by DiAnn Mills
Lydia patted her cheek. “I’d heard rumors, but I never had any idea your father did all those things.”
“Please. I don’t want any sympathy.” Bella stiffened. “Consider my story an explanation as to why I’m committed to bringing in the killers and taking care of my brothers and sister, and why both men are motivated to kill me. Right now, I think it’s a cat-and-mouse game. But the killer could get tired and end it all. Please promise me you two will agree to round-the-clock protection until arrests are made.”
Lydia leaned over the bed and planted a kiss on Bella’s cheek. “I don’t have the spunk I used to have, so I’m going to do exactly what you ask.”
Bella peered up into Carr’s face, anticipating his reply before he spoke a word. “And you?”
“I’ll be more careful.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
He grinned. “I’m in good company.”
Bella shook her head. “I refuse to respond to that. Do you mind if I speak with Lydia alone for a few minutes?”
Chapter 33
When Carr left the hospital room so Lydia and Bella could talk, Bella formed an apology. “I’m sorry the investigation has come to this. Even more so that you were threatened. The task force is working nonstop to find the killer, and it can come none too soon. In the meantime, I’ll find another place to stay.”
Lydia scooted a chair beside the bed. “I want you at the High Butte.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“Nonsense. It’s settled. Sounds like I’ll have the sheriff’s department camped at my door and an FBI agent. The more law enforcement, the happier I am.”
“My track record leaves a lot to be desired.”
“My mind is made up.”
“You’re a persistent woman, Lydia.”
“The same is said about you. Carr has stated so on numerous occasions.”
Bella wagged a finger at her. “Maybe you’re right. He probably uses a few other descriptors too.”
“Looks like we are a stubborn trio, and don’t get me started about Jasper. Sometimes I think that man is part mule. Anyway, we chatted about Darren, shed a few tears, and talked about the community efforts to offer support for Tiffany and the children.” Her eyes widened. “See, I told you far more than you wanted to hear.”
Bella missed Aunt Debbie. But Lydia made a close second. “Just talk to me. I don’t care if it’s about brushing your teeth.”
Lydia took her hand. “TMI, as the kids say.”
Bella couldn’t quite shake her concern about someone threatening Lydia. “I’m sorry about the phone call.”
She pursed her lips in mock annoyance. “Hush. It’s over. If he’d given his name, Jasper would have torn him apart by now. Only a coward threatens a woman.”
“Not so when four people are dead.”
Lydia immediately sobered. “You’re right. I wonder what I thought about before all this happened. For certain, I’ll never look at the precious gift of life quite the same again.” She patted Bella’s hand. “Which brings me to why I’m glad I have you all to myself.”
Bella stared into the woman’s face. Her eyes held a certain light, the same she’d seen in Aunt Debbie’s. “Okay. I hope it’s not about my going home.”
“It’s not.” She appeared to consider Bella’s comment. “In a way, it is. This is about your spiritual life. But first I want to talk about Carr. I see something special between you two, so don’t bother denying it. Love is a gift, and it doesn’t come knocking on the doors of our hearts very often. Because of the fondness I have for you, I want to tell you about him and the man he has become.” Lydia smiled. “My daughter says I get a bit poetic and dramatic at times, so humor this aging lady.”
Bella responded by squeezing her hand.
“Right after Carr purchased the High Butte, he told Pastor Kent he needed a cook and housekeeper. Then he said he needed someone to show him how to ranch. Pastor Kent’s secretary is my daughter, and she recommended us. Soon after, Jasper and I came to live and work at the High Butte. We became a threesome, a family of sorts. Jasper worked with Carr around the clock, patiently teaching him about the land, cattle, and horses.”
“I can envision him up at the crack of dawn and working alongside Jasper.”
“They were and still are inseparable. Jasper also discipled Carr in the process.” Lydia hesitated. “Do you know what I mean?”
Bella nodded. “He helped him understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus.” I sure wish this conversation wasn’t about religion.
“Carr was concerned about his temper because of what happened in Dallas. I’m sure you know the story: how he used to drink, do drugs, and get into fights. He also carried a lot of guilt about his girlfriend dying from an overdose. Jasper convinced him to see Pastor Kent for counseling about both problems. Pastor Kent and Jasper and I worked together to help him see how God offers immeasurable forgiveness. His girlfriend had chosen to take the drugs, and any wrongdoing on his part had been forgiven. For five years, the three of us have worked and laughed and played hard.”
“I saw right from the start the loyalty and love among you.” And I mistook it for a murder cover-up.
Lydia beamed. “When Carr decides to take on a project, he jumps in with both feet until he has the knowledge to satisfy him. In fact, he’s taking classes about ranching and online classes for biblical studies. The latter wouldn’t be necessary if he’d paid attention to the sisters in parochial school—but that’s my opinion.”
Bella attempted to picture Carr sitting in school and ignoring Bible classes. Oh yes, she imagined he’d been a handful. She’d seen the theology books on the desk in his library and wondered at the time about the depth of his Bible study.
“As you already know, he and Darren were good friends. In fact, Darren encouraged him with the idea of starting a home for at-risk teen boys. That’s on hold right now, but I’m sure it will happen once this mess is settled. Carr never mentioned wanting to have a woman in his life. I think he was afraid. Still is. That is, until he met you.”
I’m not the only one who’s noticed the interest.
“Right from the start he asked us to pray for you.”
Acid rose in Bella’s throat. She didn’t want this conversation. “Pray for me?”
“For wisdom and safety. But Jasper and I could see his feelings deepened every time he saw you. Just like we could see your feelings deepening for him.”
Bella wasn’t sure what to say. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Go easy on his heart, Bella. He’s a good man. But I have a concern about your spiritual life. So I have to ask. Do you have Jesus in your life?”
Bella regretted the whole slant in the conversation. Aunt Debbie used to periodically point out her need for a Savior. “No, ma’am. I mean, my aunt took me to church, and I learned about the Bible. I earned all kinds of awards for memorizing Scripture. My finest was Romans 8. Please don’t take this personally, but I’m simply not interested.”
“I understand.” Lydia’s voice was gentle. “Your life has been in danger too many times not to be concerned about what happens to you when you die.”
Bella smiled. “You and my aunt Debbie would get along splendidly.” She worried her lip. “You know my father. I can’t bring myself to devote my life to a divine being when my own father is such a jerk. I mean, let’s be real here. The Lord’s Prayer begins with ‘our Father,’ and that is where I end the whole dialogue. Why would I want anything that resembles a father in my life?”
“Which is exactly why you need a Father and Savior.”
I don’t want to talk about this. “I’ll think about it.”
“Promise me?”
She couldn’t lie to Lydia. “All right.”
After Lydia left, Bella sensed depression settling on her. She’d battled with black moods since she was fifteen, and the episodes always occurred after someone talked about her need for Christ. To Bella, severe depression and Ch
ristianity were partners—partners she didn’t want or need. And when other Christians insisted she pursue God, the whole thought sickened her.
But . . . many times she’d wished all of the things she’d heard about God were true.
Chapter 34
Carr sat outside Kent’s office while his friend finished a meeting with his secretary, assistant pastor, music minister, and head deacon. Kent wasn’t expecting Carr, and he intended to make their meeting brief.
His thoughts waffled between the unsolved murders and his growing feelings for Bella. He refused to mention how he felt until the case was solved. After all, he’d been on the suspect list, and it wasn’t fair to her.
Over five years ago, Carr thought he loved Michelle, but actually he was in love with how she looked on his arm. She had people-pleasing skills, and he’d recognized how good they’d look together right from the start. She liked the same things he did, and they were . . . well, friends. They probably would have eventually married if not for her death. The old guilt twisted at his insides, but he shoved the sensation away.
Bella had become his breath of fresh air. He didn’t know how it happened. His heart simply let go and let her in. He treasured everything about her—her determination, compassion for others, the way she appreciated a sunrise, the way she always smelled faintly of flowers and herbs, and the softness of her voice. The color of her eyes reminded him of a high mountain lake, deep green and mysterious. Oh yes, he had it bad for the auburn-haired beauty, and he would do all he could to keep her safe.
“Carr?”
He glanced up at Kent and smiled. Caught daydreaming. But that was okay. Sure beat holding on to the turmoil that kept him awake at night. “Hey. I took a chance at being able to talk to you for a minute.”
“No problem. The meeting’s over.” Kent’s freckles had multiplied since he’d spent time with the youth camping. Standing before Carr, he looked very much like one of the kids.
“This won’t be long. I don’t want to keep you from your family.”
Kent leaned against the doorway. “No problem. Lisa planned a late dinner due to the meeting, and I have a counseling appointment with a young man who’s thinking about the ministry. He’s meeting with the music worship team first and then me. Got plenty of time.”
Carr followed Kent into his office and took a seat, the same seat he’d occupied during all those months of his own counseling.
“My appointment is in about twenty minutes. How’s Bella?”
“Improving. Anxious to get out of the hospital. Feisty as usual.”
“And Lydia?”
“She has a deputy sheriff attached to her side. She doesn’t much like it, but the rest of us are relieved. She doesn’t want her daughter to know about it.”
“Okay,” Kent said. “Sure would like to, though. Her daughter deserves to know the truth. What’s on your mind?”
“A couple of things about the building project.”
Kent startled. “The building project? Why not get out from under the FBI and the sheriff’s department sifting through the dirt on your ranch . . . ? That didn’t come out right.”
“I know what you mean. And I understand what you’re saying. The killings and the attempts are why I want to proceed with assigning the mineral rights of the High Butte to the church. I’m also thinking of changing my will to have everything go to the church too.”
“Carr, don’t you have family?”
“A brother who’s a doctor, and he doesn’t need money. And our parents are gone.”
“Let’s wait for all of this to end before you make any rash decisions.”
Carr chuckled. “So you think if I will everything over to the church and get ‘eliminated’ from the killer’s list, you might wind up as a suspect?”
“Very funny. At least you can laugh about it.”
“Sounds better than having a mental breakdown. Don’t think that hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Kent nodded. “You’re one strong man, Carr. Not sure I could walk through this mess as well as you are.”
“When I think God knew all about the junk going on before it happened, I add one more item to my ‘ask God one day’ list.”
“Mine has grown to book length. He must have figured you could handle it.”
“Wish He’d consulted me first.” Both men laughed. Humor did have a way of easing the angst. “I have one more quick question.”
“Fire away.” Kent groaned. “My word choice tonight is horrible.”
“Some subconscious fear of being with me, I’m sure. But I’ve learned that Bella has three half brothers and a half sister, and Stanton Warick is the father. I thought visiting the kids tomorrow would be good—if you have time to accompany me.”
“What about their father?”
“I understand he works as a foreman on a ranch. I’ll talk to him later. Most likely with Frank. If Warick’s carrying a gun, I want to have an armed agent close by.”
“We can do it. I did a little snooping of my own about those kids.”
Carr raised a brow. “What did you find out?”
“All in church. Good grades. The boys are in sports, and the girl’s class president.”
Great news. “How did a lowlife like Stanton Warick manage that?”
“Ask him yourself. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
* * *
Bella opened the bedside stand and pulled out the Bible. What irony that she knew every book of the Old and New Testaments, memorized Scripture, attended church camp, even worked as a counselor for children, but never gave her life to Christ. That wasn’t ironic; it was hypocritical. But here she was scooping up God’s Word and looking for meaning in her life after some crazed idiot had tried to kill her and Carr. Why should now make any difference? Except she’d told Lydia and Aunt Debbie that she’d look into the God thing.
Where did she start? Write down all the Scripture she’d previously memorized? She leafed through the thin pages from Genesis to Revelation and back again. Closing her eyes and using the point-and-choose method wasn’t recommended by theologians, but neither was her sacrilegious attitude. She did it anyway. Psalm 139.
An hour later, exhausted with the wrestling, Bella gave in to the prompting of her spirit. Maybe it was time to open her heart and mind to the tenets of faith she’d learned as a child. She didn’t have answers to the tragedies of her life, but maybe she wasn’t supposed to. Maybe being closer to God meant she’d have to learn how to trust. For certain, she couldn’t unravel the murders and the situation with her family by herself.
Chapter 35
Brandt sat in a rusty pickup where he could watch New Hope Church. He had an idea. The more he thought about it, the more it grew. The thought began when he followed Vic Anderson to see if the agent was a possible threat. From what Brandt learned, Anderson had over twenty years invested in the FBI. Enough time to pick up a few tricks of his own. Brandt studied his mannerisms, speech patterns, and how he walked. And when Brandt learned the agent had a medical emergency—his wife was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer—an extra bit of fun settled in his mind. After all, impersonations were his speciality.
Another problem had presented itself. Stanton Warick had decided to pay a personal visit to Kent Matthews, Sullivan’s pastor. Yeah, he took his oldest kid with him, but Brandt didn’t care for Sullivan and Warick having an opportunity to talk. Unless Sullivan’s temper became an ace for the whole situation. Brandt would sit back and watch what happened.
He would have gotten rid of Warick a long time ago if it hadn’t been for Mair. Her motherly instincts might have kicked in if no one was left to raise those kids. And then he’d have to get rid of all of them.
What were the three men talking about for so long? Maybe he’d venture inside. Brandt laughed. How ironic if the lovely sound of a police siren made its way to New Hope Church.
Chapter 36
Carr had no expectations when it came to Stanton Warick. So when the man walked into
Kent’s office, sporting auburn hair and green eyes, looking very much like his Bella, Carr wanted to punch him in the nose. Looking into the face of the man who may have murdered four times and tried to kill Bella brought fire into his very soul.
“Carr, this is Stanton Warick.” Kent seemed to measure each syllable. Perhaps he remembered the months Carr spent in anger management. Right now, he needed a refresher course. This man had attempted to sell his daughter to pay off gambling debts.
Warick reached out his hand. Carr stood and accepted the gesture—reluctantly. If this was going to be confession night for Warick, then he intended to take notes. “I’m not here to interrupt your counseling session.”
“It’s a meeting,” Warick said. “Not sure counseling is part of it.”
“I’m a friend of Bella’s.” Carr knew he should extend Christian love and fellowship and all the other things that he was supposed to do. But frankly, his heart denied Warick access to anything remotely resembling friendship or acceptance.
“Rachel needs good friends.” Warick’s face tightened as though pained. Well, he should be. “I’m trying to get the courage to see her. Did she receive the flowers?”
“Did you shoot her?”
“Easy,” Kent said.
Warick stiffened. “No, I did not shoot my own daughter. Does she think that?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Of course she does, and who could blame her?”
Carr studied him: jeans and a yellow shirt. Leatherlike skin. Worked outside—probably digging for treasure. Strong too. He glanced at Kent, whose face had turned a ghastly shade of white, which looked incredibly odd with his freckles.
“I did not arrange for both of you to be here,” Kent said. “Carr stopped by about another matter.”
“But I would have been here if I knew you were coming.” Carr heard the grit of his own animosity.
Warick dropped his arms to his side. “You heard what I did to my daughter.”