A Cowgirl's Pride (4 page)

She nodded. “Thanks, big brother. Even if I
wasn’t here, he’d terrorize you guys, or worse, trying to find out where I was
holed up. So, it’s best that I stay at the ranch.”

“Good thinking. You know him well,” Michael
said.

“Yeah, too well.”

“Leah, this club of his, would you say his
customers are mostly friends, business partners, or mere acquaintances?”

“Casual acquaintances would never be allowed
through the door. He owns quite a few businesses and has a lot of friends, so
the majority would fall in line with that. There’s even a secret entrance at
the rear of the club to admit those who wouldn’t want to be seen coming and
going.”

Michael sat up straight. “What people would
those be? Did you recognize any of them?”

“Recognize them? I knew them…all of them. Those
were the ones invited to his estate for dinner meetings and private dancing
shows.”

“Can you throw out a few names?” he asked.

“Senator Metcalf, Chief Simmons, Judge Holden.”

“No wonder the man gets away with murder,” Luke
said.

“Exactly!
Kendall
has been the prime suspect for several murders in the area, but we could never
find proof. Leah, love, you may just hold the hammer that nails his ass to the
wall.”

“Good! It’s what that bastard deserves.”

Luke flinched. “Picked up some colorful language
out there, too, I see.”

She grinned for the first time since the
inquisition started. “Nope, got that from you and the wranglers, but it sure
came in handy at times.”

“I can imagine,” Luke said as he grinned back at
her.

“These meetings at the house, what did they
discuss?” Michael asked.

“What didn’t they talk about is more like it.”

“I’ll need you to get me a list of names and
write up every conversation you can remember along with the dates, if
possible.”

Leah picked her oversized purse up off the floor
and, finding what she wanted, passed Michael a thick diary. “Will this do?”

He rummaged through it then looked up, his eyes
twinkling merrily. “Oh, yeah! Girl, you just made my day! I could kiss you. As
a matter of fact....” He came around the table and gathered her into his arms
to plant a delectable, mind-numbing, leg-noodling kiss on her. If he hadn’t
been holding her so tight, she most assuredly would have collapsed to the
floor.

Gentleman that he was, he seated her again and
resumed his questions.

“What period does this cover?”

“The past year. I have three others coming in
the mail. Not wanting to chance being caught with them, I mailed them all from
different locations along the route home. They should arrive within the week,
but this one I kept as proof.”

“Good girl! The question is, who can I trust in
Vancouver
? Did
Kendall
have any friends in the R.C.M.P. out there?”

“Not that I’m aware of, unless they passed
themselves off as city cops for my benefit, but I can’t see it. Not with the
other higher ups that frequented the place.”

“That makes sense, but tell me this—do you ever
remember meeting a man named Victor Swartz?”

“No, why?”

“He’s my old partner. I’d trust him with my
life, but I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t in with
Kendall
’s
crowd.”

“If you could produce a picture, I could tell
you for sure. Believe me, many of Roddy’s friends got up close and personal,
and I never forget a face.”

“I’ll go through my photos when I get home and
bring one over in the morning. Just for the record, when did you leave
Vancouver
?”

“Last night during the show. By the time they
realized I wasn’t dancing when I should’ve been, I was long gone. I left the
city behind and headed north at first, just in case I was followed. Luckily, I
wasn’t. I spent the night in a small, family owned, mountain chalet and drove
straight here today.”

“I’m going to call my buddy in
Vancouver
and put the wheels in motion to have
Kendall
under twenty-four hour surveillance. If he leaves town for any reason, he’ll
notify me, and we’ll go from there. Are you all right with that?”

“Yes, but make sure no one enters the grounds at
his estate. He allows his dogs to run loose after dark, unless he’s expecting
company. There’s also a back entrance to the property, but it’s difficult to
find unless you know where to look. It’s only a footpath, although the gate
does open wide enough for a vehicle.”

“Luke, you okay with all this?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you in the morning. And,
Leah?”

“Yes?” she answered.
This was it.
The axe would surely fall on her head now that her
story was out in the open.

“Let me know when your packages arrive.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Will do,
Michael, but what’s going to happen to me?”

“What do you mean?”

“For withholding evidence.” Her hands shook so
bad she set her cup down, afraid she might drop it; such was her dread.

“There were never any charges laid, so it’s not
a matter of withholding evidence. It’s more in line with failure to report a
crime, but it is my belief that you acted in your own best interests in order
to survive. No one can blame you for that.”

“Thank you, Michael.” She rose on tiptoe to
place a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Maybe, just maybe, I’ll be able to sleep
tonight.”

“You do that. Good night all.”

A chorus of “good nights” followed him out the
door, and Luke locked up behind him.

“Are you all right, Leah?”

“I am now,” she said. “Thanks for not turning me
away, Luke.”

“Never. You’re family.”

“Even though I’ve screwed up so badly?”

“Even though. I’ve missed you, sis. The ranch hasn’t
been the same with you gone.”

“I’ve missed you, too, and Dad. Michael told me
about his heart attack when I called a few weeks back, but I never had a chance
to call again. How is he?”

“As ornery as ever. He pulled through just
fine.”

“Good. I was so worried. I wanted to leave as
soon as I heard, but I dared not chance it.”

“Now that I know what you’ve been going through,
I can understand that, but for a while there I thought it pretty selfish of you
not to leave a number in case of emergency.”

“I couldn’t have anyone calling from here. I
didn’t want to remind Roddy of the ranch. It would’ve spoiled my plans to leave
or cancelled them altogether.”

“Well, you’re home where you belong. You’re safe
here, Leah. I hope you know that.”

“Yes, I do and I’m so thankful to be home.”

She cried then, tears she’d held in check since
her arrival. Luke gathered her into his strong arms, letting her cry out all
the guilt and misery she’d suffered; the front of his shirt totally drenched
when the tears ceased. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t ever be sorry for needing someone. That’s
what life is all about.”

“Right now, what I need is rest. Is my old room
still furnished and fit for habitation?”

“Sure is, although we put a double bed in there
and sent your old single to the dustbin.”

“Great! More room to stretch out.”

“Go on up. I’ll grab your cases and be right
behind you.”

“Thanks.” She headed upstairs, only barely
noticing the changes made over the years. She was so tired, physically
exhausted from the drive and emotionally wrung out to dry. A nap would do her
good.

Noise erupted from behind one of the doors, and
she figured it was the twins’ room, but she kept going until she arrived at the
last door on the right. She turned the knob, wondering what it would feel like
to be in her old room after all this time. No longer was she the innocent child
who’d lived here before, who’d broken her father’s heart when she’d insisted on
leaving at eighteen to pursue her dreams.

Ha! Some dream!

She heard footfalls as someone, climbed the
stairs and hurriedly pushed the door open. One step inside and she was truly
home. The walls were still painted a light pink, and there were white, frilly
curtains at the window. She sat on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes,
the rose-pink carpeting still plush and soft underfoot.

When Luke came to deposit her cases, she looked
up at him and smiled. “I’m home, Luke. I’m really home.”

* * * *

Cal
was in the yard, exercising one of the horses, when the squad car
pulled in. The fire of jealousy burned in his gut as he pictured Leah, calmly
accepting the attentions of the men. Calmly? Ha! She’d probably preen and
prance around as if it was her due.

Damn it all to hell. Who was he kidding? She’d
never had to vie for attention in all her years growing up on the ranch. Why
would she do so now? She was just so damned beautiful. Everyone loved her…but
not like he did.

The occasions when they’d stolen away for some
time alone were imprinted on his memory, even after all the years that had
passed. Her cascade of long, platinum hair had reached to her waist—thick,
silken tresses that he’d loved to run his fingers through. When she was filled
with desire, the depth of her eyes held a golden glow, almost like an inner
halo.

Those same dark brown orbs had seemed to see straight
through to his very soul. She’d understood his love of the ranch because she’d
loved it, too. He would’ve gone with her anywhere, but she’d never asked, a point
that had irked him to no end during the long, lonely months to follow. He’d
been so certain she’d return by the end of summer, but she didn’t, and it broke
his heart.

He returned Sadie to her stall and attached the
bridle to Bay Boy, leading him around the yard for some daily exercise.
Cal
’s mind whirled with
memories of the past interspersed with questions for the here and now as he
walked beside the horse.

When her father didn’t show, he wondered if
there might be a problem. Had she gotten herself in trouble of some kind? Is
that why she’d come home? Why the law was here? He was about to dismount and go
find out when he realized he didn’t have that right. No one knew of their
lover’s trysts as teenagers. To barge in there and demand answers he wasn’t
privy to could very well cost him his job.

No, he’d wait and hope she’d take the time to
search him out after their company left. Her arrival had been such a shock,
albeit a welcome one. He’d wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let go.
Luke’s presence denied him that pleasure, but surely she knew he was glad to
see her. Didn’t she?

Chapter Three

Leah awoke to a darkened room and hoped she
hadn’t missed dinner. Her stomach was growling a distinct protest. She giggled
softly. For once, she awoke refreshed and looked forward to getting up, instead
of dreading the hours to come. She should’ve found some way to make it happen
sooner.

She placed her hands on her belly, relishing the
new life growing inside her. No, if she’d left any sooner, she wouldn’t be with
child, and she so desperately needed someone to love, someone to call her own. She
loved Roddy once, in the very beginning, but that love had died a swift death
once she realized what kind of man he really was.

Her thoughts ran back over the past few months.
Why had he stopped the private dinners and dancing? Did he just get tired of entertaining
his cronies, or have a change of heart toward her? He certainly never needed
the money she brought in. No, he seemed to want her to be his exclusive playtoy
again while at home, but for what purpose? Sudden dread crept up her spine. Had
he been planning to rid himself of her, thinking no one would notice or care
overmuch?

She shook her head, chasing away the fear. None
of it mattered anymore. As soon as she’d found out she was pregnant, she made
hurried plans to leave all that behind. Her baby deserved better than to have a
stripper for a mother and a murderer for a father. Her paychecks and tips from working
at the club, rarely touched, accumulated quite a tidy sum. Roddy considered it
his duty to support her and lavished on her everything money could buy. If
things didn’t work out here, she could go anywhere, but she didn’t want to. She
was home and intended to stay right where she was.

Someone had draped an afghan over her while she
slept. She smiled at their thoughtfulness. Probably Zakia. When she’d come upstairs
to lie down, she never thought for a moment that she’d sleep, so hadn’t
bothered crawling between the sheets. She threw the covering back, stretched
luxuriously and got out of bed, padding barefoot to the bathroom across the
hall. Brrr! The hardwood floor in the hallway was cold.

She washed up and returned to find a pair of
warm socks and her slippers then went downstairs. Her nose picked up delicious
smells wafting from the kitchen, so she followed to find Zakia at the stove
putting the finishing touches to dinner.