Hidden Threat

by Connie Mann

  Blaze visibly shuddered, then narrowed her eyes. Eve expected her to ask if someone locked her in, but she didn’t. Instead, she said, “I’m glad you’re OK.”

  “Thanks. Me, too.” But after Blaze left, Eve pulled out her phone—which Cole had retrieved from the shed and brought to the hospital. With trembling fingers, she told Nick what had happened, just in case.

  The next morning, Eve headed straight for the hospital. She wanted to be sure Celia didn’t take Glory home before they got the water-test results.

  She stopped by Mama’s room first and learned she was being released later that day. Eve took a deep breath and felt a tension she hadn’t realized she carried simply melt away. Mama was going to be OK. She’d beat this monster. She had to.

  She made a quick call to let Sasha know, then headed down the hall to check in with Celia. But when she got to the corner just before Glory’s room, she stopped short when she heard IdaMae and Leon in a heated discussion with Celia inside. She paused, trying to decide whether to come back, or barge in.

  “Those people from DCF are making it sound like I did something to my baby. How can anyone think that?” Celia demanded. “But the worst part is that if they decide it’s true, they’ll try to take Glory from me.” Her breath hitched. “I can’t let that happen. Don’t you get that?”

  “Of course we do, child,” IdaMae soothed. “We just don’t want to go pointing fingers at good folks for no reason, causing trouble.”

  “We’re not asking you to pretend anything,” Leon added. “Just to keep it all quiet-like. I’ll look into it some more. I’ll find out what happened. But we don’t need the likes of Eve Jackson on our property, poking her nose into our personal business.”

  That was her cue. Eve stalked into the room and gave Celia a quick hug and a wink. “Hello, IdaMae. Leon. How are things?”

  IdaMae planted her fists on her ample hips, but before she could say anything, Leon stepped into Eve’s personal space, glaring. She didn’t back up.

  “You need to stop meddling in other people’s business, Eve. Haven’t you learned your lesson on that yet?”

  “What’s really going on here?” Celia demanded, before Eve could ask the same question. “There is something more to this, and I expect you to tell me what that is.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about—” Leon started.

  IdaMae broke in before he could finish. “Mr. Blackwell’s been good to me. I don’t want to go putting my job in jeopardy over this.”

  “But if he’s innocent, why would he take offense if we ask questions?” Celia countered. “Wouldn’t he want to know the truth? Especially if he wants to buy the property?”

  A stunned silence followed, and Eve’s mind whirled at this bit of information.

  “Who told you Mr. Blackwell wanted the property?” IdaMae asked.

  Celia rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You thought it was a secret? In this town?”

  “Look, child, we just don’t want—” Ida Mae began, but Celia interrupted.

  “I need to get back to Glory. Thanks for stopping by.” She walked to the door and held it open.

  Leon jabbed a finger at Eve. “Stay out of our business.” Then he stalked out of the room.

  IdaMae hadn’t moved. She studied Eve intently, and Eve stared right back. She knew she was being tested, she just didn’t know for what, exactly.

  “We take care of our own, Eve. I’d advise you to do the same.” With that she hugged Celia, whispered something in her daughter’s ear, and left.

  Eve met Celia’s eyes and shrugged. “Guess they still haven’t warmed up to me, huh?”

  Celia fought a smile. “Guess not.” Then she sobered. “I heard what happened yesterday at Cole’s ranch. Are you OK?”

  “Right as rain. I bounce back quick.” Eve kept her tone light, trying to take the focus off herself. “How’s that sweet little one today?”

  Celia smiled. “Come see.”

  Eve followed her farther into the room and breathed out a relieved sigh when she saw the little girl, sleeping peacefully, her color back to normal. Glory slept on her back, arms flung out to the sides, and Eve stroked a finger down her arm as she swallowed the lump in her throat. This is why she fought so hard. Little people like this, who needed a champion. She still didn’t know what happened to Celia’s water, but right then and there, Eve renewed her vow to keep looking until she found out.

  “Glory is lucky to have a mama like you, Celia. Always tell her you love her.” She met Celia’s eyes. “We’re waiting on lab results for inside your house, so if they release Glory, let me know, of course, but make sure neither of you drink any water in the house until we’re sure it’s safe, OK?”

  Celia’s eyes widened, but she nodded. Eve hugged her, then headed back to her car. She had to get to Cole’s ranch. They needed the results of those tests.

  When Eve pulled up at the ranch, she took the EpiPen she’d just picked up at the pharmacy from her purse and tucked it into her back pocket, just in case. Then she slipped her feet out of her heeled sandals and into the boots Cole had given her. She still didn’t wear them around town, but she found she really liked them. They were comfortable, and just sliding them on made her feel more connected to the land. And, OK, to Cole. There, she’d admitted it. She didn’t know what to do with it, but there it was. Somehow, the man was getting under her skin in all sorts of unnerving ways, making her want things she’d stopped wishing for years ago.

  She noticed the vet’s truck as she got closer to the barn. She quickened her pace and walked down to the far end of the barn where Cole stood with Buzz, Hector, and the vet.

  When she walked up, Cole’s glance immediately went to her face, checking for swelling, no doubt, and then he sent her a slow grin she felt all the way to the soles of her cowboy boots. But his eyes were troubled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “You sure whoever called you didn’t have a wrong number, Mo?” Buzz asked.

  “No, sir. He asked for me by name, gave an address I wasn’t familiar with, but said it was urgent.” The veterinarian shook his head. “By the time I found the place, there was no one there. I called my office to see if maybe they’d brought the sick animal to my clinic, but they hadn’t. And the place was clearly empty. Almost looked abandoned.”

  “You didn’t go to the wrong place somehow, did you?” Cole asked. “No offense.”

  The vet was clearly troubled. “I don’t think so, though I suppose it’s possible. But if that were the case, I’m guessing whoever called me would have called back when I didn’t show.” He heaved out a sigh. “Again, I’m sorry, Cole.”

  “Not your fault. There are no guarantees you could have saved the calf regardless.”

  At this, Eve’s eyes flew to Cole, and she suddenly understood the frustration and anger vibrating in the air. Cole had lost another calf. “Was this one deformed, too?”

  “Yes. Just like the other three. But it was born with the cord around its neck and didn’t make it. We didn’t get to her in time,” Mo said.

  Cole held out his hand. “Thanks for getting here as quickly as you could. This isn’t your fault.”

  “You still haven’t found anything suspicious the cows could have gotten into? Like hemlock?”

  “Hector and I have been over every square inch of this place, and we can’t find any growing here.” Cole’s jaw clenched. “But Eve and I found some floating in the pond the other day.”

  The vet seemed to hesitate. He glanced down at the ground, then back up at Cole. “I hate to even say such a thing, but it’s no secret around town that the ranch is in some financial trouble and that you’ve been turning down offers to buy you out right and left. I’m sure you’ve considered that someone might have given it to your animals on purpose.”

  Eve watched Cole’s expression. Except for the anger in his eyes, he showed no outward reaction. The vet must have realized it, too. “You’ve already considered it.”

  “I
have. One of many things that keep me up nights.” He glanced at Eve, and she felt a flush creep over her face. “I ordered some wildlife cameras to install around the property, but they haven’t come in yet.”

  The vet glanced at all of them and grabbed his bag. “I’ll keep an ear to the ground and will let you know if I hear anything.”

  Cole nodded. “Thanks again for coming.”

  The vet tipped his hat to Eve. “Ma’am. Take care, y’all.”

  Buzz pulled off his Stetson and slapped it against his leg before he clapped it back on his head and went into the stall to check on the mother.

  Cole turned and started walking away, and Eve hurried to keep up. Once they were outside the barn, in the shadow of the building and away from prying eyes, Eve put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Are you OK?”

  Cole leaned back against the building, his expression bleak. “The look on that cow’s face when all her licking wouldn’t rouse her calf . . .” He didn’t finish the sentence, just shook his head and closed his eyes. Eve stepped closer, unsure what to do, how to offer comfort.

  Without warning, his hand reached out for hers, and she found herself pulled up against his hard chest, both arms around her, her head buried in the crook of his neck. He didn’t say anything, just held her. Eve didn’t know what to say, so she stayed quiet, offered what comfort she could just by holding tight.

  Several minutes went by before he slowly set her away from him. His eyes were less bleak, though still sad. He looked up. “I’m glad you came by.”

  The thought that this big, tough rancher had needed her formed another crack in the hard, protective shell Eve had always kept around her heart. If she wasn’t careful, he’d sneak past all her defenses, and then where would she be? She took a step back, physically and emotionally.

  “What brings you out this way?” he asked.

  “I just came from the hospital. Mama Rosa is being released today. Sasha said she wanted to go pick her up. Little Glory might get to go home, too. Any word yet from the lab?”

  “Not yet. But we can give them a call, get an update.” Cole studied her, then cocked his head. “What else is wrong? Why are you chewing on your bottom lip?”

  “What? I don’t do that.”

  “You chew your bottom lip when you’re worried or debating something.”

  “I was thinking about what you were talking about when I arrived.”

  “The vet got called out on what appears to be a wild-goose chase, and in the meantime, my cow had a calf with the cord wrapped around its neck that died before he could get here to help us save the calf.”

  “He said the calf was deformed, too?”

  “Yes. He’s thinking poison. I don’t disagree. Those poison hemlock leaves we found came from somewhere.”

  Eve caught herself chewing her lip again and forced herself to stop. “You do know that it could be someone here on the ranch, right?”

  “I’d like to argue that no one here would do that, but I have to face facts. These are people I’ve known my whole life. It would have to have been done months ago, during the early gestation period, for the deformed calves to be born now. That means it was done while Hank was still alive.” His jaw worked. “But those leaves we found in the pond mean it’s possible someone fed them to more of my cows in the last few days.”

  Eve studied his bleak expression. “It could be someone not connected to the ranch.”

  “I appreciate the optimism. It could, but it’s not likely.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  Just then, Hector’s pickup pulled up outside the bunkhouse, but he didn’t immediately exit the vehicle.

  “Hector!” Cole called his name, but the other man didn’t respond.

  They started walking toward the truck, and Eve had to jog to keep pace with Cole. Just as they reached the truck, the driver’s door opened and Hector all but fell out. He caught himself on the door as he stumbled, just barely righting himself.

  Cole ran the last few yards. “Are you OK?”

  Eve raced up behind Cole and gasped when she saw Hector’s face. He’d been beaten. Badly.

  Chapter 23

  Cole immediately hooked Hector’s arm over his shoulder and pointed them in the direction of the bunkhouse. Eve raced ahead to open the door Cole indicated.

  They exchanged worried glances as they helped Hector inside and into a recliner in his small apartment. Cole crouched down in front of him while Eve went to the small kitchen and retrieved a bag of frozen corn and handed it to him for his swollen eyes.

  “Who did this to you?”

  One of Hector’s eyes was swollen shut, the other almost as bad. Blood covered his face, and his clothes were muddy and torn. He gave one quick shake of his head. “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

  “Wore mask.”

  Cole studied him a long moment, then pulled out his cell phone. “Let me call Doc Hamilton, see if he still makes house calls.”

  “No. Let it go.” The words came out barely a whisper.

  “You could have broken ribs and a punctured lung.”

  “I will be fine. Please.”

  Cole narrowed his eyes. “Who are you protecting, Hector?”

  There was a long pause. “He said would get worse if I told anyone.” He winced, struggled to get the words out. “Don’t want anyone else hurt.”

  “We’ll protect you. You know that.”

  Hector closed his eyes. “Just leave me be.”

  By the look on his face, Cole was furious, but he nodded, then glanced at Eve. “See if you can find some ibuprofen or something.”

  While she went into the small bathroom, she heard Cole talking to Hector, but she couldn’t make out what they said. Why would someone beat him up? He didn’t seem the type to start trouble. In fact, he struck Eve as the kind of man who lived in the background, who never tried to draw attention to himself. The only thing that made sense was that it had something to do with the ranch. Of course, it could be over something as absurd as his Mexican heritage. Sadly, more ridiculous things had happened in Safe Harbor over the years.

  She opened the medicine cabinet and reached for the ibuprofen bottle, truly intending to look only at that one. But really, she was an investigator. Who could resist taking a peek at the other things in there, especially the prescription bottles? She found several with drug names that she wasn’t familiar with, so she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture before she talked herself out of it.

  She didn’t know why she’d need that information, except maybe so Cole would know what Hector was dealing with. She ignored the little voice in her head that said none of this was any of her or Cole’s business. She was trying to help. Period.

  She tucked her phone back in her pocket and returned to the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, and approached Hector, who was leaning back in the recliner with his eyes closed, taking shallow breaths.

  “Here’s something for the pain,” Eve said quietly. When he opened one eye, she handed him the pills and water. “Are you sure we can’t take you to the emergency room? Or at least to see a doctor?”

  “Thank you. No.” He swallowed the pills she held out, drank a bit of the water, and then slowly eased back into the chair and closed his eyes. “Please. Leave me alone. I will be fine.” He opened his one eye again. “I’ll be back to work tomorrow, boss. Sorry about today.”

  Cole scowled. “If I see you out of this room in the next three days, I’ll beat you up myself. You rest, and I’ll stop by later to check on you. I’ll make sure you get some food, too.”

  “No, please. It will be—”

  “If you don’t stop, I’ll send my mother out here, and you and I both know she’ll either haul your butt to the hospital or set up camp in here to keep an eye on you. Your choice.”

  Eve hid a smile at Hector’s grimace. Alice Sutton might look like a gracious southern lady, but like most of her breed, she had a will of iron behind her pleasant dra
wl.

  Cole nodded. “That’s what I thought. Do you have your cell phone?”

  Hector whispered, “Truck,” and Eve went out to get it. She brought it back in and set it on the end table next to the recliner.

  “Call me if you need anything or if you start feeling worse.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Hector muttered, chin jutted at a stubborn angle.

  “You’re family, Hector. Don’t act like some stranger off the street. You need me, you call me. Got it?”

  He nodded, eyes still closed, and Cole motioned Eve out the door ahead of him. Once outside, they walked far enough away to make sure they weren’t overheard.

  “Any ideas on who did this?” Eve asked.

  Cole raised a brow. “Ideas, sure. Proof? Not a thing.” He paced, looking like he wanted to punch something. Or someone. “This is insane. It’s like the entire world has gone nuts. And for what? I don’t get it.”

  “You know people want the ranch.”

  Cole looked at her like she was dumber than a rock. “I know, but it’s a piece of land, and it doesn’t sit on oil or a diamond mine or anything else that would explain this kind of craziness.” He paced some more, shaking his head. “Somebody has an agenda that goes deeper than just this chunk of land—important though it is to me—and I can’t for the life of me figure out what it is. But I will.”

  Eve’s phone buzzed before she could respond. “Hey, Sasha, were you able to bring Mama home?”

  “We did. Just got her settled. Where are you? Mama kept asking for you, so I told her you had some errands to run and would check in with her later. Seeing those stings on your face this morning upset her more than she let on, I think.”

  “Sorry about that. I debated on stopping by or not, but figured if I didn’t, what she imagined from hearing people talk would be worse than the reality.”

  “You did the right thing. So where are you?”

  “I’m out at Sutton Ranch.” She started to tell her about Hector, but then changed her mind. Sasha had enough to worry about with Mama right now.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Sasha teased; then she sobered. “Look, Eve, I just got the creepiest phone call here at the house. The caller sounded like a man, wouldn’t give a name, but asked for you. When I said you weren’t here, he said to ask you how Mama liked the scarf.” She paused. “And then he said to ask you how important your mother is to you.”