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A few days later, there was still no word about the horses. As worried as she was about the theft, what had happened between her and Jake was foremost in her mind. Every night she awoke in a sweat, unable to be still as she relived the way he’d made her feel in her dreams. “Stop it!” She reprimanded herself. Until she found out if he’d stolen from her, she had no business fantasizing about the multiple orgasms he’d give her.
Today, after wrestling with Jake-filled dreams all night and a too early morning, Becca stomped out to the barn and found Stan tending to Daisy. He glanced up at her as she walked toward him.
“How’s she doing?” Becca asked as she rubbed Daisy’s velvet nose, the simplicity of the action calming her mood almost immediately. Maybe Stan could help her sort this out. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.
“She’s fine as far as the pregnancy but she seems a little downcast. I think she misses her roommates.”
Taking the bull by the horns, she tackled the subject causing her to lose sleep. Becca leaned back against the stall door. “Stan, how well do you know Jake Stone?”
“Jake?” Stan gave her a slight smile. He was a kind man, a weathered cowboy who could have stepped from the movie screen of an old western. “Hell, I know him real well, Becca. I’ve known him and his brothers since they were boys. Why do you ask?”
Becca crossed her arms, rubbing the material of her coat between her fingers. Talking about this was hard but she had to know. “You don’t think he had anything to do with the missing horses, do you?”
Stan’s eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “Jake. Hell no! Jake’s a good man. One of the best I know. He took care of Hattie, Becca. Any time she needed anything, he was here for her. One time, when we were all sick with the flu, Jake, Gabe, and Wyatt came over to take care of the ranch. He loved Hattie. He took it real hard when she passed.” He shook his head as if refusing to consider the idea. “No, ma’am. I’d bet my life Jake had nothing to do with the missing horses.”
Becca could tell he was upset. “Stan, I’m not trying to be difficult. I just need to find out the truth.”
Stan looked at her with kindness. “I know. We can’t expect you to come here and feel the same way about things that we do. Trust takes time. The Stone men have the respect of the whole town. Of course, when they were teenagers they raised a lot of hell,” he admitted with a gravelly chuckle. “But, once they grew up, they turned into real good men. Wyatt joined the Marines, but Jake and Gabe just wanted to run the ranch.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Please tell me you don’t really suspect Jake of taking those horses. I know better.”
Becca smiled. Her mind still entertained doubts even though she didn’t want them, but Stan wasn’t the kind of man to lead her astray. “I trust you, Stan. If you say he had nothing to do with it, then I believe you.”
After giving Stan a kiss on the cheek, Becca left the barn and headed toward the house. Her gaze landed on the bare rose bushes lining the porch. She smiled as she thought of them blooming come spring. Becca wanted Stan to be right about Jake. She wanted to be sure about Jake, but she couldn’t help her suspicions. Emma was coming for lunch, and before then she wanted to call Olivia and tell her what was going on. Light snow swirled around her as she headed inside much like thoughts of Jake swirled in her mind.
* * * *
Later that evening, Jake sat on Midnight leaning on his saddle horn looking out over the pasture in the cold night air. He was keeping an eye on his horses. Someone was doing the unthinkable—rustling. It didn’t matter if it was cows or horses, you didn’t take a man’s livelihood. The moon was shining down like a huge spotlight. The entire pasture was lit up and he could easily see his horses. There were only five of them in the upper pasture near the creek, as the rest were in the barn. It was damn cold and snowing, but he wanted to make sure they were all right. He should just take them to the barn and put them in for the night but since they’d already spent the last few days cooped up, he thought they needed some exercise.
It was quiet—too quiet. When things were silent and still like this, his mind went back to Becca and how she’d felt in his arms. If he closed his eyes, he could still feel her tremble and see the look on her face when he’d brought her to orgasm. Was there any more beautiful thing in the world than watching a woman taking her pleasure?
“Damn it!” The very idea that she could think he’d do anything to hurt her just killed him. At first, he’d been angry but now he was just plain hurt.
A slight noise drew his attention. Jake tensed in the saddle, sitting straighter, cocking his head. He could feel something was wrong. He listened closely then nudged Midnight forward. All of a sudden the horses bolted, running in a pack and right toward him. Jake jerked, pulling back on the reins.
“Easy, Midnight. What the hell?” His first instinct was to yell and try to head them off, but then he realized what was happening. The horses ran past him at full speed. Behind them were three men on horseback.
Anger flared within him. Damn, they were trying to round up his horses. He reached for the rifle in his saddlebag and raised it up, but they shot first. A bullet smacked into the tree behind him, sending bark flying.
“Son of a bitch,” he roared in rage and frustration.
Jake spurred Midnight into a run and followed the men, but they continued to shoot at him over their shoulders. He couldn’t lose his horses. Fuck! Damn, he should’ve kept them in the barn. Pulling his cellphone out, he called Gabe. Wyatt was at a sale in Butte.
“The bastards have my horses on the run,” Jake yelled into the phone as soon as Gabe answered. “Get Sam out here.”
Jake didn’t know if Gabe said anything or not, he just hung up and took off after the rustlers. Midnight ran at full speed. They had a good start on him now, but he couldn’t give up. Another shot rang out, and he reined in Midnight to stop him. Shit!
Turning his horse toward the trees, Jake cut through them. He knew this ranch like the back of his hand. If they were heading to where he thought they were, he could head them off. There was a dirt road on the north side of the ranch. It was possible they had a truck there, waiting. When he got to the clearing, there was nothing there.
Shit! Now what? Maybe they were on the opposite side of the grove. With a slight touch of his knee, Jake turned Midnight toward the trees again and took off in another direction. Voices drifted to him on the wind. There they are! He’d found them. The bastards were loading the horses into a trailer.
“Not happening, assholes.” Jake raised his rifle, pulled on the trigger and shot. The bullet hit the ground right at one of the men’s feet. The idiot jumped but the others turned, and fired back at him. He and Midnight had to head back into the trees.
“God damn it,” Jake swore under his breath. This wasn’t something he could handle on his own. With disgust, he watched as the men closed the trailer, and then the truck pulled out. His first instinct was to take off after them, to spur Midnight on toward the road but there was no way he was going to catch them. He stopped his horse and swore as the truck threw up a cloud of dust. Jake was afraid if he followed, they would drive faster and hurt the horses in the trailer. They’d torn down the fence with the truck. This was no fly by night operation. These crooks had experience. They’d come prepared.
Needing to see his brother, he turned Midnight back toward the ranch and rode him hard. The horse would definitely get extra oats tonight. Jake rode into the yard and jumped off the horse before he came to a full stop. Sam and Gabe were there saddling their horses. Jake shook his head at them. “No use. They’re gone. I didn’t want to endanger the horses in the trailer so I came back.” He looked at Sam. “Can you get some cruisers out and maybe a chopper?”
Sam shook his head. “The weather’s getting too bad for a chopper, but I already have cruisers in the area. Tell me what the truck looked like.”
Jake described the truck as best he could. He told Sam about the three men on horseback and one other who helped load the horses. “Has there been a lot of rustling going on lately?”
“Only you and Ms. Daniels, and she suspects you’re behind her missing horses.” Sam gave him a smirk of a smile as he walked to the sport utility vehicle marked with the department logo and called in a description of the truck.
Gabe swore under his breath, his gaze trained on Jake’s face. “How the hell does she figure something ridiculous like that?”
Jake shook his head. “She thinks I want her ranch. That I want her gone before her six months are up so I can bid on it at auction and get it cheap.” He shrugged. “I told her it made no sense but she thinks if her horses are gone, she has no reason to keep the ranch.”
Gabe frowned at him. “No, it doesn’t make sense. She can keep the ranch with or without the horses.”
Sam returned to where they stood. “The men are out searching but I have a feeling it’s a lost cause. The rustlers planned this out. They knew what they were doing.” He sighed. “I’m heading over in the morning to talk to Ms. Daniels again. See if she’s noticed anything else suspicious. I’ll talk to Stan and the other hands, again.”
He turned to walk away, stopped, and glanced back at his friends. “Don’t go back out there tonight, Jake. I’ll be out in the morning to look for clues.”
“There might be some casings. The bastards shot at me.”
“Holy hell,” Gabe muttered.
Sam nodded. “Okay, you can go with me and show me where. I’ll be here around seven.”
Jake and Gabe watched him drive off. They unsaddled the horses and put them in the barn. Jake was having trouble comprehending the situation. This kind of thing just didn’t go on in a town like Clifton. The community of fifteen hundred was a tight one. He couldn’t imagine any of them doing something like this. Yet it was happening. It had started with Becca’s horses. Now his, but what did that have to do with him?
Gabe told him goodnight and left to return to his own home. Jake stayed in the barn for a while. The other horses were fine and he intended to make sure they stayed that way, even if he had to sleep with them all night. He wasn’t one to hunt for silver linings, but he knew one good thing would come out of this fiasco. Settling himself on a bale of hay, he let out a heavy breath. At least now, Becca would know that someone else was behind the rustling. Jake hadn’t stolen her horses and the knowledge that she’d suspected him cut like a knife.
* * * *
Becca was sitting in the window seat drinking coffee the next morning when she saw the sheriff’s SUV pull up. Unable to sleep, she’d been up for hours. Setting down her cup, she went to the front door to let him in.
“Becca.” He took his hat off and walked past her, bringing the cold in with him.
“Good morning, Sam. What brings you out here so early?” Becca asked, smiling at him.
“I want to ask you some additional questions, and then I plan on talking to Stan and the other men too.”
“Would you like some coffee?” she offered.
He smiled. “I would. Thank you.”
He followed her to the kitchen and took a seat at the table while she poured him a cup. Becca handed him the mug and sat down across from him. “What do you need to ask? Have you heard anything about my horses?”
Sam shook his head. A lock of dark hair fell across his forehead. “Have you seen anything suspicious around here lately? Did you see any unfamiliar cars or trucks coming to the ranch?”
“No. The only people I usually see are Stan and the regular guys. Emma comes for lunch occasionally, and of course, Jake’s been here a time or two.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I know everyone thinks he wouldn’t do this but he does know his way around my ranch very well.”
“And do you think he’d have his own horses stolen?”
A ripple of uncertainty swept up her body. “What is that supposed to mean?” Becca frowned at him.
“Someone took five of Jake’s horses last night. He tried to catch them, but they shot at him.”
“Shot at him?” Becca suddenly felt ill. Jake might’ve been killed.
She noticed Sam watching her closely. Trying to appear calm, Becca took a sip of coffee but it settled in her stomach like a rock.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale.” Sam tilted his head as he looked at her.
Becca nodded. Someone shot at Jake. She felt like she was going to throw up. The reality of what she was feeling wasn’t lost on Becca. Her heart was pounding and the palms of her hands were clammy with fear. In the short time she’d known him, Jake had come to mean more to her than she realized.
Sam stood and put his hat on. “As soon as I talk to the men, I’m heading over to Jake’s to look for evidence. I don’t like any of this. Is there anyone who could stay here with you?”
“I could call my friend, Olivia. I know she’ll come but she’s in Maryland. It will take her at least two weeks to get someone to cover for her at the coffee shop. I suppose in the meantime, I could ask Emma.”
Sam seemed pleased with that. “Good. Call them both. Emma can stay until your friend gets here. I want you to call me if you see anything suspicious. Anything, Becca.” He shook his head. “I really don’t like any of this.”
He gave her a brief nod and left.
Shaking like a leaf, Becca called Emma and explained everything. Emma told her she would be there within an hour. Then she called Olivia and filled her in. She knew the reaction Olivia would have.
“What the fuck is going on out there, Becs?” Olivia asked in a clipped voice.
“I don’t know, but if the sheriff is upset about it then I’m not questioning it. Please come out here, Liv.” She choked on a sob.
“Oh, sweetie, I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll see if Beth can run the shop for us. If not, I’ll close up for however long it takes.”
“I really need you here, Liv.” Becca started crying.
“I promise you, I’ll be there. Please don’t cry. Emma will be there soon and you’ll feel better. I’m going to get off here, and start getting things ready so I can leave here. A. S. A. P. Okay?”
Becca nodded, and then realized Olivia couldn’t see her. “Yes. Please hurry.”
“I will. I love you, Becs,” Olivia whispered.
“I love you, too, Liv.”
After hanging up, the tears fell in earnest. Why was this happening? Would someone in the town want her gone that badly? Why steal Jake’s horses too? None of it made any sense. Becca leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and must have drifted off because the next thing she knew someone was knocking on the back door. She rose and hurried through the kitchen. Outside, Emma was standing on the porch. She unlocked the door and let her in.
Emma pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”
“Not just to me, to Jake too.” Becca sniffed.
Emma pulled back. “What do you mean?”
Becca took a deep breath. “Someone took five of Jake’s horses.”
Emma’s blue eyes widened. “There are rustlers in Clifton? Good Lord, things like that just don’t happen around here.”
Becca didn’t know what she could say. It had to appear to everyone else the way it did to her. That all the trouble started once she arrived. She nibbled on her bottom lip to stop it from trembling, trying to keep the tears at bay.
“Don’t even think about it, Becca,” Emma chastised her, obviously reading her mind.
Becca winced. “What?”
“I know you’re thinking all of this is your fault, but it’s not. I don’t think any of this has anything to do with you.”
“How did you know I was thinking that? Are you a friggin’ mind reader?” Becca grinned as they moved into the living room to sit in the window seat.
Emma laughed. “I wish. I just knew by the look on your face what you were thinking.” She reached out and touched Becca’s hand. “And I don’t want you to think that.”
Later as the snow and wind whipped past the windows, Becca lay in her bed, wide-awake. She couldn’t get Jake out of her thoughts to save her life. She had to wonder what was going through his mind with his horses gone. Was he blaming her?
She groaned and rolled to her side. Her mind went back to the day they’d made love, as it had so many times. No, she corrected herself. They’d had sex. There was no love involved. She knew Jake felt that way so there was no use for her to entertain any romantic notions. Her body heated up just remembering the way he’d touched her, the way his hands ran all over her body and his mouth...Lord, his mouth. His mouth was amazing.
Becca had always thought she wasn’t any good at sex, but Jake sure changed her mind about that. She was responsive after all—to the right man. The problem hadn’t been her at all, it had been her partner. Becca had been with only one other man before Jake and there was no comparison at all. Mack had only cared about his own pleasure and had left her hanging out to dry.
She snorted. Literally.
Jake, on the other hand, had her wet and willing just with a simple kiss.
The more she thought about him, the more turned on she became. Becca moaned and rolled back over to stare at the ceiling. There was no use denying it. She wanted him again. But, after the way she’d accused him of stealing her horses, Becca was sure he wanted nothing to do with her ever again.
Sighing, she threw the covers back and got out of bed. Maybe warm milk would help. Tiptoeing past the bedroom Emma was sleeping in, she quietly slipped downstairs.
Before she turned on the kitchen light, she thought she saw something outside. Her nerves on edge, Becca walked to the kitchen door and looked out the window. The moon was full so she had a good view of the barn. It was then she saw the flames reaching for the sky from the barn’s roof.
It was on fire! Becca ran back to the stairs and screamed out Emma’s name.
Emma came to the top of the stairs. “What is it?” Her eyes were wide with fear.
“The barn’s on fire! I’m calling 911. Please call Stan,” Becca screamed as she ran to the living room to get her cellphone. The operator assured her a fire truck would be there soon. Becca then ran upstairs to change into jeans and boots. As she hurried back down, Emma came running up.
“I called Stan. He’s calling the ranch hands to help. They all live close by. As soon as I change, I’ll be out.”
Becca nodded, and then ran through the kitchen and out the door. She didn’t even bother with her coat. She saw Stan leading Daisy out of the barn and ran to meet him.
Sheer panic made her almost dizzy with fear. “Is she alright? How bad is it?” Becca asked.
Stan coughed and shook his head. “It’s a good thing you saw it, Becca. I think it just started but the flames were getting close to Daisy.” He rubbed the horse’s nose.
Daisy’s eyes were wide and the smell of smoke surely frightened her. In the distance, they could hear the sirens. Emma came running out from the house and handed Becca her coat. Several trucks came barreling up the driveway. Becca figured it was the ranch hands but there were three other trucks behind those. She was shocked to see Jake and Gabe step from their trucks. The third tall man had to be Wyatt.
Jake headed right for her. The welcome sight of him almost brought her to her knees.
“Becca, are you all right?” His voice was hoarse. “Stan called us.”
She nodded and did her best to keep the tears back but one rolled down her cheek. Damn it! It seemed like crying was all she did lately.
Gently, Jake reached out and wiped the tear away with the pad of his thumb. Unable to stop herself, Becca stepped toward him and he wrapped his arms around her. A feeling of sublime relief flowed through her. She put her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his chest. His strong heartbeat made her feel safe. He laid his chin on top of her head. She realized Gabe was standing beside them.
“Is she all right?” Gabe asked softly.
Becca felt Jake shake his head. The fire truck and the sheriff’s SUV came up the driveway. Sam came rushing toward Becca and Jake.
“Did you see anything, Becca?” Sam touched her shoulder.
She pulled away from Jake. She was trembling.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about...” she began as her gaze glided past Jake. Whoa, she sure couldn’t confess that dream. With a slight cough, she adjusted her thought process. “I was thinking about...the horses and I came downstairs to get some warm milk. Before I turned the lights on, I saw something by the barn.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what I saw but when I looked closer, I saw the flames.”
Sam wrote down everything. The firefighters were working to get the fire out before it got out of control. The roof had flames shooting out of it and if it collapsed, all would be lost.
Jake kissed her gently on the forehead and moved away to help the men.
Becca felt Emma put her arm around her and give her a squeeze. She wrapped her arm around Emma’s waist as they watched the men fight the fire.
“Let’s go inside. They can come in and talk to us once the fire’s out,” Emma suggested.
An hour later, it was all over. They’d saved the barn. The roof would need repair but the structure was sound. Emma and Becca sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee and had another pot ready for anyone who wanted it. Becca hoped Jake would come in. As cold as it was, all the men could use something to warm them up. She looked up anxiously when the back door opened. Sam walked in with a firefighter who wore Chief on his helmet.
“Would you men like some coffee? We made a full pot,” Becca asked, rising from her chair, disappointed that Jake hadn’t come in too.
The men nodded and she got cups down for them. She had her back to the door when it opened again, she turned and her heart hit her stomach when Jake entered, followed by Gabe. Her gaze met Jake’s and held it. He smiled and winked at her. Blushing, she turned back to the cupboard to get more cups down. She put them on the table along with cream and sugar.
Gabe picked up the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Becca leaned her back against the counter and sipped her own coffee. Jake came over beside her and poured himself a cup. He nudged her with his elbow. “You doing all right?” he asked quietly.
Becca nodded, but she wasn’t. This was getting ridiculous. She wanted it to end. Someone wanted her gone. Someone wanted to bid on the ranch and hoped to scare her enough to make her leave. She trembled. Jake put his arm around her, and she leaned into him. Having him here with her made all the difference in the world.
Gabe raised an eyebrow at them. Jake glared at him.
The exchange wasn’t lost on Becca and it made her feel self-conscious, so she moved away from Jake and sat down beside Emma at the table. She looked at the fire chief. Emma had introduced him as Chet Browne.
“Did you find anything, Chief?” Becca asked.
Chief Browne nodded his head. “Our arson specialist will be out tomorrow but I could smell gasoline, so I’m pretty sure it was deliberate. I believe it started in the loft.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on. First someone steals my horses, and then my barn is set on fire.” Becca put her hands over her face in despair.
No one said a word. No one had any answers.
The fire chief and Sam put their empty cups in the sink and after telling Becca they would be in touch, thanked her for the coffee, and left. Jake and Gabe sat down at the table. Emma turned away from Gabe. Becca could see she was unnerved with Gabe sitting so close to her. She didn’t blame her. All of the Stone men were bigger than life.
Then, as if to speak of the devil, the back door opened and a tall man walked in. Becca’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open slightly. Jake and Gabe were gorgeous, and this man was certainly no exception. When Emma met her gaze, Becca mouthed, wow. Emma put her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at her friend’s expression.
His black Stetson sat low on his forehead, shadowing his eyes. His nose was straight and narrow. He had high cheekbones and a strong, chiseled jaw covered in stubble, which seemed the norm around Clifton. Removing his coat, he took off his hat, uncovering shiny ebony hair, which gleamed like a raven’s wing and touched the collar of his cotton T-shirt.
“Becca, this is Wyatt Stone,” Emma told her with an amused grin.
Wyatt smiled at her. Deep dimples creased Wyatt’s cheeks, and his smile flashed straight white teeth. She couldn’t get over how gorgeous the Stone men were but in her eyes, neither Gabe nor Wyatt could hold a candle to Jake. She suddenly noticed Wyatt had his hand out to her so she blushed and put her hand in his.
“It’s nice to meet you, Becca,” he said in a deep voice. Wyatt was as tall as his brothers were and had a body to match. The testosterone in the room was staggering.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” She grinned then realized Jake was frowning at her. She shrugged at him, but he moved away from the counter and reached for his coat.
“I think we all need to get some sleep. Stan put Daisy in the other barn and I know he’ll keep an eye on her. I don’t think anything more will happen tonight.” He looked at his brothers. “You all ready to go?”
“I was hoping for a cup of coffee,” Wyatt told him.
“Then go home and get one,” Jake said, nearly growling the words as he narrowed his eyes at his unsuspecting brother.
Wyatt grinned at him and Gabe laughed. Jake moved to stand near her. “Call me if you need anything, Red.” Jake ran his hand tenderly over her hair.
Becca nodded. More than anything, she really wanted to ask him to stay with her but she couldn’t. Looking up at him, she gave him a sad little smile. He smiled back then herded his brothers out of the house. Wyatt and Gabe said goodnight as Jake shoved them out the door.