That stopped him in his tracks. Yes, he did.
“Hey, you coming?” She looked over her shoulder, her smile tight but just for him.
“Of course. Wait for me.” He hurried, ignoring Dylan’s probing looks. Yeah, her brother was catching on. Rhett didn’t care. He was sticking around as long as Sierra would have him. Now he hoped it was forever. Damn, that felt good, thinking it. He’d find time to say it as soon as all this shit was shoveled out of the way.
A secretary greeted them. She was someone Sierra knew. “Joey and Fred are waiting for you. Sierra, I heard about your barn. Anything I can do to help?”
“No, but thanks for asking, Mandy.” Sierra smiled.
“Too bad they don’t have those old-fashioned barn raisings like they used to. We could have a picnic and all the men could throw a new barn together.” The woman eyed Dylan and Rhett. “I was watching an old movie the other day…lots of fun, and the guys aren’t allowed to wear shirts.”
Sierra laughed. “Mandy, love that idea. If I didn’t have to put up a steel structure, I’d be all over it. I’ll see you in church. Maybe next Sunday?” She glanced at Rhett.
“Yes, then out to lunch afterwards.” Mandy grinned. “Paul and I found a cute place over in Smithville.”
“I’ll call you.” Sierra held Rhett’s arm as they walked into the big office behind Mandy’s desk. “Bet you didn’t know I went to church.”
“We still have a lot to learn about each other.” Rhett couldn’t wait. He got a shove between his shoulder blades.
“Can we get with the program here?” Dylan looked ready to explode.
“Relax, bro, I’m finally realizing I have the power seat at this table.” Sierra smiled. “Isn’t that right, Joey?” She settled into a chair in front of a massive desk. “My, you have a big desk. Trying to prove something?”
“Sierra, you’re in a good mood. I’m surprised, after all you’ve been through.” Joey had stood when they walked through the door. Now he sat in his leather swivel chair. “I got Fred here, as you asked. Fred, do you know Dylan MacKenzie, Sierra’s brother? This is Rhett Hall, her houseguest.” His emphasis on houseguest made it an innuendo.
The men shook hands. Rhett sized up Meadows as a man who was full of himself. He wore a serious look and one of those suits that cost a lot but strained over his expansive middle. Even his collar was tight. His red power tie fell short over his belly.
“We just got word that your ranch hand Darrel Lockhart died. My condolences,” Meadows said solemnly.
Sierra looked directly at him. “Since you paid him to set my barn on fire, I’m sure his death is a big relief. He can’t testify against you now, can he?”
Meadows fell back like he’d been hit. “What the hell? I didn’t pay him a dime!”
“Here’s the proof.” Dylan threw two papers on Joey’s desk. “Wire transfer to Lockhart from your bank, Meadows. First, a big withdrawal from your account to buy a money order that went straight to Fred Hawkins, your brother-in-law. Hawkins deposited it then made a wire transfer—”
“All that proves is Hawkins—” Meadows’s face now matched his tie.
“As your counsel I’d advise you not to say another word, Fred.” Joey picked up the papers and examined them with a scowl. “Not another word.”
“As his coconspirator, be sure to note the second payment, the day the accident landed Lockhart in the hospital with a shattered leg.” Dylan nodded toward the papers. “It certainly disappointed Sierra to learn that a man she’d trusted for three years could be bought, but there’s your proof. When she still wouldn’t sell, Darrel was paid again. This time he set a trap, a hole in her path. If she’d fallen into it, Sierra’s leg would have been the one shattered. With her history, she could very well have lost her leg this time, or worse.” He glared at Meadows. “That’s conspiracy.”
“That fool. He came up with that on his own. I would never—” Meadows stomped around his chair.
“Shut the fuck up, Fred, and sit down.” Joey was furious. “What proof do you have my client ever spoke to Lockhart?”
“It’s interesting you should ask that. My private investigator helped the highway patrol recover Lockhart’s cell phone this morning. It had a weak signal, but was finally discovered in a tree near the crash site. Calls and texts were traced back to a burner phone purchased in a local Quik Stop.” Dylan must have just received the report. “They’re checking surveillance photos at the store now to see who bought that burner. Of course, Muellerville is a small town. Someone might even remember the purchaser.”
Meadows had finally sat down and gave Joey a desperate look.
“Say nothing,” Joey commanded.
“No need. We’ll know the truth soon enough.” Dylan settled back. “Sierra, want to tell Joey and Fred your decision about Oxcart?”
“Yes, that’s why we came, after all.” She sighed. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about the impact of the senior living project on our town.”
“Thank God!” Joey ignored Meadows, who had pulled out his phone and started texting.
“I think I can live with it. If done right.” She reached out for Dylan’s file folder. “There’s a problem with Oxcart though, Joey.”
“A problem? Sierra, Oxcart had a brilliant idea. I couldn’t believe no one had thought of it before. We are perfectly located to take advantage of the booming senior citizen market.” Joey leaned across his desk, selling.
“You went all in on this investment opportunity, didn’t you, Joey?” She pulled out the investor list. “You and Fred. To the tune of a million dollars.”
That got Fred’s attention. “Yes, we did. And you wouldn’t cooperate.”
“I told you to shut your piehole.” Joey hit the desk with his fist.
“You denying it? Holding out so long she put us on the verge of bankruptcy.” Fred hit his side of the desk. “You think I’m taking the fall for this by myself? Hell, no.” He focused on Dylan. “Joey was with me every step of the way. Who do you think found Darrel Lockhart? Joey represented Lockhart for a DUI.”
“Goddamn it, Fred.” Joey raced around the desk and grabbed Fred’s tie, jerking it until the man’s face went purple. “Not another word.”
“I’m sure you’d like that.” Sierra scooted her chair away from the fight as Meadows flailed his arms, hitting Joey with his fists.
“Calm down.” Rhett was ready to jump into the fray if it looked like Sierra was in danger.
“Let’s be reasonable. Nothing has to leave this room.” Joey whispered something in Fred’s ear, shook him one last time, then they both took a breath. Joey walked back to his chair, running his hand over his hair. Fred smoothed his tie. “Sierra is coming around to the senior living project. Right?”
“Right. But did you do research on Oxcart before you invested, Joey?” Sierra shook her head. “Did you know they’ve tried this before and failed? They have a poor track record and usually drop out before it’s finished. Then they leave investors holding the bag.”
“I’m not stupid. Of course I checked them out. This time is different. We can’t miss. Location is everything. Brubaker explained it to me.” Joey aimed a warning look at Fred, who groaned.
“I agree. He didn’t lie about that. But Oxcart can’t be trusted.” Dylan handed Joey another paper. “So I bought them out.”
“What?” Joey snatched it. “The MacKenzies took over the project?” He laughed. “Praise the Lord! Right, Fred?”
“Don’t celebrate yet, Joey.” Sierra obviously wanted the last word. “Do you really think I’d let the men who tried to run me off my ranch get one damned dime from this project?”
“Now, Sierra, you can’t prove I tried to do that.” Joey ignored Fred’s gasp at what was clearly Joey’s attempt to throw him under the bus. “Besides, we invested in good faith. We had a contract with Oxcart. Sur
ely your lawyer brother explained that he has to honor that contract. Fred and I borrowed money so we could get in on the ground floor.”
Rhett wanted to knock Joey’s smile off his face. He desperately wanted to do something, say something. But he’d promised Sierra this was her show. Hers and Dylan’s. He was ready to act, though. Joey was not going to like what he heard next.
“Ordinarily you’d be right, Joey. Except you were so excited about Oxcart’s get rich quick scheme, you didn’t read your contract. Or maybe you slept through contracts at that law school you went to in—where was it—Padre Island?” Dylan couldn’t hide his smile. “I hear their class in how to make a perfect margarita is dynamite.”
“It was a perfectly respectable…” Joey shut up, obviously figuring out he was on shaky ground.
“Here’s the deal. I bought out Oxcart for pennies on the dollar. I will make the small local investors whole and rewrite the terms of their contracts to give them a decent return on their investments.” Dylan had another paper, but he didn’t pass it over. “But you and Fred are shit out of luck. The original contract that Oxcart wrote has plenty of traps guaranteeing investors little or no return. Loopholes, real lawyers call them. Sound familiar? You broke several of the terms when you tried to force Sierra off her land with your dirty tricks.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Joey looked offended.
“I have a notarized statement from Alfred Brubaker admitting you assured him you’d do whatever it took to make Sierra sell. He said deadlines were approaching that would have put all of you out of business. I’m sure we can prove paying off Lockhart to burn down Sierra’s barn was just one of your strategies. Then there was attempted murder. She and Hall were almost run off the highway.”
“You were in the hospital visiting Marty. Did you take a trip up to intensive care, Joey, so you could finish off Darrel? He was a loose end, wasn’t he?” Sierra bit her lip and Rhett reached for her hand.
“Goddamn it. Sierra MacKenzie, this is all your fault. Interfering bitch.” Joey dragged a gun out of his desk drawer. “And Fred. You used your brother-in-law? I thought you were smarter than that.”
“Put the gun away, Joey. What are you going to do with it?” Sierra said it first. She had pulled her own gun out of her purse and aimed it at him. “You can’t kill all of us.”
“She’s right.” Rhett trained his gun on Fred. Of course Fred also had a gun in his hand.
“Good God, am I the only one in this room who isn’t armed?” Dylan stood. “This is crazy. Joey, you’re caught. I’m wearing a wire. This is all recorded and the sheriff heard everything.”
“I sure did.” Myra walked in the door, two deputies behind her and all of them with their weapons drawn. “Every one of you put the guns down. Joey, stop that.”
Joey had his gun aimed at his head. “I can’t go to jail, Myra!”
“A fast-talking lawyer like you can surely make a deal and not do serious time.” Sierra put her gun away.
“Ask yourself what proof they’ve got? Don’t let your emotions take over.” Rhett slid his gun behind his back and stepped in front of Sierra.
“Shooting yourself is the coward’s way out. You can stall things for years with a good defense and you know it.” Dylan grabbed Sierra’s arm and eased toward the door, behind the deputies.
“Go ahead, blow your worthless brains out. You got me into this.” Fred gave his gun to a deputy and put his hands on his head. He was crying. “I’m not a criminal. Joey made me do it. It was all his idea. Get rid of that bitch, he said, if she won’t sell. He even told me to try to run them off the road.”
“Fuck that.” Joey aimed at his partner. Then there was a shot, and he fell back into his chair. “Ah! I’m hit! You shot me.” He sounded surprised.
“Sure did.” Myra rounded the desk and took his gun from his useless right hand. She’d wounded him in the shoulder. “You’ll stand trial. We’re working on a nice list of charges. Attempted murder for starters. Aimed your gun at a roomful of people and peace officers. Quit struggling!” She chuckled. “Resisting arrest. Yep, you just made my day.”
* * * *
“Fred is singing like a mockingbird, trying to cut a deal with the county attorney. Joey wants to go to Austin to the hospital. No way in hell. Local doc took care of him. It was a flesh wound.” Myra waved Sierra, Rhett and Dylan out of her office after they finished their statements. “I got everything on tape. If the attorney needs more, we know where to find you.”
Rhett didn’t waste time getting Sierra out of there. Dylan jumped in the backseat and got on his phone again. Rhett tuned out Sierra’s brother. He didn’t like how pale Sierra was.
“I’ve got business in Houston. I’ll be in your office on the phone if you need me, Sierra.” Dylan headed down the hall as soon as they got back to the ranch house.
“We need to talk,” Rhett said as he pulled Sierra to her bedroom.
“I know.” Sierra fell back on the bed. “I have to tell you something first.”
“What?” He sat beside her. He could tell there was something wrong.
“I’m scared, Rhett.”
“Now? Everything’s over. The bad guys are in jail.” He pulled her into his arms. “What’s the matter, baby?”
Tears flooded her eyes. “There’s something seriously wrong with my leg. I need to see the specialist in Houston.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I swore I’d never have surgery again.” Sierra threw another nightgown into her bag. She never wore nightgowns. These were ancient. Left from the days when she’d been through this before. Another reminder of hospital stays. A cast on her leg. Physical therapy.
“Come here.” Rhett pulled her to him. “You should be excited. You told me the doctor is optimistic. That technology has made great strides in the years since your accident.”
“I know. But…” Sierra hugged him. How had she gotten so lucky? She’d called him her rock once. He was so strong, so steady. More than a rock, a living, breathing, and very warm presence who insisted on being there for her.
“No buts.” He moved the suitcase over and sat, then eased her into his lap. “When we get back to Houston we’ll be surrounded by your family. I know that. So let me say this now. I don’t care if you always walk with a limp. I love you just the way you are.”
“Rhett.” She touched his face. “How can this happen so fast?”
“I have no idea. Cupid’s arrow?” He laughed and kissed her. When he drew back he was serious. “I never thought I’d say it, but maybe it was meant to be. Like that song I heard on the radio coming here.”
“I know what you mean. Just when I needed someone most, you were there. Every minute.” She kissed him this time. “I hope you don’t come to regret this, but I love you too.” She looked around the room. “I saw you packed your laptop. Starting a new book?”
“That was a quick subject change.” He stood and carried her down the hall to her office. “No. I finally got what my editor calls ‘suggestions’ for the manuscript I sent in before I headed to Texas.” He set Sierra in her desk chair. “I came in here to print out her notes when I spotted this.” He pulled out her Lucky folder. “Care to explain?”
Sierra flushed. “It’s nothing.” She never showed her stories to anyone, and she sure hadn’t planned to show them to a New York Times best-selling author. “Really, Rhett. I hope you didn’t look inside.”
“Are you kidding? I peeked and there was a manuscript. By Sierra MacKenzie. How could I not read every word?” He pulled up a chair and faced her. “It’s great, Sierra. A kid’s book, Lucky the horse and his owner. I can see a series here.” He picked up the folder and paged through it. “There are some wonderful lines I wish I’d written myself.”
“Stop it. You’re embarrassing me. I wrote it for fun. Nights get lonely on a ranch. I work with those special kids, you k
now, and I found myself making up stories for them. It’s a way to reach the quiet ones.” Sierra snatched the folder. “We need to get ready to go.”
“Maybe. But I’m not forgetting about this.” He pushed her wheeled desk chair to the hall. “My publisher does children’s stuff. Can I send it to my editor? She’ll know who to pass it to.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I haven’t looked at it in months. It needs revising.” She looked at him suspiciously. “You’re pulling my leg.”
“I wouldn’t dare. Work on it if you want to, while you’re recovering. And I’ll work on my book.” He grinned. “Doesn’t that sound cozy?”
“Like a partnership.” Sierra held up her hand. “Stop rolling me. This feels too much like a wheelchair.”
He stopped instantly. “Sorry.”
“No, don’t be. Come here.” She stood, a little wobbly. Not because her leg was killing her even more than usual because of all the tests in Houston the week before, but because her heart was full and she was fighting tears. “Rhett, you’ve got to stop paying me rent.”
“Really? Not kicking me out, are you?” He brushed a tear off her cheek.
“No, of course not. I mean…” She smiled. “Oh, you know what I mean.”
“Then what can I do to make it up to you? If I stay here for free.” He ran his hands down her sides. “Rachel does the cooking and cleaning. Cattle are gone but I would love to ride a tractor. Can I mow your pastures? Help supervise the barn building when we get back?”
“Sure. I’d love to see you on a tractor. Shirtless, of course.” She wasn’t going to cry, refused to do it. But she could see a future with this man. Children someday and evenings with them in front of the fire working on books, then off to bed where the fire would still be blazing.
Rachel cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt, but I found another nightgown for you, Sierra.” She had a small stack of laundry in her arms.
“Thanks.” Sierra took it. “I’m not sure how long we’re going to be gone. Rachel, take a vacation. Rhett will be at my mother’s and we decided Tramp could come with us.”
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