She slapped him playfully on the back.
For the next four hours she shoveled shit, carried some to the garden where Rose and Rachel pulled weeds, then it was back to the barn to clean out the tack room. By the time eleven o’clock rolled around, her shoulders, back and arms hurt. She was ready to call it quits. Pulling off her gloves, she placed them in the bin inside the barn and strolled into the bright sunlight and the rather hot day. Her only savior was a cool breeze that wafted by. She took a moment to breathe in the fresh scent of pine with a hint of her own perspiration and manure.
This land was truly beautiful.
When a set of strong arms slid around her, she smiled up at Levi.
He squeezed. “Day dreamin’, sis?”
She laughed, amazed at how easily the musical sound came from her these days. “It’s beautiful here.”
He held her for a moment while a mockingbird perched on their roof sang the prettiest song she had ever heard. Twitching its long tail, the bird spread its gray wings with white patches and pushed off, flying away.
“You really like him, don’t you?”
“Yes. I do.” She turned in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist. “He makes me happy.”
“I can see that.” He pressed his cheek to her forehead. “I’m just worried.”
“I know you are, but I’m a big girl. I’ll make mistakes, but I’m hoping Clancy isn’t one of them. And if you’re worried about the ranch—”
“God, Tess, that’s not it at all. I don’t want to see you hurt. You deserve— I mean, I want—” When it appeared his emotions became too much, he quit trying to explain and released her. “We’d best be getting ready.”
Clancy swung the saddle up on the last horse’s back just as Levi’s truck pulled into his driveway. The second he saw Tess get out, his heart began to pound like a randy schoolboy’s. The urge to go to her, to take her in his arms, almost won over securing the cinch around the large bay gelding.
When they joined him at the hitching post outside the barn, he found it difficult not to reach for her. Fortunately, he didn’t have to refrain from touching her as she walked up to him, tilting her chin to receive his welcoming kiss. Slipping his arms around her, he noted how good she felt and smelled. Amongst her soft perfume was the fresh scent of soap and shampoo. Reluctant to let her go when their short caress ended, he left an arm around her, half expecting to see Levi glaring at him, but he was wrong.
With a sheepish expression, the boy stepped forward and extended his hand. “Wiseman.”
Shocked but pleased, Clancy released Tess and stepped forward, clasping hands. “Levi.”
Did this mean the tension between them had come to an end? God. He hoped so. Tess’s happiness meant everything to him. She wouldn’t be content with controversy within her family. When she gifted them both with a bright smile Clancy knew things were heading in the right direction.
“So where are we going?” Levi ran his fingertips down the bay’s forehead to his soft muzzle. The act of kindness appeared so natural. Clancy had no doubts the boy was meant for ranching. He had a love of the land and all things on it.
“I thought we would ride the fence line. Then take a break and have a picnic. Hope you like roast beef sandwiches and potato salad.”
Confusion tugged at Levi’s brows and Tess mirrored her brother’s expression. “Uhhh…sure. Roast beef is fine.”
Clancy could see in her eyes she had expected something more than a ride and picnic. Anxiety skittered across his arms. “Saddle up.” Hopefully his surprise wouldn’t blow up in his face.
Bella, his dapple mare, clawed the ground, ready to stretch her long legs, but Tess had captured his attention. Without a second thought, she slipped a booted-foot into the stirrup of a Palomino he’d chosen just for her as she grabbed the saddle horn, and hoisted herself atop the saddle.
Damn. She looked good sitting on a horse. Just the type of woman he could see himself settling down with. Strong. Independent. And intelligent. Yet all woman, and he knew every curve, valley and mound on that beautiful body.
“Hey, Wiseman. We gonna ride or stand here and stare at my sister?”
This time the boy offered him a cocky smile, while Tess giggled softly and dug her heels into the sides of the Palomino. Without pause, Clancy mounted his horse and kicked her sides. Bella lurched forward in an effort to catch up with the others.
As they rode through acre after acre of rocky hills and meadows, the sun beamed down upon them. It was warmer than he had expected and he gave thanks for the occasional breeze that whispered through the tree branches, but due to the work being done in the distance, the wind carried the scent of freshly churned dirt. He had wanted this day to be perfect. So when he heard the machinery pause and stop to rising voices, trepidation slid across his skin. Something must have gone wrong.
“Must have struck caliche,” Levi offered.
Clancy calmed a little. The boy was probably right, because Clancy had had more encounters with the hard, clay subsoil then he cared to remember. Damn stuff always seemed to be where he wanted to dig. Reining his horse toward the now growing chaos, he didn’t wait for Tess, and Levi followed.
When the foreman on the job saw them, Clancy swung off his mare and hastened on foot to join him. As Richard Flayer approached, he jerked off his hat and ran the back of his gloved hand over his damp forehead. “You’re not going to believe this.” The man’s face was flushed. His hands trembled.
Clancy didn’t like the sound of this. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, boss.” He hesitated, taking a steadying breath. “We dug up a body.”
“A what?” Surely he hadn’t heard the man correctly. He carefully eased between the tight strands of barbed-wire fencing.
“A body. I had the men stop immediately. The sheriff has been called.” As Clancy climbed off his horse, Richard continued. “We didn’t want to disturb anything, in case… Well… Hell, Mr. Wiseman, I’ve never dealt with anything like this.”
And neither had Clancy.
It barely registered that Tess and Levi were hot on their heels as they crossed the uneven terrain toward where a large bulldozer and a loader sat silently. A crowd of workmen had gathered around a fallen tree. Clancy edged his way through the line of men and came to an abrupt stop. The bony skeleton remains of a hand jutted through the softened earth.
Levi’s wide-eyed gaze darted toward Tess and then Clancy. “Is that a hand?”
“Levi, why don’t you take your sister and the horses back to the barn. Have Milo unsaddle them and put them away. I’ll catch a ride with Richard.”
Tess sidled up to him. “We’ll take care of it.” She leaned closer, whispering, “I take it this wasn’t what you wanted to show us.”
“No, darlin’.” He circled his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. She felt so warm, so soft against him. “The deed for this land came through yesterday. I thought maybe we could run Wiseman and Gilmore cattle on it. After they finished the stream and pond, cleared the ground in this vicinity, I instructed them to put a couple of gates between the properties.”
“Really?” Levi’s voice rose with new life. “Hot damn!” Just as soon as the words burst from his mouth his face colored with embarrassment. He slid his gaze toward the remains, choking down his excitement. “Sorry.”
As Clancy held Tess, in a show of support he reached out with one hand, grasped the boy’s shoulder, squeezed and released. Whatever happened here was horrible, but he doubted whoever lay beneath the earth would begrudge Levi a little happiness.
“You’ll call us when you know something?” Tess asked.
“Of course.” His mouth brushed hers, and then he let her go.
He watched them mount and ride off. Before they disappeared from sight, Tess turned and waved. He raised his hand in return only allowing it to drift to his side when they were gone, and then he faced the remains once again.
He hadn’t realized how much this discovery
had affected his foreman, until he spoke again. “What do you think happened?” Weariness hung in Richard’s tone.
“Beats me.”
Clancy had known the Jensens forever.
It was incomprehensible that they had been involved with what appeared to be foul play. When he was a child he’d hung out with several of their grandchildren who came to visit during the summer. Joined them occasionally for dinner. Lloyd and Camilla had always appeared to be loving grandparents, but Clancy knew firsthand how deceiving appearances could be.
“Boss, want us to move to the fence line and start tearing it down?”
“Better wait for the police.”
Shortly after Sheriff Paul McGrath arrived and introductions were made, Richard told his story once more. After which the sheriff hastened to clear the immediate area, which included Clancy’s crew, with the exception of those directly involved in the discovery. Some lollygaggers remained and watched from a designated distance as forensic personnel taped and charted off the area. Other individuals skedaddled as if the devil himself were after them, or maybe they were simply happy to have the weekend off or, more likely, spread the gossip.
Picture after picture documented the location before they began to unearth the body. From Clancy’s vantage point he thought he recognized pieces of tattered material that appeared to be denim, but jeans in this country were the norm. In the meantime, the sheriff and another policeman began to interrogate those left behind.
As the sun shifted in the sky, Clancy thought he saw something gleam amongst the loose dirt. A male technician must have seen the same thing, because he took what looked like a paintbrush and swept the dirt aside. With his camera he took a snapshot before he bagged and labeled whatever he found.
Clancy’s stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten anything since early that morning. The lunch he packed was probably growing stale in his saddlebags. The thought emerged just as twigs and rocks popping beneath tires of an approaching vehicle forced him to look over his shoulder. He smiled and turned around. Tess parked her car behind Richard’s work truck. When she got out, she held a picnic basket looped around her arm.
Since the area was secure and he doubted the narrow-eyed officer would let her pass, he went to her. By the time he reached her, she had a tablecloth spread across the hood of her car, iced tea, assorted fruits and sandwiches atop of it.
“Thought you might be hungry.”
He gathered her into his arms. “A woman after my own heart.” Then he savored her lips, before whispering, “Sorry about today.”
“No worries.” She brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. “Maybe tonight you can make up for it.” Desire flickered in her eyes and his groin tightened.
“Hmmm…do we have to wait until tonight?” He smoothed his palms up and down her bare arms. “Milo and Julie found a place yesterday. They moved out this morning. How ’bout dinner at my place?” He rubbed his nose against hers, thinking of how nice it would be to have her all alone with no one to interrupt them. “And maybe you’d consider breakfast too.”
“Breakfast?” She made a soft sound in his ear just as his stomach growled. Easing back from his embrace, she smiled. “Perhaps you should first start with lunch. Eat.”
While he ate, she quizzed him about what had happened so far. He had little to say, because as of yet he still hadn’t spoken to the sheriff. Just as he took the final bite of his tuna sandwich, McGrath walked up.
He tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”
She smiled prettily and the damn man slid an interested gaze over her. Clancy threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
“So that’s your land just past the fence line? And you just recently relocated from California?” the sheriff repeated.
“Yes.” Tess slipped from beneath Clancy’s arm and began to put everything back into the picnic basket.
“Hmmm…” His steely gaze pinned Clancy. “Wiseman, any idea who this is?”
What the hell? Clancy furrowed his brows. “Not even a hint. Why?”
“Because the skull of our victim is pretty damaged, as if she took quite a wallop to the head. We found these.” The sheriff unfurled his fingers to display two plastic evidence bags. One contained a set of wedding rings, the other a locket. “Ever seen ’em before?”
Clancy’s heart stopped. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Eyes that blurred, going black around the edges. His lips tightened to a bloodless line of fury and a strangled cry crawled up his throat.
“They’re my mother’s.”
Chapter Eighteen
Tess had heard the phrase turning white as a sheet, but she had never seen it before today. Every ounce of blood drained from Clancy’s face, returning with a vengeance that chilled her. His neck and face flashed beet-red. He clenched his jaws so tightly that she actually heard his teeth grind. She could have sworn that the tendons in his neck grew so taut they looked as if they would snap. But even his sudden fury didn’t compare to the haunted cry that rose as if it had been ripped from his very soul.
“They’re my mother’s.”
Tess froze where she stood. His mother’s? Hadn’t he said his mother left town?
She felt the tremor that raced through him before he snatched his arm from around her shoulders. As if he moved on autopilot, he stepped forward and took the jewelry from the sheriff’s outstretched hands. For a moment, he didn’t speak, only stared at the dirt-encrusted items bagged and laying in his opened palms.
“Damn him,” he growled. His fingers slowly curled into fists, clutching the jewelry. “Damn him to hell.”
“Who?” the sheriff asked.
Apparently Clancy didn’t hear him, because he didn’t answer. Instead his entire body began to shake uncontrollably. Tess wanted to go to him, console him. But no one dared to approach him, not her nor the sheriff who paused, watching him intently.
“Wiseman, are you sure these belong to your mother?”
The sheriff’s question seemed to pull Clancy from the dark place that held him in its grip. He jerked his head up as moisture filled his eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek, nearly breaking Tess’s heart. While she sucked in a taut breath, he swallowed and inhaled a shaky one, before his features took on a stiff, unapproachable expression.
With eerie detachment, he dropped the jewelry back into the sheriff’s hands. “They’re hers.” Then, without another word, he pivoted and walked away.
“Wiseman, we need to talk.” The sheriff’s statement didn’t slow him.
For a moment Tess couldn’t move. When she finally found her legs, she pushed past the police tape and ran after Clancy, catching up with him as he squeezed between the barbed-wire strings. “Wait. I’ll go with you.”
His backbone went rigid. Slowly he faced her. The coolness in his glare brought her up short. “Go home, Tess.”
“Clancy. Please. I want to be there for you—”
“Go. Home.”
The measure of indifference in his tone stole her breath. She didn’t attempt to follow after that, because suddenly it felt as if something more than the razor-sharp fence lay between them.
“Miss Gilmore.” She drifted around to find the sheriff standing behind her, his thick thumbs tucked in his belt. “How well do you know Wiseman and his family?”
Frowning, she stared in disbelief at the burly man with a ketchup stain on his tie. He couldn’t possibly be insinuating Clancy had anything to do with this. Even a blind man could have seen the impact it had on Clancy after he realized that his mother had never left San Antonio but had been murdered. It was normal for him to be stunned and hurt, then furious, moving quickly into a cold, emotionless state, shutting down to protect himself.
She knew all about coping skills.
Tess wet her now parched lips. “For just over a month. But I can tell you that he was only fourteen when his mother left town.”
But she didn’t leave town, not like Clancy believed. That’s when everything fell into place.
Tess gasped, covering her mouth with a palm. “His father.”
“His father?”
Oh my God. Her hand fell to her side.
“Clancy said his mother left before his father—” Her mouth closed on its own accord, almost as if subconsciously she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She tried to wrap her mind around the idea, but it left her feeling sick to her stomach.
The sheriff cocked a brow, waiting.
“Could kill her.” Lord this couldn’t be happening. “The man died in an accident the day after…” Her voice drifted off again as they continued to walk toward her vehicle.
Or had Clancy’s father deliberately killed himself?
A tremor slithered up her spine. “I don’t know anything else. Perhaps you should confirm the woman’s identity before questioning Clancy.”
The sheriff’s eyes widened at her defensive stance.
“I’m sorry, but as you can see, this has obviously been a shock to him. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“Will you be joining him now?”
“No.” And she understood him wanting his space at a moment like this.
McGrath reached into a pocket, pulled out a card and handed it to her. “If you think of anything, call me.”
She tucked the card in her pocket, and then grabbed the picnic basket off the hood and opened the car door to climb in. Her hand shook as she reached for the key and flipped it over, starting the engine. It took a moment longer to gather her wits. When she did she shifted into reverse, making her way back to her house.
As she drove past Clancy’s place, she slowed the car. He didn’t want to see her. Like anyone who had lost someone they loved, he probably needed some space—time to mourn—time to adjust to the numbing disbelief and refusal. But it had been the unbearable pain in his eyes so suddenly masked that frightened her. If he attempted to conceal his anguish, he would never heal. Even worse, it could crush him, pulling him deep into a depression like the one that nearly destroyed Rachel after their parents’ death.
Tess wasn’t aware of her tears until she choked on a sob. Still crying when she pulled into her driveway, she cut the engine and got out. Clancy hurt and there was nothing she could do to help him, except to be there when he was ready to talk.
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