Josh (27 page)

C
ole stepped from the barn and into the blinding blizzard. The same storm that had blanketed the mountains had now descended to rage around their ranchland, the snow piling up faster than the crew could remove it. The only thing to do now was to handle indoor chores until the storm passed and they could begin the cleanup.

He walked into the mudroom and hung his wide-brimmed hat and parka on pegs by the door before prying off his dung-spattered boots and hosing them down. Then he rolled up his sleeves, moved to the big sink, and began scrubbing. He snatched up a towel and dried before tossing it into a basket.

He was just walking into the kitchen where the rest of the family had gathered for lunch, when his cell phone rang.

He flipped it open. “Cole Conway.”

“Cole. Everett Fletcher.”

Cole noted the gruff tone that indicated this was a business call, not a personal one. “Hey, Chief. What’s up?”

“Just got a call from the state boys. As I explained to Big Jim, I’d asked them to track Sebastian Delray.”

“Right.” Cole pulled out his chair and settled himself at the table as Phoebe and Ela began serving up platters of steaming beef stew and crusty rolls still warm from the oven.

After a morning round of chores, Cole’s stomach was grumbling. He switched his phone to speaker and set it on the table to free his hands before reaching for a platter and filling his plate.

The chief’s voice could be heard clearly by everyone around the table.

“Chalk it up to my years of dealing with bad guys. When Delray showed up at my office after I contacted his lawyer in Paris, he played it very cool. He was all stiff and formal and polite, but I could see the absolute fire in his eyes when I presented him with Ms. Moore’s restraining order. He reminded me of a guy just itching for a down-and-dirty fight. I had a hard time accepting the fact that he would meekly head home without the opportunity to face her and unload all that fury and frustration.”

“Yeah. I had a hard time swallowing it, too. It seemed almost too easy. But you said the state police saw him leave.”

“Yeah. That’s why I asked them to track him for the complete flight. Since there was a scheduled change of planes in San Francisco, I wanted to be sure he didn’t pull a fast one there, so the state boys alerted the California guys.”

“And…?” Cole prompted.

“The passenger continued on to Paris.”

“That’s good to kno—”

“But my gut was correct. It wasn’t Delray.”

Cole’s head came up sharply.

The movements of the rest of the family seemed to freeze in midair. Even Ela, pouring coffee, sloshed some over the rim of the cup before setting the carafe down with a clatter.

“What’s that supposed to mean, Everett?” Big Jim’s voice rolled around the room like a thunderclap.

They heard the chief suck in a deep breath before saying, “When the authorities in Paris checked the identification of the passenger claiming to be Sebastian Delray, they discovered it was one of the wranglers from the Brady ranch. Vic Bremmer’s a tall, good-looking guy with black hair, going gray at the temples. He claims he was approached by a stranger in the saloon who offered him five thousand dollars to use the stranger’s ID to fly to Paris. The guy said he was playing a joke on a buddy. All the wrangler had to do was land in Paris, call a number, and say, ‘I’ve landed.’ Then he could either stick around and see the sights of the city, or fly back home and bank the money. Either way, the wrangler figured it was too good to pass up, so he agreed. When the authorities checked the number he was given, it turned out to be Delray’s cell phone here in this country. It was probably his cue that his little plan had worked, and the wrangler had landed in Paris.”

Big Jim broke in to ask curtly, “Where is Delray now, Everett?”

Another long, deep sigh. “That’s the million-dollar question. He hasn’t been spotted since pretending to leave
for that flight to Paris. His cell phone isn’t sending out a signal. I figure he discarded it as soon as he got the call. But now that we know about his little scheme, it’s just a matter of time before we find him. In the meantime, as long as Ms. Moore stays there with all of you, I can breathe easy knowing that she’s safe while I do my job.”

Cole’s tone was as weary as the police chief’s. “Sierra isn’t here, Chief. Neither is Josh.”

Everett Fletcher’s voice sharpened. “Where are they?”

“Somewhere on the mountain. They left right after they heard that Delray was gone.”

The chief swore. “Okay. I’ll call Josh right away to warn him. As soon as they get their hides back to your place, see that they don’t leave until this matter is resolved.”

“Have you looked outside your window, Everett?” Cole pushed aside his chair and walked to the windows, staring bleakly at the clouds hiding the mountain peaks in the distance. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of a blizzard.”

“I know. I know. I’ll call you right back.”

After the chief rang off, the family members pushed aside their plates, their meal forgotten.

Just as they began to voice their concerns, Cole’s cell phone rang again.

He glanced at the number before saying, “It’s Everett.” He turned on the speaker, and the chief’s voice filled the room.

“No signal. That means they’ve climbed too high, or it may be because of the storm. Whatever the reason, I believe they’re in grave danger. And the worst part is, if we aren’t able to make contact with them to warn them about Delray, they won’t even know they’re in danger.”

“We’ll keep trying on this end.” Cole glanced around at his family, whose faces reflected the seriousness of the suddenly grave situation. “We won’t be able to take up the plane until this storm passes. How about the state police helicopters?”

“They’ll be grounded as long as the snow continues. But you can be assured that as soon as the weather clears, they’ll be up and searching. In the meantime, I’ll alert the rangers.” He paused a beat before saying, “Josh has faced plenty of dangerous situations in the past, Cole. He’s smart and strong and cautious, and he knows those mountains better than anyone.”

“I know that.” Cole’s voice lowered with emotion. “But it seems to me that Sebastian Delray has put a lot of planning into this. It doesn’t sound like just a guy who wants to take back his woman. It sounds like this has become something bigger.”

“I agree.” The police chief’s voice thickened. “This has become a game of revenge. And since Delray has already crossed a line, he doesn’t care how many more laws are broken. I’d bet all my money on the fact that he’s playing for keeps.”

“There has to be something we can do.” Jake was nervously pacing.

“Look out the window.” Quinn stood watching the snow. “Until that storm blows over, we wouldn’t get past the barn.”

Phoebe and Ela, needing to be busy, silently cleared the table and began tidying the kitchen. Phoebe scrubbed the table, the stovetop, the counters, viciously rubbing at every little spot. Old Ela was on her hands and knees,
erasing any marks on her already spotless floor. It had always been their way of coping with stress. Big Jim headed for the back door.

Cole swung around. “Where’re you going?”

“Out to the barn. I need some thinking time.”

“Don’t you even think about trying any heroics.” Cole’s voice was rough with emotion.

Big Jim opened his mouth, but no words came out. Then, thinking better of it, he swung away and slammed out of the house. Minutes later he could be seen, bent nearly double against the swirling snow, heading toward the barn.

Cheyenne stood beside Quinn, her hand squeezing his, her gaze fixed on the snow falling on the mountain peaks in the distance.

So close, and yet so far.

It was the thought that tantalized all of them, and had terror constricting their hearts.

“Oh, Josh.” Sierra stepped out of a wooded area and came to an abrupt halt. She was standing on a promontory that overlooked the land below, which was shrouded in snow.

As Josh stepped up beside her she finished snapping off several shots before turning to clutch his arm. “It’s so beautiful.”

He chuckled and forced himself to put aside the nagging little worry that had plagued him throughout their climb. “Do you know that you’ve said that at least a thousand times today?”

“Have I?” She joined his laughter. “But just look at it. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than this?”

He stared around at the land, wearing a blanket of hazy white. Then he lifted a hand to her face and brushed away the snowflakes that frosted her lashes. “I’ve looked down from this very spot a hundred times or more. In July, when everything shimmered in blistering heat, and in February, when the land seemed touched by the hand of some mad scientist that had frozen everything in place. And I have to admit, I’ve never seen it look lovelier. So take a bow, Ms. Moore. You have to be the reason why everything seems so awesome.” He framed her face with his hands and kissed her. “It’s because you’re so awesome.”

He took the kiss deeper, letting himself sink into all that sweetness.

She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re not bad yourself, cowboy.”

“Not bad?” He lifted his head. “Lady, if we were back at camp, I’d show you just how good I am.”

She dragged his head down for another kiss. Against his mouth she whispered, “Who says we need camp?”

He gave a growl of laughter and began nibbling his way across her chin and down her throat.

The wind picked up, sending a spray of snow into their faces. With a knowing smile he led her into the shelter of a stand of evergreens and, cushioning their bodies with his parka, they gave into a passion as raw and primitive as their surroundings.

Josh lifted a hand to Sierra’s cheek. “I love the way you make love with me,”

“And I love—”

A movement distracted her and she looked beyond him before whispering, “Look.”

He turned to see a doe and her yearling stepping into the shelter of the trees.

For long moments the two deer merely stared at the humans. Then, as silently as they had appeared, they walked away and faded into the surrounding woods.

Sierra’s voice was a hushed whisper. “Wasn’t that magical?”

“Yeah.”

“I think it’s a sign of some sort.”

Josh touched a finger to her lips. “A sign?”

“You know.” Sierra’s voice remained hushed. “As though the gods are smiling down on us.” She turned to him. “Maybe I’m really a mythical goddess who was sent on a mission from some mystical kingdom to find the perfect man.”

He couldn’t help laughing. “And that doe and her fawn are really mythical creatures telling you that you’re wasting your time with some Wyoming cowboy, when you ought to be out there in the big world looking for Mr. Perfect?”

She joined in his laughter. “Maybe. Or maybe they’re here to tell me that I’ve already found him.”

“Now, that’s the ending to the story that I really like.” He sat up and reached for his parka, wrapping it around her for warmth. “Right now, Mr. Perfect says the mythical goddess had better get some clothes on, or she’s apt to get so cold she turns to stone. That wouldn’t be a very good ending to your fairy tale.”

Their laughter rang on the air as they fumbled with their clothes.

As Sierra reached for her parka, she paused to pick up a heart-shaped rock the size of her palm that had been
buried beneath the fir branches. “Josh, look. Look at the shape of this.” She held it out to him. “The mythical goddess has just found her heart. And she is presenting it to her very own Mr. Perfect.”

He made a great show of accepting it. “Mr. Perfect thanks you.” With a smile he tucked it into the breast pocket of his parka. “I’ll keep it forever next to my heart as a reminder of this momentous occasion.”

“See that you do. If you should ever remove it, you’d be removing my heart as well.”

As they started to leave the shelter of the trees, Josh drew her back for another long, slow kiss.

“Umm.” Her voice was a purr of pure pleasure. “That was nice.”

He smiled down at her. “I just figured, since I don’t have a magical heart-shaped rock to give you in return, I’d leave you with a kiss to remember me by. In case the gods decide to haul your magical hide back to your heavenly kingdom while my back is turned.”

“Good thinking, cowboy. That way, if I ever get another chance at earth, I’ll be tempted to look you up.”

He caught her hand and pointed to a herd of deer that had just stepped out into the clearing. “Better get a photo of your heavenly angels.”

He was smiling as he watched her frame the shot and continue photographing until the herd spotted them and moved silently into the surrounding woods.

He loved watching her work. She poured herself into it the same way she poured herself into their lovemaking. With her complete attention.

He’d had his share of women, both friends and lovers. But he’d never known a woman like Sierra, who was so
generous with her love and so attentive to even the smallest details.

Like the stone heart. He touched a hand to his chest and could feel it there, already warmed by his body heat, its presence reminding him of her vivid imagination, no doubt fueled by a love of magic and mythical tales.

There was a sweetness, a goodness to this woman that touched his heart in a way that no one else ever had.

She’d made this hike to the place he considered his own special part of the mountain, a trip that he would remember forever.

No matter where her life, her career, took her in the future, he would always be able to return to this place and feel her here. And when he looked around at the beauty that surrounded him here, he would be seeing it through her eyes.

She made everything brighter, and better, and magical. And though he could no more hold her here than he could hold captive a beautiful butterfly, he knew that when she left him and moved on with her life, his grief would be deep.

And his loss unbearable.