B.J. Daniels the Cardwell Ranch Collection (34 page)

The vehicle ahead swung through a tight curve, fishtailed and for a moment Liza thought the driver would lose control and crash. She could make out a figure behind the wheel, but still couldn’t tell who it was. All the SUVs looked similar.

Liza knew who wasn’t behind the wheel of the car in front of her. Shelby was dead. So was Malcolm Iverson and his son Wyatt. Alex had found the photographs and gotten himself killed when he’d blackmailed Shelby—her husband. She’d been so sure that Wyatt had killed Alex because of it. Alex had somehow figured out that Wyatt had killed Tanner.

Now she suspected that the last piece of the puzzle was in that SUV ahead of her. Whoever had shot Wyatt Iverson must have shot Alex. But why? Was it possible Alex had been blackmailing someone else?

Ahead she caught a glimpse of the lights of Meadow Village. She was right behind the vehicle in front of her. The driver didn’t stand a chance of getting away.

She thought about the photos and tried to remember if there was anything else in them. “That one photograph,” she said more to herself than to Jordan. “Wasn’t it of Tanner and Tessa coming out of the woods?”

“Like I said, Shelby thought of everything.”

“Including making her best friend go into the woods with Tanner?”

Jordan let out a curse. “I never could understand why Tessa did what Shelby told her to. She said Shelby even talked her into marrying Danny Spring, when apparently she has always been in love with Alex.”

Liza felt a chill race up her spine. “But Alex had these photographs. He would have seen Tessa coming out of the woods with Tanner.”

“What are you saying?” Jordan asked.

“Alex would have known just how far Tessa would go to protect Shelby. So why give her the photographs for safekeeping?”

“That’s what I said. Unless he
wanted
her to look at the photos. But once she did, why wouldn’t she destroy them to protect Shelby?”

“Because she was through protecting Shelby,” Liza said. “Shelby had finally done something that she couldn’t forgive. Alex’s estranged wife believed Alex was having an affair with
Shelby.
I suspect Tessa thought the same thing.”

“That would have been the last straw for Tessa. She would have felt betrayed by all of them.”

“You’re saying if Tessa found out, it would have been the last straw.”

Ahead the SUV fishtailed on one of the turns and Liza had to back off to keep from hitting it.

“Tessa. She’s in that car, isn’t she?” Jordan said. “She used to go out shooting for target practice before hunting season with Shelby and the rest of us. She always pretended to be a worse shot than Shelby, but I always suspected she was better and just didn’t dare show it. She’s been hiding her light under a bushel for years, as my mother used to say.”

“Not anymore,” Liza said as the vehicle ahead of them went off the road on the last tight turn. It crashed down into the trees. Liza stood on the brakes. “Stay here or I’ll arrest you!” she shouted to Jordan and jumped out.

With her weapon drawn she hurried to where the SUV had gone off. She hadn’t gone far when she heard the shot.

Liza scrambled down into the trees, keeping out of the driver’s sights until she finally reached the back of the vehicle. She saw that just as she’d suspected, Tessa was behind the wheel. There was a rifle next to her, the barrel pointed at her. She was bleeding heavily from the crash and the gunshot wound to her side, but she was still breathing.

Liza quickly called for the ambulance. “Just stay still,” she told Tessa. “Help is on the way.”

Tessa managed a smile. “There is no help for me. Is Wyatt dead?”

“Yes.”

“And Shelby?”

“She’s dead, too.”

Tessa nodded. “Good. They all ruined my life.”

“Why kill Alex, though?” Liza asked. “I thought you loved him?”

Tessa got a faraway look in her eyes. “Alex was the only man I ever really loved. I thought he loved me but he was only using me. He said he forgave me for the past, but he lied. He used me just like Shelby and Wyatt used me.” She smiled sadly. “They all used me. But I showed them. I wasn’t as good at playing their games, but I was always a better shot than any of them.”

Epilogue

The hospital room was packed with well-wishers, flowers, balloons and stuffed animals. Dana looked around her and couldn’t help the swell of emotion that bubbled up inside of her.

“It’s the hormones,” she said as she wiped her eyes.

Clay and Stacy had brought Hank and Mary to the hospital to see their new little brothers.

“Hank wants to name them after his horses,” Stacy told her. “Mary wanted to name them after her dolls.” Stacy looked stronger. Hud had promised her that Virgil would never bother her again. Apparently, there were numerous warrants out on him, including the fact that he’d broken his probation. So added to the latest charges, Virgil would be going back to prison for a very long time.

Dana watched her elderly ranch manager make his way through the crowd to her. Warren Fitzpatrick was as dried out as a stick of jerky and just as tough, but he knew more about cattle than any man she’d ever known. He’d also been there for her from the beginning. As far as she was concerned he was a permanent fixture on the Cardwell Ranch. She’d already promised him a spot in the family cemetery up on the hill.

He gave her a wink. “That’s some cute little ones. I just had a peek at them down the hall. Goin’ to make some fine ranchhands,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve got a couple of fine saddles picked out for them. Never too early for a man to have his own saddle.”

She smiled up at him. It was the first time she’d ever seen a tear in his eye.

Her father arrived then with a giant teddy bear. “How’s my baby girl?” he asked. She’d always been his baby girl—even now that she was the mother of four and only a few years from forty.

“I’m good,” she said as she leaned up to hug him. He put the bear down and hugged her tighter than usual.

“I was worried about you,” he whispered.

“I’m fine.”

“Yes, you are,” he said, smiling at her.

Then Uncle Harlan came in with the second giant teddy bear and her father grinned, knowing that she’d thought he’d forgotten she was having twins.

Her father-in-law called. Brick Savage had been sick for some time, but he promised to make the trip down from his cabin outside West Yellowstone to see his new grandsons soon.

“I think we should all leave and let her get some rest,” Hilde said to the crowd of friends and family.

“I agree,” Hud said. He looked exhausted and so did Liza, who’d stopped in earlier. It had been a shock to hear about the deaths up on the mountain and Tessa Ryerson Spring’s involvement. Tessa had died before the ambulance got to her.

Jordan had stopped by earlier, his shoulder bandaged. Dana had hugged him for a long time after hearing what he’d been through. Both he and Liza were lucky to be alive.

Dana noticed that they had left together. She smiled to herself. There was nothing like seeing two people falling in love.

Now as everyone said their goodbyes with Stacy and Clay taking Hank and Mary home, she finally relaxed. Everything was turning out just fine. Stacy had her baby—and a job working for Hilde at Needles and Pins.

“I want to stay around, if that’s all right,” her sister had said. “I want Ella to know her cousins.”

Dana couldn’t have been happier. Clay, though, said he would be returning to Hollywood, but that he would come visit more often.

And Jordan, well, Liza was right. Jordan
had
changed. Love did that to a man, she thought, studying her own husband as he came back into the room pushing two bassinets.

“I thought you’d like to see your sons,” he said. “Isn’t it time you told me what names you’ve picked out? I know you, Dana. Or do you want me to guess?”

She merely smiled at him.

Hud laughed and shook his head. “You do realize what you’re doing to these two innocent little boys by naming them after our fathers, don’t you?”

Dana nodded. “I’m giving them a little bit of family history. It isn’t just about the ranch. It’s about the lives we’ve carved out here.”

Hud looked into the bassinets. “Angus?” he asked as he picked up one of their sons. “And Brick?” He handed her both infants. “So when is the building going to start on the new house?” he asked as he climbed up in the bed beside her and the babies.

“What new house?”

“Jordan’s. You know he’s staying.”

“Did he tell you that?” she asked, unable to keep the hope out of her voice.

Hud gave her a disbelieving look. “You know darned well he is. I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t already picked out a spot on the ranch for him and Liza to live.”

“You’re taking this pretty well,” Dana noted.

He chuckled at that. “Your mother always said Jordan would be back. Stacy, though, I think even that would have surprised your mother.”

Dana nodded. “Mom did know her children. She always knew that one day you and I would be together. Mary Justice Cardwell was one smart woman.”

“So is her youngest daughter,” he said and kissed her.

* * *

L
IZA
REINED
IN
HER
HORSE
and looked out over the canyon. The day was warm and dry, possibly one of the last before winter set in. A light breeze stirred the fallen aspen leaves and sighed through the pine boughs.

Jordan brought his horse up beside hers.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said.

“Yes. Beautiful.”

She heard something in his voice and looked over at him. He was grinning at her and not looking at the view at all.

“She is
very
beautiful.”

“You know you can’t charm me,” she said, embarrassed. No one had ever told her she was beautiful before. Cute, maybe. Unusual, often. But not beautiful. It wasn’t even the word that warmed her to the toes of her boots, though. It was the way he looked at her. He made her
feel
beautiful.

She thought of the scars she’d carried since high school. This case had brought back those awful years, worse, those awful feelings about herself. It had also brought Jordan back to the canyon, a surprise in so many ways.

“You think I’m trying to charm you?” He chuckled as he swung down from his horse.

Before she knew what was happening, he cupped her waist with his large hands and pulled her off her horse and into his arms.

“No, Miss Turner, quite the opposite,” he said, his lips just a breath away from hers. “You’re the one who’s charmed me. All I think about is you. You’re like no one I’ve ever known. I’m under your spell.”

She shook her head and laughed softly.

“I’m serious, Liza. You have me thinking crazy thoughts.”

“Is that right?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve been thinking that I want to stay here and work the ranch with my sister. How crazy is that? Worse, right now, I’m thinking there is only one thing that could make this day more perfect.”

She grinned at him. “I’m afraid to ask.”

“I’m the one who is afraid to ask.” He dropped to one knee. “Marry me and make an honest man out of me.”

“Jordan—”

“I know this seems sudden. We should probably at least go on a real date where I’m not just another one of your suspects.”

“Be serious.”

“I am. I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with you. Say you at least like me a little.” Jordan looked into her wide green eyes and thought he might drown in them. “Just a little?”

“I like you.”

He grinned.

“A lot. But marriage?”

“Yes, marriage because I’m not letting you get away, Deputy, and I can’t stand to spend another day away from you. I’d marry you right now, but we both know that my sister Dana isn’t going to allow it. She’s going to insist on a big wedding at the ranch. But that will give us time to go on a few dates. So what do you say?”

Liza’s laugh was a joyous sound. “What can I say but yes.”

He laughed and swung her up into his arms, spinning them both around. As he set her down, he kissed her, then he drew back to look into her lovely face. Their gazes locked. Electricity arced between them, hotter than any flame.

“I suppose we should wait until our wedding night,” he said ruefully.

“Not a chance,” Liza said, putting her arms around him. “I can think of no place more wonderful to make love to you the first time than up here on this mountain.”

* * *

T
HE
WEDDING
OF
J
ORDAN
C
ARDWELL
and Liza Turner was a glorious affair. Hud and Clay gave Liza away, and stood up with Jordan. Hilde and Dana were Liza’s attendants. Hilde had made Liza’s dress, a simple white sheath that made her feel like a princess.

The ceremony was short and sweet and held in the large house on the ranch. Stacy baked the wedding cake and the kids helped decorate it. There were balloons and flowers and music. Jordan’s father and uncle came with their band to play old-fashioned Country-Western music for the affair.

Neighbors and friends stopped throughout the day to offer felicitations. Even Brick showed up to congratulate them on their wedding and Liza on solving the Tanner Cole case.

The murders and deaths had rocked the small community. Only a few people knew the story behind them and the twisted motives of those involved.

Fall and winter had come and gone. Jordan had been right about Dana insisting on a big wedding. It was spring now. The canyon was turning green from the tall grass on the ranch to the bright leaves on the aspen trees. Work had begun on a ranch house up in the hills from the main house for the two of them.

Liza had never been so happy. She had loved this family even before she fell in love with Jordan. Now she was a part of it. Raised as an orphan, she’d never known this kind of family. Or this kind of love.

Construction on their house on the ranch wasn’t quite done, but would be soon. In the meantime, the two of them had been staying in Liza’s condo and dating.

Jordan had insisted on a honeymoon. “Hawaii? Tahiti? Mexico? You name it,” he’d said.

But Liza didn’t want to leave Montana. “Surprise me,” she’d said. “Wherever you take me will be perfect.”

“How did I get so lucky?” he asked and kissed her as they left in a hail of birdseed.

She had no idea where they were going. She didn’t care. With Jordan she knew it would always be an adventure.

* * * * *

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