas, and Mr. Gabriel wants him home before questions are asked.”
Adam grabbed the messages as the new med-tech fell into step with him. “Just Gabriel, no ‘mister’ in front. Tell Sierra we can house the shrapnel injury. Inform Dr. Santos of the incoming transfer and let Dixon or Drake know we need a room in the training bunkhouse for Sanderson starting Monday. Has the new order of meds arrived?”
“Yes, sir, the plane landed about three hours ago along with the new pharmacist. Dr. Abbot is doing an inventory of the current stock and rearranging the shelves as she goes…”
Adam hissed a lungful of air, interrupting his assistant. “Holy fucking shit! You have got to be kidding me!”
“Ahh… no, sir, she said she actually had a method to her madness. I can tell her to…” The med-tech started to turn towards the pharmacy.
“No, stop. Kevin, when did you take this?” Adam held up the tattered white piece of paper.
The man shrugged. “I’m not sure, maybe thirty minutes or so ago? Not much more than that. Why?”
The question was spoken to Adam’s back. He didn’t bother to answer the tech. Sonovabitch! Adam pulled his phone from his white coat and hit Keelee’s number. He slammed through the front doors of the clinic, striding towards the truck he used. He opened the vehicle door one handed and slid behind the wheel. Doc had the vehicle in gear and gunning down the gravel access road toward the main road before Keelee’s voicemail kicked in. Slamming his hand against the wheel, he raged, “Son-of-a-bitch!” before he punched in the next call.
Frank answered on the second ring. Adam cut the man off. “Keelee and Amanda went into town. Alone. To the church. Tell me why in the hell would they need to go to the church, Frank.”
A muffled curse preceded the sound of Frank running. “They know better than to leave the ranch without an escort. I just got off the phone with Chief. Adam, we found Gerald Koehler, he’s dead. Shot in the head, execution style. I’ve got Smith with me. We’re heading to the church. Are you on your way in?”
“Hell yes! Rally point is the pasture beyond the stockyards.” Adam disconnected the call and floored the accelerator. His worst fucking nightmare. They’d purposefully left the women ignorant regarding the latest intel on Clint. Everyone agreed there was no reason to needlessly worry them because they never left the ranch without an armed escort. Sonovabitch! The man was wanted in two states for a laundry list of crimes—aggravated assault, theft, damage to personal property—and last week Guardian had learned Clint was a “person of interest” in an abduction and grisly murder near Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.
Adam turned the corner and hit the blacktop. The tires spinning for traction sent gravel spewing through the air. He grabbed his phone and hit up Chief. “Keelee and Amanda went to town alone.”
“What the fuck?” Chief’s incredulous yell forced him to pull the phone from his ear.
“Her phone rang through to voicemail. Gerald Koehler’s been murdered and Keelee could be walking into a trap. I need a fire team response holding outside of town. We may have a hostage situation. Bring everything you need and meet me at the pasture by the stockyards. It’s far enough a helicopter may not be heard. I should have told her as soon as we figured out that son-of-a-bitch has been working his way back towards South Dakota.”
“No time for regrets, Doc. We all agreed they didn’t need to know. We got it covered. Whatever it takes.” Adam knew Chief would have his back. He always had. As long as it takes. The thought was automatic.
Adam pushed Keelee’s number again. “Come on, baby. Answer the phone. I need you to answer the phone, babe…”
“Are you on your way yet?” Rage soon replaced the momentary shock of hearing a man’s deep, rasping voice.
“You hurt her, you son-of-a-bitch, and I’ll kill you.” Adam ground his response through his clenched teeth.
“Yes, I know. But it’s too late to stop.” The sound of a woman’s soft cries flipped his stomach. If it was possible to die and still be breathing, Adam did when he heard her muffled sob.
“I’m ending it, now… now.”
He sensed more than knew the man’s comments weren’t directed towards him. Keelee, oh God, baby, I’m coming. Desperate to draw his attention away from Keelee, he pleaded, “Clint, let her go. I’ll do anything you want. Just don’t hurt her.”
“If you want her alive, you’ll do exactly what I tell you.”
Adam hit the brakes hard, turning a corner on two wheels. “Anything.”
“You have twenty minutes to walk through the sanctuary doors. If anyone but you is outside this building, I’ll kill the reverend. If you try anything stupid, I’ll kill the other woman. If I think for a second you’re armed, I’ll kill Keelee and then myself. You won’t get the satisfaction of killing me. You’ll lose everything. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Nineteen minutes.”
*
Keelee’s sobs weren’t for herself. When she got mad, genuinely furious, she cried. And that pissed her off even more. She should have been able to do something to stop this situation. Yet here they were in one hell of a mess. Amanda lay on the front pew tied and gagged. At the end of the pew on the far aisle the reverend was either unconscious or dead. His body lay in a heap, not moving. Clint set her phone on the altar and turned toward her. His filthy hair hung almost to his shoulders. A shaggy sandy brown beard covered the face she used to know. He’d lost weight and his hand shook when he lifted his fingers to wipe the tears from her cheek. Her head jerked back away from his touch, but the ropes that bound her to the pastor’s sanctuary chair prevented much movement.
He shook his head slowly while staring at her. “Do you remember the summer you, me, Tori, Gregg and Christian went on that trail ride without our parents? We were gone the whole week. Do you remember?”
Keelee ignored him and struggled with the bonds. Clint grabbed her chin and jerked her head toward him.
“I asked you a question.”
Keelee nodded, but she wasn’t sure if he actually saw her. His eyes focused down the sanctuary, not on her. His voice softened as he remembered. “We had so much fun. It was the first time all three of us boys left the ranch without him. That was the best week of my life. He wasn’t there. The young ones were safe and happy. You girls made us laugh, and we had so much fun. It was like we were normal. But we never have been. Everything is a lie.”
He cast a glance back at her and gave a small shrug of his shoulders. “When we came back our mom was gone. Dad told Christian and Gregg she’d left him.”
His hand wrapped around hers and he twined his fingers between hers. “She didn’t leave. She’s still there. Gerald buried her behind the house after he beat her to death. Dad took me to her the night we got home after the young ones did their chores and fell asleep. Made me dig her up and…”
Clint’s tear trickled down his cheek and became lost behind his beard. “Gerald’s sick, Kee. He hurt the young ones. I couldn’t stop him. I tried. God, I tried. The bastard let some of his drinking buddies hurt Christian. Bad. I couldn’t stop him—then. But I stopped him last night. Gerald thought he was alone. I watched him. I made him beg like he made us beg and then I killed him.” His chest rose and fell with a deep shaking breath before a tranquil smile fell across his face. “I fed the animals extra so they’d be okay today. I know your dad will take care of them. Your dad’s good like that.”
Keelee nodded and winced as Clint pulled the gag out of her mouth. “Please let us go. I know you didn’t mean to hurt the reverend. I’ll talk to the sheriff. We’ll get you help.” Her mouth was so dry the words seemed to stick together, but maybe that was from whatever Clint had used to knock her out.
Clint slowly turned his head toward the reverend and shook his head. “I’ve killed people, Keelee. There is no end in this. He made sure of it. It’s only a matter of t
ime before he comes back.”
“Who, Clint? Who’s going to come back? Your dad?” Keelee’s mind raced. Clint was sick, that much was evident, but a murder? It had to be someone else. The soft chime of a clock sounded, sending an eerie tone through the sanctuary.
Clint cocked his head, closing his eyes and smiled. “No, no. He sleeps after I kill. Sometimes for days. I can’t hear him telling me what to do… after. But that’s not why I killed that son-of-a-bitch. I killed Gerald for what he did to us. But that worked in my favor because I needed him to be quiet so I could finish it. It’s the only way.”
“Who, Clint? Who’s talking to you? He’s here, in the church? Sleeping?” Keelee searched what she could see of the sanctuary, but whoever Clint was talking about could be anywhere among the pews. Amanda’s eyes were open and she jerked, fighting the ropes that bound her.
“Who is she, Kee?” Clint hadn’t opened his eyes, but his thumb stroked her hand and they both heard the sounds of Amanda trying to free herself.
“My dad’s wife. He married her just before Christmas.” Clint’s eyes opened and held hers. “He loves her, Clint, and so do I.”
“Hmmm…” Clint walked back to the altar and palmed his gun and the cell phone.
“Did you know it was my dad that caused your mom’s accident?”
Keelee’s gut fell to the floor. “No. She was thrown from her horse. She died instantly. Your dad… found her?” Even before she finished the statement, Keelee knew in her heart Gerald Koehler had taken her mother from her family.
“She was riding. My dad was fixing a fence when she came by. He told me he’d wanted your mom for years. Decided he was going to take what he wanted. She kicked him in the face and turned that horse, but he grabbed her out of the saddle. She fell and broke her neck. He was pissed and he took it out on us and my mom. Beat mom every day for at least a week. Kept the young ones in the barn, but he made me watch.”
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