Page 14

C HAPTER F OURTEEN

R oper finished taking Fire Dance through his early-morning paces. The chestnut stallion was performing flawlessly, responding to the lightest pressure of Roper’s hands and knees. At last, the horse’s trust issues seemed to be fading.

“Good boy.” Patting the sweat-dampened shoulder, Roper spoke as if nothing had changed since yesterday. “Keep doing what you just did, and we’ll have a good chance of winning our million.”

The stallion snorted and tossed his head, as if in agreement. But Roper had to force himself to focus on the coming event. After yesterday’s confrontation with Sam, he wasn’t even sure he’d be allowed to compete.

Last night, after making love to Lila, he’d insisted that they stay apart until he was cleared. She’d wanted to fight for his innocence. But Roper knew that her involvement would only strengthen Sam’s case against him. It could even implicate her in the crime.

This morning he struggled to keep her out of his thoughts. But as always, she was there. In his imagination, he pictured her in her bed, yawning herself awake, her hair tousled, her body a little sore from his loving . . . Roper blocked the image with a silent curse. Nudging the stallion to an easy walk, he began the cooldown.

Last night he’d arrived home late to find his supper of ham and beans warming on the stove. The rest of the family had already eaten. Cheyenne had an ugly bruise on her cheek, from a barrel-racing accident, she’d said with a shrug. Rachel had made a fuss over the injury, forcing her daughter to sit with an ice pack on her face. Rowdy had been sulky as usual, especially when his brothers described their winning rides. His trial was scheduled for tomorrow morning. Roper would sacrifice needed training time to be there for him.

Roper had been thinking about how he’d miss Lila if he went to prison. But what about his family? Rachel was showing early signs of the arthritis that had crippled her late mother. Kirby was going to need more care as time passed. The young rodeo stars had their own plans, and Rowdy, with his defiant attitude, could be headed for trouble. For years, Roper had been the lynchpin of the family. What would they do without him?

They didn’t know, of course, that he was the prime suspect in Frank’s murder. He would keep that worry from them for as long as he could.

Roper was about to dismount and turn the stallion over to a groom when a petite figure, perched on a rail at the far side of the arena, jumped to the ground and walked toward him. It was Cheyenne.

No member of his family had ever visited him here, at work. Had something happened at home? Suddenly anxious, he swung off the horse, dropped the reins, and strode to meet her.

“Is something wrong?” he demanded.

Cheyenne didn’t answer. She stood facing him, the top of her dark head barely reaching his shoulder. Dark lashes veiled her eyes. The bruise on her cheek had faded from livid purple to blue.

A groom had come out to take the stallion. Roper studied his sister. “How did you manage to hit yourself there on a barrel?” he asked. “Did you come to tell me what really happened?”

“No,” she said. “I just wanted to talk. We didn’t get a chance last night. But since you’re wondering about the bruise, I’ll tell you the real story. You just can’t tell Mom, okay?”

“You know me better than that, Little Sis.” He walked her to the side of the arena and offered her a bottled water. She twisted off the cap and took a long, deep drink.

“It was a drunken cowboy.” She touched the tender bruise. “He grabbed me under the stands as I was shortcutting my way back from the ladies’ room. When I scratched his face, he slapped me so hard that I saw stars. I got him with a boot between the legs. When he doubled over, I ran.”

“Do your brothers know what happened?”

Cheyenne shrugged. “What do they care? Mom thinks they’re still protecting my virtue. That’s the only reason she let me go on the circuit when I was sixteen. But I’ve been on my own for a long time.” She finished the water and crushed the plastic bottle in her fist. “I want a different life, Roper. I need it.”

“Are you serious about cutting? It’s going to take a lot of work and a champion horse to get you to where you are now in the rodeo standings.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Roper,” she said. “I really want to do it. And I need to start soon. Will you help me?”

“As much as I can.” Roper wasn’t ready to tell her what he was facing. Maybe he could at least get her started. “Are you still doing that photo shoot for Vogue ?”

“It’s set for next month, after the Run for a Million. After they pay me, along with what I’ve saved, I should have enough money for a horse. But I want to start looking now. You said you could get me into the cutting events. Can I count on that?”

“I’ll do my best, but no promises.” Silently, Roper cursed the twist of fate that had turned him into a murder suspect. He would do anything to help his sister, but lying now would only make things worse.

“What’s the matter with you, Roper?” She frowned up at him. “The last time we talked, you offered to take me and even to get me behind the scenes. Now you’re saying no promises. Is something wrong?”

“I said I would try. And I will. But it might not be easy. Roper was saved from saying more by the sound of a truck pulling up outside. A door opened and closed. The tall, well-dressed cowboy who walked into the arena was Hayden Barr.

“Hey, Dad asked me to come by and check on Fire Dance.” He greeted Roper, but his gaze had already singled out Cheyenne. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

“Do you follow women’s mixed martial arts?” Cheyenne’s reply dripped sarcasm as she touched the unsightly bruise.

Hayden looked puzzled, then laughed. “Heck, I know you. You’re Cheyenne McKenna. I’ve seen you ride.”

Roper made the introductions. “Cheyenne, Hayden Barr. His father owns Fire Dance. Hayden, my sister.”

“I should’ve guessed,” Hayden said. “But I never made the family connection until now. I can see the resemblance.”

“Actually, I’m only his half sister. Same mother. I’ve been told I look like my dad.” Cheyenne appeared unimpressed.

“Fire Dance is coming along fine.” Roper knew better than to mention the attack. “If you’d come a few minutes earlier, you could’ve watched him perform. By now, he should be getting his shower. If you want to see him, I can take you back to where he is.”

“I’ll take your word for it. I’m just passing on a message from my dad. He said to tell you he’s counting on that horse, and on you, to win some big money.”

“Fire Dance is a great horse. I’ll do my best.” Roper tried not to imagine what Chet Barr would say if it turned out that his stallion couldn’t compete because the rider was in jail.

“Are you coming to the Run for a Million?” Hayden was talking to Cheyenne now. “I’ll be in the cutting event, with my horse, Steely Dan. If you’re watching, maybe you can cheer me on.”

“I’d cheer if I had a ticket. But I hear they’re sold out.”

“I can fix that. There might not be any seats, but I can get you a pass for the stables behind the arena. If you’re interested, you’ll even get to see the horses and meet some of the riders.”

“If I’m interested?” Cheyenne grinned. “Mister, you’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll give you my phone number. But remember, I don’t take kindly to cowboys who make promises and let me down.” Her gaze darted toward Roper. “Got a pen, big brother?”

Roper had a Sharpie, which he used for marking the charts posted outside each horse stall. He took it out of his pocket and passed it to his sister.

“Roll up your sleeve,” Cheyenne ordered Hayden.

Hayden obliged, a look of amusement on his clean-cut features as she wrote her number in two-inch letters on the tanned flesh of his arm. “I promise not to wash until I’ve copied it somewhere else,” he said.

Cheyenne gave him an impish look. “No need. I believe the ink is permanent. Just so you won’t forget how much I want that pass.”

“Got it. Don’t worry, I’ll remember.”

“You’d better not let your girlfriend see it,” she teased.

“No girlfriend. Not for now, at least.”

Hayden was grinning when he walked out to his truck and drove away. Cheyenne had clearly made a conquest. “There, that’s taken care of,” she said, returning the pen. “But you’ve got me worried, Roper. I can tell something is bothering you.”

“Nothing I can’t handle, Little Sis,” Roper said. “Let’s get the next few weeks over with. Once things are back to normal, after you’ve done the photo shoot and picked out a horse, we’ll figure out your training. Okay?”

“Okay.” She turned to leave. “But if you need to talk—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Was that a lie? Roper asked himself as his sister walked out to her SUV. Maybe not. Maybe he really would be fine. Or maybe what he’d told her was a lie and he would never be fine again.

* * *

Crystal had promised herself that she’d be careful spending the $10,000 Lila had given her. But that was before she saw the ring.

She’d seen it in the window of a jewelry store in the Abilene mall, where she’d gone to buy a few practical things, like sheets and towels for her apartment. She’d also needed a new purse, and the red sandals she’d loved on sight were on sale. Small purchases—she hadn’t spent much. She had plenty of money left for things like food and rent.

The ring was marked down—a three-quarter-carat solitaire mounted in white gold. Still, $5,500 was an unimaginable amount to pay. She’d only meant to try it on and leave. But when she slipped it on her finger, it fit perfectly. It made the other rings on her hand look like the cheap trinkets they were. She had slipped them off and dropped them into her pocket so they wouldn’t detract from the spectacular diamond.

The effect of the ring was magical. Wearing it, she no longer felt like a girl who’d come from trash—or a woman whose only hope of getting a leg up in life lay in convincing some rich bitch she was still pregnant with her husband’s baby. The diamond on her finger made her feel equal to the people who lived in nice homes, wore expensive clothes, and drove flashy cars. It made her feel like somebody .

Before she knew it, she’d presented her debit card, waited while the clerk checked her bank account, then walked out of the store with the ring on her finger and the receipt in her purse. But now her account was getting low, and she still needed to put some emergency cash aside. She was going to need more money.

By the time she’d driven back to Willow Bend, she’d made up a story to tell Lila.

In her shabby basement apartment, she took time to guzzle a cold beer, try on her new red sandals, and admire her ring. Then, summoning her courage, she made the call.

“Why are you calling, Crystal? Is something wrong?” As usual, Lila sounded annoyed.

“Well, sort of. For one thing, I’ve lost my job. When my boss found out I was pregnant, he fired me. I’m starting to show a little, and he said it wasn’t good for business.” Actually, Crystal still had her job, but she planned to quit when she had enough money. As for showing, she’d practiced walking around her apartment with a folded dish towel tucked into the front of her underwear. When she found something more realistic, she would try wearing it in public.

“That’s too bad,” Lila said. “But at least you’ve got enough money to last awhile.”

“I’m afraid not,” Crystal said. “There’s this black stuff growing inside the walls of my apartment. I found out it was mold, and that it’s really bad for the baby. I’ve signed up for a better place, but the rent’s more, and they want a big deposit, with first and last month’s rent in advance. Oh—and it isn’t furnished. I’ll need to buy a good bed and some other things.

Lila’s sigh could be heard over the phone. “We’ll talk about that. Right now, I’m more concerned about your health and the baby’s. Are you taking prenatal vitamins?”

“Every day,” Crystal lied.

“And are you seeing a doctor? If we decide to do this adoption—and I’m still making up my mind about it—I’m going to want a report after every checkup.”

That, Crystal realized, could become a problem. She thought fast. “Actually, I’ve found this woman—she’s a birth doula, like a midwife, only she guides you through the entire pregnancy. Food, vitamins, everything wholesome and natural. She’s even got me doing exercises to make the baby come easier.”

“Oh? And does this woman have a name?” Lila’s sharp tone told Crystal she was skating the edge of trouble.

“The woman goes by Eve. I met her through somebody at work. But she keeps her contact information private. She’s got some important clients—celebrities and all—who wouldn’t want the press trying to question her. Know what I mean?”

The story sounded far-fetched, even to Crystal. She spoke again before Lila could respond. “Anyway, here’s the real reason I called. I’m getting anxious to settle my baby’s future. I called an adoption lawyer. He knows a couple who’d be happy to take my little one. They’ve got money and would pay all the fees and my living expenses. You have first claim, of course. But I can’t wait forever. Neither can the people who want to adopt my baby.”

“Stop giving me the runaround, Crystal. What do you want? Is it more money?”

“I can always use more money,” Crystal said. “But what I need is security. I want a signed agreement with a ten-percent deposit to guarantee that, when the time comes, you’ll pay the balance and take this baby. If you change your mind, the deposit will be mine to keep.”

There was silence on the other end of the call. Was Lila about to say no?

“Think about it,” Crystal said. “Frank’s baby—his very last child—could save your right to keep the ranch. Force me to walk away and you’ll never have another chance. What’s the price of that?”

“Ten percent of a million.” Lila spoke slowly, as if weighing each word. “That’s a hundred thousand dollars.”

“For you, that’s pocket change,” Crystal said.

“Be still and listen. I’m not saying I’d agree to your terms. But if were to say yes, I’d insist on a sonogram to make sure the baby was healthy. If you can promise to do that, we’ll talk about the rest.”

This wasn’t good. Crystal thought fast. “I’d be fine with that. But I’m not even four months along. The baby won’t look like a baby yet—more like a little tadpole. I’ve seen pictures on Google. A sonogram would be useless.”

Crystal’s pulse raced as she waited for a reply. After a long silent pause, Lila spoke.

“All right, here’s what I’m proposing. For now, I’ll give you five thousand dollars a month to live on. That should be plenty. When you’re ready for the sonogram, if everything looks good, we’ll negotiate. Meanwhile, you’re not to accept offers from anybody else. Understood?”

Crystal twisted the diamond ring on her finger. Five thousand dollars a month was nothing! She’d have to keep her job. She’d have to stay in the same creepy apartment with the dingy furniture and lumpy bed. But she was in no position to argue for more. If Lila discovered she’d had a miscarriage, it would be game over.

Lila had outfoxed her. But Crystal wasn’t beaten yet. Her pulse danced as a new idea—a perfect Plan B—sprouted in her mind.

“I asked you if you understood.” Lila made no effort to hide her impatience.

“Yes, ma’am. Could I have the five thousand by tomorrow? I really need it.”

“All right. I’ll transfer the funds. But that’s all you’re getting until next month. Don’t ask me again.”

“I understand.” Already thinking about her new plan, Crystal ended the call.

* * *

The next morning, Roper drove his brother into Willow Bend for trial. Rowdy was putting on a confident face, bragging about how his lawyer was going to get him off. But Roper could see the fear in his eyes and in the way his hand shook when he drank the coffee they’d picked up on the way to the courthouse.

The lawyer met them there—the same man Roper had seen on his visit to the jail. He was as good as his reputation. Rowdy’s case was swiftly dismissed by the judge on the grounds that the arrest had involved entrapment and an unlawful search. Rowdy walked out of the courtroom grinning.

“I hope you’ve learned your lesson, young man,” the lawyer admonished as they left the building. “If you get into trouble again, you might not get off so easily.”

“Yes, sir.” For once, Rowdy was on his best behavior. “I have one question. What happened to my jail buddy, Judd Proctor? I haven’t seen him since I got bailed out.”

The lawyer frowned. “If you’re smart, you’ll steer clear of that fellow. His trial is set for this afternoon. I’m hoping for an acquittal, but with a jury, you never know. If they don’t like him, he’ll be facing prison. That’s all I’m allowed to tell you. Now go home and live a good life, Rowdy McKenna. Don’t ever let me see you here again.”

Roper drove his brother home. On the way, Rowdy was already talking about how he was going to grab his gear and clothes, load his truck, and head out on the circuit.

“I hope you’ll take time to set things right with Mom before you go,” Roper said. “It’s not a good idea to leave with bad blood between family members.”

“Tell that to Mom. She told me I was going to hell for disgracing the family name. Maybe that’s where I’m headed. I don’t care, as long as I don’t have to listen to her sermons anymore.”

“You’ll break her heart, Rowdy.”

“Hell, her heart’s made out of granite, if she’s even got one. She’ll probably be glad to have me gone. That way, she can make up any damn story she wants about me—like maybe I’m off saving souls in Borneo or someplace. Since I won’t be coming back, it won’t matter what she says.”

Roper sighed and settled into silence. He’d tried to put things right at home, but Rowdy was determined to go his own way. The young man had some hard lessons to learn. There was nothing to do but let him. Right now, Roper had enough trouble of his own.

* * *

Crystal crossed the unkempt lawn and mounted the front porch of the large house. Her hand trembled as she raised it to the doorbell and heard the loud chime from the other side. Light footsteps approached the door. The door opened.

The woman in the entry was petite, blond, and visibly pregnant. Her doll-like face wore a sour expression. “Whatever you’re selling, we don’t want any,” she said.

“No, please, I’m not selling anything.” Crystal placed a booted foot across the threshold so the door couldn’t be closed. “Your husband knows me, Mrs. Culhane. I have some important business to discuss with the two of you. It concerns your right to inherit the Culhane Ranch.”

“Who is it, Simone?” Darrin Culhane appeared from the next room. “What do they want?”

Simone stepped aside, revealing Crystal in the doorway. “ This woman claims to know you. She says she’s here to discuss business. Something about the ranch.”

“Oh.” Darrin looked startled. Crystal suspected he’d never told his wife about his visits to the Jackalope Saloon. “Well, come on in,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

“It’s what I can do for you,” Crystal said, stepping through the doorway. “I have a story and a business proposition, for both of you. If you’re interested in getting control of your family ranch, you’ll want to hear me out.”

Darrin switched off the TV and motioned her to an armchair. After clearing magazines off the sofa, he took a seat with his wife to face Crystal. “Well, let’s hear it,” he said.

Crystal took her time, telling her rapt audience how she’d met Frank and they’d become lovers. “He promised to divorce Lila and marry me. He even gave me this.” She held out her hand, displaying the diamond ring. “Look all you want. I guarantee it’s real.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue from her purse. “Of course you know what happened. I didn’t even get a chance to tell Frank that I was pregnant with his baby.”

Simone gasped. “You’re pregnant ? How do you know the baby is Frank’s?”

Her tone made Crystal want to slap the woman. She bit back an angry response. There was nothing to be gained by losing her temper. From her purse, she took out a copy of the test results the doctor had sent her. “Take a look. DNA doesn’t lie.”

She passed Darrin the paper, which she’d printed off her email. He showed it to his wife. Crystal could see their disbelief turn to resignation. “Keep it,” she said. “It’s a duplicate.”

Darrin folded the paper and put it in his shirt pocket. “So what’s the rest of the story? Where are you going with this?”

“I needed money, so I made a call to Lila,” Crystal said. “I’d planned on keeping the baby, but she offered to adopt it and pay me for my trouble. At first I was shocked—that would be like selling my baby. But what kind of life would that baby have with me? Lila could give him—or her—everything. So I agreed.”

Crystal paused to gauge the effect her story was having on Darrin and Simone. They were transfixed.

“Of course, I know why Lila wants my baby,” Crystal said. “As the legal mother of Frank’s child, she’d be meeting the terms of Frank’s will. You two would no longer have a case.”

Crystal could tell the news had hit them hard. Simone’s mouth had hardened into a thin line. Darrin looked as if he’d been slapped across the face.

“So what are you doing here?” he demanded. “What do you want?”

Again, Crystal took her time. “To tell you the truth, I’m having second thoughts about Lila. She only wants the baby to help her keep the ranch. She wouldn’t love Frank’s child by another woman. Not the way I would love him—or her. I want to keep this baby. But look at me—I work in a bar. I have no education, no family support. If I can’t afford to give my child a decent life, I’ll have no choice except to take Lila’s offer.”

“How much is she planning to give you?” Darrin asked.

“We’re still negotiating. But my baby could save the ranch for her. That has to be worth a lot. Of course, I won’t get the full amount until I give birth and turn over the baby.”

Crystal gave the words time to sink in. Darrin and Simone exchanged uneasy glances.

“Here’s my offer,” she said. “What would it be worth to you if I were to leave town and disappear? I could move out of the state, start a new life somewhere, raising my baby on my own. Lila would never hear from me again, and you’d have a good chance of getting your family ranch back.”

“We’re not millionaires like Lila,” Darrin said. “How much would you need?”

“For moving expenses and a new start, a hundred thousand dollars cash up-front.” It wasn’t a million, but she needed it soon. From these people, it was as good as she was likely to get.

Again, the couple exchanged glances. “We’ll need to talk this over,” Darrin said. “Can we let you know?”

“Of course.” Crystal stood. “But don’t make me wait. I need to make a decision, and I’m running out of time. Here’s my number.” She handed them the card she’d prepared and left before they could ask her more questions.

* * *

“What do you think?” Darrin asked his wife as Crystal drove away. “A hundred grand is a lot of money.”

“But what if Lila adopts that baby?” Simone demanded. “If she becomes the legal mother of your father’s child, our lawsuit is dead in the water.”

“I don’t trust her,” Darrin said. “For all we know, she could be scamming us.”

“Maybe. But that report from the doctor looks real enough. And you know how your father loved the ladies, especially the young ones. He fooled around when he was married to your mother, and he didn’t stop after he wed Lila, especially now that she’s older.”

“But he never got one of them pregnant before.”

“You don’t know that,” Simone said. “You could have an army of half brothers and sisters out there who you’ve never met. I’m surprised that none of them showed up for the memorial service.”

“Stop it!” Darrin checked his hand, which had risen to slap her. She flinched and drew back, then released a breath when the blow didn’t come. “My father was who he was,” Darrin said. “But that doesn’t mean you can disrespect his memory.” He studied the card Crystal had given him. “Right now we’ve got to figure out what to do about that woman and her baby.”

“You could pay her,” Simone said. “Yes, it’s a lot of money, but it’s better than giving Lila a weapon to use against us.”

“But what if we give her the money and she doesn’t leave? Or what if she sneaks behind our backs and strikes a bargain with Lila? I don’t trust her.”

“Well, we’ve got to do something.” Simone picked up the remote and switched her reality show back on. “By the time we get our court date, that baby could be born and adopted.”

“I’m going to do some research,” Darrin said. “If Lila can legally adopt that baby, we need to stop her—any way we can.”

* * *

Crystal popped the tab on a can of Budweiser and settled onto her sagging couch. The visit to Frank’s son and daughter-in-law had left her emotionally drained. She could only hope the couple had bought her story and that they were worried enough to come through with the money.

Lila had made good on her word to transfer the $5,000 to Crystal’s bank account. But the woman was clearly getting suspicious—making too many demands, asking too many questions. Sooner or later, she was bound to guess the truth. By then, Crystal would need to be on the road to her new life. A hundred thousand dollars wouldn’t last forever. But it should at least keep her in style until she could find a man with money.

It would probably be a good idea to keep her bags packed, her car gassed, and her account converted to cash. That way she could be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.

The thought of leaving Willow Bend was both frightening and exhilarating. She would be all alone with no home and no friends. But she would be free—free to do and become anything she wanted.

The sound of the doorbell broke into her thoughts. Hardly anyone knew she’d moved here. Maybe it was her landlord to fix the constantly running toilet she’d complained about.

She got up and opened the door. Judd Proctor grinned as he stepped across the threshold.

“I’m back, babe,” he said. “Now we can be together, just like before.”