Independence: #4 Hayley

by Karen Nichols

  “Fair enough,” Jack said, gazing out the front windshield. “Tell us when we’re near where you were shot at, Hayley. I want to get out and look around.”

  “It’s after you leave the highway, follow the signs. Once you get to the gravel and dirt road, go about half a mile and stop.”

  “Probably where the yellow crime tape is,” Dane remarked with a jerk of his head to the side. “Your truck must have gone off to the left.”

  “It did,” Hayley stared through the window as they came to a stop. “I was reaching for the CD in the well to the right and…that’s why it missed me. Just luck,” she whispered with a hard swallow. She quickly shoved her hands beneath her thighs. Cold and shaking and not what she wanted to share at the moment. “I’m only here because of luck.”

  Jack didn’t have anything to say to that and met the blue gaze of his friend and business partner. He stepped from the truck and turned to face her as she scooted across the thickly padded seat. The door behind her closed as Dane walked toward the markers on the road.

  “Don’t make me stay here alone,” she breathed raggedly, her eyes pleading. “Please, Jack.”

  He nodded once and held his hand out to her, keeping her close as they followed behind Dane toward the edge of the gravel. He walked her to the front of the large truck and leaned her against the fender. Slowly, he turned, taking in the terrain in all directions.

  “Whoever it was is one hell of a shot,” Dane voiced Jack’s thoughts aloud. “There’s no cover for almost a mile in the direction the shots came from.”

  “Deer hunters…a 30-06 and impossible to track,” Jack said as if talking to himself. “This area is probably packed with them.”

  “I don’t know too many people around here who don’t have one,” Hayley stepped away from the truck, her head up and mouth dry suddenly. She looked behind her, the direction the shots would have come from.

  “The Lieutenant’s been all over the area. I received a text from her saying they found the tree where the shooter had been,” Dane met the surprised look on her face. “I asked her to keep us informed and told her we’d be with you.”

  “You didn’t have to do that. I’m…I should be angry…but I know you did it to try and spare me from the…the details,” Hayley shook her head and went to the passenger side of the truck. “Thank you.”

  She stood waiting, vaguely listening to them discuss the angle and the direction where the shooter must have been lying in wait for her to come down the road. It was possible they’d meant their shots for someone else. Possible. Or maybe it was just random. Someone with a grudge against the ranch.

  Her uncle Phillip came to mind. She just wasn’t that sure he had the nerve for something like this. And killing her wouldn’t get him extra money from the ranch. Her share would simply be divided up between her brother and cousins. And none of them had a grand scheme to get crazy rich. They were like her. They actually enjoyed their jobs and their lives.

  “You’re deep in thought,” Dane remarked when the men joined her in the truck again.

  “Just follow this road to the first Y and take the far right road. The center one will take you to the offices and main area. The far left one will take you to Dell’s house,” Hayley said quietly, her gaze straight ahead, though she really wasn’t seeing much. “Trying to figure out who would want to shoot me. I just can’t come up with an answer.”

  “Tessa’s ex-boyfriend?” Jack suggested, one brow arched when she looked at him.

  “I suppose…but…it doesn’t make sense. He’d be the kind to pound on me to deliberately hurt me, not make it quick. I can’t see someone with that kind of personality allowing me to go that easily.” She stopped speaking, realizing the truck had come to a stop in the middle of the wide open splits in the road. She looked from one to the other. “What?”

  “Why didn’t I think of that?” Dane asked with a slight grin at her before taking the direction she’d indicated.

  “Problem is…we take him off the suspect list and we’re down to zero,” Jack remarked. “How long have you lived here?”

  “I had the house built three years ago. It’s not…compared to what my brother and cousins built, mine is cozy. I only had it built with one master bedroom and bath in the loft and another on the first floor. I have a small apartment in the office where I see patients. That’s down the center road.”

  “You each selected what you wanted built?”

  “I’d been waffling for a while…but yes. They went with the standard three or four bedroom. I guess I built mine just for me…” she smiled at the bright yellow and deep silver trimmed house. “I never thought I’d take time for anything more.”

  “You have lights strung outside,” Jack said.

  “It’s Christmas,” she chided with an elbow to Jack’s side. “Of course I have lights up. I have lights up inside, too.”

  Jack’s hand came up to rub at his side and he watched her bouncing on the seat between them anxiously.

  “She elbowed me.”

  “Oh, suck it up, cupcake. C’mon! I’ll show you around and get dinner started.” She was barely containing herself as Jack stepped from the truck and got out of her way. She almost launched herself off the front seat as she took off at a run and tapped a code into the lock.

  Dane mouthed the words she had spoken at Jack as they trailed behind her at a more sedate pace.

  “She knows how to put you in your place,” Dane said with a chuckle. “It’s not as small as I thought it would be.”

  Both of them took in the large A-frame house. Hayley had window boxes on all the windows painted bright, cheerful reds, golds and blues. But the most noticeable color around the house and grounds were in the Christmas decorations. Jack wondered if she’d hired someone to string the lights, they looked perfect and reached the highest peak with a bright white glowing star.

  “Do you think it’s a hard limit?”

  Dane looked at Jack, the corner of his mouth quirked. “You’d seriously walk away because you have issues with holidays?”

  “I do not have issues with holidays,” Jack growled back, aware Hayley was watching them from the door way.

  “What would you call it?”

  “Shut up,” Jack increased his pace, taking the three steps all at once and grabbing Hayley around the middle. Surprise filled her face when he hoisted her in the air and spun around so they faced the inside. “It’s gorgeous. You seriously get into this holiday thing, don’t you?”

  Hayley gripped his arms when he set her on the floor, her eyes closed for a minute. “Whoa…warn a girl…and yes…I like celebrations. Of all kinds and sometimes for no reason. Sometimes I just decorate with lights and festive flowers…” she turned from him and gazed at her little fresh spruce she’d dragged from the high country.

  “It’s beautiful,” Dane said from behind Jack. He gave him a slight shove and closed the door behind him. He let his jacket slide down his arms and hooked it on the coat rack beside the door. He grinned at the wide open layout of the main floor. Their girl was functional and simple in her likes. There was a large, wide sofa that acted like a break between the living area and the dining and kitchen.

  The appliances in the kitchen gleamed in stainless steel and black. The counters were empty but he suspected she spent more time in the apartment at her office than in the home.

  “Thank you…I’ll work on dinner. It’ll take about three hours and I can show you around while it’s baking. This won’t take long,” she shivered. “I should get the fire going…I haven’t been here long the last few days.”

  “I’ll go chop the wood,” Jack crossed the open space and unlocked the sliding glass doors.

  “I’ll get the fireplace ready for the wood,” Dane told him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jack stepped back into the brisk late afternoon, his gaze scanning the landscape. He decided despite being mostly a self-proclaimed city boy, he liked what he saw. He took a look back over his shoulder at t
he multi colored lights inside and out and knew it wasn’t going to be a hard limit and he’d change his attitude.

  He stripped his jacket off then found the axe sitting dry and sharp against the wood shed. Firewood sat waiting in a large bin; waiting to be split into kindling. This he knew how to do. Even city boys had fireplaces at one time or another.

  Three full logs later, he was glad he’d worn a light t-shirt. As he speared the next log, he looked up at the sound of an approaching rider. That wasn’t something you’d think every day, he mused, letting the log rest on the high block for chopping. He stared at the man, about his age but wearing a black Stetson and dusty cowboy boots. The rest of his attire would have fit anywhere, Jack thought, typical jeans, shirt and jacket.

  “Good afternoon,” Jack began politely. “Nice day for a ride.”

  “Afternoon,” he tipped his head slightly, his hand on the brim of the hat. “Won’t get many more like this until spring.”

  “You one of the cousins?”

  The man laughed, white teeth shining against a naturally tanned face. “That I am. Rafe Russell. Dell was ranting so I figured I’d check on Hayley myself and make sure she was okay. My girl needed space for Christmas wrapping anyway.”

  “Good excuse. Jack Bennett. Hayley’s doing okay,” he glanced slowly back toward the house. “Confused. She can’t figure out the what or why of it…not sure too many people could. You don’t get shot at every day. She’s inside working on fixing us a pork roast with extras…I didn’t ask.”

  “I was a little thrown back when Dell told us what happened. I can’t think of anyone with a grudge against Hayley. She’s a vet. A damn good one…” Rafe shook his head. “Makes no sense. If it had been daylight, we might have chalked it up to a careless hunter…but in the middle of the night?”

  “Would you have heard anything?”

  “No…well, if we’d been awake, we might have heard it. The night was clear and sound carries around the hills. But not enough to pinpoint it to where or what it was,” Rafe told him thoughtfully. “Police came by this morning. I saw them when I was out checking the gates. Only the main one is left open during the daylight hours. Anyone with access to the ranch has the codes to get inside.”

  “But the shots came from outside and behind her as she drove up the road. Someone would have to be familiar and plan for something like that,” Jack commented.

  “I know. We figured that out. Hayley doesn’t like…” Rafe exhaled a long puff of breath. “My cousins and uncles made big mistakes where Hayley was concerned. She’s the only girl and lost her mom when she was about three. I was the last male born and I’m eighteen months older than her. They had a habit of treating her like she was breakable,” he laughed, his head shaking. “They never got it that the kind of behavior made her all the more determined to be in on every event and outing we had. No matter what her dad told her.”

  “She doesn’t like being coddled,” Jack said with a nod. “Yeah…got that figured out. But she’s still a girl…and maybe we phrased it better…or she trusts us not to take too much of her freedom away.”

  “So Dell was telling the truth. We thought he might be exaggerating a bit…” Rafe waited, continuing when there was silence. Both men turned at the sound of the sliding door opening. Dane came around the side without his jacket, his sleeves rolled to his elbows and the large basket in one hand for the wood.

  “Thought you might be distracted. She’s busy and singing to some music in the kitchen.” Dane walked up to the rider, his hand out. “Dane Landon.”

  “If she’s not singing and dancing, something’s wrong,” Rafe told him, leaning down enough to take the hand with a firm shake. “Rafe Russell.”

  “Has she always been this Christmas crazy?” Jack asked.

  Rafe just smiled. “She was three when her mom died. And she died two weeks before Christmas. It was an accident on icy roads…the other driver lived, Kayla didn’t. But for weeks before that, Hayley had been playing around the stables. Her mom was a vet, too. Kayla had been telling her about death because they’d lost a few baby sheep. For a three year old, she used angels as the ones who came and took them someplace they would be happy and loved. Hayley used that when her mom died. Hence, the angels all over the tree. We kind of didn’t help, I guess. Our dad’s all brought her an angel when they’d go off on buying trips and we continued it when we were doing the buying. Kayla was happy and always positive…she celebrated life and holidays just got in the way. Hayley’s the same.”

  “Then I guess I’m adjusting,” Jack said with a long breath, tossing chopped logs and thick slivers into the basket Dane had set at his feet.

  “Both of you…dating a woman at the same time?” Rafe looked from one to the other. When neither man answered, he leaned back in the saddle. “I get it. It’s not my business. And that’s just what Hayley needs to stick to…because Dell is hard headed and stubborn. She’s not a child anymore but…I think he feels responsible for her.”

  “And he’s never bothered to ask what she needs,” Dane commented while Jack went back to splitting the logs. “Or what she wants.”

  “I don’t have siblings, so I’m not sure how it’s supposed to go. But it can’t be much different than battling parents for some breathing space,” Rafe said thoughtfully. “As long as she’s happy, it’s not my business.”

  “But you are curious.”

  “I came out because Eden wanted me gone so she could wrap presents. It’s been a hectic month for us…our first and our first Christmas. You do a shitload of learning during that time. Don’t imagine it’s going to much different for you. We think of her as our cousin…we’ve never looked at her from your side of the canvas,” Rafe told them with a nod. He tightened his grip on the horse.

  “Do you discuss your personal life with your cousins or dad?” Jack asked, the axe sliding through the log of choice like it was going through butter.

  “Do your cousins know who you’re with and when and how often?” Dane pressed firmly.

  “Not to mention your dad,” Jack added with another log on the end of the axe.

  Rafe laughed. “Now wouldn’t that be holiday chatter.”

  “But they want it to be different because it’s Hayley.”

  “I don’t envy you but I’ve recent knowledge that if she’s the one, she’s more than worth swimming upstream for,” Rafe nodded slowly. “Let her know I was here, if you would. She’s good friends with the women in our lives and girls naturally worry. Nice meeting you both. Have a great evening.”

  “Thanks…you, too,” Dane told him, watching him ride off toward the hills. “Our second inspection?”

  “Our play has always been restricted to clubs. We’ve never…” Jack picked another log and slammed the axe into the center. “I was nineteen last time I met a girl’s family.”

  “Same here…” Dane collected more spilt pieces and went back toward the house. “I think that’ll last her for a while.”

  “My way of thinking things through,” Jack sunk the axe into a log and made sure it was out of the rain when it hit. He grabbed up his jacket and followed Dane into the house.

  “Did it help?” Dane’s short question was packed with interest.

  “Information from the visitor helped.” Jack met his look. “Later.”

  “It’s all simmering,” Hayley announced, coming out of the kitchen when she heard the sliding doors and their voices. She had a towel in her hands and was drying them off, watching Dane carry the large collection of wood to the old-fashioned stone hearth she’d had built into her home. “We’ll have nice Yukon baked potatoes, a melt-in-your mouth pork roast, corn and some rolls from the freezer. In about three hours. Ready for a tour?”

  “Your cousin came down to make sure you’re all right,” Jack said, the expression on her face instantly changing from cheerful to wary. “Said his name was Rafe.” Jack noticed that seemed to make a difference.

  “Rafe is sweet. He was the youngest ‘til I c
ame along. Did you tell him I’m fine?”

  “I did…and cooking your little heart out for us,” Jack replied with a grin.

  “Rafe is sweet,” she repeated with a little nod. “He has this cute girlfriend and we love shopping in thrift shops together,” Hayley said with a toss of the towel to the chair. “We can drive up to the main area. Have you ever ridden horses?”

  The looks she received answered the question and she gulped down the laugh at their expressions. When the laugh burbled free, she looked down at her toes.

  “No summer camps and pony rides?”

  “I hear tone,” Dane said flatly from his spot kneeling at the fireplace, his hands working the wood into place. “We can start this when we get back from the walkabout.” He stood and wiped his hands on the towel she held out to him. “I think we come from different places.”

  Jack stood by the door, one hand up and rubbing the back of his neck and fighting the grin on his face.

  Hayley looked from one to the other. “Different places…” she repeated with a slow nod. “I suppose we do. I’ll be the one escorting spiders out the door when you scream like girls,” she said with a wink, walking over to grab a jacket from the coat rack. “You don’t have to go on a tour if it bores you…honestly…”

  “Just because we’ve never ridden doesn’t mean we’re bored, Hayley,” Jack said quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her against him. “Don’t think that. Everything about you fascinates us…and I for one…appreciate the spider offer.”

  “Wuss…” Dane murmured, pulling keys from his pocket and shaking his head.

  “Don’t let him kid you. We had a job in Arizona in the second year of our company,” Jack confided, walking with her through the house, his hand comfortably resting on her hip. He tilted his head toward hers as they walked. “Some of the biggest fucking bugs you’ve ever seen in your life live down there. Couldn’t wait to get home and we sacked most of our clothes just to be sure we’d killed them all.”

  Hayley laughed all the way to the truck, her head shaking when Jack lifted her to the seat like a child. She did admire the muscles they both sported. She knew construction wasn’t an easy job, especially for a couple of men who immersed themselves in the jobs, not just shouted orders.