The Sheriff of Silverhill

by Ericson, Carol

  “I remember.” Dana shifted on the sofa to face Rafe. “Before each of the chiefs accepted the ring from the Spaniards, the group’s shaman endowed the ring with special powers through charms and incantations. Do I have that right, Auntie Mary?”

  “You do.”

  Rafe scratched his chin. “Seven rings? Where are the rest of them now?”

  Auntie Mary ran her thumb across the face of the ring in a caress. “Ben Whitecotton has most of them.”

  Dana’s heart skipped a beat. “Ben? Why does he have them?”

  “Various people have donated them to the cultural center.”

  That argument she’d interrupted between Ben and Joshua made sense now. Ben probably wanted the ring from Joshua for the cultural center and Joshua had refused. Why? Did he have other uses for it?

  Rafe asked, “How many of the remaining six rings does Ben have for the cultural center?”

  “I’m not sure.” Auntie Mary slipped the ring off her finger and held it out to Rafe. “I know he has more than one because we discussed placement of the rings in the display area of the center. Ask him.”

  “No.” Rafe dropped the ring back in his pocket. “I don’t want it to get out that we have a sudden interest in these rings.”

  Dana jumped from the sofa and stood with her back to the fireplace to get rid of the sudden chill in her bones. “I’ll ask him tomorrow night at the opening celebration, where it will seem like a natural question.”

  “That’s an excellent idea, Agent Croft.”

  “W-will you be there?”

  “Of course. I helped Ben plan security. Rod and I are going over together. By the way, if this ring belongs to the killer, how come Dana isn’t getting any vibes from it?”

  Auntie Mary struggled to her feet and collected the cups on the table. “Either that’s not the ring the killer was wearing or she’s too tuned in to the victims to identify with the killer. That would explain why she’s not getting any vibes, as you call it, from the killer himself.”

  Dana had sidled closer to him so that her shoulder brushed his. So close Rafe felt a ripple run through her body.

  With eyes wide, she asked, “What do you mean by that?”

  Auntie Mary spread her arms. “Let’s face it. Silverhill is a small town and the reservation is even smaller. The killer is someone we know.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  On his way to pick up Rod for the cultural center opening, Rafe stomped up the kitchen steps of the big house. A chorus of angry voices greeted him. Guess the honeymoon period had ended. He’d already told his family about Kelsey, but warned they wouldn’t have a chance to meet her on this visit. Now he was glad.

  He eased open the door and stuck his head inside. “Is it safe?”

  They all snapped their mouths shut. Pam buried her tearstained face in her hands as Dad’s arm curled around her shoulder.

  Scowling, Rod tossed a packet of papers on the kitchen table. “You’d better tell Rafe…everything.”

  Rafe quirked his eyebrow. “If this has anything to do with the ranch or money or Dad’s retirement, I’ll take a pass.”

  “It does have to do with all that.” Rod crossed his arms over his chest and leaned one hip against the kitchen counter. “But it also involves you, Dana and that little girl of yours.”

  A muscle twitched in Rafe’s jaw as he glanced at Pam, still huddled in her husband’s embrace. “Okay, maybe I won’t take a pass. Spill.”

  “We have a half brother.”

  Rafe’s heart hammered in his chest. Had Rod found Mom? Would they finally see her again? “Mom?”

  Rod snorted. “Are you kidding? The illegitimate brother is a McClintock, and Dad plans to ease his conscience by handing over the south property to him.”

  Rafe should’ve figured the bastard son belonged to Dad. He ran a hand across his mouth. “How old is he?”

  “A year older than you, and a year younger than Ryder. Who cares? How am I supposed to carry through with the plans for the ranch without that property?”

  Ralph sighed. “I have to do right by the boy. He’s a McClintock.”

  “Yeah, like Pam tried to do right by Dana and that little girl?”

  Rod’s words cause another wave of sniffles from Pam, and Rafe clenched his stomach. “What are you talking about?”

  “After Dad broke the news to me about our half brother, I stormed out of here but I came back. That’s when I overheard Pam talking about Dana and Kelsey. I guess discussing one surprise baby brought up fond memories of another surprise baby.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” Rafe didn’t give a damn about some half brother or the ranch, but Pam just might hold the key to why Dana kept her pregnancy a secret from him.

  Rod leveled a finger at Pam. “I think she needs to explain what happened ten years ago when she discovered Dana’s pregnancy.”

  “You knew Dana was pregnant?” A flash of heat seized his body and Rafe jerked his head toward Pam.

  Dad patted her shoulder as she continued to sob. “Now, now. Pam did what she thought was best for the family—for you, Rafe and maybe even Dana.”

  Rafe gritted his teeth. He knew Pam would do what was best for Pam. “What happened? How did you find out about Dana’s pregnancy and what did you say to her?”

  Pam waved her hands. “How I found out isn’t important. But the advice I gave her saved you heartache, Rafe. That girl had big plans and dreams. Do you think she would’ve stuck around here to raise a baby with you? Do you think she would’ve followed you to L.A. and given up her scholarship?”

  “None of that matters.” Rafe smacked the kitchen table. “Those were our decisions to make, not yours. What did you tell her to make her agree to keep the baby a secret?”

  “I didn’t have to do much convincing. In her mind, she was halfway to Georgetown anyway…without you.”

  “Tell him, Pam.” Rod hunched over the table, a dark, menacing look twisting his features.

  Pam clutched her husband’s hand. “I told her everyone would think she was just like her mother, Ronnie, trying to sleep her way into one of Silverhill’s wealthy families.”

  Rafe clenched his fists. Pam had played on one of Dana’s greatest fears. She’d used and manipulated a frightened eighteen-year-old girl.

  Rod spit out, “Go on.”

  “I also told her that once Ralph found out about the baby, he’d disinherit you, cut you out of the family.”

  Rafe’s gaze darted to his father’s tired face. The man didn’t look capable of such a Machiavellian scheme, but Rafe knew better.

  “Hold on.” Rod gripped Rafe’s shoulder. “Dad didn’t know anything about Dana’s pregnancy. Pam didn’t need to tell him because her ploy worked. Dana left town without a backward glance. The ironic thing is how this all came to light. Apparently, Dad threatened to take his bastard son away from his mother, so she took off. I overheard Pam and Dad reminiscing about their various plots concerning McClintock babies. Kind of gives you a warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?”

  Kind of made Rafe want to punch a hole in the wall.

  Why didn’t Dana tell him about his stepmother’s threats? Dana had shouldered the guilt on her own. Even if Pam’s warning was an empty one, Dana couldn’t have known that. She knew enough about how Ralph McClintock wielded power over his family to take Pam’s promise seriously.

  “Why’d you do it? Why’d you conspire to keep Dana and my child away from me?”

  Pam held out her hand. “I did it for you, Rafe. You didn’t need to be saddled with a wife and a baby at your age, especially a wife with a family like hers—Ronnie Croft was trash and her husband no better. Lenny Driscoll is still trash. I didn’t want one little mistake to ruin your life.”

  “Because my life was so damn perfect?”

  Rafe slammed out of the kitchen, heated blood thrumming through his veins. Dana had left out of some misplaced fear for him. Instead of blaming her, he should be apologizing for his screwed-up family. No wonder
this mysterious half brother and his mother had disappeared.

  Rod caught up with him and yanked open the passenger door of his truck. “Are you still giving me a ride to the cultural center?”

  Rafe gunned the engine. “Didn’t think you wanted to go after the bombshell. When did you find out about all this anyway?”

  “About a half an hour before you stumbled into the kitchen.”

  Shaking his head, Rafe maneuvered out the front gates of the McClintock ranch. “Dad’s a piece of work. Where is this half brother?”

  “His wife’s a piece of work too, and that’s the million-dollar question. Where’s the missing McClintock?”

  Rafe slanted a glance toward his stoic older brother and a shaft of sympathy passed through him. Rod deserved the ranch, the whole ranch. He’d worked hard for it and had put up with a lot more crap from Dad than he and Ryder could ever bear. “Look, I’m sorry about the south property.”

  “Forget it.”

  Case closed. Other than that flare-up of anger in the kitchen, Rod would never again reveal what he felt about this interloping McClintock brother…half brother.

  “So I guess Dana never told you the real reason why she left town without a word about her pregnancy.”

  “She gave me the line that she did it for my own good, but she never told me about Pam’s scare tactics. She never mentioned Pam. Dana took all the blame.”

  “Are you going to give Dana a chance? Looks like she took off to save you from family ostracism.”

  Rafe turned up the radio. Two could play that game. He didn’t want to admit to Rod that he didn’t know if Dana wanted a chance with him. She wanted a father for Kelsey, but did she want a husband for her bed?

  He was the man for both jobs.

  Rafe didn’t bother Rod with any more questions about their half brother or the ranch and Rod mimicked his silence. By the time Rafe pulled into the parking lot of the new Southern Ute Cultural Center, the brothers had both had plenty of time to mull over their difficulties.

  He didn’t know about Rod, but Rafe planned to take action tonight. He hated the idea of Pam’s lies snatching away decisions that rightfully belonged to him.

  He controlled his destiny.

  DANA LOOKED UP and spotted two tall men, one with a white cowboy hat and one with a black one, enter the room. As always, Rafe’s appearance took her breath away, just like the first time she saw him in a crowded hallway at Silverhill High. Rod split off from Rafe and grabbed a beer from a roving waiter on his way to a group of his friends.

  Rafe scanned the crowd until his gaze locked onto hers. They maintained eye contact as Rafe cut a path through the guests. His blue eyes still burned with intensity, but something else had replaced the anger of the past few days. Determination? Resolve?

  A slow, sinuous flame curled through Dana’s body, and she grasped her aunt’s arm for support.

  “Don’t you think so, Dana?”

  Dana jerked her head toward Ben Whitecotton, his brows raised in question. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

  Ben pursed his lips. “I asked if you thought it was a good idea to have Mary Redbird seated in the front of the room while I gave my presentation. Then she can be available to answer questions.”

  “Certainly, if she feels up to it.”

  “Daddy!” Kelsey wrapped her arms around Rafe’s waist as he joined their circle.

  Watching Rafe’s face break into a smile as he ruffled Kelsey’s hair, Dana’s nose tingled and tears stung her eyes. Kelsey knew she had a gem of a father. Would Rafe ever forgive her and want to be more than Kelsey’s father?

  Rafe shook hands with Ben and kissed Auntie Mary’s cheek. “Sorry to interrupt. Congratulations on the opening, Ben. Everything looks great. I trust security is in place?”

  “Thanks to you, Rafe, security is running smoothly. And I believe congratulations are in order for you on the discovery of your daughter.”

  “Thanks. We have a lot of catching up to do.” Rafe pinched the end of Kelsey’s nose. “Rod and I got a late start. Did I miss anything?”

  Although he directed his question to Ben, Dana knew Rafe meant it for her. She hadn’t had a chance to ask Ben about the rings yet. In fact, she hadn’t even gotten close to the display case, even though every one of her nerve endings had been buzzing ever since she stepped through the doors to the cultural center. And Kelsey had been jumpier than a frog on a trampoline.

  “No, you haven’t missed a thing except this crushing crowd. We haven’t even had an opportunity to look around at the displays yet.”

  Ben rubbed his hands together. “I’m going to give my talk in a few minutes. I’ll direct everyone’s attention to the different displays and give a short overview of the artifacts we have. Then we’ll adjourn to the patio out back where we’ll watch a performance of the Bear Dance.”

  “What’s the Bear Dance, Mom?”

  “You’ve been remiss in your daughter’s education.” Ben wagged his finger at Dana.

  “If that means she doesn’t teach me stuff, you’re wrong.” Kelsey planted her fists on her hips.

  “Kelsey!” Dana cheeks burned at Kelsey’s rudeness.

  Rafe laid his hand on Kelsey’s shoulder. “Young lady, you owe Mr. Whitecotton an apology right now.”

  Kelsey apologized to Ben, who waved it off. Then he and Rafe pulled a chair to the right of the podium and Ben tested his microphone.

  Dana settled Auntie Mary in the chair. “I don’t know what’s gotten into Kelsey. She’s usually not rude to adults like that.”

  “She’s skittish tonight, isn’t she? And I don’t think it’s just excitement over having a new father.”

  “I feel it too, don’t you?” Dana laid her aunt’s cane across her lap.

  Auntie Mary closed her eyes. “I’ve been feeling it ever since the first murder. Maybe even before.”

  “May I have your attention please?” Ben tapped the side of the podium and gradually the chatter and laughter settled into a low murmur. “I’d like to welcome you all to the Southern Ute Cultural Center, made possible by the grant from Colrad Oil and your generous donations.”

  When the applause died down, Ben launched into the history of the cultural center, and then moved clockwise around the glass cases in the room to discuss each grouping of items on display.

  As he approached one case he gestured to Auntie Mary, still seated near the podium. “We have Mary Redbird to thank for many of the items in this display of our mystical heritage. As many of you know, shamans in our particular grouping of the Ute tribe are women. Mary Redbird’s mother was a powerful shaman in her day, and passed the gift along to Auntie Mary and her sister, Fanny. And then Fanny passed the gift to her daughter, Ronnie. And Ronnie…?”

  Ben smiled at Dana, tilting his chin toward her.

  Rafe cursed under his breath, and Dana rolled her bottom lip forward in a pout and shook her head. “I’m afraid the gift skipped me or petered out.”

  One of Auntie Mary’s cronies coughed and cleared her throat. “You have to embrace the gift, my child. You’re a Redbird woman. You have the gift within you.”

  The crowd shuffled and Dana felt everyone’s gaze burning into her. Did one of those pairs of eyes belong to a killer?

  Rafe stepped in front of Dana as if to shield her from the inquiring and speculative stares. “What’s that hanging on the wall behind the case, Ben?”

  Ben moved on with his overview, and Dana expelled a long breath. Rafe reached back and squeezed her hand. He might still be angry with her over her deception, but his protective instincts always kicked in at the right moment.

  Just as Dana’s muscles began to relax, Ben reached the display case containing the sacred rings. Dana held her breath.

  Rafe whispered in her ear, “This is it.”

  “Most of you know the story of the sacred rings of the Ute tribe. By the time the conquistadores charged onto our land, we had divided into seven groups, occupying seven different areas. Ea
ger to trade with the Ute and make peace with us, the Spaniards offered a gold ring from their king to each of the chiefs of the seven tribes.”

  Rafe murmured, “Is he being particularly long-winded or is it just me?”

  “I think it’s just us.”

  Kelsey had taken a step back, crowding closely against Dana’s and Rafe’s legs. She reached up and grabbed Dana’s hand with cold fingers.

  Ben tapped the top of the display case. “We’ve been very lucky. We currently have five of the sacred rings.”

  Five rings and Rafe had one more in his possession from the bar fight between Lenny and Joshua. Dana glanced down as Kelsey’s grip tightened. With her other hand Kelsey had slid her fingers into Rafe’s pocket.

  Ben unlocked the case and reached inside to slide one of the rings from its stand. “I’m in negotiations to get one more ring on loan, which will give us six of the original rings.”

  A soft whine escaped Kelsey’s lips, and Rafe patted the top of her head. Puzzled, Dana looked down, but Kelsey had dropped her head forward, her long hair hiding her face.

  Someone from the audience called out, “Where’s the seventh ring, Ben?”

  Ben lifted his hands, balancing the ring on one palm. “Unfortunately, we simply do not know the location of the seventh ring.”

  Kelsey’s body jerked and began trembling. Dana gasped and Rafe fell to his knees in front of Kelsey and gripped her shoulders.

  Moaning, Kelsey closed her eyes and tilted back her head as she hugged herself. Her eyelids began fluttering, and Dana knelt beside Rafe and clutched Kelsey’s stiff hand.

  As her fingers closed around Kelsey’s, an electric current coursed through Dana’s body and violent images flashed through her brain. Kelsey’s vision became hers. Dana blocked it with every technique she’d perfected over the years—blocked it for herself and for her daughter.

  Rafe whispered, “Let’s keep this quiet and get her out of here.”