you and your boyfriend. Or are you both really working for your father?”
“What in the hell are you getting at?” Sandra huffed.
“Then you did try and warn me, but by then, I’m guessing that both your father and Randy decided that while they expanded their business, they could take out some trash. That included Mustang. Why not? After all, he was responsible for turning his baby daughter against him for several years. He was also the son of one of the men forcing Randy’s father to end his life. Then there’s Big Meadow Ranch. Well, it would seem that luck had come your way. You could take out Big Meadow at the same time, a beautiful moment of revenge for Randy having spent time in prison because of Drake Travers, brother to the current owner of Big Meadow. Am I getting warmer? What I don’t understand is why you’d agree to help.”
“You’re not making any sense, Danni, but I don’t like your tone one bit.” She placed her glass of wine on the table. “I think you should leave. In fact, get out before you say something that we’re both going to regret.”
“Isn’t Randy Harding, son of Robert Cooper, your boyfriend?” I could tell by the look of fear in her eyes that everything I’d been told by the FBI had been correct.
“I don’t know why you would say these horrible things,” she managed, her jaw clenched.
I stormed toward her, my anger ready to claw through my skin. “Because Randy had every intention of killing me yesterday because he realized that I already knew too much. Did you know that? Was that under your orders or your father’s, or just something that Randy was intent on doing? My guess is that you convinced Randy to try and warn me. Why? Was that the soft spot you had left?”
Now her face was pinched.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe I don’t, Sandra, but I thought you were my friend.” I had a feeling she wasn’t going to say anything. “I was almost killed for one reason. Because I care about animals. I’m not certain what happened to you or why, but maybe one day you’ll be able to tell me.” I headed toward the door, the sadness overtaking my anger.
“I never wanted you hurt, Danni. Never. You are my friend, but you kept digging, refusing to stop. I was the person who called you, disguising my voice. I just wanted you to back off. Then you had to find Mustang. Everything seemed to unravel after that, Randy insisting that no one was going to take away what he’d worked so hard to rebuild, including the son of the man who forced his father to kill himself.”
“That might be the reason that Randy is involved, but what about you?”
She closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths. “I wanted to punish my father.”
“So you were planning on framing him.”
“Yes, okay? Are you happy now? My father has done nothing but try and ruin my life, including doing everything he could to keep Randy away from me.”
“Just like you tried to ruin my life.”
Tears filled Sandra’s eyes. “I never intended on doing that. If that asshole ranch hand had listened to me and called the right veterinarian, none of this would have happened.”
“But it did. Then I met Mustang. I feel sorry for you, Sandra, but sometimes the choices we make in our lives cause harm to others. What I don’t feel is guilty in helping to catch you in your lies.” I opened the door, sighing before walking out and leaving it open.
The flashing blue lights should tell her the rest of the story.
Now it was time to continue on with my life, and with the man I loved.
Chapter 16
Mustang
Ten Days Later
Guilt.
Anger.
Remorse.
All three emotions had spun themselves into something that I knew I had to deal with. I’d also felt fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of the future.
Mostly, fear of losing the woman I loved.
Finally the nightmare was over, the persons responsible admitting their crimes. I knew Danni remained troubled by the betrayal of her friend, but at least she’d learned the truth. She’d also helped the case against Randy Harding and Sandra Ellis with the wire she’d worn. It had been risky, but several FBI agents had surrounded the house.
Sadly, Sandra’s father had gone into hiding, some convinced that he’d been a part of the scheme.
As far as the future? Well, I was actually looking forward to it.
“You sure you’re