by Vella, Wendy
“Very funny, Jack, now open up.”
She waited, but nothing happened.
“Open up, Jack.” Bailey was about to give him a piece of her mind, when she smelled the smoke. “Open up!” Rattling the doorknob produced nothing. She leaned on it. It moved, but didn’t open wide enough to get out. There were no windows in here; she was trapped. Smoke meant fire, and if she didn’t get out and rescue the horses, Kimi, and Buzz, the smoke would cause panic and they’d hurt themselves. Looking up, she hoped the sprinkler system kicked in soon.
Buzz started to yowl.
“It’s okay, boy, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Grabbling a cloth, she found some water and wet it, if the smoke got thick, she’d wrap it around her face. She then ran at the door. It moved, but didn’t open. So she did it again. By the fifth time, she was losing her strength.
“Open, damn you!”
It did, and she fell face-first on the ground, just as the smoke detectors started blaring. The sprinklers followed seconds later, soaking her and Buzz. Getting to her feet, Bailey looked around. Whoever had lit the fire had shut the main stable doors. Searching for the source, she found a pile of horse blankets beside the tack room that were still burning, and the flames were now climbing the walls. She grabbed the fire extinguisher with Buzz on her heels. Jack had taught her how to use it.
“Move away, Buzz!” She waved a hand at him, sending him back several feet. “Pull the pin, and aim.” Bailey recited Jack’s instructions. “Aim low, and sweep from side to side.” She did as he’d told her, using it until her arms ached, and she was sure the fire was out.
The horses were getting restless with the noise and water. Bailey could hear them snorting, and pawing the ground with their hooves, but she could do nothing about them yet. She ran to the stable door, but couldn’t budge it.
“The office, Buzz!” She sprinted up the stairs and threw open the windows, inhaling deep breaths of air.
“It’s okay now, boy.” She patted a chair beneath the window, and Buzz jumped up. Once he was there, and she was sure he was getting fresh air, Bailey picked up the phone and punched in the only number she knew well.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“ Apple Sours.” Joe answered the phone. He’d spent the morning smiling, and hadn’t been able to stop. He’d woken with Bailey in his arms, and the scent and feel of her was etched in his head. They’d talked too, only briefly, but it was a start.
“Joe! Come quick. Fire at the stables. It’s out, but hurry, the stable door is locked!”
“Are you safe?” His heart pounded as he heard the fear in Bailey’s voice.
“I-I think so. Hurry!”
Joe ran down the steps, yelling at his staff that he had to go. He was dialing Jack as he jumped in his pickup.
“Get home, there’s been a fire.” He then called Luke with the same message.
The thought of Bailey anywhere near danger was making his heart pound out of control. Reaching his driveway in record time, he looked for smoke as he pulled up outside the stables, but to his relief found none.
“Bailey!”
“Joe!”
She was standing on the other side of the stable door. Someone had bolted it from the outside. Buzz was with her, yowling loudly.
“I’m opening the door now, Bailey.”
She didn’t answer. He got it open seconds later. Her face was white as she stumbled toward him. Joe opened his arms, and she flew into them.
“God, you scared me.” She was wet from the sprinklers.
“Me?” she croaked.
“I asked if you were safe, and you said I think so.” He couldn’t stop kissing wherever he could reach. Couldn’t make himself ease the punishing grip he had on her.
“S-sorry, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
She was shaking, her hands clutching his shirt as she tried to get closer. Fear, Joe thought. She’d been terrified. He’d think about that in a minute, and the fact that someone had locked her in there with fire. For now he’d focus on her.
“I have you, sweetheart. Take some big breaths for me.”
Lowering a hand, he dug his fingers into the fur of his dog’s wet head, reassuring him that he was safe too.
Bailey did as he asked while his hand ran up and down her spine. She pulled back as they heard cars.
“I’m okay now, Joe.”
“No, you’re not, but at least you’ve stopped shaking.” Some of the color had come back into her face too.
“We need to get the horses out, and stop the sprinklers and fire detectors.”
“Luke and Jack are here, they can help,” Joe said still holding her close.
“What happened?” Jack got to them first.
“Come inside,” Bailey said, reaching for Joe’s hand. “First we need you to get the horses and Kimi out, then I’ll explain what happened.”
Luke took care of the horses, and Joe released Bailey reluctantly so she could go and get on some dry clothes, and then rescue Kimi. Jack and Joe dealt with the smoke detectors and sprinklers. They then investigated the fire.
“Diesel.” Jack looked up at him.
“No fucking way!” Joe’s blood ran cold as he realized his brother was right. “Someone lit this deliberately.” He’d known it, but having it confirmed forced hot, seething rage to overtake the cold fear he’d experienced when he knew Bailey was in danger. She could have been killed, and it had been deliberate.
“I was in the tack room with Buzz. I was having a soda, and him a biscuit,” Bailey said from behind him. “Someone closed the door, and jammed something against it.”
“You were locked in the tack room?” Jack went to inspect.
“I’m going to kill someone. Christ, Bailey.” Joe stepped closer, and held her face.
“I’m all right, Joe.”
“I need to get you to the doctor.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need a doctor, because I got out before the fire really took hold.” She held out her hands. “See, no burns.”
Fin walked in with Chief Blake.
“I called him,” Luke said, returning. “He needed to be here.”
Joe nodded.
“This is becoming a habit, Miss Jones,” Chief Blake said.
“And what the hell does that mean?” Joe demanded.
“Simmer down, Joe. I just meant there was the business with Jack being shot, then the man in the bar, and now a fire has been deliberately lit. Miss Jones was there for each.”
“She had nothing to do with it.”
“I can figure that out for myself, Joe.” The chief of police sent him a steady look. “Now, are you all right if I ask you some questions while the incident is fresh in your head, Miss Jones?”
“Of course.”
Joe let her go, but only because she was going to be a few feet away where he could see her. He then formed a huddle with Fin and his brothers.
“Chief Blake’s just doing his job, Joe,” Luke said.
“I know, I’m just so fucking angry. Someone is either out to get us, or her. My money’s on us,” Joe growled. “And I’ll double that bet by saying that piece of shit who donated sperm to get us here is involved.” He’d told his siblings about Elijah’s sighting of their father.
“I changed my plans this morning. I was meant to be here with her, so my guess is you’re right,” Jack said. “But why does he want to come at us? We’re his children, for Christ’s sake!”
“He asked me for money six months ago. Rang the bar. I refused, and he said he’d make me pay, and I thought it was just his way of blowing smoke out his ass. Now I’m wondering.”
“And you didn’t tell us?” Luke didn’t look impressed.
“Tell you what? That your father’s an asshole? You know that already.”
“So what? Bailey and my horses were just going to be collateral damage?” Jack looked mean, his eyes narrowed, face rage-fueled.
“Okay, you both need to calm down now,
” Fin said.
“Calm down!” Joe roared. “My woman was nearly burned to death, and you want me to calm down. First someone shoots Jack, now tries to burn the stables down. Both times someone I love could have been killed!”
He realized what he’d said a second after the L word left his mouth. “Fuck,” Joe growled.
“Nice.” Luke nodded. “About the love thing, but this other shit’s seriously disturbing. We have to find him, our sperm donor, before he does anything else.”
“No disagreement there,” Jack snarled. “And ditto on the love thing.”
“I actually came here for another reason, before I heard what had happened from the chief after we pulled up at the same time,” Fin said. “Still pissed, FYI, that no one called me.”
“Excuse the fuck out of me for upsetting your delicate sensibilities,” Joe snapped.
“As you should be, but because you’re all over the place, I’ll let it lie... for now.”
“What’s the reason you came by, Fin?” Jack asked.
They heard another car speed up the drive. A door slammed, and in seconds Piper had arrived.
“What’s happened?”
Joe filled her in, as Bailey was still being questioned. He could see her from where he stood. Her hair hung in a long, damp braid down her back. She was leaning on one leg, the other foot turned in slightly, peach sneakers resting one on top of the other. Having changed into them out of her wet riding boots. Her black jeans were snug, and the shirt she wore was an old denim one of Jack’s. Just looking at her was messing with him. Looking, and knowing that she could have been taken from him today.
“I don’t understand why this is happening. First Jack, and now Bailey.”
“I know, Pip, but this latest incident confirms someone’s targeting us to my mind, and that means we have to be diligent,” Joe said. “Always in pairs, and eyes open.”
“Okay, listen up.” All eyes turned as Chief Blake left Bailey and addressed them. “Fin and I need to speak with you.”
Bailey moved to Joe’s side, and he wondered if she realized she’d even done it, or the fact that she stepped in front of him so he could wrap his arms around her and hold her close.
“Helen Neil called me this morning. Elijah went up the mountain yesterday for a quick hike, told Helen he’d be three hours, no more, and home in time to help get things ready for little Sally’s birthday party today. He hasn’t returned.”
“He does go up there for a couple of days at a time though, Chief,” Luke said.
“Sure, but not when he promised Helen he’d return for the birthday. Elijah loves those kids.”
No one disputed that.
“We need to get a search going. So all of you who can, saddle up and meet me at the ranger headquarters. It’s a big ask, I know, considering it’s obvious that someone is deliberately targeting you all, and you have a mess to clean up—”
“We can do it, the mess will be here when we get back. We’ll be sure to stay in pairs.” Joe spoke for his siblings.
“I’ll call in a few casuals, they can watch over the ranch, feed the horses, and start the cleanup,” Jack said.
Chief Blake nodded. “Knew you would, and nothing I said would deter you, but had to say the words just the same. I’m heading there now, and will coordinate the search from the station. It’s my hope Elijah’s injured and holed up there somewhere waiting for us, because no other scenario is comforting me.”
Joe wanted that to be the case too. He watched as Pip hauled Bailey out of his arms and hugged her. She still looked pale, and her eyes big in her face. Fear, Joe knew, affected you for a while after the event.
“I’ll go bring in the horses with Luke,” Piper said. “You get the tack and supplies we need ready.”
“I’ll take the quad up,” Jack said, much to Joe’s relief. He hadn’t wanted to come down hard on his brother if he decided to ride.
Joe moved to where Bailey stood watching Fin and the chief leave.
“I don’t know what time we’ll be back, but I want you to go find Maggie, and stay with her until I do.”
“I’m coming.”
“No.” Joe shook his head. “You’ve had a shock, and you don’t know about search and rescue.”
“I understand your words are motivated by worry, Joe, but I’m fine, and the more eyes out there, the sooner we’ll find Elijah. Plus, I’d rather be busy.”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Problem?” Jack asked.
“Bailey’s not experienced enough for this.”
His brother gave him a steady look. “She rides better than any of us, and has proven she’s tough, so if she’s fit enough, let her do it.”
“She’s just been through hell!”
“And come out of it fine. I want to come, Joe. Need to keep busy.”
“Be reasonable here, Bailey. You have no idea how to do search and rescue, and haven’t been in those mountains for years. We’ve been doing it, winter and summer. You’re a city girl; this is not for you. It’ll be rough going and dirty out there—”
“And I’m too soft to handle it?” She hadn’t raised her voice, but he wasn’t fooled, and neither was Jack, because he winced.
“Yes... no, I mean, shit. This is for people who have experience, Bailey. People who have competence....”
Jack groaned as Joe struggled to come up with the right words.
“And because I’m smaller than the strapping Trainers, I’m weak?”
“You’re misunderstanding what I’m trying to say. We know how strong you are, you’ve proved it continually since you arrived, but—”
“I don’t need your permission to do this, Joe. And while I do understand what is motivating your words, they’re pissing me off. I’m not weak!”
“Goddammit, I don’t think you’re weak—”
“Nor do I need you, a big strong male, looking out for me.”
That entire conversation had come out wrong, Joe knew it, Jack knew it, because he rolled his eyes, and Bailey definitely knew it, because hers narrowed. He was rattled, no other word for it, or he never would have spoken that way.
“Be reasonable, Bailey. I’m just trying to watch out for you, and we don’t need to do that up there.”
“Dear God, brother, shut up,” Jack whispered.
“Oh yes, and we all know how reasonable you can be, don’t we, Joe Trainer. I’m going,” Bailey said. “And you don’t need to look out for me.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” Joe gritted out as she walked away.
“How the hell have I missed all this?” Luke said, shaking his head. He’d obviously been listening to the conversation too. “Seriously, I do a week of lates and suddenly all the good stuff happens.”
“It’s not good, believe me,” Joe said, watching Bailey stalk away from him.
“Part of it must have been good, surely. Because I’m guessing the fireworks between you and sweet little Bailey Jones came to a head, then you sabotaged it like you usually do?”
“Shouldn’t you be on my side?” Joe said. “And I don’t deliberately sabotage relationships.”
“Joe, Joe, Joe.” Jack tsked. “I may love you like a brother, because you are, but you have the emotional maturity of a Twinkie.”
“The hell you say,” Joe said, walking to the tack room with his brothers flanking him.
“Okay, I have to go to the house and change out of my uniform,” Luke said. “But before I do, here’s two pieces of advice. And only use these if you really want to have a thing with Bailey.”
“What’s a thing?”
“Aww, son, have we not had the talk yet?” Luke punched him in the shoulder. “Beg for forgiveness, and grovel,” he said before heading out the door.
“Fuck off,” Joe growled.
He saddled Beccy, the horse Pip brought in for him, and rode out to join the others. Bailey, he noted, was mounted on Jack’s horse, Sandy, back rigid. She had a cap pulled low, and wore a windbreaker tied around her wai
st. She threw him a cool look, then turned away.
“Buzz, let’s go,” Joe called to his dog. He then rode out of the stables. The others fell silently in behind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Bailey was tired, she just hadn’t wanted to say that to Joe when he’d been so intent on her not going on the search for Elijah Neil. Pride, it seemed, was something she had supply of after all. Her head could still not get around the fact that someone had tried to burn down the barn with her in it. But she was okay, and the water damage to the stables minimal, plus the animals were unhurt. That was all that mattered. That, and finding Elijah.
She’d never really been determined, but something had changed inside her since coming to Ryker. Something had grown... her resolve and strength, yes, but self-belief also. She could survive without her grandfather mapping the course of her life, she’d proven that now.
Ahead of her, Joe rode lead. Broad shoulders back, head turning from right to left. She’d kissed those shoulders, and a great deal more. Now, they were angry with each other again. She knew his worry had been driven by fear, and her anger by stubborn pride. It seemed they were destined to constantly bring out the worst in each other. This was such a depressing thought, she pushed it aside.
They’d been riding twenty minutes when they stopped in a part of Ryker Falls she had not visited since returning. It looked different now. A wooden log building with pitched roof was the Ranger station for the area. People were gathered out front on horseback. Beyond that, further up the hills, she saw the lodge she’d heard locals talking about.
It was owned by the wealthy Ted Hosking, who from what she’d gleaned had more money than any one person had a right to. He was also arrogant, according to Piper.
Fin walked out of the ranger station as they dismounted. He wore his khaki uniform, and his usual smile was nowhere to be seen.
“Nothing new come in?” Joe asked him.
“Nothing.”
The group was worried, Bailey could feel it.