Grafted into Deceit

by Sherri Wilson Johnson

  Steven tapped the steering wheel and stared out the windshield. Why was John’s chastisement bothering him this much? He only cared about him and didn’t want to see him get hurt—or see him hurt someone again when his relational limitations boiled to the surface.

  John’s words bothered him because he accused him of having feelings for Marina. But he didn’t. Did he?

  ***

  If Steven went home now straight from dropping John off at his car, he’d be miserable. There were too many unanswered questions mulling around in his head and even more undefined feelings vying for a place in his heart. He didn’t need to dwell on why Marina captivated him because nothing good could come of it. He’d failed too many people in his life, and there was no way he’d be good for her. He needed to focus on keeping her safe and arresting the people responsible for the illegal activity which had been going on and then move on his next case.

  Besides, even if he could allow himself to admit feelings for her, she was angry with him and would never consider giving him a chance. She’d had a bad experience with Mark, for whatever reason, and Steven doubted she’d allow another Pennington man to hurt her.

  Instead of heading home, Steven took the bypass around town and headed for Southern Hope. The drive would be good for him. Plus, he could stop by the O’Reilly ranch and see if Rex was available to talk, find out more details about what he’d mentioned the other night. If he suspected something going on between Marina’s employees and his own, Steven needed to know what that was.

  He zipped along Elm Grove Road, trees blurring in his rearview and side mirrors as he exceeded the speed limit by ten miles per hour. When he whipped his SUV into the gravel driveway of the ranch, Rex waved at him from the driver’s side of his black Ford pickup. He’d caught him on his way out.

  Steven rolled his window down and pulled up next to Rex, the smell of cattle and freshly baled hay filling his nostrils. “How are you this evening?”

  Rex tipped his Stetson at Steven and smiled with his dark eyes. Not too long ago, the former widower never experienced happiness. When Cora came to the Southern Hope ranch, Rex’s life had changed forever. “Well, I’m doing all right. Cora’s sending me to the store to pick up chocolate ice cream and peanuts. She’s having cravings.”

  Steven crinkled his brow. “Cravings?”

  “Yep. Didn’t you hear she’s pregnant?” He straightened in his seat.

  Steven smirked. “No, I sure didn’t. Congratulations, man.” Rex and Cora had been married about two years, if that. They sure hadn’t taken long to get started on their family. Rex’s parents, Pearl and R.L., no doubt, would be ecstatic over the new grandchild. One day, Steven would have a family of his own if all went according to plan. But first, he needed to learn how to be unceasing with his love and dependable.

  Rex’s Southern drawl drew Steven back to the conversation. “We found out a month ago. Susie’s excited over being a big sister.”

  “I’m sure.” Rex’s first wife had died several years earlier, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. God had blessed him when he’d brought Cora into his life. Steven pointed out to the pasture on his right. “Looks like your cattle are doing well. How’s everything else with the business?”

  “It’s all going according to plan. Matt’s running the dude ranch, Cora’s helping Ms. Lottie with the B&B, and I’m handling the ornery cows and cowboys. Going much better than a few years ago. Mom and Dad are enjoying retirement.”

  “Sounds like a dream.”

  Rex bellowed. “Every now and again, it’s a dream. Most of the time it’s hard work plain and simple. What brings you out here, Detective?”

  Steven chuckled. Rex vacillated between calling him by his title and by his first name. He never called him the same thing twice in a row. “The other night over at Acres and Fields, you said you’d been meaning to call me about suspicions you were having.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Well, what are they? You got a few minutes to talk about them?”

  “Sure do. You want to come up to the house for coffee?”

  “No, I’m good talking here in the car, if you are. No need to delay Cora’s cravings for this.” Steven clicked on his heater but directed the vents away from his face. He was chilly but not cold.

  Rex laughed. “Sure.” He shifted his truck into park. “I might just be paranoid or something, but for the last few months, some of my ranch hands have been showing up late to work or showing up to do the wrong chore. I’ve noticed them acting more indifferent about the quality of their work than normal, and they cut out early without telling me.”

  Steven scratched his chin. Although Rex’s suspicions might not relate, exploring his train of thought couldn’t hurt. “What do you think’s going on?”

  “I suspect they’re doing drugs. It’s not like them. But we don’t have drugs out here in Southern Hope, do we?”

  Steven raised his right eyebrow. “You’d be surprised.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. Rex, drugs are everywhere.”

  “Well, I’m not going to stand for it around my place. If I so much as catch one of my men with drugs on their bodies or in their possession at all, they’re outta here.”

  Steven tapped his fingers on his steering wheel. “Have you noticed if any of them pay visits to the nursery?”

  “Naw. I haven’t paid that close attention though. You think someone’s selling drugs over there? I can’t see Marina being a part of that kind of thing.”

  “I hope not. But I’ve been surveilling the place since my brother’s death. He was convinced there’s a whole operation going on over there. I’m convinced that’s what got him killed.”

  Rex shook his head, genuine concern bleeding through the darkness of his eyes. “I sure hope not. I was awfully sorry to hear about your brother, Steven.”

  “Thanks. And thanks for telling me about your suspicions. You call me any time you notice something strange. Okay?”

  “Will do.”

  “I’m going to drive through over there and make sure nothing’s happening, then I’m heading home. This has been a long weekend.”

  “I’ll bet. Well, listen now, you call me if you need backup of any kind. Me and Matt will be happy to help you put anyone behind bars who’s dealing drugs in our neck of the woods. I’m not going to put up with illegal activities.”

  “Thanks, man. You’d better get to the store and get Cora’s ice cream before she starts fussing.” Steven put his SUV in drive.

  Rex tipped his Stetson at Steven again. “Will do. You take care.”

  “Thanks.” Steven did a U-turn in the driveway and followed Rex out to Elm Grove Road. Rex turned left toward town. Steven went right toward Marina’s property. Just a quick drive through, and he’d head home to rest. Hopefully, all would be quiet this evening. He needed some downtime.

  Chapter Nine

  Fear and anger had battled one another for first place in Marina’s heart as she’d opened the door to throw the detectives out of her house. The cool, November breeze had rushed in and chilled her even further to the bone than she already was. If she could have, she’d run down the brick steps and walkway and gotten as far from the nightmare as possible.

  But she couldn’t have left the two detectives in her home unattended. She’d needed time to think, to wrap her brain around all that had happened the last forty-something hours. To do that, she had to be alone, and that’s why she’d kicked them out.

  Still leaning against the closed door, as she’d done the night before when Steven left, she inhaled. Her heart pounded in her head. Her knees trembled. What had she been thinking? She’d slammed the door on two police officers. Had she shut out the only protector she’d had in years? Why couldn’t she believe Iris or Mack—or both—could be involved in the pandemonium which happened Friday night?

  She sighed, whipped the front door open, stepped out onto the porch, and began her search of the street and the parking lot near the
pool for the detectives. They were gone. Tears flooded her eyes as she plopped to the stoop. Once again, she’d successfully cleared the people from her life who could help.

  Something rustled in the bushes at the bottom of her steps, and her breath ceased. But when the white and gray head the size of a saucer popped out from between the branches of the bush and a meow of loneliness and hunger escaped the ten-pound neighbor’s cat, Marina relaxed her shoulders. “Come here, boy.”

  Simba wasn’t a starving stray, but he made it his mission to convince everyone he was. “Come on. I’ll get you a treat.” Marina stood, and Simba caressed her calves with his chin and wove his way around and through her ankles. “Don’t trip me, silly.” His meow caused a girlish giggle to escape her lips. “Thank you for bringing me some cheer.”

  After she fed Simba a small scoop of the kitty chow she kept underneath her kitchen sink, she let him outside and locked the door. With a cup of hot cinnamon tea, she made her way to the kitchen table where she’d mulled over the files the night before.

  She fished through the Blossom Marketing folder and searched again in the computer files, but there wasn’t anything she could use. Most of the events were like parallel roads which never intersected and led her to a dead end.

  Neither Jason nor Kemar and his passenger in the truck seemed to have a connection with the missing money, but they seemed to connect to each other. If whatever they were involved in didn’t have anything to do with her company, why were they on her property Friday night? Maybe Jason had been running from someone at the O’Reilly ranch and not from Kemar. How did Steven’s suspicions of drugs factor into this situation?

  Marina was sick of worrying over this. She’d intended to watch Shelly’s church’s service online after the detectives left, but instead had nursed her wounds—both physical and emotional—and wracked her brain to make sense of things. There was only one way to find out the truth.

  She shut her laptop and the file folder with a groan. “I’m going to the office. I have to get answers.” She’d scour Iris’s files and see if she could find more documentation on Blossom Marketing.

  Marina emptied her mug and dialed Allison’s number. If her neighbor would let her borrow her car, she could go back to the nursery to do more research. Maybe there was a connection between Jason and the missing money. Maybe he’d been blackmailing Iris or Mack and one of them had called an end to his game. That still didn’t explain why he’d blackmail someone from her company. What information did he have that would be worthy of blackmail to keep it hidden? Marina shook her head. Nope, that was ridiculous.

  After the second ring, Allison answered the call. “Hi, neighbor.”

  “Hi, Allison, are you home?”

  “Yep, just got in from my mom’s house. Big annual pumpkin carving with all the grandkids, you know.”

  Marina placed her empty mug in the dishwasher and leaned against the kitchen sink. “Sounds like fun.” One day, if she got through this mess, maybe she’d have a husband and kids of her own to enjoy the fall activities with. Oh, the bitterness continued to creep into her thoughts. She had to quit letting it do that. “Would you mind if I borrow your car? I wrecked mine Friday night, and I need to pick up some things from my office.” She stretched her neck and contemplated taking the pain medication they’d given her at the hospital, but she wouldn’t be able to drive if she did.

  “You wrecked? Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Banged up a bit, but fine.”

  “Oh my goodness! Do you need anything?”

  “Just your car, if you don’t mind. I promise not to wreck it.”

  Allison laughed. “Sure. I’ll put the keys and the garage door opener in the planter on my porch. Timmy missed his nap today, and Gabbie has sticky goo from leftover Halloween candy head to toe. Mom doesn’t know how to say no to her grandkids. Mitch and I are going to collapse as soon as we get them cleaned up and settled.”

  “Thanks. I owe you!”

  Allison was a great neighbor. Marina couldn’t think of a time when she’d ever refused a request. Mitch traveled often on business, so at least once a month Allison invited her next door for a late dinner and a rom-com after the kids went to bed. If she had another scary night like last night, Marina might be tempted to sleep on their couch.

  The short drive out of town through the quiet region of Southern Hope with nothing but flat farmland sprinkled with fall-colored hills and valleys, reminded Marina why they’d decided to base the business out here away from town. Even though Lewistown wasn’t commercialized like Columbus or Atlanta, it was still too developed for a nursery. The price of land closer to town would have prevented Marina and Iris from having all they had out here. Of course, if she didn’t figure out what was happening, they could lose it all.

  As she neared the Southern Hope ranch, the stifling feeling of anxiety crept up her back and across her shoulders. She’d have to pass the accident scene before she arrived at her office. Why hadn’t she taken one of the longer routes and come in from the other direction? That way she could have avoided seeing everything again and reliving that nightmare. “Don’t be a wimp. You can’t let this control your life.”

  On impulse, Marina whipped into the driveway of the ranch. She’d check if Rex and Cora knew anything about what had happened Friday night. Maybe they could confirm the events weren’t connected.

  She pulled under the archway and smiled. Bradford pears with dying leaves ranging from orange to purple lined the long and curvy gravel drive leading to the plantation-style home where Mr. and Mrs. O’Reilly, Rex’s parents, lived and to the adjoining Apple Springs B&B where Ms. Lottie lived out her retirement years as hostess and manager. The roving pastureland, turnaround drive, brick-paved parking area, and grandiose porch of the main house welcomed any guest—even unexpected ones like Marina.

  Should she knock on the door or leave? She played with the key in the ignition and stalled doing anything. What would she say? What could she say without sounding like a suspicious lunatic? Of course, Rex and Cora knew her well, and they’d take her concerns seriously without thinking she was distrustful without warrant.

  When a tap sounded on her window, she jumped and turned the key without meaning to, causing the still-running engine to grind. If she ruined Allison’s car, she’d never forgive herself. And Allison would never let her borrow anything again.

  Squinting, Marina peeked out of the corner of her eye and rotated her neck at a snail’s pace to see who had tapped on the window.

  “Marina? You okay?” Cora O’Reilly asked, her olive-green eyes filled with concern. Cora wore a jogging suit, and judging by her rosy cheeks, she’d been out walking the ranch to get in her daily steps.

  Marina relaxed her shoulders and shut off the engine. Nodding to Cora, she opened the door and crawled out of the car.

  Cora received her into an embrace with a greeting, her dark, shoulder-length hair blowing in the light breeze. She smelled like cinnamon and other spices and calmed Marina’s nerves upon sight. “Did I scare you? I’m so sorry if I did.”

  Pulling away from Cora, and noticing her rounded belly, Marina giggled to lighten the mood. “It’s not you, Cora. The last few days have caused me to be on high alert. I’m like a jittery old house cat.”

  “Rex told me you had trouble out there Friday night. You want to come in for some of Ms. Lottie’s banana bread and Chamomile tea?”

  “That sounds delightful, but I don’t want to impose.”

  Leaves skittered across the drive, as Cora dismissed Marina’s concerns with a wave of her hand. “You wouldn’t be. Come on in the house.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  “I am. I don’t have to pick Susie up from her friend’s house for another hour, and Rex is out and about.” Cora linked arms with Marina and escorted her down the walkway to the side of the main house and into the B&B.

  As soon as they entered, the weekend’s stress and worry dissipated like morning fog after the sunrise. Althou
gh in the mid-sixties outside, a fire sizzled in the fireplace in the corner of the shadowy dining area. The crackle and pop of the flame-licked logs along with the aroma of banana bread made Marina feel secure and almost festive. Almost.

  Cora escorted her through the dining area and into a cozy leather-laden den with another fireplace blazing warmth into the room. Marina sank into one of the over-sized leather chairs by the fire, a striped Sherpa throw sliding into her lap. She could stay here forever.

  Ms. Lottie, not over five feet and as round as a ball of dough, zipped into the dining area from the kitchen, gray hair gathered into a knot on top of her head. “Well, who do we have here? Marina Acres? It’s great to see you, child.” Ms. Lottie leaned over and gave Marina a side hug.

  “Hey, Ms. Lottie. How have you been?”

  “I’m finer than frog hair except for this old back of mine.”

  Marina chuckled. A person couldn’t be sad or worried around Ms. Lottie. “I sure miss stopping in for lunch at your place in town.”

  “Well, I know, but I’m happier out here with Rex and Cora. I couldn’t maintain the old place.”

  “I’m sure. There’s nowhere in town with food as good as your cooking, though.”

  Ms. Lottie pinched Marina’s left cheek with her arthritic fingers. “Well, you stop by here any time during the day when you’re at work or on your way home in the evening. I’ll cook you up something that’ll fill your belly and fill your heart too.”

  “You know she will. I’m here in Southern Hope because of that cooking of hers.” Cora blew Ms. Lottie a kiss and received one in return.

  That was an offer Marina couldn’t refuse. “I’ll do it!”

  Ms. Lottie nodded. “What can I get for you two?”

  Cora folded her legs and pulled her socked feet into the chair. She slid a patchwork quilt off the chair arm into her lap. “I’m fine, but Ms. Lottie, would you bring Marina a slice of your banana bread and Chamomile tea?”