Page 27 of Chance (Wild River Ranch #3)

J oy sat on the front porch, wishing she could have gone into town with Ruby, Kenzie, and Tildi to deliver the cookies they had all decorated. But she’d promised Chance she’d stay in or around the lodge.

Besides, she wasn’t sure her bottom was up to riding down the rough mountain roads between Wilder and the ranch. The ache in her backside was enough to have her sitting on a cushion on the front porch swing.

Of course, the ache wasn’t all bad. Now that the sting had finally calmed down, the ache in her bottom had caused another, equally troublesome ache between her thighs.

If she knew Chance wouldn’t mind, she would go up to their suite and tend to that one right now.

As it was, she didn’t know, and she wasn’t willing to risk it. Not today, anyway.

Tucking Puggles into her backpack carrier, she pushed off the porch swing and hopped down off the front porch.

“I know we have to stay close,” she told Puggles, who worried a lot more these days about getting into trouble than she used to.

“We can still walk around the lodge. We need new pictures to post on the ranch’s social media pages and the website. ”

It was hard to believe their followers had tripled in less than a week. She needed to design a new photography company website, too. So far, she hadn’t settled on a name for her new company. She’d loved the name of her studio in Nameless. Smile, Beautiful said everything she wanted to convey.

A noise interrupted her thoughts. Was that a car door slamming? They never had company. Ruby said it was too early in the season, but that soon they’d have a steady stream of hunters and campers in the cabins.

There was no reason anyone would be here now. Chance and his brothers were trying to deal with the bison getting out. Ruby and the girls should be back for at least another couple of hours.

It was probably one of those random ranch noise things.

As she rounded the back corner, a dark shadow streaked across the courtyard. “Dodger!” she squealed. She almost never saw him, but she knew he was around because his food bowl was empty every morning. “Come here, Dodger.”

His head cocked to the side. Well, what did she expect?

Dodger probably couldn’t speak English any more than she could speak canine.

She’d tried howling at him a few days ago, and that had him running off even quicker.

She had no idea what she’d said, but she hoped she hadn’t hurt his feelings. She’d never been gifted in languages.

Dodger cocked his head again, but this time stared toward her. Bending his legs as if preparing to pounce, he growled.

Joy froze. What was going on? She’d never seen Dodger do that before. Not to her. Not to anyone. Fear prickled the hairs on the back of her neck, but not soon enough.

Spinning to face her attacker, she was shocked to find Detective James standing right behind her.

Before she could say a word, he lifted both hands in surrender and took two steps backward.

“ Sorry about that. I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you.

I called out, asking if anyone was here. Didn’t you hear me?”

"No, I didn't," she said. "But then Dodger,Puggles, and I were carrying on quite a conversation. I'm sorry, Dodger is growling. I'm not sure what's gotten into him. It's very unlike him."

As if her words gave him permission, he snarled once and ran off around the corner. It was silly how abandoned she felt as he disappeared.

Slowly, Detective James lowered his hands. "That's all right. I’m sorry I startled you."

"That's okay. It seems to happen more often these days. You know, you're a really good sneaker. I bet you kill at hide and seek."

The way he stared at her made her think she’d said something wrong. "You know, you're not the first to tell me that," he said.

He seemed to be smiling… sort of… but it must be at a joke inside his head because she hadn't said anything funny.

Her Daddy didn't like Detective James, but she did. She owed her life to him. If he hadn’t helped her, she wouldn’t have survived. Some people thought that's just what policemen did, and they'd be right. But Detective James had really gone above and beyond the call of duty.

He had insisted whenever she thought of something or had a question, she ask him specifically. He’d even given her his personal phone number so she could call him directly if he wasn't at the station.

It had been such a comfort before she’d found her Daddy to know that she could talk to the same person every time. That way, she didn’t have to start from the beginning and relive everything. At least, he had until he’d come to Wilder.

Still, there seemed to be something off about him today.

She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was definitely not right.

Normally, she'd invite someone inside when they came to visit, but she didn't like the idea of being alone in the house with Detective James.

Especially not with Dodger growling at him non-stop before he ran off.

Settling for the next best thing, she asked, "Would you like to go back to the front porch and swing? It's lots of fun and very relaxing. You seem kind of stressed today. Is everything all right?"

For some reason, that made him frown, but only for a second.

Then the happy smile was back on his face.

“To be honest, things have been a little stressful.

I understand the people around you are being protective, but I don't understand why they feel they need to protect you from me.

Have I ever done anything to make you feel uncomfortable? "

She hated he felt that way after all he’d done. He’d driven all the way up to Wyoming to complete his assignment. “No. Never." She walked around the corner of the lodge back toward the front, hoping he would take the hint and follow her.

After a pause, he did just that. "Actually, I think it's good that we stumbled across each other today. I do still have some questions, but whenever I try to ask them, your Daddy shuts me down."

"Well, I wouldn't say we exactly stumbled across each other. It's more like you drove all the way out here and stumbled across me. Is that why you came out here today? To ask me more questions? I really don't know of anything else I can tell you."

Again, he frowned at her words. "Well, I'm headed back to Nameless tomorrow, so I wanted to try one more time to talk you into going with me.

I know these people think that they can keep you safe, but they don't have the backing of the law behind them. And if Eddie Sharp finds out where you are, he’ll send someone after you.

Any or all of the people who live here could get hurt.

Their pain would be your fault. You don't want that, would you? "

Wow. He'd just summed up her biggest concerns in one sentence. Could she really hurt them by staying? She would never do anything to hurt any of the people on Wild River Ranch. They were her family. She loved them .

She placed a hand on her stomach. The tight ball of worry that burned there seemed to form whenever he was around. Just like it was doing now.

Even the thought of leaving broke her heart. How could she walk away from the only real family she'd ever known? Then again, if she loved them like her family, how could she stay if it put them in danger?

Turning her attention back to the detective, she asked, "Do you really think the people here are in danger because of me?"

A sadness came over his expression. He nodded his head." I hate to say it, but I really do."

She guessed that was that. But not entirely. "I’m not going back to Nameless. I would be terrified the whole time Eddie or one of his goons would find me and hurt me. Is there any other place I can go? Any place to make it safe for everyone?"

He frowned. Again. It wasn’t a good look for him.

“Obviously, there are other places you could go.

But none of them will be as safe as being under police protection in Nameless.

But hey, you don't have to decide right now.

I was hoping someone would be here to show me around the ranch before I leave tomorrow, but it looks like no one's here. "

She shook her head. “No, not right now. Ruby and the girls should be back soon."

His body tensed at that information. It was probably nothing. He was probably just nervous knowing the people here didn't like him.

Maybe she shouldn't have told him she was alone and would be for the foreseeable future. That didn’t sound safe. Darn it! She needed him to leave so her Daddy wouldn’t know he’d been there alone with her. Her bottom couldn’t take another spanking today.

"And your Daddy? Is he here?"

Going with her instincts, she said. “Oh yes, he is. He's working with the, um, the horses out in the barn. And so is Trace. Yep. Trace and my Daddy are right there. I mean, it’s not like I’m alone or anything. I'm sure he'll walk up any minute."

Shut up! You’re babbling again.

She wasn’t selling the idea. Then again, maybe she was because Detective James glanced around as if her Daddy would appear any second. He turned back to her and smiled. But she didn’t like this smile. This smile was like a shark.

He pulled open his blazer and dug through the inside pocket. "Well, I guess if he's here, we should go ahead and leave without a fuss."

Her heart pounded harder. "What do you mean leave? I'm not supposed to leave the house today."

"Oh really? And why is that?" Her heart sank.

She really didn't want to answer any of his questions, not without her Daddy here.She was starting to think her Daddy may have been right about the detective all along. “If you’re looking for your notebook, you won’t need it.

I really don't feel like talking today."

She froze when he pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at her chest. What was he doing? Why was he pointing his gun at her?

She laughed, but it came more as hysteria. “You don’t need a gun to protect yourself. Or me. Or anyone else, really. You're safe here. People are always safe on the ranch."

"People aren't always safe anywhere," he snarled. She’d never heard him speak like that before. "You of all people should know that by now."

She couldn’t take her eyes off the gun pointed at her. It took her straight back to that night in the car when Eddie stood at her window and tried to kill her. " What… what are you doing?"

"You really are stupid, aren’t you. I thought it was an act, but you are really just that dumb.

” He wiggled the gun in her face. “Your hick cowboy Daddy can't keep anyone safe.

Especially not you. Now get on your feet and walk to the car.

We're going to take a little ride. And you are not going to do anything to alert the people watching the cameras scattered all over this godforsaken place that you're not going of your own free will. "

What was happening? She felt like the Earth had shifted under her feet. "But I don't understand. I thought you were trying to help me."

He rolled his eyes. Her Daddy was right. It was very unattractive. “You stupid, stupid bitch. It’s time you learned. No one ever helps anyone unless there's something in it for themselves.

“You weren’t getting anything.”

“I’ve been on Eddie’s payroll for years. Why do you think I worked it, so you only talked to me? Why did I let you keep your camera instead of collecting it as evidence? The last thing I needed was for evidence to turn up for a case that was never filed.”

“But… I thought you were my friend.”

“I don’t have any friends. I do my job and cover up Eddie’s stupid mistakes. I make his problems go away, and it’s time for you to disappear.”