Ladd Springs (Ladd Springs, Book #1)

by Venetta, Dianne

  Felicity opened the door. “Travis and Troy, remember?”

  No, she didn’t remember. Delaney couldn’t think straight let alone remember what her daughter said ten minutes ago! But that was neither here nor there. “No,” she answered hastily. “Thank you, but I have to work today.” She tugged on her boots as Felicity did likewise.

  What her “work” entailed remained to be seen. At the moment, she was only certain that her time today would be spent saving her daughter’s inheritance. Somehow, some way, Delaney had to make sure her daughter didn’t lose out due to Clem or Ernie or for that matter, Nick. An item. She scoffed. Did it get any more ludicrous?

  Though she had to admit, it was heartening to know he had indeed camped out for the duration last night. Delaney stood and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “I’ll see you at three.” She closed and locked the door behind them. Would Nick be back this evening?

  That depended upon his trip into the woods today.

  Nick parked down the street from Clem’s trailer. He sat just past the curve in the road, a nearby cluster of branches hanging far enough over the street to ensure he would remain unseen should it occur to Clem to look for him. Reaching for his coffee from the center console, Nick took a slow sip. He had no idea what time to expect Clem’s departure, but with no place else to go, he had the time to wait. And think.

  Delaney had been remarkably cagey about Clem and their dispute, much like she’d been when it came to the stranger on the trail. But sure as he was sitting here, Nick believed Clem and the men were tied together and she knew the reason why. Today, he would learn the facts for himself.

  The cell phone vibrated on his dash. Nick picked it up and checked the screen. Malcolm again. Which was odd. It wasn’t like him to be so insecure about a deal. But then it wasn’t like Nick to take so long in securing a property, either. He answered the call with a brisk, “What’s up?”

  “Jillian is up.”

  “What now?” he asked, a twinge of memory firing in his groin as he brought coffee to mouth.

  “She signed one of your investors for her project last night.”

  He yanked the coffee from his lips, the liquid searing his tongue. “What?” He glanced down at his lap, checking for spill spots. Thank God for lids.

  “You heard me. I told you she was hounding us on this one.”

  “Hounding us, hell. Who defected?”

  “Winters.”

  “Winters?” Nick couldn’t have been more shocked if Malcolm had revealed himself as the turncoat. “Why would he do such a thing? He’s one of our biggest supporters.”

  “Was.”

  “Did you talk to him? What the hell happened?”

  “One guess.” Malcolm’s smirk leaped at him through the receiver.

  Visions of Jillian’s slender body undulated through his mind. “You’re kidding me...”

  “Wish I was, but I’m not. We can survive with the others, so long as you’re close. Tell me you’re close to a deal, Nick.”

  Crap. He wasn’t close to anything, let alone a deal. Staring out the windshield, Nick’s eyes glazed over, time stood still. The mailbox sat crooked by the road, the black metal box nearly in the path of oncoming traffic. Scruffy shrubs poked in and around the junk box Clem called home. “I’m working on it.”

  “Well, you better work fast or forget about this one. Jillian’s closing the distance, no way are we playing second best.”

  “Damn straight we’re not.” Nick jammed his thumb on the end button. Because they weren’t second best.

  But if Jillian was up to her old tricks, competing would prove tough. She could wrap a man up in knots and steal his money before the poor guy had the first clue what hit him. But Winters?

  That surprised him. Nick would have pegged him for an upstanding guy, a guy immune to such tactics. He and his wife seemed to have a great marriage—if such a thing existed—but sex sells. Sex cajoles, swindles and manipulates. It felt damn good while it was happening, too. Something he remembered all too well. Nick pounded a fist against the steering wheel. Damn it—where was Clem?

  Through the windshield, Nick stared at the trailer. Dilapidated was too kind for the place. It looked abandoned. Deserted. Was Clem even inside?

  Nick had a mind to drive over and peek through the damn windows to be sure. But Clem had to be there. Last night, after driving into town to meet with the two men—something he’d have to take up with Delaney at a later date—Clem stopped here. Nick went to listen at the door. There were no other voices, other than those emanating from a television set. This was the man’s home, Nick was sure of it. So where the hell was he?

  Time was running out.

  Delaney shouldered the Appaloosa’s meaty chest to move him back as she dumped feed into the bin. The horse gave way with a low nicker, but once the sound of sliding nuggets had silenced, he pushed the rounded muscles of his chest into her back, his head bobbing anxiously for her to move.

  “I hear ya, I hear ya,” she said and stepped clear of the heavy animal. “No need to trample me over it.” Delaney slapped him gently on the rump, followed by a quick rub, then tossed the bucket into its corner storage. “Don’t make a pig of yourself, Sunshine.”

  Sadie neighed softly from across the stables and shook her buttercream mane from her eyes. Black lashes blinked over chocolate brown eyes as Delaney drew near. Sadie met her with a throaty nicker. “I’m going solo on this trip, Sadie. But maybe we can ride later with Felicity and the boys.” She patted the mare’s neck, stroked the solid length of muscle. Right now, she had to head Nick off at the pass—if that was even possible. For all she knew, Clem had already gone out to his “mining” site with Nick hot on his heel.

  Stop. Delaney shook the pessimism from her mind. She stroked her mare’s neck, down her backside, taking comfort in the smooth expanse of fur. Sadie grunted. Either way, Delaney had to be sure it was gold. Today, she’d take pictures of the rock itself and scrape off a sample. From what she’d read online, the bigger and more plentiful the fissures of a particular kind, the more potential there was for gold. And she wanted to know exactly what she was dealing with. Getting the gold out would be her next task, followed by selling it on the open market. Or did one go through a broker? She had no idea how gold was traded, but she would.

  Delaney gave Sadie a pat on the rear, then kissed the velvety skin of the mare’s nose, reveling in the sweet scent of her baby. “Time to go.”

  She snatched her backpack from its iron hook on the wall and took off for the trail behind the stables. It led up the backside of the mountain. By approaching from the upper ridge, she would ensure that no one saw her come in. She would see them, but they wouldn’t see her. Once the site was clear, she’d climb down and get her pictures and her sample.

  At the sight of the familiar red vehicle rounding the curve, Nick ducked his head. Alarm fired through his veins. Damn it, why didn’t he take this into account? As Felicity’s car approached, Nick snuck a peek over the dashboard. Was Delaney with her?

  If so, he was a goner. There was no way she’d miss his car, parked off the shoulder of the country road. Felicity, maybe. But Delaney? Not a chance in hell. The car sped past and Nick let loose a sigh of relief. No Delaney. He sat upright and glanced down the road toward the property. Would she be right behind?

  Nick stabbed the key into the ignition and gunned the engine, mindful of the half cup of coffee left in his console. He slid the gear into reverse and moved his vehicle farther from the road. If he backed up too far, he’d run the risk of missing Clem—provided the man hadn’t already left. But the man didn’t strike Nick as an early riser. More likely an “I’ll-get-up-when-I-get-up type.”

  A fact which grated on him. Waiting on the lazy wasn’t Nick’s idea of a good time. Add Jillian’s recent coup and he was feeling downright impatient. Waiting on others to get on with his business wasn’t his idea of a good time. Unfortunately, alternative options weren’t racing down the mountainside. He could
always walk away from the project, but that wasn’t gonna happen. He had invested too much time already and he felt close. Someone or something was going to break his way, he could feel it.

  The hiccup with Jillian was something he could do without, but he knew how to handle that sly schemer. Thoughts of her bronze limbs intertwined with his, her lithe legs draped over his initial surge of desire. But she was old news. He’d moved on, even though she couldn’t let go. Scorned and competitive to the bone, Jillian was out to prove she could do it without him and do it better. While he enjoyed a challenge, her hot-headed jealousy and controlling nature he could do without. Nick sipped lukewarm coffee, an eye on the rusty trailer. Good luck, sweetheart, but mark my words...

  Serenity Springs will become a reality and will outshine whatever four walls you erect in its wake. It will be a masterpiece, a showplace like none other.

  Ladd Springs was secluded, bordered by the USFS, and made all the more intriguing by trails and streams. With its plethora of springs, Nick would transform the property into his crown jewel, and he’d do it with Delaney Wilkins by his side. The image of her galloping bareback streaked through his mind. Delaney was a natural beauty, an earthy beauty—a nature girl through and through. She reminded him of Montana, of everything he loved about his home, the people, the land, the rugged landscape. Her appeal was entirely different than Jillian’s yet even more intoxicating. She was a woman he wanted to see more of, spend time with, and during the course of building Serenity Springs, he would.

  The thin aluminum trailer door swung open, folding back completely as it crashed against the vehicle’s side. Nick downed the remainder of his coffee and set it back in the drink holder. He started his engine and closed a palm around the gearshift. Clem wasted no time hopping into his truck and peeling out over the shallow drive, headed toward Delaney’s. Satisfaction coursed through Nick. Bet whatever he’s looking for is in those woods.

  Following at a safe distance, Nick traveled the two minutes to Ladd Springs and watched Clem’s truck veer off the road onto Ladd property. He drove over to the trailhead where Delaney and he were confronted by the man with the gun. Clem’s friend with the gun. Nick slowed his car and searched the vicinity for an inconspicuous place to park. The remainder of his trip would have to be accomplished on foot, but somehow he had to conceal his car. Up ahead, he spotted a dirt road, its drive overgrown with trees and brush. He flashed a look toward Clem’s truck and grunted inwardly. The man had already parked and jumped out. Considering his rental vehicle, Nick bristled. The scratches the paint job would suffer would be brutal, but at the moment couldn’t be avoided.

  Nick turned and drove far enough off the road that his car couldn’t be seen from passersby. While trespassing was a crime punishable by gunshot around these parts, he was grateful for one bright spot. Several yards in, there was a thinning of forest. He parked and hoped the neighboring property owner didn’t have any plans this morning. If he did, Nick didn’t expect his vehicle to be here in one piece when he returned.

  Locking the doors, Nick took off for the road but jumped back. Old man Ernie’s truck came barreling toward him, the antique Ford as loud as it was fast. Someone’s in a hurry. Nick checked the Breitling on his wrist, surprised Ernie had plans this early. The car flew by and Nick wondered what could be so important to a man with nothing to do?

  Wasting no more thoughts on Ernie, Nick jogged in the direction of the forest. Not yet familiar with the lay of the land, he couldn’t afford to lose sight of Clem, though at the moment he’d done exactly that—lost him. But if Nick’s suspicions were right, Clem was on his way to the spot Nick had found Delaney spying on two strange men a week ago.

  Entering the forest, Nick kept his foot treads soft as he hurried, maintaining a good clip and a keeping a keen eye out for signs of Clem. This section of trail was wide, but according to his recollection, would soon narrow. Careful to avoid the jut of roots and rock in the dirt path, Nick tuned his senses to high alert. Mountain smells rose from the ground. The musty scent from the wall of clay beside him penetrated his nostrils. The passing cool front had infused the moist air with the scent of trees, a mix of pine and laurel. The temperature was cold but welcome as exertion warmed his body.

  After he passed the falls, the trail opened up to a shallow ravine of ferns and rhododendron, littered with decaying logs. Nick slowed his pace, mindful of his current exposure. If Clem turned to look for him, he’d be wide open. Boring his gaze through the trees, over bushes, he searched for signs of Clem on the far side of the ravine. If he remembered correctly, this trail wound around to his left, ending up on the opposite side of the trees and creek below. Nick dropped his gaze briefly to the rocky stream and considered hiking straight across. The forest clutter below appeared passable. But not knowing how thick the lower ground might prove, it was wiser to stay on terra firma. Removing the gun from his waistband, Nick charged forth along the trail, running on the balls of his feet to keep his sound to a minimum.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Delaney reached for a limb dangling down from above and hauled herself up to the next level. The bruise on her shoulder throbbed, a painful reminder that reaching the ridge would not be easy. Winded, she sank to a seat on a fallen tree, its trunk split open near the base—lightning most probably the cause. The same fate that befell most downed trees in the forest. Mother Nature had a temper. Delaney peered down the path she’d just climbed and felt a sense of accomplishment. That had been tough!

  With a heavy sigh, she dropped her head forward and breathed as deep as her lungs would allow. She knew she was wasting precious time. This hike shouldn’t have taken her but a half-hour, max, but her muscles were screaming from the battering she’d endured in recent days.

  She heard the muffled sound of her cell phone inside the backpack. It mounted in volume as she quickly unzipped the compartment and pulled it free. At the number on the screen, her heart leaped. She punched the answer key. “Hello?”

  “Mom, I forgot my permission slip for the field trip next week. Did you ever sign it?”

  Delaney raced through her memory. “I think so. You don’t have it?”

  “I don’t. And I really want to go, but they’re due today.”

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Could Felicity have picked a worse time?

  “Can you look for it and bring it to school? Please?”

  “Yes,” came her automatic reply, “though I don’t know where it could be. If I signed it, I would have given it back to you.”

  “Will you check my room?” Felicity requested sweetly

  “All right.” Inwardly, Delaney groaned. Just when she’d almost made it to the top and happier trails. “I’ll do what I can.”

  “Thank you!”

  Delaney ended the call and stared down the steep terrain, the jagged pitch of rocks, dirt and brush. Trips down tended to be faster and messier than trips up.

  But did she have a choice? Felicity couldn’t miss her field trip to the symphony, not when she’d been looking forward to it all year. It was their last performance of the season. Delaney racked her brain. Did she sign that form?

  At the moment, nothing was registering. Replacing the phone, she donned her backpack and stood. Glaring down the nearest branch, she grunted. Time to face the music.

  Nick held back at the sharp turn, the odd-shaped boulder a dead giveaway that he was nearing the location in question. Lowering his weapon, he edged his gaze around the mass of rhododendron sticking out from the mountain above and saw what he was looking for. Clem had ventured off trail and stood in the middle of the forest inspecting a rock. He honed in on him. Inspecting a rock?

  Straightening, Nick stuffed the gun back in his pants. Odd behavior for a man, even this one. Was it possible there was something hidden in the rock? Were Clem and his friends dealing in stolen goods?

  From what Delaney said, the man was trash. Wouldn’t surprise him if he’d squirreled away his loot in the woods. Is that what Delaney had discovered
? Was she onto him and now he was trying to silence her? Nick clenched his jaw. Son of a bitch. But why would she protect him?

  That was the part that didn’t make sense. Nick watched Clem for several minutes but knew he couldn’t stay. Clem, who was making a call on his cell phone, looked like he was only here to check on things. He could leave at any moment, and if he did, Nick was toast. If Clem left now, he’d be snagged. Glancing back down the trail, Nick tried to recall if he’d seen any hiding spots where he could conceal himself while Clem passed, but nothing leaped to mind.

  With one last look at Clem, he logged the rock into his memory and re-traced his steps, lengthening his strides as he hunted down for a suitable hiding place.

  After scouring the kitchen, Delaney climbed up into the loft and sifted through the papers on Felicity’s desk. Thumbing through stacks of old homework, she tossed them aside and leafed through a second pile. There—she pulled the half-sheet of paper free. Caught between Felicity’s science folder and a math test from the week prior was the permission slip. The signed permission slip. Delaney sighed. Just like she thought.

  After straightening the papers back into some semblance of order, Delaney raced down the stairway and out the front door. Flicking a gaze to the rocker recently occupied by Nick, she wondered if he was in the forest.

  If he was, there was nothing she could do about it at the moment. Felicity came first. Folding the paper in half, she tucked it in the outside pocket of her backpack, and with a determined step clambered down the porch steps, vowing not to let this little detour take more than an hour.

  Nick’s bootheel caught the edge of a rock, nearly tripping him. He cursed under his breath, whipped his gaze behind him, his pulse pumping in high gear. Clem wasn’t anywhere near. But Nick had no way of knowing if and when Clem left his rock. His rock. Nick was willing to bet it wasn’t the rock he was interested in. But he needed Clem gone before he could return to investigate.