RESCUE AT CARDWELL RANCH

by B. J Daniels

  “Oh?”

  He found the road he needed and turned down it. The sun had cleared the mountains to the east this morning and now splashed the valley in gold. “This guy who attacked her is still after her. She’s determined to find him before he finds her. I’m helping her.”

  “Did you read something on a fortune cookie that says if you save someone’s life, you’re responsible for it?”

  “I can’t just leave her,” Hayes said as he saw the house come into view.

  “Really? That’s all it is, just you needing to play hero?”

  “I can’t get into this right now. I’ll call you as soon as I know something definite, but I might be staying until your wedding. Also, I told McKenzie we will take the restaurant building at Big Sky. I haven’t talked to Austin but—”

  “Was this McKenzie Sheldon’s doing? Never mind. Whatever the reason you’ve changed your mind, I’m glad. You won’t be sorry.”

  “I hope not.”

  “Now try not to get yourself killed before my wedding.”

  As Tag hung up, Hayes sped up the SUV, driving past the house and up the road for a half mile before he turned around and headed back, going slower this time.

  The ranch-style house was huge, sprawled across twenty acres with a guesthouse, barn and stables behind it, along with an assortment of outbuildings. All kinds of places for a person to hide. He noticed there was also a dirt road that went up into the Bridger Mountains behind the house.

  As he drove on by the house a second time, he called McKenzie. “Get someone to do the open house for you. It’s too dangerous.”

  Gus had been arrested last night for violating the restraining order. But McKenzie had received a call earlier, warning her that he was already out on bail.

  What had Hayes upset was what else the policewoman had told her. “He swears he saw a man beside your condo last night using a cell phone. He says he was chasing the man when he was arrested.”

  “Did he get a good look at the man?” McKenzie had asked.

  “He says he didn’t.”

  The policewoman hadn’t believed Gus about any of it.

  Hayes didn’t know what to believe. Gus could be behind both the note on McKenzie’s car and the call last night. Gus was angry, according to the police, which gave him reason to want to torment his former boss, even if he wasn’t the man who’d attacked her.

  “It wasn’t Gus,” she’d again said this morning on the drive back from shooting the gun.

  “But Gus would know about the convention speech and the open house,” Hayes had argued. “And he was definitely at your condo last night.”

  “You said he sped away. You didn’t see another car?”

  He hadn’t been looking for another car once he’d seen Gus speeding away.

  “I went by Gus Thompson’s house,” he said now. “He’s not there. This open house is in the paper with your name on it, right?”

  “It’s not Gus.”

  “Okay, then if true, I would say you have two angry men after you now. Which is yet another reason you shouldn’t do the open house.”

  “The police are going to have a car in the area of the open house.”

  “The area is too large and there are too many places a man could be hiding.”

  “You’ll be there.”

  Her words hit him at heart level. “Why do you think I’m so worried?”

  “I trust you.”

  Her first mistake. He opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head, instead. A part of him was touched by her words. Another part was afraid he would fail her.

  “Hayes?”

  “I’m still here.”

  “I know. I’m grateful.”

  He sighed. “Let me know when you leave the office for the open house. Keep your phone on. I won’t stop worrying until I know you made the drive safely. Then, once you get here, I can really start worrying.”

  “So you agree with me that he’ll show?”

  “He’ll be here. He couldn’t possibly pass up such a perfect location with all these places to hide. The question is where.”

  * * *

  GUS WAS NO longer angry at McKenzie. He was furious. She hadn’t really had him arrested? Not when he was following the man who he assumed had attacked her.

  When he’d first gotten released from jail he’d thought about just letting the crazy bastard get her. She deserved it, right?

  After a while, though, he’d tamped down his fury, focusing instead on the look he’d see on her face when he caught her stalker. When he saved her.

  He dug the handgun from the drawer beside his bed. He’d bought the pistol at a gun show years ago. The gun was loaded, but he grabbed another box of ammunition.

  As he walked through the kitchen, he grabbed a sharp knife. He put the knife in the top of his boot. Today he’d worn jeans, hiking boots, a long-sleeved shirt. He had some dirty business to get done today.

  In the garage, he walked past his mother’s car to his SUV. He felt like a commando going into battle. The man after McKenzie had been at her condo last night. That had been a gutsy move. So Gus figured, given where the open house was being held, that the man would show. All Gus had to do was get there early for a place to hide out and wait. It would be like shooting fish in a bucket—barrel, whatever.

  He’d checked out the house and grounds when the ranchette had first come on the market, so he knew where to park the SUV so it wouldn’t be noticed. There was literally a forest that backed up to the property. He knew the perfect spot where he would be able to see anyone coming.

  * * *

  MCKENZIE GREW MORE anxious as she neared the ranchette. She remembered what Hayes had said last night. But her car seemed to be running fine. However, she was relieved when she reached the turnoff to the house.

  She didn’t see Hayes anywhere around, but then again, she didn’t expect to. He was here, though, she assured herself. The property was twenty acres, just as Hayes had said. While she’d seen the place before, she found herself looking at it from a totally different perspective than she had the first time.

  Now she saw all the places a man could hide and wait for that moment when she was alone. And she would be alone some of the time because the asking price of this place was high enough that she didn’t expect a lot of viewers.

  Fear rippled over her, dimpling her skin and giving her a chill as she got out at the turnoff to put up the Open House sign. She couldn’t help looking over her shoulder, hurrying to get the sign up and back into her vehicle as quickly as possible.

  She was shaking by the time she climbed behind the wheel again. Did she really think she could do this? To catch this man she would eventually have to come face-to-face with him. He had to be caught in action. Her heart began to pound at the memory of his arm around her throat, the way he’d picked her up off her feet—

  Turning down the road, she heard another vehicle. An SUV turned down the long drive behind her. She glanced at the car’s clock. Her first viewer was early. As she pulled in, she saw that the car had slowed as if to study the place at a distance. Hurrying, she climbed out, taking everything with her as she moved toward the empty house. Her heart hammered in her chest as she opened the door and felt a blast of stale, cold air hit her.

  She had to calm down. Taking a few breaths, she reminded herself how far she’d come. She hadn’t gotten her success by being a wimp. She straightened her back as she put down the flyers and turned to watch the SUV cruise slowly up the road toward her. The sun glinted off the windshield so she couldn’t see the driver.

  This could be him.

  Or he could already be in the house waiting for me.

  Chapter Ten

  Last night had been a close call. Some fool had chased him. Fortunately, the police had pulle
d the man over. He’d gotten a good look at the man’s familiar face but it wasn’t until he got home that he placed him. He’d seen Gus Thompson’s face enough times when he’d been perusing the real-estate ads looking for McKenzie Sheldon’s smiling face.

  Just the thought of her made him feel better. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that the man had given him chase last night. Did McKenzie now have two men protecting her? That made his stomach roil. It was bad enough that the cowboy kept getting in his way. Now this other fool?

  To settle himself down, he thought about the open house and Ms. Sheldon. He would see her again today. Unfortunately, just seeing her wasn’t helping much anymore. He needed more. He smiled in memory of the terror he’d seen on McKenzie Sheldon’s face last night when she’d found the note and what he’d heard in her voice when he’d called and woken her up.

  But even that wasn’t enough. He had to get his hands on her.

  True, she had needed a reminder that he was still here, that he was still coming for her. It had been a dangerous thing to do, calling attention to himself that way. But he relished in the fear, both his own and, of course, hers.

  He’d been curious to see, after the note and the phone call, whether or not she would go ahead with the open house today. The listing was out in the country, miles from town and enough acreage and buildings that not even her cowboy or Gus Thompson, real-estate salesman extraordinaire, could keep her safe.

  She’d proven to be a worthy opponent. But today would tell if the woman was equal to the challenge.

  He’d already decided that he had to show up at the open house. She might be suspicious of him after yesterday since he’d been one of only a handful of men who’d come alone to the open house.

  Today he would assure her she had nothing to fear from him.

  After all, the one thing he could do well was act normal. He’d spent his life fooling people—even those closest to him. He knew exactly how he would play it and couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  HAYES FELT HIS stomach tighten as viewers began to arrive. When he’d spoken to the police earlier, they’d agreed to run the plates of those attending the open house. They’d asked the sheriff’s department to send a car out to the area, as well.

  Given the price of this so-called ranchette, he’d thought that number would be low. He’d been surprised by the turnout.

  Most were just curious, he was betting. But some actually appeared to be interested, walking much of the grounds, looking in the many structures. He’d heard that expensive houses in the area had continued to sell, even during the recession. It was easy to understand why people fell in love with Bozeman’s charm, along with the beautiful valley, the nearby mountains and inexhaustible outdoor entertainment.

  He took down each license plate number and snapped a photo of the people attending. He had a half dozen written down when the man drove up. He recognized the man right away as the one he’d seen talking to McKenzie the day before at the open house. Was this her attacker? He was dressed in jeans, boots and a Western shirt and had a cocky way about him.

  As the man climbed out of his SUV, he glanced around as if taking in the place for the first time, then he headed for the front door.

  * * *

  MCKENZIE HAD BEEN talking to a middle-aged couple and turned to find the man directly behind her.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He held out his hand. “Bob Garwood.”

  McKenzie battled back her initial surprise and took his hand. It was cool to the touch, the handshake firm. She even found her voice. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Garwood.”

  “Please, call me Bob.” He let go of her hand and glanced around the living area. “I like this much better than yesterday’s listing. How many acres?”

  “Twenty. Most of it is now leased for hay.”

  He nodded. “That’s great.” His gaze came back to hers. “Mind if I take one of those?”

  She handed him a sales flyer. Her hand was hardly shaking.

  “Sheldon, right? McKenzie Sheldon. I almost called you last night. You gave me your card with your cell phone number, remember?”

  She nodded numbly. If this was the man who’d attacked her, then he had called her last night. In fact, he’d been outside her condo. Her heart began to pound harder.

  He smiled. “This might seem a little forward, but I wanted to ask you to dinner sometime.”

  “I don’t date clients.”

  His smile broadened as he pulled out his card and handed it to her. “Good thing I’m not a client yet.”

  With that he walked away, his gaze going from the sales flyer in his hand to the house as if he seriously was looking for something to buy. She glanced down at the card. Robert Garwood. Apparently, he sold high-tech workout equipment for gyms.

  “Are you all right?”

  She jumped before she recognized the voice and turned to find Hayes behind her. “How long have you been here?”

  “Long enough to hear him ask you for a date.”

  She let out a nervous laugh. “Maybe that’s all he was doing, just hitting on me.”

  “Maybe. I’ll run his name. Bob Garwood, right?”

  She nodded as a few more cars pulled up out front. Two women climbed out of one vehicle, a couple out of another and one man, alone.

  “You remember him from yesterday’s open house?” Hayes asked.

  The men’s faces were all starting to blend together. “I think so.”

  “I’ll be close by if you need me,” he whispered and left.

  McKenzie braced herself as the man who’d just arrived looked up at the house, then started up the walk. She recognized him as being one from yesterday’s open house. As she took a closer look at the couple, she realized the husband also looked familiar.

  “Holler if you need me,” Hayes said and left out the back way.

  McKenzie jumped as the front door opened. She plastered a smile on her face as the group entered. The lone man took a flyer, gave her a nod and moved off through the house behind the two women. The husband she recognized from the day before came up to her.

  “You’re a busy woman,” he said. “Didn’t I see you yesterday at an open house in town?”

  She nodded, wondering if he really didn’t remember. He was large and there was something about his light blue eyes that made her feel naked. He was the one who’d acted as if he was pulling something on her yesterday.

  His gaze locked with hers and she felt a shiver move through her. She tried to repress it as she handed him a sales flyer.

  He nodded, his gaze still on her as if he was trying to place her.

  McKenzie tried to pull herself together. She’d been so determined last night, so sure she wanted to trap the man. But being this close to a possible suspect...

  He was still looking at her.

  “Jason?”

  “Sorry,” he said, turning to the woman with him. “I was just lost in thought for a minute there.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I’m Jason Mathews. This is my wife, Emily.”

  She shook the wife’s hand, then Jason Mathews’s. He had a firm handshake and held her hand a little too long, making her even more nervous.

  “I was surprised when Jason suggested we buy something larger,” Emily said. She was a small woman with dark hair and eyes. Her handshake had been limp and cold. As she spoke, she kept looking at her husband. “We own a house in town that’s paid for, but I would love a place in the country. This might be too much for us, though. I hate to even ask what it costs.”

  Jason Mathews smiled at his wife. “Well, let’s have a look. You might be surprised what we can afford.” He gave McKenzie a conspiratorial wink and handed her his card before leading his wife toward the kitchen.

  McKenzie tried to catch her breath
as she glanced down at the card in her hand. Jason Mathews. Under his name was: Antiquities Appraiser and his business number.

  She groaned inwardly as she realized how foolish she had been. The man apparently really was interested in buying a house. With a sigh, she turned to welcome more people into the house.

  But every man who came in alone to see the ranchette made her wonder if he was the one she had to fear.

  * * *

  THERE WERE TOO many people here. He finally found himself alone next to one of the outbuildings and took a breath. He couldn’t believe how smooth he’d been when he’d seen McKenzie Sheldon again. It had taken some of the sting out of failing. He couldn’t wait to get her alone.

  Talking to McKenzie Sheldon had his blood running hot, though. He felt his need growing, worse this time because of his failure. Just the thought of his hands on her bare skin— The things he would make her do. The things he would do to her.

  A flash of light caught his attention. He stepped back into the shade of the building and cupped his hands to look up the hillside toward the forest. There was someone up there in the barn loft. The flash must have been binoculars. A cop? Or that damned cowboy?

  He’d known the cowboy would be here protecting McKenzie. It irritated him, but would give him such satisfaction when he stole the woman from the cowboy right in front of his eyes. He smiled just thinking about it.

  In the shadow of the building, he waited and watched, hoping for a glimpse of whoever was hiding up in the barn loft. Finally, his patience paid off. He caught a glimpse of a face and swore.

  It was that man who’d followed him last night from McKenzie’s condo, the same man he’d witnessed getting arrested. Obviously, Gus Thompson had gotten out of jail.

  He didn’t need to speculate on who the man was looking for. Stupid fool.

  A hot well of need rushed through his blood. The women he took fulfilled a variety of his needs on several levels. At first, killing them had been just a precaution, but over time he’d begun to enjoy that part, as well.