by Karen Ward
CHAPTER 4
During the short drive to the airport in Butte, Montana, Jacob continues to ask me questions about the case after he explains,
"Jana, the judge released you on bail after I promised to be personally responsible for making sure you return to Dillon for trial. Without that promise, the judge would not have granted bail and would not have released you because you don't have a residence in the area. That is also why I am taking you back to Wyoming with me."
"I really appreciate it Jacob. I know you didn't have to do that, so thank you. I promise I won't let you down. I understand how serious this whole situation is and that you put your reputation on the line for me."
A light blush rolls up Jacob's neck, "I do have a couple of more questions. Tell me about the twenty thousand dollars that is listed on your list of possessions."
"Well, that is the equity I received from the sale of my house in Texas. I plan to use it to make a new start."
"Where are you planning on settling down?"
"I don't know. I plan to keep visiting different places until I find a town that feels right. I know that probably sounds a little crazy to you, but I believe the town has to fit me as well as my fitting the town."
"What happened that made you decide to leave Texas?"
"Well, the manufacturing plant where I worked as the bookkeeper shut its doors so I didn't have a job. I don't have any family left and I have always wanted to live in the mountains, so here I am. I felt it would also make it harder for Frank to find me. I just never expected to be accused of his murder."
When we reach Butte we board Jacob's private jet and head to his ranch near Cody Wyoming.
This is my first experience flying in a small private jet. I am amazed at the luxurious interior and comfortable seats. A flight attendant serves us a sumptuous meal of filet mignon and roasted potatoes in flight.
Jacob and I chat companionably about my travels while we eat.
Almost immediately Jacob regrets his decision to let Jana stay at the ranch until the trial. He really doesn't know anything about the woman. He is worried because she is obviously homeless and transient. Yes, she was kind to Dani, and he does owe her for seeing to Dani's safety after Cybil abandoned her in that truck stop, but how far does that debt extend. He is, after all, representing her pro bono. And he has to remember Dani. Will his child be safe with the woman on the ranch? Probably, but what if Dani falls in love with her? She already seems fascinated with her. Realistically, Jacob realizes Dani probably will fall in love with Jana. Damn! But could he really have walked away and left her locked in that jail for months? No, he owes her that much for sure. He will just have to hope everything will work out. He prays this decision doesn't hurt Dani.
Additionally, he is going to have to make sure to maintain a distance, physically and emotionally. Jana Bowen is just too attractive for his peace of mind and he mustn't forget that zing of sexual attraction they shared when they shook hands at the jail. He has no intention of ever getting seriously involved with another woman. After his tumultuous marriage to Beverly and his obvious mistakes with Cybil, he has serious doubts about his ability to judge the character of women. It is just better if he steers clear of them completely.
******
I am so relieved to be out of jail. I am shocked that Jacob agreed to take responsibility for me and take me into his home. After all he doesn't know anything about me except what I told him earlier. If he hadn't agreed I would have been stuck in that tiny jail cell until after the trial. I am not sure I could have tolerated being in jail for that long.
I am excited to get to spend more time with Dani. I adore the child and am looking forward to getting to know her better. I look across the aisle at Jacob's profile. He is looking at his notes and writing more. He is so handsome. Watching the way his hands look holding the pen and moving across the paper makes me wonder what it would feel like to have his hands caress my body. Stop it Jana, don't even think it! He is a man, which you don't need, and obviously one that is way out of your league. Oh my God, he owns a private jet! That speaks more about his wealth than just about anything else could. Just be grateful he is helping you with this murder charge.
******
It is late when we finally pull into the yard at the ranch near Cody, Wyoming and everyone is already in bed. I have a brief glimpse in the moonlight of a large two story log home with several outbuildings and corrals. A covered porch with a split log hand rail extends the entire length of the front with rocking chairs grouped on either end.
The entry hall has wooden plank floors polished to a bright sheen and a high ceiling with an antique glass chandelier. The walls are painted beige. A braided wall hanging in a Native American design of red and black decorates one wall. To the right is a staircase, straight ahead appears to be a great room and on the left is a dining room with a rough hewn table that looks like it will seat at least twelve. He escorts me up the stairs and shows me to a room and then proceeds down to the end of the hall where he retires for the night.
I am exhausted and literally fall into the luxuriously soft bed sleeping in just my underwear. After the first restful sleep I have managed in days, I awake to sunshine coming in through the curtains. I stretch the kinks out of my muscles and look slowly around the spacious room. The pale yellow walls are complemented by the down comforter in a deeper shade of yellow covering the bed. The furniture is a light oak and appears to be antique and very well cared for. In addition to the double bed I see a double dresser with a huge beveled mirror. An antique rocker sits in one corner with what appears to be an afghan in various shades of yellow thrown over the arm. The adjoining bath has cream marble walls with pale yellow towels and accessories.
I climb out of bed and pull back the white eyelet curtains and peer outside. The beauty of the lush green meadows with grass nearly knee high and horses grazing peacefully as well as the snow topped mountains in the distance envelops me and I am overcome with a feeling deep in my soul that I have finally come home. I vigorously shake my head because that is a ridiculous notion. This is Jacob Murray's home, not mine. I am only a guest here for a little while and I better make sure I never forget that fact.
I quickly shower in the luxurious bathroom, pull my wet hair back in a ponytail, and dress in yesterday's wrinkled jumpsuit because that's all I have to wear. The clock on the bedside table indicates it is not yet seven o'clock. I quietly head down the stairs to explore my new surroundings. I walk into the great room where a massive stone fireplace is the focal point of the room. A long mantel above displays photos, primarily of Dani. The fireplace is surrounded by a grouping of comfortable looking dark brown leather sofas and chairs. A multi colored braided rug covers the wooden plank floor. In the corner is a giant screen TV where cartoons are playing.
I hear a squeal and am almost knocked off my feet when Dani launches herself into my arms screaming, "Jana!" I pull the child into a warm embrace and breathe in her little girl smell. I am filled to overflowing with a feeling of happiness deep in my soul.
Dani is so excited. Jana is here! Now her Daddy will get to know her and love her just like she does. She says, "Jana, I am so glad to see you!"
Jana replies, "I'm glad to see you too!"
Jacob rises from his chair at the table in the dining room and calls to her, "Come on in the dining room, Jana. Let me introduce you to the rest of the family." Holding Dani's hand, I enter the dining room. "Jana Bowen, this is my twin brother, Jason, and his wife Jenny. The old guy at the end of the table is Bob Kenner, our ranch foreman and surrogate father and grandfather. Bob has worked here for twenty years."
Laughing Bob rises from his chair shaking my hand and says, "Hey, I'm barely fifty and that is not old. It's nice to meet you, Jana. Welcome to the Rocking J."
"Thank you, it is nice to be here."
Jason rises from his place at the table and takes my hand in his. Even though Jason and Jacob look identical to each other, I notice the electrical spark that I s
hared with Jacob when we touched is missing with Jason. I smile and then shake hands with a very pretty, very pregnant Jenny.
Both welcome me with warm smiles. Jason says, "We're so glad to finally meet you. Dani has been singing your praises ever since her adventure in Casper. We all owe you our sincere thanks for seeing to her safety. Please make yourself at home while you are here."
"Thank you, I am just thankful I was able to help Dani."
After enjoying a huge breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and blueberry muffins, I help Jenny wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. I am impressed with Jenny's gentle nature and am looking forward to getting to know her better.
Once the kitchen is clean, I spend the morning getting reacquainted with Dani and listening to all that has happened since that day in Casper three weeks ago.
Dani says, "Jana, I am so glad you're here! I didn't think I would ever see you again and that made me very sad."
"Oh Sweetie, I'm glad I'm here too. I missed you!"
When Dani takes me to the barn to introduce me to her pony, Sheba, she asks, "Do you ride Jana?"
"Not really. I have always lived in the city but I love horses. I always wanted one when I was a little girl but I never got to have one. My daddy said we didn't have a place to keep a horse."
"That's okay. Daddy and I will teach you to ride." Dani tells her. "We all go riding together every week. Well, Aunt Jenny can't go with us right now, but she will once the baby comes."
Seeing Jana and Dani in the barn, Jacob calls, "Hey you two. Dani what are you telling Jana? She doesn't have to ride if she doesn't want to."
"She wants to Daddy. She always wanted a pony when she was a little girl like me but she never got to have one. I just told her you would teach her to ride so she can come with us when we go together." Dani says patiently.
Smiling indulgently Jacob says, "Oh, I see. Jana I'll be happy to teach you to ride. We have a very gentle mare that is perfect for people when they first start out."
I help Jenny prepare a light lunch and insist on helping her clean the house with me doing the heavy cleaning. Late that afternoon my SUV rolls into the yard. Jacob had made arrangements to have it delivered with all of my clothes and other belongings. After carrying all of my clothes up to my room and unpacking I ask Jenny,
"Do you mind if I do some laundry?"
Jenny laughs, "Of course not! Make yourself at home." Her friendliness warms my heart. I am going to like it here.
******
Thinking over Jana's case as he works with the horses, it occurs to Jacob that someone must have taken Jana's Glock out of her car at one of her stops after leaving the gun range in Bozeman. They must have seen her with the weapon at the gun range and then watched as she placed it in the console of her car.
"Jana, I want you to carefully go through the belongings in your car and see if anything else is missing. Someone must have taken your Glock so maybe they took something else we can trace."
After a thorough search, I report to him that some quarters are missing out of the ashtray where I kept them for the toll booths. My Glock and a blue tooth headset for my cell phone are missing from the console. My laptop is still in the car but it had been buried underneath my clothes and other items in the back.
Jacob notifies a private investigator, Tom Christensen that he uses on all of his cases. He gives him a thorough description of the blue tooth headset and asks him to track it down, if possible. He also asks him to trace Jana's route from the time she left the hotel in Casper and see if he can find anything unusual or questionable along the way.
******
The days pass quickly as I settle into my new life on the Rocking J helping Jenny around the house and spending time with Dani. True to her word, Dani and Jacob teach me how to ride and to care for the horses. They introduce me to Copper, a very gentle mare and I love the hours the three of us spend just wandering through the hills and meadows together.
I learn that Jenny is seven months along with her and Jason's first child, a little boy. They are very excited. It took a long time and several surgeries for Jenny to conceive and Jason worries constantly. Jenny is tired a lot of the time so I am happy I am able to take some of the load off her shoulders, especially doing the heavy housework.
I also help Jason with the ranch's books. My bookkeeping background allows me to pick up quickly on the accounting program they use and I am learning how they track the horses in their breeding program. It is obvious the ranch is a very prosperous endeavor. I learn that the ranch has been in their family for generations and was almost lost when cattle prices bottomed out a few years ago. That was when Jason quit his job as a stock broker in New York City to return to the ranch and start the horse breeding program. Now Jason and Jacob work side by side with Bob Kenner training the horses, often working till dark.
Jenny explains to me what the sheriff meant when he told me I am a very lucky young lady. She tells me about Jacob's reputation as one of the premier criminal defense attorneys in the country. She also explains that Jacob retired from practicing law four years ago when he returned to Wyoming to raise Dani. He only takes special cases now. I feel very lucky that Jacob has agreed to represent me.
In the evenings, Jacob and I retire to the study and discuss the upcoming trial. Jacob tells me about any new developments and asks any questions he needs answered. He is always upbeat but the dread I feel is always present and growing. I am very skeptical anyone will ever believe me.
Jacob and I find it very easy to talk to each other and we have talked about everything, our families, our pasts, our dreams. He told me about his marriage and the issues he had with Beverly. I told him about my marriage and why I finally divorced my husband.
To me it is almost like we have been friends forever. I can't remember ever having a friend that I have confided in so easily.
At the same time, Jacob always maintains distance. He is very careful to make sure he and Jana are never alone for very long and he never touches her even in the most casual ways.
As the weeks pass and he has gotten to know Jana better, Jacob's reluctance and concerns about her presence in Dani's life have begun to recede. She seems to love Dani and Jason and Jenny like her too. One would think that would make Jacob happy, but it doesn't. He has become more and more reticent, seeming to keep to himself, brooding. He is spending more and more time alone working outside with the horses or in the study.
One evening in late July, Dani runs into the study and climbs into his lap for a hug. She misses the time her Daddy use to spend with her and Jana and doesn't understand why he stopped. She looks over at his desk and freezes. Jacob asks, "What's wrong Pumpkin?"
Dani is staring at a picture of Frank Gibbons on the desk. She points and says, "That's him! That's the man that followed Cybil out of the truck stop!"
Carefully Jacob says, "Are you sure Dani? You saw that man follow Cybil out of the truck stop?"
"Yes! He was driving an old beat up blue truck. He followed her out of the parking lot." Dani insists.
Jacob asks "Do you know which way they went?"
Dani answers, "Sure, they turned left onto the road, then back to the right a little way down. That's how I know he was following her."
Jacob had filed a missing person's report right after Dani's adventure because he hadn't been able to locate Cybil. She isn't answering her phone and her bank accounts haven't been disturbed since a large withdrawal on the day she left Dani at the truck stop. She seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth. The fact that Dani is placing Frank Gibbons with her raises the hair on the back of Jacob's neck. He has a bad feeling something tragic may have happened to Cybil.
When Jacob contacts the Sheriff in Casper, he asks Jacob to bring Dani to the truck stop so she can show them exactly what she saw on that night so long ago.
Jacob, Dani, and I arrive at the truck stop around noon the next day. The Sheriff is waiting. Dani is very nervous when she sees the sheriff's uniform but with her Da
ddy's and my encouragement she is able to tell the Sheriff exactly what she saw the night Cybil left her at the truck stop. The Sheriff tells Jacob the road Dani indicated leads to an old rock quarry that is now filled with water. Picnic areas are scattered around the perimeter and many of the locals swim there in the summer. He will get divers to check it out.
After lunch in the truck stop restaurant, Jacob takes Dani and me to the same hotel along the interstate in Casper and gets us rooms. He then goes back to the quarry to see what develops while I carry Dani to the pool to swim.
The divers find Cybil's car just before dark that same day. Cybil's body is still inside and it is obvious she was strangled to death. But no money is found in the car. Someone must have stolen the $70,000 she had withdrawn from the bank the day she disappeared.
Jacob drives back to the hotel in a daze. Cybil left Dani alone in the truck stop that night. Thank God!! Whoever killed Cybil probably wouldn't have hesitated to kill Dani too, if Cybil hadn't left her at the truck stop. He had been so furious with Cybil for leaving Dani alone, now he is thankful she did. Maybe the old saying is true, everything happens for a reason.
After having a quiet dinner at a local steak house and putting Dani to bed, he knocks lightly on my door at the hotel.
"Hey," he says when I answer.
"Hey yourself."
"I thought you might want to know what we found at the quarry. Let's walk down to the pool." Jacob offers.
Once we are seated in the indoor pool enclosure, Jacob tells me about finding the car with Cybil's naked body inside. Then he tells me it was obvious she had been sexually assaulted because she had bruising between her legs. He also tells me they believe she was strangled to death because of bruising on her neck but they won't know for sure until they receive the autopsy results. He doesn't mention the missing money.