Luck of the Draw Page 11

  This time it was a matter of life and death. And not just hers. Because if she was in Whitefish, Montana, then it wasn’t just her life that was in danger.

  * * *

  AS SID FINISHED answering the lawyer’s question, his cell phone rang. He picked up hoping for good news.

  “Nothing on the DNA on the woman,” the lab tech told him. “I saw you had a rush on it. Just wanted to let you know.”

  He disconnected, feeling relieved. As he started down the hallway, he saw that the hallway was empty. Garrett and the woman were gone.

  It still worried the devil out of him, but the rancher thought he knew what he was doing. Sid sure hoped so. His cell phone rang again as he started toward the elevator. When he pulled out his phone, he saw that it was Lizzy and frowned.

  “Deputy Conners,” he said into the phone, already sensing that something was wrong—even before he heard her voice. She spoke quickly, urgently.

  There’d been a response on the photo and description of the young unidentified woman he’d sent out over the wire. Also apparently her DNA sent up some red flags. A US Marshal had called, upset and demanding to speak with her.

  Feds? Flagged DNA? US Marshal? He didn’t like the sound of any of this. Who the hell was this woman?

  “Her family has been notified and is sending someone to pick her up.” He was not to let the woman Garrett called Joslyn Charles out of his sight.

  “I’m sorry, can you repeat that?” His heart pounded. He’d caught the words psychological problems. This sounded serious. He reminded himself that Garrett was now taking the woman to his guest ranch. Just the two of them alone on a mountainside over the weekend.

  Sid rushed to the elevator and hit the down button, but immediately realized he couldn’t wait. He turned and ran toward the stairs. His mind whirled like a pinwheel in the wind. Hadn’t he suspected there was more to the story about the woman? Hadn’t he worried that Garrett had no idea what he was getting into? Hadn’t he questioned the woman’s alleged memory loss?

  He shoved open the door to the stairs. “Tell them I’m going to need to see that commitment order,” he said into the phone. “All right. I’m at the courthouse now. Yes, I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave.” If I can catch her. He hurried down the stairs, his mind racing. Garrett and the woman would have left the building by now. They could have already driven away. He’d known something was wrong.

  And yet, as he took the stairs, flying down the levels to the ground floor, he’d never in his wildest dreams imagined this.

  Sid retrieved his weapon from security and burst out of the stairwell on the ground floor and ran toward the exit. But as he shoved through the doors, he saw Garrett’s pickup driving away.

  “Garrett!” he called, but too late. All of the rancher’s attention would be on the woman. A woman he was taking to his guest ranch in the mountains not knowing anything about her except for a few months of his life when he thought she was his future.

  The pickup didn’t slow as it left the parking lot and turned onto the street to disappear into the traffic.

  Breathing hard, Sid watched Garrett and the woman disappear around the corner. He tried the rancher’s cell phone. It went straight to voicemail. He didn’t leave a message. He knew where he could find them.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  JOSLYN. SHE TRIED out the name, a whisper on her lips that felt like a caress. And a lie. Lie or not, she was Garrett’s Joslyn and always would be. Until she told him the truth. If she got the chance before someone tried to stop her.

  He’d said nothing on the walk from the courthouse to his pickup. Nor had he said anything after opening the passenger-side door for her and helping her into the cab. Garrett, always a gentleman. He lived by the Code of the West. It was no wonder he’d been wearing a light gray Stetson the first time she saw him. She’d known he was one of the good guys. One look into his blue eyes and she’d known that she could trust him in a world where she had found few to trust.

  The pickup cab looked as if it had recently been cleaned and she had to smile. He’d told her when they were together that he was a rancher and that it wasn’t as glamorous a life as some thought.

  “It’s dirty work. Boots and trucks are going to get muddy with dirt and manure,” he had said and laughed. “But it’s a wonderful life if you’re the kind of man who loves wide-open spaces, the smell of pine and campfires, the sound of cattle lowing in the night.”

  “But you’re studying to be a lawyer?” she’d asked.

  “I’m thinking I can do both. My brothers are both ranchers like my father and grandfather. I felt like I needed something more when I started law school, but there are a lot of days when I miss the ranch so much...” He had shaken his head and smiled his wonderful smile. “I’d love to show you the ranch and the family guest house. That’s where I spent my summers.”

  It had sounded romantic to her. She could picture the old log cabins set back in the trees, the large lodge filled with family history and the trail rides, roasting marshmallows over the campfire, dances at the back of the lodge.

  She had wanted to be a part of his life with such an ache that she’d ignored the danger. She’d stuck around that first night at his apartment to thank him for his help and had been charmed by him. So charmed that she’d stayed not just that night, but so many others. She would have stayed a lifetime with him, and that was what hurt the most because she’d known she couldn’t. Because Garrett had been in the dark when it came to her and she’d kept him that way.

  Still she’d fallen hard for the charming cowboy who’d saved her that night at the convenience store. He was all cowboy. She’d been captivated by the man from his Stetson to his boots and the way his Wranglers fit every inch of his backside and long legs. But it had been so much more than that. She’d fallen in love with him.

  Now as he drove his pickup out of town toward the mountains and the family guest ranch, the hot July sun hung over the top of the pines. She shivered even though the inside of the cab was quite warm. Garrett reached over without a word and turned down the air conditioner.

  She couldn’t believe she was actually leaving with him, going to a guest ranch that was closed so when the construction workers finished it would just be her and Garrett alone together in their own private hell. She could feel his anger at her coming off him in waves—just like she’d once felt the heat of his desire.

  What was he thinking right now? She would have given a small fortune to know and realized what she was thinking, groaned inwardly. Just the thought of how good they’d once been together sent heat rushing to her cheeks. She glanced away, her gaze going to the side mirror. She’d been watching for a tail since they’d left the hospital. She hadn’t seen anyone who appeared to be following them, but that didn’t mean they weren’t. It was only a matter of time before they knew where she’d gone and they’d come for her.

  She could feel the clock ticking. She had to remember what had happened in the days right before she ended up in the hospital. But the more she tried to remember, the darker that hole seemed to grow—along with her fear. Her head ached. Her heart ached even more. She’d never wanted Garrett involved. It was why she’d left eighteen months ago without telling him. She hadn’t wanted to take him away from his family, his ranch, the life he loved, and she couldn’t stay. She’d had no choice.

  But from the look in his eyes back in her hospital room when he’d suggested she go by the name Joslyn, she knew he’d never be able to forgive her for leaving the way she had. She hadn’t forgiven herself, either. A few days before she’d left, she’d found a diamond engagement ring in his bureau drawer in a pretty dark blue velvet box. Just the thought of it broke her heart all over again. Garrett had been planning to ask her to marry him.

  That was when she’d known she had to leave before he could. Then she’d seen a man canvassing the neighborhood handing out flyers. Or at leas
t pretending that was what he was doing. She’d known. He was looking for her.

  She felt him watching her now out of the corner of his eye. Watching and waiting. They would be at the guest ranch before long. She would have to tell him everything. She couldn’t keep her secret even to protect him. Not anymore. She had no idea what he would do, let alone how she would survive this. Since seeing him at the hospital she’d been fighting the memories of the two of them together and the feelings he evoked in her. Once she told him...

  A memory pulled her from her reverie. As Garrett drove down a narrow tree-lined dirt road that wound up into the towering mountains, she felt something stir. Had she been on this road before? The doctor had said that her memory could come back at any time. She’d feared that she might never be able to retrieve those lost hours.

  For a moment though, this road... The memory slipped away like smoke. She felt a stab of frustration. She had to remember. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t know who or what was coming for her. Coming for her—and Garrett, because it couldn’t be a coincidence that she’d ended up in Whitefish. Her only hope was remembering. In the meantime, she had to make sure that Garrett was safe. At least by being with him, she might be able to recognize the danger before it struck.

  Glancing over at the cowboy, she saw the determined set of his strong jaw. He must assume that she was lying about everything. She’d seen that look in his eyes when he’d realized that she remembered him. He knew she’d been lying to him two years ago. He just didn’t know to what extent. Is that why he had invited her up to his guest ranch? Was this about getting even? Or getting to the truth? Either could be dangerous.

  She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat. Sunshine poured in through the pickup’s windows, lulling her in its warmth. She thought of her shock at seeing him again. That look in his blue eyes... She’d known at that moment that she was dealing with a different man than the one she’d known. This one didn’t trust her. This one was onto her.

  She opened her eyes to see a blur of green. They were on a narrow road climbing higher into the mountains with tall shimmering pines on both sides. She looked up the road and felt a stab of fear along with that vague sense of memory. This was a mistake, she thought, feeling rising panic. Or had she already made the ultimate mistake—and that’s why she was here?

  Closing her eyes again, she told herself that she could do this. It was the only way to save Garrett.

  * * *

  GARRETT GLANCED OVER at her. She’d fallen asleep! Looking at her, you’d think that she didn’t have a care in the world. She’d always been cool as a cucumber, as his mother used to say. It was part of her attraction, he could admit now.

  Still, he couldn’t believe that she had fallen asleep. Eyes still closed, face turned up in the sun, damn she was beautiful. He kicked that thought to the barrow pit, reminding himself that he couldn’t trust this woman as far as he could throw her.

  He wondered how much she really remembered. That she remembered him, had recognized him, was in his pickup right now headed to a remote, isolated guest ranch told him that she was lying about her memory loss. So why had she agreed to come up here with him? She didn’t seem worried about being alone with him—even after what she’d done to him all those months ago. No doubt, she thought she could handle herself in most any situation. Maybe she could, he thought, reminding himself of what happened to the man who’d tried to kill her.

  When he’d seen her on that mountain, she’d been in trouble. Of that, he was certain. But somehow she’d turned it around. With his help? The shot he’d fired? Or had she been in control of the situation the whole time?

  “Something amusing?” she asked, taking him by surprise. He really had thought she was asleep.

  “Just smiling to myself.”

  She nodded, not pushing it. That was another thing about her. He’d told her a lot about himself when they were dating. But she hadn’t offered much in return. She’d never quizzed him about anything, especially old girlfriends like other women he’d dated. He’d thought it was because she was so secure in herself and their relationship.

  Now he knew that it hadn’t mattered because none of it had been real.

  If he’d been smiling, he wasn’t anymore. He concentrated on the road ahead and questioned if bringing her up to the isolated guest ranch would prove to be the stupidest thing he’d ever done—and maybe the last.

  He reminded himself that he didn’t just have this possible murderer to fear. She had been running for her life when she’d crashed the car she’d escaped in. So who else was after her and how long before yet another killer showed up?

  In the meantime, his plan was to live long enough to get some answers. This woman had broken his heart. He deserved to know why.

  * * *

  WHEN ANOTHER CALL had come into the sheriff’s department about the Jane Doe at the hospital, Undersheriff Ward Farnsworth had been visiting with the dispatcher.

  “It’s a call about the woman, the one in the hospital,” the dispatcher told him. “He’s asking for you, but the sheriff said—”

  “Never mind what the sheriff said. The caller’s asking for me. Put it through to my office,” Ward said. He’d been following the case—not that the sheriff had let him get near it. As if he didn’t know what Sid was up to. Sid felt threatened now that Ward had announced he would be running for sheriff in the fall. But whoever was on the line had asked for him. He’d known the moment he heard about the case that it was one that could get him the sheriff’s job—if he could solve it first.

  He smiled as he stepped into his office. When his phone rang, he picked up. “Undersheriff Ward Farnsworth, how can I help you?”

  “I hope I’m talking to the right person,” said the whispery voice on the other end of the line. “I’d been trying to reach the sheriff...”

  “He’s out, but I can help you,” Ward said. He thought of the earlier caller who’d just wanted him to verify that the woman called Jane Doe, whose description had been put out over the wire, was still in custody. He’d verified that she was at her arraignment after being arrested and the caller had hung up.

  He thought this was going to be the same kind of call, a law enforcement officer calling about their Jane Doe. But he equally realized, this call was different.

  “I’m worried and need to know who and what I’m dealing with,” the person said. “I did some asking around and was told that you were the person to talk to if I wanted answers.”

  “You bet.”

  “Can you tell me about Sheriff Sid Anderson? I know I’m putting you on the spot.”

  The undersheriff beamed. “Not at all. Can I be honest with you?” he asked, keeping his voice down. “Sid Anderson’s got one foot out the door. He’s been threatening to retire and is finally set to do it this fall.”

  “He’s the one investigating this incident involving the Jane Doe you have in custody? I’m concerned because I spoke with someone at the courthouse and understood that she’s been remanded over to the care of a man by the name of Garrett Sterling, a local rancher. That concerns me.”

  “It should. The sheriff goes by the book—except when it comes to his friends.” He knew that wasn’t quite true, but it had never stopped him before. “Garrett Sterling is one of his friends.”

  “I see. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your help. I understand that you’re running for sheriff this fall.”

  Ward felt as if he was bursting with pride. This person really had done his or her homework. The voice was deep, throaty. Could be a woman or a man. “I figured this county needs someone they can rely on.”

  “I would like to contribute to your campaign fund.”

  It was only a hundred and eight dollars, the limit on his type of campaign, but it was the faith the person had in him that pleased him most. Maybe he could win this election. His luck was finally changing for the bet
ter. “Thank you.”

  “I’m happy to help. In the meantime, I hope you don’t mind if I go through you instead of the sheriff.”

  “No, that’s just fine.”

  “I’d appreciate it you could keep me apprised of things at your end. Let me give you my number.”

  He could understand the person’s concern. The request didn’t seem unreasonable. He’d found that Sid could be hard to work with. “I’d be happy to.”

  “Wonderful. I hope you don’t mind if I have my campaign contribution sent by special courier and in cash.”

  “Not at all.” He felt as if the buttons on his shirt would pop. He was going to be the next sheriff with supporters like this.

  “I’d hoped you might not mind. So is there anything new with the investigation?”

  “It appears to me that the sheriff’s case has reached a dead end.” It wasn’t until he’d hung up that he realized the person had never given him a name. Probably better that way. He didn’t let that worry him for long. He grinned to himself as he leaned back in his chair. “Sheriff Ward Farnsworth,” he said, and liked the sound of it.

  * * *

  WHEN GARRETT HAD told her about Sterling’s Montana Guest Ranch high in the mountains outside of Whitefish, Montana, he hadn’t done it justice. As they came over a rise, she got her first look at the historic log buildings set against the shimmering green of the pines.

  It was so picturesque. Almost like a Western fairy tale. She fell in love with the place instantly. She had a fleeting image of her and Garrett’s children growing up here in the summers. She could see them laughing and running, their skin lightly tanned, their faces lit with joy. She would have loved spending summers here as a girl.

  The image dissolved as she reminded herself what she was doing here.

  She put down her window and breathed in the day, as she tried to still her growing anxiety. What would happen when they reached the lodge? When she told him everything?