“Okay, that’s interesting. Anyone besides Sally Ann have car envy?”
“Ellie and Marty. You met them both. Marty at the Wagon Wheel, then Ellie at the café. They were Sally Ann’s best friends. Ellie had a truck, her big brother’s hand-me-down. She’d give rides to the other girls, but it was a rusty heap they all hated. The three girls went to high school together. Ellie’s dad owned the café before she took over. It’s a Muellerville institution. When he died, she dropped out of college to help her mom run it. Her brother got to stay in college and get his degree. He left town years ago and works in Dallas now. I think Ellie wanted to finish school but then she and Mark got serious and the rest is history.”
“Were all three of the girls at the race that day?” Rhett looked up from his keyboard.
“Actually, yes, they were. They were there to cheer for Sally Ann. I didn’t blame them. I was always the outsider. But we did hang out together occasionally. I usually ended up driving and paying. I had a gas card and credit cards, a generous allowance too.” Sierra frowned. “They used me. I didn’t mind it. My best friends were in Houston so I was lonely when I was here in the summers. I loved my horse, but it’s not the same as having girlfriends to talk to.”
“What about boys?” Rhett turned around and put his hands on her hips. “You can’t tell me you didn’t date, a hot girl like you.”
“Thanks, I think. I didn’t date much but there was a guy I liked.” Sierra thought back to that last summer. She and Sally Ann had been in competition for more than just barrel racing. “Joey Schlitzberger.” She tugged on Rhett’s ear when he grinned. “Don’t laugh. He was the high school quarterback and cute as hell. He flirted with all of us but took me to the movies a couple of times. Then Sally Ann got hold of him.” She shivered when Rhett’s tongue touched her palm. “Stop it. I’m remembering my teenage angst.”
“Oh, please go on. I’ll kiss it and make it better later.” He did manage to pull her in and press his mouth to the valley between her breasts. “Did Joey Shit-berger break your heart?”
“Schlitzberger. Yes, he did. Sally Ann put out. I wouldn’t.” She ran her hands through Rhett’s thick hair.
“I’m glad that’s changed.” That got his hair pulled. “Ouch.”
“Maybe it hasn’t changed after that remark.” She backed away from him. “Let me finish my story. Turn around and take notes.”
“Was Joey there to watch the race? Can we make him the villain in this piece?” Rhett looked hopeful before he turned back to the keyboard.
“No, he was at football camp by then. Sally Ann was complaining about that. I think she was already pregnant. I heard later that’s why they got married senior year and she dropped out of school. She eventually lost the baby. Joey turned out to be a jerk, telling everyone he had dodged a bullet. His daddy was a lawyer and got the marriage annulled. Sally Ann ran back to Rachel and got a GED instead of finishing high school.” Sierra sighed.
“Too bad.” Rhett stopped typing.
“I heard all this later, when I wasn’t in a haze from painkillers. Marty and Ellie actually came to see me the next summer, full of gossip. They claimed Sally Ann was heartbroken and had to work full-time at the Trading Post to help pay back her mother for lawyer’s fees. Sally Ann tried to get a big settlement from Joey’s family, but no luck fighting the best lawyer in town. She had to sell her horse and her future looked pretty bleak.”
“Drama for sure. That’s really too bad.” Rhett started typing.
“I wasn’t around for any of that. I was going through my endless surgeries by then. Came here to recuperate.” Sierra reached for her wine. She’d love to forget those painful times. “Sally Ann came out all right. She met Will Jackson working at that store. Story is, she sold him a pair of jeans, then helped him out of them in a back room. They’ve been together ever since.” She glanced at Rhett. What did he think of that? No sign he had even heard her. He was scrolling back over what he’d typed so far.
“Back to the day of the race. You got there early to groom Destiny. You sure you were careful to check all the tack? Harnesses, saddle, cinch, everything?”
“It’s very important, Rhett. I can’t imagine I wouldn’t have. I had a new saddle.” She sipped the wine. Very good vintage. Her brothers kept the place stocked for her. God knew what this bottle had cost. No, this wasn’t the time to get distracted by her budget issues. She didn’t want to, but she had to remember that day.
“Who else was around Destiny’s stall?”
“My parents, of course, before the races started. Sally Ann’s horse, Strider, was in the next stall so she and Rachel were around. Marty and Ellie came back, and a couple of other riders we knew from the circuit had horses in stalls nearby. I bet I have the lineup here somewhere.” She moved closer to Rhett and rummaged in the file drawer built into the desk. She’d kept a file of her races and the printed programs. Because of her years of surgeries and hospital stays, her parents had let her run a little wild in college. Then she’d decided to come here, to the ranch, after her dad died. No one had tried to talk her out of it because she was still “poor Sierra.” She’d surprised them all by becoming independent and doing a decent job rescuing her horses. Well, not so decent financially. After she sold the cattle, she was going to have to figure out her next move. Was she going to have to give in to Oxcart and their demands? She hated the thought.
“Hey, I’m waiting. You look miles and years away.” Rhett looked over her shoulder. “That the program?”
“Yes, take a look. But it won’t help. None of these girls had any reason to sabotage my gear.” Sierra handed it to him. “They were a decent group of riders, but my closest competition was always Sally Ann.”
“You think she had it in her to do something to your cinch?” Rhett looked serious now. “That’s attempted murder, Sierra.”
“I’m sure she didn’t mean…” But who knew what Sally Ann had thought. If she had been pregnant then, her riding time should have already come to an end. No one in their right mind would continue barrel racing and risk a hard fall when pregnant. The fact that Sally Ann had, meant she might have been pretty desperate to finally win a race. “Rhett, she had the opportunity. In fact, Ellie and Marty asked me to walk outside with them for a few minutes right before my race. They swore a boy I liked—I’d moved on from Joey—had been asking for me. When we got outside, no one was around. They insisted he had come by in his new car and we were supposed to wait for him to pull into the parking lot. Finally, I had to go inside to get ready to race. But maybe…”
“Maybe Sally Ann had asked them to get you out of the way for a few minutes. So she could work on your cinch and saddle.” Rhett stood and put his arms around her. “You look pale. Did you just remember that?”
“Yes. I think I’ve been afraid to think too hard about that day. I thought I rechecked Destiny’s cinch, but they called for us to enter the arena as soon as I got back inside. All I had time to do was mount up and get behind Sally Ann in line. I didn’t notice anything when I sat in the saddle, but I was so nervous I’m not sure I would have. This was a big race for me.” Sierra laid her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating as she thought back to that day.
“I was last to race. Sally Ann had a really good run, her fastest time ever. She was in the lead, holding first place. When they called my name, I took a deep breath, patted Destiny and waited for my signal.” She looked up at Rhett.
“When you’re waiting to start, you are full of adrenaline. You have no idea of the rush you feel, the nerves, as you wait for the judge to drop the flag. You’re timed, so a quick start is everything. The flag fell and Destiny took off at my command. We were flying as we entered the arena and crossed the start line. I knew right away that this was going to be great, one of my best runs. We were in sync and the first turn was perfect. We hit our mark and then we were heading for the second.” Sierra gripp
ed Rhett’s shoulders.
She was there again, seeing the barrel coming up and feeling the power of that incredible horse between her thighs. Destiny leaned as she took the turn and then it was all a horrible mistake. There had been the fall, the unreal feeling as she lost her seat and flew through the air. Desperate, numbing pain as she hit the dirt. Her poor horse had scrambled for purchase, trying not to fall, to land on her, but Destiny lost her balance, crushing Sierra’s leg under her massive weight. Harsh breathing, screams, then…silence.
Chapter Sixteen
“Sierra! Talk to me!” Rhett shook her gently. “Baby, please. Come back here. Now.”
“I—I’m here. It’s just that remembering is so much harder than I thought. It’s as if I relived it. My sweet Destiny. That horse wanted to win as much as I did.”
“And you really, really wanted to win.” He helped her to the couch then sat close beside her. “Damn the person who robbed you of that.” He rubbed her hands.
She was glad. They felt like ice. In fact, her entire body was shaking, chilled.
“You want some more wine?”
“No, I want you to hold me.”
“I can do that.” He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “So brave.” He took a deep breath. “It’s clear to me that we need to confront Sally Ann. I wonder if her mother knows what she did.”
“What if we’re wrong? Think how that would hurt Rachel.”
“You said her mother was near the stalls that day. Maybe Rachel saw something.” Rhett’s hold tightened.
“And didn’t say anything?” Sierra jerked. “No, I don’t believe that. Rachel would never have let her daughter hurt me. How could she work here after that and look at any of us if she knew?”
“Okay, that’s an excellent point. Sally Ann could have sent her mother on an errand while she did her dirty deed. It’s possible.” Rhett wasn’t giving up; he just held on to her.
Sierra soaked in his heat and the care he was giving her. He wanted to solve this mystery and he wanted to comfort her. Comfort. She had some ideas about how he could do that.
“I don’t know, Sierra. I hope Rachel didn’t know. But it’s pretty clear to me that it had to be Sally Ann who tampered with your equipment. She had the most to gain; that’s motive. And she was in the next stall with her horse; that’s opportunity.” He kissed the top of her head. “You could have been killed. As it was, the accident changed your life forever.”
“Yes, it did. But I survived, even thrived, sort of. Of course I haven’t forgotten all those surgeries and the pain I went through. My parents suffered too. If Sally Ann did it, just to win a damned race…” Sierra leaned against Rhett. “That’s either incredibly sad or evil. Which is it?”
“I don’t know. I guess it depends on what else she’s done since then. Has she gone on to live an exemplary life? Or committed more bad acts?” Rhett smoothed her hair back from her face. “When I saw her at the Chevy dealership, she seemed to have a pretty decent life, married to a rich man, with a son. Of course, some people are really good at covering their tracks. She could be up to all kinds of shit under the radar.” He sounded like he was thinking hard, working out a plot.
“Does she still run around with those two girls? Marty and Ellie? I wonder if she confided in them.”
“I don’t know or care. I am really tired of thinking about this right now.” She gently pushed until she could look up at him. “I’d rather deal with the here and now.” Sierra kissed his solemn mouth. He was obviously still determined to solve the mystery. She stroked his cheek. He’d shaved during the short break they’d taken to clean up, and she loved the feeling of his smooth skin under her fingertips.
“Thanks for being so understanding, Rhett. Now there’s one thing I need from you.”
“Anything. Ready for dinner? Good food always makes me feel better.” He kissed those fingertips, sucking one into his mouth. He seemed to have a thing about her hands. She didn’t mind it.
“Later.” Men. Food. Really? Sierra smiled at him. “Right now I need you to take me to bed and make love to me. Reliving that day took a lot out of me. I think some up close and personal attention might just help me pull myself back together. What do you think? Can you do that for me? Comfort me?”
“Say no more.” He jumped up so fast he made her dizzy. He held her in his arms as he walked down the hall. “You sure this is what you need? Not that I’m complaining or trying to change your mind.”
“If you’re not up to it…” She laughed when he did drop her on the bed this time. “I guess I have my answer.” Snaps popped open and his jeans hit the floor. “Oh, my, I’d say you are definitely up to the task. Come here, Mr. Hall.”
Rhett climbed on top of her, kissing a path from her toes to her nose as he efficiently rid her of her clothes. Once she was naked, he stared at the scars on her leg.
“There’s got to be some way we can make Sally Ann pay for these. You may think you’re over it, but I am not. You still limp, Sierra, and are frequently in pain. I know you are. Then look at what you went through.” He kissed his way along the proof of the damage that fall had done. The ugly evidence went from her ankle to her thigh.
“I really don’t give a damn about that woman right now. You once said you’d kiss it and make it better. Forget my scars. I have an ache a little higher. Why don’t you keep exploring and see if you can figure out where that might be?” Sierra sighed when he did work his way upward, then picked up both of her legs and draped them over his shoulders.
“Oh, my. I think you’ve found the spot.” She stretched out her arms and closed her eyes. Whatever had happened all those years ago, she was definitely ready to let go of the past. When Rhett proved he was more than capable of making her forget even the here and now, she knew she was onto something.
She was finally relaxed and ready to think about dinner when Tramp went crazy. Most of the time the elderly dog slept in front of the fireplace. It was easy to forget he was even there. Now he was barking as if someone was trying to break into the house.
“What the hell?” Rhett sat up and opened the nightstand drawer on his side of the bed. He pulled out the handgun he’d put it there the night before. He was very serious about protecting her.
“Wait. We can check the cameras first.” Sierra got up and grabbed her laptop from her dresser top. “Tramp, come here, boy.” The dog just kept barking, but he did stop in front of her open bedroom door and jump around as if trying to get her to come investigate. “Good boy. Calm down. We’ll see what’s happening outside in a moment.” The dog didn’t care. He ran back to the kitchen, still barking. “Wow, he’s really upset.”
“Show me the outside camera feeds.” Rhett kept the gun in his lap.
“I’m getting there. Move that gun. I don’t want you to shoot off something important.” She hit the keys to pull up the video feeds.
“The safety is on, but I’m glad you care.” He leaned close so he could look at the screen, kissing her neck before he exclaimed, “Someone’s out there. A strange truck, too.”
“They must have had the gate code. We didn’t get an alert that someone had come through without it.” Sierra checked every angle, but it was obvious that the intruder had driven up the driveway and past the house. It was dark outside, but the security company had installed automatic lights with motion sensors and they were on now, showing her that two trucks were sitting side by side in front of the bunkhouse.
“Honey, the way we were going at it, I doubt a mere alert would have been enough to get my attention.” He ran his hand over her bare back.
“True enough, but a car can’t break in through the gate without the alarm going off. Look!” Sierra pointed to the screen. “There are two people. Someone is getting out and—”
“Getting into that other pickup. I recognize Darrel’s truck from last night. The paramedic left
it parked there.” Rhett climbed out of bed and grabbed his jeans. “Maybe I should make sure this person is who he asked to get his truck for him. Ask for some ID.”
“I don’t recognize the vehicle and it’s too dark to see who is getting into the truck. The paramedic probably left the keys in the ignition. The other one is just a generic Chevy truck. There are dozens like it in town. I think it’s a woman driving.” Sierra enlarged the picture. “Both of them are women. I didn’t know Darrel had a girlfriend. But then he never talks about his personal life.”
“You want me to go out there or not?” Rhett stayed next to the bed.
“They had the gate code. Only Darrel could have given it to them.”
“Really? Didn’t you give it to the paramedic last night? So he could deliver the truck here?” Rhett was playing devil’s advocate.
“Come on, Rhett. If they got into my garage and tried to steal my new pickup, I’d say take your gun and stop them. Darrel drives an old beater. I doubt anyone would go to the trouble of breaking in here to steal it. I really don’t think we need to get involved in this, do you?” Sierra saw the two trucks get in line, ready to leave the property.
“It’s up to you.” Rhett didn’t move. “Maybe you should call Darrel and ask him if he had a woman coming for his truck.”
“Last time I checked, he was pretty out of it on painkillers.” Sierra watched the two trucks start around the back of the house toward the driveway. “They’re leaving. I am surprised, though, that one of them didn’t go into the bunkhouse and get a few things for Darrel to have at the hospital. Pajamas, razor, stuff like that.”
“I’ll go wave them down. Either they forgot or this isn’t what it seems.” Rhett stuck his gun into his waistband then ran out of the room. Tramp was on his heels.
Sierra watched the scene unfold on her computer screen. Rhett was definitely a mystery writer, seeing a plot everywhere. He emerged from the house with the dog beside him. They both positioned themselves in the center of the driveway so the trucks had to stop or run over them. For a moment it looked like the pickups were going to keep moving in a deadly game of chicken. Sierra sat up so quickly, her computer slid off her lap. What the hell?
Texas Reckless Page 17