Jace: The Pride of the Double Deuce (7 page)

As soon as he sniffed the air and took off to the woods, Jace dropped to the ground and sat there. He looked up at Holly when she stood over him.

“I’m guessing he’s got clothing somewhere.” He stared at her. “I mean, why else would he not shift here?”

“Holly, honey, that wasn’t a shifter.” She was nodding even as he was shaking his head. “He was a real bear. A big black bear that you saved.”

“No. I’m sure he was a shifter, like you.” She looked at his brothers and each of them just stared at her. Jace knew the feeling…they were all in awe of her. “Please tell me that I did not just pull a bear out of a trap.”

“You did just that.” He should have been prepared for it, known as soon as she swayed on her feet that she was going to tumble, but reaching for her nearly took his breath away; her folly had scared him that much. He held her in his arms as he looked at Mason. “Fuck. She can care for a bear but not stay upright when it turns out that he was real? What kind of…? She could have been killed.”

“But she wasn’t.” Mason came up to him and shifted. “Give her to me and pull your pants on. Our clothes are shreds, and I’m pretty sure that her dad is still at the house with Aunt Georgie.”

“Fuck.” It was hard handing her to his brother. He was naked as well, but it was his cat that Jace was having issues with. Not Mason’s cat but his own. He wanted to keep her safe and not let another male do it. Handing her over was probably the hardest thing he’d ever done. “I’ve never been so terrified in my life. I mean, Christ, she acted like it was an everyday thing to open a bear trap and free one.”

“She had no idea he wasn’t a shifter.” Jace pulled his pants on, then his shirt. He looked at Mason when he continued. “She’s not what we expected. You’re not what I expected when I came out here.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.” He took Holly back and pulled her to his chest. She was breathing well and her heart seemed to be okay, but when Mason didn’t answer, he asked him what he meant.

“You and her. I expected…I don’t know. Her to be in tears cowering behind a tree, you standing there as a cat ready to tear the bear’s throat out. But you both looked…normal.” Jace laughed and Mason didn’t. “You’re going to be very happy together, I think. The two of you are normal.”

“I’m not sure how to take that, but thanks.” Mason nodded and let his cat take him. They walked back to the house in silence. All Jace could think about was the fact that she’d taken on a full-grown injured bear. Mother fuck, he might just fall in love with her. “Mason? I’m going to ask her to marry me. I don’t love her, but I do want her in my life.”

Good.
Mason turned and looked at him when he answered, then took off toward the woods back from where they’d come. Jace watched the rest of them run ahead of him, and he wondered what he’d said. Taking her into the house, he laid her on the sofa and let his aunt and her father fuss over her. When his aunt went into the kitchen to start dinner, Jace sat with Palmer.

“You marked her.” Jace nodded, not sure what the man was thinking. “I’m glad. I mean, I have no control over who loves her or not. I’m sure you can understand that, but to have a good man like you love her, that’s more than any man can ask for.”

“She might not ever love me, or me love her, Palmer. We’re mates, but I don’t know a great deal about love.” He nodded, and Jace leaned back in the chair to tell him about the bear. “She’s wonderfully amazing. I’ve never seen anyone as brave and as stupid as she was today.”

“That’s my girl. Never could tell her no and expect her to listen. If she wanted to learn it, do it, or just understand it, she took it on like it was her life.” Palmer handed him a thick envelope. “I’ve looked into the Carter ranch. And you’re right, it’s too good a deal to pass up. Consider that a wedding present.”

Jace tried to hand it back to him. “Palmer, I just wanted a loan to get the cattle. I can make payments. You don’t have to purchase them for us.”

“I didn’t. I purchased the ranch. And it’s yours.” Jace looked at Holly, then at him again. “There are no stipulations on the ranch, Jace. It’s yours. If you want to live there with my daughter, I’m all right with that as well. You were right, it’s a good deal. This was purchased before today, and in my mind a long time before that. Like I said, you’re a good man. Honest and trustworthy. All the Douglas men are. And if you’d see your way to make me a grandda a couple of times before I pass from this world to the next, you’ll make me even happier.”

“I’ll never hurt her. Not with any kind of maliciousness.” He said he knew that. “And I would very much like to live there with her. I’m not sure about the marrying part just yet. We’re still working things out—like how to tell a shifter from a real animal—but I’m happy to have her in my life.”

“You can tell the difference?” Holly sat up and looked at them both. “And I don’t know about living together either, if anyone cares for my two cents worth.”

Jace stood up when she did. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her while she trembled. She’d scared herself as well as them. Jace lifted her chin up and kissed her gently on the mouth.

“Please don’t help an animal again unless he talks to you, okay?” She nodded and he brushed away the tears that fell over her cheeks. “You are the most amazing person I know. But you are also the scariest.”

“Thanks. My dad tells me that all the time.” She laid her head on his chest. “But I’m starving. Do you think your aunt can fix me something to eat? I could eat a bear.”

As she walked away, he looked over at Palmer, who was laughing. After a few seconds, Jace joined him. Christ, she was going to put him in an early grave at this rate.

Chapter 7

Palmer headed to the bank early the next morning. He didn’t have any money in this one, but he was going for the show. And he figured it was going to be one hell of a show. As soon as he entered, he took one of the seats intended for the people opening an account or applying for a loan. Palmer thought there hadn’t been a great deal of use for these seats in a long time.

The town was dying. Not slowly either. In the past five years, maybe less, there were fewer and fewer people coming into town, and even less were moving in. He blamed it on the fact that people didn’t want to farm much anymore, but it had taken his daughter looking into things to make him realize it was the town, not the economics.

He’d had a few inquiries made since then too. First and foremost was the bank. Then there was the feed mill and the loan offices. All three of them were corrupt. Not to mention he’d found that they were all owned and operated by Rogers. Nigel Rogers should have been put behind bars, not behind a desk.

He saw the two men come in just as Rogers was going into his office. If either of them saw him, they ignored him. They didn’t work for him, but he’d talked to them before on other business dealings that he’d had. These particular two men were not ones to fuck with. He was sure just as these two were asking to see Rogers, there were many more at Rogers’ home as well. The man was about to get the worst kind of audit.

When someone sat down next to him, Palmer smiled. Ed wiped his brow with his handkerchief and smiled back. Ed Clarke was another person that Palmer would not fuck around with.

“What have I missed?” About then they heard a shout from the office. “I guess I’m right on time.”

Palmer watched as Rogers was led out of the bank by the two men. He wasn’t in cuffs yet, but when he took a swing at one of the men, he was tossed to the floor and landed on in seconds. Palmer and Ed laughed out loud, which of course made Rogers look in their direction.

“You.” Palmer waved at him and stood up to walk toward him. Rogers was cursing up a storm and struggling to get loose. “Why the fuck are you doing this to me? I’ve done nothing to you.”

“And what is it you’ve done to the other good citizens of this town?” He started cursing again and Palmer had to move back when he spat at him. “Very mature, Rogers. Oh, and you might want to know that your home is being looked into as well. It’s amazing what sorts of things people will store at their house that don’t belong to them.”

“You can’t do that. I have rights. That’s an invasion of privacy. I know my rights.” The man holding him down lifted him up after he was cuffed. He jerked him along with him as they made their way to the door. “I want a lawyer. I’m not saying a thing until I get my lawyer.”

“Well, that’s good since we haven’t asked you anything.” Then the investigator held Rogers still as he was read his rights. It was all downhill from there.

Rogers tried to get away again but this time an officer, a big guy who looked like he could be a linebacker, tackled him, much to the amusement of the people on the sidewalk watching the show. Then when he was lifted up a second time, his suit was covered in mud and water from the early morning rain, and it looked like he might have pissed himself. Palmer and Ed laughed as he was shoved in the back of the waiting cruiser. Then they stood by while the bank was emptied of everyone inside and the doors chained and locked. In a few days they would open again, but for now, the bank was under investigation. Three of the tellers were also taken into custody, as was the loan manager. It was not a good day for First Trust.

He and Ed headed to the diner just down the street to have a nice cup of coffee and to talk. Ed was handing him a file when he noticed Jace walking down the street with his head down. Knocking on the window, he invited the younger man to join them.

“The bank’s closed, did you know that?” Ed explained to him what was going on. “I see. So no money out until they figure out what happened. That sucks. I need some parts for the milker again.”

Ed looked at him and Palmer nodded. It was time the kid was brought up to speed on a few things. The waitress brought them all coffee, which Jace turned away and asked for some water. Palmer ordered all three of them breakfast while Ed pulled out the paperwork.

“I’ve been talking to my daughter.” Jace flushed, and Palmer wanted to hug the younger man. Holly hadn’t come home last night, and when she’d come in this morning, she’d been in the same clothes. He was sure that the two of them were working on those grandkids for him. “She said that the two of you are going to set up house at the farm.”

“I was going to talk to you about it today.” He looked at the waitress when she sat the food down in front of him before continuing. “I don’t want you to think that I’m just shacking up with her. Well, I guess I am, but we’re working on things too. Like…she’s really good at figuring things out. Did you know that the Carter farm has the computer system in place but they never used it?”

“No.” Palmer wasn’t even sure what sort of computer system he was talking about, but Ed seemed to know. He was asking him about the mechanics of it when Palmer’s phone rang.

“Mr. Snow, were you aware that the bank has shut down?” Jeff again. The little shit had been calling him nonstop since the day before yesterday. It was time to put things in order at his business. “There are people with money in that bank.”

“I’m well aware there is money in the bank, Hardgrave. It’s their primary function. What reason would you have to call and inform me before I come into work? I’m pretty sure this could have waited.”

“Yes, sir, perhaps. But I have money in that bank.” Not enough to worry about, Palmer wanted to tell him. No one would get up in arms over twelve dollars and four cents. “I’m wondering what you’re going to do about that.”

“About your money? Nothing. Why should I?” Hardgrave sputtered. “Listen, in a few days the bank will reopen and when it does, things will be in order. Until then, you can just wait like everyone else is.”

If he said anything else, Palmer didn’t care. Closing the call, he looked at Jace as he described what was a state of the art system, from the sound of it. When he looked at him, Palmer knew that he’d made the right decision about Jace Douglas.

“I need you to come and work for me.” Jace was already shaking his head. “Now hear me out before you just say no. It’s not an office job, but something more of an investment for both of us.”

“Palmer, I’m not…I don’t have a college education. Hell, I barely made it through high school because I was screwing around too much. Aunt Georgie put the fear of her in me and I straightened up just in time. I can fix about anything, given enough time and the instructions. I’m not what you might call a people person, preferring to be alone rather than in a crowd. And while I’m pretty sure that I’m falling in love with your daughter, she’s still way out of my league when it comes to being on the social ladder.” Jace nodded to the waitress, then looked at him. “Sally is more what I thought I’d have in a mate. Not Holly. She’s just…she’s perfect, and I’m far from it.”

“Are you finished?” Jace nodded and pushed his empty plate back. “I need a partner that knows how to fix things, given enough time and instructions. I need a man that can work alone and be social when the time calls for it. A man that I know loves my only child and will care for her in a way that I have.” Palmer laid an envelope on the table between them. “In there is my own life story. How I did a stint in jail for being in a bank robbery unknowingly. There is also my transcript from school. Yes, I went to college, but it was a blur of drinking and womanizing more than it was studying and tests. Milly, Holly’s mom, took me in her heart and made me want to be a better man. No, that’s not right; she made me want to be a
perfect
man. I wasn’t, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. You remind me of myself when I was your age.”

“Jace, there is everything you need to do; what we need for you to do.” Ed pushed the file at him before continuing. “Credit cards, keys to a new truck, money in an account that you and Holly will share. The deed to the ranch as well as enough capital to get things up and running. And enough for you to get your family farm up and running in the black as well.”

Jace didn’t touch it, but looked at it hard before looking at him. Palmer could see that he wanted it badly, but he didn’t touch it. Jace was a better man than he’d thought.

“I can’t do this. As much as I want to—because you cannot believe the amount of things that need repaired and replaced on both ranches—I just can’t do this without knowing what it’s going to cost me.” He looked at him then. “I thought at first you were trying to buy me off, to keep me from Holly, but you said an account we’d share. Then I’m trying to think what sort of evil thing you’d want me to—”

“I’d never do that to you, Jace. Never.” He said that he’d figured that out too. “Then what is it that’s stopping you? Is it the job? I assure you, it’s nothing you can’t handle.”

“You’d be in charge of all the ranches in the area.” They both looked at Ed as he explained to Jace what the job was. “I’m setting up a group of farmers and ranchers that will basically be able to organize and help other ranchers when things are bad. Like last month when you and your brothers went to the winery over in the other county to help the family bring in the crops when Mr. Martin fell ill. Plow fields when a tractor goes bad. Even help get a family that is just starting out, or help one get back up on their feet. You would be in charge of deciding how much and how often someone gets a hand up.”

“We do that now. As much as we can.” Palmer nodded. “That’s not a job. That’s…well, that’s being a neighbor.”

“It is, but with you working for me, you’d have the funds to do more. Build a barn when one is needed. Put a roof on a home that has troubles. Help finance a tractor or a new piece of equipment that is in dire need of being replaced.” Palmer brought out the big guns and showed it to Jace. “Holly loves the idea. In fact, it was her idea to put you and Mason in charge of the group. She said that with your ability to turn something broken into a working piece of equipment and Mason’s natural charm, the two of you would be perfect.”

Jace nodded and grinned, but he still wasn’t convinced. Palmer looked at Ed when he cleared his throat. He didn’t look like he thought it was going to go. But before he could try harder, Jace spoke again.

“I’d have to talk to Holly. I mean, yeah, she might tell you that I’d be good at it, but she might have a different opinion when she sees what a mess the barns are, and the cattle.” He looked up at him. “The Carters are nice people, but they should be shot for what they did to that ranch. And those…I don’t think they’ve fed or milked the herd in over a week. They’re in pain, and I’m doing everything I can to get the milkers, which are about useless, up and running at our place right now, and haven’t had time to go and see to them.”

Palmer told him he’d call in some vets to help him. Jace didn’t even tell him no, and that’s when Palmer knew it was really bad. When pressed about it, Jace told him they’d be lucky not to lose the entire herd. The man looked heartbroken about it.

Jace left with the envelope to start his new job. He didn’t ask about his salary, and neither he nor Ed had remembered to mention it to him. As they watched him make his way back down the street, Palmer called his daughter and told her what had happened.

“I told you he’d not go for it right away. And I’m at the ranch now. Dad, you should see this house. It’s…they left food on the counters and the power is off, so everything in the refrigerator is smelling up the house. I’ve called in a cleaning crew and asked Marybeth to come out and help me too.” He asked her if Jace knew. “I was calling him when you called. He’s going to be so upset. I think he had such high hopes for this place.”

“The two of you will get it straightened out. Just let me know if I can do anything.” He listened to Holly talk about how badly the furniture smelled and that the carpets were full of holes. “I’m coming out there, honey. And if you talk to Jace, tell him to come as well. We might have to do some major shopping.”

“We’ll do it, Dad. It’s just…it’s so bad.” Palmer heard the tears in her voice and wanted to go and fix it for her. “Jace and I have to make some decisions about this house. I’m sure that he’s going to try and salvage as much as we can. But we might be better off rebuilding and....”

When she stopped talking, he felt his heart start to pound in his chest. Then she sobbed. He told Ed to come with him, that his little girl needed them, but the line went dead before he could ask her what was wrong. Damn it all to hell.

Palmer was calling Georgie when Jace called him. “Holly is fine. She’s just…. You’d better come out here. And bring the police. It’s…it’s bad, Palmer.”

~~~

Jace looked in the basement again before he closed the door and shut it out. Holly was on the porch with his aunt and the police were everywhere. He headed out on the back deck, or what was left of it, when Mason asked to speak to him.

“You can’t live here.” Jace nodded. “And I’m pretty sure even when they take the bodies out of here, you’re not going to want to live here either.”

“Holly wants to burn it to the ground.” Mason nodded. “I had no idea. I was…you should have heard me bitching about how bad of shape they’d left the place in. Who the hell did that to them?”

The Carters had been murdered, all of them. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had been shot in the head, and their two sons had been killed by other means and shot too. Jace hadn’t asked what that meant, but he knew that it had been a while since it had happened. He’d last talked to them over a month ago, when he’d first talked to them about buying them out.