Finding Kimber (Canyon Junction; Hearts In Love Book 2)

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “I’m thinking something happened to my brother. Randy never called back.” He lifted Stormy then pulled his broken watch from his pocket again to check the time.

  They zipped the tent back up. Zach held the truck door open for her, releasing Stormy in the backseat. He got in and removed his hat. When they were a few miles from her ranch, he called the sheriff and explained his suspicions, saying he headed back to her ranch instead of Randy’s. The sheriff told him to wait for them. He called Roxanne, and she said what he hadn’t wanted to hear. She’d had no word from Randy. His temples throbbed with a headache. How would he tell her if something happened to Randy after doing him a favor? “Thanks, Rox.”

  “Zach? Answer me. Is everything okay?” Roxanne asked with a higher pitch to her voice, and he clenched his jaw.

  “Sure, Roxanne. Tell him to call me when he gets back.” He hung up with an exaggerated sigh.

  Kimber put her hand on his arm.

  He called his brother again, but didn’t get an answer, so he dialed Jake Lawton. “Hey, Jake, have you seen Tyler around there?”

  “Nah, not at all. I’m getting ready to take a load to Randy’s. There were no lights on in the loft last night. How’s the horse doing?”

  “She’s okay. When’s the last time you saw Tyler?”

  Jake’s truck door closed, and the engine turned over. “Yesterday he was going over to see about Honey and give you a break if you needed one.”

  Shit. “How was he getting there?” Zach became more irritated and concerned now about his brother, knowing he didn’t come home last night.

  “He was with some girl.”

  Figures. Zach slammed his elbow against the door. “Thanks.” He hung up then peered at Kimber. “Let me take you over to sit with Roxanne.”

  “Nope. You’re not getting rid of me. I’m the cause of all this, and I insist on being involved in whatever is going on. I’m going with you.”

  Zach huffed. “Well…” Sonofabitch. “This isn’t a game and can go bad real fast. Are you sure?”

  She stuck out her chin defiantly. “Positive.”

  He’d seen that look before. “You ready for this?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  ***

  Sunlight reflected on vehicles near the house. They pulled on down past her ranch road. “We’ll walk in out of sight and go around to the back of the barn.” Zach pulled off the road and grabbed his shotgun. “Stay here, Stormy.”

  “The truck will be too hot. We can’t leave her here. It’s nearly one hundred degrees.”

  He grumbled about bringing the dog but attached her leash because she was right. Dane Carlson pulled up facing the truck. “What the hell? We’re not having a damn party.”

  “Calm down. Another hand won’t hurt us.”

  “Hey.” Dane walked up to them. “I was headed home from the store, but Roxanne called. What she told me doesn’t sound too good. No offense, Kimber, but you should stay here.”

  “Nope.”

  “Don’t argue with her, Dane.” Zach handed her the leash. “I should tie you to the truck with the damn leash. Be careful.” He put his arm around her waist and drew her close. “Don’t let anything happen to yourself, woman, because I’ll never forgive you if you do.”

  “Ditto!”

  “Okay, what’s the plan here?” Dane asked impatiently.

  “Well,” explained Zach. “If my suspicions are right, my brother is being held here, and now possibly Randy.”

  “Ah, shit. Randy’s like a brother to me, man. Details. Who would do this?”

  Zach did a quick rundown of what had been going on. “I also called the sheriff. He’ll be here soon.”

  “Well, we aren’t waiting.”

  “My thoughts, exactly.” They slowly made their way to the back door of the barn. Everything was quiet. Zach made eye contact with Kimber and put his fingers to his lips. Shotgun at the ready, he raised his palm up for her to wait. Dane removed his revolver from his back to check the other side of the barn. He returned to where Zach waited.

  If they removed Stormy’s leash, she’d mosey inside. Maybe that was a good idea, and they’d hear voices before seeing who congregated. He indicated to Dane what he’d do. As he figured, Stormy ventured inside the opening in the back door. Zach nodded when his brother called Stormy. “Kimber, stay here to guard the door.” It surprised him that she agreed.

  Dane slid the door open, and the two of them stormed in to find Randy unconscious and he and Tyler tied up. No one else was around.

  “Tyler, who did this?” Zach knelt at his brother’s side to untie him.

  He held his head, and his hand had dried blood on it. “I don’t know them. Two men and a woman. They’re all a bunch of assholes.”

  Zach shook Randy, and he came around to consciousness. A sound near the door drew their attention. Dane moved closer to it. A sour-faced guy entered. Dane tackled him. They wrestled around on the floor until Dane secured him.

  “Damn, I’m sorry, Ty.” Zach gave Tyler a pistol, and Tyler moved to the door. Zach cut through Randy’s ropes. Randy shook his head, apparently getting his bearings. The side of his head oozed a bit of blood. “Be still, Randy.”

  Another guy came through the door with a rifle pointed. Tyler grabbed him from behind. The rifle flew from his hands. Tyler used the same roping they’d used on him, to tie the guy he took down. “You’ll rot in jail for this.” Tyler punched him out cold, stood, and looked around. “The woman’s still missing.”

  “She’s probably in the house.” Zach made his way to the rear door where he’d left Kimber, but she came in with her pistol pointed at Melinda. “Damn, cowgirl.”

  “Hey, this one thought she’d be cute and come in the back door.” She shoved Melinda forward. “Thanks, Melinda, you gave me good advice by telling me to always have my pistol with me. I should shoot you. You made my horse sick, you crazy fool. Why’d you do it?”

  “It wasn’t me. Kimber, you don’t understand...” Melinda stumbled going forward. Zach took a hold of her and tied her hands. “Lady, it looks like you messed with the wrong witness.” He looked back at Kimber and winked. Zach turned to push Melinda toward the other guys—

  Kimber screamed, “Zach…”

  A third guy held Kimber at gunpoint. He pointed to Melinda and the two men tied on the floor. “You got caught, you idiots.” Nodding toward the others, he told Zach to untie them.

  That didn’t go to plan. Stormy growled like he’d never heard. He damned himself for not checking outside again.

  Dane walked toward the third guy holding Kimber. “Put the gun down.”

  Zach pointed his shotgun. No way. They’d all be dead if he let them go. If this came to a shoot-out, the idiot holding Kimber was going down. “Nobody’s getting untied.”

  Kimber attempted to twist out of the man’s grip. “Those two guys on the floor were in the courtroom during the trial. I know Sam hired them, like he hired her.”

  While Dane held his pistol on the idiot holding Kimber, Zach removed a pistol from his back holster. He set his shotgun on the floor and slid it to the side with his foot. “You do know Sam is dead, right? Looks like you won’t be getting paid your full share. Let. Her. Go, asshole. You’re not freely walking out of here with her. It’s your choice how you leave.”

  “Zach?” Randy spoke loud to get his attention. “Take it easy.”

  “He paid us enough in the first round.” The redheaded guy holding Kimber placed the barrel of the pistol against her temple. “Put your weapons down and untie the others.”

  “I’m okay, Randy.” Zach’s heart pounded and his hands sweat. Her in danger at that bastard’s hands anguished his soul. His finger twitched on the trigger. “Again, release her.”

  “Kimber, calm down before somebody blows off your damn head. It’ll kill Jerry if something happens to you.” Melinda yelled from across the room. Tyler shoved her down and gagged her with his bandana.

  “You should’
ve thought of that, Melinda, before you shot him.” Kimber kicked back at the guy holding her. “Let me go.”

  Zach stepped in. “She’s trying to distract you, Kimber.”

  “Let me at her!” Kimber struggled. The guy wrapped his arm around her throat and held her in front of him, but she struggled against him.

  “Unless you guys want to pay me the balance, my job here is about done.”

  “You’re damn stupid if you believe you’re harming her. How much for you to walk away?” asked Zach. He glanced at Dane, a better sharpshooter than him, and he probably had a bead on the guy’s forehead. Shit. Somebody would die today. His body tensed, and his teeth hurt from clenching his jaw.

  “Two hundred thousand.” He backed toward the door with Kimber resisting the whole time.

  “For two hundred thousand dollars’ you’d finish the job? Splitting it four ways isn’t all that much.” Zach laughed at him. “Idiot.”

  “That’s the balance, asshole.” Red-hair tightened his hold on Kimber. “Tressa Garnett means nothing to me. Hell, forget the others.” He nodded toward the two guys and Melinda. “They won’t be getting in my way now. This is a better idea. I’ll have it all to myself. Pay up, cowboy.”

  “Tressa died, ass-hat,” Kimber screeched, wriggling to free herself. “You have the wrong person.”

  Zach and Dane moved in closer. Zach took a step ahead and a little to the side, speaking to distract him in language he’d understand. Money. “I’ll pay what you want.”

  “No, Zach.” Kimber tried to break free, but he only held her tighter.

  Zach wanted one punch to his sonofabitchin’ head.

  “Let’s talk money. Put the weapons down,” said the guy holding Kimber.

  The dumb-shit might have some brains after all. “Get the pistol away from her head and we’ll talk.” Zach moved one step over and the guy’s gaze followed. Kimber sank her teeth into his forearm. His grip lessened with his yell. Zach rushed over, snatching Kimber from his hold and dove to the ground, rolling atop her. Dane charged the man. The bastard screamed every curse word he knew to no avail at Dane’s hand.

  “You’re all as stupid as I thought you were.” Melinda yelled from the floor spitting the rag out of her mouth.

  Tyler pushed her over, straddled her, and adjusted the gag tighter. “Shut up or you’ll be the first woman I ever coldcocked.”

  “Melinda, I hate you. You’re going to prison.” Kimber bellowed trying to get up from beneath Zach. “You’re the biggest betraying bitch I’ve ever met. Zach, get off me.”

  Zach laughed to himself. Yep, she had spunk. The sheriff and his deputies burst in the back and front doors with their guns drawn. Stormy went after one of them.

  “No, Stormy.” The dog backed down, growling, but Zach whistled, and Stormy came to him.

  The sheriff and his deputies stopped to take in the situation. “Well, what’d you call us for? Looks like you got everything under control, boys. However, I told you to wait. There will be consequences. You can’t keep taking things into your own hands, Carlson.” The deputies handcuffed and hauled out Melinda and the three men.

  Zach peered over his shoulder. “Yeah, but we handled it without a shot fired. It isn’t Dane’s fault, Sheriff.”

  “Y’all are damn lucky, too. I need your weapons.” He shook his head and pointed to a straw bale. “Stack them up over here. What the hell am I going to do with the bunch of ya. Y’all think it’s the Wild West?”

  Dane took Zach’s shotgun and his pistols over and laid them down. Zach shoved his and Kimber’s over toward the sheriff. Tyler did the same. Randy raised his hands to show he had nothing.

  The sheriff lifted his chin toward Zach. “Why do you have Miss Sinclair on the ground, Zach?”

  He peered down at Kimber beneath him. “I believe it’s over. Now will you marry me?”

  Kimber dropped her head back to the floor, raised her palm to her forehead, peering into his eyes. “What the hell did you say, Bryson?”

  “Marry me? I won’t let you up until you say yes.”

  “Zach. Now you ask? Look around. Do you realize what happened here?” She circled her arms around his waist.

  Randy came over to stand beside them. “Damn, Zach. You had to do one-up on me, huh?”

  Zach kept his eyes on her attractive face. “I’m still waiting.”

  She pushed at his shoulders, glaring at him with fire in her eyes. “Zachary Bryson. Let me up off this floor right now.”

  “Oops.” Zach popped up and took her hand to assist her. She dusted off her clothes and bare legs, straightened her blouse, then shoved him in the chest. She grasped his hand and led him to stand near the back door. “You’re one of a kind. Can I catch my breath before I answer?” She peered back at the situation. “I don’t believe it.”

  Tyler raised his voice while rubbing his rope-burned wrists, “Come on, Kimber. Be my sister-in-law. He needs a good woman like you.”

  “Well, since you put it that way, Tyler.” She glanced at Zach and squeezed his hands. “Zachary Bryson, I’d be honored to be your brother’s sister-in-law and your wife.”

  He grinned in the midst of this ruckus. “I don’t have a ring yet. You’ll get one of the biggest diamonds I can find.” He embraced her, whispering into her ear, “It’s over, hon. You have your life back.” He put his arm around her waist, and they both held their arms out to Tyler. “Get over here, punk. You okay? What the hell happened? Where’d the third guy come from?”

  Tyler joined them. “I never saw him before.”

  “Let’s save the questioning for me. First, congratulations are in order, I see. Now, what the hell happened here?” Sheriff Thompson turned to Tyler, and Randy who still had blood seeping from a head wound.

  Tyler rubbed the back of his head. “Yesterday I grabbed a ride over to see if these two needed a break with Honey.”

  Zach put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah, other than a headache, and I could use some water.”

  Zach went to the storage room to get a bottle of water and brought it back to Tyler.

  “Thanks, bro. Yesterday I came into the barn and that woman, whoever the hell she is, came in to be nosy, I reckon, trying to get all friendly and everything. She said she was a close friend of Kimber’s, asking if I knew where Kimber and the horses were. She told me to get the hell out of here as fast as I could. I didn’t ask questions.”

  “Hold up, Tyler.” Leon went to the door. “Don’t any of you move or do anything. I’ll be right in. I mean it.”

  Kimber sat in a lounge chair. “She’s no friend of mine. Once I thought she was. I don’t know if she’ll tell anyone else about me. I’ll never be free.” She wiped a tear from her eye.

  Zach nodded. “We’ll deal with that later.”

  “I didn’t tell anyone else.”

  Everyone looked to the door. Melinda stood there as the sheriff removed her handcuffs. Zach widened his eyes. “What the hell is—”

  “Wait.” Sheriff Thompson held his hand up. “She was doing her job, and put her life on the line, Kimber. Zach.”

  Kimber’s mouth fell open. “Melinda? What does he mean?”

  Melinda clamped her hands against her midriff. “We promised to protect you. Kimber, I didn’t betray you or Jerry. I never knew who was lurking, so I had to turn you and Jerry against me.”

  Zach put his arm around Kimber before she fell over from the shock. Hell, he might too.

  Kimber peered at Zach with questions and tears in her eyes then back to Melinda. “But my horse? Jerry? Who shot Jerry?”

  Melinda took a step forward. Zach held Kimber tighter in case she decided to rip Melinda’s hair out, or worse. He grinded his teeth, waiting to see how this played out.

  Melinda came slowly toward them. “Whatever happened with your horse was truly coincidence, but good timing. Fortunately, and unbeknownst to you, Zach, by being there, you helped in ways you don’t know.�
�

  “But…” Kimber hesitated.

  “Once it was discovered Greg Stone was the leak and had given those thugs Jerry’s address, I had to get on the inside. Jerry had inadvertently led them to you with the tracker on his phone.”

  “Kimber had a tracker on her phone,” Zach added dryly. “Jerry put it there?”

  Melinda remained quiet, but gave a short nod. “Greg suspected Jerry had done that.”

  “Greg betrayed me.” Kimber strode toward the center of the barn, but she changed position in mid-stride. “I still don’t know who shot Jerry.”

  “The authorities suspect that the same guy who fired in your bedroom shot Jerry. They won’t tell me anything more. Your sheriff is exchanging his information with them. I’ve been working undercover to keep you safe, like I have from the beginning. And don’t worry. No one else knows anything about Zach. Seeing that you two had a thing going on, we had to keep him safe, too.”

  “My God, it’s more than a thing going on. I’m in love with him.” Kimber inhaled a big breath. She went back to Zach and slipped her arm around his waist.

  It killed him to see her in such agony. He wrapped her up in his arms. Damn, but these people did a job on her. “It’s okay, darlin’. We’re going to be all right.”

  She grabbed her hair in clumps. “Oh, no… My parents. They will be with Jerry and Greg.”

  “Wait. No Kimber. Greg isn’t here. He was arrested in his office. Your parents are fine. Once we discovered that Greg wanted your family at the hospital by telling him about Jerry, we got them to safety before they boarded the plane.”

  “What next? Greg said my dad was at the hospital. What a damn liar. Neither of them were even there. Jerry will go to jail for what he’s done for me. Oh, God no.” She clasped her hands together and pressed them against her mouth. She paced. “I never should’ve let him do this for me.”

  “What are you talking about, Kimber? All your godfather did was find this ranch for you to buy. You know, to fulfill your lifelong dream of owning a ranch.”

  Kimber and Melinda made eye contact, but neither said anything more. Melinda peered at everyone standing around. She grinned at Tyler. “Coldcock me, huh?”