Cowboy Protector (10 page)

“Thanks, Granny.”

After Caroline left, Austin made his way to the couch and collapsed next to Hannah. “And thanks for picking Barney up.”

“Misty and Caroline enjoyed getting away for a few hours. We even went to lunch at a café in town.”

“When this is over, I’d like to take you out to dinner in Sweet Creek. There’s a wonderful restaurant that serves a great steak.” He rested his head on the back cushion, his half-veiled gaze fastened onto her face.

“You don’t have to do that. What about Misty?”

“I think I can persuade Caroline to watch her for a few hours. You’ve had few breaks. This wasn’t meant to be a 24/7 job.”

“I like what I’m doing, and I did get away a couple of times. Remember the riding lessons.”

“We can continue them again when there’s less going on around here.” His hand covered hers on the couch between them.

The physical contact accelerated her pulse rate. “What happens if the sheriff can’t figure out who did this?”

“I’m learning not to worry about the future. To live for today.”

“Not always easy to do.”

He chuckled. “A year ago I wouldn’t have been able to utter those words. But with all that’s happened that’s about all I can do. The future is in the Lord’s hands.”

“I wish I—”

The doorbell chiming cut her off. She rose. “I’ll get it. You’ve been wrestling with Big Red.”

The fact that Austin didn’t protest spoke of how exhausted he must be. As she left the room, she glanced back at him. He closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling gently. His features relaxed into a calm façade.

When she answered the door, she allowed the sheriff into the foyer. “Austin’s in the living room.”

“I’m glad he found Big Red. That horse may be temperamental, but he’s one fine stud.”

Austin straightened when she and the sheriff entered the room. The calm expression vanished, and tension descended over his features. “I’m hoping you have good news.”

“Nope. I wish I had the culprit in my jail, but I don’t.” The man sat on the edge of the chair across from the couch, his knees wide, his hat in his hand dangling between his legs.

“What about Bob Douglas? Where was he when the fire occurred?”

“According to his aunt who he was staying with, on his way to Colorado to get a new job. She says he left on Saturday, the day before the fire. She wasn’t too happy with you by the way and had a few choice words concerning you. I haven’t been able to confirm that’s where Bob is.”

“Kenny Adams?”

“His wife says he was at home asleep, as most people are at that time, she pointed out to me.”

“Do you believe her?”

“Don’t know. Mary protects her own so she could be lying.” The sheriff played with the brim of his tan hat.

“Slim Miller?”

“Haven’t been able to find him. No one has seen him in the past month.”

“So no one has been ruled out.” Austin sank back against the cushion.

“Nope. I want to rule out Bob first, so I’ve concentrated my investigation in that area. Can you think of anyone else who might have a grudge against you?”

“No, Gil. Most of my cowhands have been with me for years.”

The sheriff shifted his attention to Hannah. “Can you think of anything else about yesterday morning? On the way to the barn did you see anything out of the ordinary? A truck or car you hadn’t seen before? Or had and shouldn’t be where it was?”

Hannah shut her eyes and tried to picture the walk to the barn. She’d marveled at the beauty of the hoar frost. Austin’s SUV was parked in front of the house under the carport. A white pickup was next to the bunkhouse. She knew that one belonged to the foreman. She thought back over the other vehicles around the compound, and suddenly she remembered something.

Her eyes bolted open. “There was a black car with a smashed bumper. I saw it at the side of the barn away from the bunkhouse. Actually all I saw was the front of it, but I recalled the bumper on the left side was caved in.”

The sheriff’s gaze brightened. “I know who has a car like that.” He stood, setting his hat on his head. “I’m
gonna pay Mary and Kenny another visit this evening. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Austin clambered to his feet. “Hopefully this will end it.”

Hannah remained seated while Austin walked the sheriff to the door. Their murmurs drifted to her. Why hadn’t she remembered that yesterday?

When Austin came back into the living room and took the place next to her, she shook her head. “I should have recalled that. It vaguely registered on my mind, but I was trying to keep up with Misty and enjoy the beauty of dawn. I’m sorry I didn’t—”

Austin put his finger over her mouth to still her words. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. I don’t expect you to know every vehicle at the ranch, especially as I’m hiring new hands.”

“I’m usually very aware of my surroundings, but the hoar frost was especially gorgeous. It was so heavy it almost appeared as though it had snowed and I love snow.”
And I had been trying to figure out what was going on concerning the women killed in Montana by hit men—at least according to Violet.

He trailed his finger from her mouth along her jawline, catching some hair and hooking it behind her ear. “I thought it was Bob for sure.”

“So did I. Things don’t always appear as they seem.” Like the last day in Billings? Had she overreacted to the black SUV behind the taxi? Or her house being broken into? Should she have waited before fleeing the Witness Protection Program?

“But now that I think about it, Kenny was furious with me when I wouldn’t hire him this year in January.” Austin’s brow furrowed.

“Why wouldn’t you?”

“I’d caught him a couple of times drinking on the job toward the end last September. He’s one of my seasonal workers, but the past few years he’d changed, become unreliable. I know he’s been picked up for drinking and driving. I think his license has been suspended. When he came out here in mid-January about the job and I turned him down, he cussed me out then stormed away. That night he got drunk and ended up wrecking his car.”

“The smashed bumper I saw?”

Austin nodded. “From the rumors I’ve heard from some of the men, Kenny’s drinking has only gotten worse. But Gil will get to the bottom of it. If he presses Mary, she’ll come clean about whether Kenny was there or not.” He lifted some hair that fell over her shoulder and ran it through his fingers. “So what night do you want to go out to dinner?”

“Don’t you think we need to make sure Kenny is the arsonist?”

“Give me something to look forward to. These past few months have been tough.”

“Okay,” she said with a laugh. “How about next Monday night? That should give the sheriff enough time and something for you to look forward to all week.”

Austin moved closer, inches from her. “Oh, more than enough time.”

The whispered words warmed her cheek and sent a tingle down her length. “We can celebrate two things. The next day I take Misty into Missoula to get her casts off and you get a day off.”

“You don’t want me to go with you?”

“No, I want you to spend the day carefree and enjoy yourself here at the ranch. You deserve it.”

“But—” Again his finger silenced her words.

“I’ll feel guilty if you don’t. I don’t want to be accused of overworking you.”

“I don’t think you are.”

His finger traced her lips in a slow caress. “But I have an image of being a fair employer. I can’t jeopardize that. You’re just gonna have to take the day off. Granny and I will be back with Misty before dark.”

He grazed his lips over her cheek, inching closer to her mouth. When he possessed it in a deep kiss, Hannah’s world exploded in a burst of sensations, all centered on the man gathering her to him, his arms stroking the length of her back.

“So Kenny has fled the area?” Hannah leaned back against the deck railing along the front of the house, clasping it while facing Caroline.

“That’s what Gil said when he called Austin a while ago. When he went to see him last night after talking to you and Austin, Kenny was gone for the evening. The sheriff went looking for Kenny at all his usual haunts in the county. He left a deputy at the house.”

“And Kenny knocked the deputy out. He sounds like a man who is losing it fast.”

“That’s what I think. Gil was livid that Kenny had attacked one of his deputies then escaped. He’ll be caught. He made a mistake going after one of Gil’s people. He’s got the word out. It’s only a matter of time.” Caroline picked up her knitting needles and yarn from the basket at her feet. “I feel so sorry for Mary. I think I’ll take her a basket of food.”

“Even after what her husband did to you all? For that matter she lied to the sheriff.”

Caroline caught her gaze. “If the Lord can forgive us our sins, then I can forgive someone hers.”

Hannah remembered the heat from the fire, the smoke-filled barn and didn’t know if she could. The fact Misty still awoke in the night, in a cold sweat, sobbing, only confirmed that feeling. What would have happened if Misty hadn’t made it out? Or all the animals died in the fire?

“You’ve got a few hours of free time. What are you going to do? It’s a beautiful day. The first day of spring will be here soon. Actually the weather feels like it’s already come.” Caroline began to work on a navy-blue sweater for Austin.

“I think I’ll go for a walk. Like you said, it’s beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Do you want to come?”

“My leg is giving me problems. You go without me today.”

“Isn’t Austin at the birthing shed?”

“Yeah, the cows are dropping their calves right and left, but that’s a good thing. He likes to be in attendance or one of his cowhands to make sure everything proceeds correctly. No sense losing a calf, if it can be prevented.”

“That’s not that far. Isn’t it down that road?” Hannah pointed to the right past the cleared area of the barn.

“Yes, about five hundred yards. Not far over that rise. Since most of the men are working on the barn or out watching the herd, he’s left to do that.”

Withdrawing the monitor from her jacket pocket, she put it on the brown wicker table next to Caroline. “I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

“Take your time. If Misty wakes up, I’ll sit in her room and entertain her. She’s been wanting to learn to knit. I was thinking of showing her a way using her fingers so when she gets the cast off next week she can exercise those fingers she hasn’t used in a while.”

Hannah descended the steps and started down the road, passing by the workers who were working on the barn frame. The sound of hammering echoed through the air. She could recall stories of people helping neighbors raise a barn in a day back in the past. The occasion would become a social gathering for the area. Did anyone do that anymore?

She knew Austin had gotten calls from his neighbors about helping him any way they could. He’d declined, knowing it was a busy time of year for them, too. He’d then gone to town and hired a few extra men to help with the barn.

The sun beat down on her, warming her, as she strolled toward the birthing shed, which if she remembered on her tour of the ranch was a small barnlike structure. At the top of the rise she scanned the area, drawing in deep breaths of the pine-scented air, fresh, crisp. The light breeze played with the long strands of her hair. A magpie, mostly white and black like a penguin, perched on a branch of a bare tree studying her. She smiled at it, relishing the peace and quiet in a crazy world. She could get used to living here.

And that was the problem.

She couldn’t live here too much longer.

But she wouldn’t think about that right now. She would enjoy the day and maybe spend some time with Austin.

That thought spurred her forward on the road that ended at the birthing shed. She heard voices coming from it. The door was ajar, and she moved toward it to check and see who was with Austin. She didn’t want to disturb him if there was something wrong with one of his cows.

She peeked through the crack.

A thin man—taller than Austin—stood with a two-by-
four in his hand, his stance rigid as though readying himself to attack Austin, who was backed into a corner of the shed. A cow with a newborn calf nursing turned her big brown eyes at the explosive scene.

“You’ve ruined my life.” The intruder’s words came out in a seething stream of hate.

“Kenny, I didn’t—”

“Shut up.” With a surprised quickness, Kenny took a swing with the piece of wood, the flat of it connecting with Austin’s shoulder as he twisted away, deflecting it some with his motion.

But the suddenness of Austin’s movement caused him to stumble. He went down.

K
enny brought the piece of wood down again on Austin, but he rolled to the side, the end catching him on his thigh. The pounding sound of the two-by-four connecting with dirt floor reverberated through Hannah’s mind. The next blow could be fully on Austin. She had to do something—quick.

Without her cell on her, she had no way to call for help, and if she went for it, the fight could be over, leaving Austin injured possibly. She searched the ground for anything she could use.

She snatched up a rock as the sound of another thump of the wood shuddered down her length. A lowing noise from the cow followed, making a mockery of the situation taking place in a shed where new life came into the world. She wanted to sneak up on Kenny from behind, but when she eased the door farther open, it creaked.

Hovering over a downed Austin, Kenny glanced in her direction and straightened.

“Get away from him,” she said in her toughest voice that ended in a squeak.

Kenny laughed and raised the wood to swing again. Hannah rushed forward, realizing she wouldn’t make it
in time to stop the hit. Frantic, she threw the rock at Kenny’s back as hard as she could.

It clobbered him right under the shoulder blade. The thin man let out a howl of rage and spun toward her. She glanced at Austin trying to rise. He stumbled forward.

Kenny advanced toward her, rage in his bloodshot eyes.

Maybe she could outrun him.

His diamond-hard stare bored into her and trapped her gaze. Hannah took one step back. Then another. She could make it down to the barn where the rest of the men were.

“Get out! Now or I’ll—” Kenny shook the two-by-four at her “—take care of you then finish with him.”

His look reflected the fury and desperation that had pushed the man over the edge. It held her immobile, her mind void of any solutions.

She took another step away. With her back pressed against the wall next to the door, she spied a pitchfork out of the corner of her eye. If she could get hold of that before he covered the distance between them, then maybe—

Austin barreled into Kenny, sending them both forward and crashing to the ground. The impact dislodged the piece of wood from the man’s grip. It flew toward her. She ducked to the side and it clamored against the wall. She grabbed it, trying to figure out how she could stop the fight.

She inched closer, the two-by-four clutched in both hands and pointing to the ceiling.

But before she could decide how to use it without hurting Austin, he struck his fist into the man’s jaw. Once. Twice. Kenny’s eyes rolled back then closed. The noise of the blows vied with the agitated moos of the cow at the back of the large shed. Austin clambered to his feet, groaning with movement.

He looked toward her, his gaze filled with pain. But a slow grin spread across his face. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, but if you ever do something like that again, I’ll…” His threat faded into the silence as he shook his head.

She launched herself into his arms, Austin wincing at the contact. “I’m sorry.” She eased back a little. “Are you okay? Where do you hurt? He could have killed you. I had to do something fast. I…”

Austin quieted her with a hard kiss. “I mean it. Don’t do something like that again. I can take care of myself.”

She pulled back farther and glared at him. “I saved you. The least you could do is give me credit for it,” she said in a mockingly stern voice.

His smile widened. “That you did. You gave me the time to recover enough to take care of him.” Austin threw a glance toward Kenny.

The man moaned, opened his eyes but they quickly slid close again.

“I’ll go get help now.” Hannah turned toward the door.

“Good idea.” Austin sank against a post and slipped down to the ground, groaning with each movement.

Several squad cars were parked in front of the building where Saul Peterson lived. Micah didn’t like that. A bad feeling knotted his stomach. Saul Peterson was his only lead on Jen Davis/Hannah Williams.

Micah rode the elevator to the third floor and when he stepped off, his gaze immediately riveted to the older man’s apartment number. A police officer stood outside.

Not a good sign.

He strode toward Peterson’s place. The officer latched on to his approach and straightened away from the wall.

“Can I help you?” the Billings policeman asked.

Micah showed the man his U.S. Marshal ID. “I am here to talk with Saul Peterson.”

“He was taken to the hospital half an hour ago.”

“What happened?”

“Someone broke into the apartment and beat him up. The detective on the case is still inside. The crime tech guys haven’t come yet. Do you want to talk to him?”

“Yes.” Micah’s gut constricted even more. A robbery gone bad? Or something connected to the Martino Chicago crime family and Jen Davis?

The officer opened the door and called the detective.

When the man appeared in the entrance, Micah stepped away from the uniformed officer. “May I have a word with you?” He again presented his identification. “What happened to Mr. Peterson?”

“What’s your interest in him?”

“It’s a case I’m working on, and I’m not at liberty to say anything.”

“Was Mr. Peterson in your program?”

“No, but I’m following a lead. Did Mr. Peterson say anything before being transported to the hospital?”

“No, a cleaning lady found him and called the police. He was unconscious when she found him and didn’t wake up by the time he was taken to St. Vincent. I’m finishing up here then going over to the hospital to see if he’s regained consciousness yet. He was beaten pretty badly. Actually I’m surprised, considering his age, that he’s alive.”

“Were there any signs of robbery?”

“I don’t think this was a robbery. The obvious items stolen are still in the apartment but it is apparent someone searched his place.”

Micah withdrew his card. “If you discover any more
information concerning this break-in, please give me a call.”

Micah quickly left and drove the short distance to St. Vincent Hospital. He found the emergency-room doctor who was treating Mr. Peterson. “What’s his prognosis?”

“He’s in critical condition. He’s in a coma. We’ve treated what we can and now it’s in God’s hands.”

“He never woke up?”

“No.”

“If this changes, please call me and let me know.”

Micah left the building and retrieved his cell from his pocket. A few minutes later his brother, Jackson, came on the line. “We’ve got a problem. I think a hit man has found out where Jen Davis is. I was following a good lead concerning her whereabouts. I think she worked for Saul Peterson up until a couple of weeks ago. Someone beat the man nearly to death. I think for information.”

“Keep looking for her and let’s pray Mr. Peterson wakes up and can give us some information before anyone from the Martino crime family discovers Jen Davis’s whereabouts.”

“I will. I’m going back over to his apartment and doing my own searching. Maybe there will be something there to indicate where she is.”

Monday evening Hannah sat across from Austin at a table for two in a restaurant that specialized in serving the best steak in Montana. “I now see why people come even from Missoula to eat here. The meal was delicious.”

“You deserve every bite of it. And more. Kenny is in jail. I’m healing, thankfully, but I’ll remember that fight for a while.”

“At least you aren’t limping anymore and—” she
flashed him a grin “—trying not to wince every time you move.”

“Isn’t there a saying about time healing all wounds? In my case it has—mostly. So I’m glad we could still celebrate tonight. My barn is nearly finished. Misty gets her arm cast off tomorrow and maybe even the other one. Life is good.”

Almost perfect. But Hannah wouldn’t tell Austin about her woes. He couldn’t do anything to change them, and she couldn’t stay no matter how much she would love to. The Triple T Ranch and his family were his life. Hers was somewhere else.

“That poor cow with her calf.” Hannah lifted her water glass and took a drink.

“She was glad to get out of the birthing shed, but I was glad I was there for the calf’s birth. That one I had to assist with.”

“Do you have to help usually?”

“No, but enough about the ranch.” He grinned. “What are you gonna do tomorrow? If you want, you can borrow a vehicle and come into town or go anywhere you want. You aren’t confined to the ranch.”

“The ranch is fine with me. I thought I would explore the woods and small lake you have on your property.”

“Just so you know, occasionally I get hunters and other tourists on my land. Usually they wander off the Rocking Horse Ranch where they come to hunt, hike or fish. I don’t allow hunting or, for that matter, hiking on my property. I used to let the hikers go until a few caused some damage. I have to redirect the parties back to where they belong. Although there shouldn’t be any hunters, wear something bright.”

“I have a red jacket.” Thankfully she was partial to the color since she didn’t have a big wardrobe.

“That’ll work. I want you to have fun tomorrow.”

“It’s supposed to be the last pretty day before a cold front and snow comes in. I’m going to be outside enjoying it and the ranch.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You do enjoy the ranch, don’t ya?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I? It’s gorgeous. When I look at your ranch, it’s so easy to see the Lord’s hand in its creation. A masterpiece.”

“I love hearing someone talk like I feel about my ranch. I think it’s a little piece of paradise.”

“I guess there are some who might not see it that way, but I feel like they must be blind.”

His chuckles peppered the air like the aroma of grilling meat coming from the kitchen. “You’re my kind of woman.”

His words colored her cheeks with warmth. She averted her gaze from the sudden intensity flowing from him as though he’d reached across the table and wrapped his arms around her, nestling her against him.

“I’m sorry your wife didn’t see the beauty in the Triple T,” Hannah said in an attempt to put some distance between her and Austin.
Because in the end I’ll be doing the same thing: leaving him
.

“So was I. Misty deserved more than that from her mother.”

“You deserved more.”
And I have to remember that
. But Hannah’s heart twisted at the thought of leaving him in a month.

“Hey, I didn’t bring you all the way into Sweet Creek for a night on the town to talk about my late wife. That’s my past.” He reached across the small table and clasped her hand on the white tablecloth. “I’m learning not to look back but forward.”

And the expression in his eyes emphasized his developing feelings toward her. The admiration she saw constricted her throat. She swallowed several times but nothing cleared the jammed emotions.

She gently tugged her hand from his and rose. “I need to visit the ladies’ room. Be back in a minute.”

Quickly she weaved her way through the tables to the restroom. Inside she leaned into the marble counter and stared at herself in the mirror. She wore her only nice “fancy” dress from when she’d lived in California, a sleeveless, black sheath with a scooped neckline and silk fabric that draped in soft folds. She’d borrowed Caroline’s black cashmere sweater since she didn’t have anything that really worked for this type of restaurant. Her long, chestnut hair fell in waves about her shoulders. But the expression in her eyes—large pools of conflict—at the moment gave away how in over her head she was with Austin. She so wanted to grab what Austin was hinting at—a serious relationship that could possibly lead to something permanent.

She couldn’t. Slamming her palm down on the counter, she wanted to scream in frustration. She was so out of her element—physically and emotionally. Tomorrow she had some serious thinking to do on her hike.

Before he came searching for her, she washed her hands then left the ladies’ room. When Austin saw her making her way toward him, he rose, placing his linen napkin on the table. The smile that caused his face to glow with happiness pierced straight through her heart.

“I’ve taken care of the bill. Let’s go. I thought we might walk along Main Street, do a little window-shopping. A few places remain open until nine on Monday night.”

“We don’t have to do that if you need to get back to the ranch.”

He grasped her hand and strolled toward the front door. “I don’t and I want to. You’re right. This may be the last warm evening, and it’s so nice out. Sometimes those cold fronts move in earlier than we expect.”

“I’m hoping it holds off until at least dark tomorrow night. I have big plans to commune with nature. I’m going to take my camera and get some pictures.”

Outside on the sidewalk on Main Street Austin started toward where most of the stores were located. “You like to take photos?”

“Love to. This state is perfect. The only downside is my camera doesn’t do justice to the grand scale here.”

“I’d love to see some of your work.”

“I have a scrapbook.” Not a large one since she moved all the time, but one that let her have a piece of something she loved to do.

“You constantly are surprising me. I wouldn’t have taken you for a photographer.”

“What does a photographer look like?”

“Someone with a camera hanging around their neck.” Austin shrugged. “Honestly I have no earthly idea.”

“Well, for your information I’m not a photographer. I take pictures. That’s all.”

He paused at a store window with sports equipment. “Okay, how about skiing? Do you do that?”

“Nope. I can’t see myself flying down a mountain at breakneck speed—for fun. Do you?”

“I grew up here, so, yes, I do. I loved doing it especially when I was young.”

“Versus being old?”

He laughed. “When I was younger.”

At the next shop Hannah stopped and looked at the books on display. “I love to read, too. Can we go inside?”

“Sure. I’ve been known to read.”

In the bookstore Hannah separated from Austin, exploring the different sections of categories. A good story allowed her to live a life she might never have since her options were limited. She glimpsed one she thought she might like in women’s fiction, a multiple generational saga, set in Montana, and decided to buy it for the long nights when she was alone in an apartment in some other state. When she was gone from Sweet Creek, Montana, and the Taylors.