Dangerous Ranch Threat, page 1
He pushed on the lever, but the door wouldn’t budge.
Cassie tried the other door. “This shouldn’t be locked.”
Shining the light through the slim window slat, he peered through it and saw metal chairs wedged beneath the handles—confirmation that this was a deliberate act.
At his hesitation, Cassie looked over his shoulder. The air seemed to leak out of her.
“I’m going to call the police.” In the glare of her phone screen, he saw her frown. “I don’t have service. Do you?”
He checked his phone, his gut hardening. “No. Whoever’s behind this must be using a signal jammer.”
“My attacker hasn’t given up, has he?”
A scream echoed down the corridor, and Cassie grabbed his wrist. He wove his fingers through hers. “We stay together.”
She nodded, her eyes huge in her face. They passed the deserted classrooms one after another. As they neared the library and principal’s office, a flickering orange glow ate up the darkness.
“I smell smoke,” Cassie whispered.
Luke’s steps faltered. He tightened his grip on her hand, his mind and body rebelling.
“Luke, something’s on fire...”
Karen Kirst was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. She’s a lifelong lover of books, but it wasn’t until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.
Books by Karen Kirst
Love Inspired Suspense
Explosive Reunion
Intensive Care Crisis
Danger in the Deep
Forgotten Secrets
Guarding His Child
Dangerous Ranch Threat
Smoky Mountain Defenders
Targeted for Revenge
Smoky Mountain Ambush
Mountain Murder Investigation
Witness Protection Breach
Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com for more titles.
Dangerous Ranch Threat
Karen Kirst
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
—Isaiah 61:3
To my husband, Marek. I love you the most.
To my editor, Emily Rodmell.
Thank you for pulling me out of the slush pile and guiding me all these years. I appreciate your hard work.
A big thank-you to Josh Felker for your input in my FFA and agriculture teacher research.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Excerpt from Montana Witness Chase by Sharon Dunn
ONE
Elated by the winter fundraiser’s success, Cassie West hummed her way through the high school’s barn. The clatter of a rake hitting the ground somewhere in the dark startled her into silence. Expecting another teacher or one of her students, she turned toward the door. The greeting died on her lips. A man hovered in the shadows, a ski mask covering all but his eyes. He lunged, snaked a belt around her throat and choked off her gasp.
Cassie clawed at his arms as he propelled her into a nearby stall. Her feet tangled in a coiled hose, and she sprawled on the straw-strewn dirt. Before she could summon help, her attacker pounced, silencing her again with the belt. His eyes gleamed. His brows pinched together in evil determination. Growing lightheaded, she fought to escape.
Why her? Why here? Why now?
She cried out to God. There was so much life left to live. Her parents needed her on the ranch. Her students and the agriculture program depended on her.
Lord, I thought I had more time.
“Cassie? You in here?”
Luke! Her ranch hand couldn’t have come at a more welcome time.
She struck her boots against the floor, trying to make as much noise as possible. An angry, guttural sound vibrated in her attacker’s chest. Seconds later, he shoved off her and barreled through the opening. She heard Luke grunt and the barn door creak.
“Cassie!” Luke hurried into the stall and helped her sit up. “You all right?”
Her heart hammered in her chest. Gasping for breath, all she could manage was a brief nod.
“What happened?”
“I—I came in to clean up. I didn’t hear anyone follow me inside. Maybe he was waiting for me?” A chill passed through her at the thought of him watching her. “He tried to strangle me.”
Belatedly realizing she had a death grip on Luke’s arm, she forced herself to release him.
“Come on, let’s get you outside.”
Luke helped her to her feet. She wobbled, and his arm came around her. “Steady now.”
His voice was as gentle as the morning sunrise. She’d heard him talk in just that tone to her horses. In the aisle, the overhead light picked out the concern in his vivid blue eyes.
Luke Fisher was new to Tulip, and she was happy she’d hired him. He’d proven to be a kind, insightful, hardworking man. However, he shared very little about himself, which left her imagination to run wild. She had a lot of questions about the raven-haired cowboy.
Luke accompanied her to the side of the barn where the remnants of their fundraising efforts remained. The students and parents who’d stayed behind to clean up were packing the few pies that hadn’t sold and stacking the folding tables onto the trailer.
Morgan Tucker, high school senior and president of their Future Farmers of America chapter, looked up at their approach. Her smile died when she caught sight of Cassie.
“What’s wrong, Miss West?”
“Did anyone see a man leaving the barn just now?” Luke asked.
Morgan and the others shrugged and shook their heads. The main gathering had been in the grass beside the traditional barn. The older building and the newer open-air barn were connected by a covered walkway. From here, the people didn’t have direct line of sight to the far doors, and her attacker could’ve easily snuck out the opposite way and escaped through the school’s eight-acre farm.
“I’m going to have a look around,” Luke told her. “Stay here.”
He strode into the darkness as if hunting criminals was just another ranch chore. The few men who hadn’t yet left spread out, prepared to defend the women and teens. Morgan and the others crowded around her, seeking reassurance.
She schooled her features and tried to bury her fear. “I’m fine,” she told them.
Arianna Meadows, the high school guidance counselor, clearly didn’t buy it. Her troubled gaze fell to Cassie’s throat, which felt raw and probably bore the marks of her attack.
The crisp air deepened the chill in her bones. Cassie tugged her jacket collar up. “Let’s finish cleaning. We have an early start again tomorrow.”
While the students reluctantly returned to their tasks, Arianna hung back. “Someone attacked you?”
Cassie wished her legs would stop trembling. “If Luke hadn’t come in when he did...”
Arianna put her arm around Cassie’s shoulders. “You have to call the sheriff.”
“I don’t want to worry the students.”
“We’re almost finished here, anyway. I’ll send them home after we return the tables to the cafeteria.”
The bonfire had been left to putter out, and the outdoor heaters had been packed away. While Arianna hustled the students out of earshot, Cassie spoke with the dispatcher, who promised to send someone.
Luke returned grim-faced. “He’s gone.” His gaze traced the connected barns and outbuildings. “Why aren’t there security cameras?”
“No room in the budget.” Until tonight, she hadn’t thought there was a need.
“The community obviously supports your program. Maybe they’d be willing to chip in.”
He was right. The citizens of Tulip supported her students in multiple ways, not just financially. Many parents and school staff had stepped up to help coach their FFA teams. Although she was their teacher and chapter advisor, she didn’t possess unlimited knowledge. She depended on others to fill in the gaps and give students a wide range of opportunities.
“Did anything stand out about your attacker?”
She thrust her fingers through her hair to smooth the tangles and remove bits of debris. “It happened too fast.”
“What about his build ? Any clues his clothing might tell you? Did you notice any specific smells?”
Luke fired off the questions in an authoritative manner that was unlike his usual style. Her surprise must’ve shown, because he visibly relaxed his shoulders.
“Just trying to help.”
“It was dark in the stall, and with his mask...” She shrugged. “He was strong but not overly muscular. Taller than me.”
“That’s a good start. More details might come to you later.”
She wanted to put the attack out of her mind, not dwell on it. “He had a belt.”
His brows rose. “What color? Was the belt buckle unique?”
Her nails dug into her palms. “He wasn’t wearing it. He used it to try to strangle me.”
Fire kindled in Luke’s eyes, and his jaw grew taut.
“I can’t make sense of it,” she continued. “Nothing like this has ever happened on school grounds.”
“Can you think of anyone who might hold a grudge against you? Anyone who’s angry enough to hurt you?”
“Hurt me? He wanted to kill me, Luke.”
* * *
Unease balled in Luke’s gut. He thought he’d left violence and crime behind in Texas. He was on an extended medical leave from the police department and had come to Tulip, Mississippi, on an unofficial mission to gather intel on the Wilder family. His interest in the Wilders was personal. No one in Tulip could know the real reason he was here until he’d decided if he was going to reveal his true identity or not.
The fear in Cassie’s molten brown eyes made him want to punch something. During the five weeks he’d worked on her ranch, he’d learned that Cassidy West had a heart as big as his home state. She was devoted to her ranch and the animals it supported. She was also a high school teacher who poured everything she had into her students and their agriculture program. The fact he was using her to get to the Wilders bothered him. Now, when his conscience pricked him, it wasn’t a needle. It was more like a knife blade.
The deputy’s arrival curtailed Luke’s questions. Probably a good thing, since Cassie had looked at him askance when his training had taken over. Deputy Hank Flowers was about five years past retirement, but he was thorough and treated Cassie like a favorite daughter.
Everyone seemed to like Cassie. It was no surprise that she couldn’t come up with motives or suspects. Hank promised to have a look around in the morning in case there was something they’d missed.
“You okay to drive?” Luke asked.
Tucking a lock of her wavy blond hair behind her ear, she nodded. “I’m not going home, though. I’ve got to see Remi.”
If she was heading to the Wilder ranch, he wanted to go along. This would be his first—and possibly only—opportunity to see the place. “I’ll take you.”
She bit her lower lip, and a crease formed between her honey-colored brows. “You’re sure? You must be as exhausted as I am. It’s been a long day.”
“Positive.” Ushering her to his truck, he gestured to her classic turquoise-and-white Ford pickup parked nearby. “I’ll give you a ride back here to school in the morning.”
“I appreciate it. To tell the truth, I’d rather not be alone just yet.”
Seated behind the wheel, he pointed to the dash. “Adjust the heat to your liking.”
She fastened her seat belt and scanned the surrounding fields. The football stadium sat between the farm and the high school. The greenhouse, also used for their agriculture program, was ahead on the left. Thick shadows gathered in the pastures between the greenhouse and barns.
She was wearing her official FFA blue corduroy jacket and pulled the sleeves down past her hands, curling her fingers inside. “Do you think he’s out there hiding?”
“He’s likely long gone by now.”
Huddled in her jacket, her pretty face creased in fear, she pushed his instincts to serve and protect into overdrive. Keep it professional, McCoy. He had to avoid the hazard of personal engagement.
“You and Remi Wilder have been friends a long time, I gather?”
He already knew the answer, but she needed a distraction. Plus, she might reveal details he couldn’t unearth on his own.
“Since kindergarten. Remi and I were in the same grade. Her brother, Nash, was three grades ahead of us, as was his fiancée, Skye Saddler. You met her at church, remember?”
Every interaction with the Wilder siblings had been carefully cataloged in his brain. “She’s the one who traded her deputy uniform for a chef’s apron. She has the food truck.”
“Yep. Wait until you taste her waffles. She only operates the food truck for special occasions during the winter. If you’re here come spring, you’ll have to pay her a visit.”
He heard her unspoken question. Cassie had respected his privacy up until now, even though her curiosity was unmistakable.
“I never know where the wind will take me.” At her frown, he tacked on, “But I’ll be sure to take your advice if I’m still here.”
The job on her ranch had all but fallen into his lap. Before coming to Tulip, he’d done a deep dive into Nash and Remi Wilder, which included information about the people closest to them. He’d been hanging out at the Pit Stop Café for the third day in a row when he’d overheard a conversation between Cassie and some wizened cowboys. Her parents had had to rush off to Florida to care for an elderly relative, leaving Cassie in a bind. Luke had seen an opportunity to get close to the Wilders’ inner circle. Silently thanking his uncle for all those summers working on his farm, he’d offered his services.
The dawn to dusk ranch chores had proven useful in another way, too. Since he’d started working for Cassie, he’d been too busy and exhausted to dwell on his partner’s death or the fact he was to blame.
“Did he hurt you when he barreled by you?”
Cassie’s voice scattered his thoughts, and he realized he’d been rubbing his aching shoulder. He was certain his surgeon wouldn’t approve of the manual labor he’d been doing these past weeks. “He knocked into me. It was nothing.”
The entrance gate to the Wilder ranch loomed in his headlights. As he drove past the ranch store, paddocks and multiple structures, he wondered what it might’ve been like to grow up here.
“Remi’s fixing up her grandparents’ old place,” Cassie told him. “You’ll have to take the dirt road beside the ranch house—” Breaking off, she leaned forward. “Wait, that’s her truck. She must be visiting Nash.”
Luke parked behind the other vehicles, adrenaline washing through his system. He hadn’t done much undercover work during his time as detective, but he’d learned to keep his personal thoughts about a case or criminal tucked away beneath a professional veneer. He prayed that ability would serve him well in this instance.
He trailed behind Cassie, picking up details about the white and black ranch house. Nash answered the door and ushered them through the foyer, past the formal dining room and into the shared living and kitchen area. Remi rounded the bar brandishing a spatula. Her smile was welcoming. The siblings had similar coloring, both with blond hair and electric-blue eyes.
“Did we catch you at a bad time?” Cassie locked her fingers together at her waist.
“Eden is fast asleep,” Remi said, speaking of Nash’s young daughter. “The fundraiser wore her out. I was about to serve pie. Did you see that Nash bought four?”
“I had to get one of each,” he said, grinning. “It’s for a good cause.”
“Yeah, your sweet tooth,” Remi retorted. “Would either of you like a piece?”
“None for me, thanks.” Luke sidled closer to Cassie, whose complexion was too pale for his liking. “Unfortunately, we’re not here for a social visit. There was an incident after you left.”
Remi’s smile slipped. “What happened?”
Cassie cleared her throat. “I was attacked.”
Tossing the spatula in the sink, Remi crossed the room and clasped Cassie’s hands. “Tell me everything.”
Nash came close, too, his rugged features wreathed in concern as Cassie relayed the details.
“He got away,” Luke told them. “We don’t have witnesses or security footage.”
Remi studied him. Was her cop radar sounding an alarm? Would she figure out he wasn’t the roaming, rootless cowboy everyone assumed he was? She’d worked undercover for the Atlanta PD’s narcotic unit before moving back home and hiring onto nearby Mayfield’s department.
