He let out an exasperated growl and put his fists on his hips. "Hell, I can't dismiss what happened. I have to get to the bottom of this. I tried calling Con."
Fury raced through her. "You called my brother?" For a moment, a feeling of helplessness washed over her. Her family thought she would mess up again and this would further reinforce that notion.
"Of course I did, but I couldn’t reach him. Apparently he’s still out of the country."
With an aggravated mutter, she turned and walked out of the barn. She felt the burning at the back of her throat. Tears wanted to let go, but she blinked hard and kept them at bay. When would everyone learn she could take care of her own life?
A hard hand on her elbow pulled her around. She looked at Sloan, blinking furiously. "Do you have any idea how this makes me feel?" she demanded. "I don't need my brother checking up on me, and I don't need you helping him."
He released her arm as if she’d burned him. "Now hold on, Jacie. I'm doing no such thing. I don't know about your brother's motives, though I suspect they have something to do with love, but I'll be damned if I'll sit around and watch you get hurt and not do anything about it!" His voice was hard, biting at her.
She shook her head and waved her arms. "I have to leave, I can't talk rationally about this now." She needed time to think. She was an adult. Eventually, her family would realize her decisions, right or wrong, were her own. She had to make her own mistakes and face the consequences.
"Did my brother tell you to call if I screwed up?"
He looked at her hard-eyed, his mouth in a straight line. "No."
She turned on her heel. A dark silhouette stepped into the barn almost in front of her. She came to a skidding halt with an exasperated groan, stopping just short of running into a uniformed officer.
"Sorry, miss," the officer said, putting out a hand to steady her. "At the office they told me Sloan was down here."
She looked at the badge pinned to the officer’s chest. In that fraction of time Sloan moved forward and shook hands with the officer.
"Hi Arnie, thanks for coming by. Don't go, Jacie," he said. "This is Arnie Bryant from the sheriff's office."
"Hello Jacie," the officer said pleasantly, his green eyes almost on a level with her own beneath his wide-brimmed hat. Black hair brushed his collar and his dark brown eyes appeared sharply inquiring. "I’m Deputy Bryant. I need to ask you some questions relating to incidents that have occurred recently at Timber Falls."
She nodded with resignation.
Deputy Bryant looked over at Sloan. "Is there someplace where we can sit or we can go out to my patrol car?"
"Let’s go into the tack room." He led the way.
She followed and the deputy brought up the rear. She just wanted to get this over with.
Once she was seated in the lone chair, the deputy removed his hat and took out a small notepad and pen. Sloan leaned against the massive desk beside her.
"Now Jacie, let’s start with closest living relatives."
"My parents are Jacie and John Turner. I have four brothers."
"On your second day here you had an accident while swimming?"
"Yes. A rock hit me from the stream above."
"Did you see anyone?"
"No." She thought a moment and took that back. "I thought I heard something. My horse looked back toward the hill where Michelle and the other riders had gone but I didn’t see anyone."
"That’s when the rock hit you, just after you heard a noise that sounded out of place?"
"Yes."
"You came to Timber Falls to give the guests skydiving lessons?"
"Yes."
"Any incidents involving those lessons?"
"Nothing unusual. We did our first jump without problems and there was another one scheduled but the pilot got sick."
"The pilot was sick? Is he okay now?" The deputy’s question seemed idle enough, but she again took note of the sharp inquisitiveness of his eyes.
"They thought he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him. He’s going to resume our flight schedule tomorrow." She glanced at Sloan.
"The next incident involved a problem with the gas stove where you’re staying?" The deputy looked at Sloan for confirmation.
"I opened her cabin door one night and the gas odor hit me in the face."
"Jacie, you didn’t notice it?" the officer asked.
"No, I have allergies and at times it affects taste and smell."
"How long have you had allergies?"
"I don’t know, probably eight, nine years."
"Who knows about your allergies?"
She looked at him helplessly and shrugged her shoulders. "Everyone in my family, some of my friends."
"Now the last incident was yesterday? The horse you usually ride started acting strangely?"
"Yes. Maybe he was just having a bad day, but his behavior was pretty unusual."
"The horse was virtually uncontrollable," Sloan put in grimly. "He was wild-eyed, then trembling and disoriented. He’s never acted that way before."
"I saw Tim Wells as I was driving in. Is the horse being treated?"
"Yes, Tim drew blood and he’s sending it to be analyzed. We also found a syringe and needle when we went on that campout where the horse acted up. Tim has that too."
"I understand you were involved in an accident last year?"
She had no wish to rehash that incident. "I was in South America doing a film stunt. I was hurt."
"How did that happen?"
She hesitated. "My parachute was faulty."
"How long have you been skydiving? Has that ever happened before?"
"About eleven years and that’s the first time."
"Any reason to think someone might want to harm you?" the officer asked quietly.
"None."
"If something happened to you, who would benefit?"
That question again. Coldness crept over her. "There’s only my family." She glared at the officer. "As I told Sloan, there’s no way they’re involved." She stood up. "I think this has gone on long enough. I’ve answered all the questions and we’re no further ahead."
Deputy Bryant stood also. "It’s understandable you’re distressed but I have one more question."
She let out a long breath. "Go ahead." At least it was almost over.
"Do you have anything of value that someone might want if you were out of the picture?"
She clamped her lips together, looked at Sloan and then back at Deputy Bryant. "No."
The deputy put his pen and notepad away. "Thank you for your time Ms. Turner, I’m sure this has been very difficult. We’ll be in touch." He looked at Sloan. "I’d like to do an informal interview of each of the guests. Can we arrange something?"
"Of course," Sloan said.
She couldn’t believe this mess was escalating out of control.
"One more thing, Ms. Turner," Deputy Bryant said. "I’m going to need the names of the film crew from South America."
"That’s something you’d have to get from Brad Carlton. He’s the film producer who took care of the arrangements down there."
"Will you be able to give me a number?"
Jacie wondered if they could hear the heavy pound of her heart. She looked at Sloan and licked her lips, then looked back at the deputy. "I might be able to get it from my friend Bonnie."
She stared at Sloan with bewilderment after the deputy left.
"James and I have decided to take precautionary measures," he said. "I’m canceling the jumps for tomorrow and maybe the day after."
"You can’t do that, it will throw my entire schedule off."
"I am doing it," he said in a hard voice. "I’m not taking chances with you or my guests."
She looked at him impotently. Could this get any worse? He was right. They couldn’t take chances.
"Do I have to start looking over my shoulder?"
"Why are you holding out?" he asked suddenly.
"What?"
"
Arnie asked you if you had anything of value―I got the feeling you’re not telling us everything."
She turned away, but he pulled her back toward him.
"I’m trying to help you here, help me." His voice was a demand.
"It’s not important," she said fiercely.
"Trust me, Jacie."
She trusted him but there were other factors involved. Reluctantly, she admitted, "When I had the accident the film company’s insurance carrier settled money on me."
"How much?"
"Half a million," she said reluctantly. "I think they were afraid I would sue. I didn’t tell the deputy because I didn’t want to plant a seed of doubt about my family!"
"The police should be made aware."
"You can’t tell them!" she said angrily. "I won’t have my family questioned over this. I’ll give the money away before I’ll let that happen."
"Cool down, Jacie. There’s got to be something we’re missing."
"There is. It’s called a motive. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take some pictures before the light is lost."
She left the barns, feeling angry and unsettled and wishing Sloan would stick to ranching instead of trying to interfere in the job she had come here to do.
She slowed down her hard pace, knowing that was unfair. Sloan was trying to keep her safe, that was all. She had no reason to be angry with him.
§ Chapter Nine §
Several hours later Jacie walked toward the apple orchard situated behind the main lodge. The interview with the police deputy still weighed heavily on her mind, and she had almost forgotten about the barbecue tonight.
Sloan was convinced someone was out to hurt her. God knows her brother Con had questioned her enough times about the circumstances surrounding the accident in Venezuela and now they wanted to rehash that. There had been major chaos following the accident. The Venezuelan authorities had had big smuggling problems at the time and details about the skydiving investigation had been sketchy.
Sloan had asked for Con’s number, but she felt it wasn’t necessary at this time to call her brother back to the states, especially now that the authorities were involved.
As she rounded the lodge she heard the sound of festivities; music, people talking and laughter. She planned to enjoy herself, even if Sloan was being pigheaded about protecting her. She didn’t need another big brother.
She flipped her hair back over her shoulders, tucked the hem of her halter-top into her jeans and sauntered into the light cast by the floodlights. She was determined to have a spectacular time.
People milled around a food-laden buffet table set beneath a rainbow-hued awning. Off to one side a pig roasted in a charcoal-embedded pit and lights were strung in the tree branches. She said hello to the various ranch hands, then noticed James standing with his wife and two boys and his mother Myra Wright, who Michelle had pointed out to her that afternoon.
She felt her breathing quicken when she spotted Sloan. He stood with Donny and Michelle. Michelle was cozied right up to Donny’s side and the teenager had his arm around Michelle’s slim waist. She smiled, once again applauding Sloan for his handling of that situation.
"Jacie! Come and join us!" Michelle called. She approached with a full plate of food. "Isn't this great? They're having live music later. Did you just get here?"
"Just now," she acknowledged.
"Well, settle in and have something to eat. There's dancing later, some crazy games for prizes and then maybe a ride."
"You're going riding tonight?" she asked.
"Sure. A couple of us figured we'd go for a moonlight dip...you remember that little pool you liked? Well, after a hot day like this it should be great. There's even a full moon."
She found the idea incredibly tempting. "Count me in."
She looked across the orchard at the older woman she knew to be Myra Wright...Sloan's stepmother. Myra had bright red hair and was dressed in a gaily colored gypsy skirt and wide-sleeved blouse. Jacie didn't see Sloan's father, whom she had also seen briefly earlier. Everett Wright was a striking older version of Sloan, his full head of hair steel gray.
"Jacie, have you met Myra?" Sloan’s voice sounded almost in her ear, his breath warm on her neck. She turned and stared into his face. Warring emotions leapt through her as he reached for her hand and drew her with him. She clasped his hand.
"Your mother and father were pointed out to me this morning," she said coolly, "but no, I haven't met your mother."
He stopped and studied her face. "At least you didn’t pull your hand away," he said in a low voice. "Does that mean we’re still friends?"
"We’ll have to see what the evening brings, won’t we?" she said.
"Why don't you come and join us? I'd like to introduce you." He watched her a moment. "That is, if you’d like to meet Myra."
"Certainly."
"You look great," he murmured as he walked beside her.
Jacie had never been one to hang onto anger and she really didn’t want to stay mad at him. He was doing what he thought was best.
"Mother, I'd like to introduce you to Jacie Turner." Myra Wright looked around at she and Sloan. "This is Jacie," he continued. "She's giving the guests skydiving lessons."
"Except for today," Jacie inserted smoothly.
"Except for today," he conceded.
Myra smiled warmly and extended her hand. "How nice to meet you, Ms. Turner."
"Very nice to meet you, and please call me Jacie."
"So you give skydiving lessons. I might come to your class, what would you think about that?"
"I'd say you were welcome to join us." She threw Sloan a quick glance and then looked back at Myra. "I'm always willing to recruit new fans to the sport, although some people are very resistant to change."
Myra smiled. "I was joking. I don't think I'd have the courage to jump out of a plane."
"You might surprise yourself," she told her with a wink.
"Mother, is Dad coming tonight?" Sloan's voice seemed abrupt.
"Not tonight. I'm afraid he's not feeling that well."
"Maybe I should go and check on him," he said.
"No, he's fine, Sloan, really. He overdid it today with the kids when he took them to the circus." Myra turned to Jacie and laughed. "Everett won't admit he's getting older. He wants to keep going as if he were twenty, even though he'll be sixty-five next year. Now Sloan, you have a good time and don't worry about your father. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jacie."
"Likewise," Jacie murmured.
Sloan’s hand tightened around hers. Before she thought about it, she returned the pressure.
"The band is setting up now, Mother, I know you’re waiting to dance. Excuse me, won't you, I need to talk to Jacie."
Jacie lifted a brow as he guided her away. She quickly waved goodbye to Myra, wondering what he had on his mind.
"Are you still mad?" he asked once they were out of the immediate range of the crowd.
She tilted her head to the side and put her hands on her hips as she considered him carefully. "I might be, but I know you have to look out for everyone's best interest."
"Your best interests," he corrected gently.
"Nothing will happen, and I'm going to prove it to you tomorrow."
"What's tomorrow?"
She widened her eyes innocently. "Why, I'm resuming my skydiving jumps, didn't James tell you? We had a nice chat about it tonight."
"I don't know that that's a good idea."
She firmed her jaw. "I do. I'm not canceling another flight. If you're so worried then you can come up in the plane with us and keep an eye on things."
"I have cows to move tomorrow."
She gave him a little wave and then turned and walked away, calling over her shoulder, "If you took your play time as seriously as you do your work time, you'd loosen up a little and have some fun. You might like it." She stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to him. "In fact, I’ll give you lessons in loosening up! All you have to d
o is ask."
Sloan watched her sashay away from him, her playful/serious words taunting him. He liked fun as much as the next guy. He used to, but lately he had forgotten about enjoying himself and had let himself become immersed in business, his thoughts never far from the bottom line. The business was in the black, he admitted to himself, he didn’t have to micro-manage every decision any more.
Jacie stopped beside a group of people and joined in on their conversation. He marveled at her ease in making herself comfortable in her surroundings. The thought came to him of how much she reminded him of his mother. His mother had loved parties and gatherings. She had been the most vibrant person he had ever known, but she had died and left him and his father alone. Jacie had the same vibrancy and zest about her, it shined out of her eyes. He felt envious of the way she embraced each new situation, trying to turn it into something favorable.
Since she was determined to resume her skydiving lessons and his brother had agreed, tomorrow he would make sure everything was checked and rechecked before the jumps took place. If he had to follow her around, he thought grimly, he would do it.
Deliberately, he followed Jacie and came up behind her. He had a feeling she knew he was behind her, but she didn't given any indication. Suddenly, he needed her to be aware of him.
When there was a lull in the conversation, he leaned closer and said, "So, Jacie, are you in on our little ride tonight?" His nostrils flared as he picked up the scent of her skin. She smelled good. He was tempted to touch his lips to a spot on her shoulder left bare by her halter strap, but he restrained himself. She might swat him if he did that. But what a temptation.
"Sure, I'd love to go riding." The smile she gave him seemed reckless. "I wouldn't miss it. When do we leave?"
"At ten."
"I’ll be ready," she literally purred, touching a finger to the front of his shirt.
Desire bit sharply at him. He caught that finger and raised it to his mouth. Gently, he kissed it, running his tongue across the pad, then turned and left, but not before he’d seen her eyes darken with desire. He knew the others in the small group observed his actions, but he was really past the point of worrying about it.
As he walked away to get himself a cold beer, he was convinced they would drive each other mad, but what a way to go.
Heartstealer (Women of Character3 Page 13