River strong, p.8
River Strong, page 8
“I have a big day as well. Just wanted to say thanks for the dinner. I’m so sorry I fell asleep. I thought we were going to...get together last night.”
“So did I. But clearly, you were exhausted.”
“I was and I’m not going to have gas station tacos at lunch anymore. They didn’t agree with me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I hope it wasn’t something I cooked.” She must think him a complete fool, but for now he would let her.
“Not a chance,” he said more jovially than he felt, given the sour taste in his mouth. “Got to go. Just wanted to hear your voice. Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
He disconnected, his pulse thundering in his ears. Abigail Creed had no idea who she was dealing with. But then again, neither did he.
CHAPTER EIGHT
OAKLEY AND HER sister rented the two-bedroom furnished apartment over the general store. She could tell that Tilly was heartbroken at the thought of never being allowed on the Stafford Ranch again. It had been her life—much more than it had ever been Oakley’s.
“Is that Cooper calling again?” she asked when her sister’s phone rang again. “You need to talk to him. I’m sure he’s worried.”
“It’s embarrassing to have a mother like her.”
“She definitely wears her bitterness on her sleeve. Answer the phone. I need to get going. For the time being, let Mother believe you’re staying here alone. I need to be able to come and go at the house—at least for a while.”
“Oakley, what are you planning?” her sister called after her.
“Call if you need me,” she hollered back and rushed out. Not even Duffy and Pickett knew what she had planned. She’d kind of hoped that she might hear from Pickett this morning. She knew it was wishful thinking. Nothing had really happened between them. So why did she feel that it had changed things between them?
As she headed back to the ranch, she passed her mother’s SUV. She saw no recognition, as if Charlotte Stafford was in her own world. It gave her pause as she wondered where her mother was off to. Oakley couldn’t imagine her leaving CJ unless it was very important. The staff was at the ranch if CJ needed something. Also, their brothers, Brand and Ryder, were somewhere on the ranch, but with their mother home again, Oakley was sure everyone was keeping his distance from the house.
Which meant CJ was alone.
She drove down the county road toward the ranch, anxious to have that long delayed talk with her oldest brother when their mother wasn’t there to protect him.
* * *
THE MOMENT COOPER heard that Charlotte and CJ were back, he’d wanted Tilly not to change her mind about coming with him to Oregon.
“I need to get this over with,” her fiancé had argued. “Mother wants to see me so she knows about the engagement. I’m sorry about the trip.”
He’d gone on to Oregon alone to pick up the bull, hating that she would have to face her mother alone. He’d tried to reach her repeatedly this morning. His calls went straight to voice mail. He couldn’t help being worried. They both knew Charlotte wasn’t going to be happy about the engagement.
He was about to leave another message when she picked up. “What’s wrong?” he asked at once, already hearing hurt in her voice. He groaned inwardly. “You’ve seen your mother.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Tilly,” he said, hearing so much in that one word.
“She kicked me off the ranch.”
“Where are you? I’ll come get you. I drove straight through and just got home. I didn’t want you to have to face your mother alone.”
“Oakley was there. We got an apartment over the general store in town for now—at least until the wedding.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “You know that wasn’t necessary. My father told you—”
“I know I’m welcome out on the McKenna Ranch, but I need this time. I have a wedding to plan.”
“So...we’re going through with a big wedding?”
“We most certainly are. That is, if you’re game.”
“You know I want what you want,” Cooper said and heard her fighting tears. “It will be the best wedding anyone in this county has ever seen.”
“Thank you,” she said through her tears. “I’m not going to let her ruin this for me, for us.”
“Good,” he said, hearing the pain in her voice and wishing there was something he could do to lessen it. But while confronting Charlotte might make him feel better, it wouldn’t help the situation. “Maybe she’ll come around.”
Tilly laughed. “We both know better than that. It’s better she won’t be at the wedding or CJ, either. Anyone who doesn’t support our love isn’t invited.”
“That’s my girl,” he said, hoping to lighten the moment. “When can I see you?”
“What are you doing right now?”
* * *
OAKLEY DIDN’T SEE anyone around as she parked in front of the ranch house. Her brothers Brand and Ryder wouldn’t be coming back until lunch—if that. The staff would be busy, always giving the family a wide berth when possible. With luck, she would have CJ all to herself.
As she climbed out of her pickup, she caught movement from the corner of her eye. She turned to stare at the guest room window, the curtains open, the sun glinting off the glass.
For just a moment, she thought she saw CJ standing there. She stared at the window and realized it had to have been a trick of the light because there was no one there. CJ couldn’t have been standing there watching her drive up because he couldn’t walk or stand, could he?
A little shaken, she hurried up the steps, across the porch and opened the front door. The house had felt oddly empty without her mother’s domineering presence during her absence. It felt even emptier knowing that she’d left CJ alone. What had been so important that her mother would do that?
“What are you doing here?”
CJ had startled her as she’d stepped into the living room. So he had seen her drive up.
“I thought you were in your room.”
A satisfied grin played at his lips as he saw that he hadn’t just surprised her. He’d startled her. He’d always like scaring her and Tilly with every gross thing he could find to shove into their faces.
There were cowgirls around who thought her oldest brother handsome. They only saw the chiseled face, the thick ash-blond hair, the green eyes. They didn’t see beneath the veneer or get a glimpse of the sneering, brittle coldness behind those eyes like Oakley did right now.
“I live here.” At least for a while. “Where’s your guard dog?” she asked as she took a step toward him. He’d never been able to intimidate her, even when they were little. She’d refused to cry when he’d hurt her. She’d learned early on not to go to their mother for help. CJ always lied and Charlotte always believed him over the rest of them. Her brothers had learned to keep their distance from CJ and still did. Since he never really “worked” the ranch, their paths seldom crossed.
The twinge from her gunshot scar should have been warning enough of how dangerous CJ had become since they were kids. But Oakley didn’t back down as she closed the distance between them, putting her hands on the arms of the wheelchair to lean her face close to his.
“I know you lied about the shooting,” she said. “I thought that with just the two of us here at the ranch you’d have the courage to admit the truth.”
His expression said it would be over his dead body. “How do I know you aren’t wearing a wire?”
She laughed. “I’m not, but you being worried that I am confirms what I’ve suspected. You have something big to hide that you’re terrified I’m going to remember, don’t you?”
“I’d be careful if I were you,” CJ said. “You shouldn’t go around making accusations without any evidence.”
She felt her scar pull with another warning. But that didn’t stop her. “Evidence? I know you meant to kill me and when I remember what we were both doing there that day, you’re going to be spending the rest of your miserable life behind bars.” She caught a satisfying glint of worry dim his gaze before she shoved from the wheelchair to walk away from him.
She could feel his gaze boring into her back. She couldn’t help thinking that turning her back on him was probably a mistake since last time he’d shot her when she had.
“I doubt anyone would believe you since you don’t remember anything about that day,” he said, attempting to sound unconcerned. “Our lawyer would say that you’re making it up because you’re angry at me for the accident.”
She turned slowly to smile at him. “Got it all figured out, have you? One problem. My memory is already starting to come back and when it does, I’ll know exactly why you are so terrified that I will remember. Then I’ll be coming for you because we both know the truth, even if you don’t have the guts to admit it to my face.” She put her hand over the scar so close to her heart.
With that, she turned and walked out. Behind her she heard him crash his wheelchair into the coffee table as he tried to come after her.
Just before she slammed the door, she heard him yell, “Next time I won’t miss!”
She was shaking by the time she reached her pickup. He’d confirmed what she already knew, but hearing the words come out of his mouth... As she started the engine, she glanced back at the house. She’d poked the bear, and everyone knew how dangerous that can be.
As she stared at the living room windows, she thought again of what she’d glimpsed in the guest room—what appeared to be her brother standing in front of the window. She knew from experience to expect the worst from her oldest brother. But if he’d recovered from his injuries, why would he be pretending he hadn’t? she asked herself as she drove away.
Not even CJ would stoop so low as to fake an injury that had him trapped in a wheelchair. Or would he?
CHAPTER NINE
CHARLOTTE DROVE INTO Powder Crossing determined she would talk to Inez Turner. The moment she drove up, though, the woman’s son came out and stood next to her car.
“No reason to get out of your car, Charlotte,” Bob said as she put down her window. “I know why you’re here, but you won’t be seeing my mother.”
“I’m sure Inez will see me.” She started to open her door, but he closed it again.
“Bob,” she said with more patience than she felt. “Your mother and I have known each other for years.”
“Everyone knows you, Charlotte.”
She gritted her teeth at what he was insinuating, but planted a smile on her face. “I know she must be worried about what will happen to her ranch once she’s gone.”
“Not really. We’ve discussed it at length.”
“Come on, Bob. I know you’re in a position where you have to sell the ranch. Your wife doesn’t want to live here, and you don’t, either. Not only that, think of what you can do for your family with that money. I’m offering more than the ranch’s value so you can avoid the hassle and expense of a real estate agent.”
“You really need to leave, Charlotte.” He turned on his heel, walking away, even as she was getting out of the car.
She started to follow him, but when he reached the front door, he made a show of locking it behind him.
Her face flushed with anger. What a fool. He couldn’t treat her like this. If she didn’t need that piece of property, she would walk away and not come back.
Climbing into her SUV, she sat for a moment, fuming. Bob had always been a wuss. Inez had been the strong one. There had to be a way to get around him to his mother.
A thought struck her. What about that new nurse in town? Brand had kind of been interested in her until it became clear that she was only interested in the sheriff. What was her name? It started with an A, an old name like Angela. Abby. Abigail. That was it.
But getting to Inez before she kicked off wasn’t the only problem. There’d been so many unforeseen expenses with Oakley’s accident and then CJ’s. The specialists for his care were costly enough, not even counting the lawyers she’d had to hire to keep him out of jail and attempts to get the case against him thrown out. Plus installing the ramps and other construction costs for the additions that had been made to accommodate his injury. CJ owed her big time.
Because of all of it, she was going to have trouble making an offer larger than Holden McKenna’s. But she’d be damned if she wouldn’t hock everything, including the ranch if it came to that. She had to have the Montana 360 Ranch. Realizing that Inez could go at any time, she had to contact that nurse.
With a start, she’d forgotten that there was one sure-fired way to get more money and quickly. She’d move forward with drilling more coalbed methane wells on the ranch as CJ had been encouraging her to do.
As a passing thought, she briefly considered how the rest of what was left of her family would take the news—especially Oakley. Then she reminded herself that she was running this ranch and she would run it as she saw fit. She put in a call to Douglas Burton to contract more wells before she went looking for Abigail.
The nurse wasn’t working at the small hospital today. In fact, they said she wasn’t working for the next few days unless there was an emergency.
It didn’t take much after that to find out where she was living. The house was small, tucked behind the hospital on the edge of town. Luck was with her. The nurse’s car was parked next to the house. But when Charlotte knocked, it seemed to take longer than it should have to get the woman to answer the door. Not that she was about to give up until she talked to her.
“Mrs. Stafford,” Abigail said in surprise as she finally opened the door little more than a crack.
“We need to talk,” Charlotte said impatiently, seeing that the woman wasn’t anxious to let her in.
“If this is about CJ’s injuries—”
“Are you going to leave me standing out here in the street?” she demanded.
Abigail seemed to realize that she wasn’t going away and swung the door open wider. “Why don’t you come in.”
Stepping into the neat little house, Charlotte wondered what the woman had to hide. Something, that was obvious. A man? Possibly. The bedroom door was closed. So was the bathroom door. But why hide anyone unless she didn’t want someone else knowing who she’d been with? Then again, maybe it wasn’t a man the woman was hiding.
She shoved all thought of Abigail’s secrets away as she turned to her. A young woman with secrets was often vulnerable—and ultimately for sale. “Are you involved with hospice and Inez Turner?”
“No.”
“Can you be?” she asked. “Offer to help? Get inside? Find out if she is well enough to sign something?”
Abigail blinked. “What exactly are you asking me to do?”
Charlotte heard it in the young woman’s voice. She’d already taken the bait; all Charlotte had to do was set the hook. “I need Inez to sell me her ranch.” She reached into her purse and pulled out the buy-sell agreement she’d had drawn up on her computer before going to the Turner house this morning.
The nurse didn’t look shocked in the least. Charlotte recognized the expression and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it more than worth your time and effort. All you have to do is get into that house. Something tells me you can get to Inez if you put your mind to it.”
* * *
NEWS OF CHARLOTTE STAFFORD’S return swept the county. Holden hated that some people were saying that she and her son were getting what they deserved.
He wasn’t surprised when Bob Turner called. “Charlotte came by demanding to see my mother.” He could hear the anger in the man’s voice. “Everyone else has been kind enough to leave my family in peace during this difficult time, you included. I just wanted to thank you for that. If Charlotte comes back, I’m calling the sheriff.”
Holden realized that Bob wasn’t just calling to thank him for not trying to convince Inez to sell him the ranch from her deathbed. He wanted him to keep Charlotte from coming back. The thought almost made him laugh. He’d never had any control over the woman—even when they were lovers. She’d been what his father had called a dangerous headstrong wild horse. Charlotte was the kind of woman no man could rein in—let alone break to ride. It was one reason his father had been so adamant against him wanting to marry her—and not just because she had such a small ranch to bring to a marriage. Holden had said he didn’t give a damn about any of that until his father and grandfather had threatened to send him packing without a penny if he didn’t marry Margie Smith.
He’d been young and foolish and madly in love, but a part of him had known that the threat was real. Kicked off the ranch without a penny, Holden had feared that Charlotte would no longer want him. It had been that fear more than anything that had led him to the altar with Margie. He’d told himself he had no choice.
Margie came with a ranch that connected on the west side of their own and was a good, kind woman who’d given him four children. He’d loved her.
But never like the way he had loved Lottie. She was the love of his life—and the thorn in his side.
“Bob,” he said now. “As far as Charlotte, you know my telling her to stay away would only make things worse. But I do want to talk to her about the two of us going together and making an offer on the land, splitting it since your ranch borders both of ours. Would you consider not selling until I talk to you about it?”
The man sounded relieved. “Thank you, Holden, because right now I’d rather sell it at a loss than deal with that woman. Truthfully? My mother hasn’t made up her mind completely. She might go for something like that if the idea is coming from you.”
