Born to Be a Cowboy Read online

  As if he already owned it.

  But if that were so, was his new wife alive? Or…?

  Feeling restless, Finn tucked the drive in his shirt pocket and changed programs on his computer, losing himself in the tedious task of checking out the references of the wranglers Sam had recently hired to help with the herds and spring calving.

  This was exactly what he needed to distract from the troubling questions that were churning in his mind.

  Finn tossed his attaché case on the passenger seat of his truck and turned on the ignition.

  As he headed out of town, he thought about the attrition rate of wranglers who could never finish a season on any given ranch. Most often it was because their former employers had to let them go for being drunk and disorderly, or for failing to perform simple ranch chores.

  Sometimes their Social Security numbers didn’t compute, which often meant they weren’t in the country legally. And then there were the ones with criminal records. If they’d done their time and really wanted another chance, most ranchers were willing to give them a try, but a lot of ex-cons weren’t willing to be honest about their past and resorted to false identities instead.

  Out of the list Sam had given him, Finn had found only two cowboys with questionable backgrounds. Buck Hoyt and Clint Sawyer. Finn would turn their records over to his dad and Sam. Now that they had a lawman in the family, they would probably ask Ben to do a thorough check before making a final decision to keep them or let them go.

  As he turned the truck onto a two-lane highway, Finn gave a sigh of pure pleasure.

  As much as he loved his job, he was always happy to be headed home. But since Jessie’s arrival, there was an added air of expectancy. He loved walking in and seeing her in the kitchen, helping Penny, or in the parlor seated at his dad’s desk, going over the figures that Mac had always found so tedious.

  Odd, how in just a matter of days, they had all begun seeing Jessie as part of the family.

  It was true that his family had always made visitors feel welcome. It was a gift they had, and one that he found endearing. Still, this visit felt special because of Jessie. From the moment she’d stepped through the door, he’d watched her charm all of them, from tough old cowboy Roscoe to Archie, Ben and Becca’s dog, who rushed to her side whenever he came for a visit. It was clear everyone, both human and animal, adored her.

  She had time for each of them, as though she had nothing more pressing than to lavish them with her smile and all her attention. And they in turn responded to her in a special way.

  Special. If Finn had to describe her in one word, it would be that. Beyond her dazzling smile, beyond the gorgeous face, beyond the thoughtful attention, she had a special gift of heart.

  He was grinning as he came up over a rise where the highway narrowed and there was only a metal guardrail separating the road from a boulder-strewn drop off.

  As he reached the top of the rise and started down the other side, a gasoline truck in front of him began slowing down for the dangerous descent.

  Reflexively, Finn put his foot on the brake.

  His truck hurtled forward without a pause.

  Annoyed, he pumped the brake. The truck continued on, gaining speed with every foot of the descent.

  The realization that his brakes had gone out swept over him in an instant. Sweating now, he eased his truck into the oncoming lane far enough to see if any traffic was heading toward him. With any luck he could swing past the gasoline truck and get to a flat surface somewhere up ahead where he could slow his vehicle enough to bring it to a gradual halt.

  He found himself staring at his worst nightmare. A cattle hauler was huffing its way up the incline toward him.

  By now his truck, midway down the hill, was reaching a speed that would guarantee a fiery crash if he couldn’t find a way to stop a rear-end collision with the gasoline truck.

  He was forced to take a calculated risk. If the cattle hauler was loaded, its speed would be impeded, and he might be able to pass the gasoline truck and tuck back into his lane while dodging a horrible accident. If not, his truck, so much smaller and lighter than the cattle hauler, would be a tangled mass of flaming metal before being tossed over the guardrail and into the chasm below.

  There was no time to debate. Worse, there was no other option on this narrow, twisted highway.

  Gritting his teeth, Finn pressed the accelerator to the floor.

  Though it seemed to take forever, his truck managed to pick up even more speed before it passed the gasoline truck as the cattle hauler raced toward him. As he swerved the wheel, he managed to tuck his vehicle in front of the gasoline truck just as the cattle hauler, its air horn booming, rushed past with such power, it rocked Finn’s truck from side to side.

  For the space of a heartbeat he was forced to fight the wheel and feared he might yet go over the embankment.

  His truck continued speeding down the hill and careened around a curve, and then a second horseshoe curve, before slowing and finally coming to a gradual rolling stop by the side of a level stretch of road.

  Finn sat, his hands locked on the wheel, his head bowed on his hands, while his entire body vibrated with the delayed reaction to what had just occurred.

  Minutes later, when the gasoline truck rolled past, the driver laid on his horn and gave Finn the sort of gesture any sane man would give a fool who had passed in such a dangerous manner.

  With a weak grin, Finn continued sitting there until his shakiness passed. Then, as his brain began to function, he phoned a friend in Haller Creek.

  “Tony?”

  He exhaled as the deep voice on the end of the line greeted him.

  “Tony, I could use your help.”

  An hour and a half later the Haller Creek Gas and Garage tow truck rolled to a stop beside the back door of the ranch.

  “Thanks, Tony.” Finn stepped down, grateful that he’d had time to calm his nerves and walk without his legs turning to rubber. “Call me with what you find.”

  “Will do. And I sure hope your suspicions are wrong about your brakes being tampered with.” Tony Russo drove the tow truck in a wide circle and headed back to town.

  Finn took in a breath and pasted a smile on his face. No sense worrying his family until his suspicions were confirmed or denied.

  “Hey.” With a smile brighter than sunshine, Jessie looked over as he stepped into the kitchen. “Penny made lasagna. She said it’s one of your favorites.”

  “Yeah.” He stood a minute, taking in the sight of her in fresh denims and a pink shirt, the sleeves rolled to her elbows, her hair long and loose. “You’re turning into a regular Rachael Ray.”

  That had her laughing. “In your dreams, cowboy. Penny does all the real work here. I just try to look like I know what I’m doing.”

  “Don’t let her kid you,” Penny called from across the room. “Today our domestic goddess baked buttermilk biscuits from scratch.”

  “Domestic goddess?” Finn’s lips curved into a smile. “I’m betting you’ve never been called that before.”

  “You got that right.” Jessie whisked a few more drops of olive oil into her dressing and tasted before looking over to see Finn heading toward the parlor. “Where are you going? Dinner’s ready.”

  Finn started out of the room. “Just going to get comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

  Upstairs he undressed and stepped under the shower, letting the warm spray play over his taut muscles. A short time later, dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, he walked into the kitchen to find Ben and Becca talking with Mac and Zachariah.

  “Hey, bro.” Ben watched as Finn bent to ruffle Archie’s furry neck before handing Finn a frosty longneck. “We passed Tony Russo on the way here. That looked like your truck he was towing.”

  Finn took the bottle from his brother and drank, feeling calm and steady once more. “Yeah. I had a little car trouble.”

  “You should’ve called me.”

  “I figured you were on duty chasing ba
d guys. Besides, Tony said he’ll have it fixed by tomorrow.”

  “Okay.” Ben shrugged and began talking about his day in town as they gathered around the table.

  Though he knew he would share the information with his family, he wasn’t ready to do it just yet. So while Finn listened to the family’s conversation during dinner, and nodded in all the right places, his mind was still on that stretch of highway where he’d very nearly lost his life.

  It was nearly midnight when the call came. Long after Ben and Becca had gone, and the family had retired for the night, Finn was still sitting in front of the fireplace, where the fire had burned to embers.

  “Yeah, Tony.”

  “Like you asked, I paid particular attention to anything that looked out of place. Your brakes were deliberately tampered with.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Positive, Finn. If you’d crashed, the evidence would have been destroyed. But I know deliberate damage when I see it. This was no accident.”

  “Thanks, Tony. I want you to write this up in language a layman can understand. I may have to call on you as a witness in a trial one day. Would you be willing?”

  “You bet. Anyone traveling that stretch of highway between Haller Creek and your ranch would understand just how deadly brake failure could be. Looks like you’ve got a dangerous enemy, my friend.”

  “Yeah.”

  When Finn hung up, he sat staring into the fireplace, feeling a blaze of red hot fury that matched the heat of the glowing embers.

  His hunch had been correct. This had been a deliberate—and potentially deadly—act.

  It would have been an easy matter for anyone monitoring the security camera to identify the visitors to Nola’s ranch. Once someone had a name to go with the face, it would have been fairly simple to get his office address. But it would take time and talent to damage his brakes just enough to hold for a few miles, before failing on that particular stretch of highway.

  How had someone managed enough time and privacy to do such a thing without drawing suspicion to himself?

  Finn dialed Basil Caldwell’s number and explained the situation. Before their conversation ended, Finn asked, “Did the police report on Matthew Carver’s accident mention any tests done on his brakes?”

  “Afraid not. But then, there was no reason to test what was left of his vehicle, since the police labeled it ‘asleep at the wheel.’”

  “Yeah. And I’m sure by now what was left of his car has been flattened for scrap metal. Thanks, Basil.”

  Knowing Ben was on duty, Finn phoned him. After telling his brother about the incident with his brakes and Tony’s insistence that they’d been intentionally tampered with, he heard Ben’s expletive before asking, “What can I do to help?”

  Finn kept his tone low. “I trust Basil to gather whatever information possible. But even the best investigator can’t guarantee that another incident won’t occur. I realize you’re the law in Haller Creek, and that Arvid isn’t your jurisdiction, but I’m hoping you can persuade the authorities in Arvid to take another look at Jessie’s aunt and her new husband.”

  “I’ll definitely call the chief first thing in the morning and lay it all out. But unless there’s proof of a crime being committed, their hands are tied.”

  “Yes, they’ll want proof. And I’m doing my best to find it. I understand they have to play by the rules, Ben. Thanks.”

  As Finn made his way upstairs to bed, his mind was working overtime.

  Proof of a crime.

  He hoped it came soon.

  How many times could he and Jessie hope to escape without a scratch?

  Thinking about Jessie and the motel fire, the death of the private investigator she’d hired, and Finn’s own incident today had him feeling a sense of urgency. Every day that the identity of her aunt’s cowboy remained a mystery was another day that this smooth operator would have to strike out at him and Jessie—the only two people left who threatened his carefully planned scheme.

  Chapter Twelve

  ’Morning, Dad. Zachariah.” Finn looked up from mucking stalls as Mac and the elderly lawyer stepped into the cavernous barn and walked toward him.

  Mac leaned an arm atop the stall door. “What’s up, son? Why the invitation to meet you out here instead of in the kitchen?”

  “I have some things to tell you. I’m also asking for your help.”

  The two men listened in stunned silence as he related the event of the previous day.

  Mac’s big hands closed into fists. “Tony is absolutely certain your brakes were deliberately tampered with?”

  Finn nodded. “We all know Tony is the best auto mechanic in the business. And he said he’d be willing to testify to it in court.”

  “Have you talked to your brother?”

  Finn nodded. “I phoned Ben last night. He’ll talk to the authorities in Arvid and suggest they widen their investigation.”

  Zachariah pinned him with a look. “And Jessica?”

  Finn took a breath. “She has a right to know. Especially in light of that motel fire. I’m more convinced than ever that it was arson. And that Jessie was the target. She’s Nola Blair’s only kin. If this wrangler hopes to take over Nola’s ranch, he needs to eliminate her and anyone she may have confided in. That’s where the two of you come in. With Sam, Otis, and Roscoe up in the hills, I need you to stay close to the ranch until this is resolved.”

  Mac nodded. “I understand, Finn.”

  Zachariah held up a hand. “Finnian, my boy, you need to warn Penny, as well. She and Jessica have been spending a lot of time together.”

  Finn sighed. “I know. I hate sounding an alarm like this, and adding to Jessie’s worries. But someone capable of tampering with a truck’s brakes, and possibly setting a motel fire, is capable of much worse.”

  “And what about you, son?” Mac turned a troubled look on Finn.

  “Forewarned is forearmed. Now that I know, I’ll be careful. Or as careful as I can be and still do my job.”

  As the three made their way to the house, they shared looks of grim determination.

  Penny passed around a platter mounded with scrambled eggs. “Sorry. I’m so used to cooking for an army, I’ve forgotten how to cook for just a few.”

  Seeing Finn’s plate nearly empty, she smiled. “Try to eat a bit more so all this won’t go to waste.”

  Finn helped himself to seconds. “Good food could never go to waste around here. Besides, I’ve worked up an appetite mucking stalls.”

  Just then Ben and Becca strode in, with Archie wiggling his way toward Jessie. With a laugh of delight she dropped to her knees and accepted several wet doggie kisses before offering him a treat.

  Seeing her simple joy, Finn felt a stirring of anger that he would be the one to steal it from her when he had to warn her of further impending danger.

  He turned to Ben. “You just get off duty?”

  Ben nodded. “And it didn’t take much persuasion to have Becca ready for the ride here, as long as she could count on a breakfast like this.”

  As they ate, the family managed to empty an entire pitcher of orange juice and a pot of steaming coffee, while devouring eggs and potatoes and lighter-than-air pancakes.

  Finn waited until the meal was finished before bringing up the subject he’d been dreading.

  After filling them in on the details, he turned to Jessie. To soften his words, he put a hand on hers. “Now that my friend Tony has confirmed that the brakes were tampered with, we have to face the fact that we’re in the crosshairs of a dangerous man.”

  Jessie pulled her hand free and looked stricken. “Oh, Finn. This is all my fault.”

  Finn frowned. “Don’t be sill—”

  “Before, he just wanted to get rid of me. But now, after our visit to Aunt Nola’s ranch, and that security camera he installed, he knows you’re helping me.”

  “Jessie, don’t…”

  She shoved away from the table and stood wringing her hands. “Do
n’t you see? I’m the reason you almost got killed on that highway yesterday. And you know it. That’s why you waited until now to tell me what happened.”

  Finn stood to face her and put his hands on her shoulders. “Nobody forced me to take this on, Jessie. I volunteered. The only reason I waited until now to tell you is because I wanted to know if Tony confirmed my suspicions. And now that we know, we’re going to see this through together.” He looked around at the family gathered at the table. “All of us.”

  Ben scraped back his chair and crossed to them. “Finn’s right, Jessie. We’re all in this. And now that the authorities in Arvid have been alerted, we have even more help coming.”

  Jessie turned to Ben. “You’ve called the Arvid police?”

  He nodded. “Chief Frank Tyler and I are acquainted. I’ve met him at various law-related functions. And after hearing the latest details, he told me he’d do everything he could to aid you, including initiating a search for your aunt.”

  Jessie’s eyes filled, and she swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek.

  “Thank you, Ben.”

  “It’s a start.” Ben looked around at the others. “But it’s a long way to go from searching for a missing woman to investigating these other crimes. Until the authorities confirm that the motel fire was arson, and until we can find out who messed with Finn’s brakes, all we have are our suspicions. But at least we’re all on the same page.”

  Finn could feel Jessie struggling to hold back her tears. Though he hated to add to her nerves, he knew this had to be said aloud. “I’m sorry, but I have to ask you a favor.”

  “Anything, Finn. After all…” She swallowed. “Since I brought this to you and your family, I’ll do whatever I can to make it up to you.”

  Finn kept his hands on her shoulders, as much for his own needs as hers. His voice lowered, softened. “First, Jessie, you need to get over the fact that this is somehow your fault. You had no way of knowing you were being followed by this…scum who sweet-talked your aunt. But now…” He looked into her eyes. “Promise me that, until this guy is found, you’re never alone. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you have someone with you whenever I’m not around.”