Monroe, Marla - Double Montana Treats (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Marla Monroe

  There were times she could almost forget that someone was after her or the farm, but then she’d try to go off and do something on her own, and one of the men would fuss at her. She chomped at the bit to be let free, yet she understood the need for no one to be alone.

  They slipped and slid into town with a lot of luck. Jeb wanted to be loaded and gone before the crunchy melting snow and ice had time to refreeze. It would be treacherous to drive back under those conditions.

  She dropped Jeb at the sheriff’s and headed to the feed store for her order of sweet feed and more rope. She greeted Ricky and gave him her order. He sent the boys out to load her truck.

  “About that rope,” he began. “Do you want something soft that won’t chafe the skin? Like when you might tie someone up?” He had a smirk on his face.

  “Hmm, Ricky, I didn’t know you were into that sort of stuff.”

  “I’m not. I just, um, thought you might oh, um, never mind.” He huffed and puffed then walked back to the rope.

  “You pick out what you want, and I’ll cut it for you.”

  “Just give me a roll of the hemp. It will do just fine.” She smiled and couldn’t resist. “Oh and, Ricky?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Scarves work best for that sort of thing.”

  She signed her bill and walked out carrying the rope with a big smile on her face. So the entire town thought they were having all sorts of weird kinky sex. She chuckled out loud. Well, she guessed they were.

  “What are you looking so smug about?” Jeb asked a few seconds later when he joined her outside the grocery store.

  “Oh, I’ll tell you about it in the truck on the way back. Any word on the kidnapper?”

  “No, nothing. The sheriff is trying to figure out who would have enough of a grudge to do something like that. So far, he has two main contenders. Brett and the old foreman.”

  “I don’t even know that he’s still around here.”

  “Oh, there’s where it gets fishier. He works for Brett.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope.” Jeb pushed open the store’s door for her.

  “So, has he talked to them at all?”

  “Yep, he’s been out there stirring them up some. Don’t know what good that will do except make Brett madder than he already is.”

  “Well, so far everything has calmed down. Let’s hope it stays that way.” Drew grabbed a cart.

  “I’ll take half the list if you want me to,” Jeb offered.

  “Great, will take less time.” She tore the list in half and handed him part of it.

  They took their lists and separated at the front of the store. Since she’d made the list according to the store’s order, it would have them meeting in the middle.

  Thirty minutes later, she was waiting with her buggy at the front of the store when Jeb rolled up with a frown on his face.

  “What is it?”

  “I couldn’t find these two things.”

  She laughed and told him to watch her cart while she went after them. A few minutes later, she returned with a tub of lard and cranberries. He just shook his head and added them to his cart since hers was so full.

  They rolled up to the cash register and proceeded to unload the carts. The cashier rolled her eyes but dutifully checked her out. Drew watched her closely to be sure she didn’t overcharge her for anything. She knew Sandy. The girl hated her for some weird reason. She didn’t have a clue as to why.

  Once they’d finished at the grocery store, she directed Jeb to the bank.

  “I’ll just be a minute.”

  She climbed out of the truck and walked into the bank looking for Clara, her usual teller. Clara had two customers in front of her, but she waited for her. When it came her turn, she saw Clara blanch. What was up with that?

  “Um, I’m about to take my break, Drew. Miranda will help you.” She started to walk off, but Drew stopped her with a look.

  “I think not. We have business to discuss. I’m missing a deposit from my last one. I have the deposit slip, but it wasn’t on my bank statement. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Please, not here.” She began to shiver.

  “I want my money in my account right now.”

  “Is there a problem here, Clara?” The vice president of the bank walked up.

  “No,” Clara said.

  “Yes, there is. I’m missing my last deposit off my bank statement. I have the receipt that Clara gave me.”

  “Let’s settle this in my office.” He ushered them into his office and closed the door.

  “May I see your statement and the receipt?” he asked.

  Drew handed him both. He studied them both then pulled something up on his computer. He played around on some keys and then turned back to Drew.

  “I’m very sorry this occurred, but there seems to have been a glitch, and your statement will reflect it next month. I’m printing out a new statement with the deposit on it.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it. I figured it was just an error on the part of the computer.” Drew took the proffered statement and her papers back and turned to leave. She heard the man tell Clara they needed to have a talk.

  When she walked out of the bank, Jeb sat in the truck waiting on her. He smiled when he saw her and cranked the truck up.

  “Get everything taken care of?”

  “It’s all straightened out.”

  Jeb frowned, but to his credit, he didn’t say anything. Drew smiled and figured Clara might have lost her job. She hated it, but she knew Clara was good friends with Brett’s family. She should have realized there was no way to get away with doing that.

  They began the long drive back to the ranch. Several times, Jeb nearly lost traction, even with the snow tires on. Then there were the areas where the snow had made mud puddles that hadn’t refrozen yet.

  After several close calls, they finally made it to the ranch, and Drew let out a breath in relief.

  “I’d feel offended that you didn’t trust my driving, but I’m damn happy to be home, too.”

  Drew laughed and climbed out of the truck after he backed it up to the back porch so they could get the groceries out. Kenny and Robert helped, and soon it was all put away.

  Then, while the men moved the truck to unload the feed, Drew reworked her books with the deposit back where it belonged. She couldn’t believe that Brett had talked that poor girl into doing that. The man was a menace to society.

  “According to the weatherman, tomorrow is supposed to be a good day, and warmer. We’re thinking it would be a good day to go out and look for the missing cattle,” Marshall told her.

  “Great. I’m going with you. Kenny can stay with Robert here at the house. I want to show you all the government land.”

  “Doesn’t Kenny know where it all is?” Marshall asked.

  “Not like I do. I’ve been riding this land for about five years. He’s only been here four.”

  “You know Jeb isn’t going to like it.”

  “He’ll get over it.”

  “Get over what?” Jeb walked up to where Marshall and Drew were standing on the porch.

  “We’re going out tomorrow to look for my missing cattle.”

  “You can stay with Robert. Kenny will come with us.”

  “Nope, I’m going with you. I know the government land better than he does. He’ll even tell you that.” Drew placed her hands on her hips.

  Jeb gritted his teeth but didn’t say anything more. Instead he stomped off inside the house.”

  “Well, that went over well,” Marshall said.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Early the next morning, Drew made sure she was up and dressed when Marshall and Jeb got ready. Jeb hadn’t said anything more to her about going, but he’d definitely been upset about it. Still, he didn’t try and talk her out of it.

  They mounted up and took off toward the back part of her ranch land. On the way, they searched the obvious locations without any luck. As they neared
the government land pass, Jeb pointed out the obvious hoofprints that had been frozen in the mud.

  “Someone sure has been through here. This is your land up here until the pass, right?” Jeb asked.

  “Yes, it’s all mine. That’s one reason Brett wants my ranch. He wants access to the land. I offered at one time to let him use it anytime he wanted to as long as he kept the gates locked. He wasn’t too happy with my offer.”

  “If we find you cattle over here, we still can’t prove who did it. They could have wandered over here even though we know they didn’t,” Marshall pointed out.

  “I know. I just want my cows back right now.”

  “What about putting a gate up to the land and padlocking it?”

  “Thought about that, but he’d just cut them as fast as I put them up.”

  “The only thing we can do is camp out here at night until he shows up and then catch him red-handed,” Jeb suggested.

  “I’ve thought about that myself.” Drew looked around at the area. “There aren’t very many places we could hide.”

  Jeb frowned but didn’t say anything. She knew he didn’t want her anywhere near anything dangerous. She sighed.

  They threaded their way through the pass that spread out into a wide, open pasture. Across it she could see her cows. Thank God they had survived. She and the men rode over to round them up.

  “Check the brand to be sure, guys.” She didn’t want to be accused of stealing someone else’s cattle.

  “Looks like they’re all yours,” Marshall said.

  “Let’s get them home, then.” Jeb began circling them and moving them forward.

  They got them through the pass and were just about to head farther into her land when a shot rang out. The cattle began to run. Marshall and Jeb urged their horses around the cows to steer them towards the house.

  Another shot rang out, and this time, Jeb fell of his horse. Drew panicked and stopped her horse to go back for him. She climbed down as soon as she made it to him.

  “Damn it, Drew. Get back on that horse, and get out of here.”

  “I’m not leaving you here. How bad are you hurt?”

  “It’s not bad. Just my shoulder.”

  “Can you ride?” she asked, trying to keep from crying.

  “Yea, but I don’t know about getting on the horse.”

  “I’ll get you up. Come on. Stand up.”

  Drew whistled and Crooner answered, running up to her. She took the reins and climbed up. Then she reached down and pulled with all her might to help Jeb climb up in the saddle behind her.

  “Hold on tight. Don’t you dare let go of me,” she yelled over her shoulder.

  They’d barely gotten started when Marshall came racing back to help them. He reined in on seeing Jeb on the back of the horse with her. Even as they urged the horses faster, bullets rained down on them from two different spots. Drew felt the sting of one skimming her thigh and another, her arm. She gritted her teeth and held on tight to Crooner.

  “Fuck! Can you see any of them?” Jeb called over her shoulder.

  “No, I can’t tell where they’re shooting from.”

  “We should be out of their range now.”

  “Do you think they are on horseback? How else can they still be shooting at us?” Drew couldn’t believe they were really being shot at.

  “Don’t slow up until we get home,” Jeb urged her.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not. Help me keep an eye on Marshall so we don’t lose him.”

  About fifteen minutes away from the house, they met Kenny coming toward them.

  Marshall waved him back, and Kenny reined in and turned around. They all four rode into the ranch yard. They released the horses in the barn and ran for the house. Drew limped her way beside them. Kenny and Robert both already had rifles out and ready.

  “We heard the gunfire and called the sheriff. He’s on his way,” Kenny told them.

  “We’re going to have to go into town. Jeb’s been hit.”

  “It’s not bad. I’ll be okay until the sheriff gets here.”

  “Marshall, see about him while we watch the windows.” Drew gave orders like she’d been doing before they came.

  Marshall grabbed a towel and pressed it to his friend’s shoulder then held it there.

  “I’m fine, damn it, but you’re bleeding. Why in the hell didn’t you say something, Drew?” Jeb asked with a growl. He grabbed her and turned her around to look at him.

  “Marshall.”

  “I’m here. I’ll take care of her.”

  “I’m fine, Jeb. It’s a scratch. You’re still sporting a bullet in your shoulder.”

  “Good, it will be evidence once they find the rifle that fired it.”

  “Hell, I didn’t want evidence like this,” she said in a trembling voice.

  “Shh, Drew. I’m all right. Let Marshall check your arm and your leg. You’re bleeding pretty badly there.”

  “Kenny, Robert, do you see anything out there?” Drew asked as Marshall cut off the sleeve. He patted it with a wet cloth and grunted.

  “What?” she asked.

  “It’s not serious, but it will need a couple of stitches. You just can’t get away from needing stitches, can you?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Let’s see about that leg. I’m going to cut your jeans up the side.” Marshall used the knife to slit her jeans up to her waist. “Ah hell, Drew.”

  “What’s wrong, Marshall?” Jeb demanded.

  “It went clear through her thigh. She’s got a fucking hole in her leg. It’ll need sewing up, but it’s bleeding like a stuck pig.” He ran over to the drawer with the towels and grabbed two. Then he held them to both sides of her leg.

  “Drew. Hold these there while I get the tape to secure them. We need to apply pressure until we can get you to the hospital.” Marshall grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink and pulled out the tape. He wrapped her leg several times with the towels tightly in place.

  “Robert, do you hear something?” Kenny asked.

  “Sirens. I’d say the cavalry is here.” Robert went to the front door to let them in.

  A few seconds later, the sheriff and two deputies walked into the kitchen.

  “Hell, it looks like a field hospital in here. What the hell happened?”

  Jeb filled him in on the shooting. He shook his head and sent one of the deputies out to radio in that they needed an ambulance.

  “I’ll ride out there and see if I can find any shell casings. We could luck up and get a fingerprint off one. I’ll definitely take that bullet when they dig it out of you.”

  “You’re welcome to it. I want this fucker stopped.”

  “So do I. I don’t like shit going down in my county.” The sheriff took his deputies, and they left to go get their horses. They couldn’t use their four-wheel drives in the pasture, as they would tear it up.

  “Do you see why I didn’t want you to come, Drew? You got shot for God’s sake. You could have been killed.”

  “I was the one who got your ass out of there, and you could have been killed, too,” Drew reminded him.

  “But I couldn’t have taken it if I’d lost you, baby.”

  Drew could hear the emotion in his voice and knew he meant it. He really didn’t want to lose her. She let it sink in.

  “I–I love you both.” There, she’d said it.

  “Aw, baby. We love you, too,” Marshall told her.

  “Where is that fucking ambulance,” Jeb complained.

  “It will be here soon.” Drew closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of their love surrounding her.

  Long minutes later, the sound of the ambulance could be heard. As soon as it pulled up, Kenny had the door open and was directing them inside. Jeb immediately demanded they take care of her first. They agreed she’d need a few stitches in her arm and taped a bandage over it. When they saw her leg, they were a little more worried. They mentioned nicking an artery or a vein. Drew doubted it, since it wasn’t bothe
ring her that much.

  They loaded her up on a gurney and packed her away from them as they checked on Jeb next.

  Drew suffered the ride to the hospital in silence since Jeb was next to her. Neither one seemed able to voice their worries. He held her hand all the way there. She realized how tired she was but refused to nod off. She wanted to be sure Jeb was okay before she slept.

  The paramedics kept poking at her leg. She had to resist the urge to tell them to stop. They were only doing their jobs, but damn, it hurt. Of course, the IV they had stuck in her arm hadn’t felt all that spiffy, either. At least she didn’t curse about it like Jeb had. She laughed to herself. He had been such a baby about the needle.

  The ride there proved to be bumpy, and even though she knew the gurney was locked in and she was strapped in, only Jeb’s hand holding hers kept her from panicking that she would fall.

  Once at the hospital, they were taken to different exam rooms. Jeb fussed, but it did him no good. Marshall had driven the truck behind them and was waiting as they pulled them out of the ambulance. The last thing she heard him say was for Marshall to stay with her.

  “Don’t you fucking let her out of your sight.”

  Drew would have laughed except they chose that moment to move her. The pain hit her harder.

  “Take it easy. You’re hurting her,” Marshall told them.

  “Sir, if you can’t stay out of the way, you’re going to have to leave,” a nurse said.

  Drew closed her eyes and listened to them talk above her. She was so tired. Maybe she could take a nap.

  * * * *

  Marshall panicked when Drew closed her eyes. She was so pale. Why did she look so bad when it was only a bullet to the leg?

  “Did she pass out? What’s going on?” he demanded.

  “Either stand back over there, or I’m going to have security take you out of the room.”

  Marshall was about to argue when a wiry-looking man in his middle fifties stepped into the room causing everyone to come to attention.

  “What do I have here? I have a gunshot wound to the shoulder in two that needs my attention.”