Riding for Love (A Western Romance) (24 page)

Denton realized how tense Eve was when she didn’t reprimand Snook when he grabbed another fry and swiped it through her ketchup.

“Why were you at his office all afternoon?” He smacked around the fry in his mouth.

“You following us, Snook?” Denton asked, wishing the man would just leave so he could ask Eve to marry him.

“No. Drove by his office as you came out.”

Eve sipped her malt. “The Nelson’s had some break-ins.”

Snook nodded. “Yeah, I saw the sheriff’s car at their place, too. But why go to his office?”

Denton hoped like hell Eve could lie herself through this one. If Snook knew his cousin at all, he’d be able to tell when she was lying by the way she wrapped her hair around her finger.

“He had a few more questions for me. Since I have a new group of riders coming today, he wanted to talk where I wouldn’t be interrupted every ten seconds.”

Denton wiped his hands on a napkin. “He didn’t want to scare away her clients away.”

“Why’d you go along?” he asked, pointing a fry at Denton.

“He thought since the problems started about the time I came back from California, maybe I had something to do with them.”

Snook slapped his hands on the table with laughter. “How great. Perfect Denton Johanson called in for questioning. I love it!” He wiped his eyes with a napkin and returned to the subject. “Any leads? Sheriff give you any names?”

“Why all the questions, Snook?” Denton leaned across the table and moved Eve’s plate away from him. He wished Eve could push the hypocrite out of the booth and onto the floor.

“Just looking out for my cousin.”

Denton held back his disdain for the man. If Snook had ever in his life looked out for Eve, it had to have benefited Snook.

“He ask about your old man?” Snook wiped his hands on his jeans.

Eve shook her head. “Should he?”

“I would. The timing’s perfect. Your old man gets out of the slammer just when everyone starts having problems on their places.”

“Did you talk with him recently?” Denton asked, moving his plate of fries out of Snook’s reach.

“Nah, not since I drove him out to the ranch to see you.” He reached across Eve, took one more fry from her plate, and slurped down the remainder of his soda.

Eve rolled her eyes at Denton. He remembered Snook had been a slob and obviously nothing had changed.

Snook slid out of the booth and stood. “Keep me up-to-date. Okay?”

Eve frowned. “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to tell you.”

“You know, if the cops find out who’s behind the break-ins or anything else.” He wrote his cell phone number on a napkin. “Call me if your dear old dad contacts you.”

“Uh, sure.” As he stepped away, she yelled out, “Snook” and smiled when he hesitated and curled his fingers into his palm before leaving the restaurant.

“The bastard got away without paying for his drink,” Denton muttered.

“And ate most of my fries.” She tore his number to shreds. “At least he didn’t get to my cheeseburger. I’d have had to cut off his hand.” She tossed her burger back on her plate. “What do you think he’s up to?”

“Beats me, but I think he knows more about the break-ins than he’s letting on.”

“Not to mention the drug thing. Do you think he’s watching the house?”

“He must be. How else was he aware the sheriff came to your house?” He popped the last bite of his burger into his mouth. “He’d be stupid not to.”

Eve chuckled. “Well, Snook is stupid, but not when it comes to saving his own neck.”

“I’ll call the sheriff and tell him Snook is following us.” He glanced at the bill and pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. After dropping some bills on the table, he stood. “Let’s go home. I have some protecting to do.”

“Is that what they’re calling it now?”

He opened the passenger door. “That’s what I’m calling it tonight.”

Chapter 23

The following week alternated between going too fast and too slow for Eve. She loved having Denton staying with her and their few times together sped by. Her clients kept her busy during the day, and Denton continued working on the family business, still trying to untangle the legal mess. In the evening, she prepared for the next day and tried to make sense of her bookkeeping while Dent worked on the upcoming trial. She enjoyed working close together, but her nerves were wound tight, and she jumped at every little noise. Even their nightly lovemaking didn’t relax her enough to allow her a good night’s sleep. Every little squeak or rustle had her searching for the cause of the noise.

She threw her pen across the desk. Denton set his papers on the floor next to the winged-backed chair tucked in the corner of her office.

“You okay?” he asked.

“How on earth can you ask? We’ve had no word from the sheriff or the feds in over a week. What’s taking them so long?”

“I imagine it takes some time to coordinate men to get here and do it without arousing suspicion. People would talk if a large group of men bearing badges and weapons suddenly took up residence in our one-motel town. That’s why they told us not to contact them or the sheriff.”

“I know.” She swept her hair behind her ears and sighed. “Not to mention the Hubers up and leaving Wednesday without even saying good-bye. I liked them and classes are too quiet with them gone.” She picked up her pen and took a sip of her wine. “I suppose if they didn’t like the service, I’ll need to refund their money.”

“I wouldn’t. They left without complaining, so I would say nothing was wrong. You shouldn’t be responsible for returning their money.”

Her nerves tight, Eve spilled wine down her sweatshirt when the phone rang. Her face turned white as she listened to the man on the other end. Denton stood when she placed the receiver in the cradle.

“That was Dan. He and the feds want to come to talk to us.”

“Tonight? What if we’re being watched?”

“We’re supposed to act amorous in front of the window, turn off all the lights, and unlock the side door. Then go upstairs, turn on the bedroom light for a few minutes, and turn it off.”

“So they want it to seem as if we retired for the night.” He stepped behind the desk and hugged her. “Sounds good to me.”

Eve moaned as his lips touched hers. “Don’t get too carried away. Spying eyes and all that,” she murmured against his mouth.

“Might be kinky.” Without releasing her, he circled the desk and drew the drapes closed. He made a show of kissing her again before shutting off the light.

Except for the stove light, which she always left on, she turned off the rest of the lights and went upstairs, Denton close behind.

After five long minutes, they turned off the bedroom light and headed back down the stairs.

“Why are we tiptoeing?” Eve asked as they moved silently down the stairs.

“I don’t know.” He chuckled. “Why are we whispering?”

“I don’t know, either. She put a restraining hand on his arm. “I think I hear someone at the door.”

Eve reached for the handle and Denton grabbed her. “Wait,” he whispered. “It may not be them.”

She stopped. For the second time she jumped when the phone rang and slapped her hand over her heart. “I don’t think I can take anymore of this.”

“Let it ring a couple of times, in case someone is listening. We’re supposed to be in bed, remember?”

After the third ring, she picked it up. “They’re coming in.”

A few moments later, the three agents and sheriff sat around the table. The stove light cast shadows, giving an eerie, maudlin setting to an already nervous group.

“Where’s Tom?” the sheriff asked.

Eve looked at him in surprise. “I don’t know. You didn’t tell me he needed to be here.”

John leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “We can’t wait for him, so let’s get started. He’s bound to show up. I understand your ranch will be empty this weekend. Is that right?”

Eve nodded. “We always close on Labor Day weekend. Most people have plans and with schools starting on Tuesday, there are never enough people to ride during the day to warrant staying open.” She picked at a napkin left on the table from supper. “By this time of the year, I need a break.”

“So it won’t be unusual for you not to be open this weekend?” Tim asked.

“No. Why?”

Something scratched at the door before he answered. The three men drew their guns, making Eve realize even more how serious the situation was. A few seconds later, Tom stepped into the kitchen.

“Did I miss anything?” He grabbed a cup and poured himself coffee.

“No,” John said. “We just got started. Did you see anything?”

Tom blew on the hot liquid and took a tentative sip. “Nothing. I don’t think they suspect anything, although I didn’t go beyond the little lake.”

Eve gasped. “Tom, you went out in the dark? What if they spotted you?”

“Believe me, I was extremely careful.”

“Why didn’t you send one of your men, John?” Denton asked.

“Tom being outside at night is not unusual, but if Snook or one of the other men caught a stranger lurking around . . . well, it wouldn’t be good.”

Tom nodded. “At least I could say I was trying to find a stray horse or something.” He moved his gaze between the agents and Eve. “So did you talk her into leaving tomorrow?”

“Not yet, Tom.”

He pointed his coffee cup at her. “Things might get dicey around here tomorrow afternoon. I want you to leave, Eve.”

“Is that when the raid is scheduled?” Denton asked.

“Yes,” Tim answered. “We need to go in before the trees drop their leaves and they harvest the crop.”

“Wouldn’t they get wary if I leave? I’m usually here on the weekends. Snook would think it strange if I didn’t take care of the horses. He probably knows I’m closed this weekend and no one else is here to feed them. He’ll get suspicious if he’s staking out the place.”

“If he’s even here,” Denton said. “I just want this whole thing over and Eve to be safe.”

“Oh, he’s watching all right. Based on what he said to the two of you last week, I’d say he’s got quite a handle on what goes on here, when you leave, where you go, and how long you’re gone.”

“Then for sure I need to stay. By now, he must know Denton is living here, so he and Tom can help me do chores, but we won’t exercise any of the horses. The weather calls for rain, so leaving them in the barn wouldn’t seem unusual.”

“I don’t like it,” Tom grumbled.

“If we leave and someone who didn’t realize we’re closed wants to take a trail ride, who is going to turn them away?” Eve countered. “Sometimes they bring their own horses. What if they show up and decide to ride, even if no one is here?”

Joe leaned back in his chair and raised his cup to his lips. “They’d do that?”

“It’s happened before. Some people don’t believe it’s trespassing if they’re on business property.” She leaned toward John. “Can you take the chance they might?”

Tom sighed. “I still don’t like it, but she has a point. A deserted ranch would be strange. At least we don’t need to worry about employees.”

“I can keep Al back at the house for protection,” John said.

“So two of us will be armed.”

John glared at Tom. “No guns, Tom. These guys are dangerous, and with millions of dollars at stake, they would shoot you in a flash.”

Tom leaned over the table and pointed his finger at the agent. “When me and mine are in danger, I will shoot them in a flash. So don’t tell me what I can or cannot do.”

“I’ll be armed,” Eve said.

“Me, too,” Denton added.

John threw his pen on the table and ran his fingers through his hair. “Son-of-a-bitch! I’ll say it again. No guns. If I see one gun in the hands of someone not wearing a jacket with FBI written on it, I’ll arrest them. I don’t care if you have a license or not. Let my men do their jobs without worrying about some hotshot shooting at them.”

John’s stare sent shivers down her spine and goosebumps rose on her arms. Her jaw was beginning to ache from clenching her teeth together.

“Have I made myself clear?”

Eve held her breath, wondering if Tom and Denton would agree. The last thing she needed was for them to be arrested when they weren’t even the bad guys. She relaxed when the two men finally nodded.

Obviously satisfied he’d made his point, John went on. “According to our surveillance, they eat lunch at noon. So we’re planning to go in about 12:30.”

Tim pulled out a notebook and glanced at his notes. “With full stomachs, their guard should be down. We’ve managed to find out about a big meeting scheduled for the morning, so we want to be able to get a bunch of them, including the leaders.”

“Snook, too?” Eve asked.

John nodded. “By the way.” He glanced at her. “Your father has been a helpful source of information.”

Denton grabbed the cup slipping from her hands.

“My father’s helped you?”

“We found him shortly after we met with you. We figured since Snook picked him up from prison, and your father lived with him a bit, he might get some info from your cousin. I guess with enough beers, your cousin is quite the talker.”

Eve shook her head. “Go figure.”

Tom patted her hand. “Does this change your feelings about him?”

“Not hardly. He probably got paid for his help.”

When no one answered, Eve looked at each agent. John fiddled with his wedding ring, Tim’s face turned red, and Al rubbed his nose.

“Thought so. My father never did anything without benefiting himself. Where is he now?”

John shook his head. “After getting his money, the idiot bought a car and drove to Milwaukee.”

“He’s not supposed to drive,” Eve said. “He’s on probation and after the accident his license was revoked.”

Tom leaned back in his chair and chuckled. “So he’s back in prison.”

“Exactly,” the agents said in unison, standing and pushing their chairs into the table.

“Make sure everything is locked up tight tonight and tomorrow, even when you’re in the barn doing chores,” John said. “I’m leaving Al here until this is over.”

“By the way,” Eve said, following the men to the door. “I was wondering how they’ve been getting on my land without being noticed.”

John put his cap on while the other men snapped up their jackets. “You know the county land next to yours? They’ve been using the snowmobile and ATV trails to get to your property. With all the other ATVs on the trails, no one became suspicious. Once they left public land, they managed to cover the trails onto your land.”

After the men left, Tom, Denton, and the agent checked all the doors and windows.

Tom grabbed his jacket.

Eve stopped collecting cups. “Where are you going?”

“I’m sleeping in the barn.”

“Why? I have enough room here.”

“If you want everything to seem normal, I can’t sleep here. Never have, but sleeping on the couch in the tack room is not unusual.”

She walked over and gave him a hug. “Please be careful.”

He hugged her back. “Unless Snook’s eyes are peeled on us, I’ll be fine.” He checked the clock on the wall. “Besides, by now he’s probably three sheets to the wind.”

Tom left the house and Eve turned her attention to the agent. “You can use the spare bedroom.”

Al chuckled. “As comfortable as a bed sounds, my career would be cut short if I fell asleep. I’ll stay down here and read a book. I’m used to all-nighters. Before you go upstairs, can you show me where you keep the coffee?”

Denton nodded, then took her hand. “Let’s go, hon. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

“Al, could you tell us if the Nelsons are aware of what’s happening?”

“Since the crop isn’t on their land, we haven’t said anything to them. Someone will go over in the morning and talk to them so no one decides to investigate the noise.”

“What kind of noise?”

“Helicopters, sirens.”

“Gunfire?”

“I sure hope not. Good night. Try to get some sleep.”