Last Stand Ranch

by Jenna Night

  Fifteen minutes later, all of the visitors were gone except for Bobby. Even Jonathan had left for the Morales house to help prepare for their overnight guests. Elijah still wanted to talk to Olivia alone, but first things first. He needed to sell Claudia on the idea of the security system.

  Bobby hadn’t moved from the chair he’d padded with thick, folded blankets and plopped down into when he’d first arrived. Now Denise and Olivia were sitting on the sofa which had also been padded with blankets. Claudia was sitting in a plain wooden chair, her hands tightly clamped on the arms as if she was trying to command the world to stay still.

  Raymond stood muttering about all the cleanup he still had to do before he’d get to go to bed.

  “I’ve ordered a security-camera setup for your house,” Elijah said to Claudia. He hadn’t been able to think of a way to ease into the topic. “If you hate it, I can send it back. But maybe you could give it a try.”

  “Under surveillance in your own home?” Raymond asked with a sneer. “What kind of life is that?”

  It sounded a lot like Claudia’s objection when Elijah had originally brought up the subject. He frowned at Raymond. Thanks for that.

  “It’s not an invasion of your privacy,” Bobby said calmly. “No one will see the recordings. You control everything. You can keep every scrap of information here, or have it stored in the cloud where it’ll be secure and encrypted.”

  “The cloud?” Claudia repeated a little dazedly.

  “You really think it’ll be secure?” Raymond demanded. He looked around the room. “Doesn’t anybody else around here follow the news?”

  Elijah took a breath. Getting frustrated wouldn’t help.

  Olivia came to his rescue. She walked over to Claudia, stood behind her and placed her hands on her aunt’s shoulders. “This won’t go on forever. I promise. But you can just have the cameras set up outside. Nothing will record inside your house.”

  Raymond made a scoffing sound.

  “I’ll show you all the camera angles after I install it,” Bobby said. “You can pick what works for you.”

  “All right.” Claudia rubbed her hands together. “We’ll try it.”

  Elijah looked at Olivia. “Thanks.”

  She responded with a slight nod.

  He blew out a little exhale of relief. Two objectives down. One more to go.

  EIGHTEEN

  Olivia was interested in hearing what else Elijah wanted to talk about, but his phone rang and he glanced at the screen. “It’s Deputy Bedford,” he said. “Everybody wait here for a few minutes. I’ll be right back.” He walked off into the kitchen to take the call.

  “It’s getting late and I’ve still got a lot to do,” Raymond groused. He suddenly stood. “I’m going to get started on some of the repairs in the cottage. We got the busted lock on the front door fixed and all that garbage that was strewn around the front room cleaned up, but there’s still plenty more to do. Come get me if it looks like I’m going to miss anything important.”

  “Sit down,” Claudia commanded. “He said he’d be right back.”

  Raymond sat.

  Olivia caught Raymond and Denise sharing an annoyed glance. Who could blame them? They’d signed on to take care of a house and the grounds for a retired rancher and look what they’d gotten dragged into, thanks to her.

  Elijah was back a few minutes later. “Good news. The FBI profiler just arrived in Phoenix. She’ll be in Painted Rock tomorrow evening.”

  Olivia felt a genuine smile cross her lips. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

  “Bedford also said he tried to call you but your phone kept going to voice mail.”

  “Oh.” She pulled it out of her pocket, suddenly remembering that she’d turned it off at the festival. She powered it back on.

  “So what is it you needed to tell us?” Raymond asked impatiently.

  Elijah moved one of the torn dining table chairs so he could sit next to Claudia. “I need everybody to stay at my house tonight. Maybe for a couple of nights. Just until we’re sure your house is secure.”

  No, not tonight. Olivia’s heart hammered in her chest as she stared at her feet, trying to compose herself. It was wonderful that the FBI profiler was almost here. But over the course of the evening she’d decided to remove herself from Claudia’s life until everything was resolved. She’d planned to slip out of the house very early tomorrow morning without any emotional fanfare and head back to Vegas. She would have one of Painted Rock’s few taxis pick her up from the road to take her to the airport and she’d immediately send a text so no one would worry about her.

  Vanessa was a well-known attorney with enemies of her own, so she lived in a very secure building in Vegas. She’d given Olivia an open invitation to stay there.

  She’d been certain she had no future in Las Vegas when she’d left, but maybe she was wrong. She’d already lost her one chance at a meaningful job in Painted Rock. Maybe she could find another opportunity in a bigger city.

  “I guess we could stay at your place tonight if you really think it’s important,” Claudia said to Elijah. Having her home invaded must have understandably changed her priorities.

  Olivia looked up, surprised and uncertain. There could be no slipping away unnoticed on the Morales ranch.

  “You don’t seem too worried about us,” Denise said snidely.

  “I meant to include you, too,” Elijah said.

  “No, thanks.” Raymond crossed his arms tightly across his chest. “I think we’d be more comfortable at a motel.” He looked pointedly at Claudia.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll pay for it.” She stood up. “But right now I’m going upstairs to get my doggies. They need to go outside and I need some air.”

  “Bobby, can you go with her when she goes outside?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s go back to the cottage,” Raymond said to Denise, heading for the swinging door to the kitchen. “Maybe we can get something done before we have to leave.”

  “Let me take a quick look around the yard before you and Claudia go out,” Elijah said to Bobby. He walked out the front door. Olivia got up and followed him outside.

  The rain had stopped, but the breeze was still blowing in unsteady bursts. A full moon cast silver light between heavy storm clouds. Olivia tucked her windblown hair behind her ears and looked for Elijah in the darkness.

  He melded into the shadows so completely that it took her a moment to find him. He was standing on the porch. Watching her.

  Nerves danced in the center of her chest as she walked over to him. They’d been alone together many times before, but this time it felt different.

  Another cloud passed overhead. After it was gone, the world was bathed in silver again. This time she could see the intense expression on his face and the light reflecting in his eyes.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  How many times had he asked her that? He was always checking with everyone else, making sure they were okay.

  “I’m fine.” Nerves got the better of her and she couldn’t say anything more despite the questions that lay heavy on her heart. Was there any reason for her to stay in Painted Rock? One that involved a future with Elijah? Should she ignore the signals he’d started to send over the past few days and believe that he still meant to face the rest of his life alone?

  Elijah pushed away from the side of the house where he’d been leaning and walked closer to her. He reached out to brush aside the hair that had already been blown loose and was back hanging in her eyes again. The warmth of his touch soothed her jangling nerves and sent them out of control at the same time.

  “I can’t stop you from leaving,” he said. “But I wish you wouldn’t go.”

  How did he know? She glanced at the boarded front window. “It’s gettin
g too dangerous around here. I think it would be best for everybody.”

  He moved closer, looked down into her eyes and rested his calloused hand against her cheek. “I don’t want you to go,” he said softly, leaning toward her until their lips were nearly touching and their breaths began to mingle.

  The joyful yelp of a dog echoed inside the house. More yelps followed.

  The front doorknob rattled and Olivia took a step back from Elijah. He smiled slightly but didn’t move away.

  The door opened and three wiggling dogs made a beeline across the porch and down the steps to the grass.

  Claudia and Bobby walked out behind them. Claudia glanced skyward, and then headed down the steps behind her dogs.

  “Hey, it’s actually kind of nice out here now.” Bobby paused on the porch and let the wind toss around his red curls.

  “It is.” Olivia tried to look anywhere but at Elijah. If she looked at him she’d be even more confused.

  “You should probably go back inside,” Elijah said, reaching out to touch her hand.

  He smiled at her and she felt a warm blush heat her skin.

  “Whoever did this to your aunt’s house is probably watching. I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “Me, neither.” Getting shot at twice in her life was more than enough.

  “Bobby, why don’t you go back inside with her? I’ll stay with Aunt Claudia. After she goes back in, I’ll stay out here and get a few of these outside lights working. We’ll head home as soon as I’m done.”

  “Okay.” Bobby pulled open the door and gestured for Olivia to walk ahead of him.

  As she stepped over the threshold, her phone chimed. A text from Denise:

  Sorry Ray and I were so grouchy. Stressed and taking it out on other people. No excuse. Sorry.

  Olivia texted back: Totally understandable. She started up the stairs. If they were going to the Morales place, she’d need to pack a few things. Her thoughts drifted to Elijah and that near kiss just now on the porch. Did he truly have room in his life for her? Or was it just the moonlight and the moment? Elijah Morales was tough and disciplined. But he was human, too.

  Her phone chimed. Another text from Denise:

  That jerk who tore up Claudia’s house really did a number on the cottage. What a mess.

  Olivia texted back: Need some help cleaning up? It wouldn’t take long to pack. Besides, now that the guests were gone and the house was quiet, her nervous, jittery feeling was coming back. The person who shot her had been in this very house. He was circling closer. Maybe, despite everyone’s best efforts, there wouldn’t be a happy ending. Helping Denise would keep her mind occupied and away from morbid thoughts.

  She looked down at her phone. Her hands were trembling. She tried to take a deep breath, but her lungs felt locked. She was on the verge of panic. She’d been out there on that uncertain edge of life so often lately she’d learned to recognize the signs.

  Denise still hadn’t texted back yet. She was probably up to her elbows in a bucket of soapy water. Might as well just walk over there. Elijah was outside keeping an eye on things, so she should be fine.

  To be safe, she sent Denise a text telling her she was coming so she’d be on the lookout for her. She went downstairs. Bobby wasn’t in the living room, but the TV was on in the den. He must be in there. “I’m heading out to the cottage,” she called out to him.

  She heard him say something, so she figured he’d heard her. With all her bases covered, she headed out the kitchen door to the cottage. Surely a little company and something useful to do would help her relax. If not, she didn’t know how she’d be able to sleep tonight.

  * * *

  Elijah twisted a bulb into an exterior light fixture with grim determination. Every now and then he’d look around, certain he felt eyes raking over him, but he couldn’t see anyone.

  The wind continued to blow in fits and gusts, the clouds still sailing on the rough seas overhead. Moonlight would shine through the cloud breaks, but in the next instant it would be swallowed by darkness.

  He climbed down off the ladder and listened. The wind whispered furiously as it wrestled through the treetops. Closer to the ground, branches in the trees and bushes rustled.

  It was a good night to sneak up on someone. The restless wind offered a variety of noises to cover quiet footfalls.

  It was a perfect night for a tracker like him to run down his prey, too.

  Elijah was thankful Claudia and Olivia had agreed to go to his house. In a minute, he’d round everybody up and drive them over to the Morales ranch in one of Claudia’s cars. He’d send Raymond and Denise to a hotel at the same time. Before he left he’d lock up the house, leaving a few lights burning inside and out, as someone would do if they were leaving for the night.

  But he would come back. On foot. Under the cover of some nice, unsettling weather. He took a breath, enjoying the scents of damp pine and sage. The smell was fresh and clean and energizing. Finally having the chance to do something rather than waiting for the next attack was invigorating. A slight smile played at the corners of his lips.

  His plan had changed since he’d talked to Bobby. Elijah wasn’t going to wait inside. On a night as perfect as this, he’d wait outside. He’d watch the house and see who showed up. If his dad insisted on coming along, he could wait and watch, too.

  In the army, and sadly in his work with Vanquish, Elijah had experience with people who fed off fear. They felt empowered by it. The creep who was after Olivia would see the house closed up as evidence he’d successfully scared her away for the night. He’d also see the opportunity the empty house presented to torment her again.

  Elijah would be waiting. The shooter would be surprised. And then it would be over. Olivia would finally be safe. The fear that hounded her would be gone.

  He walked around the house, glancing up at the upstairs bedroom windows, glad to see Claudia and Olivia had followed his directions and kept the shutters pulled together and the lights turned down low.

  His phone rang. He glanced down at the screen. Olivia was calling. His heart melted like butter. Nothing he could do about that.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Elijah! We need your help!” Her words sounded frantic and choppy as if she couldn’t catch her breath. Layered atop her voice, he could hear someone else yelling in the background, a woman. “No! No! Stop!”

  Every cell in his body snapped to full attention. He reached for the gun tucked in the waist of his jeans and started at a run for the house, looking up at the lit windows, searching out shadows that looked menacing, listening for the shouts he could hear through the phone. “Where are you?” He was at the front porch. Where was Bobby? If the shooter had gotten to Olivia, he must have overpowered Bobby.

  “The cottage!”

  The cottage? What was she doing back there?

  He changed direction, running back down the steps and around the house. “Are you all right?” He shouted into the phone. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. But we need you here.”

  “I’m almost there. Tell me what’s happening.” Did he need more weapons? Did he need to come in through the window?

  “It’ll be okay,” he heard her say in a shaky voice, talking to someone else.

  “Is he there?” Elijah demanded, reaching the cottage, and then slowing down, pressing himself against the building, waiting for her intel to let him know how to approach the situation. “Is the shooter there?” The lights hadn’t been replaced back here. Darkness would give him good cover. The storm clouds were bunching together again and a light rain started to fall.

  “No, he’s not here now. But he was just here.” Olivia’s voice got shakier and it sounded as if she had turned away from the phone—maybe she was looking around. “At least, I don’t think he’s here.” She spok
e to someone else. “Could he still be here?”

  Heart pounding in his chest, Elijah took a steadying breath and listened. He had one chance to move events in the right direction. This was where his training kicked in. Every fiber of his being wanted to rush in and save Olivia, but the best, most heartfelt intentions could get everyone killed. Sometimes you had to will your blood to turn to ice, make yourself slow down for a second and think.

  He heard Olivia calling out his name inside the cottage. He heard her voice through his phone, too, sounding fearful and panicky. Much as he wanted to reassure her, he couldn’t just yet.

  The front door of the cottage was slightly ajar. Staying hidden behind the door, he pushed it open a little bit farther.

  Darkness filled the living room at the front of the cottage. Just beyond it a faint glow lit the passageway to the kitchen. A bedroom lined up behind it at the back of the small building.

  By the light of a small bedside lamp, he saw Denise bound to a wooden chair with wide strips of gray duct tape.

  Olivia stood beside her, phone in one hand, using her other to tug helplessly at the tape.

  Denise, tears streaming down her face, arms pinned to her sides, eyes wide with fear, kept yelling to Olivia in a hoarse voice, “No! Hang up and go! Just go!” A short curl of tape sat by her feet. Olivia had probably just pulled it from Denise’s mouth.

  Elijah silenced his phone, tucked it into his jeans pocket and started a slow, careful walk into the dark living room. He peered into the corners as best he could, taking advantage of the weak light spilling from the bedroom. He listened, trying to feel if there was anyone lurking in the shadows, all the while fighting the demand of his heart that he run straight to Olivia and make sure she was okay.

  Farther into the living room he got a better view of the bedroom. The window was broken. The room had been tossed, leaving bedding and clothes everywhere. Denise tried to twist in her chair to face Olivia. She was still shouting at her to go.