He started toward her. If it was the last thing he did, he’d make her pay. Pay for killing his kid, pay for getting him fired, pay for his time in that hellhole jail, pay for—
A field light hummed to life above him. He shaded his eyes, turned from the light and stumbled into the dark woods beyond the fairgrounds.
***
Mike sat up.
Kate was leaning against the truck, breathing hard. She looked at him. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” He’d worry about his arm later. “Which way did he go?” He rolled to his feet.
She pointed toward the woods.
He hurried around the other side of the truck, grabbed a flashlight from the glove compartment and charged after the fleeing figure. The man was yards ahead of him. Mike lengthened his stride.
He was narrowing the gap when he saw something dart from the bushes. Whatever it was collided with the fugitive. When Mike caught up to the man, he found two men grappling in the dirt—grunting and wheezing beside an overturned wheelchair.
He shined the flashlight on them, wanting to help but knowing he could make things worse for his friend. Within moments, the coach had twisted the man’s arms behind his back and wrestled the knife from his hand. The man kicked and screamed obscenities.
Coach ground his face into the dirt. “Shut up or you’ll learn what real pain feels like.”
Mike knelt next to the two men, trying to catch his breath. He slapped Coach on the back. “You made fast work of that guy.”
Coach grinned, apparently holding his struggling captive with little effort. “I always wanted to wrestle dirty.”
“How did you know what was going on back here?”
“My son had to use the bathroom, so I took him to the men’s room.” The man beneath him squirmed. Coach dug his elbow into his back, and the movement stopped. “When we came out, I saw Dymple dash behind the stands with a crutch in her hand. I had a feeling something wasn’t right—she never moves that fast, so I dropped Donny off and raced back here.”
Mike heard a noise and flashed the light at the trees. Kate, both crutches under her arms, was working her way toward them. Calling his name, she said, “Firemen are helping your mom and Dymple, and an ambulance is—”
She stopped beside him, peering at the men on the ground. Even in the poor lighting, he could see the wide grin that broke across her face. “Wow, Coach. Looks like our invisible God just did the impossible through you.”
***
Kate sat alone in the hospital waiting room, flipping through magazines. Three of her friends had been injured because of her. The medics had told her none of them sustained serious wounds. Even so, Dymple, Laura and Mike had all been attacked and traumatized by Ramsey. It had been such a good day, but it ended all wrong.
“Care for some company?”
She looked up, surprised to see Mike standing in front of her, his bandaged arm encased in a sling. She moved some magazines aside. “Have a seat.”
“I was thinking we might get some ice cream in the cafeteria. After all, it’s the Fourth of July.” He glanced at the wall clock. “For a few more minutes, anyway. I’ll buy.”
Kate stood. He hadn’t spoken a dozen words to her all day. Now he wanted to buy her ice cream. She didn’t know what to think about Mike’s sudden friendliness, but going to the cafeteria would help pass the time. “What did they say about your arm?”
“The doctor told me I was lucky. Said she’d seen a lot worse knife wounds and seems convinced my arm will be back to normal in a few weeks. So that’s good news.”
“Really good news. Thank you for tackling Ramsey. You saved my life.”
***
They ate the ice cream without speaking, until Mike dropped his spoon in his bowl. “I should have sat with you and the others to watch the fireworks. Then you wouldn’t have been attacked and Mom and Dymple wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
“But you had to play in the band. Plus, Ramsey would have caused trouble somewhere, sometime. Remember, you kept him from harming me when I first arrived at the ranch. I knew he’d return, but thanks to you, I’m still alive. I had vowed to fight him to the death if he came for me again.”
“But why was he after you? I don’t get the connection—”
“Uh-oh.” Kate focused beyond his shoulder.
Mike looked behind him and then turned back, one eyebrow lifted.
“I forgot I’m on house arrest.” She watched Deputy Ramirez navigate between the empty tables.
“You’re what?”
Ramirez was all smiles. “Thought you’d appreciate knowing Mr. Ramsey’s abdominal wound was re-sutured. The doc says he’ll be ready to return to jail soon. In the meantime, we’ll cuff him to the bed and keep a close eye on him. You’ll get your day in court, Miss Neilson. With your testimony and that of others, I think it’ll be several years before he gets a chance to harass anyone again.”
Kate smiled, but she couldn’t help but wonder how Ramsey’s rage would manifest once he was released.
Mike frowned. “I’m confused. Did he escape from jail? How did he get wounded?”
“As I understand it,” the deputy said, “he was hospitalized after being knifed in county jail. The department stationed a guard by his room, but apparently the perp had help. Someone drugged the guard and slipped Mr. Ramsey out of the hospital.”
Resting his hands on the table, Ramirez leaned closer. He lowered his voice. “Off the record, I think the department owes both of you an apology for what we’ve put you through. I don’t know why Caldwell has such a bee up his bonnet when it comes to you and your ranch, Mike. But I’m going to suggest our supervisor look into the way things have been handled regarding the Whispering Pines.”
He turned to Kate. “Also off the record—I have a feeling the drugs we found in your empty cabin were planted. We did not find contraband in your car. However, we discovered a GPS device in the left rear wheel-well.”
“What?” Kate wrinkled her nose. “How did—?”
He straightened. “Sometimes people use GPS to keep an eye on other people’s whereabouts.”
“Oh.” So that was why Ramsey was so confident he could find her no matter where she went.
“I’m sure someone from the department will be talking to you about that.”
“Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.”
Mike nodded and reached to shake the deputy’s hand. “Yes, thanks for the heads-up and for helping us sort through all that’s gone on.”
“No problem.” The deputy shook both their hands and left.
Kate stirred her ice cream, which was beginning to melt, thinking of all that had happened, how the crazy day wasn’t over yet, and how much she dreaded the trial. She’d have to testify, and her past would become front-page news. But then, today’s confession was probably already rolling off the presses—and tongues. As Dymple had said, transparency was a good thing. She’d been able to tell so many people, including Manuel, how God changed her life.
Mike cleared his throat.
Kate blinked. “Sorry. Where were we?”
“Gerald Ramsey. How do you know him? Why are you on house arrest.”
She scooped one last spoonful of ice cream from the bowl. Mike would think she was a total slut if she told him the truth. But she needed to be honest, even about something so shameful. Time to walk out of the dark into the light. She lifted her gaze to his unblinking stare. She missed his smile. “Do you want the short version or the long?”
***
Mike leaned back, folding his arms. “Sounds as though Ramsey is equal parts crazy and evil.” He paused. “One more question, if you don’t mind.”
Following his example, Kate folded her arms and braced herself. “Okay.”
“Why did you take our money?” He squinted at her.
She took a breath. “That’s easy to answer.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah?”
She looked him in the eye. “Becaus
e it was there.”
He frowned.
She squirmed. “For almost as long as I can remember, if any form of money—cash, checks, credit cards and anything I could sell or pawn—was accessible, I went for it.”
“Because it was there.”
“And because I needed funds for food, rent, drugs, gambling debts—mostly drugs. I am terribly sorry I took the envelope, but I never opened it. I’m glad I didn’t know how much was in there, or it would have been harder to return.” She hesitated. “Do you have any idea how Tara and Ramsey hooked up?”
“I thought maybe you knew. There must be some kind of internal force that draws people like those two to each other.” He leaned on the table. “Mind if I change the subject?”
“Just about any other subject would be more pleasant.”
“It’s my turn to apologize. I was rude to you after that band practice. I should have offered you a ride home. Instead, I left you to find your way alone in the dark—in a wheelchair.”
She shrugged. “I think we were both fairly uncomfortable that night.”
“I’m sorry we lost contact after you left the ranch. My fault, really. So many times I wanted to talk with you, to tell you about things happening at the ranch. If there’s a chance we could get back to where we were when we took that trail ride, before Honey threw you, I’d be game to try.”
Kate grinned. He knew about her past, the worst of it, really, and yet he still wanted to be friends. “I’ve missed you and everyone else at the Whispering Pines, a lot.”
“I finally asked Mom about the accident.”
“Did that help?”
“Yeah.” Mike ran his fingers through his hair. “Would you be interested in doing some normal things together?”
She sat back, wondering what normal meant to him. Probably not what she’d experienced in her past.
“You know, go to a movie or out to dinner, something besides chasing bison killers. Maybe even find that eagle’s nest, like we talked about.” He stopped. “That is …” He pushed a paper napkin back and forth on the table with a fork. “I mean, unless you’re too busy hanging with Clint. He said you two have plans.”
“I like Clint, a lot. He’s a great guy, but …” She ducked her head. “But he’s not you. You’re the one I’d like to hang with.” There, she’d said it. After a moment’s hesitation, she peered at him—and returned the smile she’d been longing to see.
Mike lifted a finger. “One more question. Do you have any idea who killed the bison—and why?”
“Ramsey told me he killed Trudy, probably out of spite, but didn’t mention the others. I’m guessing the authorities will learn a lot more when they interrogate him and Tara.”
“And Darryl. He shot from the crowd like a bronco out of a chute when Tara said his name.”
“But Clint and the officer caught up with him fast.” Kate clasped hands and leaned toward him. “I’m kind of surprised about the connection between the three of them. I saw Tara with Ramsey but not with Darryl.”
Mike folded the napkin then folded it again. “Darryl has always had an attitude, so that’s not a huge shocker. But I’m with you—they’re a strange combo. Yet, in a way, they’re all birds of a feather. I hope they get their due, including Tara’s dad, Todd.”
“You think he collaborated with them?”
“Yeah, may even be the ringleader for the theft and the bison deaths. That’s what my gut and a little sleuthing tell me. Though we still don’t know who shot the cows, tests show the bullets were fired from the same weapon. So our next step is to find the gun. And the owner. We also need to figure out who killed the second calf.”
“Second calf?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s too bad. I hope this is the end of the killings.” She moved her bowl aside. “I haven’t heard how your dog is doing. Is Tramp okay?”
Mike brightened. “Doc Hall let me take Tramp home last week. My old puppy is slow moving but happy to be back where he belongs. He mostly lays on the deck soaking up the sunshine.”
His cell phone rang. Mike dropped his spoon into the bowl and tugged the phone out of his shirt pocket. “This is Mike.”
The voice was so loud Kate could hear it across the table. “Bossman, this is Clint. Thought I should warn you.”
Mike moaned. “What? The twins decide they want to shoot buffalo after all?”
Kate heard Clint chuckle. “Worse. A deputy just brought your aunt up to the ranch. Dropped her off at the lobby, where Susan and I were waiting for you guys to come back from the hospital. Since we were the only people around, she chewed us up one side and down the other, madder than a pit bull with a nose full of porcupine quills that nobody offered her a ride home after the fireworks.”
Mike gave Kate a sideways glance. “We’ll never hear the end of it.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
SURROUNDED BY CLAPPING, CHEERING friends and neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Duncan danced across the dining hall floor. Gazing into her husband’s smiling blue eyes, Kate reveled in the blissful moment, one she’d dreamed of but never expected to come true. God was so good to her.
They swung past Aunt Judith, who stood with a cane in one hand and camera in the other, snapping picture after picture, often standing directly in front of the hired photographer. Mike whispered in Kate’s ear. “Expect to see those pictures in Aunt Judith’s Christmas letter.”
She laughed. “I was surprised to see her today, after what happened last summer.”
“Me, too.”
The song ended and their guests began ringing miniature cowbells, calling for a kiss.
Mike leaned her backward. “My pleasure.” He kissed her long and hard.
Kate barely heard the catcalls and applause.
He lifted her upright. “Want something to eat?”
She snuggled into his chest. “I think I just had dessert.”
Shaking hands and hugging guests, they finally made it to the head table, where they sat next to Laura.
She hugged Kate. “Hello, gorgeous daughter-in-law. That was a beautiful wedding.”
“Thanks to you and Dymple. We couldn’t have done it without you. Or without God, who gave us a gorgeous day.” Their wedding had been blessed with a perfect Indian summer day—which on the ranch meant balmy breezes, red-and-orange underbrush, golden aspen and a dazzling deep-blue sky.
Mike reached around Kate to tap his mom on the shoulder. “Tramp was the star of the show.”
Laura laughed. “You’re right. When he trotted up the aisle with his tail in the air and that basket of flowers hanging from his teeth, people about fell out of their chairs laughing.”
Kate waggled a finger in the air. “Never again will I say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Mike had trained Tramp for weeks. Evidently his attempts to discourage the dog from chewing and flipping the basket had worked.
Mike stood. “I’m going to go get us cider and some of Marita’s tamales. How many do you want?”
“I’m starved. Would I look like a pig if I ate four?”
He stooped to kiss her again. “This is your day, my love. You can have whatever you want.”
She touched his cheek. “You’re all I want.”
He winked. “I hope you never stop telling me that.”
Kate’s heart did a flip-flop, like it did every time he winked at her. “And I hope you never stop winking at me.”
Laura sipped from a goblet of cider and set it down. “I’m so glad you asked Cyrus to walk you up the aisle, Kate. I don’t know if you could see it, but that gruff old man was beaming like you were his own daughter.”
Kate lifted her hair off her neck. Dancing had warmed her up. “Before the music started, he told me he was proud of me for how far I’ve come in my life. I almost choked. Never in a thousand years would I have expected that from Cyrus.”
Amy, Kate’s maid-of-honor, leaned in from the other side of Laura. “I thought it was sweet when Pastor Chuck asked, ‘Who giv
es this woman to marry this man?’ and Cyrus helped Dymple and Aunt Mary stand up. I got teary-eyed when they all said ‘We do!’ really loud in their crackly voices.”
Kate smiled. “So did I.” God had filled the parent and grandparent gaps in her life with some amazing people.
Mike returned with two plates of food. Manuel followed with the cider.
Kate got to her feet. “You’re not going to like this, Manuel, but I’m going to kiss you. This is probably the only day I can get away with it.”
He blushed and backed away, but she grabbed him, holding him by the arms. “I just want to say you’re like a brother to me and I’m proud of you.” She kissed him on the cheek and wiped away the lipstick smudge before letting go. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
He rubbed his cheek. “I like having you for a big sister and Mike’s like a big brother, but it doesn’t mean you have to kiss me.”
“Like I said, today’s a special day. I feel like kissing everyone.”
“Hey!” Mike lowered his eyebrows. “Save some kisses for me.”
Manuel rolled his eyes and returned to his friends.
The band leader, a big jovial man, tapped the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, listen up. It’s time for the dollar dance. For just one dollar, you may purchase a dance with the bride or the groom. This young man—” He pointed to Drew, Coach’s oldest son. “This young man has a box of safety pins. Show him your dollar, and he’ll give you a pin with which to attach your bills to the clothing of your dance partner. Notice I said clothing, not skin.”
The crowd laughed at the time-worn joke.
Mike squeezed Kate’s hand. “Looks like we’re on again.”
Kate stood and took his arm.
He leaned close. “Can you hear my stomach growling? I didn’t get one bite of tamale.”
“Me, neither. And they smell so good.”
Before anyone else could make a move, Coach zipped toward his son to pick a pin from the box. He motioned to the band leader, who bent down, jowls hanging, to listen as the coach whispered in his ear.
Winds of Wyoming (A Kate Neilson Novel) Page 33