Ladd Springs

by Dianne Venetta

  Chapter Sixteen

  Delaney lay in her bed, eyes wide open. She blinked, her vision unchanged between eyes closed and eyes open. It was dark. Too dark. She thought of Nick outside on her porch. Angst feathered across her arms. But what could she say? Clem knows there’s gold on the property and he and his men want it for themselves? There was no reason for her to believe that Nick wouldn’t want it for himself, too, once he found out it was available for the taking. The men had no qualms about looting her land. Why would Nick?

  The presence of gold on Ladd Springs land changed everything. She and Felicity were no different. Once they held title, they stood to profit from the gold find. They might even avoid the necessity of selling their timber altogether. What she did know, was that Clem would continue to plunder the precious metal while she and Ernie hashed it out in court. It was a no-win situation. And if Nick learned of the gold, she’d be battling on all fronts!

  Delaney pressed her eyes closed. The quiet sank in around her, flattening her to the mattress. What if Nick followed Clem to the site, followed him right to the gold, because she opened her big mouth? Her eyes popped open. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to convince Nick there was another reason Clem said he was coming back to check on something. But what?

  She clutched the quilted blanket to her chin. Lying and spying were not her department. She took care of horses, of finances—not lowlifes up to no good, attempting to tie them in knots with their own webs of deceit. Fine job she was doing of it. Shoot, she was lucky to keep one step ahead of them, let alone two or three!

  Delaney glanced to her open door. The house was noiseless. Felicity was upstairs resting soundly. Nick was out front, standing watch. Or was he? She bolted upright in bed. He hadn’t been there this morning when she went out to greet him. Would he be there now?

  Yanking the blanket from her body, Delaney swung her legs over the side of the bed and planted socked feet on the floor. Deciding against retrieving the pistol from the drawer of her nightstand, she padded into the living room. She couldn’t see the rockers from here. Since they were located on the other side of the solid wall, she would have to open the door to do so. What would Nick think if she poked her head outside?

  Her breathing became shallow. Her thoughts raced to and fro. What could she say? I wasn’t sure you’d still be here. I thought I heard something...

  She took a few steps towards the door, but stopped. Delaney nibbled her lip, willing an excuse to take form. She flung her gaze up to the loft overhead, resisting the urge to check on her daughter. She’d only find the girl sleeping, safe and secure beneath her cotton comforter. Delaney and Nick had been here since she went upstairs. There was no need to double check.

  Her gaze clung to the wall in a long stare, as though she could see through it. Should she go outside? Would it do more harm than good? A swell of exhaustion surged. The weight of her run-in with Clem anchored her to the smooth wood floor. Regret penetrated her gut. Running her mouth had made matters worse. Thankfully, Felicity was unaware of the dark turn their situation had taken, though that didn’t prevent Clem from threatening to harm her. Seems he’d use whatever mechanism he could to threaten Delaney.

  She slid a glance back to the front porch. Nick had come to her rescue, twice. She envisioned his daunting figure embedded in the small rocker, the chair two sizes too small for his body. But at the first sign of trouble, she imagined him springing from his seat and taking out the bad guy. She smiled. Prince Harris was quite capable when it came to damsels in distress. His decision to follow Clem after their confrontation came to mind. No reservation, no doubt, Nick was a man of action. He took charge when it came to defending her. He took charge when it came to getting answers.

  Delaney frowned. She hugged her arms to her body, the muscles around her mouth tensed. Off the outside porch corner, the single bulb glowed, a faint swarm of insect activity busy within the haze of light. Tomorrow Nick might learn her secret. Worry pricked. If he did, what would he do with the knowledge?

  In the instant of decision, Delaney turned and trudged back to her room. There was no reason for her to be out on that porch with him. No reasonable excuse she could give that would sound convincing, that wouldn’t reveal her for the comfort-seeking fool that she was. Longing pulled at her, stronger, insistent. She wished they could be on the same team. When Nick was around, trouble seemed to cower in the shadows, surrendering in seconds beneath his intimidating stature. Delaney slumped to a seat on the edge her mattress. Elbows to knees, she buried her face in her hands. She, on the other hand, seemed to have an uncanny ability to provoke trouble into outright aggression.

  As expected, Nick was not on the porch when Delaney awoke the next morning. Removing the pot of eggs from the stove burner, she submerged them in cold tap water. The grits were ready, the bread browning in the toaster, the scent filling the space around her. Delaney could only assume Nick was chasing Clem into the forest. What else could Clem be coming back to check on? Clem and those men were connected. Those men had been pillaging the gold. Of course Clem wanted to check on the gold. Question remained, would he unwittingly lead Nick right to it? It might only be a matter of hours before she’d learn the answers to her questions.

  Delaney shut off the faucet, tilted the pot and drained the water through her fingers. As she transferred the eggs to the island, rapidly moving legs caught her attention as they hurried down the narrow stairway. Felicity was ready for breakfast.

  “Good morning!” she chirped. After depositing her backpack by the front door, she came over and plucked a napkin from the ceramic holder, a glazed and painted piece depicting a black bear and an evergreen—an art project she’d made in fourth grade. Felicity had been so proud of the accomplishment, but even more so that her mother prominently displayed it in the kitchen.

  Delaney cracked open the eggs and deposited them into the grits. She tossed the shells into the empty pot, grabbed a fork from the drawer and slid both to Felicity, admiring the green plaid she wore over a cream tank top. “I always liked that shirt.”

  Felicity looked down as though checking to see which one she had chosen. “Thanks.”

  Delaney wondered if the skinny jeans—more leggings than pants—were comfortable. She had an affinity for Levi’s herself, but the younger generation seemed to paint their pants on, but hip was hip and Felicity was among the “in” crowd when it came to teen fashion.

  Felicity reached for the salt and sprinkled her breakfast before mixing and mashing the eggs and grits together.

  “Are you ready for your test today?” Delaney asked. Taking pot in hand, she began washing it.

  Felicity nodded. “I plan to ace it.”

  Of course she did. Felicity aced every test she took. “Well, don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.”

  Felicity rolled her eyes. “Travis and Troy are coming over to ride this afternoon. Is that okay?” she asked, almost as an afterthought.

  “It’s fine.” Delaney folded the kitchen towel in half, then set it aside. “Just remember what I told you.”

  “Stay together. Got it,” she said, and downed a mouthful of eggs, a drop of thick yoke falling back into her bowl.

  Delaney hoped Felicity understood loud and clear. She didn’t need the added stress of worrying about her daughter alone in the woods, in addition to everything else on her mind. Leaning a hip against the counter, Delaney watched Felicity eat. Scooping the egg mixture onto her toast, the teen bit an entire corner piece off with her teeth. She chewed and swallowed.

  Felicity caught her mother staring and asked, “Are you in a hurry?”

  “Me? No.” Delaney rapped her fingers on the butcher block surface, then flattened her palm on the counter and leaned forward. “Why do you ask?”

  “You seem a little uptight.”

  “Uptight?” She shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”

  “Was that Nick Harris I saw heading down the trail this morning?”

  Delaney’s he
art tripped. “What? What are you talking about?”

  Felicity suppressed a grin. “I saw him when I woke up.”

  Delaney stiffened. Number one, what was she doing looking out her porthole of a window at that hour, and number two, so Nick had stayed the entire night.

  The news tangled in her thoughts.

  “You two an item?”

  “What? She blew out a breath. “No—of course not! Why would you say such a thing?”

  Felicity looked pointedly at Delaney’s hands. Delaney followed her gaze to find her hands scrunching the dish towel within her fists. She tossed the towel aside.

  “Wouldn’t blame you if you were,” Felicity added quietly, amusement dancing in the heather green of her eyes. “He is kinda good-looking.”

  Delaney’s throat closed. This conversation was not happening.

  Felicity shifted on the stool. “Besides, it’s about time you found someone.”

  She glared at her daughter. “I haven’t found someone.”

  “Mom. It’s okay. We all need someone.”

  “I don’t.” Especially not that someone—the someone who wanted to take Ladd Springs from her. The someone who was about to learn there was gold on her land and who knew what he would do with that information. A thousand thoughts whirred into action, careening with raw emotion. An item? She and Nick?

  He was good-looking enough of, she had to admit. Seemed smart enough. Visions of him from last night filtered in, his hand on her chair, his request for her trust.

  “Whatever,” Felicity replied dully, but underscored her point with a brief shake to her head. Silently, she concentrated her breakfast.

  Delaney wanted to trust Nick. She did. It would make life easier is she could believe what he said about having their best interests at heart. But an item?

  That was a bit of a stretch.

  Felicity munched the last bite of egg and grits, scraped her bowl clean and downed the last of her toast. She cleared her dish, washed her hands and headed for the door.

  Turning out the kitchen light, Delaney called out, “I’m right behind you.”

  Joining her at the door, Felicity asked, “Going into town?” When Delaney didn’t respond right away, her daughter shrugged. “Do you want to ride with us later?”

  “With who?”

  Felicity opened the door. “Travis and Troy, remember?”

  No, she didn’t remember. Delaney couldn’t think straight let alone remember what her daughter said ten minutes ago! But that was neither here nor there. “No,” she answered hastily. “Thank you, but I have to work today.” She tugged on her boots as Felicity did likewise.

  What her “work” entailed remained to be seen. At the moment, she was only certain that her time today would be spent saving her daughter’s inheritance. Somehow, some way, Delaney had to make sure her daughter didn’t lose out due to Clem or Ernie or for that matter, Nick. An item. She scoffed. Did it get any more ludicrous?

  Though she had to admit, it was heartening to know he had indeed camped out for the duration last night. Delaney stood and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “I’ll see you at three.” She closed and locked the door behind them. Would Nick be back this evening?

  That depended upon his trip into the woods today.

  Nick parked down the street from Clem’s trailer. He sat just past the curve in the road, a nearby cluster of branches hanging far enough over the street to ensure he would remain unseen should it occur to Clem to look for him. Reaching for his coffee from the center console, Nick took a slow sip. He had no idea what time to expect Clem’s departure, but with no place else to go, he had the time to wait. And think.

  Delaney had been remarkably cagey about Clem and their dispute, much like she’d been when it came to the stranger on the trail. But sure as he was sitting here, Nick believed Clem and the men were tied together and she knew the reason why. Today, he would learn the facts for himself.

  The cell phone vibrated on his dash. Nick picked it up and checked the screen. Malcolm again. Which was odd. It wasn’t like him to be so insecure about a deal. But then it wasn’t like Nick to take so long in securing a property, either. He answered the call with a brisk, “What’s up?”

  “Jillian is up.”

  “What now?” he asked, a twinge of memory firing in his groin as he brought coffee to mouth.

  “She signed one of your investors for her project last night.”

  He yanked the coffee from his lips, the liquid searing his tongue. “What?” He glanced down at his lap, checking for spill spots. Thank God for lids.

  “You heard me. I told you she was hounding us on this one.”

  “Hounding us, hell. Who defected?”

  “Winters.”

  “Winters?” Nick couldn’t have been more shocked if Malcolm had revealed himself as the turncoat. “Why would he do such a thing? He’s one of our biggest supporters.”

  “Was.”

  “Did you talk to him? What the hell happened?”

  “One guess.” Malcolm’s smirk leaped at him through the receiver.

  Visions of Jillian’s slender body undulated through his mind. “You’re kidding me...”

  “Wish I was, but I’m not. We can survive with the others, so long as you’re close. Tell me you’re close to a deal, Nick.”

  Crap. He wasn’t close to anything, let alone a deal. Staring out the windshield, Nick’s eyes glazed over, time stood still. The mailbox sat crooked by the road, the black metal box nearly in the path of oncoming traffic. Scruffy shrubs poked in and around the junk box Clem called home. “I’m working on it.”

  “Well, you better work fast or forget about this one. Jillian’s closing the distance, no way are we playing second best.”

  “Damn straight we’re not.” Nick jammed his thumb on the end button. Because they weren’t second best.

  But if Jillian was up to her old tricks, competing would prove tough. She could wrap a man up in knots and steal his money before the poor guy had the first clue what hit him. But Winters?

  That surprised him. Nick would have pegged him for an upstanding guy, a guy immune to such tactics. He and his wife seemed to have a great marriage—if such a thing existed—but sex sells. Sex cajoles, swindles and manipulates. It felt damn good while it was happening, too. Something he remembered all too well. Nick pounded a fist against the steering wheel. Damn it—where was Clem?

  Through the windshield, Nick stared at the trailer. Dilapidated was too kind for the place. It looked abandoned. Deserted. Was Clem even inside?

  Nick had a mind to drive over and peek through the damn windows to be sure. But Clem had to be there. Last night, after driving into town to meet with the two men—something he’d have to take up with Delaney at a later date—Clem stopped here. Nick went to listen at the door. There were no other voices, other than those emanating from a television set. This was the man’s home, Nick was sure of it. So where the hell was he?

  Time was running out.

  Delaney shouldered the Appaloosa’s meaty chest to move him back as she dumped feed into the bin. The horse gave way with a low nicker, but once the sound of sliding nuggets had silenced, he pushed the rounded muscles of his chest into her back, his head bobbing anxiously for her to move.

  “I hear ya, I hear ya,” she said and stepped clear of the heavy animal. “No need to trample me over it.” Delaney slapped him gently on the rump, followed by a quick rub, then tossed the bucket into its corner storage. “Don’t make a pig of yourself, Sunshine.”

  Sadie neighed softly from across the stables and shook her buttercream mane from her eyes. Black lashes blinked over chocolate brown eyes as Delaney drew near. Sadie met her with a throaty nicker. “I’m going solo on this trip, Sadie. But maybe we can ride later with Felicity and the boys.” She patted the mare’s neck, stroked the solid length of muscle. Right now, she had to head Nick off at the pass—if that was even possible. For all she knew, Clem had already gone out to his “mining” site with Nic
k hot on his heel.

  Stop. Delaney shook the pessimism from her mind. She stroked her mare’s neck, down her backside, taking comfort in the smooth expanse of fur. Sadie grunted. Either way, Delaney had to be sure it was gold. Today, she’d take pictures of the rock itself and scrape off a sample. From what she’d read online, the bigger and more plentiful the fissures of a particular kind, the more potential there was for gold. And she wanted to know exactly what she was dealing with. Getting the gold out would be her next task, followed by selling it on the open market. Or did one go through a broker? She had no idea how gold was traded, but she would.

  Delaney gave Sadie a pat on the rear, then kissed the velvety skin of the mare’s nose, reveling in the sweet scent of her baby. “Time to go.”

  She snatched her backpack from its iron hook on the wall and took off for the trail behind the stables. It led up the backside of the mountain. By approaching from the upper ridge, she would ensure that no one saw her come in. She would see them, but they wouldn’t see her. Once the site was clear, she’d climb down and get her pictures and her sample.

  At the sight of the familiar red vehicle rounding the curve, Nick ducked his head. Alarm fired through his veins. Damn it, why didn’t he take this into account? As Felicity’s car approached, Nick snuck a peek over the dashboard. Was Delaney with her?

  If so, he was a goner. There was no way she’d miss his car, parked off the shoulder of the country road. Felicity, maybe. But Delaney? Not a chance in hell. The car sped past and Nick let loose a sigh of relief. No Delaney. He sat upright and glanced down the road toward the property. Would she be right behind?

  Nick stabbed the key into the ignition and gunned the engine, mindful of the half cup of coffee left in his console. He slid the gear into reverse and moved his vehicle farther from the road. If he backed up too far, he’d run the risk of missing Clem—provided the man hadn’t already left. But the man didn’t strike Nick as an early riser. More likely an “I’ll-get-up-when-I-get-up type.”

  A fact which grated on him. Waiting on the lazy wasn’t Nick’s idea of a good time. Add Jillian’s recent coup and he was feeling downright impatient. Waiting on others to get on with his business wasn’t his idea of a good time. Unfortunately, alternative options weren’t racing down the mountainside. He could always walk away from the project, but that wasn’t gonna happen. He had invested too much time already and he felt close. Someone or something was going to break his way, he could feel it.

  The hiccup with Jillian was something he could do without, but he knew how to handle that sly schemer. Thoughts of her bronze limbs intertwined with his, her lithe legs draped over his initial surge of desire. But she was old news. He’d moved on, even though she couldn’t let go. Scorned and competitive to the bone, Jillian was out to prove she could do it without him and do it better. While he enjoyed a challenge, her hot-headed jealousy and controlling nature he could do without. Nick sipped lukewarm coffee, an eye on the rusty trailer. Good luck, sweetheart, but mark my words...

  Serenity Springs will become a reality and will outshine whatever four walls you erect in its wake. It will be a masterpiece, a showplace like none other.

  Ladd Springs was secluded, bordered by the USFS, and made all the more intriguing by trails and streams. With its plethora of springs, Nick would transform the property into his crown jewel, and he’d do it with Delaney Wilkins by his side. The image of her galloping bareback streaked through his mind. Delaney was a natural beauty, an earthy beauty—a nature girl through and through. She reminded him of Montana, of everything he loved about his home, the people, the land, the rugged landscape. Her appeal was entirely different than Jillian’s yet even more intoxicating. She was a woman he wanted to see more of, spend time with, and during the course of building Serenity Springs, he would.

  The thin aluminum trailer door swung open, folding back completely as it crashed against the vehicle’s side. Nick downed the remainder of his coffee and set it back in the drink holder. He started his engine and closed a palm around the gearshift. Clem wasted no time hopping into his truck and peeling out over the shallow drive, headed toward Delaney’s. Satisfaction coursed through Nick. Bet whatever he’s looking for is in those woods.

  Following at a safe distance, Nick traveled the two minutes to Ladd Springs and watched Clem’s truck veer off the road onto Ladd property. He drove over to the trailhead where Delaney and he were confronted by the man with the gun. Clem’s friend with the gun. Nick slowed his car and searched the vicinity for an inconspicuous place to park. The remainder of his trip would have to be accomplished on foot, but somehow he had to conceal his car. Up ahead, he spotted a dirt road, its drive overgrown with trees and brush. He flashed a look toward Clem’s truck and grunted inwardly. The man had already parked and jumped out. Considering his rental vehicle, Nick bristled. The scratches the paint job would suffer would be brutal, but at the moment couldn’t be avoided.

  Nick turned and drove far enough off the road that his car couldn’t be seen from passersby. While trespassing was a crime punishable by gunshot around these parts, he was grateful for one bright spot. Several yards in, there was a thinning of forest. He parked and hoped the neighboring property owner didn’t have any plans this morning. If he did, Nick didn’t expect his vehicle to be here in one piece when he returned.

  Locking the doors, Nick took off for the road but jumped back. Old man Ernie’s truck came barreling toward him, the antique Ford as loud as it was fast. Someone’s in a hurry. Nick checked the Breitling on his wrist, surprised Ernie had plans this early. The car flew by and Nick wondered what could be so important to a man with nothing to do?

  Wasting no more thoughts on Ernie, Nick jogged in the direction of the forest. Not yet familiar with the lay of the land, he couldn’t afford to lose sight of Clem, though at the moment he’d done exactly that—lost him. But if Nick’s suspicions were right, Clem was on his way to the spot Nick had found Delaney spying on two strange men a week ago.

  Entering the forest, Nick kept his foot treads soft as he hurried, maintaining a good clip and a keeping a keen eye out for signs of Clem. This section of trail was wide, but according to his recollection, would soon narrow. Careful to avoid the jut of roots and rock in the dirt path, Nick tuned his senses to high alert. Mountain smells rose from the ground. The musty scent from the wall of clay beside him penetrated his nostrils. The passing cool front had infused the moist air with the scent of trees, a mix of pine and laurel. The temperature was cold but welcome as exertion warmed his body.

  After he passed the falls, the trail opened up to a shallow ravine of ferns and rhododendron, littered with decaying logs. Nick slowed his pace, mindful of his current exposure. If Clem turned to look for him, he’d be wide open. Boring his gaze through the trees, over bushes, he searched for signs of Clem on the far side of the ravine. If he remembered correctly, this trail wound around to his left, ending up on the opposite side of the trees and creek below. Nick dropped his gaze briefly to the rocky stream and considered hiking straight across. The forest clutter below appeared passable. But not knowing how thick the lower ground might prove, it was wiser to stay on terra firma. Removing the gun from his waistband, Nick charged forth along the trail, running on the balls of his feet to keep his sound to a minimum.