Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“I T ’ S ALL MY FAULT ,” Bailey said as Stuart brought her another beer from the kitchen. “If I had gone to your father right away, the man’s wounds would have been fresh. Maybe he would have been caught.”

“You know that’s not necessarily true,” he said, taking his place on the couch. He’d hated having to tell her that they’d struck out. That he’d stuck out. He didn’t want her ever blaming herself. “You didn’t see his face. You couldn’t identify him. My father would have had to check every man who came to the barbecue, but with no evidence to demand. It’s not like he’d have a DNA evidence kit handy.”

“Still,” she said.

“You didn’t expect him to ever do this again. As time went by, even though you were still actively looking for him, he stayed hidden.”

“So why kill Willow?” she demanded. “Why come out of hiding now ? It has to be more than her change of hair coloring. He’d gotten away with what he’d done. Twelve years had gone by. He was safe. Why take a chance?”

Stuart didn’t know. “Maybe Willow triggered something because she looked so much like you at that age—and with your hair color. Maybe he couldn’t help himself. He’d gotten away with it once. He probably thought he could do it again.”

“He’d almost gotten caught and was definitely wounded enough that someone had to help him get away twelve years ago,” Bailey pointed out. “Maybe it scared him, but as time went on...” She shook her head. “None of it makes any sense.”

“I really doubt we will ever know what went on in the man’s head,” Stuart said, thinking about the woman who had almost killed him. “He’s obviously sick. Maybe he’d fallen for Willow—just as he’d fallen for you. Only this time, he was hoping he wouldn’t have to kill her. If he uses the branding iron to mark what he feels is his property, then why destroy that property?”

They fell into a tension-filled silence for a few minutes.

“We are no closer to finding him than I have been in the past twelve years,” Bailey said. “We know he’s still here since I got his message.” She sat up little, her eyes suddenly bright and shining. “What if we call him on it?”

“I’m not gambling with your life.”

As if not hearing him, she continued, “What if my father throws another barbecue and invites the same people?”

Stuart was on his feet. “Not a chance in hell. You’re talking about using yourself as bait.”

“I’m already bait,” she said. “This puts the ball in his court.”

“You’re confusing me with all these metaphors.”

She stood to face him, clearly excited. “Once he hears the news, he’ll get that I’m calling him out. He won’t do anything until the day of the barbecue. We’ll have control over when he is going to make his move.”

“You’re not giving him a lot of credit. What makes you think he’d fall for that?”

“Because of his arrogance, believing he can outsmart both of us. He has so far. Why wouldn’t he think he can do it again? He assumes we don’t have a clue who he is.”

“We don’t,” the sheriff pointed out. “I can’t let you do this.”

“You can’t stop me.” She stepped closer to put a finger over his lips before he could respond to that. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted to come to your bed at night?” He was taken aback for a moment by the change of topic. “I haven’t been with any man in all this time. I thought I’d never feel desire.” She met his gaze as her finger traced his lower lip before she moved her hand to cup his cheek. “I want you, Stuart Layton, but I can’t until I know this man is gone for good.”

He heard what she was saying. Not just caught, but dead. “Women have tempted me with sex before, Bailey, but not so blatantly.”

“I’m not talking just sex, Stuart, but I think you know that.”

The sheriff shook his head at even the idea of the two of them having the future he’d dreamed of. He’d be a fool to think it possible. Worse, he knew she was right. He couldn’t stop her. All he could do was try to keep her alive, whether they had a future together or not.

“If we don’t do this, then he could strike at any time. We offer the bait, he’ll come. This time we’ll know he’s coming and be ready.”

“As ready as we can possibly be at a big barbecue with over fifty ranchers and their wives there.”

She leaned into him. “But it will be worth it when it’s over.”

He wished he could believe that with all his heart. But she was right. She didn’t need his approval. Clearly, she’d already made up her mind. “Damn, woman, you drive hard bargain.”

She laughed and kissed him, hugging him as she looked into his eyes. “We can do this.”

He wished he had her confidence. They still had no idea who he was or if he’d fall for this. Even if he did, he couldn’t use the same ruse he had last time. They might not see him coming until it was too late.

The sheriff thought about the resignation letter still in his desk drawer down at the department. He’d had the nightmare again last night, reminding him that there was a very good chance he wasn’t up to this.

He looked into Bailey’s face and felt his heart float up as if filled with helium. He’d do anything for this woman, even die to save her.

It gave him an idea. He just hoped she’d go along with it. But first he had to drive down to the general store before it closed. “I have to run an errand, and then you and I are going out to dinner.”

“G O OUT TO dinner tonight?” Bailey said, already shaking her head. All this talk about the man and now the barbecue had drained her. She knew it was the only way to draw him out and get this over with one way or the other.

Not that she could say that to Stuart. He wanted to believe the best. Bailey didn’t think she’d ever been an optimist. After what had happened to her, she pretty much expected bad things to happen. Not that she could tell Stuart that either.

“We’re going out, you and me, on a date,” he said.

“A date?” she repeated. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been asked out, let alone gone out to dinner with a man. “Stuart—”

“At dinner, I’m going to tell you my plan.”

She started to groan because she knew he didn’t like the idea of the barbecue and her using herself as bait. Who would? But she wasn’t changing her mind, and he should know that about her by now.

“Trust me. My plan works with your barbecue plan.” Bailey highly doubted that.

He wasn’t gone long. Somehow he’d managed to get to a store before it closed, because when he walked in, he was carrying a plastic bag. “I bought you something to wear tonight.”

When he pulled out a yellow-and-white-checked sundress, she blinked in surprise, her gaze going from the dress to him. “Are you sure about this?”

“We’ve been hiding out here in my house long enough.”

She wanted to argue. Mostly, she wanted to curl up on the couch, drink beer and watch something mindless on the television, but she could see how much he needed this. He’d even bought her a dress to wear.

“Let me change,” she said, taking the dress from him. Seeing this side of Stuart warmed her in a way that also scared her. She hadn’t let herself think about the future, believing she didn’t have one once the man came for her.

Nor did she want to let herself dream now. It would have been too easy to see herself with Stuart for the long haul. Yet she felt a thrill of excitement at the idea of going on a date with him—even only as far as the local Cattleman Café.

T HE SHERIFF COULDN ’ T help being nervous as he and Bailey took the only empty booth at the café. “Busy night, huh, Penny?” Stuart said to the waitress after she told them the specials and asked for their drink orders.

It was dinnertime on a Saturday night and one of the reasons he’d insisted on dinner here tonight. He’d wanted them to be seen together. As they’d walked to their booth, he’d felt all eyes on them. He could imagine what the other patrons were thinking—if not saying. What an odd couple they made. He doubted anyone was thinking he and Bailey were perfect for each other, not that it mattered.

They both ordered the chicken-fried steak special. “Could we also have two empty glasses?” Stuart asked. The owner of the café allowed the less unruly patrons to bring in their own beverages on a Friday or Saturday night.

When he pulled out a bottle of red wine, Bailey’s eyebrow shot up. “Stuart?” she whispered, leaning toward him.

“Just go with whatever I do, okay?”

She laughed and looked at him warily as he opened the wine, one with a twist cap, and poured a little into each of the glasses Penny had brought them. He raised his glass in a toast. Bailey raised her glass too, her gaze locked with his.

“To the future,” he said, and saw her wince. “May it be everything I know it can be.” They clinked glasses, and he watched her take a sip of the wine, her eyes shiny, as he took a sip of his own, then put down his glass and got to his feet.

She looked at him in alarm. He could feel eyes on them as he dropped to one knee, making Bailey gasp, her eyes as wide as the café’s famous pancakes.

“Stuart?” she said again as he pulled a small, worn velvet box from his pocket.

“Bailey McKenna, you make my life so much more interesting. You make it worth living. Also, your father said he’d throw us a party, a barbecue to celebrate our engagement. I’ve always wanted to go to one of his barbecues.” That got a few chuckles from the crowd that seemed to be holding their collective breaths. “Marry me.”

For a moment, Stuart feared she’d get up and run out. Or just as bad, say no. Her gaze locked with his. “You’re serious?” No one seemed to be breathing, including himself, as he nodded and smiled. He figured at least a few of the crowd were taking bets on whether or not she would turn him down.

Tears filled her eyes. “Stuart Layton...yes, I’ll marry you.”

The full café erupted in applause and well wishes. He saw more than a few people taking photos with their phones. Everyone in the Powder River Basin would be talking about this by tomorrow morning.

“It was my grandmother’s,” he said as put the ring on Bailey’s finger. He wasn’t sure she’d heard because of all the noise around them. The café had taken on a party feel. He’d known it would fit, and it did.

Stuart rose, heart in his throat. He’d dreamed of this—the real thing, not a pretend engagement for a barbecue to draw out a killer. He wondered if Bailey would ever forgive him for springing it on her. But he’d needed her reaction to look as real as possible.

As he sat back down, he smiled at the people smiling at him and wondered how he’d ever be able to eat his meal when it came. He’d pulled this off, but at what cost? How could he ever ask Bailey to marry him for real now?

With a jolt, he was reminded why he was doing this. He would never have the chance to ask her for real if his plan didn’t work. It all hinged on keeping her alive. He looked across the table at the woman he loved. Bailey was staring down at the ring on her finger. When she looked up, her blue eyes shone with tears, but not of joy. Clearly, she didn’t like being surprised. She didn’t seem all that happy about being engaged either. He worried that she’d convinced herself she had no future. He hoped to hell he could change that.

He poured her some wine and himself more as well. “I’d let you do the toast, but I think it’s better if I do. To us, Bailey. Come hell or high water, we’re in this together.” He raised his glass. She did the same, clinking hers a little too hard.

They were engaged.

At least until after the barbecue her father was about to throw for them.