Hidden Threat

by Connie Mann

  “You know how to fire a gun?”

  “Um, no. But—”

  “I don’t have time to argue with you. You want to help, then you stay here so nobody accidentally shoots you in the dark.”

  He slammed out the door before Eve could voice any other objections. Part of her knew he was right, but she didn’t like being told she would be a hindrance instead of a help. And she liked the idea of Cole facing armed men in the dark even less. There had to be a way to help.

  Eve stopped pacing and met Alice’s eyes. She saw the worry in the older woman’s expression, and her focus changed, just for a moment. “Would you like me to make some coffee? I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep anymore tonight.”

  Alice nodded. “Sure, thanks.” But her eyes kept going back to the windows and the commotion outside.

  Sweet Jesus, were those gunshots? Eve hurried to the kitchen and peered out the window over the sink, but couldn’t see a thing from this angle, especially with the lights on inside. What was going on? Was Cole OK?

  She tapped her fingers on the edge of the sink while the coffee brewed, then poured it into mugs and handed one to Alice, who sat at the table, shotgun propped beside her. Eve sipped her coffee, but she couldn’t sit still, not while Cole could be in who knew what kind of trouble out there.

  “He’ll be fine,” Alice finally said.

  Eve nodded. “I’m sure he will be. He’s tough.” She wondered whom they were trying to convince.

  Alice studied her over the rim of her mug. “I’m glad you’re here, Eve. You’re good for Cole. He needs a woman like you in his life.”

  Whoa. Not only did the words make everything inside her freak out a bit, but there was no way she would talk about her jumbled feelings for Cole while there were gunshots outside. “Um, while I greatly admire your son, I’m not staying in Safe Harbor. My life and my work are in DC.”

  “Seems to me we have enough environmental issues right here to keep you plenty busy.”

  Eve didn’t know what to say, how to respond, so she simply smiled and sipped her coffee. Outside, she heard several trucks drive by and then the sound of more gunfire. She hopped up and reached for the phone on the kitchen wall. “We need to call the police.”

  Alice shook her head. “No. We’d better let Cole decide that. He doesn’t trust the chief.”

  Eve didn’t, either, but this was Cole. She picked up the receiver as Alice said, “Let Cole handle this.”

  Eve set the receiver back in its cradle. “What if he can’t call, because he’s too busy trying to stay alive?” Her voice rose at the end, and she saw Alice flinch.

  “It will be OK, Eve. Cole will be OK. We have to trust him. And God.”

  Nothing in Eve’s nature made her willing to sit idly by and let others handle things, not if she could help. And therein lay her dilemma. How could she help? Cole was right that she didn’t know guns. She shuddered. They scared her, though she saw their value. Like right now, when someone showed up on your property with evil in mind. She believed God looked out for people; but she believed people were expected to do their part, too.

  She looked over at Alice, whose expression hadn’t changed, though the fine tremor in her hands made Eve believe she wasn’t quite as calm as she pretended to be.

  “I think I’ll go back to bed,” Alice said, and rinsed her mug in the sink. “You should do the same.”

  Eve watched the other woman pick up the shotgun and head down the hall. She didn’t believe for one second that Alice actually planned to sleep, not with Cole in danger, but she didn’t press for an explanation. She waited until she heard her bedroom door click shut before she rushed back to her own room and grabbed her cell phone. Alice didn’t want her calling the police? Fine, she’d call her brother, Nick, instead.

  “Eve? What’s wrong?” He sounded wide awake.

  “Nick? I need your help. I’m here at Sutton Ranch, and Cole just ran outside saying something about rustlers.”

  Nick muttered something Eve couldn’t hear, then said, “Sit tight; I’m on my way.”

  He hung up before Eve could ask him not to call Chief Monroe. She tossed the phone on the bed while she threw on jeans and a dark-colored top and grabbed her cowboy boots. She tucked her cell phone in her back pocked and eased the bedroom door open. No light showed under Alice’s door, so she hoped that meant the other woman had gone back to bed.

  She tiptoed down the hall, boots in hand, and slipped out onto the porch before she slid her feet into the boots. Eve stood for a moment and waited for her eyes to adjust. What to do? How to help?

  Outside, it was darker than dark, with very little moonlight. There were the occasional pools of light from the security lights in front of the barn and larger outbuildings, but that didn’t help much, as nobody was standing under them for her to get a read on the situation.

  She heard the sound of vehicles in the distance and spun around, trying to figure out where they were and what they were. Wait. Those were ATVs. She finally spotted them and realized there were two of them, and even with the headlights off, she could finally see that whoever was driving them was using them to herd the cattle toward the opposite end of the pasture. There had to be a truck waiting there to load them into.

  She heard another gunshot and focused back in on the buildings closer to her. Where was Cole?

  She wouldn’t figure it out sitting safely on the porch, that was for sure. What if he needed her help? Eve hopped off the porch and hurried over to Cole’s truck, frustrated to find he hadn’t left the keys inside.

  She headed off to the bunkhouse, staying low, hoping Hector had left the keys in his truck. Sure enough, there they were. Eve hopped in and closed the door as quietly as possible, then started the engine, which sounded much too loud. But hopefully, hidden behind the bunkhouse on the opposite side of the lowing cattle, no one would hear her.

  She eased the truck in the direction of the cattle, no lights on, trying to spot Cole or one of the other ranch hands in the dark.

  She hadn’t gone more than fifty yards when a shot rang out, and the truck’s back windshield shattered. Eve swallowed a scream and gripped the wheel tighter. Dear Jesus, someone was shooting at her.

  Well, what did she expect, coming out here in the middle of a gunfight? For a moment, she wondered if she’d made a terrible mistake, then dismissed the idea. No. She hunched over the steering wheel and kept going, determined to be there if Cole needed her. Come on, come on, where was he?

  Off in the distance she heard the distinct rumble of a diesel truck engine firing up. That must be what the rustlers were using to move the cattle. But seriously? Did they not think anyone would hear them? Although, given how far away they were from the ranch, the idea made sense.

  Eve kept going, slowly—scanning, always scanning the shadows as she went. Where had everyone gone? It seemed like when she’d first climbed into the truck, there was activity everywhere. Now, she felt like the only person on the planet.

  Where are you, Cole?

  She squinted through the front windshield at a flash of movement. Another ATV was racing through the pasture, also without lights.

  A dog barked, and Eve’s worry climbed higher. “Don’t be a hero, puppy,” she whispered, hoping it wasn’t Coco, Cole’s sheepdog. Not long ago, Bella, Sasha’s yellow Lab, had almost gotten herself killed protecting Sasha. She didn’t want the same thing happening to Coco, but she knew the pooch would protect Cole.

  And probably lead the way right to him. Good doggy.

  Eve turned the truck in what she hoped was the direction of the barking dog and the big truck. She hit a pothole and almost smacked her head on the ceiling of the cab as the truck bounced along.

  Her fingers ached from gripping the wheel, but she forged ahead, the sense that she had to get to Cole, and get there fast, making her drive faster than she ever would have in the dark, without lights.

  With the windows rolled down so she could better hear what was happening, Eve lea
ned her head partway out the window. She still wasn’t sure she was heading in the right direction. Where were they? Come on.

  Another shot rang out, and Eve felt the breeze as it whizzed by her head. She jerked her head back into the cab, breath wheezing in her chest as she realized how close that bullet had come to hitting her.

  “Stop!” Cole’s voice came from somewhere nearby, so close she stomped on the brake, rocking the truck.

  He pulled open the passenger door and heaved Coco up onto the bench seat, then climbed in behind him. “Turn around right here and go back to the house.”

  Eve felt the fury rolling off him in waves, heard it in the clipped tones.

  “I specifically told you to stay in the house, so what in the blue blazes are you doing out here?”

  “I was trying to help.”

  “Me watching people take shots at you is not helping.”

  As if to prove his point, another shot hit the bed of the truck and made it shudder. Eve tightened her grip as she stomped the accelerator.

  “I said to head for the house, Eve.”

  “If we do that, by the time you finish lecturing me, they’ll be long gone with your cattle.”

  Before he could respond, another shot rang out, then another, and Eve knew one of the tires had been hit. The wheel jerked out of her hands as she fought for control, and suddenly they slammed into a fence post. The truck didn’t have air bags, and when Eve slammed into the steering wheel, she wished she’d taken time to put on her seat belt. Cole had grabbed Coco and tried to protect him from the impact, but both man and dog yelped.

  The truck came to a rocking stop. Eve shook her head to clear it, then immediately slammed the truck into reverse, but it didn’t go. The tires simply spun.

  Cole checked Coco and set him back on the seat, then let out a sigh. “Stop. Eve. Let it go.”

  “But they’ll get away.”

  He huffed out a breath. “They’ve already gotten away.”

  Coco sensed the tension and whined, then came over and licked Eve’s face. She rubbed him behind the ear and then buried her face in his fur.

  Silence settled over the truck, and remorse crashed over her in waves. She’d tried to help, she really had. And it had made things worse, not better. A tear sneaked down her cheek, and she turned her face away to swipe at it without Cole seeing. “I’m sorry. I was trying to help.”

  He opened his door and Coco jumped out. Before Eve realized what he was doing, he yanked open her door and pulled her out of the truck and into his arms in one smooth motion.

  “You could have been killed, you reckless woman.” And then his mouth was on hers, and she tasted frustration and relief and several other emotions she couldn’t name on his tongue. He wrapped his arms tighter until Eve couldn’t have said where he started and she began. His heart thundered in his chest, and hers pounded in rhythm as she realized he was alive. Relief flowed through her veins. They were both alive. Thank you, God.

  The kiss started out hard and desperate, but slowly, slowly it gentled into something else, something Eve wasn’t expecting. Cole cradled her head with his big, strong hands and feathered kisses along her jaw and her neck.

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Eve,” he growled.

  Eve smiled. “Right back at you, cowboy,” she murmured.

  His head snapped back. Wrong thing to say. “I know how to protect myself, and I know how to handle a gun. Can you say the same?”

  Eve opened her mouth, closed it. She had no argument because he was right, doggone the stubborn man.

  He didn’t give her time to formulate an argument, simply tugged her close for another drugging kiss. This kiss carried apology and need and a protectiveness she had never experienced before. She was always the champion, the defender, the protector. She wasn’t quite sure how to be on the receiving end of all that. She didn’t know how to let someone look out for her.

  But as she wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into the kiss, she realized she liked it. Liked it a lot. She could get used to someone else carrying at least part of the load. Protecting her.

  She froze. No she couldn’t. She would be leaving in a little while. She couldn’t get too comfortable here.

  Cole felt her stiffen and slowly eased back. Eve figured the dazed expression on his face probably mirrored her own.

  “We should, ah—”

  A police siren broke the silence. He speared her with his eyes. “You called Monroe?”

  “No. I called my brother. That should be Nick. Though I didn’t expect lights and sirens.”

  Cole held out his hand, and together they walked back to the ranch house and met Nick. He eyed their joined hands, then asked what was going on.

  After a succinct rundown from Cole, he asked, “Neither one of you got a good look at that big rig? No license plate?”

  “No, sorry,” Eve said.

  “I’ll call you later, Cole,” Nick tossed out as he hopped back into his SUV and raced off in the direction the trailer had gone.

  Cole’s mother came out of the shadows of the porch as soon as he left, still cradling her shotgun. “He’s not going to be able to catch them, is he?”

  Eve heard the defeat in her voice and shook her head, exhausted suddenly.

  Cole sounded equally tired. “Doesn’t look good, Ma, but he’ll try. The boys and I will take inventory at first light, see how many they got away with.”

  “Nick’s a good boy.” She nodded toward Eve. “I’m glad you all found each other again.” Then she looked them over. “Are you both OK?”

  “We’re fine.” Cole leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Go on back to bed. I need to check in with Buzz, make sure Hector is OK.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Eve said, and fell into step behind him before he could voice a protest.

  He didn’t so much as glance her way, just stalked off toward the bunkhouse, all his focus on his men. She couldn’t blame him. Hector hadn’t been in good shape to begin with.

  Cole picked up the pace when they got close to the bunkhouse and found the door halfway open. “Hector!” Cole burst through the door, Eve right behind him.

  They found him facedown on the floor, and Eve’s heart jumped into her throat. Cole crouched down beside him and checked for a pulse. “Hector, can you hear me?”

  Hector groaned and tried to roll over. Cole helped him and put an arm around his shoulders as he struggled to a sitting position.

  “Sorry, boss. I tried to get out there and stop them, but it didn’t do any good.”

  “You should have stayed here.”

  Hector shot him an incredulous look. “And done nothing while they stole our cattle?”

  Cole nodded. “I know. Thank you for trying. This is not your fault, man.”

  “Can we trace the brand? Find them when they try to sell them?”

  “That’s one of the things I’m sure Nick will be looking into.”

  Cole helped Hector to his feet and back into the recliner, where the other man sank down with a sigh. “Somebody is very determined to destroy the ranch, Cole. We have to stop them.”

  Eve understood Hector’s use of the word we. For her, the ranch had become hers to protect, as well. She couldn’t imagine what Hector was feeling after so many years here.

  “And we will. But not tonight. Get some rest. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”

  Cole eased the door shut behind Hector, and they walked out to the paddock and leaned on the fence. Cole looked around and shook his head.

  They both turned at the sound of hoofbeats and saw Buzz riding toward them on Morgan. He slid off the horse and stomped over to them. “The dirty, rotten thieves got most of the herd.”

  “Any idea who it was?”

  “No. This was well organized, Cole. They knew exactly where they were herding the cattle and had the trailer ready, and the minute they got them inside, they took off, riding those ATVs and disappearing into the woods. And they made sure the loading
area was far enough away that we couldn’t get there in time to stop them.”

  Cole clapped him on the back. “I appreciate you trying to stop them. Nick will do what he can to track them down, but I’m not holding out much hope.”

  Eve looked from one to the other, heard the dejection. “There has to be a way. A tractor-trailer like that doesn’t just vanish with no one noticing.”

  Nick pulled up in his SUV. At Cole’s unspoken questions, he shook his head. “That tractor is long gone, but I’ve already called our dispatcher to have someone stationed by the main roads. We’ll get the word out locally and to sheriffs’ departments around the state, plus FDLE, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They’ll all keep an eye out, too, but if the thieves are as organized as they sound, they’ve already changed out the license plate on the trailer, changed the numbers and markings on it, and will do everything they can to hide it in plain sight. I’ll get a cast of the tire tracks in the morning, too, but I don’t know how much good it will do.” He grimaced. “Sorry.”

  Eve couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So that’s it? We all shrug and move on?”

  Cole planted his hands on his hips at her tone. “For tonight, yes. But if you know something we don’t, I’m all ears.”

  She wanted to snap that she didn’t like his tone, but he was right. She didn’t have a better idea. She didn’t have any idea. They were all frustrated and angry and exhausted, and all any of them really knew what that someone wanted to destroy the ranch who was willing to go to great lengths to do it.

  The thing she couldn’t figure out—and she knew all of them were thinking it, too—was who would do this?

  She eyed Buzz. Could he have helped them, then showed up to offer support to Cole? He had the know-how. But why? He seemed to love the ranch, even if he didn’t have much use for Cole’s newfangled ways, as he called them.

  Eve shook her head. “I’m just frustrated.”

  Cole shook his head and sighed. “We all are.” He turned to Nick. “Thanks for coming out here, Nick.”

  “I’ll keep looking, follow up with any contacts I can find. This is not over, not by a long shot. I’m just getting started.”