Your'e Still the One (17 page)

“I figured I’d pop in for a bit. I’m a sucker for chocolate cupcakes.” Annie’s gaze went directly to Matt. “Hi.” Rachel made the introductions, surprised at Annie’s overt interest in Matt. Then she got it and had to hide a smile. Annie was going to hit Matt up for something, and Rachel didn’t blame her.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from the Safe Haven volunteers,” Annie said. “Will you be sticking around awhile?”

It was kind of adorable how Matt moved a little closer to Rachel, either for protection or to let Annie know he was taken. “Not sure yet,” he said. “I understand you’re doing quite a job out there.”

“I’m trying,” she said, letting out a sigh and sweeping the pale hair away from her tanned face. “We have limited funds, and sometimes I have to refuse or relocate animals. It kills me, but I do my best.”

Matt nodded, gave her worn jeans, gray sweatshirt and work boots a discreet once-over. That her clothes were clean was her nod to a social occasion. “Thank God for people like you. I don’t have my checkbook on me but I’ll make a donation later.”

“Thanks. We need all the help we can get.” She was so pretty, wore almost no makeup, and even with her long gorgeous hair pulled into a ponytail, she looked as if she should be doing shampoo commercials instead of pitching hay.

Rachel wasn’t the only one who wondered how Annie had landed in Blackfoot Falls, or where she’d come from, other than “back east.” But Annie kept her mouth shut and never invited personal questions.

They chatted a few more minutes, mostly small talk while they watched the dancers. Several people stopped to say they were glad to see Annie doing something other than work. A few guys tried to get her on the floor. She refused them all and then started looking itchy to leave.

“Matt, I have a question for you,” Annie said. “Do you know anything about the benefit rodeos they have down South?”

He nodded. “I’m riding in one in two weeks.”

“How does a charity get in on that? Is it one rodeo, one charity, or are profits split?”

Smiling, Rachel listened to them talk. She’d bet Annie knew everything there was to know about the subject, but this was why she was so damn good at raising money for the sanctuary. They finished, then Annie said her goodbyes. She left without a cupcake, but with Matt’s promise that he’d put something together for her locally this summer.

To Rachel that meant he’d be back, and already she was getting giddy and jittery inside knowing she’d see him.

He shook his head and started laughing as he stared after Annie. “That woman had me volunteering before I knew what I was doing. She’s good.”

“Yes, she is. Maybe I should’ve warned you.”

“I don’t mind helping out.” He turned his attention to Rachel. “Think you’ll still be here this summer?”

“Oh, yeah, and probably the summer after that.” She shrugged when sympathy entered his eyes. “It’s really not been bad.”

“Talk Cole into raising rodeo stock. It’s good money, and you can shut down the dude ranch.”

“Trying to get rid of me?”

“Never.” He lifted a hand and barely touched her hair before abruptly pulling back. “There’s something I wanted to ask Annie. Maybe we can still catch her. Come with me.”

“I have her phone number,” she said, but he tugged at her hand and wouldn’t let go until they were outside.

The big round moon cast the clear sky in a soft romantic glow. It was a little chilly but still a perfect Valentine’s night. Even more perfect because Matt was here. Once they were away from the door, he took her hand again and led her around the parked cars and trucks to get to the side of the barn. They saw only two men leaning against a pickup smoking and swapping stories across the road. Where Matt took her was dim and private.

Rachel smiled. “I don’t think we’ll find Annie back here.”

“I lied.” He pulled her close and kissed her mouth, slowly, teasing her with the tip of his tongue. “You’re the one I want.”

“And whatever will you do with me?”

“I tell you and you’ll be blushing until next Sunday.”

Laughing, she pressed against him, thrilled that he was already hard. “Glad we’re thinking along the same lines.”

“How long do we have to hang around?” He trailed his damp lips down the side of her neck, his lightly bearded jaw grazing her skin. He’d apologized for not shaving because of the scrapes. But if he knew how hot he looked he’d never touch a razor again.

She sighed with pleasure, then stiffened when she heard voices nearby. Sounded like Nikki’s and a man. Matt obviously heard them, too. He lifted his head just as Nikki said, “Get away from me.”

* * *

“S
TAY
HERE
,”
M
ATT
SAID
,
holding on to Rachel’s upper arms; his gaze was level with hers. “Please.”

She didn’t answer, and he figured she’d end up following him, but he couldn’t waste time arguing.

He found his sister just around the corner of the barn, not far from the door where a light shone. Tony, one of the men he’d fired this morning, stood in front of her.

“Look,” he said to Nikki, holding both hands up, palms out. “I just wanted to apologize. I had no idea Eddie had messed with you. If I had, I would’ve kicked his ass myself.”

“Fine. You said it.” Nikki’s arms were folded, her chin lifted. “So leave.”

“Don’t worry. He is.” Matt stopped a few feet away.

Nikki shot him a startled look. “Oh, God, Matt. Come on, don’t.” She got in between them. “Tony wanted to apologize. That’s all.”

“Yeah, well, Tony shouldn’t even be here,” Matt said. “The deal was that you and Eddie get out of town immediately.”

Tony glared at him. “You didn’t have to fire us, Gunderson. Eddie was drunk, no excuse, but we could’ve worked it out.”

The door opened, and Trace walked outside.

Nikki groaned. “Oh, great.”

“Nothing’s gonna happen,” Matt said, and he wasn’t lying. Tony looked pissed, but Matt could tell the guy wasn’t looking for a fight. “Trace, take Nikki inside. Tony’s just leaving.” Matt glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, Rachel had followed right behind him.

Nikki marched past Trace to go back to the dance, ignoring something he said to her. Trace moved backward but he didn’t go inside.

“Tell you what, Gunderson,” Tony said, stepping in close so that only Matt could hear. “You oughtta get off your high horse and figure out what’s really going on at the Lone Wolf.”

17

M
ATT
WOKE
LATER
THAN
usual the next morning feeling as if he hadn’t slept. Between thinking about Rachel and stewing over what Tony had said, he’d managed to grab about four hours.

The dance hadn’t lasted past eleven but everything had started going wrong at around nine. Two seniors from the high school ended up spiking the punch and the band kept trying to sneak in rap songs.

None of it was tragic, but Rachel had been dragged into the middle of every lousy squabble, meaning he’d spent too little time with her. Then he hadn’t even driven her home, which pissed him off the most. Her mother, Cole and Jamie had helped with cleanup and then Barbara had Rachel in her car before Matt knew what had happened.

He had a strong suspicion the exit had been planned. Maybe on account of him and Rachel staying at Noah’s the night before and Barbara worrying about what people would think. Though he’d been careful not to stand too close or allow any lingering touches. And Rachel had been on guard, as well. For the most part, they hadn’t broadcast anything. So maybe he was just being paranoid. Everyone had been tired, including him. Even Nikki had ducked out early.

The aroma of coffee wafted up to his room, and he pulled on jeans and a flannel shirt, then went downstairs. No one was in the kitchen. But there was a full pot of fresh brew and a note from Lucy that she’d taken Wallace to the doctor in Kalispell.

Matt felt a moment’s guilt. That was something he should’ve done, but then Wallace hadn’t mentioned the appointment. Taking a steaming mug with him to the front windows, he surveyed the barn, corrals and stables. In the distance a handful of men were fixing some equipment near the calving shed, and Matt idly wondered how many heifers were expected to drop calves this spring.

Inevitably his thoughts went back to Tony’s warning last night. Matt was tempted to talk to Petey about it, but if Petey knew of anything hinky going on he would’ve said.

He put on his boots, refilled his mug, pulled on his jacket and headed toward the barn. He stopped to talk with a couple of the hands who were fueling the four-wheelers while he glanced around. In the stables a kid mucking the stalls barely spared him a look. Petey was nowhere in sight—another wrangler thought he might’ve ridden to the north pasture an hour ago.

So Matt continued to poke around, checking out the state of the ranch’s equipment. Everything seemed well maintained. The animals all looked healthy. The welfare of their animals had always been a sore spot for him since some folks had accused his father of mistreatment. He personally had never witnessed Wallace abuse or neglect an animal.

By the time Matt walked over to a large isolated storage shed past the main buildings, he was pretty sure Tony had gotten the last laugh. The Lone Wolf seemed in good shape and was being manned by competent hands. Since he was there anyway, he decided to look inside. But the door was padlocked. Twice.

He didn’t remember the shed being here before, but that meant nothing. It probably housed new equipment. But why the double lock? There were large tire tracks in the hardened mud from before the recent snowfall. He wouldn’t rest easy until he knew what was inside so he jogged toward the house, swinging by the barn first.

The men inside pitching hay thought the shed hadn’t been used since last summer, so he went on to Wallace’s office. A ring of keys hung from a nail behind the door and he figured one of them might open the padlocks.

This time he took the long route to the shed, hoping he could get a look inside without anyone seeing him. No one seemed to pay him any mind. After trying three keys, he found the ones that popped the padlocks.

He opened the door just enough to slip inside and then pulled the string to a bare lightbulb. In the middle of the shed was a big horse trailer, flanked by a small flatbed with good saddles carelessly tossed on top and a late model four-wheeler. Tack had been scattered on the floor that should’ve been hanging in the stables. Even the horse trailer belonged with the rest....

Matt stepped over a lead for a better look at the trailer. His heart nearly stopped. The trailer was the stolen Exiss that belonged to the McAllisters.

* * *

R
ACHEL
HAD
BEEN
ANXIOUSLY
watching for Matt’s truck for ten minutes when she saw the telltale dust over the driveway. He’d sounded funny when he called to ask her to go for a ride, but he wouldn’t say what was wrong.

She grabbed her jacket and went outside. He pulled the truck close to the porch, and she hopped in. Without a word he headed back down the driveway.

“Okay, you’re officially scaring me.” She barely had time to buckle her seat belt. “What’s going on?”

Giving her a strained smile, he reached over and squeezed her hand. “I missed you. I wanted to drive you home last night.”

“I know. That played out kind of weird.” Staring at the muscle working in his jaw, she bit her lip. Her insides twisted so tight she had trouble breathing. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

He shot her a confused look. “Today? No.” He brought her shaky hand to his lips. “No, Rachel. Not unless I get chased out of town,” he said grimly. Then startled her by pulling the truck off the road.

They were still on Sundance property but it wasn’t the wisest place to park. It was a straight road, though, so traffic coming either way was easy to spot. “Why are we stopping?”

Matt shifted closer, gathered her in his arms and buried his face in her hair. “I want to sink inside you so deep no one can pull us apart.”

Her breath caught. “Um...wow.” She really and truly didn’t know what to say. But he took care of that by pressing his mouth to hers, as if this would be their last kiss.

She parted her lips for him, and he slipped his tongue inside, hot and demanding, as he swept over her teeth, swept everywhere, taking complete possession of her mouth. A parade could’ve passed and she wouldn’t have noticed.

When he finally pulled back, he let out a harsh breath. “Sometimes life really sucks.”

Still dazed from the magic of his kiss, she couldn’t seem to make sense of what he’d just said. “Matt, tell me what’s going on.”

He rubbed his scraped jaw, tried to hide the devastation in his eyes. With a gentle touch, she guided his gaze back to hers.

“I’m gonna tell you something you won’t want to hear, and you could hate me for...” He started to look away, but forced himself to stay with her. “And I’m going to be ballsy enough to ask you to keep it between us.”

“Yes.” She could never hate him. “Just tell me.”

“Your horse trailer is sitting in a shed at the Lone Wolf.”

“Which trailer?” She shook her head, then gasped. “The one that was stolen? The Exiss?”

Matt said nothing, just stared at her.

“How?” She didn’t understand. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Something Tony said last night bothered me so I looked around this morning.... There are other things...saddles and a flatbed, some expensive tack. I’m guessing they’ve all been stolen.”

“What did your father say about it?”

“I haven’t talked to him yet.” He laid his head back on the headrest. “Lucy took him to a doctor’s appointment in Kalispell.”

“This doesn’t make sense. What exactly did Tony tell you?”

“That I should get off my high horse and figure out what’s really going on at the Lone Wolf.”

“Well, obviously he had something to do with it, and Eddie, I’d imagine. But you kicked them out before they had a chance to sell off the...” Rachel sighed, her temples throbbing. “No, the thefts started last August and stopped right before Christmas. They’ve had plenty of time to get rid of everything. But why would he steer you toward evidence that would incriminate him?”

“He wouldn’t...unless Wallace knows,” he said bleakly.

“But he doesn’t need any of the— Oh, God.” An unpleasant thought hit her. “Noah and Cole suspected Avery Phelps of having something to do with the thefts because he wanted to get back at us for taking in guests. Right after we opened, our trailer went missing, and then other ranches started getting robbed.”

“I’m not following,” Matt said, frowning. “Although that’s about the time Tony and Eddie hired on.”

“Wallace and Avery never liked each other, but they started getting chummy, drinking at the Watering Hole together.” She took a shaky breath, becoming more convinced Wallace was involved. “Avery couldn’t have acted alone but he may have given your father the idea. A lot of folks started blaming us for bringing in crime along with the tourists.”

Matt rubbed his eyes, his mouth set in a grim line.

“I’m just thinking out loud. Don’t listen to me.”

“It’s okay, Rachel. I think we both know Wallace somehow had a hand in this.”

“Look, my brothers and everyone else will just be so happy to get their property back. After that, who knows.” She hated to point out the obvious. “I mean considering the circumstances.”

Matt met her eyes. “I don’t want anyone to know yet.”

“What do you mean by yet?”

“I need time to talk to Wallace, and if necessary, sort things out with Noah when he gets back. I don’t want Nikki to get caught in all this. She needs her chance to find closure.”

She felt queasy recalling that he wanted the conversation kept between them. “We should tell Cole. He’ll be angry but after we explain about your dad’s health—”

He swore under his breath. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

“Of course you should have.”

“But now I’ve put you in the middle.” Matt stared out the windshield, shaking his head. “I’m such a selfish prick. Guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“Don’t you dare spout that crap.” Now she was pissed. “I mean it. You know better.”

He turned to her with a sad smile. “Give me twenty-four hours,” he said, reaching for her hand. “I know what I’m asking, and it kills me to do it.”

And it was killing her to agree. She nodded, feeling like the worst kind of traitor to her family. But this was Matt. And he could throw Nikki’s name around all he wanted, but Rachel knew he needed the closure, too. Needed to feel he’d mattered to his father and that their tiny new bond was real.

She knew she was right, but that didn’t lessen her guilt and it sure wouldn’t help her sleep tonight. The McAllisters had always placed family first. Always. Everything had just gotten too damned complicated. Maybe she should think seriously about heading to Tahiti before she was banished from the Sundance.

* * *

“I
THOUGHT
YOU
’
D
LEFT
,” Wallace said the next morning when he entered the kitchen, his shoulders stooped and his complexion pasty. Though he actually looked better than yesterday. The trip to Kalispell and two doctor’s appointments had worn him out.

“In a few minutes.” Matt sipped the coffee he’d just made. This was it...he had to lay his cards on the table. Maybe then he could quit stewing over the predicament he’d put Rachel in.

Maybe even get a good night’s sleep himself. The upside was he’d been able to do a lot of thinking while he stared into the darkness as the hours ticked by. His dad hadn’t been getting around much. It wasn’t unreasonable to believe he was ignorant of the thefts or what Tony and Eddie had been up to.

“Seems as if you’ve got something on your mind, son.” With a disinterested frown, Wallace looked up from the note and plate of bran muffins Lucy had left him. “You got something to say?”

“You heard about the thefts around the county, I’m sure.”

Wallace concentrated on pouring his coffee, the tremor in his hand causing the liquid to slosh over the rim. “Yep.”

“I have some bad news.” Matt paused, waiting for a reaction he didn’t get. “I found the stolen items here on the Lone Wolf.”

His father had trouble setting down the coffeepot. “Where?”

“A locked shed in the back. You know anything about it?”

“No.” His frail body shuddered and he gripped the edge of the counter. “Why would I need to steal? I run the only profitable ranch in this county. And by myself.”

“I’m not accusing you of stealing,” Matt said, trying to reconcile the man before him with the one who’d scared the shit out of him when he was a kid. Damn, he’d never thought he’d see the day Wallace would look so broken. Some of the fight left Matt and he knew he couldn’t corner the guy and kick him while he was down. “I think your two boys, Tony and Eddie, might’ve been pulling one over on you.”

Remaining silent, Wallace moved to the refrigerator for his milk.

“No need for you to worry about it,” Matt said. “I just thought you should know. I’ll make sure the property is returned to the victims. If everything is there, I doubt the sheriff will see fit to track anyone down. Those guys have to be long gone by now.”

Wallace nodded, but kept his gaze averted. No way to tell if he was feeling guilty, or angry with himself for not seeing what had been going on under his own nose. And maybe Matt was nothing but a damn fool. But he hadn’t wanted a blowup. The guy was dying. What did any of it matter? All Matt wanted was to clear things up with Rachel and let his sister make peace with the old man.

“I’ll go get Nikki.” Matt drained his mug and stood, then heard an engine. He went to the window. “She’s here. Must’ve borrowed a Sundance truck.”

On his way to the front door he noticed his father smoothing back his hair, and Matt smiled. Wallace was sober and worried about his appearance. Good sign.

“I was getting antsy, and Trace told me to use his truck,” Nikki said as she entered the house. “I left a message on your phone that I was coming. Is he sober?”

His phone was upstairs. Still, no harm, no foul. “Fine. Having coffee in the kitchen.” He motioned for her to go first but she shook her head and shoved him in front of her.

Wallace was sitting at the table, looking small and harmless. He offered a tentative smile, his worried eyes following Nikki. “Would you like coffee?” he asked, and started to rise.

“I’ll get it.” With a glance at the table, Matt motioned for Nikki to sit. “You want one?” he asked her. “Fresh Columbian.”