A Cowgirl's Pride (24 page)
Authors: Lorraine Nelson
Her gaze lifted to his dear face, lined with
worry. “I’m okay. I just hope he makes it.”
“He will. Think positive. How about some dinner?
I’m starving.”
How could any man think of food at a time like
this? “It’s right here. Sorry your nap was interrupted,” she said as she picked
up the container and led the way to the kitchen.
“It was a rude awakening, for sure. If I’d known
trouble was afoot, I wouldn’t have slept a wink. What’s for dinner?”
She opened the cover. “Salad and sliced beef that
Zakia sent over with Michael.”
“Sounds good. Let’s eat.”
He set plates on the table while she dished up. Surprisingly,
she ate every bite.
Chapter Fifteen
Cal and the other wranglers heard the explosion
as they sat down to dinner. They grabbed their coats and went running while
Cal told him it sounded like a bomb going off and, unwilling to take any
chances, informed Luke that he’d given the wranglers an order to saddle up and
investigate.
He wheeled over to the window to watch the
goings on, but he was so worried, it was difficult to sit still. His
frustration rose by the minute, wishing that he could take part in the action
as Luke and the rest of the wranglers rode out to
place.
Had Leah been hurt? Not knowing was killing him.
Sirens soon sounded as emergency vehicles drove
through the yard, lights flashing. Cookie went out to wave the lead vehicle
down the trail toward
followed.
He’d lowered his feet to the floor and attempted
to stand as Cookie came back in and ordered, “Sit! There ain’t nothing you can
do that ain’t already being done.”
“I’m the foreman. I should be there.”
“The boss is there, so that lets you off the
hook. You want to end up with no feet?” he asked as he placed
again.
“No. I want to help. That’s all.”
“Be happy you can sit this one out. Fire’s a
blazing back there.”
“I wonder if it’s the house or a vehicle?”
“Hard to tell from here. I expect we’ll know
soon enough.”
“One of the cruisers pulled up to the house.
Could you go ask if they’ve heard anything?”
“I could,” Cookie answered, scratching his head.
“But what would be the point?”
“I need to know if Leah, if everyone is all right.”
“Ahhh! Like that, is it?” He chuckled as Cal
felt the heat rise to his cheeks. “Okay, I’ll see what I can find out.”
Cal watched him cross the yard, talk to someone
at the kitchen door, and walk back.
“No casualties,” he said as he stomped the snow
off his boots.
“Thank God! What blew?”
“Michael’s car.”
“Good Lord! He’s gonna be livid. That was his
baby.”
“I’m guessing he’s happy he wasn’t inside when
it blew up.”
“Yes, you’re probably right, but that was one
beautiful machine.”
“Harumph! Cars can be replaced. Not so people.”
“Right again, Cookie. How’d you get to be so
smart?”
“I call ‘em as I see ‘em. You want your dinner
or you going to wait for the others?”
“May as well eat. I can’t do anything else.”
Cook nuked his dinner and brought him his plate
along with a fresh cup of coffee. He sat looking out the window as he ate,
thinking how close he’d come to losing Leah, the only woman who’d ever meant
anything to him.
Another vehicle pulled into the ranch yard with
lights flashing. A man in uniform and a dog emerged. A K9 unit. Good. Track
that bastard! Jail him before he can do any more damage.
They didn’t leave the yard right away. Instead,
the man led the dog to each vehicle, allowing him to do his thing. The dog stood
and barked at one vehicle only…his! The question was, why?
He soon had his answer when the truck’s interior
light came on. Someone was exiting through the passenger door. A shot rang out,
and the runner stopped in his tracks. The Mountie shackled him in handcuffs,
frisked him, and seated him inside the cruiser in a matter of minutes.
The cop inside the main house came running with
gun drawn, but it was all over. The two Mounties stood talking and the one
who’d made the arrest produced a flashlight, looking at something in his hand.
Cal was anxious to know who they’d arrested. Did he dare ask Cookie to go out
again? He glanced at Cook.
“I know. I’m going,” he said as he threw his
coat back on. “I need a raise.”
“And I’ll sure try to get you one. Thanks,
Cookie.”
“Harumph!”
He smiled as Cook went out the door, knowing his
curiosity had gotten the best of him, and he would’ve gone anyway. As before,
Cookie was back in minutes.
“Roderick Kendall.”
“Hot damn! It’s over,” he said, almost jumping
to his feet in excitement.
“Don’t celebrate yet. They’re waiting for the
others before they take him in.”
“Why?”
“Positive identification. They think he might be
carrying a phony ID.”
“Damn! I hope they’re wrong. Kendall deserves to
be behind bars, and Leah needs an end to the torment.”
“Can’t argue with you there. Riders are coming
back. I best be reheating their dinner.”
“Thanks, Cookie. I owe you one.”
“Nope, you owe me two.” He grinned and headed
for the table and the plates of cold dinner sitting there.
****
“Michael, I’m so sorry about your car,” Leah
said as the hubbub died down. The fire had been put out, and the car hauled
away so the crime scene technicians could have a go at it.
“It’s only a car, Leah. Replaceable. At least no
one was hurt in the blast.”
“I’ll replace it,” she said, warming her hands
by wrapping them around her teacup. She was so cold the chill penetrated her
bones, and it had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures outside.
“No, you won’t. It’ll go on the list of things
that Kendall has to make restitution for. He’s not going to get away with any
of this.”
“I’m glad you had them check my truck,
otherwise, I surely would’ve been blown to bits. No remote start on a standard
shift,” Cam said.
A knock at the front door had them all turning
in that direction, but it was Michael who stood to answer. She heard him
talking to someone then the door closed, and he rejoined them.
“Looks like we’ve caught our man. The K9 Unit discovered
him hiding in one of the trucks at the main ranch. They’re asking for a
positive ID, Leah. You up for it?”
“They’ve caught Roddy?” she asked, hope filling
her voice.
“Either that or the guy is carrying false
identification, which doesn’t make sense. They’re waiting for us.”
She nodded. “I’m coming.” She rose, walked into
the front entry, grabbed her coat, and pulled on her boots. “Ready.”
Cam engulfed her in a giant hug. “You come on
back any time you want to.”
She smiled, returning the hug. “If this
is
truly over, I may just take you up on
that.”
“Over or not, my door is always open to you.
I’ll keep you safe.”
“Thanks, Uncle Cam.”
A horn tooted impatiently. Michael palmed his
gun and took her arm before opening the door, but they made it to the cruiser
without incident.
Leah trembled uncontrollably when they reached
the ranch yard. She didn’t know if her legs would hold her up and was grateful
when Michael came around to open her door. Placing her arm in his grasp once
more, he led her to the K9 vehicle where the suspect was under guard.
She turned away. “No, that’s not Roddy. It’s
Jimmy Paige, his bodyguard.”
Roddy’s bodyguard glared back at her, venom in
his expression.
“Why would he carry a false ID?” asked Michael.
“Who knows? I suspect it was for this very
reason, to confirm my presence on the ranch.”
“Then why the bombs? I mean, if they hadn’t seen
you accompany Cam, why target vehicles in his yard?”
“Sorry, Michael. I don’t have any answers for
you.”
The prisoner banged on the window. Michael
nodded an okay to open the door.
“You have something to say?” he asked.
“Yeah,” said Jimmy. “The boss isn’t going to
give up on seeing her dead. She’s trouble.”
“Which boss are you talking about?”
“She knows.” Evil laughter followed his words as
the door closed again.
“Take him away and book him for attempted
murder,” ordered Michael. “That should remove the grin from his face.”
“And that also answers your question. He must’ve
seen me through the window at Uncle Cam’s and planted the bombs to make sure I
didn’t leave in one piece.”
“Sure sounds like he had orders to that effect.”
“Michael, how did he get here?” Leah asked.
“My men found a stolen car parked down the road.
It’s been impounded.”
“BC plates?”
“No, Alberta plates. Why?”
“That means Roddy’s in the area.”
“The car was stolen in Calgary early this
morning. I don’t think he’d hang around.”
“He would if he expected Jimmy to report back.”
“I’ll alert Calgary to put out an APB on Roddy’s
vehicle.” He thumbed open his cell phone and called it in as they walked to the
house. Luke and her father met them at the door.
“Baby girl, are you all right?” her father
asked, wrapping her in his arms.
“Fine, just a little shaky.”
“Come on in. Sit. I’ll make tea.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She sat at the old oak table that
had been in the Manning kitchen since her grandfather built the house.
Handmade, with a bench seat running along the back wall, the familiarity of it
all gave comfort. The chairs were long since replaced, but the rest still shone
with the loving care received over the years. She reached out a hand and traced
the edge, finding the teeth marks she’d put there as a toddler, further proof
that she belonged on the ranch. Funny how no one sanded them away. Her throat
hitched on a sob. If only she’d never left, none of this would be happening.
Luke and Michael joined her at the table. She
tried a smile for their benefit but from the concerned looks on their faces, it
was shy of the mark.
“Where is everybody?” she asked.
“Building puzzles with the twins,” said Luke. “The
boys are pretty good at it, but get frustrated easily when a piece doesn’t
fit.”
“Remember that one we did of the waterfall? That
was hard.”
“Yep, all those rocks looked the same.”
“And the water streaming over them was the same
color. That was one puzzle I was glad to finish.”
“Puzzles aren’t supposed to be easy.” Luke
smiled at her. “We’ll solve this one, too, Leah.”
“I know.”
“Speaking of which, I wonder what Kendall will
try next. His bodyguard doesn’t seem to think he’ll quit,” said Michael.
“Maybe I should go back.” Luke and Michael shook
their heads. “Just for a little while. I could help gather evidence, and he’ll
lay off causing trouble here at home.”
Lucas Sr. set the tea tray in front of them.
“Not as long as I’m alive! That scum doesn’t deserve you. I just got ya back,
and I’m sure enuff not wantin’ to lose ya.”
“He’s right, Leah. You going back to Vancouver
would equal that of a death wish,” Michael said. “We’re building a case—a
strong one. It’s only a matter of time.”
“I hate waiting…not knowing what he’s up to, and
I hate that I’ve put everyone I love in so much danger.”
Lucas loaded a plate with sweets and placed it
near her. “Eat up! It’ll give you energy.”
“That plus a few more pounds,” she said as she
picked up a lemon square. “I’ll be fat soon enough.”
“No, not fat,” said Michael. “You’ll be glowing
with child.”
“Glowing? Bursting at the seams, more like.” She
patted her belly and smiled. “He or she has been craving midnight treats as it
is.”
“Well, there’s plenty of those around. With
Christmas right around the corner, the women have been bakin’ up a storm. Have
you checked the deep freezer lately?” asked her father.
She smiled. “No, but I’ll know where to look the
next time the cookie jar is empty. When do we go chop down a tree?”
“Too dangerous with Kendall on the loose. Zakia
has an artificial, so we’ll use that this year.”
“My being here has changed everything! We’ve
always had a real tree.”