Courting the Enemy (13 page)

“And you don’t think we’ll cross paths on the highway?”

“As long as we’re on the highway and not in her driveway, he won’t be able to prove a thing,” she said airily.

Grady chuckled. “You have a much more devious mind than I’d ever imagined. I like it.”

For the first time all morning, a grin tugged at her lips. “I knew there was some reason you were sticking around.”

“Oh, believe me, darlin’, there are a lot of reasons I’m here,” he said, his gaze locked with hers. “That’s not even close to the top of the list.”

Karen swallowed hard at that. She wanted desperately to ask about that list, but now wasn’t the time. Later, though, she intended to find out what—besides her land—would keep a man like Grady interested in her.

Maggie Fletcher looked exhausted. Her normally ruddy complexion had a gray cast to it. Her short hair was mussed, as if she’d been running her fingers through it in a nervous gesture for hours, if not days. Her eyes, which Grady recalled as a vibrant, glowing amber color, were listless, though they sparked a bit
brighter when she spotted Karen emerging from Grady’s truck.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded ungraciously, ignoring Grady completely to focus on Karen.

“We need to talk,” Karen said.

“Why?” Maggie asked, not bothering to hide her hostility.

“Because of Caleb.”

Unmistakable pain darkened Maggie’s eyes before the sparks came back livelier than ever. “I will not discuss Caleb with you. It’s because of you he’s dead.”

Karen winced, but she didn’t back down. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“It’s the truth,” Maggie said.

Grady saw Karen’s shoulders sag at Maggie’s refusal to back down from the accusation, but again she stood her ground.

“I know you cared for him,” she said gently.

“I loved him,” Maggie said fiercely. “He and I would have been perfect for each other. That was the way it was meant to be.” Years of bitterness came boiling out as she hurled hateful comment after hateful comment at Karen. “You killed him. Instead of helping him, you drove him into an early grave with your demands.”

“I made no demands on Caleb,” Karen said. “It was his choice to work as hard as he did to save the ranch. That land meant the world to him.”

“But nothing to you,” Maggie accused. “He told me you hated it, that you asked him to sell.”

Karen reeled at that. She reached out for support,
but there was nothing there. Grady took a step closer and she latched on to his arm.

“I didn’t,” she whispered. “I never asked him to sell. If he told you that, it was a lie.”

“Oh, really?” Maggie shot back, her tone scathing. “Then why are you with
him?
” She glanced pointedly at Grady. “Everyone knows he wants that land. I’m sure you can’t wait to take his money and go off on one of those trips you were always going on and on about. Do you know how guilty it made Caleb feel that he couldn’t take you?”

Karen faltered. Her cheeks turned pale. “I…I need to sit down.”

“Then get into your fancy truck and leave,” Maggie said. “There’s no place for you here.”

For an instant, Grady thought Karen might argue, might insist on asking all of the questions she’d had no chance to direct at Maggie, but she didn’t. Looking defeated, she turned toward the truck. He saw that she was safely tucked inside and that the heater was working, before walking back to Maggie himself.

“Just how much time were you and Caleb spending together while he was married to another woman?” Grady inquired. “Were you having an affair, the way you clearly want Karen to believe? Or is that just some spiteful suggestion you wanted to plant in her head to add to her grief?”

Maggie’s expression faltered.

“I thought so,” he said. “You’re a cruel woman, Maggie Fletcher. It’s little wonder that Caleb chose a woman like Karen over you.”

He turned on his heel and headed for the truck.

“Damn you, Grady Blackhawk,” Maggie shouted after him. “And you, too, Mrs. High-and-Mighty
Hanson. I hope you wind up in the ground right next to Caleb, and the sooner the better!”

When Grady got into the truck, he took a deep breath before facing Karen. She was visibly trembling, her composure shattered.

“I had no idea,” she whispered.

“It was all lies,” Grady told her. “Caleb wasn’t spending time with her, sharing secrets with her.”

“I know that,” Karen said dismissively, as if the notion had never crossed her mind. “I had no idea she was so angry, so bitter. I knew she resented me, but this…” She shuddered.

Grady reached for her icy hands, clasping them in his until he felt the warmth return.

“She could be the one, Grady. She’s angry enough to do all of those things, even to have killed that bull.”

“If we can see that, Michael will see it as well. Let him deal with her.”

“Oh, you can be sure I won’t be coming back here,” Karen reassured him.

“Good, because she’s just unstable enough to try to hurt you in some misguided attempt at seeking justice for Caleb’s death.”

“She wouldn’t go that far,” Karen said, but she didn’t sound nearly as certain as she might have an hour ago.

“It’s not a chance you can take,” Grady insisted. “Steer clear of her. At the very least, she needs some help.”

Karen sighed and turned to look out the window. She was huddled by the door, looking more dejected than she had since he’d first seen her at Caleb’s funeral.

Making a sudden decision, Grady turned the truck toward Winding River. Karen barely seemed to notice, which only confirmed his opinion that she needed something drastic to cheer her up. And she needed food. There was one place where she could get both—Stella’s.

Karen seemed oblivious to everything until they approached the outskirts of town. She blinked then, and turned to him.

“What are we doing here?”

“We’re going out to dinner at Stella’s. It’s meat loaf night. Any objections?”

“No,” she said dispiritedly.

As soon as they walked into the restaurant, he caught Cassie’s eye. As Karen headed straight for the booth in the back, he called Cassie aside.

“Can you get Gina, Cole and anybody else you can think of in here for dinner? Karen’s had a rough day. She needs some friendly faces and lively conversation.”

Cassie nodded without the slightest hesitation. Nor did she ask a lot of unnecessary questions. It was apparently enough that her friend needed help.

“Emma’s in town, too. I’ll have them here in fifteen minutes and Stella can take over for me.” She studied Grady intently. “You really care about her, don’t you?”

Grady wasn’t entirely comfortable discussing his feelings, not when he hadn’t fully analyzed them himself yet. But the expression on Cassie’s face showed none of the disapproval or suspicion he might have anticipated.

“Yeah,” he admitted. “I care about her.”

“Good,” Cassie said with an approving nod. “That way the rest of us won’t have to kill you.”

He chuckled. “Well, there’s a relief all the way around.”

She grinned. “Isn’t it, though. Now go on back. Reinforcements will be here soon.”

“You’re a good friend, you know,” he said gratefully.

“Yes,” she agreed. “But so are you. And isn’t it nice that she has so many of us?”

Grady was surprised at just how comforting he found that fact. He’d always been pretty much a loner, and had always been able to convince himself that he didn’t need anyone, except maybe his grandfather.

But as he watched first Gina, then Emma and finally Cole and Cassie slide into chairs around the big table at the back of Stella’s, as he saw the beginnings of a smile tremble on Karen’s lips, then finally heard the sound of her laughter, for the first time ever he regretted not being part of a larger circle of friends himself.

F
or a day that had begun so traumatically, it was moving toward an amazingly happy conclusion. Karen looked around the table at Stella’s and felt a familiar warmth steal through her. She’d been surprised when first Gina and then Emma had shown up, even more startled when Cole and Cassie had joined them, then she had caught the conspiratorial wink between Cassie and Grady and known that he was responsible for gathering her friends together just when she needed them the most.

She reached for his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear.

He faced her with an unbelievably innocent look. “For what?”

“For knowing exactly what I needed,” she told him. “And for making it happen.”

“I just spoke to Cassie,” he said, shrugging it off as if it had been no big deal.

“And told her I’d had a lousy day,” Karen added.

He looked embarrassed at being given credit for something so simple. “Something like that. She did the rest.”

“You’re an amazingly thoughtful man, Grady,” she said, even though it was evident the praise was making him uncomfortable. “It couldn’t have been easy. You had to wonder how they’d feel about you being here with me.”

“Because they were all friends of Caleb’s,” he said flatly. “Yeah, well, I figured I could handle whatever cross-examinations they cared to dish out. So far, they’ve been fairly restrained.”

“I imagine Cassie warned them off because she didn’t want me any more upset than I was when I came in here. Now that my mood’s improved, though, watch out.” She glanced across the table, grinned and told him in a conspiratorial tone, “Emma’s getting that gleam in her eyes, the one she gets right before she destroys a witness.”

He followed the direction of her gaze to check out the attorney, who was indeed regarding him with a speculative expression and a worrisome hint of distrust.

“I think I’ll go make a few calls,” he said, clearly anxious to duck out.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Karen said. “I don’t want her thinking you’re a coward.”

“Not a coward, just cautious. I don’t want to ruin the mood by telling your friend to mind her own business. She might take offense.”

Karen chuckled. “If you think that’s going to faze
her, you’re crazy. Emma thinks everything is her business, especially if it affects one of us. Now sit here and face the music. I’ll protect you.”

“So, Grady,” Emma began, leaning toward him, “how did you happen to be at the ranch when Karen got the news about her bull being shot?”

“We had some plans,” Karen said, hoping to waylay that part of the inevitable interrogation.

Of course, that was exactly the wrong thing to say. The glint in Emma’s eyes brightened. “Oh, really? What sort of plans?”

Karen was about to respond, when Grady laid a hand over hers and shook his head.

“I can handle this,” he said, then turned to Emma. “We were going to pay a few calls on Karen’s neighbors.”

That seemed to disconcert Emma completely. “Why?” she asked, her expression baffled.

“Just to chat,” Grady said cheerfully. “Haven’t you ever dropped by to pay a neighborly visit?”

“Well, of course, but the two of you, together…” Her gaze narrowed. “What’s going on? Were you counting on Karen to smoothe the way for you so the neighbors would accept you once you’ve stolen her ranch from her?”

Grady sighed. “I’m not stealing anything. As an attorney, surely you know the inadvisability of making slanderous accusations.”

Emma refused to back down, just as Karen had predicted. She merely leaned forward, her gaze intimidating, and said, “If the shoe fits, Mr. Blackhawk.”

“It doesn’t,” he said mildly. “Which brings us back to being careful about the words you choose to describe a legitimate business offer.”

“Then you still want the ranch,” Emma concluded.

“Of course. That hasn’t changed.”

She glanced at Karen. “And you’re still refusing to sell?”

“So far,” Karen said, determined to match Grady’s light tone.

“Then it seems to me as if your continued presence at the ranch constitutes harassment,” Emma said to Grady.

When a dull flush crept into Grady’s cheeks, Karen concluded enough was enough. “Okay, that’s it,” Karen advised her friend. “Grady is not harassing me. He’s helping me to figure out who’s behind all of the attempts to ruin me.”

Her announcement was greeted by a collective gasp.

“What attempts?” Gina demanded. “And why haven’t you said anything about this to us?”

“I didn’t think they amounted to anything, at least not until today.”

Cole turned to Grady. “But you disagree? These are serious?” he asked.

Grady nodded. “Serious enough. Cut fence lines, an infection deliberately spread to her herd and today somebody shot the bull she was counting on for breeding.”

“Damn,” Cole muttered, then looked at Karen. “No need to worry about that. I’ll speak to my father. He just bought a prize bull for stud. I’m sure he’ll work something out with you.”

“Thank you. Grady’s already volunteered to bring over a couple of bulls from his herd.”

Emma continued to regard Grady with suspicion. “Why would you do that?”

His gaze never wavered from hers. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m sure you’d rather see her go bankrupt,” Emma accused.

“You’re wrong,” Grady said flatly. “At this point, the only thing I care about is keeping her safe.”

Emma regarded him with shock. “You think Karen’s in danger?”

“Whoever shot that bull was making a statement,” Grady said. “So, yes, I think she could be in danger.”

“Then you’ll move in with us, Karen,” Cassie said at once.

“Absolutely,” Cole agreed.

Karen sighed at the rush of protectiveness. “Thank you, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be just fine at the ranch. The whole purpose of this is to chase me away. I won’t give in to that.”

“Her hands and I will see that nothing happens to her,” Grady added.

“The hands will be in the bunkhouse, and you’ll be in the next county,” Cassie pointed out.

Grady’s gaze clashed with hers. “No,” he said. “Until this is resolved, I’ll be at the ranch.”

Karen’s mouth gaped at the unexpected declaration. This was a turn of events she definitely hadn’t anticipated. “You will?”

“Oh, no,” Emma said. “You’re not using this to get your foot in the door out there.”

“Oh, Emma, be quiet,” Karen snapped. “This is between Grady and me.”

“But—” Emma began.

“Emma, I said I would handle it,” Karen said pointedly, ignoring the stunned expressions around the table. She touched Grady’s cheek. “I appreciate
what you’re trying to do, I really do, but it’s not necessary. Once we tell the sheriff about our conversation with Maggie, I’m sure it won’t be long before he brings her in for questioning.”

“There’s no guarantee he’ll arrest her,” Grady argued. “Nor do we know for certain that she’s behind this. We only know how deep her bitterness toward you runs.”

Gina held up a hand. “Hold it. Are we talking about Maggie Fletcher?”

Karen nodded.

“You think she’s behind all of this?” Gina asked, her expression incredulous.

“It’s possible,” Karen said cautiously. “She wasn’t happy about me marrying Caleb. And this morning she made it abundantly clear that she still resents me.”

Cole shook his head. “Maggie’s not at fault here, not if you’re including what happened to the bull,” he said. “Maggie couldn’t hit a barn at ten paces. She’s terrified of guns, has been ever since her daddy got hit by a ricocheting bullet when he was trying to teach her to shoot. That’s what ended his rodeo career.”

“Oh, my God, I’d forgotten that,” Karen said, recalling how the story had circulated through several counties, making Maggie the butt of a barrage of jokes. “You’re right. Her aim was so bad that her father declared her a danger to herself and everyone around her. She hasn’t picked up a gun since.”

“That you know of,” Grady said, clearly unwilling to give up their prime suspect so readily. “Maybe she’s been practicing.”

No one seemed to buy that, Karen included. “That
brings us back to square one,” she said. “We have no idea who’s been behind these attacks.”

Grady’s grim expression turned determined. “All the more reason for me to move in with you until this is settled.” He scowled at her. “Don’t even waste your breath arguing with me.”

Karen didn’t intend to try. For once, Emma remained silent as well. And after intense scrutiny of Karen’s face, even Cassie gave up trying to persuade her to move in with her and Cole.

Grady gave a nod of satisfaction. “I guess that’s settled then.”

It was settled, all right. What was less certain was why the decision had set off a surge of anticipation deep inside Karen. She was pretty sure it had absolutely nothing to do with her sense of security. In fact, quite the opposite. Having Grady move in represented a whole new kind of danger.

Grady couldn’t pinpoint the precise moment when his mission had shifted, but there was undeniable proof that it had. He couldn’t be in the same room with Karen without wanting her, without trying to seize whatever kisses she was willing to permit him. He wanted kisses and a whole lot more, which was just one reason he’d maneuvered his way into staying at the ranch.

The fact that she hadn’t fought him harder suggested that she was accepting his presence, accepting that there was something incredible happening between them despite all the odds against it.

“I’ll need to run out to my place and get a few things,” he told her after they’d left Stella’s.

She nodded, though her gaze seemed determinedly fixed on the passing scenery.

“You can come along. In fact, I’d feel better if you did. I don’t want you alone at your house even for a couple of hours.”

She turned a quick glance on him, then turned away again. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “I’ll need to tidy up the guest room so it’s ready for you.”

He grinned at that. She clearly intended that as a message to him curbing any expectations he might have about moving into her room, rather than down the hall. She seemed to have forgotten that that guest room had already been the scene of an incredibly intimate encounter.

“You had any company since we were in there the other day?” he inquired wryly.

A blush bloomed on her cheeks. “No, of course not, but…” Her voice faltered.

“Then I’d say any tidying up can wait. We barely rumpled the sheets.”

She frowned at his teasing. “Whose fault was that?”

“I’d have to say it was a mutual decision,” he said, grinning at her.

“You’d be wrong,” she countered. “You made the decision all on your own, thinking you knew best, just the way you’re doing now.”

He turned to meet her gaze. “Are you saying you have regrets about the way things turned out?”

“Well, of course, I do, don’t you?”

“Speaking from a purely personal perspective, I’d have to say that night’s been on my mind a lot.”

“Would you have changed the outcome?” she persisted, her gaze now clashing with his.

Grady thought about it, thought about how he’d been aching to make love to her for a long time now, but eventually he shook his head. “No, I can’t say that I would.”

Her eyes widened in obvious surprise. “You wouldn’t?”

“Despite all these claims you’re uttering now, you weren’t ready to accept me into your life, much less into your bed. We made the right decision.” He reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips. “But we can certainly reconsider it.”

She gave a little nod at that. “I think we should.” Her heated gaze locked with his. “In fact, why don’t you forget that trip out to your place, so we can reconsider it right now.”

Worried that the traumatic day had simply made her vulnerable, he searched her face, but he didn’t see a single trace of lingering doubts. Grady had already passed the turnoff to the Hanson ranch, but he slammed on the brakes and turned the truck around.

Ten minutes later, he’d pulled to a stop by her house. Still clinging to the steering wheel, he faced straight ahead, not daring to look at her.

“Have you changed your mind?” he asked, giving her one last chance to back out.

“No,” she said, her voice strong and not the least bit uncertain.

“Thank heaven,” he murmured, leaping out of the truck and going around to catch her in his arms. He scooped her off her feet and twirled her around until they were both dizzy.

“Grady, you’re crazy,” she chided, laughing. “Put me down.”

“Not until I can put you down on that big, old bed,” he said, and headed for the house.

As if she weighed nothing, he climbed the stairs eagerly, two at a time. Her twinkling eyes met his. “If I didn’t know better, Grady Blackhawk, I’d think you were as anxious as a bridegroom on his wedding night.”

His step almost faltered at the image, but he managed a grin. The idea wasn’t nearly as repugnant as it should have been. He’d never given much thought to marriage or happily-ever-after, but if ever a woman could turn his thoughts in that direction, it was surely Karen.

Inside the guest bedroom, where late afternoon sun had cast a pale glow across everything, he gently deposited her on top of the colorful old patchwork quilt.

“Not being all that familiar with wedding nights,” he said, studying her closely, “I can’t say for certain, but you seem to me to have the radiant glow of a bride yourself.”

“That’s how I feel,” she admitted in a whisper. Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “Oh, Grady, how did this happen? I never expected it, not in a million years.”

“I didn’t either,” he told her candidly. “But I don’t regret it. Do you?”

“No,” she said fervently. “How could I, when I feel so incredibly alive?”

“Oh, darlin’, just you wait,” he said as he stripped off his boots and shirt, then joined her on the bed.

He cradled her in his arms, giving both of them time to adjust, time to prepare for the step they were taking. He knew that despite all her brave declarations, Karen was still harboring doubts. How could
she not? She had loved her husband, a man who had considered Grady his enemy, even if that thinking had been the irrational bitterness of a boy carried over into adulthood. Grady understood all of that, which made the fact that Karen was with him all the more precious.