Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

A FTER H OLDEN LEFT , Stuart tried to phone Bailey. The call went straight to voicemail again. He didn’t leave a message because he wasn’t sure what to say. She was right. Why tell him anything? He no longer felt he could do his job. Better to let people more qualified solve Willow’s murder and get her justice.

Yet he kept thinking about Bailey and what would happen to her after he quit and left town. That look on her face. She’d understood what had happened to Willow. But how? The cop in him needed to know the truth–even as he feared what she might tell him.

At his office, he picked up his resignation from his desk and stuffed it into a drawer. He hated the sight of it, knowing that he’d let Bailey down. He swore. The woman expected too much of him. Did he really think he could keep playing this cat and mouse game with her? He didn’t just want to be her friend. He loved her. He wanted her. If he couldn’t have her, then he had no choice but to leave town.

Not that he didn’t try calling her again. This time, he left a message. “I’m still the sheriff. I need to talk to you. I need the truth, and damn it to hell...” He disconnected. He wouldn’t turn in his resignation yet. What was a few more days? Meanwhile, he’d do his job. He checked in with the state crime team. Nothing on the boot print or the trash picked up along the river where the body was found.

So far, they had no idea where Willow was abducted. He called her boss at the hotel, got her schedule. Willow had worked that day until four, when she’d left, her boss assumed, to go home. She rented a small house outside of town, lived alone, and had been an exceptional employee. Stuart got the address, thanked her distraught boss, and hung up.

He called the state crime boys, passed along that information, and tried Bailey again without any luck. Opening his desk drawer, he took out his resignation for a moment, but quickly put it back as Bailey’s brother Cooper filled his office doorway.

“Buy you an early lunch?” Cooper had been his best friend, off and on, over the years. They’d had their problems but had managed to stay friends. Stuart realized how much he was going to miss him.

His stomach growled, reminding him how little he’d eaten in the past few days. “You bet,” he said, and reached for his Stetson.

“To what do I owe this honor?” he asked later when they were seated in a booth at the café. They’d ordered, not bothering to look at their menus. After all this time, they knew the menu at the Cattleman Café by heart since it hadn’t changed in years.

“Haven’t seen you for a while,” Cooper said, studying him openly. “How are you doing?”

Sometimes it slipped his mind, nearly dying from all the stab wounds. Not often, but the past few days, it had. “I’m doing okay.” It was almost true.

His best friend shook his head. “You don’t look okay.”

“What do you expect?” Stuart snapped. “I have a murder on my hands and—” He almost voiced his concern about Bailey but stopped himself as he raised his gaze to Cooper’s. He lowered his voice even though there was no one sitting close by. He swallowed. “I’m thinking about quitting.”

“You’ve been thinking about that for years,” his friend said. “Why now?”

He shook his head and looked away. “I’m not sure I’m up to it anymore.”

Cooper sat back. “No one would blame you after what you’ve been through.”

Someone would , he thought as he remembered Bailey’s reaction.

The waitress brought their burgers, fries and colas. They ate in silence for a few minutes.

“Would you leave town?” Cooper finally asked between bites.

Stuart nodded without looking at him.

Putting down his burger, his friend asked, “Does this have anything to do with my sister?”

He thought about pretending he didn’t know what Cooper was talking about but saved his breath. “It might.”

Cooper shook his head and let out a curse. “Why do you always pick the wrong woman?”

The sheriff laughed since this had become a running joke between them. “You know me.”

“Yeah, I do,” his friend said, suddenly serious. “You’ve had a crush on Bailey from as far back as I can remember.”

“Sad, isn’t it,” Stuart joked as he picked up a fry and popped it into his mouth. He could see where he’d tried to substitute other women for her, and look how that had turned out.

“What’s sad about it is my sister. Bailey’s messed up.” Stuart nodded, unable to argue that. He feared it was much worse than anyone knew. “I don’t want you to leave, but it’s slim pickin’s in the Powder River Basin. Any woman with a brain gets out of here as quickly as she can. If you’re serious about quitting...”

“I’ve already written up my resignation. I just haven’t turned it in.”

Cooper looked surprised. “I suppose you told Bailey how you feel?”

“She knows I’m resigning.”

His friend shook his head. “Not about you resigning, about how you feel about her. You haven’t, have you.” He let out a curse. “I’m sorry, but there is no way you should leave town without telling her. You owe it to yourself and to her. She might surprise you. Or not.” His laugh was sad. “You do realize that no one would wish Bailey on you, including me as your friend.”

Stuart smiled and nodded.

“I left for two years, but I had to come back,” Cooper said.

“Your father owns one of the larger ranches in Montana.”

“That wasn’t why I came back, and you know it. Maybe you just need a change of scenery, and you’ll come back like I did.”

Stuart chuckled at that. “Seriously, you had a ranch and family to come back to. If I leave, I won’t have anything to come back to.”

“Except your best friend.”

He nodded. “I will miss you.” As he said it, he realized Cooper was about all he would miss—other than Bailey. Powder Crossing had some bad memories he’d gladly leave behind.

T ILLY S TAFFORD M C K ENNA stood in front of the hall mirror, her hand over her baby bump. She wanted to pinch herself, but it would probably make her throw up. She was having a baby! She should have been jumping up and down with excitement. She and Cooper, the love of her life, were having a baby!

If not for the almost constant nausea— morning sickness my foot!—she would have been working on the baby’s nursery or going to Billings with friends to ooh and ahh over cute baby clothes. Instead, she kept waiting for this part to end.

And feeling sorry for herself, as her younger sister had pointed out when she’d shown up on her doorstep.

“I can’t believe Mother hasn’t come back,” Oakley said, her gaze going to the baby bump. “She wouldn’t want to miss this.”

Tilly’s throat tightened, and all she could do was nod and invite her sister inside. When she was being truthful, she knew it wasn’t only the nausea that had her feeling bad. This wasn’t the way she’d pictured being married, pregnant and about to have her first child. Had she not fallen in love with Cooper McKenna, the son of her mother’s worst enemy, maybe things would have been different.

“So, you’re telling me you haven’t heard from Mother?” Oakley asked as Tilly followed her into the kitchen and watched her check the cookie jar. Oakley was always hungry.

“I haven’t seen her since my wedding.” Their mother, Charlotte Stafford, matriarch of the Stafford Ranch, had at least attended the wedding. Coming in at the last minute and leaving the moment the pastor had declared her and Cooper man and wife. The Stafford and McKenna families had been at war for years because of her mother’s and Holden’s long-ago love affair that had ended badly.

“But you talked to Mother before she left,” Oakley prodded, opening the refrigerator to look inside.

“Just to thank her for trying to help when Holly Jo was missing.” Holly Jo Robinson was Holden McKenna’s thirteen-year-old ward. “I thought Mother would want to be here for this,” Tilly said.

“Well, you have me,” Oakley said, closing the refrigerator with a sigh.

Right, she had her sister, who didn’t want to hear anything about babies. Oakley had recently gotten married and was more interested in long horseback rides with her husband, Pickett Hanson. The whole pregnancy thing with its bodily issues grossed her out, she said.

Just then, Tilly had to run to the closest bathroom to throw up.

“Don’t you bake anymore?” Oakley called from the other room. “All you think and talk about is babies. Have I told you how not fun you are anymore?”

Had she ever really been fun? Tilly wondered as she rinsed her mouth with mouthwash. She had thought that she’d be sharing all of this with her sister and mother.

“Where do you think Mother went?” Oakley asked as she came out of the bathroom. “Do you think she’s ever coming back?”

“I have no idea. I’ve tried calling her cell phone number. It goes straight to voicemail. I’m worried about her. What if something has happened to her?”

“Charlotte Stafford? Seriously?” Oakley laughed. “If it was anyone else, maybe you would worry. But not about our mother. I’m sure she’s fine, though she was acting strange before she left. Can you believe she left the house for Holden and family to live in after the fire destroyed the one at McKenna Ranch? The man she has despised all of our lives? Something must have happened to make her do that. Maybe a heart transplant.”

“Ha,” Tilly said. “Maybe she was tired of being bitter about Holden breaking her heart.”

“Or maybe she was running away from all her lies,” Oakley said. “Do I have to remind you of even half the things our mother has done—not to mention our brother CJ?”

“No, please don’t. I’ll admit, it’s been a lot more peaceful without either of them around.” Tilly’s hand went to her stomach again. She felt the flutter of movement and smiled through tears she hadn’t realized she’d cried. “But I’m pregnant. Why wouldn’t she want to be here for me?”

“Not the waterworks again,” Oakley said with a groan. “Really, sis, you’re convincing me to put off baby making as long as possible.”

“Doesn’t Pickett want children?”

“We both do, but not yet. I want more time alone with my husband.”

Tilly realized with a start that her sister always avoided her gaze when she talked about her and Pickett having children. Had they been trying and failing? Was there more going on than she’d realized?

“Wasn’t that awful about Willow?” Oakley said, changing the subject. “I suppose you heard that Ralph Jones thought at first it was Bailey.”

Yes, Tilly had heard that. “They did resemble each other, especially after Willow went back to her natural color hair.” She thought about asking her sister about her suspicions, but let it go. Oakley would eventually tell her what was going on with her and Pickett if there was anything to tell. Maybe.

“And Bailey is like an alley cat prowling around at night,” Oakley said of Tilly’s sister-in-law. “What is the deal with her anyway?”

She shook her head. Oakley was still living on the McKenna Ranch in Pickett’s cabin until her and Pickett’s house was finished. “I never saw much of her, especially after the fire, when all of us were living at the Stafford Ranch while the house was being rebuilt. Cooper says she’s always been like that, but I know Holden worries about her. I’ve always suspected she has a secret lover. Does she even date?” Oakley walked over to gaze out the large picture window overlooking the McKenna Ranch land.

“Not that I know of.” Tilly wanted to change the subject, feeling uncomfortable talking about her sister-in-law.

“I always thought she and Stuart would get together,” Oakley said dreamily.

“What? Why?” Not that long ago, Tilly had dated Stuart. She definitely didn’t want to talk about Bailey and Stuart. “If you aren’t really worried about Mother, there must be another reason you stopped by?”

“Oh yeah,” Oakley said, turning to look at her again. “I want to throw you a baby shower. If that doesn’t get Mother home, at least it will make her aware you’re pregnant.”

Tilly felt that sharp pinch of pain that brought tears to her eyes. “I wish she wasn’t the way she is.”

Oakley laughed. “Don’t we all. Are you sure Elaine doesn’t know where she is?” As the McKenna housekeeper and head cook, and Holden’s confidant, she always seemed to know what was going on—at least at the ranch.

“Why would she know?” Tilly asked in surprise. “Elaine got Mother to help her one time, but that was all.”

“Well, I saw Elaine and Mother down by the creek before Mother left town. I think they’re actually friends.”

Tilly rolled her eyes. “I can’t imagine that.” Nor could she imagine Stuart with Bailey. “You’ve always had an overactive imagination.”

Oakley shrugged. “I know what I saw, and one time I saw the sheriff with Bailey.” She nodded her head, smiling. “When you think about it, those two might just be made for each other.”

Tilly shook her head, remembering Stuart’s reaction when she’d broken things off and started hanging out with his best friend, Cooper McKenna, her now-husband. She’d reminded Cooper once about how strange the sheriff had behaved. The two best friends had almost come to blows, their friendship nearly lost forever.

“Stu was in a bad place back then,” Cooper had said, brushing it off. “A lot has happened since then. I heard he’s been seeing a therapist. He seems better, more like his old self.”

Tilly remembered the darkness she’d glimpsed in the sheriff—along with the anger. It had frightened her. She thought of the darkness and anger in her sister-in-law, Bailey. Is that why Oakley thought they were perfect for each other?

Tilly couldn’t help but wonder what those two kinds of powerful dark energy could become if brought together. Sounded dangerous to her.

O N HER WAY to Billings, Bailey hadn’t gotten far out of Powder Crossing when she picked up the tail. A gray SUV had pulled in behind her as she’d left town, but it hadn’t tried to catch her. Instead, it hung back, matching her speed a quarter mile or so behind her.

After what had happened with the female officer the last time she’d tried to leave town, she felt a sliver of fear pierce her already pounding heart. She glanced at the road ahead, seeing no other vehicles and knowing that she might not for miles. She began to drive faster. So did the vehicle behind her. The driver kept the same distance between them—at least for now.

Call Stuart. She balked at the idea. By now he would have resigned, she told herself. Unfortunately, she’d learned the hard way she couldn’t always take care of herself. The fact that she needed Stuart rankled. But she also knew he was one of the few people she could trust.

The call went to voicemail. She had no choice but to leave a message, hoping he checked it soon. Unfortunately, from experience she knew that she might lose cell service soon. Once she topped the upcoming hill, she wouldn’t be able to get coverage until she was closer to Billings.

She’d taken the shortcut road as she always did to get to Montana’s largest city. So she knew that for miles there was nothing but open country, badlands and little to no traffic. It was why she always came this way.

Except today she regretted it as she looked back to see the car still behind her. She called and left another message. “I’m being followed on the shortcut road to Billings. I’m going to drop back and see if I can get a license plate number.” She disconnected. —if she could get it.

She still held out hope that the car following her was only someone else from the Powder River Basin headed for Billings on the same road. Except that this wasn’t the first time she’d been followed.

But it might be the last, she thought as she waited until the vehicle behind her disappeared around a curve. She hit her brakes, pulling quickly off the road behind a large stack of hay. She would be able to see the car that had been following her when it went past, but the driver wouldn’t be able to see her. At least until he realized he’d lost her.

Bailey waited, heart in her throat. She didn’t have to wait long.

A FTER HIS MEAL with his good friend, Stuart returned to his office more determined than before to give his notice. He sat down behind his desk and pulled out his resignation. That’s when he realized that he’d turned off his phone. As soon as he turned it back on, he saw that he had two messages from Bailey. He swore as he listened to her voicemails, especially the last one.

He checked the time of the calls. Not that long ago. He stood, reached for his Stetson and headed for the door. A text from Bailey came through on his phone. A Montana license plate number.

At his computer, he quickly ran the plate. “What the hell?” he said, shocked to see that the SUV was owned by Ralph Jones—the rancher who’d found Willow’s body in the river.

Why would Ralph be following Bailey?

P ICKETT H ANSON WALKED through the open doorway of their home under construction and stopped short. Shoving back his Stetson, he leaned against one of the wood studs to study his wife. He would never get tired of looking at this woman or counting his blessings. The surge of love he felt for her almost dropped him to his knees.

Oakley must have sensed him watching her, because she turned and broke into a smile. “What are you doing, cowboy?”

“Admiring the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said truthfully.

“You’re talking about our house, aren’t you,” she joked. “Wait until it has walls.”

“I like it just fine this way.” He could see the entire open stud structure. He didn’t need to imagine what it would look like when finished. He enjoyed taking it a step at a time, savoring the slow progress the same way he enjoyed each new day in this new life with his bride. He didn’t want to rush a thing.

Oakley moved to him, shaking her head with each step. “You aren’t tough enough on the contractor. At this rate, they aren’t going to get it done before winter.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to keep bunking together in my small cabin, where you can’t get away from me.” She laughed as he pulled her into his arms.

“Doesn’t anything bother you?” she asked, backing up a little to meet his eyes. She’d touched a nerve.

He knew he’d often moved too slow, while she tore through life as if it were a race. “I don’t like you being here alone,” he chided her. “It’s dangerous.” He saw her bristle, this independent woman who had proven she could take care of herself in most every circumstance. He didn’t want to remind her that she’d almost died because of her stubbornness about doing things at her own pace alone. “A woman’s been murdered.”

She pulled free. “Don’t you think I know that?” She turned away for a moment before spinning toward him again. “Pickett, I know you feel you have to rein me in sometimes, but do not try to corral me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, wishing he hadn’t mentioned anything. He wanted her in his arms. “You know we have the perfect opportunity right now to try out every room in the house.”

That’s what he loved about her; she didn’t stay angry long. “I wish we could,” she said wistfully, “but I have to plan a baby shower for Tilly.”

He knew Oakley was disappointed that she hadn’t gotten pregnant yet. He could tell it was why she’d been complaining about her sister, saying babies and pregnancy were the only things Tilly now talked about. He’d even overheard her saying that the two of them didn’t want children for a while, just wanted to spend time together.

“I’m sure Tilly would love to help with the shower,” he said.

She let out a bark of a laugh. “Take over, you mean. No, I have this. I just wanted to check our house before I head into town to see what they have at the general store for decorations. We’ll hold it at Tilly and Cooper’s house since ours is so...airy.”

He smiled at that and pulled her to him again to kiss her before sending her on her way. He fought the need to follow her into town to make sure she made it. Willow Branson’s murder had shaken him to his core. He couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to his beautiful, headstrong wife. He hoped the killer was caught—and soon. One less thing to worry about, he told himself.

Just as he hoped his wife would soon be pregnant with the baby they both so desperately wanted. He couldn’t stand seeing Oakley unhappy—let alone afraid it might never happen.

He glanced at the time, reminding himself that he’d promised Holly Jo a trick riding practice after school. Maybe he’d surprise her and pick her up at the bus stop on the county road so she wouldn’t have to walk the quarter mile or so to the ranch house. He liked spending time with her and had from when she’d arrived at the ranch, hating everything but horses.

Pickett smiled to himself at the memory. He told himself it wouldn’t be that long before he and Oakley would be picking up their own kids from the bus stop.

B AILEY HAD BEEN ready with her phone camera when the SUV following her went past. She had managed to get a decent shot of the back of the rig, capturing the license plate number.

She’d texted it to Stuart and nothing more. Afterward, she’d wondered why she’d bothered. If he was no longer sheriff, he couldn’t even run the plate.

She’d told herself that it was just a matter of time before the driver of the SUV realized he’d lost her. Would he double back? Should she stay hidden?

She checked the time. She was going to miss her appointment if she didn’t get moving soon. She knew this two-lane highway after driving it for years. If she left now, she would catch up with the SUV. And then what?

Her run-in with R. Durham had left her feeling vulnerable. It was a feeling she hated and yet had become used to. When someone wanted you dead, feeling vulnerable came with it.

She couldn’t keep hiding here, she thought angrily. She didn’t want to get caught here when the SUV doubled back. If he doubled back.

Looking up the highway, she had to make a decision. Cancel her appointment and drive back to Powder Crossing? Or take her chances and try to make it to Billings alive?

She pulled out, not sure which way she would go until she turned back toward Powder Crossing. The truth was that she wasn’t up to taking her chances. Not after R. Durham. She glanced in her rearview mirror. Still no sign of the SUV. But she caught her reflection, her scratched, damaged face that Stuart had patched up.

Bailey called and changed her appointment to the next day. When she looked back, she saw the SUV some distance behind her. No question about it. The vehicle was the same one.

She sped up. Her best chance was to make a run for it, she told herself as she jammed the gas pedal to the floor. She looked back, not at all surprised that the vehicle following her also sped up. Her heart pounded as she realized it was gaining on her. Maybe she couldn’t outrun the larger SUV, but she was damned well going to give it her best try.

As she topped a hill, scrub pine trees blurring past on each side of the highway, she looked up in surprise to see a patrol SUV. Instantly its flashing lights came on. Her heart thudded in her chest until she recognized the cowboy behind the wheel. She let out a shaky breath.

Looking in her rearview mirror, she saw the driver of the SUV following her then hit the brakes and turn off the road. As Bailey sped past the patrol SUV, she heard the siren. She looked back to see him make a U-turn in the highway and come after her. She could no longer see the dark SUV as she pulled over and stopped, lying over her steering wheel, fighting tears. She was sure the person would make a run for it—not knowing that Bailey had gotten a plate number.

Not that she felt that jubilant. Being scared all the time was exhausting, she thought as Stuart pulled in behind her. She smiled at the sight of his handsome face as she finally admitted the truth. She couldn’t keep doing this alone.

Stuart walked up to her window. She put it down without looking at him. “We need to talk. Can I trust you to follow me back to my office?”

She finally looked at him. “You’re still sheriff?”

“Yes.” There was a lot in that one word, but she told herself it didn’t matter. Even if he resigned, she needed him. “Not your office. I’ll meet you at your house.”

His expression seemed to question if he could trust her. She didn’t blame him. “Did you get the plate number I sent you on the car that was following me?”

He nodded. “I’ll tell you when I see you at the house.”

She watched him in her rearview mirror as he walked back to his patrol SUV before she put up her window.

It was time she told the truth.