to survive that crash. Since you did, all Thornton assets passed to you. Are you aware of anyone who would benefit from your death?”
“No one.” I shake my head and return to my finger twisting. “I really am nobody.”
“I think there’s more.” Grant scratches at his chin. “Tell me how you came to be on the trail.”
I start to explain, but he holds up his hand. “One moment, back up please. Where were you before coming here?”
I tell him about camping in Colorado and hitchhiking to Napa.
“Do you remember your route?”
“Kind of, but to be honest I wasn’t paying attention.”
He takes out his phone and pulls up a map. “Do you mind taking your best guess?”
I take his phone and stare at the map, exploding and zooming in on the screen as I need to. Grant gets up from the couch and sits on the coffee table as I lean forward and show him my best guess.
“I’d like to have you sit with a sketch artist. It might help if we have a solid description of the man who attacked you.”
“I can try, but I don’t know if it’ll be any help.”
“You’d be surprised what a trained sketch artist can do. I’ll get it set up and arrange for it sometime next week. Does that sound good?”
“Sure.”
We talk for a little longer. He thanks me for my time and excuses himself.
As he opens the door, I call out. “Detective Malone…”
He turns and gives me a smile. “You can call me Grant.”
“Um, okay. You asked if there was anything weird last night.”
“Yes?”
“I remember feeling like someone was watching me, like a presence. It was really strong. So strong that I made a circuit of the house, checking the locks, looking in the closets.” I give a soft laugh. “I even checked under the beds. I don’t know if that means anything, or if it was just me being nervous in a new house.”
“That actually helps. I’ll be in touch.” He heads outside and Brody and Cage follow, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Grant’s theory about someone trying to hurt me doesn’t feel right. My father was well liked. My mother was loved by practically everyone. The terms of the trust are rather specific. Everything went to me and my brother. There are no other heirs. With my brother’s death, I’m the sole heir.
Grant’s theory doesn’t hold up. Something else is going on.
While Brody and Cage are outside with Grant, Abbie drives up in her little, red corvette. She takes one look at my state of dress and shakes her head.
“Girl, you and I are going shopping.”
I think about Gracie offering to do the same and hold back a groan. I’m not up for a shopping trip, but somehow she gets me to not only go, but allow her to foot the bill. Until Prescott gets my cards reissued, I have no access to my money.
We spend the afternoon riding with the top down in her corvette. I relax beneath the sun and let the wind whip at my hair. We ride in silence as I take everything in, processing Grant’s theories. And then we talk. Nothing of substance at first, but then I tell her everything, spilling my life’s story as we drive through Napa Valley. Instead of fancy designer stores, Abbie takes me to the superstore Asher mentioned.
We spend two hours inside where I pick up an entirely new wardrobe for the second time in less than a week. Unlike the clothes Gracie and I bought, these are practical. I load up on comfortable jeans, tee-shirts, shorts and lightweight sweaters. I forget about shoes until Abbie reminds me. I grab a pair of boots in addition to sneakers while I’m at it.
If I’m going to stay at La Rouge, I plan on helping out. No longer a helpless socialite, I’m ready for hard work and know exactly how I can help the La Rouge brothers out.
The four of us spend the rest of the day together at La Rouge. Abbie and I join forces in the kitchen, kicking her boys out, and whip up a feast of burgers and hotdogs. I’m pretty helpless in the kitchen. Not a required skill for a socialite, but I’m eager to learn and Abbie is an excellent teacher.
After dinner is put away, I ask Cage if I can help him in the barn mucking out the stalls.
The day passes, then another. The San Rios fires dominate the news. It’s a challenging fire season in