Matt

by R. C. Ryan

  At that, Vanessa’s eyes widened.

  They could all see the wheels turning in her mind.

  Her father leaned closer to the camera. “What do you say, Nessa? Are you willing to stay in Montana until the trial is over?”

  “I guess I have no choice. I can stay here and do what I love, or be stuck in a safe house somewhere, pacing the floor.”

  Elliott gave a long, deep sigh. “Thank you, my sweet Nessa.”

  “Will we be able to talk again?”

  The police captain shook his head. “The less contact your father has with you, the safer you are.”

  His next words were directed at the Malloy family. “I hope you understand that it’s my duty to have all of you thoroughly investigated. If there are any skeletons, this would be the time to reveal them before my investigators uncover them.”

  Matt spoke for all of them. “You’re welcome to do your job, Captain.”

  Elliott Kettering continued drinking in the image of his daughter on the phone’s FaceTime, as though memorizing every feature. “I can’t tell you what this means to me, Mr. Malloy.”

  “It’s Matt. And I’m happy to be of service, Mr. Kettering.”

  “It’s Elliott. I know I’m asking a great deal. This will be an intrusion on your family’s privacy. But all of you will have a worried father’s eternal gratitude.”

  The police captain’s face filled the screen. “Sheriff Graystoke, your number has been programmed into the cell phone for Miss Kettering. Vanessa, I can’t stress enough just how serious this threat is. If you sense any danger, or even something that doesn’t seem quite right, just turn on that phone and your location will be instantly relayed to your father and to our police headquarters. Even if you don’t have time to call, we’ll see this as a message from you. I’m going to disengage now. Say your good-byes quickly.”

  Elliott’s voice was deep with passion. “I love you, Nessa.”

  Vanessa gave a long, deep sigh before saying the thing she’d said to her father since she was a teen. “I love you more, Dad.”

  As the two lawmen quietly took their leave of the family, the image disappeared, and the line went dead.

  While Nessa sat with her chin in her hands, trying to digest all that she’d just heard, the Malloy family moved to the far side of the room, gathering around a fireplace surrounded by comfortable sofas and chairs, talking in low tones, giving her the privacy she deserved.

  Grace sat by the fire, allowing the men to carry on a muted conversation while she studied the young woman alone at the table. Vanessa Kettering was obviously distraught by the news she’d just received, and struggling to make sense of it. But to her credit, she hadn’t dissolved in tears or allowed herself to be overcome by fear. Instead she was sitting as still as a statue, her only movement a finger going around and around the rim of her empty cup. Probably mimicking a quick mind mulling every little nuance of the words so recently spoken.

  Grace turned to her father. “Do you remember that movie you directed with that British actress? The one who showed up late every morning, keeping an entire cast and crew waiting?”

  Nelson frowned. “Hillary Burnside. Nasty diva. Though nobody alive could equal her talent.”

  Grace smiled. “That’s the one. Do you recall the plot?”

  Nelson’s eyes lit with the memory. “Of course. She had to seek shelter from a foreign agent bent on…” He stopped and shot her a look. “Her character felt completely out of place in that small New England town. But once she realized the danger was imminent, she became as clever and devious as the man who was tracking her.”

  Frank laced his fingers with hers. “This isn’t a movie, Gracie Girl. This is real life.”

  “All too real,” she whispered. “But all the same, we need to circle the wagons around this young woman. She may be caught by complete surprise, and very much aware of the danger she’s been placed in, but I sense a smart woman who would rather die than show an ounce of fear.”

  She turned to Matt. “You spent some time with her in the cabin. What do you think?”

  “That you have a pretty good sense of her. At least the woman I met. When she realized she was trapped in the hills, she adjusted. And though I sensed a deep-seated fear of storms, and the one that rolled over our heads was worse than most, she never gave in to the fear.”

  Grace glanced around at her family. “We’ll need to remain alert.”

  Matt’s eyes narrowed slightly, the only sign of his inner turmoil. “This is my responsibility. I was the one to suggest she stay here instead of go to a safe house.”

  “And I was the one she initially came here to interview. Her safety is on all of us.” Grace sighed and stood. “And now, if you don’t mind, I really need a shower and a change of clothes.”

  She crossed the room and touched a hand to Vanessa’s shoulder. “Come with me and I’ll show you to our guest suite.”

  Vanessa pushed back her chair.

  Before they could walk away, Matt was beside them. “You go ahead, Gram Gracie. I’ll show Vanessa to her room.”

  His grandmother shot him a grateful smile before heading up the stairs.

  Matt retrieved Vanessa’s briefcase and computer from the mudroom before leading the way up the stairs and along a hallway, where he opened a door and stood back, allowing her to precede him.

  She looked around with interest.

  The room was filled with light from a pair of floor-to-ceiling windows. Along with a king-sized bed, there was a wall of shelves holding an assortment of leather-bound books. A flat-screen TV was positioned atop a desk. A pair of chairs and a round table stood in a little alcove, inviting reading or just a comfortable place to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

  Matt opened a door leading to a spa-sized bathroom, with a glass-enclosed shower, jet tub, and marble counter with double sinks.

  Vanessa managed a smile. “Am I sharing this with your entire family?”

  “Afraid not. This is just for you.”

  She shook her head in wonder. “I wasn’t expecting all this luxury.”

  “You mean way out here in the wilderness?” He affected a perfect drawl. “Well, you see, ma’am, the family’s outhouse is out of commission this week, so you’ll have to make do with this old thing.”

  She laughed and looked at him. “Thanks. I needed that.”

  His voice lowered. “I know you’ve just been handed a lot to deal with. But I hope you realize you’re not alone. Just let us know what you need, and we’ll see to it. My family and I are here for you.”

  She took in a breath. “I feel so guilty about bringing this to your doorstep.”

  “You didn’t do anything to feel guilty about. This wasn’t your choice. But now that we’re aware of the threat, we can take precautions.”

  When she didn’t say anything, he moved close enough to touch a hand to her cheek. Just a touch, but they both stepped back as though burned.

  He was the first to look away.

  As he headed toward the door he called over his shoulder, “Make yourself at home. And when you’re ready, you’ll find us either downstairs or out in one of the barns.”

  She looked down at her wrinkled suit. “I’m not dressed for a barn tour.”

  He turned back. “Yeah. What was I thinking? Meet me downstairs when you’re ready to drive to town for some suitable clothes.”

  “Is it safe for me to show my face in town?”

  He thought a moment. “I’ll run it by the family. I’m sure we can come up with a plausible reason for you to be here.”

  Chapter Eight

  Matt held the truck’s door. “Climb in, Cousin Van.”

  “Cousin Van?” Vanessa couldn’t help laughing. “Who came up with the name?”

  “My great-grandfather.” Matt rounded the cab and climbed into the driver’s side, fastening his seatbelt before starting along the curving ribbon of driveway that led to the interstate. “He was always good at revising scripts. As of now, you�
�re Burke’s niece, Van Cowley, on your first-ever visit to our ranch. I think Burke is enjoying this as much as the rest of us, since he’s never had a relative before. Real or fictional.” He held up a hand. “No. Don’t bother thanking me. You can thank the Great One for this.”

  “The Great One?”

  “That’s what we call our great-grandfather. He loves it, since he considers himself one of the greatest directors of all time. And, in fact, he was.”

  “Director of what?”

  “Movies. He was a pretty famous Hollywood director back in the fifties. Nelson LaRou.”

  “Nelson LaRou.” She looked over, eyes wide. “Oh my gosh. I’ve heard of him. But I never dreamed I was talking to a famous Hollywood director. Did he know all the movie stars?”

  Matt nodded. “Not only knew them, but directed most of them in their biggest movies. He was a pretty big deal.”

  “So your grandmother grew up in Hollywood?”

  “And in Connecticut, where they kept a second home. As you can imagine, old Nelson wasn’t too happy about his daughter marrying a rancher and moving to Montana.”

  “But he’s living here now. He must have had a change of heart.”

  “What he had was a change of health. And he realized that if he wanted to see his only child and his grandchildren, he’d have to swallow his pride and move to the middle of nowhere.”

  “Has he adjusted?”

  “I’d say so. Or we’ve adjusted to him and his demands. Yancy has learned to make a mean martini, just the way old Nelson likes it. And every once in a while Yancy surprises us with some exotic dish that Nelson once had at the Hollywood Grill, one of his favorite places.”

  “You have such a fascinating family. A famous director. A revered grandmother who photographs herds of wild mustangs in the wilderness. And your grandfather, Frank, who’s absolutely bedazzled by her every time he looks at her.”

  That had Matt smiling. “Yeah. You can see the love and devotion whenever they’re together. I can’t picture one without the other.”

  “How about your hunky, rugged uncle Colin? Is he married?” When Matt shook his head, she asked, “Engaged?”

  “Not a chance. There isn’t even a serious romance going on. He’s too busy riding herd on us, and on the ranch.”

  “One of these days the right woman will come along, and he’ll find himself in over his head.”

  Matt shot her a sideways glance. “Are you speaking from experience?”

  She flushed. “I only know what I’ve seen with my friends. Even the most dedicated singles among them cave when the love bug bites.”

  “Looks like they need better bug spray.” They both laughed as they rolled along the highway.

  Vanessa found herself fascinated by the view of rolling green hills in the distance, black with cattle. “When do we leave your land?”

  “Not for another couple of miles.”

  “Miles?” She turned to Matt. “Do you sometimes have to pinch yourself when you see all this land and realize it belongs to your family?”

  Matt smiled, trying to see it through a stranger’s eyes. “I guess it looks impressive, but it’s what I grew up with. Are you ever in awe when you look around your city?”

  She laughed. “I don’t own it. Besides, it’s not exactly as awe inspiring as this.”

  “It would be to a kid who never saw a big city like Chicago before.”

  That had her nodding. “I guess you’re right. Maybe we all take what we have for granted.”

  “Well, drink in your fill of Glacier Ridge, Montana, since it’s the only view of a city you’ll have for a few weeks.”

  Seeing the way she gripped her hands together in her lap, Matt felt a tug of annoyance at himself. She’d had barely a minute to herself to process all that had happened. “Sorry. Do you feel like talking?”

  She fell silent and gathered her thoughts before saying, “I guess I’m still reeling. Part of me feels terrible that I can’t be home to comfort my father. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through. I know he wants this conviction more than he’s wanted anything in his career. But any threat against me has to be a huge distraction. I don’t know how he’ll be able to continue to focus through the rest of the trial.”

  “Exactly what the bad guys are hoping. If the DA drops the ball, they win.” He cleared his throat. “Your dad’s a pro. He’ll figure out a way to use his anger and frustration against his opponent.”

  She turned her head to stare out the side window. Her voice sounded weary. “I hope you’re right.”

  “What about you? How are you going to deal with the threat to your safety?”

  “When I saw my mom growing sicker and weaker, I went into a real panic. What would we do? How could we live without her? And my dad told me something I’ll never forget.” She took a breath. “He said we all have times when we’re so scared, we want to run and hide. And that’s the time when we have to stand our ground and face down our fears.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve already been through the worst. After losing my mother, I guess I can face anything life throws at me.”

  In a gesture of comfort he reached a hand to hers.

  Her head came up sharply, and he abruptly returned his hand to the wheel.

  For the next hour, as they drove toward town, Matt kept up a running commentary on the various points of interest.

  Vanessa clutched her hands together and wondered about her reaction to this man. Her hands were still overly warm, and all he’d done was touch them.

  A short time later, he tapped her shoulder and pointed to a lone cowboy on a hill. “There’s my Montana.”

  She struggled to ignore a quick little thrill. She’d felt this same awareness when he’d been setting dishes in the cupboard over her head the previous night. She’d absorbed the same pinpricks of pleasure.

  “And this is the famous town of Glacier Ridge.”

  She forced her attention to the place that she’d barely noticed on her arrival. It had been merely a tiny town on her way to an important interview.

  “On this side of Main Street is D and B’s Diner. It’s owned and operated by Dot and Barb Parker, twin sisters who’ve been fixtures in this town for more than fifty years.”

  Vanessa studied the tidy little white building with a door and shutters painted with black-and-white polka dots. “Is that in honor of their namesake?”

  Matt nodded. “You got it. Old Dot loves polka dots. That’s all she wears, too. And since she claims to be older than Barb by four minutes, she insists on being in charge. But maybe that’s a good thing, because she draws in families, and especially cowboys from all over the area with her dandy cowboy-sized burger, and chili almost as good as Yancy’s.”

  He pointed. “And over there is Snips. It started out as a barbershop and beauty shop owned by Gert and Teddy Gleason. Now they’ve added a spa to the building next door. They haven’t named it yet, but folks around here are calling it Dips.”

  At her puzzled look he explained, “They dip their hands and feet, and sometimes their entire body in all kinds of fancy mud and green tea baths and stuff. So…Dips.”

  “Snips and Dips. You’ve actually got a spa in Glacier Ridge.” That had Vanessa shaking her head.

  “So they tell me.” Matt grinned. “Though I haven’t been in there to see it for myself.”

  “Where do you get your hair cut?”

  He shrugged. “Usually Yancy cuts our hair whenever we come in from the range looking too shaggy.”

  She gave him an admiring glance. “Give Yancy my compliments. He does a nice job.”

  Matt’s smile turned into laughter. “I’ll be sure to let him know you approve. He’s been itching to get his hands on Reed’s ponytail. But my brother’s having none of it. So, if you’d like a trim while you’re staying with us, just let Yancy know.”

  He pointed. “Over there is the police chief’s office, and beside it, the jail.”

  “Does the town ever get any criminals?”<
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  “A few, now and then. Mostly cowboys who come to town to spend their paychecks and drink too much at the Pig Sty.”

  Vanessa shot him a look. “You’re kidding, aren’t you? There’s actually a bar called the Pig Sty?”

  Matt pointed to the faded sign. “The real name is Clay’s Saloon. It’s just across from the jail. Back in Grandpop Frankie’s day, old Clay Olmsted used to own a pig farm until he decided there had to be an easier way to earn a living. So he sold his farm and moved to town. He bought an old, boarded-up store, called it Clay’s Saloon, and never looked back. But folks around here mostly refer to it as Clay’s Pig Sty.”

  Matt added with a laugh, “One of our early sheriffs, Vinny Thurgood, figured he ought to build his jail as close to the potential drunks as he could, so he built his office and jail right across the street from Clay’s place. Of course, it was a dirt road when they both started out. But now it’s a proper paved street, suitable for an important town like Glacier Ridge.”

  They laughed, then Matt pointed to the end of the street. “There’s the courthouse, and up on the hill is the high school and church.”

  It was, Vanessa noted, the perfect picture of a small-town church, surrounded on three sides by a cemetery.

  “And just beyond the city limits,” Matt added, “is the fairgrounds. When the ranchers around here finish roundup, they always gather there for the annual rodeo. A mile or so beyond is the local airport, where you landed.”

  He turned the ranch truck, parking in front of a tidy little shop sporting a red-and-white-striped awning with the name Anything Goes.

  Matt stepped out of the truck and circled around to the passenger side, holding the door for Vanessa. “Like the name says, you can find anything and everything right here.”

  He led her inside and winked at the pretty woman heading toward them. “Hey, Trudy. I’d like you to meet Burke’s cousin, Van Cowley.”

  “Nice to meet you, Van. What’s that short for?”