My Deadly Valentine - By Valerie Hansen & Lynette Eason Page 0,43
be by to pick you up after lunch, all right?”
Her smile felt weak. “Right.”
He left and Holly turned to see that her mother had slipped back into a doze. Not bothering to get her to move to her bed, Holly tucked the blanket a little tighter then checked all the doors once more.
Moving to the window where she’d seen the masked man shortly before, she tilted an eye-level blind and looked out at the darkness. Her stomach rolled with remembered fear.
Who had it been? Why was someone so intent on either scaring her or robbing her? Were the incidents at the store and the one here at home related? Or were they just mere coincidence?
Too many questions and not enough answers.
Holly flipped the blind closed and sighed, wondering if she’d get any sleep at all—in spite of the exhaustion dragging through her and the aching throb pounding in her head.
However the night went, sleep or no sleep, she’d leave the floodlights on tonight.
THREE
As the sun finally made an appearance to Eli’s left, the morning was as beautiful as all the ones he had remembered growing up. The barn lay straight ahead, rolling hills a backdrop to the red-and-white structure. Picture perfect. He’d missed it more than he ever thought he would.
He reached the barn and climbed down from the saddle to hand the reins over to Buckeye. “Thanks. He’s responding great. I think he’s ready to sell along with the other two.”
The horse snorted as Buckeye patted his neck. “So, you still remember how to break a horse even after all these years?”
“I was breaking horses before I could walk.” Eli smiled at the gray-bearded man who’d worked on the ranch ever since Eli could remember.
Buckeye laughed then cleared his throat. “I know that, boy. I was the one that taught you.” Buckeye turned serious. “Your daddy needs you to take over this farm, Eli.”
Eli studied the man. “I’ll keep it running until Dad’s back on his feet, but after that…”
“Well, whatever you decide, it’s good to have you home.”
Eli sucked in a lungful of the fresh mountain night air. “It’s good to be here.”
“You gonna miss being a big-city detective?”
Would he? Maybe parts of it. Definitely not other parts. He shrugged. “I don’t think so, Buckeye. I had my reasons for taking a leave of absence.” Caring for his father was only one of them.
“Reasons you ain’t sharing, huh?”
Eli shot the old man a look and turned his attention to digging his keys out of his pocket. “Guess I’ll head on into town. I need to pick up a few things I didn’t have time to get last night.” He looked at his watch.
Plus, he wanted to check on Holly. After her crazy evening last night, he hoped she got some rest. She hadn’t called again so he assumed the remainder of her night had been peaceful. He patted the horse’s neck. “Working with Stargazer here took me a lot longer than I’d planned.”
“When’s your dad’s next doctor’s appointment?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“He busted that leg up pretty good.” Eli’s father, Mitch Brodie, was too stubborn to admit he was too old to be competing in the rodeo. Two weeks ago, he’d been bucked off a grumpy bull. It certainly hadn’t been the first time, but it had been one of the most painful. The bull’s hoof had come down hard on Mitch’s femur and broke it before the clowns were able to distract the angry animal. “One day your daddy’s going to admit he’s an old man.”
“He’s only forty-eight years old, Buckeye. That’s looking younger every year to me.”
Buckeye laughed again. “You’re what? Twenty-eight? I remember the day you were born. Don’t tell me what looks young.”
Eli grinned. “Listen for Dad for me until I get back, will you?”
“You bet.”
He left the horse in Buckeye’s efficient care and headed for the house. After a quick shower, he popped his head in the den to find his dad in his wheelchair grumbling over a crossword puzzle. “Hey, I’ll be back soon. Buckeye can help you with anything you need.”
“I don’t need a babysitter, you know.”
“Right.” He grinned and left knowing Buckeye would be along in a few minutes.
Eli climbed into his truck and made his way toward town. Four minutes later, he passed the turnoff to Holly Maddox’s home. His mind went to her as it did every time he drove this way.
Holly. His high school sweetheart. The one girl he’d never forgotten. And he’d certainly tried.