Promise of Hunters Ridge

by Sarah Barrie

  ‘Morning, Mia. Oh, hi, Indy.’ Ally came in and started unstacking buckets.

  ‘Morning.’

  ‘Morning,’ Indy said. ‘I’m getting a lesson on horse feeds.’

  ‘It’s pretty straightforward.’

  ‘Yeah, see, I don’t think so. Isn’t there something else I can do to help?’

  Ally looked from Mia to Indy and back to Mia. Then she picked up a biscuit of hay. ‘The pony in the blue rug is on hay only. I reckon you could handle that one.’

  ‘On my way.’ Indy took the hay and walked towards the bay pony in the canvas rug.

  ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘Indy took over from the other police yesterday. Then she kicked my butt and told me to get my act together.’

  Ally’s brow rose. ‘I’ll think I invite her to dinner.’

  ‘Yeah, Ally, look … I’m sorry I haven’t been myself. I just want this to be over.’

  ‘We all do.’ Ally gave her sister a fierce hug, then looked her in the eyes. ‘Talk to Ben.’

  Mia shook her head. ‘It’s such a mess.’

  Ally’s smile was sympathetic. ‘Why don’t you leave the feeds to me, go ride your horse?’

  ‘Moby won’t be happy. He loves his breakfast.’

  ‘Take him a handful of grain. I’ll leave the rest in his bin.’

  ‘Okay. I think I will.’ She walked down the laneway. ‘Just a quick ride, mate. I need to blow away the cobwebs.’

  She started out, sensibly, with a warm-up in the arena. Then, still feeling unsettled, she took him out into one of the large paddocks and let him fly. It was exhilarating. The pounding hooves, the blowing horse, the fresh morning air, a thin line of mist along the ground and the sun breaking through. The vivid colours in the sky. Beauty, speed, power, freedom. She wanted to go on forever.

  When she had to, she reined Moby in, soothed him as he jogged, as hyped from the run as she was. She could see Ally in the distance, hands on her hips, no doubt ready to label her crazy. That was okay. Ally could play big sister if she wanted to. But she’d been dying to try that out since she brought Moby home. Today had just seemed the morning for it.

  Indy was standing with Ally as she approached the arena. ‘He was great!’ Mia called.

  ‘Lucky for you!’ Ally called back. But she was smiling. No lecture after all.

  ‘I’ll cool him down a bit more then I’ll—’

  The gunshot cracked like thunder in the still morning air.

  Mia felt the world tilt as the horse reared up, impossibly high, then over, crashing to the ground, just narrowly missing her as they hit the grass.

  She lay there, stunned. Moby kicked around and swung back up. She ignored her own hurt and scrambled up to look at him.

  Ally was already beside him. ‘He’s fine. Not hit. Are you all right?’

  A figure in her peripheral vision made her turn. Rob. Just standing there, grinning. Then he darted into the trees.

  ‘Rob,’ she whispered.

  Indy stopped her progress through the fence and spun around. ‘Where?’

  ‘Over there!’

  Indy looked ready to run but Ally yelled at her. ‘You’re not armed, Indy, don’t be stupid!’

  ‘I can’t even see him.’

  Mia turned back to her horse, stroking his neck in relief. ‘He must have just wanted to scare him.’

  ‘Let’s find some cover,’ Indy suggested. ‘You don’t get mobile coverage down here, right?’

  ‘No, but I have a two-way radio. I can get hold of Cam.’

  ‘Get on it.’

  Cam was there almost instantly. ‘I wasn’t wild about bringing Chloe down, so let’s get back up to the house.’

  ‘That’s the plan,’ Ally said, almost finished unsaddling Moby.

  ‘You saw Rob?’ Cam asked Mia.

  ‘Yes—I don’t know. He was a long way away and it was just a split-second, out-of-the-corner-of-my-eye thing.’ She pressed her fingers to her eyes. ‘Maybe I just thought I did.’

  ‘What do you mean “thought” you did?’ Ally asked in disbelief.

  ‘Maybe it’s a genetic thing—we’re prone to it, right? We stress out, we see things—hallucinate.’

  ‘Yeah, but Mia—mine didn’t turn out to be hallucinations,’ Ally said. ‘And who else would be out here shooting?’

  ‘It’s Rob,’ Indy said. ‘He’s here. And he wants us to know it. We’ll go up to your place, Ally. Then I’m calling Ben.’

  ‘Here.’ Ally put a cup of tea in front of Mia.

  ‘I’m usually still on coffee at this time of the morning,’ Mia commented.

  ‘I know, but you don’t need any more hyping up. You’re nervy enough.’

  Mia’s gaze turned to Indy. She was talking quietly on the phone to Ben. He’d come, she knew, and she still wasn’t sure how to handle the situation between them.

  ‘And it has more to do with Ben than Rob, right?’ Ally said. ‘You can’t go on avoiding him forever.’

  ‘I know that.’

  But when Ben arrived the sound of his steps on the veranda had her stomach lurching. She swallowed nervously, preparing to face him again while Ally invited him inside.

  Their eyes met and her breath caught as a million emotions rocketed through her. For one bizarre moment it was only the two of them; there wasn’t room for anything else.

  ‘Were you hurt?’ he asked her.

  She shook her head.

  He found a seat. Turned all business. ‘What happened?’

  When Mia didn’t immediately speak, Indy took him through it.

  ‘I don’t think he actually shot at her. I doubt he would have missed if he’d been trying to hit Mia or the horse, so all I can think is that he was trying to frighten the horse into doing something stupid. Maybe having some fun.’

  ‘So what game is he playing now?’ Ally said.

  ‘Russ is out of the picture, the hunters are dead or in prison, he can’t get near Chloe and he lost his chance to set up again. He can’t just take off and start up somewhere new either—he’s too recognisable. I don’t know if he has a game. He could just be amusing himself,’ Ben said.

  ‘And even with no options left for setting up a new hunt, he wouldn’t shoot her. That’s not his style,’ Indy agreed.

  ‘I should probably go look around.’

  ‘I already have,’ Indy said. ‘How about you just run Mia and me back to the cottage?’

  ‘All right.’

  Mia climbed out of the car the moment Ben pulled up and left him and Indy to follow. It was unbearable, this discomfort in his presence, but she didn’t know what to do about it. Being around him wrenched at every heart string. She desperately wanted to believe what Indy had said, but the emotions associated with that moment when he’d read the charges at her were still so vivid. She was trembling with them.

  And if she acknowledged that he’d done it for her sake, that there was never any doubt in his mind of her innocence, if she allowed herself to open her heart to him once more, what then? If she did all those things and he turned her away, it would be too much.

  And then he came in with Indy and his overnight bag, and she panicked. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Rob’s too close. I’m staying here tonight. And we’ll get a car back out front.’

  ‘Like hell!’ He couldn’t stay here with her in this tiny house. She wasn’t ready for that.

  Frustration flashed across his face. ‘Would you prefer to die? Would that seriously be better?’

  ‘I can’t fit anyone else in this house. It’s not necessary. Indy’s here.’

  ‘Not tonight, I’m not,’ Indy said unapologetically. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ She walked out, got in her car and left—didn’t even take her stuff.

  ‘I’ll go and stay at Cam and Ally’s,’ Mia said desperately.

  Ben dropped his bag and regarded her with narrowed eyes. ‘Then if he does come back you’re putting Chloe in the firing line. You’d do that? To prot
ect yourself … from me?’

  Temper chased away the nerves. ‘That’s low.’

  ‘It’s the truth, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yeah, well don’t forget there’s been one very good way to protect Chloe all along. And me, for that matter.’

  His face hardened. ‘If you really believe that, here.’ He pulled his gun from its holster and slammed it on the coffee table. ‘Take care of it.’

  She stared at the gun in disbelief before closing her eyes. Take care of it? She couldn’t believe she’d even mentioned it. ‘Don’t be an idiot. I’m not a murderer. I thought you knew that. Even if I was, I couldn’t kill you. Besides, I wouldn’t trust Rob not to—’

  ‘Why not?’

  She dropped her hand and looked at him. ‘Why what?’

  ‘Why couldn’t you kill me—if you were a murderer?’

  ‘Because I—’ No, she couldn’t admit that. She wouldn’t. Not until she had it all straight in her head.

  He moved around the table and took her arms. ‘Say it.’

  She shook her head, then swung her face up to his, her eyes stormy, jaw set. ‘You charged me with murder.’

  He looked as hurt as she felt. ‘I didn’t know how else to fix it.’

  ‘Indy said it was to give you time to solve the case, that you worked harder than you ever have before. But would it have really played differently if I was anybody else? What would have happened if you hadn’t figured it out? Would you have stood up in court and helped them lock me up? Was it me you were fighting for, or was it your perfect record?’

  His fingers tightened on her arms and she shrugged out of them, stepped back from him.

  ‘Do you really need to ask that?’ He moved towards her and she took another step back. ‘I told you already. It’s always about you.’

  ‘Then why didn’t you say so?’

  ‘Every move I made was being scrutinised. You think I should have let Russ take over?’

  ‘Yes!’ Her voice cracked on the word as she lost her battle with the tears that had been lurking behind her eyes. ‘I think you should have let Russ take over.’

  ‘Mia,’ he said gently. ‘Russ was behind it all.’

  ‘What do you think it’s like to be charged with murder?’ she demanded. ‘How much worse do you think it was when you were the one charging me? You were supposed to believe me. I would have felt a hell of a lot better sitting in that room knowing you did believe me, knowing you were on side and out to prove me innocent! Being off the case wouldn’t have stopped you.’

  ‘I couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to you and I needed the resources I had access to in my position. I couldn’t get that message to you. I couldn’t take the chance. What do you think that was like? What do you think it’s like now to see you this upset, to have you backing away from me with that look on your face?’

  She couldn’t help it, she needed the space. When he got too close, when he touched her, she couldn’t think. The emotions were too strong. But some things were getting through. And Indy had told her the truth. She could see it, looking at him. Abruptly, she turned and stared out over the long stretch of paddock, leaning her hands on the window ledge to calm herself down.

  ‘I thought it was over,’ she said, hearing the strain in her own voice. ‘I didn’t have it in me to fight you again. I just knew I didn’t. Not with Rob too. I can’t fight everyone.’

  ‘Then will you please stop fighting me?’ He turned her around and took her face in his hands. ‘Mia, I love you. I’ve always loved you. If I stuffed it up, it was because I loved you too much.’ He brushed away her tears then pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her.

  She held on, listening to his heartbeat, its quiet rhythm. The strength of his arms made her feel steadier. He loved her. He’d said it when she couldn’t. Ashamed of herself, she pulled back to look at him.

  ‘You didn’t stuff it up. You fixed everything. I was so mad, then Indy told me what happened and I didn’t know what to do. I almost wished it wasn’t true, because if it was, my own behaviour was unforgivable.’

  ‘I think a better word would be understandable. You didn’t know what was going on.’

  ‘Ben, I’m sorry about Russ.’

  ‘Not your fault.’

  ‘You’d just gone through all that the day you came over. And I was so wrapped up in my own problems. So self-absorbed.’

  ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a lot of things. A lot of things, but you’re not self-absorbed.’

  She heard the smile in his voice and sniffed, wiping at her face. ‘Then what would you call it?’

  ‘Focused, determined, so damn gorgeous you make my eyes hurt and so damn stubborn you make me want to strangle you.’

  ‘I feel like maybe I deserve it.’

  ‘It’s a compliment.’

  ‘It is?’

  ‘Okay, how’s this?’ He thought for just a second. ‘You’re the strongest, bravest, most determined person I’ve ever met. You look after everyone around you, often at your own expense—offering to run that hunt to save Ebony was nothing short of damn heroic. I’m in awe of your ability to keep it together when it counts. I respect all that and more about you—more than you realise. You’re gorgeous, yes, but what I need right now is smart and strong, and I know we’re going to get through all of this, because you’re all of that. How’s that?’

  She stared. No one had ever given her so much, and it meant more than she had realised. ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘That you’re smart and strong?’

  She managed a small laugh. Then she kissed him, leant in and let go. He met the kiss and gave back. They ignited each other. There was nothing soft or gentle, just heat and flash, a burn that sizzled, flared, exploded. The touch of his hands against her sides had her body snapping into overdrive. He buried his face in her neck, murmured her name. And set her on fire.

  CHAPTER

  29

  ‘Well, you’re alive,’ Indy commented as he walked into their makeshift office. ‘Is the world a better place this morning?’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘So you’re all good?’

  ‘Yeah, we’re all good. Indy, thanks.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Helping when I told you not to.’

  ‘I just explained. Which is what you should have done.’

  ‘Mia said you sat her on her arse.’

  ‘Is that the bit you’re thanking me for?’ she asked, eyes sparkling. ‘What’s she doing today?’

  ‘Working. She wants to keep going with this book for the local historical society and Cassie desperately needs her to get photos of some place or other this morning.’

  Indy frowned. ‘Is that safe?’

  ‘She’s going to meet Cassie and both local park rangers out there. She’s promised she won’t be alone for a second.’

  ‘Right. Do you happen to know where?’ She took a map from her desk and put it in front of him.

  ‘Why? What’s wrong?’

  ‘A woman by the name of Cheryl Myers called to report that she was out riding her horse yesterday morning on one of her regular trails when some guy on a trail bike nearly ran her down. He had a rifle with him.’

  ‘We know he was there.’

  ‘Yes, but look. The trail she mentioned runs along the outskirts of Hunters Ridge. It starts here, and has a link to another that goes to the military grounds.’

  ‘Makes sense.’

  ‘But except for that link—’ she pointed to a map, ‘—there are no other places to get on or off it until you hit town.’

  ‘So unless he’s living in town—and someone would surely have spotted him coming and going on that bike—then he’s coming in from somewhere at this end.’ He pointed.

  ‘Right.’

  ‘And there’s not too many places out that way before you hit the highway.’

  ‘Not close to town, no, and—oh, hello.’

  She might have been addressing a cockroach the way he
r face closed up and her tone dripped acid. Ben looked up to see Stuart Perkins standing in the doorway.

  ‘I’m here to see Ben.’

  Damn it. ‘Fine, come in.’

  Stuart helped himself to a seat near Ben’s desk. ‘Could we have some privacy?’ he snapped at Indy.

  ‘Hey, this is my office too. Don’t mind me.’ Indy went back to her desk on the opposite side of the small room and started on some work.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Ben asked. ‘Aren’t you on another case?’

  ‘What I’m on is bullshit. Cleaning toilets would be more challenging.’

  ‘That might not be a bad career move for you.’ Indy’s voice drifted over from her desk.

  Stuart glared at the back of her head. ‘I came out here to talk to you, not to her.’

  ‘Then talk to me. Make it quick.’

  ‘I want another chance.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Oh, come on, Ben. You have to! You don’t know what it’s like! You think being the commissioner’s nephew makes things easier? It’s harder! It’s so fucking hard and there’s so much expectation.’

  ‘That you feel the need to what? Strut around the station like a fucking peacock on Viagra? You have no respect for your superiors, no aptitude for police work, no interest in anything requiring effort and your attitude towards women is disgusting. I wouldn’t be scowling too hard at Indy—you’re damn lucky she hasn’t flattened you.’

  ‘Nothing that easy would be satisfying,’ Indy said.

  ‘So that’s it then?’ Stuart asked in disbelief. ‘I’ve driven all the way out to this hellhole to apologise and you’re just going to throw insults at me?’

  ‘I haven’t started on the insults. We were still getting through the observations.’

  ‘For fuck’s sake, be reasonable!’

  ‘And as usual, everything is just one big effort for you, isn’t it? You put yourself out, you expect a reward. I don’t have time to train a damn puppy.’

  ‘I got it wrong—it was my first case. Give me a break.’

  ‘You came up with a theory based on a convenient idea. You stuck with it. You didn’t do any actual detective work. Not only that, you bragged about how clever you were, questioned my ability to do my job and attempted to have me stood down. Yes, you got it wrong. You got it very wrong.’