Ladd Springs (Ladd Springs, Book #1) (21 page)

Jeb
remained still as stone. Heart pounding, Delaney did likewise.

“Toss
the gun,” Nick said. Jeb did so. “Now get up.
Slowly
.”

Delaney
watched in stunned disbelief as Nick handled his weapon like a pro. Would he
really shoot Jeb? Did he have it in him?

Once
Jeb was standing, Delaney rolled free and sprang to her feet. She burrowed into
Nick’s side. “Thank God you’re here,” she rasped, pulse skittering through her
veins. The large, masculine bicep of a man never felt so good.

Maintaining
focus on Jeb, Nick told her, “Call the police. And this time, no argument.”

Giddy
with relief, Delaney almost laughed.
Protest
? Then it dawned upon her. “I
don’t have my phone. Clem took it.”

Jeb
stared at the two of them, and Delaney felt a rush of angst.

Nick
pulled the phone from his back pocket and handed it to her. “Use mine.”

With
trembling fingers she dialed 9-1-1. The call was answered immediately. “I’d
like to report a crime,” she said.

“I
know of more gold on the property,” Jeb interrupted. He focused on Delaney, his
eyes devoid of emotion. “Let me go free and I’ll show you where.”

Delaney’s
attention split between the emergency operator and Jeb. More gold?

“It’s
bigger than the one Clem knows about.”

So
they really were trying to swindle Clem
...

Jeb
tossed a glance toward Nick. “Your man here knows about it, too.”

Staunch
by her side, gun pointed at Jeb’s head, Nick replied, “Don’t listen to him. He’ll
say anything to avoid jail time.”

Delaney
gaped at Nick, then Jeb.

“He’s
lying, Delaney.”

“I’ll
show you where it is,” Jeb said urgently. “Now—before lover boy cleans you
out.”

The
operator was asking her something, but Delaney missed it. “What?” she asked
into the phone and the woman repeated the question. Delaney glanced around. The
three of them were faced off in the quiet of trees and brush, the anonymity of isolation.
“We’re near an abandoned house, off old Miller Road. Maybe a mile or two into
the forest,” she told the 911 operator.

“You
stand to lose a lot, Ms. Wilkins,” Jeb continued, a new tone of respect in his
voice. “I can help you keep what’s rightly yours.”

Delaney
clenched the phone to her ear. “I don’t believe you,” she told him. Prodded by
the operator, Delaney said, “Yes, yes, I’m still here. Yes, I’ll hold the
line.”

“You’re
making a big mistake,” Jeb said.

Chapter Twenty-One

Nick
pulled into the drive for Ladd Springs, slowing his car to a stop alongside
Ernie’s truck. He slid the gear into park and turned to Delaney. He made a
striking picture, with his white shirt collar opened at the neck, black curls
of hair poking up through the V of his shirt. She basked in the familiarity of
his cologne, his raw maleness, the concern stirring deep in his eyes. “You
okay?”

Riddled
with tension, inundated by doubt, she nodded. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”

He
reached over and took her hand, resting it on her thigh. His long fingers were
strong and gentle, his skin warm and soft to the touch. It was a reassuring
gesture. A silent motion that said he stood with her, they were in this
together. Drawn to the old homestead, Delaney peered at Ernie’s cabin with
renewed courage. She had her proof. Willie had agreed to testify against Jeb
and Clem in exchange for lesser charges. Ernie would finally understand she had
been telling the truth about Clem all along.

Delaney
repressed the urge to stare at Nick. They had barely spoken during the ride
back home. She had been on the phone with Felicity, he content to drive in
silence. But Jeb’s words lingered. Did Nick know about more gold on the
property?

Nick
gave a light squeeze to her hand, then rose from the vehicle and rounded the hood
to open her door. With a quick calming breath, she took his hand, placed boot
to ground and allowed him to help her from the seat. She doubted it. This time,
the two of them were on the same side. Her shoulder ached, her head maintained
a mild throb, her knees were bruised, but she was okay. She was ready to face
Uncle Ernie. Delaney cleared her throat and said, “Let’s go.”

“Mom!”
Felicity called out, sprint flat-out across the tiny bridge in a bee line for
her mother.

Tears
welled in Delaney’s eyes. “
Felicity
...” The afternoon’s events melting
away at the sight of her daughter, Delaney took off running. Careening into Felicity,
she lifted her from the ground in a powerful bear hug.

“You’re
okay,” Felicity whispered ferociously, hugging Delaney hard.

“I’m
fine.” Great, now that she had her child in hand. With Clem out of the picture,
her baby girl would be okay. She would be okay.

Delaney
continued the squeeze, the two swaying back and forth as they reconnected, the
late afternoon showering the grounds in soothing streams of golden light.

Releasing
Felicity at last, Delaney took her hands in her own. She gazed into her child’s
eyes, thankful for the ease she saw in them. She had not shared the details of
the day, only that she was fine and the two of them were going to be okay. “Sweetheart,”
Delaney said. “I need to talk to Ernie.”

Felicity
nodded.

“Are
Travis and Troy here?” she asked.

“No.
Mr. Parker rode home with me.”

Of
course he did. Morton was that kind of man, that kind of father. “Okay. Sit
tight, will you?” Delaney didn’t want Felicity learning about the gold find
this way. She wanted to sit down with her later and go through everything. All
of it. Just the two of them.

Delaney
joined Nick cabin side and briefly wondered how Ernie would take the news. No
one wanted to hear their trust had been broken, even a cynical old man like
him. But he had to know, and it had to make a difference. Her heart lurched.
It
had to
.

When
Delaney stepped up onto the porch, the door swung open. Beady eyes took her in
with menacing suspicion behind the lens of his glasses. Ernie walked out and raked
her with a once over. “What happened to you?”

“I
had a run-in with Clem.”

Ernie
addressed Nick. “What kind of run in?”

“Clem
tried to have me killed today,” she replied, but as she said the words, the
shock of reality finally set in. Clem tried to have her killed.
Killed
.

“What
are you talkin’ about?” he demanded, clearly annoyed by the accusation.

“He’s
been working with men to steal from you, Ernie.”

“He
ain’t stole nothin’ from me,” he said, as though she were a silly child, then headed
for his rocker.

Bolstered
by Nick’s presence, Delaney followed, keeping a few steps behind the old man. “He
found gold on the property, Ernie. He’s been mining it for himself, unbeknownst
to us.”

“Gold?”
His small eyes widened within the black rims of his glasses. “We ain’t got no
gold around here.”

“Yes,
we do. We have a vein in a rock over by the west end of the property, just off the
trails that run parallel to park land.”

We
may have two sources
.
Sharing a glance with Nick, Delaney maintained focus on Ernie. It was a
sentiment she wasn’t willing to voice. Delaney had no way of knowing whether or
not Jeb was lying. She could only trust her instinct. She trusted Nick. “I saw
it for myself,” she continued. “It’s legit.” In the few words she and Nick had
exchanged in the car, he claimed to have discovered the gold only this morning.
Which made sense, especially in light of their conversation last night.

“You’re
lyin’.” Ernie waved her off.

“She’s
telling you the truth,” Nick said. “Two men were arrested today on kidnapping
charges with the intent to commit murder. They kidnapped Delaney per Clem’s
instructions. The police are looking for him now.”

Ernie
whipped an angry glance at Nick. “You set this all up, did you? Think you’re so
smart?” he rambled on, ignoring the reality at hand.

“I
had nothing to do with it,” Nick replied quietly.

“Fillin’
her head with lies about Clem, about gold on the property.”

“I
saw it for myself, Ernie,” Delaney interjected. “Ladd Springs has gold!”

“I
don’t believe you.” He turned away from them. “And I’m tired of you startin’
trouble where there ain’t none.” Ernie pushed off from the ground, rocking to
and fro as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Albert
emerged from the house. “What’s all the fussin’ about?”

Ernie
glared at him, then returned his attention to the wood railing. “Nothin.’”

Nodding,
Albert plodded over to his chair and took his seat alongside Ernie. “Okay.”

Delaney
couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was Ernie insane? In denial? “Ernie, I
can prove it to you. I have pictures.” Had them, but could get them again. Once
she recovered her backpack—the one Clem took from her. “I have photographs of
the rock and the gold in it.”

“Don’t
matter to me.”

Delaney
and Nick exchanged a stunned glance. “You don’t care that the value of this
land has just skyrocketed?” she asked. “And that you were considering giving it
to a man who was robbing you blind?”

Please,
God
—
tell
me I’m not having this conversation
! At the sound of the car pulling into
the drive, Delaney turned. Relief flooded her body at the sight of Ashley
Fulmer’s SUV. If anyone could talk some sense into Ernie, it would be Ashley.

The
four waited in silence as Ashley made her way to the porch. Wearing turquoise
cowboy boots and sequin-covered dress to match, she was toting an oversized
basket of fresh garden produce, with carrots, collards, okra and more.

“Hey,
darlin’.” Ashley waved cheerfully.

“Hey,”
Delaney murmured in return.

Ashley
pounded up the steps and announced, “Ernie, I brought you some vegetables.”

“What
am I gonna do with those?” he grumbled.

“Boil
them. Eat them fresh.” She came to a stop before him. “I don’t care what you do
with them, so long as you swallow them. Ask Albert, he can help you.”

At
the mention of his name, Albert smiled. “Course I can!” he replied
good-naturedly. “I got me a ham hock, too.” From his rocker, he surveyed her
basket. “You got any beans in there?”

“You
know I do!” Ashley sang out, then seemed to notice Delaney’s appearance for the
first time. Her blue eyes became saucers. “Good Heavens, darlin’! What happened
to you?”

“It’s
a long story, but it ends with Clem Sweeney going to jail,” Delaney returned flatly,
a fact that brought no small measure of satisfaction.

“
Jail
?”
Ashley balked. “What in tarnation has the boy done now?”

“We
have gold on the property and he’s been stealing it for himself.”

Ashley
could have been hit with a cast iron skillet. “
Gold
?”

“Gold.”
Delaney waved a hand toward her uncle, then crossed her arms over her chest. “But
Ernie won’t listen to a word of it. Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”

“Not
now, honey.” She glanced at Ernie. “I need to get these to the kitchen.” Without
another word, she disappeared inside.

Delaney
stared after her, dumbfounded. Her loyal ally abandoned her for a trip to the kitchen?
Had the world tipped upside down?

Delaney
checked on Felicity. Sitting near the wishing well, her daughter seemed frozen
in place, like a stone statue. Delaney searched Nick’s expression for
direction.

“How
about we come back?” Nick suggested. “Let the news sink in for a while.”

“C’mon
back with some cornbread, Delaney.” Albert smiled broadly. “I’ll make up some
collards and we’ll have some real fixins’ for supper!”

Delaney
felt as if she stood in a time warp. No one was connecting the dots from one
conversation to the next. It was as if each and every one of them were living
in their own world, existing in their own universe of reality. She was stumped.

Ashley
breezed outside and chirped, “Okay, then. You boys enjoy your veggies. I’ll be
back tomorrow with some more.”

“Do
you have any pie, Ashley?” Albert asked shyly.

“You
know I do! I’ll bring you some tomorrow, honey.” To Delaney, she said, “It’s
getting late. Let’s leave them be, and you come tell me all about this gold
you’ve been talking about.” Ashley took Delaney by the elbow and steered her
toward the stairs.

Dully,
Delaney allowed herself to be removed from the porch and ushered to the cars. She
glanced at Felicity, who instantly rose and came over to meet them.

Ashley
continued her hold on Delaney’s arm even as they came to a stop.

“I’m
not sure what just happened up there,” Delaney muttered.

“Listen,
honey,” Ashley said. “Your uncle hasn’t got much time left.” She glanced up at
the cabin. “He’s real bad off and you need to know about it.”

Delaney
gaped at her. “What are you talking about?”

Nick
and Felicity were intent on Ashley continued.

“Yes,
darlin’. It looks like he only has months to live, if that.”

What
was Ashley talking about? Delaney flung her gaze to Ernie’s cabin. The cancer
didn’t look like it was making a dent—the man was as ornery as ever!

Ashley’s
blue eyes were serious, intent. “It’s moved to his pancreas, darlin’, and his
doctor said he’d be surprised if the old man made it through the summer.”

“Summer?
How do you know this?”

“Well,”
Ashley began, a tinge of shame mellowing her gaze, “I’m not supposed to know
anything, but Ida heard her niece Mary Beth talkin’ about it to her momma, who
said she was plumb crazy over the whole thing. How could it be that Albert
didn’t say anything to her ‘bout it, giving her proper notice so she could come
pay her respects.”

Delaney
nodded. Ida was Ashley’s hairdresser and Mary Beth’s mother was Albert’s
ex-wife’s sister.

“It’s
a shame—even though he is an old coot,” Ashley said. “No one deserves to die alone,
with no one to look after them. I can’t imagine what I’d do if it were Booker.”
She tossed a heartfelt look toward the house and added, “Bless his heart, but that
rascal Ernie didn’t say the first word about it to anyone.”

Delaney
understood the vegetable delivery. It was Ashley’s way of helping. Whether
Ernie wanted her to or not, he was Susannah’s brother and Ashley would not let
him die alone.

Tears
filled Felicity’s eyes and Delaney suddenly felt the same heaviness in her
heart. Ernie was a lot of things, but he was family. He was blood, her mother’s
brother. And family came first. All thoughts of gold and Clem and the property
fell away. “What can we do?” Delaney asked.

“There’s
not a thing we
can
do, honey. Just pray the good Lord takes him quick
and painless, I reckon.” She wrapped an arm around Felicity’s shoulders and
glanced between Nick and Delaney. “What more is there?”

As
Delaney worked through her second glass of wine, she was grateful for Nick’s
company. The three of them had retreated to her cabin, absorbing the news in
the privacy of their own space—like a family. Felicity had retired to her loft,
claiming a need to be alone. Nick and she were parked out on the front porch.