“You’re right. Thanks for listening. See you tonight.”
The click resonated in his heart.
Roce worked solidly until a quarter to five. Brianna came by and took Daisy home with her for the weekend. Relieved he didn’t have to worry about his dog, he showered and dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt.
For once, he didn’t phone Tracey. He simply showed up at her cabin at five-thirty. But he didn’t have to knock, because she stood outside waiting for him, in jeans and a red cotton sweater that molded to her body and did wonders for him. She ran and opened the truck door, bringing her flowery scent with her.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” She acted so eager to see him, it gave him hope she was letting go of past pain. Trying to tamp down his emotions, he squeezed her hand instead of devouring her in plain sight.
They took off for the Hamilton fairgrounds. “I’ll be on call until ten tonight, but we’re free to walk anywhere we want.” He drove to the tent where he had to check in. “Give me a minute to get my tag. Then we’ll get something to eat.”
After he’d gotten squared away, he jumped back in the cab and they drove to the concession area, where they bought Pronto Pup deep-fried hot dogs and frozen yogurt swirls on a stick.
Tracey took a bite. “The smell of these takes me back years to other fairs and rodeos.”
“I know what you mean.” They got back in the truck, where they could eat and talk in private. “Now tell me what happened on the ride after you called me.”
Tracey’s features sobered. “Once we arrived back at the trailhead, I tried not to look at Wes at all. When we reached the corral, I said goodbye to the Briscoe family, then put my gear in the tack room. On the way out, I noticed Wes had put Chief in his stall. I just kept walking, but I felt his gaze on my back. I know he was waiting for me to say something, but I took your advice.”
“I’m glad you did,” Roce said.
“That poor horse shouldn’t have to put any weight on his foot yet.”
“Agreed.” Roce pulled out his cell phone. “I’m going to call John and ask him to meet us in town this evening, away from the ranch. If he agrees, then we’ll tell him everything that’s happened since the day you arrived from Polson. That way Wes won’t have any idea what’s going on.”
She nodded. “That’s the best plan. I hope you can reach him.”
He put in a call, but had to leave a message. “I’m sure he’ll call me back at some point. Let’s walk over to look at the angora goats first. They’re beautiful and they’ll make you laugh out loud.”
“Why?”
“Because they live in a herd and have a distinct social pecking order. You’ll see them gang up on each other on a regular basis.”
She chuckled. “I had no idea.”
For the next hour they walked around the pens holding various breeds of sheep and goats. A couple goats had pushed their heads through the fencing. Roce stood behind Tracey with his hands on her shoulders.
“See those two?” he murmured into her silky hair. She nodded. “They’ll stay there until they can push all the way through. They don’t know how to reverse themselves.”
She turned to him with a smile. “You mean they won’t budge?”
“Nope. Someone will have to help them. I guess that’s up to me. Come on.”
Tracey followed him and watched as he extricated their heads and gave them a push. Her full-bodied laughter told him coming here and enjoying the animals had taken away her concerns for a little while.
She oohed and ahhed over the fleece and mohair for sale. The handmade clothing and accessories, as well as the decorative art displays, brought the crowds. Tracey particularly liked the quilts made of textiles, and bought one for her mother. While she appeared engrossed in the weavers’ activities, Roce talked with the animal stewards to learn if there were any problems that needed a vet’s attention. So far, no red flags had been raised.
At a quarter to eight, John phoned him back. Relieved to hear from him, Roce indicated that he and Tracey needed to talk to him about something important. Would he be willing to meet them at the Pine Cone in town? It was a bistro that stayed open past eight, where they could order hors d’oeuvres and drinks or coffee without having to consume a full meal.
After he hung up, he looked at Tracey. “He’ll meet us ASAP. Let me return my tag. I’m still on call until ten, but they can phone me at the bistro if an emergency crops up.”
“I hope we’re doing the right thing.”
His jaw tautened. “Your safety is more important than anything else, Tracey.”
Her eyes searched his. “I can tell you think Wes is a real threat.”
“So do you,” he replied.
“You’re right. I’m glad we’re going to talk to John. He needs to know what’s going on.”
* * *
TRACEY’S TRUST IN Roce had become absolute. She didn’t know how she knew it, but she did. If he was worried enough about her for them to go to John, then the situation was potentially serious. When the older man had hired her as a favor to her grandfather, who would ever have imagined this happening?
“What’s going on in your mind?” Roce asked, getting into the truck after signing out for the night.
“I’m crushed by all of this. I don’t know if I told you—John had made arrangements for a vase of flowers to be put in my room that first day to welcome me to the ranch. His card was very sweet. Because my grandfather had confided to him about Jeff, he said he hoped that being here would help me get over my sadness.” Tears stung her eyes. “John is a wonderful man. He doesn’t deserve this.”
They headed to town. “Life isn’t always fair. He shouldn’t have to worry about a grandson who’s making life miserable for Chief, let alone intimidating you.”
“Something’s very wrong with him.”
“Don’t worry. I’m sure John will get to the crux of the problem.”
It didn’t take long to reach the Pine Cone. But being a Friday night with crowds from the festival, they had to park a block away. Roce threaded his fingers through hers and kept her close to him as they walked to the bistro. Tracey noticed how many women looked at him as they passed. She felt a ridiculous sense of pride that he wanted to be with her.
No sooner did they go inside than they saw John, who’d beaten them there. They were shown to a table and a waiter brought them coffee and appetizers. The older man sat back in his chair and eyed both of them with a worried expression.
“Sheldon and I had Hunter Oil business meetings in town today. You caught me before I could drive back to the ranch to pick up Sylvia and take us both home. The timing is perfect. Tell me what’s wrong.”
Tracey flashed Roce a silent message before sitting forward. “I’ve been discussing all this with Dr. Clayton and we decided we had to talk to you. In order to tell you everything, I need to start at the beginning. I’m so sorry, but this is about your grandson Wes.”
John nodded, not acting in the least surprised. “Go on.”
“Could I ask you a question about him first? Is he Grady Cox’s boss?”
“No. I’m the one who hired Grady three years ago for summer work. His job is to take care of the horses and he reports to me. Wes helps in the stable and coordinates the trail rides. He, as well as all the employees, including my children and other grandchildren, answer to me, no one else.”
“That’s interesting. When you told me I could look over the horses and pick the one I wanted, I chose Chief. But Grady told me Chief was Wes’s horse. Wes told me the same thing the next day.”
The older man’s brow furrowed. “There’s no truth to it. He has to ride one of the horses in the barn like everyone else. Wes doesn’t own one.”
“I didn’t think so. Otherwise you would have told me ahead of time. As you know, when
I could tell Chief was limping and said he needed a vet immediately, Grady was caught off guard, because he hadn’t noticed it. I could tell he was nervous about it because he had no way to consult Wes, who’d gone into town and hadn’t returned yet.”
“You think Grady was afraid of retaliation?”
Tracey looked at Roce before answering. “I don’t know, but it seemed like he was under Wes’s thumb. On Sunday morning, when I asked Wes about choosing a horse I could ride, he told me he’d already picked one out for me—a mare named Fancy Pants. He figured I’d be able to handle her.”
John looked aggrieved. “I’m very sorry to hear this. That mare is meant for people who’ve never ridden a horse before.”
She flashed him a brief smile. “I thought so.”
“You should have come to me sooner.”
“I didn’t feel it was my place. Grady appeared to know all about it and told me the mare was a nice, docile horse. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to convince me because he thought I was an inexperienced rider, or if Wes had told him to tell me as much to put me in my place.”
“Wes had no right—”
“I’m sure it upset your grandson that I suggested you call Dr. Clayton to look at Chief’s hoof. It’s clear he feels I’m his enemy.”
Roce nodded. “I’m afraid we’re both the enemy, John.”
He leaned forward to stare at Tracey. “What else do I need to know?”
She took a deep breath. “On Monday morning he assigned the Briscoe family to me. They have two young children. I loved working with them this week. Every time we’d go out on a trail ride, I tried to make it extra fun for them.
“One thing they loved to do was take pictures along the route for souvenirs of the trip. But on our last trail ride, we rode to Rocky Point and I let the children dismount so they could explore the area.
“Suddenly, Wes warned us to get back on the horses. He claimed we could start a rock slide and it would be dangerous, but those boulders aren’t the kind to come falling down on everyone. Still, we did what he said.
“When we got back to the corral I asked him to please warn me before the ride next time, so I didn’t do anything else wrong. It was embarrassing. I don’t want the people I’m in charge of to think I don’t know what I’m doing.”
John shook his head. She knew this information was hurting him, but he needed to hear it all.
“I’m afraid that when he assigns me the next group, he’ll find something else about me he doesn’t like. But you haven’t heard the thing that concerns me the most. Today he was riding Chief.”
“What?”
Roce nodded. “No one should ride that horse until his hoof has healed. He needed at least a two-week recovery. I’m sure Dr. Cruz would have told your grandson the same thing. In my opinion, Wes brought the horse out early and rode it today to cause a reaction in Tracey.”
“What are you saying?”
Tracey broke in. “I think he hopes I’ll quit and leave the dude ranch.”
John sat immobile for a minute, then pushed himself away from the table and stood up. “The last thing I want is to lose you, Tracey. Don’t you worry any more. I’m going to take care of everything.” He put some bills on the table.
“Dr. Clayton? If I could talk to you alone for a moment?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be right back,” Roce whispered near her ear. His warm breath on her skin sent tingles down her spine. He was gone only a few minutes before he returned and walked her outside to the truck. She could tell he was deep in thought.
“What’s wrong?”
“After we get back to your cabin, I’m coming inside and we’ll talk.” He was still trying to compose his thoughts.
“Is it something serious?”
“Yes, but I don’t want you to be nervous.”
“All along you’ve known something you haven’t shared with me, and that’s why you’ve been so protective.”
He took her hand in his. “I can see why Wes doesn’t want you around. Your instincts are right on and have spooked him.”
“You were speaking the truth when you said we were both Wes’s enemies,” Tracey murmured.
“None of it matters now that we’ve been honest with John.”
Thankful as she was that the three of them had talked, she knew more was coming and feared it wouldn’t be pleasant. Once they got back to the ranch, she found her eyes straying to the corral and barn, wondering if Wes or Grady were still around. But everything looked quiet.
It was dark by the time Roce parked in front of her cabin and they both got out. Tracey didn’t care if the presence of his truck would cause everyone to gossip. She needed him with her tonight, and unlocked the front door.
“The bathroom is through there if you want to freshen up.”
“Thanks.”
While he disappeared, she went over to the kitchen sink and washed her hands. It didn’t escape her that Roce had come in the cabin for a specific reason. But oh, how she hoped he wanted to be alone with her for a reason that had nothing to do with Wes Hunter.
Being with Roce in his truck or walking around wasn’t enough. She wanted to know what it felt like to be enveloped in his arms and kissed until she couldn’t breathe.
* * *
THE MAN STARING back at Roce in the mirror wasn’t the same person who’d answered a medical emergency at the dude ranch last Saturday. That man had been getting through each day working without respite. Though he’d been focused on his career during the recent renovations to his house, he’d wondered when or if he would ever find the kind of love enjoyed by his married brothers.
This evening he didn’t recognize himself because of the beautiful woman in the other room. Just thinking about her caused his heart to race in his chest. Even before meeting her for the first time, he’d liked the sound of her voice. One look into those violet eyes had burned into his psyche like a brand meant to last forever.
When he walked into the living room, he discovered her on the couch. She was just getting off the phone. Something was wrong.
“Are you all right?” Roce asked.
“Yes, but I don’t quite know what to think. Fran left me a message telling me I wouldn’t be needed for the Saturday trail ride tomorrow, so I get the whole day off.”
Roce sank down on a chair near her. “Sounds like John has already taken charge of the situation by removing you from any trouble.”
“What trouble, Roce? Please tell me what you know.”
He sat forward with his hands on his thighs. “Last Sunday, John asked me to come to his office. When I told him what was going on with Wes, he confided some unsettling information to me. I would have told you everything, but he asked me to keep it to myself so you wouldn’t be alarmed.”
“So why are telling me all this now?”
“Because tonight he gave me permission. Wes had some DUIs in college and three months ago he was arrested for horse theft.”
“No way.”
“John had hoped his grandson was turning his life around, but nothing could be further from the truth. My brother Wymon checked with his friend on the police force. It turns out Wes has a record, but the details of his arrest are sealed. John knows all about it and realized he couldn’t keep you in the dark after what you told him this evening.”
For the next few minutes Roce told her what John had worked out with the court for Wes—that he was allowing him to do his community service on the ranch without pay for the summer. His wife, Fran, was the only one earning a salary right now.
Tracey shot to her feet. “How could he not be grateful to his grandfather? Otherwise he’d be doing jail time.”
“That’s not all,” Roce told her. “When his service is over, he’ll have to get a job and earn the five thou
sand dollars he owes his father for paying off his fine, plus the cost of a new truck and trailer.”
She shook her head.
“He was ordered to go to counseling by the court, but in my opinion he needs more intensive psychotherapy. He obviously hasn’t learned a thing from his mistakes.”
“This is incredible, Roce. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a personality disorder of some kind. The psychologist at my school has talked to me about a few students who display similar behavior. They’re not difficult all the time, but something triggers a reaction and they become unreasonable.”
“Sounds like Wes. My concern is that he’s planning something illegal right under his father’s and grandfather’s nose.”
“You mean maybe stealing the horses his father buys for the ranch?”
“Possibly, or someone else’s. He could sell them and make a big profit. I think your unexpected arrival at the ranch has thrown a roadblock in his plans. John agrees with me.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Roce. He wants to get rid of me so I won’t catch on to his plan to steal his grandfather’s other horses. I wonder if Grady knows that and is trying to run interference by getting me to go out with him. Maybe Wes hasn’t wanted his wife to help on the rides so she won’t see anything that’s going on.”
“Maybe.” Roce watched her pace the carpet and wanted to reassure her. “I have no doubt that John has talked with Sheldon and they’ve already taken steps to deal with Wes tonight. What’s important here is that you don’t have to report for work until Monday morning.”
“I know.” She swung around. “You don’t know how relieved I am!”
Roce stood up. “It fits in with my plans for us, if you’re willing.”
“We’re already spending time tomorrow at the festival.”
“And maybe dinner and a movie after,” he said. “But I’m talking about Sunday, too. That’s my free day. I’m hoping you’ll spend the whole day with me. We could go riding in the Sapphires and take a picnic.”
“I’d love that more than anything.”
Before he could reach for her and show her how he felt, his phone rang. The interruption had come at the wrong moment.
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