Caitlyn’s Prize

by Linda Warren

  “Come in,” Judd called.

  Harland walked in and glanced from one man to the other. “Didn’t expect to see you here, Walker.”

  “Didn’t expect to be here,” he replied.

  “Have a seat,” Judd said.

  Harland eased into a chair, his eyes on his boss. “What’s this about?”

  Judd pushed a manila folder across the desk. “This will explain everything.”

  With a frown, Harland stood and picked up the folder. Opening it, he read through the contents and then slammed it onto the desk. “So the jig is up?” he said, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

  Judd leaned forward, his eyes holding Harland’s like a fishhook holds a worm. “You’ve been stealing from Southern Cross for years.”

  “Can you blame me?” His face turned beet red in anger. “I repeatedly asked your father for a raise and he repeatedly refused. He said he would deed me land when he died. I worked my ass off for that land, but the bastard lied. He didn’t leave me a penny. No one does that to me. No one.”

  “So you started stealing?” Walker asked.

  “You bet.” The words came out as a growl. “What better way to get even and stick it to the favorite son. I was finally getting the money I deserved. If that Belle woman hadn’t interfered, you never would have found out.”

  “You’ve been sabotaging High Five, haven’t you?” Judd asked.

  “That woman needs to be put in her place. Your father would have made sure of that. High Five would have been a part of Southern Cross by now, but you kowtow to the bitch. Your father must be turning over in his grave.”

  Judd stood, his hands clenched. He wanted to jump across the desk and strangle the man, or reach for the Colt .45 in the bottom drawer and show Harland who was boss. But he did neither of those things. Mainly because he knew it was exactly what his father would have done. Judd was a better man than that.

  Walker stepped forward. “Albert Harland, you’re under arrest for—”

  “You’re having me arrested?” Harland glared at Judd.

  “You’ve stolen thousands of dollars. Did you think I was just going to let that slide?” He unclenched his hands as some of the tension left him. “Since you’re so big on my father’s attributes, you should know he would have blown your brains out. Be grateful I’m letting the justice system take care of you.”

  “You bastard,” Harland spat. “You’ll pay for this. That bitch will, too.”

  Before he or Walker could gauge his intent, Harland ran from the room, slamming the door in their faces to slow them down. Walker drew the gun from his belt holster and yanked opened the door. Judd was right behind him.

  “What’s happening?” Brenda Sue asked.

  Neither responded as they made a dash for the front door. Monty stood outside like a lovesick fool.

  “Where’s Harland?” Judd demanded.

  “He ran for the stables.”

  Judd and Walker hurried there, but Harland was nowhere in sight. Then, Chuck walked up from the tack room.

  “Have you seen Harland?” Judd asked.

  “He just rode out of here like the devil was after him.”

  “Which way did he go?”

  Chuck pointed toward the High Five.

  “Damn it!”

  “Was he alone?” Walker asked.

  “No,” Chuck replied. “Those new cowboys, Ernie and Ray, were with him.”

  “Thanks, Chuck.” Judd moved a short distance away to speak to Walker.

  “What do you think?” The constable slid his gun back into his holster.

  “I think he’s gone after Caitlyn.” The mere thought made Judd’s stomach tighten. He reached for the cell phone hooked on his belt, and punched out High Five’s number.

  Etta answered.

  “Etta, this is Judd Calhoun. Is Caitlyn there?”

  “Heavens, no. She left early to take care of everything before that hurricane blows through here.”

  He’d almost forgotten about the hurricane. “Do you know where she went?”

  “No, but Maddie might.”

  “May I speak to her?”

  “Who?”

  Judd drew a patient breath. “Maddie.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  A second later she was on the line. “Maddie, this is Judd. Do you know what part of the ranch Caitlyn is on?”

  “Oh, hi, Judd. Cait left early with Cooper and Rufus, and I have no idea where she went. She did mention something about checking a windmill and all water sources.”

  “Thanks, Maddie.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “No. I just need to find Cait.” He clicked off and shouted to Chuck, “Get my horse and a horse for Walker—pronto.”

  Walker was on his cell and turned to Judd. “I was talking to the sheriff to apprise him of the situation. I assume we’re going after Harland.”

  “You got it. We have to reach Caitlyn before he does.”

  CAIT DISMOUNTED at the windmill, relieved to discover everything was working fine. She glanced south and could see dark clouds rolling in. The area was expecting high winds and heavy rain, and from the looks of the sky she knew the storm would be here soon. Time to head back to the ranch to make sure Gran and everyone were safe.

  As she turned she saw smoke coming from the west. It seemed to be in the location of her hay fields. Could they be on fire? She swung back toward Jaz and froze. Harland and two cowboys had come up on horseback. One of the cowboys reached for Jaz’s reins and pulled her away.

  Cait’s heart kicked against her ribs. This was trouble. Without her rifle, she had no way to defend herself against three men, except maybe to bluff her way out of whatever Harland had in mind.

  “The hurricane is on its way, so we better get out of the weather,” she said, playing it cool.

  “You’re not going anywhere, Miss Belle,” Harland replied in an icy tone. “It’s payback day for all the times you stuck your nose in my business. You’re the reason my lucrative job is gone, and you’re going to pay.”

  Judd had fired him? At the evil glint in Harland’s eyes, fear like she’d never known before inched up her spine and she took a step backward. The man was going to kill her.

  She knew that as well as she knew her own name.

  Harland dismounted, as did one of the cowboys. She quickly weighed her options and realized she had only one—the windmill. Turning swiftly, she sprinted for the ladder and began to climb.

  “Get her,” Harland shouted.

  The cowboy was right behind her. He grabbed her boot, but she held on tight and kicked back with her other foot. Her boot heel connected with his face.

  “Bitch,” he shouted, clutching his cheek with one hand. Blood oozed through his fingers.

  “Get her,” Harland shouted again, from below. “Yank her off there.”

  She didn’t pause to see what the guy was doing; she climbed higher. The wind picked up and she felt the tower sway. Her hat blew off and she held on with all her might. But what good was that if the windmill went down? Oh, God. She needed help.

  There was no one out here, though, and Harland knew that. He was going to make sure she died here.

  JUDD GALLOPED at breakneck speed toward the smoke on the High Five ranch. Walker was right behind. They came into the clearing of the hay fields, noting the scorched, charred ground. Cooper and Rufus were fighting the flames with horse blankets, trying to beat them out.

  “Call the volunteer fire department,” Judd yelled to Walker.

  Cooper heard him. “I already did. They’re on the way.”

  At that moment two fire trucks and a number of firefighters roared onto the site. The men immediately went to work, fighting the conflagration and the rising wind. Judd hoped the rain wasn’t far behind.

  “Where’s Caitlyn?” he yelled.

  Cooper paused from beating at the blaze. “She went to check the windmill.”

  Judd swung his horse in that direction, as did Walker. He knew Caitlyn didn�
��t have a lot of time. After galloping into the pasture, they pulled up short. Judd saw Caitlyn climbing the shaky windmill, a cowboy right behind her. Harland and another cowboy stood on the ground, watching.

  Judd drew his rifle from the saddle scabbard and Walker drew his gun. They jumped off their horses at the same time.

  Walker took care of Harland and the cowboy. Judd pointed his rifle at the man on the windmill. “Come down,” he shouted against the wind, “or I’m going to shoot you off of there.”

  The man stopped climbing.

  “Now!” Judd shouted again.

  Slowly the cowboy began to descend. Walker had handcuffed Harland and trained his gun on the two men. A deputy drove up just then and Walker started talking to him, but Judd’s eyes were on Caitlyn at the top of the swaying windmill. As the wind tugged at it, she bent her head, her hands clamped tight around the ladder.

  A number of options ran through Judd’s mind, but none of them seemed right. If he climbed up, the tower might fall with his weight. That was a sure death sentence—for both of them.

  He laid his rifle on the ground and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Caitlyn, you have to jump. I’ll catch you. Trust me.”

  Cait heard Judd. He wanted her to jump! To trust him. Was he insane? The wind was fierce and she didn’t know how much longer the windmill could withstand it. She couldn’t jump, though. She was frightened out of her mind.

  “Come on, Caitie. We don’t have a lot of time. Just push back with your boots and I’ll catch you. Trust me, Caitie. I won’t let you down this time. Let go and push back….”

  That caring, coaxing tone did the trick. The windmill rocked and she knew she had to trust Judd as she’d never trusted anyone in her life. She closed her eyes, said a prayer and then pried her clammy fingers from the rung and pushed out with her feet. The air left her lungs as her body plunged through open space. She heard a scream and realized it was her.

  She seemed to lose consciousness for a second and the next thing she knew, strong arms had snatched her from the air. Together, she and her savior tumbled backward. But she was safe on the ground—in Judd’s arms.

  His hands moved over her body. “Are you okay?”

  She drew a breath that scorched her lungs, and then another. “Y-yes. I think.”

  Walker rushed over. “Wow, Caitlyn, I didn’t know you could fly.”

  She made a face at him and staggered to her feet. Judd was there to steady her, and she leaned on him.

  “We have Harland and his boys handcuffed and in the deputy’s car,” Walker said. “I’m going back to get my car and I’ll meet you at the sheriff’s office.”

  By then the deputy had joined them. “You need to sign papers,” he said, looking toward the sky. “And we better get out of here. Heavy rain is on the way and that windmill is not too steady.”

  They moved away from the shaky structure. “I’ll make sure Caitlyn is okay and then I’ll follow you,” Judd stated.

  The deputy got in his car and drove away. Walker hightailed it on horseback to the Southern Cross.

  Judd looked at Caitlyn’s pale face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She tilted her head. “Well, Judd Calhoun, you keep asking me that and I’m going to start thinking you care.” As she said the words, raindrops pelted their faces.

  “We’d better take cover,” Judd said, grabbing Baron’s and Jaz’s reins. He led them into a gully, away from the windmill and trees. He yanked a slicker from his saddlebag. Spreading the rain gear over their heads, he hunkered down with Caitlyn to wait out the worst of the storm.

  “Wouldn’t it be better to make a run for the ranch?” she asked.

  “It’s too dangerous now with the wind, lightning and rain. Hopefully it will be over soon.”

  Under the plastic covering, they seemed to be encased in their own private world. The rain beat down and the wind tugged at them fiercely. They held tight to the slicker, which the wind kept threatening to blow away.

  Suddenly they heard a loud crash. “The windmill,” Caitlyn muttered, grateful she wasn’t still on it. The slashing rain kept battering them, but she wasn’t afraid. She had Judd.

  Under the slicker she smelled rain, sweat and sandalwood. And Judd. He filled every corner of her mind.

  “I wouldn’t have jumped for anyone else,” she murmured. “I trusted you.”

  He turned his head and she stared into the dark depths of his eyes. “That’s what love is,” she added. “Trusting another person completely.” She unsnapped her shirt, took his hand and placed it over her heart. “Can you feel it?”

  His eyes darkened. “Caitlyn—”

  “Don’t say you don’t know what love is. All you have to do is follow the instructions you gave me a moment ago. Let go, open up your heart and trust me. Trust me.”

  His hand moved over her breast and his eyes held hers. Slowly he dipped his head and his lips took hers hungrily. Neither held anything back. The world, the storm, faded away as their hands and lips found a way to ease the pain of yesterday.

  Distracted, they lost their grip on the slicker and the wind took it. “Oh,” she cried as she tried to catch it, to no avail. Judd pulled her back into his arms and she buried her face in the warmth of his neck. The rain showed no mercy, drenching them both, but then suddenly eased off again. Even the wind dropped. The gully was filling up with water, and Judd helped her to her feet.

  Cait stared at the crushed windmill and defeat washed over her as hard as the rain had. It was going to cost a lot to get it back up and running.

  “We can make it home now,” Judd said, brushing rain from her face.

  She wanted to stay in this moment, in this time. He hadn’t said he loved her, but he hadn’t denied it, either. That was enough for now.

  But thoughts of the ranch and her responsibilities came rushing back. She reached for Jaz’s reins. “I saw smoke earlier. Do you know what that was?”

  Judd seemed to take a long time to answer. “Your hay fields were on fire and I’m pretty sure Harland and his boys set it.” Then he told her all he’d learned about the foreman.

  She swallowed hard. “I think he was going to kill me.”

  “No doubt. He blamed you that I found out about his illegal activities.”

  “Is that why you came looking for me?”

  “Yes. When he realized he was going to be arrested, he said he’d make you pay.”

  She swung into the saddle with a squeaky wet sound. She was soaked, as was the saddle and her horse. “I have to get home to check on my family.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Judd called, and jumped onto Baron. Together they galloped toward High Five. As they came over a ridge, Cait pulled up. Puffs of smoke could be seen coming from the house.

  “Oh, no!” She kneed Jaz and was off again like a rocket. She had to find out if Gran, Maddie and Etta were okay.

  Jaz covered the wet ground with amazing speed. As they reached the barnyard, Cait leaped off and made a dash for the smoldering house.

  Please let them be okay, she prayed.

  “Cait!”

  She swung around at the sound of Maddie’s voice, and saw her, Coop and Rufus standing under the eave of the barn. Gran wasn’t with them. Cait’s heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

  She ran to Maddie, her breath catching. “Where’s Gran?” she cried anxiously. “Tell me where she is!”

  Maddie put an arm around her and Cait realized her sister was as wet as she was. “It’s okay. Gran is at Etta’s lying down. She’s fine, but a little shaken up, as we all are.”

  Cait glanced toward the puffs of smoke still coming from the house. “How bad is it?”

  “The parlor and two bedrooms sustained damage.”

  Cait swallowed the constriction in her throat. “How did this happen?”

  “Etta and I were working in the kitchen and we smelled smoke. I went into the parlor and saw the blaze at the windows. It traveled to the second floor before Cooper and I could
get it out with water hoses.”

  “But how did it start?”

  Coop stepped forward, his face etched in anger. “I was getting ready to go check the rolls of hay to make sure they were secure, and saw Harland and two cowboys ride away. I heard Maddie scream, and I ran to the house. While she got Miss Dorie and Etta out, I grabbed the hoses to extinguish the fire.”

  “Thank you, Coop.”

  “I wish I could have saved more. I smelled gasoline and knew that bastard had torched the place.”

  “And the hay fields?” Cait asked, but she already knew.

  Coop removed his wet hat and studied it for a moment. “As we finished putting out the fire at the house, I saw the smoke coming from the hay fields. I told Maddie to call the fire department, and Ru and I got there as fast as we could. But it was too late. The dry grasses and the wind were against us. I’m sorry, Cait. We lost it all.”

  She took a deep breath and wanted to burst into tears. All her hard work and it was gone. High Five was done. There was no way she could recover from this.

  She collected herself quickly. She wouldn’t cry. At that moment she looked up and saw that half the tin roof on the barn had been blown away. The tears weren’t far away, but the thought of the baby calf saved her.

  “Is Solomon okay?”

  “Yes.” Maddie squeezed her shoulder. “He’s in there bumping his head, wanting milk. I’ll feed him in a little bit.”

  Cooper tensed, and out of her peripheral vision Cait saw Judd walk up.

  “I’m sorry, Caitlyn,” he said.

  She turned to face him, and all that love and warmth she’d felt earlier seemed to disappear. She was spent and empty.

  “We won’t have to wait for six months,” she said in a voice she didn’t recognize. “Harland has beaten me and High Five is finished. You were right—I was fighting a losing battle.”

  He took a step forward. “Cait…”

  “Please leave. I’ll get with you later about the details. I can’t handle any more right now.”

  “Cait…”

  Cooper stepped in front of her. “You heard the lady. It’s time for you to go.”

  The two men, the same height and weight, faced off. “I don’t want to fight with you, Cooper.”