“I’ve got a smaller horse, just right for you. Charley is over at the Hawkins place and it’s a little crowded there. What if I bring him over here instead?” Sierra put Blanco up where Mary indicated. She liked the look of this barn with its sand floors and fresh hay in bags in each stall.
“That would probably be better. But where will this big guy go?” Mary leaned against the stall and watched Blanco grab a mouthful of hay.
“Miguel Rodriguez would probably enjoy exercising him, don’t you think, Sierra?” Rhett had followed them into the barn. He introduced himself to Mary. “I’m not sure we got to meet yesterday.”
“That’s a good idea, Rhett. Mr. Rodriguez has plenty of room and I can slip Miguel some extra money. He’s saving to go to college. I’m sure he’d be happy to have the cash.” Sierra smiled up at him. “Sounds like a plan. Thanks.”
“Well, I’m glad you figured that out. We all want to help you, Sierra. I hope they catch whoever burned down your barn. You find out anything yet?” Mary’s eyes were kind but curious.
“Definitely arson, that’s all we know for sure. I suspect the outfit from Dallas that wants to buy my land.” Sierra sighed. That nugget would fly around the rumor mill at top speed. “I sure won’t sell because I’m scared.”
“Damn, that’s ugly, if it’s true.” Mary gripped Sierra’s hand. “Like blackmail, isn’t it? Don’t give in to it. Unless…” She glanced at the horse, then around her own barn. “Well, you have to weigh the risks. Texas is a big place. Lots of land where you could settle. The Morgan place is for sale. Last I heard it’s not in line for development by the Dallas group. Something to think about.”
“Didn’t know that.” Sierra knew that ranch and didn’t think much of it. The pastures were rocky and water access was a problem. The widow who was selling out had let her outbuildings get run-down, too. Sierra kept her opinion to herself. Rhett stood near her, hovering. Did he want to say something? She glanced at him but he was looking around the barn, studying it.
“Anyway, be careful, Sierra. Wish I could board your horse for free, but you know how it is.” Mary shrugged.
“Yes, I do. They don’t say ‘eats like a horse’ for nothing. I’ve got it all arranged at the feed store. I called Max this morning and gave him your name.” Sierra gave Blanco one last pat. “You’re doing me a huge favor, Mary. Call if you need anything.”
“Rhett, do you know horses?” Mary walked with them back to the truck.
“I rode as a kid and love horses. Hoped to do more riding until Sierra lost her barn.” He smiled at Mary, then put his hand on Sierra’s elbow. “Farming out the horses was a hard day for her.”
Sierra noticed that Mary’s shirt was clinging, making it obvious the woman didn’t bother with a bra. Surprisingly, Rhett hadn’t lowered his eyes from Mary’s face before he walked around to help Sierra into the truck after he said goodbye. Amazing. He’d also been logical, and had obviously paid attention during their long morning when he had suggested the Blanco move. She usually resented a man who tried to solve problems for her, but how could she argue with a good idea? Okay, so he was scoring points all the way around.
She realized as she drove the short distance to town that she wasn’t as depressed as she’d expected to be after seeing her horses settled at her neighbors’ ranches. Having Rhett by her side had made the day bearable.
Chapter Ten
Sierra parked in front of the Trading Post and turned to him. “How about lunch before boot shopping? The City Café has great burgers or a chicken pot pie that’s right up there with Rachel’s.”
“You read my mind.” He gestured toward the café down the sidewalk. “Let’s go.”
“I already called Rachel and told her we wouldn’t be back for lunch at the ranch.” Sierra pulled her buzzing phone out of her pocket. “Damn. I recognize this area code. Dallas.”
“Don’t answer it. If they need to talk to you, they’ll leave a voicemail.” He took her phone and turned it off. “Whatever they have to say might ruin your appetite. I’m thinking burger. I’m a beef man.”
“As a cattle rancher, I’m glad to hear that.” Sierra took back the phone and turned it on again. “The insurance agent or Dylan might call. I can’t afford to keep this off.” She heard the beep that signaled a voicemail.
She saw a man coming toward them.
“Hi, Eddie.” He was the local blacksmith and she gave him plenty of business.
“Sierra.” He doffed his hat. “Sorry about your barn. Horses come out all right?”
“Yes, thank God, but it was a close one. This is Rhett Hall, my houseguest. Rhett, Eddie Franz, best blacksmith in town.”
“Only blacksmith in town.” Eddie held out his hand. “Mr. Hall.”
“Call me Rhett. Blacksmith. That sounds like an interesting job. You go to school to learn that trade?” Rhett was in his usual research mode.
“You can. I happen to be a third-generation blacksmith and farrier. My grandpa started the business here then handed it down to Dad. I’m doing most of the work now that Dad’s trying to retire. Sierra’s a good customer.” Eddie hit his hat on his thigh. “I think I’m one of the few people around here who’s not all for this senior citizen community they’ve been talking about. Won’t help my business.”
“Have you been approached by anyone from the company trying to buy your property?” Sierra dropped Rhett’s hand. How had she ended up holding it, anyway?
“No, I’m on the other side of the highway. Focus seems to be on your side.” He looked up when a truck with a horse trailer drove past. “There’s my next customer. I sure hope that outfit didn’t think burning you out would get you to sell. Don’t do it, Sierra. If that’s the way they do business, we sure don’t want their kind in our neck of the woods.” He patted her shoulder then took off down the sidewalk.
“He has a point.” Rhett stared after him.
“He certainly does.” Sierra headed into the café just ahead of them. It had a late lunch crowd of chattering patrons. It seemed like everyone looked up when they entered and the talking stopped. Moments later, as they stood in the doorway and waited to be noticed by a busy waitress, the conversations started again. Could someone here, calmly scarfing down a burger, have torched her barn? The thought sent chills through her. Maybe she wasn’t hungry after all.
“Hey, Sierra. Glad you see you out and about. Let me get you a table.” A woman came from behind the counter with two menus. “How’s the barn?”
“Total loss, Ellie. Thanks for asking.” Sierra followed her to a corner table in the back. “I guess Mark told you about it.” The firemen must have spread the word as fast as a brush fire. Eddie had heard about it, and the ranchers who’d called to take in her horses certainly knew about it. Small town, big gossips.
Right now she could feel dozens of eyes on her, tracking her progress across the room. Some were probably resentful, wondering if that blaze had done the trick and she was going to cave in and do the right thing for the town. Her shoulders slumped. What if a horse or horses had been killed? Was her dream worth it?
“The boys in the fire department had a rough weekend. Then Mark had to open the pharmacy this morning.” She smiled and held out her hand to Rhett. “Ellie Chen. This is my café. You must be the Yankee Mark was yammering about. My husband worked the fire at Sierra’s barn. He met you out there.”
“Sure did.” Rhett shook her hand. “He’s a busy man.”
“You don’t know the half of it.” She laughed. “What are you drinking?”
“Iced tea.” He sat across from Sierra.
“The same. Thanks.” Sierra saw Rhett watching the shapely brunette walk behind the counter to the kitchen. “Bet you never would have put those two together.”
“I like her. Mark was tired and angry when I met him. She’s friendly and full of energy.” Rhett smiled across at her. “
Good characters.”
“You and your research. I hate to think of the notes you’re taking about me.” Sierra picked up her menu, though she always ordered the same thing here, the killer pot pie. Hopefully she’d manage to ignore the stares she was getting and choke it down.
“If you think I’m studying you, tell me to back off.” He glanced at the menu then dropped it on the table. “I would need to get much closer, though, to make it a real in-depth research project.” He had that glint in his hazel eyes that made her want to lean closer.
“Closer. How close?” She licked her lips.
“Here are your drinks.” In a case of bad timing, Ellie was back. “You decided on your lunch?”
Sierra looked up and gave her order. Rhett went for the burger and fries. As soon as Ellie left, Sierra’s phone rang again. Well, hell. Of course it was the Dallas number again.
“Want me to show you how to block it?” Rhett reached for her phone.
“No, I’m answering it this time. Might as well. I want to settle this.” She answered. “This is Sierra MacKenzie.”
“We’ve been trying to reach you, Ms. MacKenzie. How are you today?”
“I’m fine, just fine.”
“Good to hear. I wanted to let you know that I am prepared to raise our offer on your property by twenty percent.”
“Why that’s very interesting, Mr. Greenbacks. This is Mr. Greenbacks, isn’t it? Lots of money on the table every time you call me.”
“Ha, ha. Actually, Ms. MacKenzie, that’s Brubaker. Alfred Brubaker. But you can call me anything you please as long as you will seriously consider my offer. So many citizens there are behind this. People call me daily wanting to know when we’ll start breaking ground. I hate to tell them that you are holding up progress.” He paused to let that sink in. Was it a threat? “Any more delays and we will move the project to another, more accessible site. East Texas looks promising. Something closer to Dallas.” Another pause, and it was definitely a threat.
“Surely that would cost your company too much. After you’ve invested in the land here.” Sierra knew they’d bought several ranches already.
“Contracts can be broken, Ms. MacKenzie. Our lawyers know how to write in contingencies. I assure you, we can pull out of Muellerville without much pain at all. I hope I make myself clear. Without access to that highway, we will. So here’s the deal: we really need to hear from you in the next twenty-four hours. Otherwise? We’ll pull the plug on the entire venture.”
“It seems to me you’ve been toying with the local investors, Alfred. No pain for you, but will the people here be made whole?” Sierra waited for an answer and didn’t get one. Shit. This sounded like blackmail, and she wasn’t caving in to it. “Listen to me. Twenty-four hours won’t be necessary, I assure you. I have already made up my mind.”
“Really? Are you accepting our terms?” He was almost giddy. She could hear it in his voice.
“Not exactly. You see, I had a little problem the other night. My barn burned down.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He oozed sympathy. “I assure you, that doesn’t decrease the value for us. We aren’t interested in your buildings. Just the land.”
“Oh, I’m very aware of that.” Sierra gripped the phone. “Unfortunately, the barn wasn’t empty when it went up in flames. Thank God I was able to get every one of my horses out safely.”
“Good, good. Was anyone hurt?” He was saying all the right things.
“No. But it was quite an ordeal. I inhaled a lot of smoke while I was saving my livestock.” Sierra faked a cough. “With the barn a total loss, I was left with no place to keep my horses.”
“Oh, my. That is a real problem. Of course I would be happy to assist you in locating a new place for your dear animals. I’m connected to a real estate firm here in Dallas that could find you a prime piece of land with a nice barn that would suit your needs. At a good price of course. Right after you accept our offer. We’ll be demolishing your outbuildings anyway to build that new road into the senior living facility. Having your barn gone would just speed up the project.”
“I appreciate that, Alfred.” Sierra took a steadying breath. Rhett’s hand landed on hers, as if he could see it was all she could do to hold on to her temper. “Now let me tell you what I’m thinking. I’m thinking that it’s probably not an accident that someone torched my barn. And I somehow doubt that it’s a coincidence that you call me within forty-eight hours of that disaster offering to buy me out. Again.”
“I’ve been calling you for weeks, Ms. MacKenzie. The timing isn’t unusual. I have to admit I find your tone disturbing. What are you suggesting?” The voice was no longer calm or persuasive.
“I’m not suggesting, I’m saying this plainly. I think your company tried to burn me out so I’d have no choice but to sell.” Oh, shit, she was about to cry. Couldn’t do it. She sucked in a breath. “Sorry, but your plan didn’t work. I’m more determined than ever to stay put. My arson investigator will prove that your people were behind that fire. When they get through, you or your minions will probably be looking at a grand jury indictment. Of course that’s what my brother, a high-powered lawyer, says. I’m more inclined to come to Dallas with my shotgun.” She ended the call and threw the phone on the table, where it bounced once then hit the floor.
Rhett handed her a pile of paper napkins.
“Sorry about that.” Sierra mopped at her wet cheeks. “Those people. They make me so damned mad. It’s like he was ready to dance on my grave.” She shook her head. “Wrong metaphor. You’re a writer. Can’t you come up with something better?”
“Wouldn’t dare. You were brilliant.” He just stared at her. “And sexy as hell.”
Two plates were slammed onto the table in front of them.
“I can’t believe you just turned them down again. Everyone in here heard you.” Ellie stood next to Sierra. She wiped her hands on her apron, her cheeks flushed. “Mark said your barn was a total loss. A friend told me you moved your horses to other ranches. What’s it going to take, Sierra, to make you see that you are holding us all hostage with your stubborn ‘no sale’ attitude?”
“You too, Ellie?” Sierra pushed back her chair and stood. “I thought we were friends.”
“Business is business. I’d think that was a lesson you would have learned at your daddy’s knee. Or don’t rich kids bother?” She turned on her heel and marched back toward the kitchen.
Sierra looked around the room, which had become very quiet, and slowly sat again. Yes, there was a lunch crowd, but now that she paid attention, she noticed the place was only half-full. Ellie worked hard and kept the place open early for breakfast, then all day until nine at night, seven days a week. She had twins at home. Balancing work and family would be a challenge. Her husband had his own business and did firefighting too, so he wasn’t a help at home. No wonder they both were looking forward to the boon of a new development nearby. Hadn’t she heard the same thing at the Wagon Wheel?
“More tea?” The young waitress refilled their glasses. “I’m sorry if Ellie said things that upset you. She works too hard and has a lot on her mind. Those twins of hers are so danged smart they’re gonna graduate from high school early. Now both of them seem set on becoming doctors. Can you imagine?”
“They can’t be that old.” Sierra couldn’t remember the waitress’s name but knew she was a local.
“Mia and Max are ten now but everyone expects they’ll be headed to college at sixteen. Ellie is determined to get them through college, med school, all of it, without burdening them with student loans. Can you imagine what that’ll cost? That’s why we’re open such long hours here. Why Mark does the firefighting, too.” She shook her head, then turned when a customer waved his empty tea glass. “I’m not supposed to be gossiping but I just admire Ellie so much. She works all the time but business is down. I don’t see how she’s gonna p
ay for two kids and all that education.” She shrugged. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I know you don’t care about her family drama or Muellerville, Ms. MacKenzie. Enjoy your lunch.” She sauntered over to the next table to fill that tea glass.
“Whoa. I hope not everyone thinks that way about you, Sierra.” Rhett spoke as he picked up a french fry.
“Me too.” Sierra wondered if she’d been wrong, digging in her heels all this time. Her throat was closing over a lump the size of a boulder in her north pasture. Had she been selfish, putting her own needs ahead of this small town’s future?
“Damn it, I do care about this town.” She used one of the rumpled paper napkins to wipe her cheeks again.
“You don’t need to decide anything now. Or prove anything to anyone here.” Rhett looked around the room then touched her hand. “Eat. The food looks delicious.”
“And the pot pie has a sealed crust.” Sierra stabbed it with her fork and watched the steam leak out. “So Ellie didn’t have time to slip in any poison.”
Rhett grinned. “Good point.” He lifted his bun and checked out the burger inside. “I’m taking my life in my hands, but I believe this is okay too. What do you think?”
“I think we need to leave a big tip.” Sierra blew on her bite then began to eat. “And eat fast.” She still felt eyes on her and none of them were friendly. Maybe it was time to move on. But could she let her own dream go that easily?
Chapter Eleven
“I just got reamed out because she turned down another offer from Dallas. Which means you fucked up.”
“No, I didn’t. That barn went up quick. Total loss.”
“Yeah? Then how come all the horses got out? The woman’s still there, dug in and swearing to stay forever.”
“I weren’t going to kill no horses. Not for what you paid me.”
“Don’t give me attitude. I expected to hear she was packing her bags and taking the deal. Instead, there’s an arson investigator coming. You know he’ll be going over that barn with a fine-tooth comb. You leave evidence? Any way this can come back to me?”
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