Cassie's Cowboy Crave: Witness Protection - Rancher Style (Sweet Montana Bride Series)

by Kimberly Krey

  While the loaves cooled, Cassie wiped down the counter, glancing out at the horses in the pasture. Shane had taken the truck today and left Drake home to roam with Shay. The two ran circles within the gated area, seeming to enjoy one another’s company. Perhaps they were in love.

  A sigh slipped from her lips as she considered something she hadn’t before. Here at Emerson Ranch, Cassie was surrounded by lovers. Betty and Grant, Blake and Reese, Gavin and Jade. She laughed as she walked toward the sliding glass, eyeing the horses once more. Now she could add Drake and Shay to the list.

  Cassie’s attention remained on the magnificent creatures beyond the yard until something caught her eye. The hot tub. At once the images of her and Shane’s blessed moments beyond the glass door filled her mind. Almost two weeks had passed since then. And though that very day had been marred by the terrifying events of the night, Cassie’s memory of those moments remained pure and untainted. She held them safe in a cherished place in her heart, often musing on them when recollections of Reynold invaded her thoughts.

  With modest success, Cassie had managed to apply her approach of ‘letting go’ to the horrific evening; to not let the incident cripple her with fear, or the sheer panic that erupted from all the ‘what ifs’. What if Shane hadn’t come home in time? What if he’d have shot the kid and ended up in prison over simply trying to protect her? Or at very least become haunted by the knowledge that he’d ended the life of one so young.

  Those very ideas had tormented Cassie for two days straight – until she made a conscious effort to leave it behind. Still, Shane hadn’t kissed her since their moment against the very pane of glass she stood before. Throughout her stay, Shane Emerson had maintained the perfect combination of gentleman and rogue; she hoped the rogue wasn’t gone for good.

  She squinted her eyes, looking for any signs of Shane’s prints on the glass, but stopped when she remembered his hands were on her and nowhere else. Firm on her hips while he kissed her with more passion than she could fathom. It was enough to have Cassie wondering – even at the memory – if perhaps Shane really did love her.

  On more than one occasion, Cassie had thought it might be helpful to talk things out with Reese or Jade. Other times she considered speaking with Betty. Confiding in the woman about her feelings for Shane. And if nothing else, having a good cry over the fact that he did not love her in return. The idea lingered in her mind – maybe Betty knew her son better than anyone. Maybe his mother would tell her something she longed to hear. That Shane had, indeed, fallen in love with her after all.

  Before she had a chance to get a hold of them, Cassie’s hopes soared toward the blue Montana sky, taking her spirits along with them. Shane’s impassioned kiss, his gentle touch. His thoughtful actions and protective way. They could add up to love, couldn’t they? What if she was missing the truth of it all along?

  In less than a minute, Cassie had a loaf of bread within her grip. She would take a pan to Betty and Grant, thank Shane’s mother for her patience in teaching her how to get it right, and then stay for a while. Perhaps strike up a conversation about that amazingly wonderful, everything-Cassie-could-want-in-a-man son of hers. See where it went from there.

  The sun shone bright as she stepped onto the porch. The moment felt like something straight from a fairytale. The slightest hint of wind blew; scents of honey and pollen, thick on the fragrant breeze. Green leaves were taking shape on the nearby oak tree, offering new life to the yellowed land Cassie had come to love. Birds chirped from within its branches, the small sounds making her picture a delicate nest filled with scrawny birds and yellow beaks.

  Before taking the stairs, Cassie paused to inhale the delicious smelling bread once more, reveling in the joy of her success. She made it down two creaking steps before she saw someone coming down the dirt road. A red, sporty convertible she didn’t recognize. And though she hadn’t thought of the Lawson case in days, Cassie pictured the face of the man who’d been on trial – the one she helped put away for his savage crimes. Her heart slowed a bit as she saw the person behind the wheel was a woman. A woman she recognized – Natasha!

  What was she doing there? Cassie breathed a small sigh of relief that Shane wasn’t home. She was even more glad of the fact as she watched the woman exit the vehicle. Tight denim covered her stick-straight legs while a small, plaid shirt – tied just beneath her breasts – revealed parts of her tanned, tiny torso. Of course she hadn’t forgotten the cowboy boots. Hers were pointed like a witch’s shoe at the toe, and the heal looked a bit like the stilettos she wore the other week in church. In her hands, Shane’s ex-girlfriend held a pie. Cassie could swear she saw steam wafting from the golden brown creation.

  “Hi, Cassandra,” Natasha said as she approached.

  Cassandra? Cassie gave her a sideways glance. “Hi.”

  “I’m guessing Shane hasn’t come back for lunch yet. You expecting him anytime soon?”

  “Oh, I’m afraid not,” Cassie returned, putting a little pout into her own voice. “I packed him and the ranch hands a nice lunch. They’re doing vaccinations today, and they don’t have a minute to spare.”

  The beauty tilted her head, reaching for one of the braids dangling at either side. She twisted the dark strands around her finger. “Hmm. He had all sorts of time to spare for me,” she murmured.

  Cassie nearly gasped aloud. “Well, sorry you missed him. I’m just heading over to Betty and Grant’s now. You’re welcome to leave that here, if that’s why you came.” She eyed the pie in her hands pointedly.

  The woman looked at her for a blink, thoughtful. “Well, I just came from Betty’s. My pies are famous around here. Grant’s favorite is raspberry, so I took one of those to him, and brought an apple pie for Shane Bear, since that’s his favorite.”

  “Shane Bear?’” Cassie was livid.

  Natasha craned her neck forward, far over the pie. Her skinny form mimicking one of the baby birds Cassie had imagined only moments ago. “I know this game, Cassandra,” she said in a sneering whisper, “so you don’t have to put on an act for me. I know exactly how Reese snagged Blake, and I saw the way Jade snatched up Gavin. Others might believe you’re married and in love, but I, for one, know why you’re really here.”

  Natasha straightened up proudly, her eyes spitting venomous flames. “So, how about this. Why don’t I take whatever that is you’re holding to Betty and Grant’s, and you can take this apple pie on into the house and leave it just like this until Shane gets home.” She took two steps closer and smiled. “He always said my pies put him under a spell, and I’m looking forward to the affects of it already.”

  Cassie gulped down the lump forming in her throat. She couldn’t remember disliking a person so much in all her life. “I don’t need you to take this bread over to Betty for me,” she said. “I can do that myself.” Cassie set the loaf onto the thick frame of the banister and walked toward Natasha. “But I’d be happy to give Shane your infamous apple pie.”

  “Famous,” Natasha corrected, extending her arms.

  Cassie scowled down at the pie. One-inch strips of crisped-to-perfection crust weaved a seamless pattern over the top. “I’ll make sure he gets it.” She spun on one heel and headed for the steps. “And Natasha,” Cassie added. “You don’t have to worry about me cutting into this while he’s gone. I hate apple pie.” She made it to the steps before Natasha replied.

  “You know, I bet you are a breath of fresh air.”

  Cassie paused, one foot resting on the bottom step. “How so?”

  “Oh, it’s just that I used to drive Shane crazy with all my diets and restrictions. Things I would eat, stuff I wouldn’t.” She laughed wickedly. “You probably eat everything he does, matching his appetite and all.”

  Cassie knew she wasn’t overweight like the beast implied, but she couldn’t help but feel the sting of her comment. “You’re right,” Cassie said. “Shane says that, compared to you, I am a breath of the freshest air he’s ever had.”

&nbs
p; “We’ll see about that,” Natasha hissed.

  Cassie could not help it. Couldn’t in all the world stop herself from doing exactly what came to mind. The pie in her hands went from face up to face down as fast as Cassie’s hands could flip it. And from there, the thing splattered onto the wood-slatted porch with a sound Cassie would have paid to hear over and over again.

  She found it in herself to gasp out loud, though it was marred with the laughter bubbling inside her.

  “What happened?” Natasha asked, looking more annoyed than concerned.

  “Your pie,” Cassie said. “It slipped right out of the tin.”

  Natasha dashed over to look. The horrified expression on her face was golden.

  “I am so sorry,” Cassie offered, sobering up for the apology. “You must make one perfect crust. I’ve never seen one slide from the tin like that.”

  With full on flames darting from her eyes, Natasha reached out and snatched the pie tin from her. “No problem. I’ll bring him back another when he comes home. Maybe I’ll wait until your out of our way. From what I hear, it won’t be much longer.”

  Cassie’s heart began to hammer. “Hear from who?”

  Natasha gave her a disbelieving glance. “The news. They’re relocating all you jurors.”

  A dose of panic rushed through Cassie’s body. “What station did you see that on?”

  “I’ve been following Seattle news since I got here, seeing that I know your whole story and all. Another juror was found dead this morning, and two detectives from the case were shot. One was killed.”

  Cassie could barely digest it all.

  “The Lawsons were trying to get them to talk. So they’re relocating all the rest of you.” Natasha glared at her. “I hope they hurry. I’d hate to see the Emersons put in danger because of you.”

  Cassie didn’t say goodbye. She only stepped over the pie and made for the door, feeling as if she might faint. “My gosh, oh my gosh,” she chanted, racing for the remote. Gonzalez could be dead. The Lawson brothers might be on her trail. And the Emersons may be in danger – like Natasha said – all because of her. Images of Shane’s family flashed through her mind. From Betty and Grant, to Jonah and Kate.

  The TV blared to life, and Cassie thumbed the remote until she saw a news reporter speaking. The news team was smiling and laughing and looking more annoying with each passing second. She moved onto the next channel. And then the next, flipping a few more times to find herself back on the cheesy news team. “Ugh. Do these guys not have cable?” She mulled over her limited options. Jade and Reese – they’d probably heard. And what about Shane? Shouldn’t he be notified about what was going on? Or Grant?

  She considered that as she headed into the kitchen, mind racing like a jet. In a frenzied rush, Cassie leaned over the counter, securing the phone in her grip, and froze as a loud thump pounded against the front door.

  “Cassie Lovell?”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  “Trey and his guys are herding in the next round of calves,” Grant said over the CB. “You boys about finished with that bunch?”

  Shane nodded to Gavin, indicating he could open the gate. “Yep. We’re letting them out now.” He flipped open his notepad and scanned over the list. They still had a lot more immunizations to give before the day was through. He’d been hoping to head home early that afternoon, but instead Shane would be lucky to make it back in daylight.

  Another burst of static broke through the intercom before he heard his dad once more. “Shane, are you there?” His voice had changed. Carried a hint of urgency in it.

  Shane ripped the CB off his belt and pressed down the button. “Right here.”

  “You need to drop what you’re doing and get to the house, Son. Right away.”

  Shane lifted his head, eyeing his truck across the field. “What’s wrong?” In seconds he’d hopped the corral’s fence. Once his feet hit the ground, he broke into a run, the speaker held up to his ear.

  “They’re coming to get Cassie. Take her to a different location. You’ll want to tell her goodbye.”

  He ran faster, his feet suddenly numb, his heart fevered.

  “How do you know? Why didn’t they call me?”

  “They tried. Said they couldn’t get you on your cell,” his dad replied.

  Shane cursed, realizing he’d left it in the truck.

  “They’ve got a lot of people in danger and they need to be as quick and discreet as they can be.”

  Shane’s mind was wracked with worry. And loss. And raw panic for the woman he loved. Where would they take her? How would they keep her safe? And what if he didn’t get to her in time to say goodbye?

  The keys rested in the ignition and Shane wasted no time turning it over. The thing roared as he tore onto the road, cursing under his breath one minute, then praying for help the next. “Please, please, let me get to her in time. I have to get to her.”

  His pulse raced while he sped toward the ranch, squinting against the afternoon sun once the house came into view. A black, unmarked sedan with dark, tinted windows sped along the dirt road coming from the house. He watched as it tore past Betty and Grant’s and pulled onto the main road. Shane had a sick feeling Cassie was inside that very car.

  He pressed the pedal hard to the truck floor, desperate to close the gap, but the black car was fast. Too fast. His heart picked up speed in a race of its own, trying to make up the difference. He’d almost lost Cassie once. Why hadn’t he told her then – after it was all said and done – that he loved her. That he didn’t want to live life without her? At least he would have found out where she stood.

  A new and terrible question occurred to him then: What if the person who had her was one of the Lawson brothers?

  No, that wasn’t their style. They would have butchered her on the spot. The thought had him calling his mother from his cell.

  “Where are you?” Betty asked as she answered.

  “On the road. Chasing a black car that just pulled out of the drive. Will you go check on the house? See if Cassie’s there?”

  “She’s not,” Betty said.

  Shane pressed harder on the gas, his leg cramping beneath the pressure.

  “They sent a deputy for her. Dad said he told you. They’ve got a private jet waiting at the airport.”

  “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Oh, honey, I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye. You were really falling for this girl, weren’t you?”

  His mother had said it so lightly – like Cassie was simply going on vacation. “Mom, do you realize Cassie could be in danger right now? I have to… I just can’t let her go.”

  Betty released a faint sigh. “She’ll be fine, Shane.”

  The black car must have had some trained racer behind the wheel. The thing sped beyond his view as the grounds went from flat land to valleys and hills. They weren’t headed toward the main airport. His frustration only mounted as he considered what his mother had said. “Why in the world do you sound so calm?”

  “Because I know she won’t be gone for good, Shane. And you know it too. That girl is in love with you. She’s in love with this ranch, with this life. Just like Reese and Jade.”

  “Yeah, but Reese didn’t get shipped out before…”

  “Before what?” Betty asked.

  Shane shook his head, too angry to finish the sentence.

  Betty spoke up. “Before you had a chance to tell her you loved her too?”

  “She never told me she loved me, Ma.”

  “But you know she does. And when it’s love, it will find a way. Fate brought her from Seattle to Montana. It can surely bring her back from wherever she’s headed now.”

  The short burst of a whining siren sounded from behind, and Shane looked back to see a police car’s lights flashing in the rearview. He muttered a curse under his breath. “Got a cop on my tail. I gotta go.”

  “You better pull over for that man-” Betty’s voice cut out as Shane hit the b
utton. Like he was stupid enough to try and outrun a cop.

  Once the truck was stopped, Shane rolled down the window, reaching into his back pocket for his wallet, all the while praying his mother was right. The officer, upon retaining Shane’s license and registration, proceeded to lecture him on keeping the speed limit. Shane chuckled darkly under his breath. Speeding? Compared to the Sedan up ahead, Shane’s truck was slower than a snail. The guy would never have caught up to that man though. Nobody would. Cassie was about to be ripped from his arms and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.

  Shane couldn’t stop himself from driving back to the house. He had a lot to take care of where those calves were concerned. Another passing day could make all the difference. But he had to get into the house. Into her room – see if perhaps everyone was mistaken and she was really there in the kitchen with a smile on her face, waiting for him to come home.

  The first thing he noticed as he pulled up was a loaf pan balancing on the railing. Why would she have left it there? He rounded the corner and barreled up the porch steps, barely missing a flattened pie on the stairs. “What the heck?” He looked around, further disturbed. It seemed as if there’d been a struggle of some sort.

  His heart hammered as he ran down the hall, through his room, and the bathroom too, flashbacks of their recent horror shifting through his mind. At last he stepped into the place where Cassie had slept for the last month. Her things were gone. All of them. The colorful patchwork quilt lay smooth over the bed. It looked as if she’d never been there at all.

  Shane gave the doorframe a good, hard kick and cursed. His hands flew to his head, his hat falling to the floor as he raked fingers through his hair, gripping at the strands. His eyes searched over the remainder of the room, looking for some sort of note – something she may have left behind.