Rain Shadow Book 4 (The Barringer Brothers)

by Tess Oliver

  “You never did tell me how you got that nickname,” Gage said.

  “When Angel found me, I couldn’t remember anything, not even my own name. But a sliver of memory told me I’d come from Reno, so—”

  “So that’s what I called him.” I smiled over at Luke. “I think it works. I’m with Gage. Let’s just stay here.”

  Jericho was already getting the slightly glazed look of someone who’d downed a few pain pills. “You just want to be where your horse is.”

  “Having Chance here is a bonus, but I think what Gage said is true. The ranch is remote, but it’s easy to see around the house. Or we could go out to the boat, and you could just spend the whole time puking.”

  Gage looked at Luke for a decision.

  He nodded “Let’s stay here. We’ll just have to be extra vigilant.”

  “Which brings me to something,” Gage said. “I’ll be staying closer to the logging camp for about five days. The timber is at a place that we have to hike to, so we just pitch tents nearby rather than travel back and forth.”

  “You might have mentioned that first. That’s one less pair of eyes.” Luke pressed his fingers against the sides of his nose. It pained him as he spoke. Both guys looked miserable. They’d really done a number on each other. “But I’m sure we can manage. Are you taking the dogs?”

  “There’s a kid down the road a few miles who usually comes up and feeds the horses, but the dogs usually go with me. They’re really good at protecting my tent. Otherwise, it’s amazing how many valuables just walk off on their own. But I can leave them since you’ll all be here to take care of the animals. And I’ll just remember to leave my diamond jewelry and Rolex watch at home.”

  Jericho was definitely straddling the fence between being coherent and feeling loopy. “Can I wear the watch while you’re gone?” he asked.

  Gage shot me a questioning look.

  “I think it’s the pills talking,” I said. “And the smack to the head probably didn’t help.” I sat back. We’d decided to stay but we hadn’t brought up the one subject that was always weighing heavily on me. “Luke—”

  “I know what you’re going to ask—” he said. “What about Cash? Hey, Richo, is your phone still working?”

  “Yep, it’s an awesome paperweight. But for calling people? No. It’s dead.” Jericho reached inside the chip bag and grabbed out a handful. “Shit these pills are giving me the munchies.” He shoveled the chips into his mouth, and an avalanche of crumbs tumbled down his shirt.

  “Did you write down the numbers you needed?” Luke asked.

  “Yep, I did.” He snapped his fingers as if he’d just figured out why Luke was asking. “I could try and call Cash if my phone wasn’t deceased.”

  “You can use mine.” Luke pulled out his phone. “If you reach him, let him know that Dreygon is on the move and singled him out in a threat.”

  Jericho took the phone. The pills had brought miraculous relief to his leg, and he strolled out of the room almost as if it had never been hurt.

  Gage shook his head. “That shit is good stuff when it comes to pain.”

  “Yeah, it’s also highly addictive,” Luke said.

  “Thank you for that, Special Agent Barringer.” Gage grabbed up the bottle. “None for you then.”

  Luke tried to smile but it seemed his whole face hurt. “I don’t need them. I have a personal physician who will tend to all my needs.”

  “Just wait until you get my bill,” I said.

  Jericho came in a few minutes later with the phone. “He didn’t answer. I left him a message. If there’s anyone who can take care of himself, it’s Cash. He’s sort of a darker, meaner version of Gage.”

  Gage looked up at him in surprise.

  “What? I said darker and meaner than you.”

  “Which, of course, implies that I’m both,” Gage said.

  I reached over and put my hand on his. “Believe me, if he’s comparing you to Cash, consider it a compliment.”

  Gage seemed settled by my assurance.

  Luke took the phone back from Jericho. “I’m going to call the detective who handled Cash’s witness protection case. Maybe he knows how to get word to him.”

  “One way or another, we’ve got to let him know,” I said. “I can’t relax until I know he’s all right.”

  Chapter 14

  Luke

  Gage had left that morning with a warning that a thunderstorm seemed to be looming in the distance. In the end, he’d taken the dogs. They wanted badly to go with him, and he didn’t have the heart to leave them behind.

  Just as the sun set and the charcoal grays of night settled over the ranch, the first streak of lightning cracked the sky in half. I sat on the top step of the porch, and Angel sat on the step below. She leaned back against me, and we watched the mass of sodden black clouds creep into the valley, rolling across the sea of stars like a dark shroud. The air was heavy with the scent of the coming storm. As was always the case when Angel was near and everything was temporarily right with the world, I found myself wanting her soft, silky skin beneath my fingertips. I reached beneath her sweatshirt and, with some persistence, I found naked skin. I smoothed my palms over her stomach and began my blind quest for a bare breast.

  “How many layers do you have on under this sweatshirt, my little desert star?”

  She giggled and flinched as my thumb ran along the side of her round breast, a tickle spot I knew well. “It’s cold as the Arctic up here. After living in a hot, dry climate for so long, I’ve evolved into a lizard. I need to start stretching out on rocks in the daytime to warm my blood.”

  My thumb found her taut nipple. “There is just nothing about you that says reptile. Sand bunny maybe, but definitely not lizard.”

  “Sand bunny? Don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those.” She released a soft breath and leaned back between my thighs. Beneath the layers of clothing, I pushed her bra up above her breasts and caressed them.

  “No? They are very elusive, highly sensual creatures that carry their own glow of light wherever they go.”

  “Is that so?” she sighed. She pushed her hardened nipples against my fingers and reached her hands back. She gripped my arms and arched her chest toward my touch. Another bolt of lightning ripped the black sky. A clap of thunder followed. She startled and then relaxed back beneath my hands. “I’m glad Chance is locked in his stall already.”

  “Agreed.” My hands moved down along her abdomen. I leaned down and kissed her neck. I unbuttoned her pants, and she scooted back closer to me. My hands slid down beneath the denim fabric and her panties.

  She rested her head back against me and closed her eyes. Her lips parted, and she moaned as my fingers slid into the slick folds of her pussy. “God, Reno, I crave your touch all day.” She parted her thighs. I pulled her up to sit right between my legs on the top step. “Relax your head on my shoulder, Baby.” She was nearly limp in my arms as she soaked in the pleasure of my fingers stroking her swollen clit. She opened her legs farther and I pushed my fingers deeper. She rocked against my hand and moved with the same urgency as the approaching storm. Then beneath a clap of thunder, she shuddered and cried out in pleasure.

  We sat for a few minutes watching the weather bear down on the ranch. She sighed contentedly and buttoned up her jeans. “I suddenly have a new fondness for thunderstorms.” She turned and hooked her long legs over my thigh. I cradled her in my arms. “I know you have an important job back in Nevada, but I think I could stay out here with you forever.”

  “Let’s see if you say that in the middle of November when these porch steps are buried deep in snow.”

  “You always bring up the terrible winter, but all I can picture is you and me snuggled beneath the quilts on the bed like two hibernating—” She smiled and kissed my chin. “—ho
rny bears, waiting for the green of spring to break free from the snow. Gage could just push some food and drinks into our cave once in awhile.”

  “When you put it that way.” A brisk gust of wind swirled around the porch, and the drumming of heavy raindrops on the roof and portico followed. The next breeze carried the cold rain up onto the porch, and Angel laughed as the icy water sprayed us. We jumped to our feet and hurried inside.

  Jericho was in the back den watching movies on the computer. “Who’s making the popcorn? I just found that old Hitchcock movie Psycho on You Tube,” he called.

  I popped my head into the room. “Not sure if we need to watch a movie about a psycho, if you know what I mean.”

  “Ah come on,” he pleaded. “It’s black and white, and even the shower scene seems pretty corny now.”

  I looked at Angel for a decision.

  She shrugged. “I’ll put the popcorn in the microwave.”

  I went in and sat down in my grandfather’s big leather chair. It still smelled faintly of his cigars. There was plenty of room for Angel to sit with me. The den had been something my grandfather had added onto the house. The walls were made of pine and he’d kept them natural. They’d grown darker with age. He’d built a long hearth of stone. Gage, Seth and I had helped him carry each rock into the house. I could remember smashing my fingers more than once. But it had turned out to be the masterpiece my grandfather had visualized. I thought about him sitting in the chair, puffing his cigar and reading a book. I realized more than ever now, how lucky I’d been to have him as a grandpa.

  Lightning lit the room and then everything went black. The house, now void of clocks, refrigerator motors and scary movies, grew eerily quiet. Then Angel’s scream ripped through the silence, and the two of us flew out of the room, nearly slamming into each other as we headed toward the kitchen.

  Angel stood in the dark room, clutching a bag of microwave popcorn to her chest. She held up a shaky finger. “A shadow just passed the window.”

  I reached up on top of the refrigerator for the two handguns we’d placed there. I handed one to Jericho. “It’s dark, so don’t be trigger happy.”

  He scowled at me for the admonition and took the gun. I motioned for him to go to the den and look out. “Angel, go stand in the hallway where you’re not near any windows.”

  The bench scraped the wood planks of the porch as if someone had pushed it. I headed toward the front of the house. The wood planks of the porch creaked. We were definitely not alone. The power had gone off, and I’d assumed it had been the storm. Now I was not so sure. I knew the electrical box was on the back of the house. Whoever was outside, would have had to walk past the kitchen window to move from the back of the house to the front.

  Jericho walked into room. “There’s no one out back.”

  I motioned for him to duck down, and he dropped, remembering too late that his leg would not support a crouch. He fell to his knees. “Fucking leg,” he muttered, and pushed to his feet. He leaned over as far as possible.

  I stooped down in front of the window and pushed back the corner of the curtains. It was pitch black outside, and a milky condensation had formed on the window pane from someone’s warm breath. Adrenaline pumped through my muscles, and my shoulders and arms flexed with anger. I was done with this shit. I was ready to take someone out. Just as I dropped the corner of the drapes, the porch creaked again. Jericho had positioned himself against the wall behind the door. He had his gun pointed up, but he was ready to shoot whoever might have the balls to force their way inside.

  I scooted down to the other side of the window. Whoever it was had to know by now that we knew they were out there. I lifted the drapes again.

  I sucked in a breath as black eyes stared back at me through the foggy pane. “Holy shit.”

  Jericho raised his gun. “Is it Dreygon?”

  “No. It’s a bear.”

  At the word bear, Angel stepped out of the dark hallway. “I want to see.”

  Reluctantly, Jericho lowered his gun. We all hunched down at the window and sat like observers at the zoo. The black bear was small and young. For the longest time, it sat on the porch as if it was waiting for the rain to stop. Occasionally, it would glance back at the window, seemingly knowing we were watching it, but not the least bit afraid.

  “I thought bears liked the water,” Jericho said.

  Angel wiped away some of the fog from our breath and moved her face closer to the pane for a better look. “Maybe they only like water when it’s filled with fish.”

  The tension was just draining from my body. I shook my head. “Never thought I’d be this relieved to come face to face with a bear.”

  Chapter 15

  Angel

  I slipped Chance’s halter off, and without taking one step, he dropped his big head to graze. After several days inside their stalls, I was sure the horses would buck and kick at their newfound freedom, but they were far more interested in eating. The pasture had dried enough, and it promised to be a perfectly beautiful and crisp day.

  I locked the pasture gate. Luke walked toward me, and it was obvious from his expression that he had bad news. I steeled myself to hear whatever it was. I’d been the one to insist he not keep anything from me, and now I had to be tough enough to endure it.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked before he reached me.

  “I just got off the phone with the detective who helped get Cash out in return for some evidence. Turns out they lost contact with him about three weeks ago.”

  “Weren’t they supposed to protect him? What a bunch of dimwits.”

  He stopped in front of me. “Wasn’t their fault. They set Cash up, but I guess he was bored or unhappy or whatever. He left the place they’d relocated him to, and they have no idea where he went. It’s out of their hands now.”

  His jaw was still tight with concern. He hadn’t told me everything yet.

  “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  “After I talked to Scoffield, my boss called. One of the agents broke his ankle while golfing.” He shook his head. “Ironic, huh? Spends his day with high powered weapons and raiding crack houses and hurts himself on the fucking golf course. Anyhow, he’s on sick leave, and another agent was already in the hospital for surgery. Carson is down two men. He’s reversed my suspension. He needs me to come in and work.”

  I glanced back at the horses. Their manes flowed in the breeze, and their tails flicked happily behind them with each chomp of grass. I’d always known our visit here was temporary, but I could have easily stayed longer. “What are we going to do?”

  “Gage will be back tomorrow, but he works during the day. I think you and Jericho should come home with me.” He reached forward and took my hand. “After that scary, but rather comical, adventure with the bear the other night, I realized it’s going to get old fast, hiding and constantly being on guard. I don’t want to run from Dreygon anymore. I want to rid our lives of him, once and for all.”

  “It does seem as if we can never truly be happy until this threat is no longer hanging over us. Have you told Jericho? He won’t mind, of course. He’s been itching to get back to Nevada.” I took a deep breath of the fresh, fragrant air. “But I will miss this place a lot.”

  “We can visit anytime. And I’m sure Chance won’t mind staying behind.”

  Chance lifted his head at the sound of his name, snorted once and then returned to his breakfast.

  “Jericho is going to have to understand that he’s still not safe. He can’t just go wandering back to his old haunts and his old friends. Dreygon used him once as a lure to get you back, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll do it again. We’ll stay at my house. Not sure yet how this will all play out, but while I’m at work, you two will just have to stay holed up in the house. Detective Carson can’t get anyone stationed
out front like before, but he promised to talk to the head of the department to get more patrol cars in the area. Like always, it should be a fucking adventure.” There was an edge of frustration in his tone. He was growing tired of this. And I was too.

  “This is completely wretched,” I said. “I’m sorry I brought this crap into your life, Reno.”

  His arms snaked around my back, and he hauled me against him. “I’m not sorry at all.”

  Chapter 16

  Luke

  “Hey look, it’s Barringer.” Ritter was the first to welcome me as I stepped into the semi-chaotic room where the desks were arranged in a senseless order and every agent had to do their own housekeeping, or in this case desk keeping. Someone had cleaned off Dex’s desk. It still sat across from mine, stark and lonely, a constant reminder that he was gone. Ritter followed me to my messy corner. I pulled out my chair, sat down and stared up at him. He leaned down and seemed to be looking for something.

  “Can I help you with something, Rit?”

  “Just looking to see where you hid the box of donuts.”

  “The box of donuts?”

  He sighed dramatically and glanced around. “He didn’t bring them.” Another round of sighs and grumbles made their way through the room.

  “What the hell are you all moaning about?” I asked.

  “If you’ve been away on suspension then it is proper etiquette to bring your office mates a box of donuts. You know, as a way of redeeming yourself for your poor behavior,” Ritter said.

  I stared at him with a look that made him take a step back. “I obviously forgot to refer to my special agent book of etiquette.”

  He waved his hand. “You wouldn’t have found it there.” Greene, one of the detectives came up behind him with a yellow piece of paper, which he held up like a town crier.