“Probably because you were so young,” Ainsley shot back. “Duh.”
Ace laughed. “Good point.” He thought for a moment. “Did any of you look for one?”
“Not yet,” Ainsley chimed in. “We wanted to wait for you.”
Jake envied the easy camaraderie between brother and sister. “We actually figured if anyone would know, you would,” he said.
This made Ace grin. “You guys didn’t even try, did you? Because I’m pretty sure Dad still has a VCR hooked up to the big flat-screen television in the media room. Along with his DVR and Blu-ray player.”
“Seriously?” Fiona looked both flabbergasted and intrigued.
“Yep,” Ace replied. “He has a huge cabinet in there full of videotapes, DVDs, etc. There’s a ton of old movies, along with newer ones.”
Jake cleared his throat. “Does Payne know we’ve been in Tessa’s room?”
The three siblings exchanged looks. Ainsley shrugged. “I didn’t say anything. I figured he had enough on his mind already.”
“I didn’t, either,” Ace added, his expression rueful. “To be honest, I was afraid he’d say no, and I really wanted you to learn about your mother, Jake.”
Fiona crossed to his side, once again slipping her fingers through his. Grateful, Jake smiled at her before eyeing the others. “I was just thinking Payne might like to see whatever is on the video.”
“Let’s wait and see what it is first,” Ace suggested. “For all we know, it might be a blank.”
A sobering thought, but Jake knew Ace was right. No sense in stirring up Payne without good cause. The poor man had already been through enough.
“Come on, let’s go see.” Ace led the way. They all trooped upstairs to the media room, a large, windowless area with theater-style seating and a huge flat screen hung on the wall.
“There it is,” Ace said, pointing. “Let me make sure it’s still hooked up.” When he pressed a button, a light came on.
“Yep.” Jake handed Ace the remote so he could power up the TV. “From what I remember, I think you have to change the input.”
Finally, once Ace had everything ready, Jake handed him the videotape. Once he’d inserted it, he pressed Play.
“Here we are.” A woman’s voice. Tessa, Jake thought, his heart skipping a beat. His mother. A quick glance at the others revealed similar expressions of wonder. Just then, he realized none of them had actually truly known their mother. They’d all been so young when she died.
The video showed the interior of the Triple R house, looking much newer, with totally different furniture, of course. Tessa continued to narrate, naming each room as she filmed it.
Jake struggled not to show his disappointment. He didn’t want to look at the others, aware they probably felt the same. Fiona squeezed his hand, offering her silent support.
Finally, Tessa stepped outside. She filmed one of the barns, a few horses frolicking in an outside paddock, still speaking in her soft, pleasant voice.
As she rounded the corner of the house, she froze, still recording video. Two men came into view. One of them, a much younger Payne, appeared to be arguing with the other.
“Damn it,” Tessa cursed, still quietly. “That’s Randy Stanford. Payne fired him last week. I’m not sure what he’s doing here, but it can’t be anything good.”
While trying to keep the camcorder focused on the two men, Tessa took pains to stay out of their line of sight. She ducked back behind the house, which briefly sent the video feed swerving crazily, showing sky and dirt and brick before she got herself situated and finally turned the lens back on her husband and the intruder. They still appeared to be arguing. Because of the distance, no one could make out what exactly about.
When Randy pulled a gun on Payne, the entire room gasped out loud.
A second later, Payne pulled his own gun and shot the other man, so quickly he didn’t have time to react and fire his own weapon. A clean shot right to the chest.
Tessa gasped, muttered something and took off running, forgetting to turn off the camcorder in her haste. Because the thing was so heavy, she lugged it along with her, recording all the way until she got back to her room.
Breathing hard, she finally pressed the button to power it off. The recording ended.
For a second longer, everyone simply sat in stunned silence. Then they all started talking at once.
“Was that...?”
“Clear case of self-defense.”
“But if Tessa had this all along,” Jake asked, “why wouldn’t she have shown it to Payne so he could be exonerated?”
No one knew.
“Maybe they never discussed it,” Ace said. “We can’t ask her and clearly Payne had no idea this tape existed.”
“I need to get that to the prosecutor immediately. We’ll request a meeting with the district attorney’s office.” Ainsley marched to the front of the room and extracted the videotape from the VCR.
“What if they don’t have anything to play it?” Fiona suggested. “I’d run it again, and this time, record the relevant part with your phone.”
“Good idea.” Ainsley smiled. Then she did exactly that.
Once she’d finished, she handed the tape to Jake. “Keep this safe, please.”
He nodded, absurdly pleased. “Will do.”
“This should be enough to get them to drop the charges,” she announced, smiling. “We’ll deal with the media once that’s done.” And then, to Jake’s complete and utter shock, she strode over and hugged him. When she finished, she hugged Fiona, too.
“This would never have come to light without you two,” she said, her voice breaking. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Once Ainsley left, Ace came over and slung his arm over Jake’s shoulder. “Good job,” he said. From his seat, Grayson echoed the sentiment.
True to Ainsley’s prediction, once the video evidence had been reviewed, backing up Payne’s claim of self-defense, the DA refused to prosecute. And the media covered the story, the headlines stating Payne Colton had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Payne, too relieved to mind that Jake and Fiona had been in Tessa’s room, took a particular delight in phoning Selina to let her know. He reported she told him to go to hell before ending the call.
The FBI wrapped up its investigation into Micheline and the AAG. The government would seize the property, which would soon be locked down until it was auctioned off. Jake figured Fiona would have to leave Mustang Valley—and Jake—soon. Part of him wanted to ask her to get a room at the Dales Inn there in town, just to stay close.
The DNA test came back. He’d had it sent to Payne, who phoned him with the results. The match proved beyond a shadow of a doubt what everyone already knew: Jake was a Colton.
Finally, Fiona called and asked him to meet. When he pulled up, he saw her suitcase in the back of her car, along with a few other belongings that she’d accumulated since arriving in town.
“We’re done,” she said simply. “After all this time, all this work, what happens next is out of our hands. I’m not sure when, but multiple indictments will soon be handed down. I don’t think Micheline will be getting out of prison in her lifetime.”
“Good.” He pulled her into his arms and held her, breathing in the scent of her hair. “Good job, Fiona.”
She tightened her arms around him, though she didn’t speak. “Where are you going to go now?” she asked, her voice muffled since she’d pressed her face against his chest. “Back to your ranch?”
“No. I’m staying here,” Jake said, pulling back a little so he could watch Fiona’s face for a hint of how that might make her feel. “At the Triple R, with my family.”
She nodded, her expression neutral. “What about your ranch? Are you going to sell it?”
“No. I worked too damn hard getting that ranch up and
running. I’m proud of it, especially since I did it on my own. I’ve got capable people taking care of it for me and keeping it going. I’ll just drop in and check on things from time to time.” He smiled. “Ace says once Nova and Clara are up to it, we’re going to have a big shindig, even if we have to have two parties. It’ll be huge, since I hear the Colton Oil branch of the family and the Colton triplets are all much closer now.”
Fiona nodded. “That’s a lot of people to get to know. It must be pretty awesome,” she commented. “Finding out you have an entire family you never even knew about.”
“It is,” he replied, still unable to tear his gaze away from her. “I consider myself lucky that they’re all so welcoming and generous with their love.”
His comment made her blink. Was that sheen in her dark eyes from unshed tears? “They’ve even asked me to consider changing my last name legally from Anderson to Colton.”
“Wow.” She smiled then, though her gaze remained serious. “Are you going to?”
“I think so. Yes.” He hadn’t been certain until that very moment. “Micheline and her fake last name never should have been a part of me. I’m a Colton by blood, and I’m honored that the entire family wants me to make that official.”
“How does Ace feel about that?” she asked. “It must be difficult for him, knowing he’s the interloper here.”
“He’s not, nor will he ever be.” Heart full, Jake couldn’t suppress a grin. “The family is throwing a big party for both Ace Coltons, as they call it. We’re both Coltons, no matter what.”
“Wow.” She blinked again. Now he was almost positive she was keeping back tears. His precious, wonderful Fiona. Was she wondering what place in his life would be left for her? “Will you be spending the summer holidays with them?”
“I am. How about you?” he asked. “Are you close to your family?” Testing the waters, to see if she’d be willing to spend time with him.
“No siblings—I’m an only child.” Her smile wavered a little.
“I hate that,” Jake began.
“Don’t.” She shook her head. “Don’t pity me. It’s all right. I’m used to being alone.” Then, clearly trying to change the subject, she told him she’d heard that some of Micheline’s followers had turned against her, particularly after having learned she kept people in a basement. “They’re willing to testify against her,” she said. “Including Harley Watts, who sent the original email to the board about the baby switch.”
“That’s great,” he replied, refusing to be deterred. “But I don’t pity you, Fiona.” He shook his head. “Never that. I was used to being alone, too. I told myself that I didn’t even mind it. But being accustomed to something doesn’t mean you have to like it.”
Did she get the hint? Heart pounding, he waited for her response.
“Of course.” Now she wouldn’t look at him. “And I envy you that. But how do you think it would be for me, knowing you dragged me to your family’s celebrations, just because you didn’t want me to be by myself?”
He took a step closer. “That’s not why I want to spend more time with you,” he said. “I want to be with the person I love the most in the entire world. You.”
Now she got it. She froze. “Do you really mean that?” she whispered, her gaze locking on his.
“I do.” Now he went to her, pulling her into his arms. “From the moment we first met, I knew there was something special. A connection. I know you felt it, too.”
Face against his chest, she nodded. “I like how you let me be vulnerable,” she said, her arms wrapped around him as she held on tight. “Being strong all the time can be tiring.”
“I know. We’ve been through hell and back in the last few weeks. You’re the strongest person I know. That’s one of the many things I love about you.”
She sniffed and started trembling. Stunned, he realized she actually was crying now. “Please don’t cry,” he said, helpless in the face of feminine tears.
“I’m trying not to.” Lifting her head, she angrily swiped at her face. “It’s just that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“That you’re strong? I find it hard to believe no one’s ever remarked on that before.”
“No.” She gave him a watery smile. “That you love me. I love you, too, you know.”
He debated pretending shock but settled for kissing her instead.
* * *
Don’t miss the previous installments in the
Coltons of Mustang Valley miniseries:
Colton Baby Conspiracy by Marie Ferrarella
Colton’s Lethal Reunion by Tara Taylor Quinn
Colton Family Bodyguard by Jennifer Morey
Colton First Responder by Linda O. Johnston
In Colton’s Custody by Dana Nussio
Colton Manhunt by Jane Godman
Colton’s Deadly Disguise by Geri Krotow
Colton Cowboy Jeopardy by Regan Black
Colton’s Undercover Reunion by Lara Lacombe
Deadly Colton Search by Addison Fox
Hunting the Colton Fugitive by Colleen Thompson
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Keep reading for an excerpt from Dangerous Reunion by Marilyn Pappano.
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Dangerous Reunion
by Marilyn Pappano
Chapter 1
Though it was well after sunrise, the sky over Ben Little Bear’s house was barely lighter than midnight, so black and rain-filled were the clouds that hung low. No glimmer to the east hinted that the sun had risen, and no glimmer to the west suggested the rain would move on any time soon.
Of course not. It was Saturday. His first day off in a week. Instead of mowing his yard, cutting firewood and going fishing with his cousins, he was going to stay home and...he didn’t know what he would do, besides the start he’d already made: sleeping in late and having a cup of coffee that he’d made himself, exactly the way he liked it.
With a plate holding toast, ham and slices of tomato, he went onto the porch, to his favorite wicker chair that creaked when he sat in it, and found it already occupied. “I thought we talked about this.”
The tiny gray cat looked up at him, his emerald eyes unblinking, before Ben shifted his gaze to the woman on whose lap Oliver sat. “I don’t mind picking you up when you’re drunk. I don’t mind you sleeping in the guest room until you sober up. But I do mind you making yourself and that cat at home in my chair.”
Morwenna Armstrong gestured to three matching wicker chairs. “They’re all alike. How can this one be your favorite?”
“Because I said so.”
Heaving a sigh, she picked up Oliver and transferred him and herself to the next chair. “I’d make a clever comparison here between you and Dr. Sheldon Cooper on TV, but since you don’t even own a television, it wouldn’t be worth my time.”
“But it was worth your time to tell me that?”
She waved a hand dismissively.
“You’re not hungry?”
“Not until my head stops throbbing and my stomach settles down.”
“My mother knows a hundred hangover cures.”
“Any of them work?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had a hangover.” He put together a sandwich of toast and made a big show of taking a bite. Morwenna reacted by holding her hand to her face like a blinder and directing her attention very deliberately elsewhere.
“Do you know your neighbors?”
He didn’t need to ask which ones. For this mile-long stretch of wind
ing road, there were only two houses. He gazed at the farmhouse set back a hundred feet across the road. “Yeah.” Because she was never satisfied with a simple answer, he went on. “The Muellers. Mom, Dad, Brit, fifteen, and Theo, eight.”
“Do you know them well?”
He drank some coffee before fashioning another sandwich. “We’re...friendly.” He helped out over there with cutting down trees, hauling building supplies and taking care of their yard when they were out of town. For a time when he was dating Will Mueller’s cousin, they’d exchanged dinner invitations and gone out together. When he discovered that Yashi Baker was not only brilliant, beautiful and sexy, she was also sly, manipulative, wickedly ambitious and untrustworthy, all those invitations ended, and things had gone back to the way they’d been before. Neighborly, nothing more.
And one thought about Yashi was one more than he usually allowed himself in a day.
“Do they always leave their door open when it rains?” Even after fifteen years in the US, Morwenna had kept enough of her accent to let listeners know she was a proud Brit. He liked it. Liked that it was such a difference to the local drawl.
He shifted his attention across the road. The front door was open, and the lights in the living room and hallway shone in the dim morning like a weary beacon. The wind wasn’t blowing, so rain finding its way inside wasn’t a problem. But it was around eighty-five degrees with a hundred percent humidity, sticky at best. Inside, his air conditioner was humming along, keeping the rooms a cool seventy-two, but that would be a harder job if the door stood wide-open.
“You haven’t seen anyone?”
“Nope. I’ve been out here since six thirty.”
It wasn’t a big deal, and it was his day off. It wasn’t his business if the neighbors wanted to invite the dampness into their house. Both cars were home, so likely both Will and Lolly were, too.
But it was Ben’s business if something was wrong. It might be his day off, but truly a cop was never off duty. He supposed the same could be said for a good neighbor.
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