“If you mean your brother would agree with me about his SUV having been trashed by slobs, then you’re right.” He touched her shoulder briefly and straightened. “Let me know when you’re done in here.” He left to examine the front of the vehicle.
“Ma’am?” Deputy Skinner drew Raine’s attention away from Chase.
“Yes?”
“I’ll have to ask you not to touch anything. I’m stretching the limits by allowing you inside the vehicle.”
“Thanks, Deputy.” Raine slid out of the driver’s seat, careful not to touch anything as she did so. “I appreciate your letting us do this much.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He moved back several feet to wait.
Raine surveyed the dirty front of the vehicle. She wasn’t sure what she hoped to see—she’d been so convinced that she would feel something from Trey here. He’d been driving the SUV when he left home for Billings. Surely there would be some clue here—if not inside the vehicle, then perhaps outside.
Chase was hunkered on his heels, carefully inspecting the right rear tire.
“Did you find something?” Raine asked, kneeling beside him.
“Maybe.” He pointed at the tire. “This tire isn’t as worn as the others. I’m guessing it might be the spare. Do you know if Trey had a flat and put this on before he disappeared?”
She shook her head. “Not that I know of—if he did, he didn’t mention it.”
“The other interesting thing is the mud on the tires and the wheel wells.”
Raine looked at the clumps of reddish mud coating the wheel well and smeared on the tires. “It just looks like mud to me.”
“Ah, but it’s mixed with clay. I’ve only seen this kind of mud in one location.”
“Really?” Hope raced through Raine. “Where?”
“About fifty miles farther north. My dad used to take my brother and me pheasant hunting there when we were kids.”
“So we have a new clue and a starting point to begin searching again?”
“It’s certainly worth looking into,” Chase said. He pushed to his feet. “Are you done here?”
“Yes.” Raine shifted, wincing as the gravel dug into her knee. “I thought surely I’d feel something when I sat in Trey’s car, but I haven’t…” She braced the flat of her palm on the tire to push upright. “Oh!” She snatched her hand away in shock, cradling it against her midriff.
“What?” Chase demanded. “Are you all right?”
“The tire,” she said softly, staring at it.
“What’s wrong with it?” Chase frowned, uncomprehending.
“Trey changed the tire that night. And something bad happened to him when he did.”
Chase knelt beside her, taking her hands in his. “How bad?” His eyes were grim as he searched her face.
“He’s hurt.”
“But not dead?” Chase asked.
She shook her head, her hair swinging forward to brush her cheeks. “No. But I think whoever stole this car harmed Trey.” She clutched his fingers. “We need to find him, Chase.”
“We will.” He helped her to her feet, tucking her beneath his arm and took her back to his car. “I’ll be right back.”
He crossed the uneven ground to Deputy Skinner and exchanged a few words before the two shook hands. Then he rejoined Raine.
“Where to now?” she asked.
He glanced at his watch and shifted into gear. “Now I take you home and head north.”
“I want to go with you.”
“Your choice. By the time we drive home, pick up Killer and pack bags it’s going to be late. We might as well start early tomorrow morning. How long can you be away from the Saloon and restaurant?”
“As long as I need to.”
He nodded, glancing at her before he took her hand and placed it palm down on his thigh, covering it with his.
“We’ll find him, Raine. I promise.”
Chapter Nine
They left Wolf Creek before eight the following morning, driving straight through to the northern county Chase had visited on those boyhood hunting trips with his father and Luke.
They spent a long day repeating their earlier pattern of stopping at each truck stop, mini-mart and town along the highway to ask questions and show residents Trey’s photo. But when they checked into a motel after 9:00 p.m., they had nothing to show for their day except a higher mileage reading on Chase’s speedometer.
Raine kicked off her sandals and combed her fingers through her hair. “I’m going to shower and climb into bed. I’m exhausted.”
“Go ahead. I need to check my messages.” Chase dialed as she unzipped her bag and took out a light tank top and sleeping shorts. “You can skip the pajamas, honey,” he drawled, amused when she flushed. “I’ll just take them off again.”
Distracted by the sway of her hips as she marched into the bathroom, he nearly missed the first message.
“…Steve Blake with the sheriff’s office. Just wanted to let you know—we got a hit on the fingerprints found in Trey’s abandoned SUV. They belong to Carl and Bobby Rimes. You probably remember them—they were a few years ahead of us in school. They’ve both got rap lists as long as my arm. And get this—they’ve been employed on Harlan Kerrigan’s ranch for the last ten months. We’ve sent out a state-wide bulletin to all law enforcement agencies to arrest and transfer them back here if they’re apprehended. I’ll let you know if we get any further information.”
The message ended.
The men who carjacked Trey worked for Harlan? Chase had his own reasons for disliking Harlan and he knew the man was capable of anything. But would he have reason to harm Trey?
Raine had commented earlier today that she’d planned to accompany Trey the night he disappeared, but had fallen ill. They’d argued when she’d insisted on going with him, despite a fever that spiked her temperature to 101 degrees, and later that evening, her brother had slipped out without her.
Chase’s blood had chilled when he realized how close she’d come to disappearing along with Trey.
If there was a possibility Harlan Kerrigan might be involved, Raine was still in danger.
Driven by the need for reassurance she was safe, he dropped the phone on the bedside table and stripped off his shirt as he entered the bathroom. Steamy and humid, the room smelled like her floral-scented soap. It took only seconds for Chase to unbutton his jeans and shove them and his shorts down his legs.
The plastic curtain rings jingled when he pulled it aside and stepped into the shower.
Raine glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “Hi.”
“Come here.” He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. Her bare body was slippery and wet, the showerhead pelting them with warm water. He kissed her and she opened her mouth, welcoming the thrust of his tongue, rising on tiptoe to wrap one slim leg around his and pull him nearer.
The cove of her thighs cradled his erection. He caught her waist and lifted her higher.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he muttered, trying to slow down and give her time to catch up with him. But she complied so quickly he forgot his good intentions and thrust into her, unable to stop, shuddering with the effort to not move. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she breathed against his mouth. “Don’t stop. Please.”
Reassured, Chase pinned her against the tiled wall and drove them both over the edge. Long moments later, he set her on the bathmat and tenderly dried her before picking her up and carrying her to bed.
They made love once more before he tucked her close, her back to his chest, the smooth length of her legs tangled with his. His palm cupped her breast, his arm at her waist, soothing his need to feel her, safe and vibrantly alive against him.
“Thank you,” she murmured sleepily.
“For what?”
“For being you. For being here.”
“My pleasure.”
By midafternoon the next day, Raine was growing more discouraged with each stop.
> “Don’t give up,” Chase advised as they drove away from a gas station on the outskirts of a tiny town. “There’s a long list of places we haven’t been yet and a longer list of potential witnesses to check. What’s the next stop?”
She took the map from the seat divider and studied it. “A small town about fifteen miles ahead.”
They got off the highway twenty minutes later to drive into Granger, a small ranching community, and parked in front of what appeared to be a combination of bar and restaurant.
Raine shaded her eyes against the hot sunlight, scanning the front of the establishment. The facade was freshly painted, the windows and glass door of the restaurant clean, the sidewalks swept and neat. Everything about the outward appearance spoke of pride of ownership.
“Whoever owns this place takes good care of it,” she commented as Chase joined her on the sidewalk.
Nothing about the well-kept buildings seemed out of the ordinary. Yet Raine’s heart suddenly beat faster, her muscles tightening in anticipation.
“What is it, Raine?”
“I’m not sure.” Instinctively, she moved toward the bar entrance.
They paused just inside. The tables and booths were empty but two women were at the bar. The older woman, seated on a stool, ignored them, lifting her glass to drink.
The younger woman stood behind the bar, drying glassware. “Good morning,” she said cheerfully. “Come in and have a seat.”
Raine’s heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she could barely hear the words. Chase took her hand, threading his fingers through hers. The action steadied her. Each step she took as they crossed the room heightened her anticipation.
“What can I get you?” The bartender asked as they sat.
“Just coffee.” Chase drew the photo of Trey from his pocket and laid it on the bar. “And a little information.”
“What kind of information?” The slim blonde filled two mugs and set them on the bar in front of them.
The older woman seated two stools beyond Chase stiffened, abruptly set down her drink and leaned forward to look at the picture.
“We’re looking for this man.” Chase slid the photo across the polished bar surface. “Have you seen him?”
The blonde’s eyes widened and her face paled. “Yes.” She looked up at Chase. “I have.”
“When?” Raine couldn’t keep silent. “Where?”
Before she could answer, a loud crash interrupted them.
“Damn.” A man stepped into the room, carrying a large carton. “Sorry, Lori. I knocked over the recycling bin again.”
“Trey.” Raine swayed, catching Chase’s arm for support.
Her brother froze, staring at her. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans and his dark hair was a shade too long. Beard stubble shadowed his face, blurring the lines of cheekbones and jaw. “You’re the woman in my dreams,” he said slowly.
The blonde caught her breath. “You dreamed about her?”
Raine registered the trace of pain beneath the words and glanced at her in time to see recognition and wonder drawn on her expressive features.
“You two look so much alike—the same eyes…”
“We’re twins,” Raine said. She gazed wordlessly at the beloved lines of Trey’s face. The unfamiliar black stubble and longer hair altered his appearance but it didn’t matter. She’d recognize Trey in total darkness simply by the feeling of completeness and peace that filled her. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“Have you? I wondered if I’d been missed somewhere.” Trey turned to set the box down on the table.
Raine gasped. “You’ve been hurt. What happened?”
He brushed his fingertips over an angry-looking red scar on his right temple, just at his hairline. “Well, that’s the strange thing. I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Chase said with deceptive mildness. “Or you don’t remember.”
Trey shrugged. “Same thing.”
“Not always.”
Raine listened to their exchange with growing horror. “You don’t remember, do you? Do you know who I am, Trey?”
“Not exactly.”
“Do you know who you are?” Chase asked.
“That’s a loaded question,” he answered. “Few people know who they really are.”
“You don’t know,” Raine said, with growing confusion. “No matter. Your name is Trey Harper and you’re my brother.” She pointed to the angry red scar. “Did you receive a blow to the head when you got that? If so, you could easily have amnesia.” She leaned closer. “Look at me—really look at me. We’re twins. We have the same color eyes, the same bone structure.”
“Seems obvious to me.” The woman sitting beyond Chase put in. “The two of you are alike as two peas in a pod. Except one of you is male and the other female.” She leaned forward. “I think it’s safe to tell your sister what you know.”
“Mother…” the blonde protested.
“It’s all right, Lori.” Trey joined her behind the bar, stroking his palm soothingly over her shoulder. “Your mother’s right. I don’t see any harm in telling my sister…” He broke off, eyeing Raine quizzically. “I remember your face, but not your name.”
“It’s Raine. And this is Chase McCloud.”
“This is Lori Ashworth and her mother, Risa,” Trey said after he and Chase shook hands. “They own the bar and the restaurant next door.”
Lori managed a strained smile. Risa, however, tapped her long red fingernails on the bar and surveyed them assessingly.
“Chase McCloud? Even in our little town, we’ve heard of the McCloud family and Wolf Creek. I admit, when our boy here walked in a few weeks ago and told us he didn’t remember his name or much of anything else, I doubted whether it was true. I even wondered if he was running a scam of some sort. But now that you’ve identified him, well… It’s not likely he would have voluntarily left Wolf Creek to work for us in little old Granger, now is it?” She gave a calculating smile. “Is there a reward for keeping him safe?”
“Mother!” Lori groaned.
“I hadn’t thought about it.” Raine met Trey’s gaze, looking for guidance, but couldn’t read his expression. “I believe I’ll leave that up to my brother since only he knows how safe he’s been.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Trey said.
Risa shrugged. “Can’t blame a woman for trying.” She gestured meaningfully at Raine. “I still think you should tell her what you told us when you staggered in here that first day.”
“Yes,” Raine agreed, anxious to hear the details. “Please do.”
Before Trey could respond, two cowboys entered and took seats farther down the bar.
“Why don’t you move to a table so you can talk without being overheard,” Lori suggested. “I’ll deal with the customers.”
“Come with us. Jeannie can take over for a few minutes.” Trey leaned past her to push a call button next to the cash register.
“I’ll take their order while we’re waiting for her.” Lori made shooing gestures at Trey behind her back as she greeted the cowboys.
It took a few moments to regroup at a round table across the room, far enough from the bar for private conversation. Lori soon joined them, her replacement chatting with the older couple who now sat with the cowboys at the long bar.
“There’s not much to tell,” Trey began. “I woke up along the highway one morning a few weeks ago. There was a lump and a cut on my head and I couldn’t remember my name nor where I lived. A trucker gave me a ride as far as Granger and I staggered into the bar where Lori and Risa took pity on me. They cleaned me up, let me use a vacant apartment upstairs, and gave me a job here.”
“Did you see a doctor?” Raine asked, frowning at the thin scar on his temple.
“Yeah. He took a couple of stitches, gave me some painkillers and told me not to worry about my memory—said in his experience, most cases like mine resolved themselves within a few weeks.”
“And has it? Begun
to resolve itself, I mean.” Raine studied his face, trying to read his expression.
“I remember bits and pieces,” he said vaguely.
“Like tending bar and a killer recipe for nachos.”
Raine laughed “With jalapenos?”
“So hot it burns all the way down,” he agreed, grinning.
“It’s one of your specialties at home,” she said softly, smiling.
“So the doctor was right,” Chase commented.
“You’re starting to remember.”
“Apparently.”
Around them, the tables and booths were quickly filling with the after-work crowd of regulars. Behind the bar, Jeannie gestured frantically, claiming Lori’s attention.
She shoved her chair back and stood. “It was lovely meeting you, Raine—and Chase—but I’m afraid I have to get back to work.”
“Me, too.” Trey said as they all rose. “Are you staying in Granger tonight?”
Raine blinked, taken aback. “Uhmm, why… Yes.”
“Good. My shift doesn’t end until midnight—maybe we can get together for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Of course.” She reached blindly for Chase’s hand and his fingers closed comfortingly around hers.
“Can you recommend a local hotel?” Chase asked.
“Granger only has one,” Lori answered. “Reed’s Inn, on the outskirts of town near the highway exit.”
“Thanks.” Chase touched the brim of his hat and turned Raine toward the door.
She didn’t speak until they were in the car and driving toward the motel. “He doesn’t know me. If he has amnesia, will he eventually recover?”
“I’m guessing the answer’s yes, but I’m not a doctor.”
They checked into the motel and ate a late dinner at the café next door, Raine merely picking at her food, before returning to their room.
“If Trey doesn’t want to come home, do I have to respect his wishes and walk away?”
“I don’t know, honey. I can’t imagine any man giving up what Trey has in Wolf Creek to stay here.”
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