Monroe, Melody Snow - Leather and Lace [The Callens 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (14 page)

“You’re right. Since no one should be around this early in the morning, she can sneak out without being seen.” The sun was just coming up.

“I hate that we have to resort to this, but we need to be with her, to show her how much we want her in our life.”

They planned on driving west into the mountains. Wade had found a wonderful spot overlooking the Grand Tetons in the distance. It was secluded and beautiful.

They took Heath’s Cadillac as it afforded the most comfort. Wade insisted they keep the top up as it was a bit chilly, and he wanted to make out with Sam in the backseat in private.

The moment they pulled into her drive, his cock got hard. The homestead looked peaceful, but the house blocked the view of the plains in back. They piled out and rang the bell. They figured she might be asleep, but they would enjoy waking her up.

She pulled open the door a few seconds later dressed in not only her working outfit, but a light jacket, as if they’d caught her just in time.

Her eyes widened. “What are you two doing here?”

Wade wasn’t up for twenty questions. He pulled her outside and spun her around. The thrill of having her in his arms ignited his fun-loving side.

“We’re going on a picnic.” He set her down and kissed her.

She pushed him back. “We can’t be kissing here.”

Both Heath and he laughed. “Why not?”

“The men should be arriving soon. I don’t want them to see me in your arms.”

“I get it. The men won’t respect you if they see you acting like a woman in heat.”

He swore she blushed. “Maybe.”

“Forget about that for one more day. Come with us.”

Heath stepped forward. “I packed a picnic.”

An acrid smell swirled around the house and Wade stilled. He handed Sam to Heath. “Hold on a sec.”

He jogged around the back of her house toward the barn. Something wasn’t right. “Shit.” Smoke poured out the barn doors. “Heath, get over here.”

Wade sprinted toward the black billowing fumes. A man stumbled out carrying a fire extinguisher and dropped to his knees. The trapped horses’ whinnies nearly tore his heart out. Footsteps sounded behind him. He glanced back. Both Heath and Sam were barreling toward him.

“Go,” Heath shouted and waved.

He knew one or both would see to Jake’s care. Hopefully, the other would help with the horses. Sam only had about six animals inside. The smoke clogged his lungs, and he had to cover his nose with his arm. He could barely see through the smoke. No flames flickered, but the place was thick with burnt matter. He didn’t need to know this particular barn to know where the animals were. They were kicking and snorting to get free.

“Go left,” Sam shouted as she followed him in. There was a combination of fear and control in her tone. He was proud she was keeping her head.

In less than a minute, they had the doors to the stalls open and were leading the horses outside. From the way they raced off, they’d live. He couldn’t imagine what must have been going through her mind. Her ranch was her life.

They both coughed as they stepped outside. Heath was on his knees talking to Jake. His brother looked up. “I called 911 and told them to get the fire truck and an ambulance over here.”

Just because there were no flames didn’t mean a fire wasn’t building underneath the straw.

Sam dropped to her knees. “Jake, what happened?”

He swiped his eyes with the back of his arm, but that smeared the black soot across his face.

“I wanted to get an early start. I parked near the corral and was going to the barn when I smelled smoke. I raced into the barn and the hay bales were on fire.”

“Who set the fire?” she asked.

It broke his heart to see the anguish on her face. Heath had caught one of the men they’d just fired try to set fire to their barn. Fortunately, Heath stopped him before any damage had been done.

“I don’t know. I was so focused on putting out the fire that I didn’t realize what had happened until some horse’s hooves registered in my brain. I raced outside and saw someone go toward Harper’s Lane.”

That would be toward the road that divided his ranch from hers. He prayed she didn’t think they had anything to do with the arson.

“Could you tell who it was?” Her voice cracked.

“No. I would have ridden after him, but then you would have lost everything, and he was so far ahead, I might never have caught him.”

She sat back on her haunches. Wade wanted to gather her in his arms and give comfort, but Sam would have fought the overture.

By the time the ambulance and the fire truck arrived, Jake was on his feet. However, the paramedic insisted they bring Jake to the hospital.

“I’m fine.” He shrugged off the man’s attempt to help.

“Sir, the smoke could have done some damage that you can’t see for another twenty-four hours.”

Jake fought some more until Sam stepped in. “Please, for my peace of mind, go with him.”

Jake shrugged and climbed into the back of the ambulance, grumbling the whole way. The paramedic asked Sam and Wade a few questions, but since they weren’t exposed to the smoke for longer than a minute or two, the paramedic let them remain.

Shane descended from the fire truck. “Tell me what happened.”

Sam did a good job recounting what Jake had told her.

“We’ll make a thorough investigation.”

She opened her mouth then closed it as if she was about to ask Shane not to tell her brother about the fire. Wade wouldn’t be surprised if one of the family members arrived in a few minutes. After all, they did live next door, and he bet the smoke could be seen for miles.

Shane and two of his men went to work inside the barn.

Heath wrapped an arm around Sam. This time, she didn’t jerk away. “Come on. How about we all get some water.”

She looked up at him and gave him a faint smile.

Maybe they could sit out back and have their picnic. He suspected none of them were in the mood for celebrating today.

* * * *

It was close to 9:00 a.m. when Shane rounded the corner behind their house.

Sam looked up. “What did you find?”

Always in control, Shane pulled out his pad and gave his report. “I found a gas can in the back of the barn. Is it yours?”

“It’s like the one we use, but I have a separate shed for stuff like that.”

Her brother raced around the corner. Cody was dressed in a suit. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. The horses are fine, but the interior of the barn needs a bit of airing out. What are you doing here?” He should have been at the Intrigue Sun.

“I was at my desk and called Shane to ask him a question, when he told me about the fire. I had to see you were okay.”

“I’m good. Go back to work.” She glanced to Shane. What exactly had his roommate told him? That she’d been burned or something?

Cody looked to Shane. “What did you find out?”

“Someone set the fire. I’ll send the can to the crime lab in Cheyenne and see what they can come up with.”

That might not help. “That might be the same can I used the other day to fill the mower. My fingerprints will be on the can as well as probably Jake’s.”

He jotted down some notes.

“I’ll give Dad a call to let him know what happened.”

She didn’t need the whole family showing up. “Don’t worry him. If Heath and Wade hadn’t shown up so early, the whole barn might have burned down.”

Cody stiffened and glanced from one to the other like a parent did when his kids were in danger. Wade, Heath, Cody, and Dustin had been best friends in school.

She held up her hand. She didn’t need another lecture about how to keep her ranch safe or how these two men weren’t right for her. “We were going on a picnic today, so they were picking me up.”

Cody’s shoulders relaxed, but his brows rose. “Really?”

She wanted to rip the smile off his face. God, she so didn’t need a lecture on the danger of dating Wade and Heath Watson. “Really. Shouldn’t you be heading back to work?”

The grin only seemed to get bigger. “Heath, Wade. We need to have lunch soon and chat.”

This was not how she wanted the day to go. “Good-bye, big brother.”

Cody trotted off, acting like he’d caught her in bed with those two. Had she invited the Watson brothers inside, Cody might have.

She prayed the rest of the family wouldn’t descend on her. She was confused enough.

Chapter Ten

Ten days later, Shane stopped by and dropped off a copy of the arson report. “The accelerant used matched the gas in your can. The fingerprints had all but been wiped clean, so we don’t have much to go on.”

“If I had been the person setting the fire, I would have used gloves and left whatever prints were on the can. That would at least point the finger at me or Jake.”

“I know I asked this, but do you remember if anyone besides you two used the can?”

She shook her head. “Any one of the hands could have touched the can for a variety of reasons, but I wouldn’t have known.”

“Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

“Thanks, Shane.”

No sooner had he left, when Heath showed up. “What did Shane want?”

“He gave me the arson report.”

“Does he have any suspects?”

“No, but he wouldn’t anyway. That’s for the sheriff to find out.”

Heath rubbed a hand down her arm. “Do you think someone is out to get you? You’re the only one around here who has had the cattle stolen of late.”

“I know, but I have no idea who would gain from me losing my ranch. My two uncles and my father are to the east and west of me. They don’t have any desire for more land. The twins have a piece of Dad’s land like I do. And then there’s you and Wade.”

He led her over to the sofa and had her sit down. “Is anyone jealous that you’re successful?”

“Why would they be? I’m not rich.” Heath and Wade were the successful ones.

“Come here.” Heath opened his arms and she slid across the sofa into his comforting grasp.

He leaned over and placed a light kiss on her lips. Given her agitated state of mind of late, she hadn’t expected her pussy to sit up and take notice, but it did. Sam opened her mouth to invite him in when someone knocked on her door.

“Who could that be?” Had Wade been able to get away and come over? The three of them hadn’t made it to his picnic spot because of the fire.

She pulled open the door and her pulse slowed. “Jake.”

He stepped past her and stopped short. “What’s he doing here?”

She didn’t like his attitude, but she wasn’t in a confrontational mood to tell him it was none of his business. “He wanted to find out about the fire. I just got the arson report.” So that was a lie. It was none of Jake’s business to know she was dating both of her neighbors.

“Did they figure out who set the fire?” Jake glanced from Heath to her.