“Really?”
“Really. It’s a whole experience and people pay top dollar to visit the Ranch.”
Darla leaned on the counter and said under her breath, “Women, too?”
“All kinds of people.”
Darla stood and leaned back, surprise and acceptance in her nod and slight grin. “Wow.”
“Which is why Roxy is not setting something up out here. That would be illegal and Wild Rose makes enough money she doesn’t need to take the risk of setting up an illegal operation when she could simply open another site in another Nevada county that allows prostitution if she wanted to, which she doesn’t.”
“Huh. Okay.” Darla typed into her computer and scribbled notes on a pad of paper. “If you want to look at the records yourself, come on back.” She pressed a button under the counter and Sonya pushed open the gate. “Take a seat there. I’ll get the films.”
Sonya sat in the squeaky wood swivel chair and turned on the microfiche reader. It hummed to life. While she waited, she pulled out her cell and called Roxy.
“Hey, sis, how’s that hunky cowboy you’re shacking up with?”
Sonya smiled, happy Roxy had come around and accepted her relationship with Austin. “How’s the one you’re with?”
“Amazing.” Roxy deserved the kind of happiness that put that sparkle in her voice.
“Mine, too.”
“I can’t wait to come over and see the new horses.”
“Come to dinner tonight.” Sonya could stop by the store and pick up some steaks to toss on the grill. Austin wouldn’t mind having Noah and Roxy out to their place.
Huh. Their place?
Yeah, that felt right.
She’d had a possessive streak about the house when they began the renovation and all her ideas took shape, but living there with Austin really did make it feel more like hers. And theirs.
“Sonya?” The annoyance in Roxy’s voice alerted her that she’d missed whatever Roxy said.
“Huh. Sorry. I got lost in thought.”
“Do you want me to bring anything?”
“No. I’ve got dinner covered. But the reason I called is because I heard you bought a house on Pine Drive.”
“How did you hear that?” More than surprise filled Roxy’s voice.
“Gossip runs through this town like a raging river.”
“That’s for sure. Um, I did buy a place.” A hint of deception filled her voice.
“Why? What do you need it for?”
“An investment. A rental. I need to do something with all the money I have now.” It sounded good, but something still didn’t ring true. “After you spent all that time fixing up Austin’s place, I got the reno bug and thought I’d do my own project and fix the place up. You know how much I love to do that.”
True. “Well, let me know if you need help. I can put together a rental contract, figure out rent and the deposit and advertising to get a renter.”
“That’s a little ways off. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
Darla set the films she needed next to the reader.
“Listen, Rox, I gotta go. See you tonight.”
“Sonya.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad you’re happy here. I love having you nearby and doing dinner night. We should make it a usual thing now that Austin’s place is done.”
“I’d like that.” They were all going their separate ways, starting their own lives. But a standing weekly dinner together would keep them connected.
“We’ll have Adria and Juliana out soon, too,” Roxy added.
“About Juliana . . .” Her heart ached thinking about how Juliana was running down a path to self-destruction.
“She’s got stuff going on. I know. Adria thinks we’re going to have to step in and do something about it whether Juliana likes it or not.”
“Keep me posted. I’m in when you need me.” They’d always stuck together. Nothing would change that.
“See you tonight. We’ll talk about it then.” Roxy hung up.
Sonya glanced up at Darla. “Thanks for getting these for me.”
Darla pointed to the two sets of films. “These are for the Jones men.” She handed a printout to Sonya. “Those are the records for changing Mr. Jones’s land over to Austin. There’s a map included that shows the entire acreage.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
“If you print out the ones for the Joneses, make two copies. I’ll scan them into the new system. One less thing to do as we work our way back in the records. And that way if you need them again, they’ll be easier to find.” Darla went back to her work area.
Sonya set aside Austin’s records and slipped the first film in the reader and maneuvered the guide up, down, and sideways until she found the right ones. She printed out each page without really looking at them. She’d go through all of them once she got home.
Twenty minutes later, she handed the second set of copies to Darla. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem. That’ll be thirty-five dollars for the copies.”
Sonya couldn’t believe the fee, but paid and accepted her receipt.
“If you need anything else, come on back.”
Sonya smiled and waved goodbye. Despite Darla gossiping about things she knew nothing about, she was a nice lady. She wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. Sonya needed to remember that the next time she overheard someone talking out of turn.
She walked outside and shielded her eyes from the bright sun. She jogged down the steps and headed for her truck, her hand deep in her bag as she rummaged for the keys. She pulled them out and tried to press the button on the key fob, but someone shoved her into the driver’s door. Taken off guard, she cracked her head against the window frame. A blast of pain shot through her skull. A man put his hand over her face, covering her eyes so she couldn’t see him. His body held her pinned against the door.
A shiver of fear went through her whole body at the intimate contact and her inability to see what happened next. Her mind veered into dark thoughts about him hurting or killing her.
She’d never see Austin again. That thought nearly stopped her heart.
He ripped the papers out of her hand and leaned into her ear. “If you know what’s good for you, go back to Vegas where you belong.”
No way she went down without a fight. She tried to elbow the guy in the gut to get him off her. She even tried to kick him with her heel, but nothing she did worked to overpower or back off the bigger stronger man.
The guy kicked her feet out from under her and shoved her down at the same time. She landed hard on her hands, scraping her palms and wrists. By the time she turned, her attacker took off around the back of the truck. But the glimpse she got of him reminded her of the guy who came to Austin’s place with his father.
She rolled over onto her butt and brushed the pavement grit from her hands. She hissed in a breath when a particularly bloody scrape stung. She blew on the cut and took a few breaths to calm her racing heart.
She’d dropped her purse during the altercation and picked up her sunglasses, lip gloss, wallet, and two pens and stuffed them back in her brown leather bag.
She got up slowly. Her head throbbed and swelled where she’d hit it on the truck. Her body had taken quite a jarring with the guy slamming into her from behind and dumping her to the ground.
She stood, braced her hand on the truck hood, took a minute to let the shock wear off, and headed back into the courthouse.
Darla looked up when the doorbell dinged. “Back already.” Darla’s gaze shot to the side of her head. “What happened? Did you fall on the steps?”
“Nope. Someone wanted the records I printed out more than I did.”
Darla picked up the phone. “I’m calling the cops.”
Sonya took a seat by the window and waited for Darla to tell the dispatcher what happened.
“They’re on the way.”
Sonya tried to hold her trembling hands still. “Great. Until
then, can you make me another copy of the documents?”
Darla nodded. “Yeah, sure, but it’s going to cost you.”
“It already has,” she said under her breath. When Darla raised an eyebrow, she waved her on. “I’ll pay the fee.”
Darla laid her forearms on the counter and leaned over them. “If they wanted the papers so bad, why didn’t they come in here and get them?”
“They just didn’t want me to have them.”
Darla narrowed her eyes. “But I can get them for you again.”
Sonya’s lips drew into a lopsided frown. “I know. Stupid, right?”
By the time Darla returned with the copies, a deputy sheriff arrived to take her statement about the assault and robbery, not that the papers were worth anything.
“So you think the guy works for Walter Hubbard.”
“Yes. I recognized him from the night he and Walter came to Austin’s house.”
“You said the altercation happened so fast you only caught a glimpse of the man. Are you sure it was him?”
“As sure as I can be after having my head bashed in and the adrenaline rush of being scared out of my wits.”
“You gave him what he wanted and survived. That’s what counts.” The deputy closed his notebook and handed her his card. “If you think of anything more, give me a call. I’ll look into the matter and get back to you with what I find out.”
“Thank you.” Sonya stood, a little off balance on her shaky legs.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital and get that bump looked at?”
“I’ll be okay.” She touched the swollen lump. “It probably looks worse than it is.”
The officer stuffed his notebook back in his shirt pocket. “Can I call someone to pick you up?”
“I’m fine. Really. Thank you for your assistance and taking the report.”
“I’ll do my best to put the guy away.”
She appreciated his reassurance, though just like he did, she knew whoever did this would probably get away with it. She’d only gotten a glimpse of him. Mr. Hubbard would make sure his man had an alibi.
Her word against his.
The deputy patted her shoulder and headed back out to his cruiser to follow up on the lead she gave him. She paid Darla for the copies and headed out to her truck once again. She made herself drive over to the grocery store for steaks, keeping the papers tucked into her purse. She endured the stares from the other shoppers because of her injuries. Paranoid, she watched all the cars behind her as she drove out of town and back to the ranch.
Austin’s truck wasn’t in the driveway. He said he had fencing to put up and repair before the cattle arrived. She went into the house, locked the door, put the food in the fridge, and cleaned the cuts on her hands and the goose egg just above her temple.
Home and safe—she hoped—she went into the office, sorted the courthouse records and Grandpa Alan’s files. Time to go through them and make sense of what seemed like a no-brainer. Austin inherited the property, but what else had Grandpa Alan brought into Austin’s life?
Why steal public records from her?
Why did Mr. Hubbard want the land so badly?
The answers had to be here. She wouldn’t quit until she found them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Austin hadn’t worked this hard in longer than he could remember, and that included all the work he’d done on the house. His body ached with fatigue, but it only reminded him how much he’d accomplished since this project began. Every tight muscle told him he’d worked for each step forward. He’d take the pain and reap the benefits because he was damn proud of the effort he’d put into restoring the ranch.
Little by little his dream took shape into reality.
He pulled the last coil of barbed wire from the back of his truck, hung it on the hook in the barn, and pulled off his dusty work gloves. Done for the day, he rolled his sore shoulders and headed for the house. He couldn’t wait to see Sonya and tell her about his day.
He loved their evenings together.
It made the house feel even more like a home.
And every sweet night with her made him want more.
The fact she hadn’t said yes to the job made him think she wanted to stay. He hoped she felt safe enough to turn it down soon and find something here that made her happy, because the more he accomplished, the less she had to do. He didn’t want idleness to drive her away.
His stomach grumbled, anticipating food. He hoped she’d cooked. If not, they’d make something together and have a beer to wind down for the day. Maybe they’d watch a movie or one of those home and garden shows she liked.
She wanted to put in some plants around the house. Another thing to add to the list, but if it made her happy, he was all in for digging holes.
Whatever made the house feel more like her home, the better.
Noah’s truck came down the drive, headed for the house. Austin met Roxy and Noah and walked up the steps to the porch with them.
“What are you two doing here?”
Roxy looked up at him. “Sonya invited us to dinner.”
“Cool. Who wants a beer?”
“Looks like you need one.” Noah slapped him on the shoulder and sent up a cloud of dust around him. He coughed and waved his hand to clear the air.
“Right after I run through a quick shower and change.” Austin reached for the door and nearly slammed into it when it didn’t budge. He stared at the door, confused. “She locked the door.”
Noah and Roxy gave him the same something-is-off look he felt speeding up his heart.
“She must not be used to living in the country.” He knocked on the door, feeling silly because it was his house.
Sonya unlocked and opened the door with the phone to her ear. She turned immediately and walked back into the living room. “Of course he had an alibi. I expected nothing less.”
Austin glanced to Roxy to see if she knew what Sonya was talking about. Roxy shook her head and touched her wrist, then pointed to Sonya.
He saw the bandage and took Sonya’s arm and turned her to him. The bruise and lump on her head just above her temple made him see red. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Deputy, thank you for calling with the update.” She planted her hand on Austin’s chest to hold him off another minute. “Yes, I’ll be careful. Goodbye.”
Austin cupped her face and studied the brightly colored bruise. “Sweetheart, what happened? Are you okay?”
To his horror, tears welled in her eyes, though she tried hard to blink them away. “I’m fine.”
Roxy came forward and stood next to them. “Who hit you?”
Sonya sucked in a breath and looked up at him. “I went to the courthouse to get the property records. I must have been followed.”
“By whom?” He didn’t need to ask. This had his father stamped all over it.
“That guy your father had with him the night he showed up here. I think.”
“You think?” He knew, just as well as she did.
“He came up behind me and shoved me into the side of the truck. I hit my head.” She touched her fingers to the edge of the wound. “He took the papers I got from the courthouse and basically told me to go back to Vegas.”
“What happened to your hands?” Roxy gently held one, showing the scratches on the heel of Sonya’s palm and wrist.
“He kicked my feet out from under me and pushed me to the ground so he could get away. Darla at Records called the cops. I filed a report, but it won’t go anywhere because your father alibied his guy.”
“Well, it’s on record. If he tries something else, you’ve got a paper trail to establish a pattern.” Roxy and Sonya gave each other a nod.
“A pattern. I’m going to fucking kill him for laying a hand on you.” Austin spun around and got caught up short when Noah grabbed hold of his shoulders and stopped him. “Let me go.”
Sonya wriggled between them and held his sides. “It won’t do any good
to go over there cussing and yelling. You’ll only play right into his hands. He’ll have you arrested. And while of course I’ll bail you out, I’m kind of tired and would like to just have a nice dinner with our friends. Please.”
The weariness in her eyes and words tore him to pieces and eased the rage roiling inside him. “Christ, Sonya. Come here.” He wrapped her in a hug and held her close. He didn’t like the tremble in her body one bit. Retelling what happened brought the fear back and he hated that she’d been scared and hurt and he hadn’t been there to protect her. “Why didn’t you call me and tell me what happened?”
“Because it was done and I knew you’d probably go after your father and that guy. Plus, I had to get another set of documents, which cost me another thirty-five bucks.”
He liked that she’d shifted her anger from what happened to the expense. Back to her old self.
“Why take the papers in the first place when they are so easily replaced?” Roxy asked.
Sonya stepped back, but not out of his reach. He needed to touch her, feel her, know that she was okay.
“Why, indeed?” She took his hand. “Come see what I’ve put together so far.” She pulled him toward the office.
Roxy and Noah followed. Austin stood in front of the desk with Roxy and Noah while Sonya went to the other side.
“Let me tell you a story about the Jones family.” She picked up an old black-and-white photo of a family on the porch of a simple log cabin. The woman wore a long dress and held an infant in her arms. Beside her stood a man in a hat, wearing dark pants, worn work boots, a white shirt, and suspenders. Austin took after all the men in the Jones family. “Back in the day, Austin Jones came west from Missouri to build a better life for his family.” She picked up a paper that had been under the photo. “According to property records, he bought a large parcel of land for a modest price. He built a home using timber from the land he owned.” She picked up an old yellowed envelope. “He wrote to his wife in Missouri and told her he’d picked the perfect place. They had timber, running water, and grassy land. Enough to run a huge herd of fat cattle. He’ll send for her and their child, your grandfather, as soon as he sells some of the timber and has the money.”
Restless Rancher Page 18