Restless Hearts Page 11

  “So we will have a little time to keep Monte from pleading guilty?” she asked.

  “Some. I’ll be speaking with him again in the morning, but if he is still adamant, all I can do is try to convince the judge that he doesn’t know what he’s doing and that there isn’t enough evidence against him to let him plead guilty.”

  “Did you know that you can tell a lot about a woman by what she has in her purse?” Blaze asked.

  “Pardon?” the attorney asked.

  “Allie stopped by earlier. She carries a handgun in hers. Along with her passport.” She heard his intake of breath. She had his attention now. “I told you that my father is covering for her. Also, she’s pregnant with his child. It all adds up to one thing. He’s getting her out of the country before the truth comes out.”

  “Thank you for the information,” Clarkston said. “I’ll take it up with him in the morning.” So would she.

  She thanked him and disconnected. As she did, she looked toward the front window and the dark outside between her and the bunkhouse. She’d thought Jake might come back over to continue their earlier conversation when he heard Allie leave. But Allie must have walked over because Blaze couldn’t remember hearing a vehicle start up.

  After a while, she realized that Jake wasn’t coming back. He would know that she needed time to mull over what he’d told her. He was right about one thing. She hadn’t trusted the chemistry between them. Nor did she trust that it would last. So maybe she had used the kiss between him and Cara for her exit.

  Could she ever trust Jake enough to trust her heart with him again? She had no idea. But tonight, she’d felt herself weakening.

  She thought about going over to the bunkhouse, but they’d pretty much said it all and it was late, and if she went over there and found him in bed... Blaze shook her head as the image of him lying on his bunk flashed in her mind. The man slept naked as a jaybird. That thought did not help.

  Nor did the aching need she felt. No man had been able to fill it since Jake. She feared no other man could. She thought about the last time she’d seen Jake before he drove up in the ranch yard. She’d put a knife to this throat.

  “You need to get your temper under control, young woman.” It was the first thing Judge Landusky had said to her in his gravelly, blunt tone.

  She was still working on that. She’d been angry for a long time. Ever since her mother had left, promising to send for her, and hadn’t been heard from again. She’d lost trust in not just her mother after that. She hadn’t trusted that her father had told her the truth about why her mother had left. So yes, she had an anger problem, she admitted to herself. A trust issue, as well.

  She went back to her bedroom; this time she undressed, climbed into bed and closed her eyes. She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but when she opened her eyes again, the sun was shining.

  Showered and dressed, she wandered out to the kitchen to find Jake making breakfast. Not just breakfast, but her favorite: buttermilk pancakes and bacon.

  He motioned her to a chair at the table and served her a plate and fixed one for himself before he joined her. She was already digging into her pancakes slathered with butter and chokecherry syrup when he asked, “What happened last night?”

  She took another bite.

  “Blaze, we’re doing this together, remember?”

  How could she forget? “I’m hungry and you know this is my favorite breakfast.” She took another bite of pancake followed by a strip of bacon before she told him what she’d learned from Allie Anson and her father’s lawyer.

  “She could merely be afraid,” Jake said. “After all, her husband was recently killed.”

  “That could explain the gun,” Blaze agreed. “But the passport?”

  Jake seemed to consider that. “Maybe your father will tell Clarkston something when they talk.”

  “Maybe.” She couldn’t help feeling doubtful. “It’s almost like Monte is up to something. I want to talk to Rita Durham and find out why she visited my father in jail. If she was involved with Frank...”

  “That sounds like a long shot.”

  She nodded. “Given the argument Allie witnessed? I would bet it involves money, not adultery.”

  “Okay, I’ll approach this from another angle. Shall we meet somewhere in town when we’re through? Maybe go have dinner at the steak house?”

  She met his gaze. Weakened by just the sight of him, let alone the breakfast he’d made her, she felt all warm and cozy inside and he looked so darn good this morning. “Why not?”

  They decided to take two vehicles to town. As she started toward hers, she called over to him, “Hey, thanks for breakfast. It was great.”

  Jake smiled for the first time that morning. “I still know what you like.” His gaze locked with hers. Heat rushed straight to her center. Jake definitely knew what she liked.

  She cleared her throat as she broke eye contact. “I’ll give you a call later.”

  * * *

  AFTER WHAT BLAZE had told him about her conversation with Allie, Jake agreed that Frank Anson’s problem might be gambling. Most small towns had a poker game going somewhere. He was determined to find it. As an outsider, though, getting to the table could prove to be much harder.

  He headed for the bank to get as much cash as he could out of the ATM machine, then looked around for possible places to hold a game. His cell phone rang and he saw it was the judge.

  “How are things going?” WT asked without preamble.

  “We’re following up on some leads. There could be others who wanted Frank Anson dead. He might have been gambling and in debt to some ranchers who might have wanted their money.”

  “What about Blaze’s father?”

  “He still wants to plead guilty, but we’ve hired a criminal lawyer. Her father’s lover is Frank Anson’s wife, and she’s pregnant. Also, the slug taken from Frank’s body got misplaced. They are apparently running the ballistics test again.”

  The judge made a disgruntled sound. “I was worried about the sheriff up there. How is Blaze doing?”

  “You know Blaze. But she seems to be holding up fairly well, all things considered.”

  “All things, including you?”

  “I’m giving her space.”

  “I see.” Jake figured the judge did see. “Be careful. You’re stirring up a hornet’s nest. I heard about the buffalo stampede.” He wondered how the judge had heard but didn’t ask. “I know you’ll keep Blaze safe. As safe as is humanly possible since—you’re right—she is her own woman.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, sir, she sure is.”

  As he disconnected, he headed for the nearest bar. It was probably his best bet when it came to finding out the poker game location. But it was also a great place to get the shit beat out of him if he wasn’t careful.

  * * *

  BLAZE TRIED TO get in to see her father, but was told she’d have to come back later in the afternoon.

  When she exited the courthouse, she stopped for a moment to take a breath and tried to curb her anger. Tears burned her eyes. She hated that they were making it difficult to see her father. There was nothing worse than feeling powerless. She wiped at the tears and when she looked up, her heart dropped.

  Wade Cameron was standing in front of her, holding a toddler who was the spitting image of him. “Blaze?” He looked surprised to see her, but not as surprised as she was to see him. She’d heard that he’d moved away. If there had been one person on earth she hadn’t wanted to run into, it was him.

  A young pretty woman joined him on the sidewalk. Blaze saw with another heart drop that she was very pregnant.

  “Blaze, this is my wife, Missy. Maybe you remember her from high school.”

  Melissa “Missy” Frederickson was two years younger than her and Wade. She’d been raised in town, the daughter of the now senat
or. Missy and Wade looked like the perfect family, Blaze thought with a tug of jealousy. Wade had been her first love, so there’d always been a special place in her heart for him.

  “Yes,” she said, surprised that her voice sounded normal. “I remember Missy. How are you?”

  “Right now I feel like an elephant,” the young woman said with a laugh, her hand going to her very large belly.

  “We’re having twins,” Wade said, sounding proud and excited. “Identical baby girls.” He grinned over at his wife. “And this is Conner, our son.”

  “Hi, Conner.” Blaze felt as if the smile on her face had been glued there. Wade had everything that she’d once wanted with him. Then her mother had disappeared and her life had imploded, taking those dreams with it.

  “I bet you even have a dog,” Blaze heard herself say. The whole package, just as she’d once imagined it.

  “Goldie,” Conner said and grinned just like his father.

  “Goldie. A golden retriever.” She nodded, fighting tears. Wade had gone on and made that perfect life that they’d planned when they were together. With someone else. Not that she could blame him. She’d gone on to jail and would have ended up in prison if it hadn’t been for the judge.

  “I’m happy for you.” Her voice wobbled.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your father,” Wade said as if knowing that wasn’t what was making her so emotional. It was just like him to cover for her.

  “Yes, that’s why I’m in town. So, are you living here now?”

  “Just visiting,” he said. “We moved to North Dakota to be closer to Missy’s grandparents. They’re quite elderly and need the help.” He looked at his wife. “We’d better get going.” His gaze met Blaze’s again. “It was good seeing you. Take care.” He reached out and touched her hand, squeezing it for a moment before they moved on.

  Blaze stood there, surprised by the warring emotions that rushed through her. Jealousy, regret, and yet, when he’d touched her, she’d felt nothing but a warm hand on hers. She let out a laugh filled with relief.

  Seeing him reminded her of what she’d once wanted more than anything. A husband, children, a family and a damned dog. She’d always wondered what had happened to Wade and if he had been The One. Now she knew. She couldn’t help smiling. She was happy for him as she headed for her pickup, and happy to realize that he wasn’t the man for her, probably never had been, even if he’d been available.

  She thought of Jake and sighed. No man, not even Wade back in the day, had made her feel the way Jake did. If she wanted a husband, children, a family and a dog, then the only man she wanted it with was Jake.

  Blaze was almost to her pickup when she saw him. Jake. He was standing over by the hardware store. The moment their gazes met, she knew that he’d seen her talking to Wade and his family. Jake looked...concerned for her. She cursed herself for telling him about her first love. Now he would think that she was heartbroken and still in love with Wade, when there was only one man she wanted like her next breath.

  * * *

  JAKE HAD JUST come out of the first establishment after drinking a beer and getting nowhere with the bartender or the regulars bellied up to the bar. As he started to enter the next bar, he saw Blaze across the street.

  The moment he saw her talking to the cowboy, he knew it had to be Wade Cameron. Blaze had told him about the rancher’s son, her high school love. It had been serious. They’d talked about marriage. Blaze had thought he was the one she would end up with. Maybe she still had—until this moment. He felt for her. There was nothing like having your dreams crushed. His heart went out to her.

  He couldn’t see her expression, but from her body language she was uncomfortable seeing her old boyfriend and his pregnant wife and child. Then again, was marriage and a family what Blaze wanted anymore?

  Jealousy made him nauseous as he watched. Blaze had always said what a great guy Wade was. A regular Boy Scout when it came to honesty and loyalty. Jake knew he couldn’t hold a candle to the cowboy. He started to turn away when he saw Wade reach for Blaze’s hand—and then witnessed her reaction as the man and his family moved away.

  It was like a swift kick to his gut. She was smiling, laughing, and then she saw him and scowled. Jake tried to understand her reaction as he watched her walk to her pickup. She didn’t seem heartbroken after all. At least, he hoped not. He didn’t want that for her. He didn’t want Wade for her even if the man had been free.

  He simply wanted her for himself, and seeing her with Wade and his family, Jake knew he had to step it up before some other old boyfriend appeared. He had to make Blaze see how much he loved her and that he was as serious as the ring he’d been carrying around in his pocket.

  * * *

  BLAZE QUICKLY PUT Wade out of her mind and drove the few miles out of town to the Durham Ranch. If only she could put Jake Horn out of her mind as easily.

  She had thought about calling first to make sure Rita was home but decided against it. Better to surprise her. When she drove up, she saw that there were several rigs in the yard. She didn’t really want to see Hutch and hoped, if around, that he was out feeding cattle. She wanted to speak to Rita alone.

  When the woman answered the door, Blaze saw that she had indeed surprised her. Rita blinked a couple of times. From her expression, she was sorry she’d opened the door. “Blaze? What are you doing—”

  “We need to talk. Mind if I come in?” It was clear that Rita did mind, but after a moment’s hesitation, she stepped back to let her enter.

  The house was typical of most in the area. From the floors to the furnishings, it had the lived-in, worn look of at least a couple of generations of family leaving their mark on it.

  “I can’t imagine what we have to talk about,” Rita said, closing the front door and standing by it.

  Blaze had walked to the middle of the living room and, not being offered a chair, turned to look at her. Montanans were famous for hospitality when even strangers happened by the ranch. So Blaze knew at once that there was a good reason Rita Durham wasn’t happy to see her.

  Rita was a typical hands-on ranchwoman dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt, her graying hair cut short, her skin wrinkled and worn from living a good part of her life outside in the elements. “Let’s talk about my father.”

  “Monte? Why would you think—”

  “You visited him at the jail.”

  “So?” Rita said with a toss of her head. “I was just being neighborly.”

  Blaze scoffed at that. “I know about the argument Frank Anson had with your husband. Was it over you?”

  The woman looked shocked that she would even ask such a thing. “Me and Frank? You can’t be serious.”

  Blaze said nothing, waiting.

  Rita tried to wait her out but eventually failed. “If you must know, I went to see Monte because I’d heard that he gave that woman money.”

  “That woman being Allie Anson?”

  Crossing her arms and looking prim, Rita said, “That money should have gone to my husband.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Frank owed him! That’s what they were arguing about. Frank said he didn’t have it, couldn’t get it. He’d reneged on his debt. To some, he’d have been strung up for that.”

  “Instead he was merely shot and killed.”

  Rita blanched. “You can’t think we had anything to do with that.”

  “Why not? You’re angry enough. Frank had no way to pay and you and Hutch knew it. So one of you killed him. I’ve seen you shoot at the fair, Rita. You’re quite the markswoman.”

  “That was years ago,” she snapped. “You don’t know nothing about me or my husband or what it’s been like since you left.”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  The woman shook her head but said, “Times have been hard. Last winter...” She waved an arm through the ai
r. “You don’t want to hear about my troubles and I’m not interested in yours, either.”

  “So Hutch took up gambling?”

  Rita snapped her lips shut tight.

  Blaze didn’t have the patience to wait her out this time. “I’m sorry that you’ve had a rough go of it. But Monte can give his money to anyone he likes.”

  The woman raised a brow and looked down her nose. “Seems like there was something goin’ on between ’em. Or are you going to deny that, too?”

  “Whatever the deal is with Allie and my father, it has nothing to do with this.”

  Rita huffed. “He killed Frank for her and then got to feeling guilty and paid her off.”

  Blaze had figured that would be the local consensus. “You had more reason to kill Frank than my father did. Also, I suspect Hutch wasn’t the only person Frank owed money to.”

  The woman pursed her lips for a moment and Blaze thought she wasn’t going to open them to speak again. “Frank had enemies. After all, he’s the one who sold that extra land to your father, and look how that turned out.”

  “You blame Frank for my father raising buffalo?”

  “Monte couldn’t have done it without that extra land,” Rita said stubbornly.

  “Who else did Frank owe money to?” Blaze asked.

  The woman shrugged. “I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

  She just bet. “Well, right now, you and your husband are the prime suspects. Want to give that a little more thought?”

  The back door opened and closed, followed by the sound of boots thumping across the floor, headed in their direction. Hutch was back. Which meant this conversation was over.

  Blaze turned to look at the man as he came into the room and stopped dead.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Hutch demanded. He was a large man with a known bad temper.

  “She thinks one of us shot Frank,” Rita cried.

  “What? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Everyone knows who killed Frank Anson.”